Submitted by the Fort Scott National Historic Site

Join in the fun at the Old Fort before it is time to go back to school. Fort Scott NHS announces its first-ever “Selfie” contest, going on now. You can win $50 just for snapping a picture of yourself at the Fort. Also coming up, the Fort is holding its second annual Scavenger Hunt; new and improved and twice as much fun as last year. The Scavenger Hunt takes place on Saturday, August 5 at 1 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the first and second place teams.

The Fort Scott NHS Youth Engagement Team has created a brand new “Selfie Station” on the second floor of the Dragoon barracks, complete with frontier era costumes. Using Instagram, take your selfie there in costume for a chance to win the 1st Place prize of $50. If dressing up isn’t your thing, you can still take a selfie anywhere on the Old Fort grounds without the costumes. Non-costume selfies are eligible to win a $25 prize. Either way, be sure to submit your selfie to Instagram, tag @fortscottnhs in the caption, and include the hashtag #fortscottselfiecontest2017. The winner of the Selfie Contest will be announced at the conclusion of the Scavenger Hunt on August 5, although winners do not need to be present to win.

Be sure to join in the exciting and family friendly Old Fort Scavenger Hunt as a last hurrah of summer. The Hunt will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017. All participants are encouraged to show up 10 minutes early with their cell phone or camera. Contestants will be given a list of clues directing them to certain items that tell a story about the rich history of the site. Participants will then take photos of the corresponding items. The winning team/individual will receive a $50 gift card, with $25 awarded to the second place finishers.

This fun event is being hosted by the Youth Engagement Team at Fort Scott National Historic Site in partnership with the Friends of the Fort. Thanks go to the Friends of the Fort for sponsoring the prizes. Call the Fort, 620-223- 0310, with questions or for more information.

“Build a new playground at the Mercy of Frank Halsey”

Presented by The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team

Underwritten by Janet Irby Braun and Family

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, as part of Fort Scott Community Visioning, is sponsoring a community event on Saturday, August 19, at Liberty Theatre to honor local community champion, Frank Halsey, for his grass roots initiative to build mountain biking and hiking trails.  While not alone in his efforts, his leadership demonstrates how one person can be an agent of change, engage community members, and increase awareness of healthy lifestyle. Environmental challenges tend to be strongest in low-income communities and community perception results show that Bourbon County is no different.

In addition, the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team has partnered with the Youth Activities Team to seek additional resources and construct a Multi-Sensory Playground that will be accessible by all youth, regardless of ability, and meet therapeutic needs for children with special needs. The children and families in our community could benefit from safe, inclusive, places to play. An inclusive recreation area is desperately needed in the Fort Scott area.

Currently we have families in our community who are forced to drive 45 miles to the nearest adaptive park. One of many families personally impacted is that of Matt and Cherie Witt, the parents of a 6-year-old son with autism spectrum disorder with significant sensory needs. They have shared their story:

We want to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and explain why we believe an all-inclusive playground with adaptations for children with special needs would provide a much-needed asset to our community. Prior to the birth of our child and his subsequent diagnosis, we were not unsympathetic, but, nevertheless, highly uninformed of the vast number of children with special needs in our community and the lack of resources available to them. In the four years since our diagnosis, we have learned much and now realize to a far greater extent the struggles of parents of children with exceptionalities to find healthy and appropriate recreational activities for their children. Our children, much like their typically developing peers, want and need to simply have fun. There is no better environment for these children to thrive than playing alongside their typical peers. It is our understanding that this park would promote inclusion of all types of children with varying needs rather than separating them by ability or physical skill.  

Our home town of Fort Scott, Kan., is a small community with many children with special needs but few resources to engage them. As parents of a son with autism, we realize the financial burdens that come with the territory. Many times, parents feel pressure, and rightly so, to direct financial resources toward the many types of therapy our children require, leaving little for recreation. Furthermore, we have many low-income families dealing with these sorts of problems whose children do not have access to opportunities for fun activities. Moreover, Fort Scott has an exceptionally high rate of children with autism. For these young people, a means to meet sensory issues is essential for them to learn, develop and cope with life. An adaptive playground would serve children in each of these categories. We would love to see all these children laughing, playing and socializing the same as their typical peers.

Recent studies have shown that as a society, we tend to place disproportionate emphasis on academics over physical activity for very young children, much to their detriment. Many believe the result is a lack of social skills such as sharing and turn-taking and an increase in sensory issues. Active, free play is an invaluable learning experience. Maneuvering the environment with its variances in terrain and experiencing all the sights, sounds and feelings of the great outdoors fully engages the senses. These experiences may be even more important for children with special needs who, depending on their diagnosis, may already be at a social or physical disadvantage. A play area constructed with these children in mind, would give them a chance to spread their wings and strengthen their minds and bodies in ways otherwise impossible. 

There is no better investment than one in our youth. We believe that children with special needs can become active, responsible members of our community. We would love to see them benefit from a safe, friendly environment to promote the life skills they will need to live a productive life and have a little fun at the same time.

You can show your support and purchase your tax-deductible tickets online at fortscott.com or at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce 231 E. Wall Street Fort Scott, KS 66701. Ticket are $50 each.

Submitted by Tina Rockhold, Mercy Hospital

Dr. Larry Seals Earns Another Five-Star Excellence Award

For the third consecutive year, Dr. Larry Seals and the Mercy Clinic Fort Scott OB/GYN team, have earned the Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC) Five-Star Excellence Award for Provider Services and Overall Care.

The recognition honors Seals for scoring in the top 10 percent nationally for “excellent”

responses in patient satisfaction surveys.

After 30 years in practice – and thousands of beautiful babies delivered into his hands – Seals gives credit for the award to teamwork.

“I’m happy because my nursing staff does a great job of treating patients with superb clinical skill and unmatched compassion,” he said.

Seals contributes his practice’s success to being grounded and down to earth.

“When precious life is in your hands, it’s important to remain humble and share genuine care for everyone.”

Mercy Kids Health Fair and Teddy Bear Clinic Scheduled for Saturday, August 12

Making healthy choices begins with good mentoring. Help steer your children down the right path by bringing them to the Mercy Kids Health and Safety Fair on Saturday, August 12, at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. From 9 a.m. to noon, the clinic will provide free health screenings, fitness fun, education and learning opportunities, a chance to see emergency vehicles and meet with community agency representatives.

All screenings and events are free and open to the public.

The Teddy Bear Clinic is a highlight of the event. Young children are encouraged to bring their teddy bear or doll for a check-up. Surgeons will be on hand to mend minor cuts or tears to your child’s favorite stuffed animal.

Just a few of the scheduled activities include: health screenings (eye, vision, blood pressure, height and weight, and dental checks), nutritional information, details about vaccines, hand-washing tips, healthy snacks, preventing colds and the flu, exercise stations, as well as a bounce house and photo booth. Also on site will be Mercy EMS staff, Fort Scott police and fire department personnel, the Bourbon County Sherriff, as well as Kansas Wildlife and Parks.

Kids may register to win a backpack stuffed with school supplies. Winner need not be present to win, but registration the day of the event is required.

For more information about the Mercy Clinic Kids Health and Safety Fair, call Amy Budy at 620-223-8093.

Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott Awarded $50,000 for Ultrasound Upgrade

Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from The Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio, to replace ultrasound equipment at the hospital.

On Monday, July 24, at 10 a.m., Jack and Joy Timken of the Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio, will tour Mercy Hospital Fort Scott and view the imaging services area where the new equipment will be installed in fall 2017.

Media is invited to participate in the tour. After the tour, the media is encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the donation from The Timken Foundation and about ultrasound.

Submitted by Christina Rockhold

Mercy Hospice Observes Fifth Anniversary

Hospice is more about living than dying. It’s designed to make the most of each day. And every day over the past five years, the Mercy hospice team has offered strength and support to over 475 patients and their families.

Mercy launched Hospice services on July 2, 2012, so terminally-ill patients could experience the continuum of care they had grown to trust through other services at the hospital.

“With Mercy Hospice, we help our patients live each day fully and as comfortable as possible, whether it’s through expert care, a hug, holding a hand or talking,” said Becky Davied, Mercy Home Health and Hospice director. “Our volunteers, chaplain, social worker, nurses, home health aides and physicians share a commitment to providing the utmost quality of life.”

Hospice care is appropriate when a patient has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and life expectancy is six months or less and cure-oriented treatment is no longer being pursued.

“We feel it is a privilege to journey with our patients and families at this most delicate phase of life,” shared LaShawn Noel, Mercy Hospice social worker. “And we celebrate the meaningful relationships we have built along the way.”

Hospice Chaplain Melissa George added, “Planning, education and strengthening relationships can help people deal with the fear of the unknown. In hospice, we champion quality of life, and encourage everyone to live every moment fully and completely. The holistic approach of hospice care meets the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those we serve and their loved ones. I am privileged to minister with a dedicated and devoted team, comforting and praying with others during their most difficult times.”

More information on Mercy Hospice and volunteer opportunities is available by calling 620-223- 8090.

Mercy Named Top Five Health Care System in the U.S.

Shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and better patient results are just a few metrics used to rank Mercy as one of the top five large health systems in the nation, alongside Mayo Clinic. The 2017 Truven Health 15 Top Health Systems, which includes five large, five medium and five small systems, analyzes 337 health systems and 2,924 hospitals across the U.S. Click here to find the listings.

“The Truven Health recognition is a big deal for Mercy, and I’m proud to say that Mercy Fort Scott’s high scores and patient care outcomes contributed to the Mercy Ministry earning the award,” said Reta Baker, Mercy Fort Scott president.

Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, produces the only study of its kind to combine rigorous analysis of individual hospital performance metrics into system-level data, identifying the best health systems in the nation. This annual, quantitative scorecard uses objective, independent research and public data sources. Health systems do not apply for consideration, and winners do not pay to market their award.

“For the second year in a row, we are honored to be named one of the top five large systems in the nation for the medical care we provide to our communities,” said Lynn Britton, president and CEO of Mercy. “We are improving care to our patients while finding new and innovative ways to decrease costs. It’s no small feat, but we are dedicated, like the Sisters of Mercy before us, to provide exceptional care for all.”

Mercy, as well as Mayo, outperformed peers in the following ways:

 Saved more lives and caused fewer patient complications

 Lower cost of care

 Readmitted patients less frequenty

 Shorter wait times in emergency departments

 Shorter hospital stays

 Better patient safety

 Higher patient satisfaction

Some of the keys to improving patient care have included a decade of efforts made possible because of Mercy’s team, leading technology and best practices:

 2,000 integrated physicians – one of the largest groups in the nation – bringing family and specialty doctors together to implement proven, clinical-based best practices to improve patient care

 Among the first organizations in the nation to have a comprehensive electronic health record – one patient, one record – providing real-time, paperless access to patient information

 Specialty councils, made up of physicians, nurses and clinicians, representing more than 40 areas of medicine, providing best practices for everything from heart surgery to the delivery of babies.

Beyond Mercy’s hospitals and clinics in four states, Mercy – also named a top American employer by Forbes magazine – serves 240-plus hospitals across 28 states by providing virtual care, supply chain and information technology expertise.

 Mercy’s Virtual Care Center is the world’s first such facility dedicated to care outside its own walls, monitoring patients 24/7/365 across the country, using high-speed data and video connections and medically intervening when and where patients need it with a comprehensive team approach.

 Mercy’s supply chain, ROi, is one of the world’s top health care supply chain operations. ROi has been named to the Gartner Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25 List for eight consecutive years; the only health care provider in the world to make it in the Top 10 for all eight years.

 Mercy was among the first health care organizations in the U.S. to have an integrated electronic health record (EHR) connecting all points of care. Mercy Technology Services’ broad use of its EHR has been recognized at one of the highest possible levels by Epic.

Fort Scott National Historic Site is pleased to announce the 18th year of its fun-filled Trailblazers program. This program is open to youth ages 9-12; it will be held the week of August 7 – 11, and will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon each day.

Trailblazers participants will dig into two different archaeological activities, work on identifying prairie flowers and frontier-era garden plants, participate in the presentation of the colors, and gain knowledge of the methods used to preserve the buildings and artifacts here at the Fort.

Along the way they will learn about the fascinating history of the Old Fort and the National Park Service’s mission of caring for the nation’s natural and cultural treasures. Throughout the week there will be green activities that show youth how our resources can be used more wisely. The week culminates with the kids’ performance of a short play on Friday for their parents.

Registration for the Trailblazers day camp is open now. To sign-up, contact Fort Scott National Historic Site at (620) 223-0310 or email: [email protected], with your name and phone number. Participants must be ages 9-12 as of the beginning day of the camp. Participants will be sent an informational packet after registration is complete; there is no charge for the workshop. Since space is limited to 12 participants, priority will be given to youth who have not attended before.