Sarah Jane Tribble, a writer for Kaiser Health News, posted another of her series of features on the closing of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott one year ago.
The following is an excerpt:
“A year ago, after Mercy gave a 90-day notice that it would close, City Manager Dave Martin said the betrayal felt by city leaders led to lawyers and calls with other health care systems about taking over the facility. Now, Martin has realized ‘we will not have ― or do we need ― a hospital.'”
Fort Scott native Dr. Grant Hartman has joined the staff of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg and will be seeing patients starting in January.
He will see patients in Pittsburg on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and Wednesdays in CHC/SEK’s Fort Scott clinic at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 620.240.5679.
Dr. Hartman is a graduate of Pittsburg State University with a BS in biology, and Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, MO.
He has owned and operated Hartman Spine & Joint in Fort Scott since August 2015.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the team at CHC/SEK,” Dr. Hartman said in a press release. “I’m inspired by their mission to provide care to all, and their total, holistic approach to health care. Chiropractic medicine provides extensive pain management solutions equipping patients to achieve better health through wellness and it’s very exciting to see CHC/SEK recognize that medications are not always the answer to a patient’s pain. Working in conjunction with the primary care doctors to treat patients with acute and chronic pain will be one of my focuses there.”
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Clinic, 401 Woodland Hills, just off Hwy. 69 south of Fort Scott.
He will be working within CHC/SEK’s Wellness Department, which also employs a full-time physical therapist, wellness coordinator, and a wellness services assistant, according to the press release. Personalized treatment and exercise programs are designed around each patient’s physical deficiencies or needs, and patients are encouraged to develop goals based on their unique personal requirements.
WICHITA, Kan. — Fort Scott Presbyterian Village was recognized with an Emerald Award Level One from PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America) for reaching goals in fiscal year 2019, July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.
The recognition came through PMMA’s Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 16 locations and two hospices to achieve high levels of resident and employee satisfaction, meet financial goals, build philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and meet marketing goals. There are 11 areas measured for the Emerald Awards.
To receive an emerald, a community has to meet its goals in all 11 areas. This is Fort Scott Presbyterian Village’s second consecutive Emerald Award Level One. Team members from the community attended PMMA’s annual Emerald Award Banquet November 13 at the Broadview Hotel in Wichita to accept the award.
“We are pleased to present Fort Scott Presbyterian Village with its second Emerald Award. This recognition is a visible sign of the Fort Scott team’s commitment to the mission of PMMA of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” said Bruce Shogren, chief executive officer for PMMA.
PMMA has been providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri for more 70 years.
For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Marketing Director Becky Kellum at 620-223-5550 or [email protected].
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Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has been offering independent and assisted living apartments for seniors from southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri since 1994. Learn more at FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org. PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with 16 locations and 2 hospices in Kansas and Missouri, and a new campus under development in Colorado Springs. Learn more at PMMA.org.
KansasAgStress.org offers resources and support for Kansas agriculture community
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Agriculture producers have faced significant challenges in recent years, including market uncertainties, natural disasters, ongoing trade wars and other setbacks. These stressful situations have led to heightened focus on mental health issues in the agricultural community. In response, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, along with several Kansas ag partners, have unveiled a new website to provide resources and support to those dealing with ag-related stress. The website can be found at KansasAgStress.org.
“The increase in suicide rates among farmers and ranchers is alarming,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We must do everything in our power to curb this trend. The website provides additional resources and support to individuals and their loved ones. We must provide our farmers and ranchers alternatives to suicide. We must be there for them.”
The new website addresses the challenges that Kansas farmers, ranchers and their families face in today’s ag industry. Recent natural disasters, depressed commodity prices and other issues weigh heavily on farm families and can take a toll that leads to mental and emotional distress, substance abuse, anxiety, depression and even suicide. Visitors to the website will be able to find local and national resources for those issues, as well as support in areas ranging from stress management to financial and legal challenges.
“This website is intended to be a collaborative effort to support the emotional and financial health challenges for Kansans, especially those involved in agriculture,” Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam said. “Many people were involved in the development of the website. Our hope is that it will be a positive resource for people struggling during difficult times.”
KansasAgStress.org features resources and support for every member of the family, from teens to aging adults. Unique resources are also available to assist our farmer veterans, who face the issues that come with farming, along with the possible challenges of being a military veteran.
“The purpose of this website is to help care for and assist Kansas farmers and ranchers in their well-being,” Beam said. “As more tools are developed and come available, this website will be updated and serve as a hub of current information and resources.”
The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the State of Kansas is committed to serving Kansas farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and the customers they serve. Together with our partners, we have made it a priority to provide support and assistance to Kansans battling ag-related stress and mental health struggles.
Billie Jo Drake opens the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition monthly meeting Dec. 4.
Gary Miller, account executive with Angels Care Home Health company, spoke to the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition members Wednesday about the company’s offerings.
Gary Miller speaks on behalf of Angels Care Home Health company.
One request is different than in years past, Miller said.
“Seniors are now coming to us for assistance with rent,” he said.
Miller has reasons to believe this is because of their casino spending.
An additional new situation, several generations are living under one roof.
“We are seeing three-generational homes,” he said. This is where grandparents, parents and children are all living in one home for financial and/or personal care reasons.
Angels Care Home Health helps with these situations and many others.
The services they provide are skilled nursing, wound care, falls prevention, medication management with education, disease management with education, therapy for neuropathy with pain, blood glucose monitoring education, pre-palliative care, behavioral health, hospital transition care for CHF, pneumonia, heart attack and physical, speech and occupational therapies.
Angels Care Home Health is officed in Pittsburg and serves the surrounding area.
For more information contact 620-232-2922.
There will be no January coalition meeting.
The Feb. 5 meeting will feature Meaghan Russell from USD 235 who will present about the Team Mates Program.
The coalition meets the first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church at 123 Scott.
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition General Membership Meeting Minutes, submitted by Chairwoman Billie Jo Drake.
December 4, 2019
Welcome and Board update: Twenty-three members representing twenty-one agencies attended. Billie Jo announced that Nancy Van Etten will be filling the vacancy on the Coalition Board; Nancy will be replacing DeAnn Cambers who has relocated to Crawford County.
Member introductions and announcements:
Billie Jo shared information provided by Kerry Pommier, Eugene Ware Counselor, regarding the Community Conversation on the effects of childhood trauma to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, at Fort Scott High School. Guest speaker will be Monica Murnan, a member of the Kansas Legislature and Director of Student Support Services at Greenbush. For more information, call 620-223-3380 or email [email protected] .
Michelle Stevenson, Fort Scott Pre-School Program, shared that the finance simulation organized by Lewis Dunkeson, FSHS, went very well.
Shannon Stancer, TFI Family Services, announced that they are in need of drivers.
Jean Tucker, Feeding Families, stated that the program is continuing to feed 135 – 200 meals every Wednesday evening.
Allen Schellack, Salvation Army, still needs volunteers to ring bells during the Christmas season. Last year over $7,000 was raised for use in Bourbon County; this year’s goal is $10,000.
Gary Murrell, Beacon, shared changes in Beacon hours for the holiday season: December 24 hours will be changed from the usual evening hours to 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Beacon will be closed on December 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, and January 1. Beacon will reopen with regular hours on January 2. Gary also reminded members that Beacon clients must be signed up in order to receive food in January. The only date left for sign-up is December 10 during the evening hours.
Caleb Smith, Kansas Appleseed, announced that he is planning a Hunger Action Summit on January 17 at the Pittsburg Library.
Steve Jameson, SEK-CAP, noted that he is working on guidelines to help adults with mental health issues.
Nancy Van Etten, American Red Cross, provided information on the upcoming blood drive: December 17 and 18 at Buck Run Community Center. They still need volunteers to help with escorting; call 215-9749 if you could help.
Jennifer Graber and Christine Abbott, Kansas Works, shared that the Annual Job Fair (all ages) and Youth Summit (16-24 year olds) will be April 2 at the Pittsburg Memorial Hall. Christine also shared copies of their new flyer.
Michelle Lyon, DCF, reminded members that LIEAP applications will be open January 21, the day after Martin Luther King Day, and will be open until March 31. She encouraged those that receive a denial to follow-up and provide what was missing in the original application. Many times making the corrections will result in an approval.
Sandra Haggard, RSVP, stated that she will be doing another Opioid Safety Seminar in the spring. Currently, Sandy has senior volunteers helping at the Beacon and with the veterans activities.
Robin Griffin, Thrive Allen County, is working on bike share programs, bicycle trail systems, and opioid prevention.
Barbara Longhofer, Kansas Guardianship Program, provided brochures about her program; she now has four volunteers working in the Fort Scott area.
Program: Gary Miller, Angels Home Care Health. Angels Care Home Health provides services to seniors who are fifty-five (55) and older. Gary shared flyers listing all the services they can provide. He noted that they are beginning to see three generational homes and seniors who need assistance with rent and utilities. They do work closely with CHC; their program is covered 100% by Medicare. For those seniors who do not qualify for Medicare, Angels Care will work with their insurance or assist to find another home health facility that is affordable to the client. Further information can be found at angelscarehealth.com or 620-232-2922.
February program will be presented by MeagThe han Russell, USD 235. Meaghan will tell us about their Teammates program. Barbara Longhofer, Kansas Guardianship Program, will present the March program.
Open Forum: Billie Jo reminded members that there will be no General Membership meeting in January due to the first Wednesday being January 1.
Adjournment: Next meeting will be February 5, 2020.
Since taking over operations of the medical clinic from Mercy Hospital earlier this year, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has been working to add more doctors’ services.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.
Added Doctors
The following doctors have recently been added or added more days available in the Fort Scott clinic.
Dr. Alicia Pino, D. O. is a board-certified pediatrician and holds medical privileges from Ascension Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg.
Dr. Holly Gault, M.D. is a board-certified family physician with obstetrics and has medical privileges at Ascension Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg.
“They aren’t really new,” Krista Postai, CEO and president of CHCSEK said of the two doctors. “Dr. Gault, a family physician, has been with us for more than three years in Pittsburg and lives near Arcadia so is actually closer to Ft. Scott. She has been seeing patients there one day a week and is increasing to two.”
“Dr. Pino joined us this summer; she is a board-certified pediatrician and is currently seeing patients one day a week in Fort Scott. She also sees newborns at Via Christi Ascension and patients in Pittsburg three days a week.”
“We thought it would be more convenient for those Bourbon County women delivering in Pittsburg to have both these doctors more available for follow up visits,” she said.
Dr. Grant Hartman, a Fort Scott Chiropractor officially joins CHCSEK this month and, beginning in January, will provide chiropractic services at their clinics in both Pittsburg and Fort Scott, Postai said.
Dr. Bashar Marji is the latest addition of specialists added, Postai said. Marji is a cardiology specialist who will come to Fort Scott one Friday each month.
The following are the specialists currently in Fort Scott, with their frequency:
Cardiology – Dr. Markham (HCA) – the first, third and fourth Thursday of each month;
Urology – Dr. Tawil – every Thursday;
Orthopedics – Greg King, APRN (Freeman) – every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday;
Surgery – Dr. Hall (Allen County Regional Hospital) – Thursday afternoons, Friday all-day of every week;
Cardiology – Renae Bateman, APRN (Mercy) – every Monday;
Cardiovascular Surgery – the combination of Dr. Meyer/Dr. Brown/Pam Darnell, APRN/Amanda Lumpkins, APRN/Paige Palmer, APRN (all Mercy) – First and Third Friday of every month;
Cardiology – Dr. Marji – one Friday each month
New Clinic Building In Process
CHC/SEK will be building a facility on Horton, just west of the former Mercy Hospital building.
The move to build a new clinic on the Horton Street side of the former Mercy Hospital in on-going, Postai said.
Currently, CHCSEK is finalizing the donation of land from Mercy Hospital, she said. Additionally, they are working on the design of the new building.
“We are looking at eight acres including the helipad,” Postai said. “We expect to have that done very shortly and are looking at a groundbreaking in the spring.”
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition general membership meets each first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 123 Scott. There will be no January 2020 meeting.
The meeting agenda for December 4, 2019
Welcome and Board update by Billie Jo Drake, chairwoman:
Member introductions and announcements:
Program: Gary Miller, Angels Home Care Health
February program will be presented by Meaghan Russell, USD 235. Meaghan will tell us about their Teammates program.
Open Forum:
Adjournment: Next meeting will be February 5, 2020.
Clifton Chiropractic, LLC opened a new practice at 203 E 3rd St., Fort Scott on September 3, 2019.
Clifton Chiropractic, 203 E. Third. Submitted photo.
The owner, Dr. Kaylee Clifton D.C, 30, graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College, Kansas City in 2014. She was a graduate of Jayhawk Linn High School, and her hometown is Centerville.
She has five years of experience and, also maintains a practice in Pleasanton, KS.
“I opened my first practice location in Pleasanton, in 2015 and decided to grow my business this year. I currently split my time between the two locations.”
“My passion for chiropractic care started at age 15, I’ve always known this was my career choice,” Clifton said. “I saw firsthand the positive changes it can have on someone’s life. My favorite part of being a chiropractor is helping, educating and inspiring patients to lead healthier lifestyles and teaching them how the body has the power to heal itself. I love getting the opportunity to help better someone’s quality of life every day!”
“I love to work with school kids to teach them the importance of form and technique to better protect their bodies for the future.”
Services Clifton provides are adjustments for all ages (pediatrics to geriatrics), decompression therapy, pregnancy, sports injuries, acupuncture, activator, Graston, and school physicals.
Karen Stewart is the office manager.
Karen Stewart. Submitted photo.
In 2020 Clifton will add Department Of Transportation Physicals to her list of services available.
“I am currently in the process of completing my training and certification to be able to perform DOT Physicals,” she said.
Clifton is a provider for Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Health Care. She also accepts other major insurances.
Clifton lives outside of Prescott on a cattle ranch with husband, Tim, along with three dogs and a pet calf.
They have been married for five years and enjoy going on new adventures when time allows, she said. Their favorite hiking area is in Sedona, AZ.
“I grew up around Centerville and have family around that area as well as the rest of my family living around the Fort Scott area,” Clifton said. “I went to Fort Scott Community College and then to K-State, before getting my degrees at Cleveland Chiropractic College.
Krista Postai, President and CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, said they expanding services.
Mercy Hospital announced in October 2018 that they would be closing December 2018.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
CHC/SEK then assumed responsibilities, securing physicians and staff to provide a clinic to the community at the Mercy Hospital site, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
The CHC/SEK is currently planning to build a new facility on the Horton Street side of the former Mercy Hospital site.
CHC/SEK will be building a facility on Horton, just west of the former Mercy Hospital building.
“We have selected an architect for our new Fort Scott clinic,” Postai said. “It’s Zingre and Associates from Ft. Scott and we are in the midst of designing the new facility.”
“We only have a two-year lease for our current space which Mercy clearly indicated is not renewable,” Postai said. “We knew from the beginning that we would have to build a new clinic, which we’ve shared publically to the various groups we’ve talked with, including the city and county. To help make our startup affordable in Ft. Scott and give us time to plan, Mercy discounted the rent amount for us and everyone in there, which is greatly appreciated.”
“Overhead (electricity, gas, etc.) is extremely expensive in the existing space, as is ongoing maintenance on the building,” Postai said. ” So there is no way we could assume the financial burden of a 177,000 sq. ft. building that is only being minimally utilized. Others who have evaluated ownership of the building came to the same conclusion. We know Mercy recognizes that and have evaluated options including demolition although, to my knowledge, no final decision has been reached.”
“CHC/SEK is planning on expanding its services to include dental care, mental health care, a women’s center, more accessible pharmacy, etc. which can’t be accomplished in the existing space we now occupy without a major investment in renovation in a building with a uncertain future,” Postai said. “Our model of care also supports integration of services. For example, children coming in for their well child check may also have a visit with the dentist or someone struggling to manage their diabetes may meet with a therapist or a patient educator as part of their medical visit. Numerous support staff also coordinate care or work with special populations (e.g. expectant mothers) which requires space within the clinic. So, we’re working with our Ft. Scott staff to determine what they want and need in a new building built specifically to support our ‘one-stop’ approach or, as our vision says, ‘Healthcare The Way It Should Be.'”
In addition, CHC/SEK also will assume responsibility of Mercy’s clinic in Columbus in January 2020, Postai said.
” We will be combining our existing Columbus clinic with Mercy’s clinic,” Postai said. “Mercy will continue to manage the hospital in Columbus which is owned by the city.”
Postai said CHC/SEK is also extending its reach into Oklahoma.
“CHC/SEK was one of 77 health centers in the U.S. to receive grants to open new health centers and we will be doing so in Miami and Wyandotte, Oklahoma,” she said. ” Our center in Miami is currently operated by Mercy who asked us if we would assume responsibility and we agreed to do so. The one in Wyandotte is in a school and will primarily serve the students, their families and school staff. We will have the clinics open before the end of the year.”
The organization is also working to secure future doctors for the area, and former Mercy Hospital CEO Reta Baker was selected to administer the program to do just that.
Reta Baker is now CHC/SEK’s Vice President of Clinical Education, with the office located in Pittsburg.
“We also are working with the University of Kansas School of Medicine to establish a family practice residency program in southeast Kansas,” Postai said. “To provide administrative oversight of this program – and all of our clinical education students – is Reta Baker, former hospital CEO in Ft. Scott. She has been named VP/Clinical Education and her office is located in CHC/SEK’s system office in Pittsburg.”
With all the outreach activity of CHC/SEK, “We are nearing 500 full-time employees,” Postai said.
Here is the list of CHS/SEK outreach from Krista Postai:
“Crawford County: Our main clinic in Pittsburg plus a dental-only clinic downtown and we just opened a school-based health center in Pittsburg High School. A mobile medical van goes daily to the middle school and elementary schools. We also have the clinic in Arma.
Cherokee County … we have a clinic in Baxter Springs and Columbus.
Bourbon County … we have Walk-in Care and the main Ft. Scott clinic.
Linn County … we have clinics in Mound City and Pleasanton.
Labette County – we have a clinic in Parsons.
Montgomery County – we have a clinic in Independence and three in Coffeyville – a main clinic, one in the elementary school and one in the middle/high school.
Allen County – we have a clinic in Iola.
We will be opening two clinics in Ottawa County, OK in December – one in Miami and one in the Wyandotte Schools.
We also employ nurses in multiple schools, as well as behavioral health specialists throughout the region.”
CHCSEK offices are located at 3011 N. Michigan, Pittsburg, KS 66762. The phone number is 620-235-1867.
The CHC/SEK Clinic in Fort Scott’s number is 223-8040.
