Category Archives: Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas was one of 250 health centers, out of 1,400 health centers in America, that was selected to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine directly from the federal government, according to Krista Postai, President and CEO of CHC/SEK said.

“They have a million doses to distribute weekly, so we expect to receive – for the whole 10-county region we serve – up to 4,000 doses per week,” she said “Which means – I am excited to say – that we should have enough vaccine – along with what the counties are receiving — to take care of everyone in southeast Kansas over the next few months. We are required to still follow state guidelines on priority groups, but counties do have some flexibility.”

CHC staff spent last week building the infrastructure needed to set up a toll-free phone line and appointment schedule.

“We have already started calling our patients ( more than 7,500 people) who are 65 and older and getting them an appointment as early as Thursday,” Postai said.

“Companies who have been notified by the State of Kansas that their employees are now eligible to be vaccinated should email Dawn McNay at [email protected] with their contact information, employee count and a copy of the letter. She will be working with our outreach teams to take the vaccine to the companies,” Postai said.

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments At CHC

March 1, 2021 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is now offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments as part of Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccine Prioritization Plan.

The list can be found on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website:

https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=111

There is no out-of-pocket cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations will be available at all CHC/SEK clinic locations.

The vaccine appointment telephone number to call is 866-888-8650, which will be answered 7 a.m. -7 p.m. seven days a week. There is an additional line for Spanish speakers, available at 620-240-8940, answered from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

CHC/SEK is one of 250 health centers nationally selected to receive a direct supply of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated, according to a recent announcement from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and CDC. A shipment of 4,000 doses of Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive the week of March 1.

CHC/SEK will follow the state priorities for what populations are eligible to receive the vaccine, however vaccine recipients will not be restricted by county residency, nor do they have to be a patient of CHC/SEK.

“This is a gift to the people of Southeast Kansas, the least healthy and most economically challenged region of the state,” said Krista Postai, President & CEO of CHC/SEK. “With almost 20 percent of our population over 65, the ability to reach out to provide this potentially life-saving vaccine is probably one of the most important initiatives in our history.”

Vaccine appointments will be available at CHC/SEK locations.

In Pittsburg, CHC/SEK has established a vaccine center at 924 N. Broadway, with extended and weekend hours to make receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as convenient as possible. The health center has also formed special vaccination outreach teams to target special populations by taking the vaccine to them.

“Based on the calls we’ve been receiving, we know many people are eager to get vaccinated and so afraid they’ll be overlooked because they live in rural Kansas,” Postai said. “It is so wonderful to tell them they’ve actually been prioritized nationally.”

CHC/SEK and Grace Med Topeka/Wichita were the two Kansas health centers chosen for this program. Both serve a large population of individuals experiencing homelessness, public housing residents, migratory and seasonal agricultural workers, patients with limited English proficiency and serve a significant population of patients age 65 years and older.

“We know these vaccines are safe and highly effective against a very serious disease,” Postai said. “Now that they have become available to us, CHC/SEK is ready to get them delivered into the arms of our communities.”

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

CHC/SEK takes appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations

March 1, 2021 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is now offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individuals aged 65 and older as part of Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccine Prioritization Plan. There is no out-of-pocket cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations will be available at all CHC/SEK clinic locations.

Vaccine appointments will be available at CHC/SEK locations.

About CHC/SEK
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing quality health care to everyone regardless of income or insurance status. CHC/SEK serves more than 50,000 children and adults annually and employs more than 400 professionals and support staff at 18 locations throughout Crawford, Cherokee, Labette, Linn, Montgomery and Allen counties, and Ottawa County in Oklahoma. CHC/SEK is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors, which includes patients from the communities it serves.

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

COVID-19 Vaccinations Have Started On the General Public in Bourbon County

February 16, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

There are limited supplies of COVID-19 Vaccines available now in Bourbon County with more on the horizon.

This, in less than a year since the COVID-19 virus began across the United States.

Here are some locally.

Walmart

Walmart Pharmacy personnel, 2500 S. Main, started giving vaccines to the public last week.

“We started giving them on Feb. 12,” Pharmacy Technician Tim Haggins said.

“We are only giving by appointment, six days in advance,” he said. “We are already booked six days out.”

“There is one appointment every 20 minutes,” he said.

Following the shot, people must wait for at least 15 minutes in a chair to be observed for any reactions.

Shots are administered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a two-hour break from 12:40 to 2:40 p.m.

They are giving about 200 shots per week, he said.

Inclement weather does affect the appointment schedule, due to hazardous road conditions, he said.

“If we need to move appointments, we will call people,” he said.

To schedule, one must go to https://www.walmart.com/cp/1228302

Walgreens

Walgreens, at the corner of Hwy. 69 and 23rd Street, has the vaccine but is awaiting directions from the corporate office, said Pharmacy Technician Keely Gooderidge.

One must go to http://Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine to schedule an appointment and to see if eligible for the vaccine.

Community Health Center in Bourbon County

“We have gotten a limited number of vaccines and have focused first on emergency and medical personnel….we’re also collaborating with area health departments to get school staff vaccinated including Bourbon County,” Krista Postai, CEO and president of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas said. “We are also working with them to vaccinate child care providers.”

“The shots we have given have been in assistance with county health departments using their vaccine allotments,” said Rob Poole, CHC Communication and Marketing Director.

Last week, CHC was able to call in patients from a list run from their electronic health records, as well as a waiting list from those who have called in over the last few weeks, Postai said.

“According to information announced last week, health centers across the county should begin receiving vaccine directly in addition to any allocations through the state,” Postai said. “We heard priority was going to those health centers with more than 2,000 patients over 65. We have well over 7,000 so we’re thinking we may be at the head of the line, which means, fingers crossed, we should start seeing more vaccine by early March,”

Poole said a recent Biden Administration press release stated that 250 health centers around the country would begin receiving vaccines directly from the federal government.

“There is not an exact timeline, but I can assure you we’ll spread the word as soon as it happens,” Poole said.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Government, Health Care

Special enrollment period to open for health insurance marketplace

February 13, 2021 Submitted Story 1 Comment

Job loss resulting from the pandemic has left many people without health insurance and for many has resulted in the need to find more affordable alternatives. For those seeking health insurance, a special enrollment period (SEP) will allow people to enroll in Marketplace health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. This SEP will begin Feb. 15, and will run through May 15.

At Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Certified Application Counselors (CAC’s) are available to assist people in enrolling in health insurance provided through the Affordable Care Act, said Benefits Enrollment Specialist Robert Murnan.

“We help educate consumers about insurance and the program specifics,” said Murnan. “We can also provide access to the internet to apply and enroll.”

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will have the newly updated SEP information on the Marketplace enrollment site HealthCare.gov by Feb. 15. To get assistance in navigating the enrollment site call the CHC/SEK at 620-231-9873 to schedule an appointment with a CAC to review what information is needed to apply and enroll.

President Joe Biden ordered the HHS to create the special enrollment period due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in more than 20 million people losing their jobs, as well as their health insurance.

The expansion of the SEP for the Marketplace will provide another opportunity to enroll in health insurance for those who might have missed the Open Enrollment Period which ran from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. It also provides another opportunity to laterally change insurance companies within the Marketplace if the provider network has since changed.

Before President Biden’s announcement, people who lost job-based health insurance or experienced another life event, such as getting married, may have qualified for a 60-day SEP based on their specific situation. If a SEP was granted, they would then be able choose a Marketplace plan outside of the normal sign-up period. This new pandemic related SEP will allow anyone to check the Marketplace and see if they are eligible to enroll.

About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing affordable, high quality medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to everyone, regardless of income or insurance status at 18 locations throughout Crawford, Cherokee, Labette, Linn, Montgomery and Allen counties, and Ottawa Co. in Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.chcsek.org.

Ascension Via Christi, Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Fort Scott, Health Care

CHC/SEK In Negotiations With Price Chopper to Move to 2322 S. Main

February 2, 2021 Loretta George 1 Comment

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is in negotiation with the owners of the former Price Chopper building to acquire it, Krista Postai, CHC/SEK President and CEO, said in an email interview.

“However the details are not yet finalized,” she said. “Following the closure of the store in 2019, the health center identified the building as a potential site to house a future clinic based on the uncertainty surrounding the future of the existing hospital building at that time,” she said.

“The large size and convenient location would allow us to bring our medical clinic, walk-in care, and pharmacy into one location with enough space to allow additional expansions if needed,” Postai said.

The Price Chopper building is located at 2322 S. Main and has been empty since 2019.

The Price Chopper building Nov. 2017, prior to opening.

The CHC/SEK lease for the clinic space at the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills expired on December 31, 2020,Postai said.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

Postai said CHC/SEK needed to “move forward on determining a long-range plan for a permanent home for our clinic.”

“We did secure an additional two-year lease from Mercy Health System in December – who remains the owner on the building — on our existing clinic space, with the understanding from Mercy that there was no option to renew,” she said.

“Mercy also donated several acres of land behind the existing hospital to CHC/SEK and we were planning new construction when the opportunity to acquire the Price Chopper Building was once again raised,” Postai said.

“We had originally pursued the possibility of utilizing that space (the Price Chopper building) in collaboration with Ascension Via Christi when it first became available but were in the midst of transitioning both the clinic and the Emergency Room over from Mercy which was the priority for both organizations,” she said. “We did, however, remain in contact with the owners of the building who were anxious to see this space utilized once again.”

“With our plans to now move forward on acquiring the former grocery store, we have reconnected with Ascension Via Christi regarding the possibility of future collaboration and are in serious discussions with their senior leadership,” she said.

“We remain committed – as does Ascension Via Christi – to ensuring the residents of Bourbon County have access to primary and emergency care today and into the future,” Postai said.

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

CHC/SEK provides tools to give newborns and moms a good start

January 25, 2021 Loretta George Leave a comment

CHC/SEK Family Resource Specialists, from left, Lauren Stiles, Colette Lee, Julie Laverack, Leah Anderson, Keele Allen stand next to a Baby Box, also known as a Finn Box, while holding a grant certificate from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas. The grant allowed for the purchase of 80 Baby Boxes for teenage mothers in Crawford, Cherokee, Bourbon, and Labette counties.

A new maternity program funded by the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Giving Circle draws from a Finnish tradition designed to give all children, regardless of background an equal start in life.

It’s a starter box of clothes, sheets and toys with a mattress in the bottom so the box becomes a baby’s first bed.

The boxes are being filled for distribution by CHC/SEK pregnancy case managers to the area’s most vulnerable population – mothers from Crawford, Bourbon, Cherokee and Labette Counties under the age of 19 who often lack stable housing and resources to care for a newborn. In 2019, 158 teenagers gave birth in these four Southeast Kansas counties – most of them patients of CHC/SEK or Labette Health. CHC/SEK has partnered with the hospital to provide an in-house family resource specialist who will provide educational, vocational and parenting support throughout pregnancy and parenting.

The Finland baby box dates back to the 1930’s as a national initiative to give expectant mothers the tools they need to raise a healthy baby. Some credit the concept with helping Finland achieve one of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates by pairing education with medical support through a box full of newborn necessities that doubles as the child’s first safe sleep space up to the age of six months.

“Babies used to sleep in the same bed as their parents and it was recommended that they stop,” according to University of Helsinki Professor Panu Pulmain. “Including the box as a bed meant people started to let their babies sleep separately from them.”

Since then, the concept has been incorporated into Sleep Awareness programs in the U.S. to reduce bedsharing, the leading cause of infant mortality in the first eight days of life. The boxes include a waterproof sleeping mattress, sheets, diapers, wipes, clothing, thermometer, a parenting book and other baby basics, including a HALO SleepSack. This program is the first of its kind in Kansas and is part of a maternal/child health initiative which pairs CHC/SEK case managers with young women during their prenatal care and for a year following delivery.

“The health care system is a hard enough place to navigate, and having an advocate to help you get through and a bridge to help you connect all of the resources together are proven to make families healthier,” said Patient Education and Support Manager Julie Laverack.

The Baby Box is one component of a larger program designed to provide a safe sleeping option in less than an ideal environment, discourage bed sharing, and encourage breast feeding. It is one step toward CHC/SEK’s larger goal of reducing the impact of generational poverty and lower the rate of neglect and abuse in the southeast Kansas region.

About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing affordable, high quality medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to everyone, regardless of income or insurance status. For more information, visit www.chcsek.org.

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Entities Have Received The COVID-19 Vaccine

January 7, 2021 Loretta George 1 Comment

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC-SEK) and the local county health department have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Each of our clinics did receive the vaccine to immunize medical personnel….our own and any others in the community not covered by the local health department,” said Krista Postai, President and CEO of CHC/SEK. “It is our understanding that staff and residents in long term care (facilities) are being immunized through a federal contract with Walgreens who has received their own allocation of the vaccine.”

“We have exhausted our first shipment of 100 vaccines and are awaiting word on the next shipment,” she said. “We used (these) for our Fort Scott, Pleasanton and Mound City employees along with some other non-CHC/SEK medical personnel.”

“As you may have seen in the media, Kansas does not appear to be faring well in getting their vaccine distributed….although the state says that’s not accurate….it’s a problem, they say, with the reporting system,” Postai said.

“That said, we do anticipate receiving additional vaccine in the communities we serve and will coordinate/collaborate with local health departments, who are also receiving the vaccine,” Postai said.

Postai said she received the following email from KDHE.

“ALL healthcare associated workers, hospital staff and local health dept staff are eligible to receive vaccine right now. This includes dentists, ophthalmologists, EMS workers, home health workers, school nurses, pharmacists, etc.

“If a county has more vaccine and has vaccinated all health care workers in the county, please contact the Kansas Immunization Program at [email protected] and KDHE will help redistribute your extra vaccine doses to another county who still needs more for health care workers.

“KDHE anticipates that additional vaccine doses will arrive weekly in the state. Facilities that received vaccine will automatically receive a separate delivery/shipment for the second dose.

“The Governor’s office and KDHE are working on priorities beyond healthcare workers and long-term care and those will be shared soon. For now, we are asking the whole state to stay in phase 1 and we will move on to phase 2 after all healthcare workers that want to be vaccinated are vaccinated with the first dose.”

For more info: contact [email protected]

Rebecca Johnson, SEKMCHD Director. Submitted photo.

“We received 60 doses and have given them all,” Rebecca Johnson, Southeast Kansas Multi-Health Department Administrator said.

“When we know how many more we’ll be getting and when, we’ll be reaching out to whom KDHE instructs us to vaccinate next,” she said. “When we are able to vaccinate the public, we will advertise this in the paper, radio, Facebook and on our website. From the availability chart, it says high-risk individuals are looking at late winter 2021 and all other adults are looking at spring 2021.”

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has instructed local health departments to vaccinate Emergency Medical Service personnel, healthcare and public health workers, she said.

“That’s who we’ve administered to,” Johnson said. ” We received 60 doses and have given them all.”

“Walgreens is working with long term care facilities on their vaccination plan,” she said. https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp

“In the first category, KDHE has listed Healthcare Personnel, Long Term Care Facility Staff/Residents, and EMS/Frontline Public Health Workers,” she said. “This chart can be found on the KDHE website or folks can go to our updated website: www.sekmchd.com.

From the sekmchd website:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Active Cases | January 6, 2021

Allen County 96

Anderson County 71

Bourbon County 83

Woodson County 27

Please call your local health department if you would like a further breakdown of cases at 620-223-4464.

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

When will the COVID-19 vaccine be available?

Currently, the vaccine is only available to healthcare workers and long-term care residents. As more vaccine is made available it will be offered to additional groups.

Please see the Expected Vaccine Availability Status to Population Group (pg 3) put out by the Governor’s office. SEKMCHD receives instructions directly from KDHE about which groups are eligible for vaccination with the vaccine they send to us.

Is vaccination mandatory?

Public Health officials are not mandating vaccination at this time. Your employer may require you to be vaccinated.

Will there be enough vaccine for everyone?

The Federal government has indicated that there will be enough for everyone who wants to be vaccinated.

How much will the vaccine cost?

The vaccine itself is being paid for by the federal government. SEKMCHD won’t be charging a fee. Other places giving vaccinations may charge a fee to administer the vaccine.

Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccination?

Right now vaccine is only available for healthcare workers and long-term care residents. Vaccine will be made available to the public in the spring/summer of 2021. At that time it may be available through the health department, pharmacies, and physician offices. Check this website for further updates.

Do I need to make an appointment to get the vaccine?

No. When the health department receives enough vaccine to give to the public we will host a large event. No appointment will be required for that event.

I already had COVID-19. Do I need to get the vaccine?

It is suggested that you get vaccinated even if you have previously had COVID-19.

How long after I get my vaccine do I need to wear my mask?

You should wear your mask even after being vaccinated. Public health officials will advise when it is safe to go back to not wearing a mask.

I want to get a specific vaccine. How do I do that?

The health department is unable to honor requests for specific vaccines. The health department cannot request specific vaccines at this time. When we are ready to begin vaccination of the public we will let the public know which specific vaccine is available.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Nancy Evans Retires From CHC

December 29, 2020 Loretta George 2 Comments

After 17 years working for CHC/SEK, Nancy Evans, RN, BSN, will retire at the end of December. CHC/SEK established a scholarship in her honor for her service and dedication.

CHC/SEK’s first employee retires, scholarship created in her name

To honor Nancy Evans, RN, BSN, for her 17 years of service to Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and a lifetime dedicated to nursing, CHC/SEK has established the Nancy Evans Nursing Scholarship at the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas.

The scholarship will be given annually to an individual, selected by Nancy, pursuing a degree in nursing.

“While we can’t replace Nancy, she can now help us find someone who may one day try,” said Krista Postai, CHC/SEK CEO and President in a video announcing the scholarship. “Enjoy your well-earned retirement Nancy and for always, always, being where we needed you the most and when we needed you. God bless you and thank you for all you’ve done.”

People who wish to contribute to the scholarship endowment can send a check made out to CHC/SEK Evans Scholarship Fund Attn Douglas Stuckey, Trustee P.O. Box 1832, Pittsburg, KS 66762-1832 or call Douglas at 620-240-5011.

Over the span of 17 years, Nancy was part of the beginnings of many services at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, from dental to flu shots and prescription assistance to diabetic education.

Nancy, who most recently served as a Nurse/Certified Diabetic Educator, is set to retire at the end of December.

“I’m looking forward to retiring but I most certainly will miss this place, it’s been a wonderful job,” she said.

Nancy started working for CHC/SEK out of the Wesley House. The dental program then began at Wesley House and she continued to be part of the program when it moved over to 924 N. Broadway in Pittsburg.

Later on, with a kitchen table for an office, Nancy worked in the CHC/SEK doublewide trailer where she provided prescription assistance. She looked at her log recently, and since becoming employed Nancy has provided prescription assistance for over 14,000 encounters. Nancy didn’t do it alone, she said, she often had volunteers working with her or a part time employee to help do paperwork.

Providing prescription assistance grew the need for case management.

“When you do prescription assistance, they tell you what they are needing and why they can’t afford things and one thing just turned into another and you work with them to try to get food or shelter, all kinds of things,” Nancy said.

Krista noticed Nancy was frequently educating diabetic patients and encouraged her to become a certified diabetic educator. Nancy became the first diabetic educator at CHC/SEK.

“That’s something I never thought about,” Nancy said. “I thought I’d get bored because it was pretty much doing one disease entity and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that, but now – by all means – it is my passion.”

Before testing, the certification required 1,000 hours of teaching and she had to do it within four years. Completing her certification became quite the undertaking because CHC/SEK kept growing and growing.

As she was preparing for her certification, Nancy was involved in a prescription assistance program, (PALS) which was “up and running and huge,” she said. Nancy also provided nutrition education, went to health fairs, traveled to southeast Kansas schools and gave vaccines to students. She became the “flu shot lady,” delivering thousands of shots as she went from one business or company to another to provide flu shots.

Diabetic education became such a strong passion for Nancy because there is such a need not only in southeast Kansas, but also globally. There are thousands just in Pittsburg who are diagnosed with diabetes.

“It’s on the brink of an epidemic, partly because of the obesity factor and the fact that you can buy pop for a whole lot less money than a gallon of milk,” she said. “I really think the biggest reason is the lack of exercise, which is contributing to the obesity too.”

It’s rewarding to see the changes in patients when they get their diabetes under control, she said, adding that when somebody has high blood sugars, nothing about them feels good, they are tired all of the time, and nothing feels right.

“If we can get your blood sugars down to where they are supposed to be, you are going to be delightfully surprised how much energy you have and how many more things you can do, and how much bigger your life is going to be,” Nancy said.

The people – her patients – are what made CHC/SEK a special place for her.

“That’s what I’m going to miss when I leave, my people, and they are the world to me,” Nancy said. “I see them out on the streets and I have some that text or call me to tell me stuff, someone brought in their new baby the other day, and somebody came in saying something about just needing a hug – that’s the kind of the thing I’m going to miss when I’m not here anymore.”

Nancy beams with pride when she shares with people about her career and CHC/SEK. She gives the credit to the founder and employees and other visionaries of what CHC/SEK has come to be and continues to grow into.

“When I start going through all the things we do, I kind of take a step back and I’m so impressed,” she said. “And I work here and I’m part of it, but I’m still impressed by all that we do and the resources we provide, it’s pretty darned amazing.”

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

Fort Scott Healthcare Workers Receive First COVID-19 Vaccine

December 24, 2020 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Kyla Probasco RN, CHC/SEK Fort Scott administers a dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Kristen McCoy RN. The clinic began vaccinating its staff against the virus on Wednesday, after receiving its first allocation of Moderna vaccine.

On Wednesday, Dec. 23, CHC/SEK Fort Scott received its first allocation of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and vaccinated 20 of its staff against the virus. Next week, per the state vaccination plan, CHC/SEK will begin vaccinating additional healthcare workers in our communities. At the same time, Walgreens and CVS Pharmacies have begun vaccinating residents in nursing homes and senior living facilities.

The Moderna supply is being distributed to local health departments and federally qualified health centers across the state who will vaccinate healthcare workers. The initial vaccine distribution is geared towards healthcare providers and long-term care residents, in line with the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations. Distribution among these groups is expected to continue through January.

Kansas received its first shipment of Pfizer vaccines for hospital workers on December 14-15. This week, Pfizer doses were given to participating long-term care facility residents and staff through CVS and Walgreens pharmacies, who are tasked with delivering COVID-19 vaccine to these populations. The coordination of vaccination activities will occur directly between CVS/Walgreens and those facilities participating in the program.

KDHE is disseminating weekly updates on vaccine developments on their website.

CHC/SEK has planned for, trained, and is looking forward to the day we can begin offering vaccines to the public in the coming year. As soon as we know when public vaccine is on the way, we will keep you informed through your CHC/SEK Patient Portal, the clinic’s social media platforms, and your local news outlets.

Area News, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Health Care

Freeman Donates to CHC/SEK

December 22, 2020 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Freeman Health System donates to CHC/SEK’s new John Parolo Education Center

PITTSBURG – On Tuesday, Freeman Health System invested in the next generation of rural healthcare professionals through a $1,000,000 donation to the new John Parolo Education Center building at Community at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Pittsburg.

The building project, set to break ground in May, expects to grow the number of primary care physicians in the region as well as other healthcare disciplines. By 2025, Kansas is projected to need an additional 290 primary care physicians just to meet current needs; many rural counties no longer have a dentist. Kansas is experiencing a major exodus of its under-30 population seeking professional opportunities elsewhere.

“The overwhelming support and generosity of Freeman Health System most certainly demonstrates their true commitment to the future of healthcare in southeast Kansas,” said Krista Postai, CHC/SEK President and CEO. “This is an investment not only in health education, but in the lives of hundreds of our young people who will now have the opportunity to train locally and then serve the communities in which there were raised.”

Since inception, CHC/SEK has served as a medical training site for healthcare students from all disciplines. It has affiliation agreements with 50 different organizations dedicated to healthcare education and more than 400 students receive training annually within its walls.

Southeast Kansas is critically underserved in all areas of healthcare and, like all of rural Kansas, is seeing its health resources erode and is challenged to recruit health professionals who typically practice within 75 miles of where they have trained. Studies show that only 2 percent of new doctors want to practice in town with less than 25,000 residents.

To bring training opportunities to southeast Kansas, CHC/SEK is building a state-of-the-art $5 million, 16,000 sq. ft. facility which will include learning laboratories, classroom and conference rooms designed to support medical and dental residents.

There will be a rural medicine training program for physicians and physician assistants, and post-graduate clinical training for licensure of multiple professionals including pharmacists, social workers and psychologists among others.

“This is indeed a dream come true and we are honored that Freeman CEO Paula Baker – who grew up just a few blocks from where this health education center will be built – shares our vision of training health professionals that are fully committed to the people they serve,” Postai said. “We are extremely appreciative for their willingness – especially in the midst of a worldwide pandemic – to look beyond today to a better, healthier tomorrow.”

About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

About Freeman Health System

Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. For more information, visit www.freemanhealth.com

Business, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

CHC/SEK Collaborates With Ft. Scott Business and State

December 22, 2020 Loretta George Leave a comment

President and CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Krista Postai gave an update on some recent collaborations.

Food Storage With New Ft. Scott Grocery Store

One collaboration is with the Star Emporium Downtown General Store, owned by Bill Michaud of BAJA Investments.

Michaud reached an agreement with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas to provide food storage space to expand the food distribution and delivery programs CHC/SEK is currently offering in Crawford County into Fort Scott, with services beginning in January, he said. The store will provide the food storage piece.

To learn more about this new downtown venture:

Star Emporium Downtown General Store To Open Early Next Year

“With the pandemic, we’re finding more and more people are struggling and challenged to find food, so we’re going to be adding food distribution to our list of services,” Postai said. “The folks in Ft. Scott are providing our freezer and refrigerator space within the basement of the grocery store for any donated food or purchased food from Kansas Food Bank or other local partners.”

“This will not be used as a distribution point for community members, just a place for us to store it,” she said. “Our long-term plan is to create a Food Rx program for chronically ill and food-insecure patients and to offer grocery delivery to homebound patients throughout our region. It’s always great to find partners willing to help and this is a great example.”

Part of Kansas Distribution Plan For COVID-19 Vaccine

“We are part of the state’s overall plan for (COVID-19 vaccine) distribution and are anxiously awaiting its arrival,” Postai said. “We just learned that we may be receiving one of the ‘super’ freezers from the state which would make the vaccine more accessible. Once available, we will be following state guidelines on priority immunizations which I believe will be front-line medical personnel first. For the latest information on the state’s plan, go to https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/284/COVID-19-Vaccine.”

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