Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
The past month has been busy for the new Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas staff’s move to the former Mercy Hospital Clinic.
“As expected, we had a few glitches with technology but believe we have internet and phone systems now working well…so thanks to everyone for their patience,” said Krista Postai, CEO for CHC/SEK.
The east entrance to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas states that the center provides services regardless of ability to pay. Sliding fee discounts and financial assistance is available to eligible patients.
“Patients have been great about getting us signed consents to transfer records – so great, in fact, that we are backlogged….but working through the stack as fast as possible.”
“We also have been very appreciate for all the kindness we’ve been shown…many folks have gone above and beyond.”
“We did get mammography back up and running and are now working at restoring wound care services.”
“We’ve also approached three organizations about the possibility of offering cancer care in Fort Scott to replace the Cancer Center of Kansas who closed their clinic with minimal notice. We’ve had some interest but no commitments.”
“As in the past, we are providing comprehensive primary care including obstetrics. Dr. Burke is now on staff at Via Christi and doing deliveries; Dr. Seals is also doing deliveries at Via Christi and Nevada Medical Center.”
“With the addition of the new clinics, CHC/SEK now employs about 420 – about 40 of these are in the Ft. Scott clinics and about 30 staff are in Arma, Pleasanton and Mound City. We still have openings to fill in registration and nursing, as well as behavioral health where we are looking for a LSCSW or a psychologist (PHD),” Postai said.
“Convenient Care – now Walk-In Care – transitioned Feb. 1; the main clinic on Feb. 4.
“The pharmacy will formally transfer to our ownership April 1. In the interim, Mercy continues to operate it and have contracted with us for the 340B drug discount program which makes it possible for us to provide medications at very low cost for those who are uninsured or have limited finances.
“As we’ve mentioned in the past, our lease in the hospital building is for two years so we continue to explore long-range options. We will need about 20,000 sq. ft. which will allow us to offer more services including dental and behavioral health. Expect to have a decision on the direction we’ll take by May 1.”
“We are working to recruit a pediatrician to Ft. Scott and have interviewed one candidate; also interviewed a dentist with an interest in returning to the area.”
“Phone numbers remain the same. Hours of operation have expanded at the main clinic to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.”
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas east entrance door states the hours of operation and the phone number of the medical provider on call.
Introducing the Chief Executive Officer of CHC/SEK:
Krista Postai. Submitted photo.
Postai, an original founder and former board member of CHC/SEK. She serves as Chief Executive Officer, according to the CHC/SEK website.
Prior to joining the organization in November 2004, she was vice president of planning and development at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center. During her 23 years with Mt. Carmel, she was instrumental in the development of several key programs including the regional cancer center, the $17.5 million outpatient expansion completed in 2004, the creation of a physician recruitment and retention program and several mission-directed services including CareVan (a transportation service), Congregational Health Ministry, and the Wesley House Dental Clinic. She served as secretary to the Mount Carmel Foundation and as liaison to the Mt. Carmel Auxiliary.
She attended Pittsburg State University and is a graduate of Kansas University in Lawrence with a Bachelor’s of Science.
March 14. Post 25 Color Guard meets at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. All Post members including SAL members are invited to join our growing Color Guard.
March 18. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.
March 19. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.
March 23. Department of KansasDistrict 2 Convention at Gardner Post 19 starts at 8 am. Districts will meet in Convention for the purpose of conducting its business and electing officers for the 2019-20 membership year which begins on July 1. All Legionnaires in good standing are invited and encouraged to attend District and Department conventions.
March 25. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.
March 26. Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle departs Pete’s Convenience Store, 1920 South Main Street, parking lot at 6:15 am. Vets needing a ride for a medical appointment must call 785-925-0261 to schedule a seat.
April 1. Post 25 meet and greet at 6:30 pm in Memorial Hall. Come and enjoy the fellowship of other Veterans. Bring an eligible Veteran to visit our Post.
April 1. Post 25 general membership meeting at 7 pm in Memorial Hall. Our membership meetings are open to all. SAL members are strongly encouraged to attend.
Remember to check out Post 25 on Facebook. It contains current information pertaining to Veterans and their families.
I am pleased to announce that once again Fort Scott American Legion Thompson-Harkey Post 25 leads the Department of Kansas in membership for the week ending March 8. Our 2019 goal was 51 members. Our current membership is at 143% and 73 members. We are 22 members over our goal. By way of comparison, Sterling Post 128 in District 7 is in 2nd place for membership at 123%. Thanks to all members who have made Fort Scott Post 25 a highly visible and active Legion Post in the Department of Kansas.
We welcomed Vernon Hill, Marilyn Matthews and Michael Newberry into Post 25 as new members at our March membership meeting. Michael Johnson also joined the SAL Squadron 25 as a new member.
Recruit a new Legion member and both you and the new member will be entered into a drawing where each of you could win $500. This new member contest runs until May. Bringing in a past member whose membership expired in 2017 or earlier would also count towards the $500 drawing. If you need recruiting brochures or membership applications, please contact me. I’ll make arrangements to deliver them to you. A copy of the membership drive rules is attached.
American Legion Service Officer Myra Jowers will meet with anyone, by appointment, who has questions about filing VA claims, who need a second set of eyes to review their claims or help understand VA documents they have received in the mail. Her service is free and is for anyone, Veteran or family member, who wishes to file a claim or appeal a denied claim. She can be reached at [email protected] or 620.215.1286 to schedule an appointment.
Fort Scott/Topeka VA Medical Center shuttle is now in operation. The shuttle is operating on Mondays and Tuesdays.
I anticipate adding a Kansas City VA Medical Center shuttle run starting in April. The KC run will be on either a Wednesday or Thursday. A start date will be set once two more shuttle drivers are cleared by the VA.
Any area Vet needing a ride for a medical appointment should call 785-925-0261 for more information or to reserve a seat. All Vets riding the shuttle must have medical appointments between 9 am and 1 pm and call by 5 pm the day before their appointment to schedule their ride.
We are moving towards starting an American Legion Riders. An organizational meeting will be scheduled in mid-March. The date and time will be based upon ALR District Officers availability. If you are interested in joining the Post 25 Riders Chapter, contact Post Commander Carl Jowers to be placed on a meeting notification list. The requirements to join the ALR are on the attached flyer.
Second nominations for Post 25 Officers for the 2019 – 2020 Legion year will at our April meeting. Any Post 25 Legionnaire who is current on their dues can be nominated for any office. Please give thought to stepping up and being nominated for an office or encourage other members to step up and help guide Post 25’s growth for another year.
Your Post 25 Color Guard continues to grow. Come to the March 14 meeting and learn more about the Post 25 Color Guard. Darrell Spencer serves as the Color Guard Captain.
Legion merchandise can be ordered through Emblem Sales: https://emblem.legion.org/. Contact me if ordering a Legion cap to insure your cap has the correct lettering.
Governor comments on Horton Community Hospital closure, sends agency assistance
Following the closure Tuesday of Horton Community Hospital, Governor Laura Kelly extended assistance from her administration and highlighted the critical importance of community hospitals in rural Kansas.
“I’m concerned for the community of Horton as they face the serious loss of their local hospital,” Kelly said. “This is becoming a far too frequent occurrence in our state. Local hospitals are key to the health of Kansas families and are often one of the largest employers in a small town. Elected leaders must work together to do more to support our local hospitals.”
Three rural hospitals have closed in the last three months. Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott closed on December 31st. Oswego Community Hospital closed in February. And Horton Community Hospital closed its doors Tuesday.
“I’ve directed our agencies to coordinate support for hospital staff during this challenging time,” Kelly said. “A closure of a hospital has ripple effects through the community and region. Our KANSASWORKS team will be in Horton Thursday to assist hospital staff with filing for unemployment benefits, as well as job applications and re-employment services.”
The Governor’s Office, Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Department of Labor are working to provide support to employees of the hospital, ensure unemployment benefits applications are streamlined, and re-employment opportunities are available.
In response to Tuesday’s closure, KANSASWORKS will be hosting Rapid Response Informational Meetings Thursday in Horton in conjunction with the Community Outreach Event at the Horton Public Library.
Efforts to assist affected hospital employees will include Rapid Response Informational Meetings at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday at the Horton Public Library, 809 1st Ave E. No registration is required. Information will be shared about KANSASWORKS, Workforce Center employment and training services and how to file unemployment insurance benefits.
Also, the KANSASWORKS Mobile Workforce Center will be at the Horton Public Library from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to provide additional re-employment services. Workforce Center staff will be available to help with registering on KANSASWORKS.com, creating a resumé, job search assistance and filling out job applications.
The Rapid Response team was also sent to Oswego following the closure of its hospital last month.
Any questions about KANSASWORKS should be directed to the Department of Commerce:
A thoughtful and funny performance will intrigue audiences at the Fort Scott High School spring play. Performances are this Friday, March 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 16 and 2 and 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium, 1005 S. Main.
From left: Karina Kantilal, Dominic Cannon, Addy Labbe, Kaden Kiwan, Mesa Jones, Daniela Belcuore, Mary Gladbach, Sage Hill, Jo Goodbody, Hunter Adamson attempt to find the culprit who stole the Savage money bonds in this scene.
The comedy, “The Curious Savage” by John Patrick, has kept the thespians practicing lines for the last six weeks, according to FSHS teacher and play director Angela Bin.
“An ensemble cast of eleven students have worked for the past six weeks to embody the interesting characters in this show,” she said. “They include senior Mary Gladbach playing the lead role of Mrs. Savage who is left ten million dollars by her late husband; and junior Dominic Cannon as Titus Savage, senior Daniela Belcuore as Lily Belle Savage, and senior Kaden Kiwan as Samuel Savage, the greedy children who when their mother won’t spoil them with the inheritance, decide to commit her to a group home.”
The Savage siblings have put their step-mother in a home, called The Cloisters. In this scene, Savage is talking to Dr. Emmett of the home.
“In the Cloisters group home, we find characters with a multitude of different personality disorders including senior Hunter Adamson as Fairy May, and juniors Jo Goodbody as Hannibal, Mesa Jones as Florence, and Addy Labbe as Mrs. Paddy; and sophomore Sage Hill as Jeffrey. Dr. Emmett, played by senior Karina Kantilal and Miss Wilhelmina played by senior Alyx Brooks are part of the caring staff who run the Cloisters group home.”
Residents of The Cloisters befriend Savage when she is placed in the home.
Ronnie Renee Byrd Allen, age 36, a resident of Pittsburg, Kansas, passed Monday, March 11, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.
She was born September 24, 1982, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Alonzo Byrd and Lenna McNamar Byrd. Ronnie attended Fort Scott Schools. She enjoyed singing and drawing and was known for her outgoing and charismatic personality.
Survivors include her three children, Brantley Prock, of Pittsburg, and Darious Prock and Zaria Byrd, both of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are two sisters, Sarah Allee and Jessica McComb and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alonzo Byrd and Lenna Bruce.
There was cremation. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.
