Category Archives: Health Care

Bourbon County, Elections, Fort Scott, Health Care

May 14 Sales Tax For an ER Is Crucial to Bourbon County, Citizens Group Says

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The emergency room operations at the former Mercy Hospital sit vacant.
The Citizens for an ER group “do not see a way forward to have a provider reestablish an emergency room in Bourbon County,” said Craig Campbell, a member of the citizens’ group, ” if the May 14 vote for a sales tax is not approved.
“The Citizens for an E.R. committee appreciate the concerns, the insightful questions, and the support of the Uniontown and the Fort Scott town hall attendees,” Randy Nichols, another member,  said.  “Please vote to reopen our E.R.   Early voting starts May 6th at the courthouse.  Voting on May 14th will be at your usual polling location.”
Members of the group are Jamie Armstrong, Campbell, Lynda Foster, Charles Gentry, Mark McCoy, Nichols, and Douglas Ropp.
The group has held two public input meetings, one on April 11 in Fort Scott and one in Uniontown on April 24, to help tell the benefits of reestablishing an ER and get questions from the community.
To view the prior story on the first citizen’s input meeting:
The attendees of the town hall meeting in Uniontown on Wednesday had approximately 15-20 people.

 

“We opened the meeting stressing the importance of an emergency department to the citizens of Bourbon County,” Campbell said.

At the Uniontown meeting, there were new questions asked: “Concerns expressed at the meeting involved what the money could be spent for, why we need an ER. , and where would it be located,” Nichols said

 

Randy Nichols said “The ballot language is specific, stating for the five-year tax duration, (he quoted from the ballot), “Said tax shall be used as needed for establishment and operation of an emergency department in Bourbon County.”  If an E.R. is not established the ballot states, “upon termination, remaining tax funds shall be used for EMS and /or property tax reduction as determined by the Bourbon County Commissioners.”

“In other words, the money can only be spent on an E.R,” Nichols said.  “It cannot be used on other projects and would be returned to the community if we do not get an E.R.  A citizens committee has been appointed by the Commission to review and periodically report to the public that the money is being spent as per the ballot language.”

The needs for an ER are many, Campbell said.

“There is a need to protect those with failing health, workers in hazardous occupations, and children playing contact sports, being able to retain and recruit businesses in Bourbon County,”  he said.

“It allows our citizens quicker access to doctors, nurses, lab and radiology techs and medications that can assess and treat the health issues being presented,” Campbell said. ” Our Emergency Medical Service is top-notch!  The Rural Emergency Health mentioned earlier was written for places like Bourbon County.  It stresses 1) solid primary care, 2) great EMS, and 3) an emergency department.  We had these in place until last December 20th.  This tax question when passed would restore our three-pronged strategy to effective healthcare in Bourbon County.”

The tax is small per person.

“We reminded folks that the 0.25% sales tax would add 25 cents to the cost of a $100 purchase at the store, “Campbell said. ” And that the tax has a five-year hard stop on it.”
 “The tax can only be used to support reopening our ER and its ongoing operation,” he said. “The next step would be to get Congress to re-date the effective date of the Rural Emergency Hospital Act to December of 2015 so that hospitals such as Fort Scott’s would be eligible to receive funding for the emergency hospital.”
Graphic provided by the Citizens For an ER.
“It will operate in its previous area within the former hospital at 401 Woodland Hills Boulevard,” Campbell said.  “Medical equipment remains there as the result of a donation by Ascension (Via Christi, which closed operations at that site in December 2023).
“The current site is available and ready as it is fully equipped with lab, x-ray, CT scanner and ultrasound,” Nichols said. “These were gifted to the county by Ascension Via Christi -Pittsburg saving on the cost of reopening.   The building also has room for expansion to include observation beds and outpatient services (for example out patient surgery)  if Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation can be obtained in the future.”
“Rural Emergency Hospital is a federally funded designation supporting an E.R., observation beds, and out-patient services,” Nichols said.  “This is a program not yet available to Bourbon County but having an E.R. is the first step to achieve the expanded services of REH.  Having REH would relieve the need for community tax support.”

“The attendees praised the EMS service but also supported the need for an E.R.,” Nichols said.  “Having an E.R. is a needed part of our health care delivery system. An emergency room and EMS are mutually beneficial services.  Having an E.R. improves our overall community health outcomes.  “(We) recognize most E.R. visits are by walk-in patients so without an E.R. it’s likely there will be more ambulance calls and all runs will be out of the county.    Statistically, a majority of those people will not require hospitalization and would be better/ more efficiently served locally.   An E.R. was also recognized to have county-wide economic development and long-term property tax benefits.”

 

The Vote Here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. Nationa. There will be a sales tax question on the ballot on May 14, 2024.
Bourbon County, Government, Health Care

Tetanus Shots Offered to Individuals Affected by Flooding

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The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Lowman Streets and 6th and Horton Streets.

 

SEK Multi-County Health Department is offering free tetanus shots for individuals affected by the recent flooding.  Tetanus shots will be available to impacted residents as well as first responders, volunteers, or any others who have been or will be assisting with recovery and cleanup efforts.

Free tetanus shots will be available by appointment at the SEK Multi-County Health Department in Iola, Garnett, and Fort Scott while flood response continues.

Addresses of these three locations are as follows:

Allen County (Iola): 411 N. Washington Ave. Iola, KS 66749

Anderson (Garnett): 301 S. Vine, Garnett, KS 66032

Bourbon County (Fort Scott): 524 S. Lowman, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tetanus vaccines are recommended for people of all ages.  Adults need a tetanus booster shot every 10 years, but health care providers may recommend a booster sooner due to an injury or other health concerns.

Tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and manure. Tetanus is most commonly caused by the bacteria getting into the body through broken skin, usually through injuries from dirty objects. During evacuation and flood cleanup, residents affected by flooding, emergency responders, cleanup workers, or volunteers may be at increased risk for these injuries. For this reason, these people should be sure that they are up to date with tetanus vaccination. This can be done by talking with your health care provider or reviewing your vaccination record.

Tetanus is commonly known as “lockjaw,” and is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and causes painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus can cause severe breathing problems and in serious cases, lead to death. There is no cure for tetanus.

Please call the SEK Multi-County Health Department for more information at:

Allen County: (620)365-2191

Anderson County: (785)448-6559

Bourbon County: (620)223-4464

Woodson County: (620)625-2484

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Health Care

Dangerous Situation, Stay Home, Stay Safe: FS City Manager

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This is the east entrance to the lake, below the spillway. The road has broken out and there’s a lot of traffic, submitted by Jason Tourtillott.

Bourbon County experienced flooding rain on Saturday evening, 10 Inches, said Brad Matkin.

This is the view  towards Wall Street from Hwy.. 69 bypass, in front of Fort Scott Munitions.

In a Facebook post on the city’s page, he said the north end of town is flooded. He contacted fortscott.biz and asked to make this known.

“It’s a bad situation,” he said. “Water rescues are going on,” he said.

Please don’t be out unless absolutely necessary, Matkin said.

Third Street,  at the Hwy. 69 bypass,  by the railway, is flooded.

The safety of the residents and the public safety personnel is of utmost importance. Sightseeing is not encouraged.

 

The Marmaton River, which is located on  North National Avenue, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, is expected to crest at 45 feet, possible tomorrow.

“That’s one of the highest in history,”  he said.

Looking south on NATIONAL Avenue towards the bridge over the Marmaton River.

In addition, the forecast is for more rain this week.

Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.

 

 

Bourbon County, Government, Health Care

Citizens For The ER Will Hold Town Hall Meetings in Fort Scott and Uniontown This Month

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The Vote Here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National in an earlier election.  A sales tax question will be on the ballot on May 14, 2024. for voters to decide the issue.

A citizen group working independently of the county commission plans a few community town hall meetings to inform people of the upcoming sales tax question on the May 14 ballot.

The group, Citizens For The ER, is presenting two town hall meetings regarding the one-quarter cent Bourbon County sales tax dedicated to re-opening the local emergency room.

The meeting aims to address questions and concerns about the sales tax.
 
 
Meetings are scheduled for:
 
Fort Scott on Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Scott Community College Ellis Center.
 
Uniontown on Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Meeting Room.
“This is an opportunity to learn how your vote will impact the well-being of our county,” said Charles Gentry, a member of the group.

 

“Our purpose is to support obtaining an emergency room (in the county) by getting the ¼ cent retail sales tax passed,” said Randy Nichols, another member.  “The members are myself, Jamie Armstrong, Craig Campbell, Lynda Foster, Charles Gentry, Mark McCoy, and Doug Ropp.”

McCoy will be the moderator of the meetings.

“We are taking on the issue because we all feel strongly the need to have an ER for both community health and economic well-being,” Nichols said.

 

 

 

Government, Health Care

Kaiser Family Foundation Health News Investigation on Social Security Over Payments

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KFF Health News and Cox Media Group’s Series on Social Security Overpayments Wins the Goldsmith Awards’ Inaugural Government Reporting Prize

KFF Health News and Cox Media Group Television Stations announced today that they received the 2024 Goldsmith Awards’ inaugural Government Reporting Prize for their joint reporting in the series “Overpayment Outrage,” which exposed how the Social Security Administration routinely reduced or suspended monthly checks to take back funds to pay off large debts that were often created by its own miscalculation of people’s benefits.

 

The investigation revealed that more than two million people each year are hit with overpayments, including those least able to repay the debt, such as individuals who are poor, old, disabled, blind, or who suffer from a chronic illness.

 

The reporting triggered congressional hearings, a “top-to-bottom” review by Social Security officials, and increased Senate oversight. Commissioner Martin O’Malley also recently announced sweeping policy changes to stop what he called “clawback cruelty” and “grave injustices.”

 

The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School honored KFF Health News and Cox Media Group at the Goldsmith Awards ceremony yesterday with the new prize, which recognizes reporting on how government and public policy implementation works, including how and why it can fail and how it can most effectively and efficiently solve problems.

 

“This series exposed the significant impact of these mistakes on millions of people, including those who had little to no ability to pay back the government, forcing some people to lose their homes, cars and savings,” said KFF President and CEO Drew Altman, who is the founding Publisher of KFF Health News. “This is why KFF reports on systemic issues like this through our news service—to reveal how people are affected by policy. ”

 

“We’re honored to receive this prestigious award because it reflects CMG’s commitment to local news and investigative journalism,” said Marian Pittman, CMG’s President of Content. “The team’s relentless efforts to uncover the truth behind complex government policies and their implementation has resulted in tangible changes within the SSA and will directly benefit millions of people impacted by overpayments.”

 

The series was reported by David Hilzenrath and Fred Clasen-Kelly of KFF Health News and Jodie Fleischer of Cox Media Group. A list of additional contributors is available here.

More on “Overpayment Outrage”
Each year the Social Security Administration (SSA) issues billions of dollars in overpayments to recipients whose incomes or other qualifying criteria have changed. Under federal law, the SSA is required to demand repayment of this money, treating it as a debt to the federal government. These clawbacks can happen even decades after the initial overpayments.

 

In “Overpayment Outrage,” Cox Media Group and KFF Health News examined the overpayment issue and the impacts clawbacks have on vulnerable people. They found that overpayments happen due to rules that are complex and hard to follow, inadequate SSA staffing, outdated limits on assets and lagged or otherwise inaccurate data on income and other beneficiary information. The reporting also laid out potential solutions to address the legislative, funding, and process failures that cause this systemic problem.

 

About the Reporting Partnership
KFF Health News and Cox Media Group television stations used FOIA requests, reports by the inspector general and SSA, and interviews with agency employees, advocates for the disabled, and dozens of beneficiaries to piece together the story. What emerged was evidence of a systemic problem in which the SSA routinely reduces or halts monthly benefit checks to reclaim billions of dollars in payments it sent to beneficiaries then later said they should not have received.

 

After they published the series, hundreds of disability beneficiaries came forward with troubling accounts, including that the government sent them overpayment notices without explanation and threatened to cut off their main source of income with little warning. The agency has since restored benefits to several of the beneficiaries featured in the reporting.

 

About KFF and KFF Health News
KFF is a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization. Our mission is to serve as a nonpartisan source of information for policymakers, the media, the health policy community, and the public. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth and award-winning journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF. KFF Health News has been recognized repeatedly for its journalism, with awards honoring its investigative reports on the American health care system.

 

Other major KFF programs include Policy Analysis; KFF Polling and Survey Research; and KFF Social Impact Media, which conducts specialized public health information campaigns. A new program on Health Misinformation and Trust will be launched soon.

CONTACT:

Tammie Smith | 202.654.1410 | [email protected]

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Health Care, Youth

Kansas Renewal Institute Repurposes Mercy Hospital

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KRI President of Operations Joe Tinervin, MSW, stands in the intake room’s doorway near the former hospital’s west entrance.

The western part and administration portion of the former Fort Scott Mercy Hospital is in the process of renovation.

Kansas Renewal Institute, located at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. is a behavioral healthcare center specializing in treating adults and adolescents. The building has approximately 120,000 square feet.

JG Healthcare Solutions is the parent company that owns K.R.I.

The institute administrators e are Jonathan Gross, Chief Executive Officer; T.J. Denning, Chief Operating Officer, Erik Engebretson, Chief Financial Officer, Joe Tinervin, President of Operations and and Mike Sharpmack, Executive Director.

Kansas Renewal Institute President of Operations Joe Tinervin stands in the southern hall of the former Mercy Hospital.

This group of men has worked together at Universal Health Services, Acadia Healthcare, and most recently Discovery Behavioral Health.

“We worked for years together, but towards the end of our time at Discovery, we said we could do this ourselves, help a lot of people and have fun along the way,” Tinervin said.

“The whole idea is to provide safe, effective care that promotes successful outcomes,” he said. “We hope to have a staff environment where people love to come to work.”

K.R.I. will open with 82 licensed beds across four units. The State of Kansas has told Tinervin that the licensure process will be finished by April 15.

Joe Tinervin shows a patient room that is being made ready for patients.

There is a 50-bed adolescent psychiatric residential treatment facility,  with two units, one for males, and one for females.

K.R. I. President of Operations Joe TInervin gives a tour on March 26, 2024, of the new facility. This is a portion of the adolescent unit.

These units are located in the former maternity unit and adjacent hall on the north wing of the building.

The former maternity unit will be used for adolescent residential services at K.R.I. Joe Tinervin stands at the door between that unit and the hall. To the left is one of the many contractors working inside the building in anticipation of the April opening of the facility.

In addition, there are 32 beds in two units for adults: one for adult residential services and one for detoxification services.

This is a wing of the adult residential services unit at K.R.I., down the hall to the left is the detox unit. Work is still being done to prepare for the opening of the institute in April 2024.

The detox unit is located in the former intensive care area of the hospital with the adult residential services in the hall just adjacent.

The former Intensive care unit of Mercy Hospital is now the detox unit of Kansas Recovery Institute.
A view of the two corridors in the former waiting room of the emergency department at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. in  March 2024. The steps in the middle lead down to the cafeteria which will be for residents only, and won’t be open to the community.

“We have thrown a significant amount into the renovation so far,” Tinervin said. “Flooring, paint, equipment,  and furniture,” he said.

“It’s all happening right now as we get the units ready to go,” he said.

“The State of Kansas has a significant waitlist,” he said. “We will be servicing residents from all over Kansas, not just southeast Kansas.”

“The state was here last week, and licensure might take until April 15,” he said.

“Our job is to reintegrate people back into their home communities,” he said. “If someone is from another place, they will return.”

“We are not opening with an outpatient level of care…only residential,” Tinervin said. “When and if we build an outpatient level of care, patients from the Fort Scott area will be able to commute for services while those who live outside of the Fort Scott area will be transitioning home and will have the opportunity to participate in KRI Outpatient services remotely through a virtual telehealth platform.”

In the administrative portion of the K.R. I. is this multi-purpose room which is currently being used for training employees and will be used for classrooms for residential adolescents in the future. Pictured is a training session.

K.R.I. will be collaborating with USD 234.

 

“We are excited about the partnership we are developing with Unified School District 234,” Tinervin said.  “As part of this partnership, Unified School District 234 is committed to providing general and special education services to KRI residents within school age. These services will be provided on-site at Kansas Renewal Institute and the programming provided will be individualized according to the educational needs and levels of each student served at the KRI.”

 

To view job opportunities at KRI:

AD: Kansas Recovery Institute Is Hiring For All Positions

This is the reception desk of the Kansas Recovery Institute at 401 Woodland Hills.

Once licensure arrives, people can make appointments at 620-644-1195 and they will also take walk-ins, Tinervin said.

The KRI Team photo, taken last Thursday at the end of orientation. Back Row from left to right: Joe Tinervin, President of Operations; Christopher Edwards, BHT; Lori Storm, Lead Case Manager; Dylan Pike, Nurse; Mark Steward, BHT Supervisor; Mike Sharpmack, Executive Director; Jay Abbott, Director of Quality Improvement and Risk Management; Jaymie Murphy, Nurse
Front Row from left to right: Sheila Guinn-Peters, Admissions; Sheila Nami, Admissions; Pamela Johnson, Nurse; Mary Wilson, CMA; Candice Wyatt, BHT; Jessica Whitley, BHT; Tracy Serna, BHT Lead; JoDanna Simon, DON; Makenzie Brown, BHT; Stefani Brown, Nurse; and Jessica Allison, Clinical Director
*acronym key: BHT: Behavioral Health Technician; DON: Director of Nursing; CMT: Certified Medical Technician. Submitted photo.

 

The K.R.I. website: www.kansasrenewal.com

401 Woodland Hills Blvd.

Also housed at 401-405 Woodland Hills Blvd.: Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, Ashley (Medical) Clinic, Care to Share (cancer family support group), I Am Rehab( physical therapy/fitness center), Regional Economic Development Inc., and Diamonds In The Marketplace ( a beauty salon).

Advertisements, Bourbon County, Health Care, Jobs

AD: Kansas Renewal Institute is Hiring For All Positions!

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401 Woodland Hills Blvd. Kansas Renewal Institute, a behavioral healthcare treatment center will open soon.

The Kansas Renewal Institute, located at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. in Fort Scott, is a pioneering behavioral healthcare center specializing in treating adults and adolescents.

Our mission is to provide exceptional, accessible behavioral health services across Kansas, fostering resilience and renewal in our communities.

Kansas Renewal Institute offers full-time, part-time, and per-diem employment for all persons wishing to become a part of an exciting team of behavioral health professionals.

We need dedicated, responsible, caring individuals who have a passion for assisting others throughout their treatment process.

Join Our Team!
If you have a passion for helping others, join Kansas Renewal Institute to be part of a team that is saving lives! Our team provides compassionate treatment for children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with their mental health and/or substance
use concerns.

We work to meet each patient’s unique needs to help them achieve mental wellness so they can live happier lives full of hope.

Located in Fort Scott, our residential treatment programs provide modern, safe, and patient-friendly environments that encourage positive interactions conducive to health, hope, and healing.

Behavioral Health Technicians Needed: A Great Career Starter
Helping children as a Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) could be your calling! No experience, certification, or college degree is necessary – we will train you on the job! Applicants must be 20 years or older with a high school diploma or GED. As a BHT, you will provide care and support to patients ages 6 to 18 who are
struggling with their mental health. We invite you to be their bridge to better health!

–Masters Level Therapist (must be licensed in Kansas or eligible for licensure):
Monday- Friday (days).

–Case Manager: Monday-Friday (days).

–Behavioral Health Technician providing direct care for Patients. Day, Night, and Weekend Shifts are needed.
(Applicants will be subject to a Drug Test and Background Check if hired)

If interested, please send an Inquiry to Jessica Allison @
jessica.allison@kansasrenewal.com

The beginning date is 03/25/2024.

Taking Care of Our Team

The heart of our work is helping people. That means offering our employees a robust benefits package that ensures they’re able to care for themselves and their families, while they help children in need. Benefits include:
 Competitive pay for the industry
 Medical plans with generous employer contribution
 Tuition, CEU and licensure reimbursement
 Generous paid time off
 A strong focus on promoting internally
 Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
 AND MUCH MORE!

**Must be at least 20 to apply.

If interested, please send an Inquiry to Jessica Allison @
jessica.allison@kansasrenewal.com

Ascension Via Christi, Health Care

Colon cancer screening a potential life-saver

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Lisa Schmidt. Submitted photo.

For the past six years, Ascension Via Christi’s Cancer Outreach and Risk Assessment program has offered colorectal screening kits, while supplies last, at no cost to anyone 45 and older. Those whose stool samples test positive for blood are followed up by a nurse navigator and, if they need and cannot afford a colonoscopy, funding is available through a grant from the Colon Cancer Coalition.

That effort will continue again this year, through grant funding from the coalition to continue these efforts.

“The screening and follow-up colonoscopy may well have been a life-saver for patients who needed it,” says Lisa Schmidt. “Colorectal cancer screening is one of the most powerful weapons we have against colorectal cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer death for men and women combined.”

That’s because regular screening can detect polyps so that they can be removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer, a process that can take 10 to 15 years. It also helps detect colorectal cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage.

Schmidt, who had two pre-cancerous polyps removed during her first colonoscopy more than a decade ago and has had no findings during the two she has undergone since then, says taking part in the screening is easy.

Simply call 316-268-5890 to arrange for a kit to be mailed to you. Then follow the instructions provided for collecting a stool sample and return it in the self-addressed envelope provided with the kit. If the sample tests negative, the results will be sent by mail within a few weeks. If the specimen tests positive for traces of blood, an Ascension Via Christi nurse navigator will call you to discuss your results and recommended next steps.

According to the American Cancer Society, which recommends that anyone 45 or older get tested, the five-year relative survival rate is about 90 percent when colorectal cancer is found before it has spread. But only about four out of 10 colorectal cancers are found at this early stage. When cancer has spread outside the colon or rectum, survival rates are lower.

Symptoms can include rectal bleeding or blood in stool, changes in bowel habits and changes in bowel appearance; anyone experiencing any of these should see his or her doctor.

Learn more about cancer care at Ascension Via Christi by visiting ascension.org/ViaChristiCancerCare.

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About Ascension Via Christi

 

In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 134 other sites of care and employs more than 6,400 associates. In FY2023, Ascension Via Christi provided more than $65 million in community benefit programs. In FY2023, Ascension provided $2.3 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes more than 150,000 associates and 40,000 aligned providers. The national health system operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 139 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Visit www.ascension.org

Area News, Government, Health Care

Health Advisory, Safety Tips for Prescribed Fire Season in Flint Hills

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TOPEKA – Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reminds Kansans that March and April are when large areas of the state’s rangelands are burned by prescribed fire, especially within the Flint Hills.

Prescribed fire is a tool used by landowners and managers to help preserve the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, control invasive species, reduce woody encroachment from species such as Eastern Red Cedar and provide better forage for cattle. Prescribed burning also reduces the risk of wildfires and is effective in managing rangeland resources. Smoke from the burns can influence the air quality of downwind areas. The use of smoke management techniques is vital to reduce the air quality and health impacts.

KDHE will activate the Kansas smoke modeling tool in early March, prior to widespread burning in the Flint Hills. The computer models use fire data and current weather conditions to predict the potential contribution of smoke and air quality impacts to downwind areas. There are approximately 2.2 million acres burned on average in the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma each year.

“We are entering the 14th year that we have been able to provide this important tool for the prescribed fire community,” Jayson Prentice, meteorologist at the KDHE Bureau of Air, said. “We continue to encourage ranchers and land managers to utilize smoke modeling resources, such as the smoke modeling tool to mitigate potential air quality impacts.”

Prescribed burns release large amounts of particulate matter and other pollutants that can form ground-level ozone. Particulate matter and ozone can cause health problems, even in healthy individuals. Common health problems include: burning eyes, runny nose, coughing and illnesses such as bronchitis. People with respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, children and the elderly are more vulnerable to experience symptoms.

Steps to protect your health on days when smoke is present in your community include:

  • Healthy people limiting or avoiding strenuous outdoor
  • Vulnerable people should remain
  • Keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running air conditioners with air
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of
  • Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe

For more information about the prescribed burning in the Flint Hills, the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, April burn restrictions and the smoke modeling tool, please visit The Kansas Flint Hill Smoke Management Website.

###

                              

Area News, Health Care

NRMC to Offer Free Colon Health Screening

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Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) will offer free colon health screening kits beginning on Monday, March 4th in observance of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  The free kits will be available in the main lobby of NRMC from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the month while supplies last.

Colorectal cancer is one of the 5 most common cancers in men and women in the United States. It is just as common among women as men. Colorectal cancer is also one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States. Although there are no symptoms in the beginning, colorectal cancer is highly preventable through screening. This type of cancer almost always starts with a small growth called a polyp. If the polyp is found early, doctors can remove it and stop colorectal cancer before it starts.

To help lower your chances of getting colorectal cancer:

  • Get to and stay at a healthy weight
  • Be physically active
  • Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
  • Eat a diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and less red or processed meat.

 

The American Cancer Society recommends screening for colon cancer every year beginning at age 50 for people with no risk factors other than age.  Testing is painless, can be done in the privacy of your own home, and can save your life.  For more information or to begin with a consultation, call Nevada Regional Medical Center’s Professional Practice Clinic at (417) 448-2121.

 

 

About Nevada Regional Medical Center
Serving a six-county area since 1937, Nevada Regional Medical Center is a 71-bed acute, intensive and skilled care hospital. Nevada Regional Medical Center has earned recognition as a respected regional medical center for its comprehensive health care services, skilled and caring employees and state-of-the-art medical technology. Staff represent more than a dozen medical specialties, including family practice, women’s services, neurology, urology, psychiatry, wound care services, and general, vascular, thoracic and oncological surgery. Additionally, consultation clinics are held regularly by specialists in pulmonology, podiatry, ear, nose, and throat and cardiology.

 

 

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Health Care

Heart Health Month: Stopping tobacco use

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Stopping tobacco use can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other serious health problems. Within a few months after you stop smoking, you may notice improved breathing, circulation, and overall energy levels.

“There are so many benefits from stopping tobacco use,” Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager Jennelle Knight, PharmD, CDCES, says. “It can improve your mental health, reduce stress and increase your lifespan. We at CHC/SEK are committed to assisting all who want to take back control of their health and gain freedom from tobacco.”

CHC/SEK helps patients take the first step towards stopping tobacco use including smoking, vaping, chewing and other forms of tobacco. The health center has a team of counselors, healthcare professionals, and peer support that can provide individual counseling, group counseling, nicotine replacement therapy and other resources.

Patients are provided with the information and support they need to make an informed decision about their health. Staff help patients develop a plan that is tailored to their individual needs. CHC/SEK offers several treatment options to help you stop using tobacco products.

Even for long-term heavy tobacco-users at any age, it can increase life expectancy. Additionally, stopping can improve quality of life as it can reduce the risk of respiratory infections, gum disease, and improve sense of smell and taste.

Tobacco Cessation Medications

Utilizing FDA-approved medication in addition to counseling can more than double your chances of success.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a proven and effective way to stop using tobacco. It works by supplying the body with small doses of nicotine without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco. Nicotine is an addictive substance — tobacco contains harmful chemicals. These small doses of nicotine from NRT help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping the use of tobacco such as smoking, vaping, and chewing. NRT comes in various forms such as gum, lozenges, and patches.

There are also prescription-only treatment options available to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

Health Benefits of Stopping Smoking

Stopping smoking can significantly reduce your risk of developing smoking-related diseases, even if you’ve smoked for many years. The health benefits start almost immediately after you stop smoking, and they continue to improve over time.

Within twenty minutes of stopping smoking, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. Within twelve hours, your carbon monoxide levels return to normal. Within two to twelve weeks, your circulation improves, and lung function increases. These improvements make it easier to exercise and breathe.

Health Benefits of Stopping Vaping

Stopping vaping can have tremendous health benefits, both in the short and long term. By stopping vaping, you are reducing the risks of lung, heart, and brain damage, improving your overall health and well-being.

Within twenty minutes of stopping vaping, your blood pressure and pulse return to typical levels, and the blood circulation throughout your body improves. Your lungs have already begun to clear out mucus and other debris that may have accumulated from vaping. Within 8-12 hours, the high levels of carbon monoxide in your blood significantly decrease, making more oxygen available quickly.

By stopping vaping, you give your body a chance to heal and recover from the damage caused by vaping. You will breathe easier, have more energy, and reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases.

Health Benefits of Stopping Chewing

Chewing tobacco is a harmful habit that can lead to serious health problems. Not only does it increase your risk of oral cancer, but it can also damage your teeth and gums, cause bad breath, and even contribute to heart disease and stroke.

Stopping chewing tobacco can have dramatic health benefits. Within just twenty minutes of stopping, your blood pressure and heart rate begin to reduce, and within a year, your risk of oral cancer decreases by half. Additionally, your sense of taste and smell will improve, and your teeth and gums will become healthier and less prone to decay.

 

Bourbon County, Health Care

Bourbon County Community Health Workers: Addressing Health Inequalities

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Left to right: Lindsey McNeil, Community Health Worker, and Lisa Robertson, Community Health Worker. Submitted photo.

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) contracted with Kansas University Medical Center to implement the  Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, (COPE Grant) program and hired Community Health Workers.

One of the workers, Lindsey McNeil,  was hired in partnership with KU Medical Center, and one, Lisa Robertson,  in partnership with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. They are housed in the HBCAT office, on 104 North National Avenue in Fort Scott. They are also part of a coalition, Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), that helps develop strategies to address health inequities in our area.

“Equity looks different for us all,” said Robertson. “We serve others without judgment and want better for them and for them to live their best life.”

“We have been able to help about 400 clients with their specific needs,” said McNeil.  “We have helped house over 40 people, including nine of our chronically homeless individuals. Through our LHEAT we have been able to bring FREE public transportation to the county (BB-Go), we have partnered with two different local laundry mats to bring FREE laundry programs to the county, and we have helped fund multiple other things with partner organizations like CORE, First United Methodist Church, etc.

McNeil has been a Bourbon County Community Health Worker,  serving residents, since October 2022.

She is paid by KU Medical Center, through the COPE Grant, which is a grant through the Center for Disease Control (U.S. Government) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Robertson has been a social worker for 29 years and employed through the grant, since March 2022.

“We link individuals to needed services in the community such as Kansas Works for a job, local housing resources, medical and mental health providers, transportation providers the Department of Children’s and Families for SNAP Benefit or application for Medicaid,” Robertson said. “We help them get access to clothing, blankets, utility resources, food pantries and hot meals through Feeding Families in HIS Name.”

“I truly have a passion for doing this work,”  Robertson said. “It is not an 8-5 job that you just walk away from. You think of things in the middle of the night that may help someone so you make yourself a note or text your co-worker so you don’t forget to run an idea by them. It takes teamwork. I go to garage sales or thrift stores and buy something because I know someone can use it.”

“We have amazing Community Partners that without them we could not do our jobs,” Robertson said. “Our partners help us when we need help or resources. We are blessed to live in a community that works together for the benefit of others.”

The following are excerpts from two testimonials by people helped through this program: 

“They helped me find a place to live when I was facing homelessness again and connected me with resources such as SNAP, the Beacon and HCBS services.​

“They have walked alongside me and supported me in my sobriety journey and have helped connect me to other people who are fighting the same battles as me.​” ~Kelly

” I suffered a brain aneurysm and was put into a coma for my safety. By the grace of God, I survived. I woke up to a divorce, no home, and I had to start over. ​

“I had to relearn to read, write and try to make it…. I had nowhere to go, no job and no means of transportation. I found a hotel that worked with me and my service dog… I was able to find a job at Walmart. I still had no transportation, so I walked everywhere.” ​

“God put those CHWs in my life…They helped me look for a place, took me to doctor appointments and gave me rides wherever needed, and they have been huge supports in my life. With their help, I am back on my feet with a place to live and I am currently working on getting a vehicle. I appreciate them for all they do!” ​     ~ T.

“The COPE grant was established in 2021 and was meant to only be around for 2 years,”  McNeil said. “It was originally supposed to end in June of 2023. However, the grant was able to be extended until May of this year. Our grant officially ends on May 31st, 2024, so we are desperately seeking ways to continue funding the CHW positions in Bourbon County.”

To contact

Lindsey McNeil,

Cell: (620)952-3966

[email protected]\

 

Lisa Robertson

[email protected]

(620) 687-2782

Left to right: Lindsey McNeil, Community Health Worker, Rachel Carpenter, Executive Director of Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and LHEAT Lead and Lisa Robertson, Community Health worker. Submitted photo.