Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) has been serving the citizens of Fort Scott and surrounding towns since early 2019.

Hoping to improve the overall health of Bourbon County,  the organization met with treatment providers, community leaders, and the citizens of Bourbon County, according to Eric Thomason, who is the director of CHC/SEK Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Services.

“The message was clear, there was an increased need for behavioral health and addiction treatment services,” said  Thomason.

“We are proud to announce that in October of 2020 we will begin offering in-person addiction treatment services,” Thomason said.  “As a part of our current addiction treatment services we offer Medication Assisted Therapy for the treatment of substance use disorders. CHC/SEK has a designated addiction treatment nurse, Mitzi Clarkson RN, who is available for patient and provider consultation.”

In October of 2019 CHC/SEK launched psychiatry services to the Fort Scott clinic, primarily utilizing telehealth services.

“In March of 2020, we increased our psychiatry availability to include face to face services,” Thomason said. ” Psychiatry is offered by Tien Nguyen, PMHNP. Tien is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He offers treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders primarily utilizing medication.”

As part of the CHC COVID-19 response, they increased access to behavioral health and addiction treatment therapy staff via telehealth and e-visit appointments.

“Due to the overwhelming utilization these alternative service platforms will remain in place,” Thomason said.

CHC/SEK works to meet the needs of the community regardless of a person’s ability to pay for service, he said.

“We will continue to strive to make ‘healthcare the way it should be,'” Thomason said.

Any person interested in enrolling in mental health or addiction care, contact 620.223.8040, or talk with your CHC health care provider about a referral.