Bourbon County, Health Care

Uniontown Medical Clinic Open For Patients

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Lori Reith, left, medical assistant, and Stephanie Hallacy, nurse practitioner, stand in front of the newly opened Girard Medical Center of Uniontown Clinic.

Uniontown’s new medical clinic is open for patients as of May 4.

 

The staff has been in the building for a month, working on the accreditation process which was completed.

 

The clinic staff received accreditation this week.

 

“There was a soft opening for four weeks,” Medical Assitant Lori Reith said. “We have seen 20 patients.”

 

 

The official title of the facility is the Girard Medical Center of Uniontown Clinic.

 

 

The building is located south of the USD 235 football field, at 401 Fifth Street. The phone number is 620-756-4111.

 

 

Clinic hours are 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The clinic is closed each day between noon and 1 p.m.

 

On the front door of the clinic is a list of the summer holiday schedule.

 

Reith is in the clinic on Tuesdays doing bookkeeping, she said. “I can schedule appointments, answer questions and fill out new patient forms.”

 

 

Stephanie Hallacy is the nurse practitioner and Reith is the medical assistant of the clinic. Candi Adams is the director of clinic operations, with Dr. Adam Paoni the medical director.

 

 

 

Hallacy is a family practice nurse practitioner, who will be offering primary care to the community in western Bourbon County.

 

Hallacy has worked for Girard Medical Center since 2013 as a nurse practitioner in their clinics as well as its walk-in clinic, she said in a prior interview.

 

From 2006-2014 she was a flight nurse for EagleMed.

 

Prior to that, she worked as a registered nurse in an intensive care unit in Oklahoma from 1994 – 2006.

Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Hallacy works on charting at her desk in the Uniontown Clinic.
Hallacy received her 1994 associate degree in nursing from Grayson County College in Denison, TX,  her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Oklahoma, and her master of science in nursing from Pittsburg State University in 2012.

To see a prior story on Hallacy, click below.

Stephanie Hallacy: New Nurse Practioner At Uniontown Clinic

 

 

Medical Assitant Lori Reith works at the front desk at the Uniontown Clinic.

 

Reith’s education was as an emergency medical technician but was cross-trained in the lab and as a medical assistant. She was a phlebotomist for 15 years and recently worked for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Iola.

Reith is married to Uniontown Junior High/Senior High Principal Mike Reith.

 

Medical Assistant Lori Reith stands in the laboratory of Uniontown Clinic.

 

A sign on the door of the clinic states a mask must be worn.

 

“It is a walk-in clinic, but also primary care,” Reith said.

Other services:

rapid testing for strep, flu, COVID-19

urinalysis, urinalysis for pregnancy,

hemoglobin tests,

tetanus shots,

blood draw,

monitor of blood pressure,

steroid shots,

stitches and

referral of patients.

 

“We are also able to do sports physicals free for the month of May, Reith said.  “We can do pre-school physicals. We offer immunizations, but those need to be scheduled.”

 

 

A patient exam room at the Uniontown Clinic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business, COVID-19

Survey Data: Vaccinated Adult’s Mental Health Improved

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After more than a year of declining mental health at the national level, there’s finally some good news – nearly 75% of vaccinated U.S. adults say that getting the vaccine has positively impacted their mental health, according to a new Walgreens survey.

 

The sentiment most shared among respondents is relief (64%), followed closely by thankfulness and optimism.

 

Survey results also suggest good news ahead for businesses, especially in the travel, hospitality and fitness industries.

 

Survey respondents shared that they are significantly more comfortable resuming the following activities once fully vaccinated:

  • TRAVEL: comfort level more than doubled once fully vaccinated (from 32.7% to 67.6%)
  • INDOOR GATHERING: comfort level nearly doubled once fully vaccinated (from 33.3% to 64.9%)
  • GOING TO THE GYM: 83% increase in comfort level once fully vaccinated (from 30.1% to 55.1%)
  • VISITING FRIENDS: 76.4% increase in comfort level once fully vaccinated (from 48.8% to 86.1%)
  • DINING OUT: 75.5% increase in comfort level once fully vaccinated (from 42.5% to 74.4%)
  • GOING TO WORK: 44.7% increase in comfort level once fully vaccinated (from 44.7% to 72.1%)
Fort Scott, Schools, Sports

FSHS Girls Swim Team Results

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The FSHS Girls Swim team had a busy week competing in Coffeyville on Monday and in Osawatomie on Wednesday night.
“We celebrated our senior swimmers on Monday Night as well, ” Coach Angie Kemmerer said. “Congratulations on a successful senior season: Dawna Hudiburg, Emily Davenport, Anna Gilmore, and Kourtney Flynn.  Next week the swimming tigers will finish their regular season meets with the League Championship on Wednesday, May 12th in Osawatomie.”
Here are the results from Coffeyville’s meet:
Team Finished 2nd
200 Medley Relay:
 3rd Place – Ashley Smith, Annelise Hall, Alyssa Smith  Dawna Hudiburg
  6th Place-Kourtney Flynn, maia Martin, Annalyse Gilmore, Rylan Mason
200 Free
5th Emily Davenport
6th Maia Martin (Best Time)
200 IM
4th Annelise Hall
6th Anna Gilmore
50 Free
2nd Ava Steier
3rd Dawna Hudiburg (Best Time)
6th Alyssa Smith
100 Fly
3rd Maia Martin (Best Time)
4th Anna Gilmore (Best Time)
100 Free
2nd Ava Steier
5th Alyssa Smith
6th Ashley Smith
500 Free
2nd Emily Davenport
3rd Kourtney Flynn
200 Free Relay)
2nd Dawna Hudiburg, Annelise Hall, Ashely Smith, Alyssa Smith (Best Time)
4th Ava Steier, Rylan Mason, Emily Davenport, Annalyse Gilmore (Best Time)
100 Back
5th  Kourtney Flynn (Best Time)
100 Breast
2nd Annelise Hall
4th Ashley Smith
5th Dawna Hudiburg
400 Free Relay
3rd  Ava Steier, Kourney Flynn, Maia Martin, Emily Davenport (Best Time)
Osawatomie 5/3 Swim Meet
Team took 4th out of 8 teams
200 Medley Relay
4th Dawna Hudiburg, Annelise Hall, Alyssa Smith, Ashley Smith
9th  Kourtney Flynn, Maia Martin, Anna Gilmore, Ava Steier (Best Time)
200 Free
10th Emily Davenport
12th Anna Gilmore (Best Time)
200 IM
7th Annelise Hall
11th Maia Martin (Best Time)
50 Free (51 swimmers)
10th Alyssa Smith
12th Dawna Hudiburg
13th Ashley Smith
100 Fly
2nd Ava Steier (Best Time)
100 Free (37 Swimmers)
7th Alyssa Smith
18th Anna Gilmore
500 Free
7th Kourtney Flynn
9th Emily Davenport
200 Free Relay
5th Alyssa Smith, Annelise Hall, Ashley Smith, Dawna Hudiburg
100 Back
2nd Ava Steier (Best Time)
14th Dawna Hudiburg
100 Breast
3rd Annelise HAll
4th Ashley Smith
16th Maia Martin
400 Free Relay
7th  Ava Steier, Emily Davenport, Maia Martin, Anna Gilmore (Best Time)
Opinion

Jessie by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche

On my recent trip to Florida, I hurriedly rounded the aisle in Target, my daughter-in-law and grandbaby waiting for me in the car. An agitated, middle-aged man was talking on his cell phone. “I’m so sick of Christians,” he said. “In all my years in the business world, no one has stabbed me in the back more and been more crooked than they have.” I continued pushing my shopping cart away from the man who wasn’t through giving us a tongue-lashing. I wanted to linger, to tell him that I was sorry and to say that we all aren’t like that. Then again, maybe too many of us are. I certainly have my moments. Fewer, the older I get, but there still are times I don’t represent Jesus Christ very well. Jesus spoke of his “followers” who failed to embody the fruits of the spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These people pretend well and are referred in Scripture as “lukewarm” Christians. Francis Chan spends a chapter in his best-seller Crazy Love describing behaviors of people in this category. Following is a short list of his descriptions. These people:

give money to charity and the church…as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living care more about what others think of them than what God thinks of them don’t want to be saved from their sin but only from the penalty of their sin fail to share their faith for fear of being rejected gauge their morality by how they compare to the secular world have a hard time loving anyone other than those who love them back or don’t disappoint them

Here in Mexico, I have befriended Jessie, a sweet, young woman who is studying to be a missionary. A few weeks ago, she called me and said that her team of missionaries was at the beach near our condominium, and she wanted to talk. When I picked her up a few minutes later, she was wearing her swimsuit with a cover-up and shorts. I could tell immediately she was struggling with something. I was not prepared for what she had to share.

“I gave all my clothes away last night,” she began.

“All? And how would you define ‘all’ your clothes?” I asked. Apparently, all meant all, except for what she had on. At base camp the previous night, the discussion had been about our idols and what we love more than God. Two girls shaved their heads because they found that their hair determined much of their self-worth. Jess prayed about it and realized that she loved her clothes far too much, so she gave them away. “Well, honey, you can’t go to your classes this week in the outfit you’re wearing now,” I reminded her. She knew that, and within a few hours, I drove her back to her base, finding my closet now barer than when Jess arrived. Somehow, not surprisingly, her sacrifice had become mine as well. I had to laugh. The first commandment states that we are to have no god before God, yet lukewarm Christians do just that. Anything we don’t want to do without has the potential to be the one thing we probably should do without, if we want to grow in our faith. If the “Christians” with which the man in Target worked had put God before the idol of their business transactions, his conversation about them might have been radically different. We all must understand that we have the potential to be the person(s) about whom he was talking.

Health Care

Happy Nurses Week to all the nurses of Kansas!

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We are excited to share that Governor Kelly has signed a proclamation, officially recognizing May 6 – May 12, 2021 as Nurses Week in Kansas. A full version of the proclamation can be viewed by visiting https://bit.ly/33knxCT.

You have been a face of hope for the people of our state over the past year. You have shown courage, resilience, and selflessness in the most difficult circumstances. You have provided comfort in our greatest time of need. You have been strong when strength was needed most. The amount of gratitude toward you is unsurpassable. It seems no amount of appreciation is enough, but let us try by giving a very heartfelt thank you.

This week, we honor you.
Kelly Sommers, BSN, RN
KSNA State Director
[email protected]
ksnurses.com

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For May 11

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

 

Date: May 11, 2021

1st District-Lynne Oharah                                                                Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jim Harris                                                                      Corrected: _______________________

3rd District-Clifton Beth                                                                              Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

   

    MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM.

 

Call to Order

   

    • Flag Salute
    • Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
    • Eric Bailey – Road and Bridge Report
    • BSNF Bridge Overview
    • Community Corrections Advisory Board Member
    • Elected Officials Comment
    • County Counselor Comment
    • Susan Bancroft, Finance Director
    • Public Comment
  • Commission Comment

Justifications for Executive Session:

          KSA 75-4319(b)(1) To discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy

          KSA 75-4319(b)(2) For consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          KSA 75-4319(b)(3) To discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          KSA 75-4319(b)(4) To discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships

          KSA 75-4319(b)(6) For the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property

          KSA 75-4319(b)(12) To discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

COVID-19 Travel Quarantine List Amended

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Office of the Secretary LetterheadFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 6, 2021

Contact: [email protected]

KDHE amends travel quarantine list

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list to add Colorado and the countries of Cabo Verde, India, Maldives and Seychelles.  Several locations are removed from the list effective today, including New Jersey and New York, as well as the countries of Andorra, Aruba, Bermuda, Curacao, France, Hungary, Poland and Serbia.

A comprehensive list of those individuals needing to quarantine includes visitors and Kansans who have:

  • Traveled on or after May 6 to Colorado or the countries of Cabo Verde, India, Maldives and Seychelles.
  • Traveled on or after April 22 to Minnesota or the countries of Argentina, Bahrain, Croatia, Cyprus, Sweden and Turkey.
  • Traveled on or after April 8 to Pennsylvania or the country of Uruguay.
  • Traveled on or after March 26 to Delaware, Michigan or Rhode Island.
  • Traveled on or after March 12 to the country of State of Palestine.
  • Traveled between April 22 and May 6 to Aruba or France.
  • Traveled between April 8 and May 6 to Andorra, Bermuda, Curacao, Poland or Serbia.
  • Traveled between March 26 and May 6 to Hungary.
  • Traveled between March 12 and May 6 to New Jersey or New York.
  • Attendance at any out-of-state mass gatherings of 500 or more where individuals do not socially distance (6 feet) and wear a mask.
  • Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15, 2020.

The travel quarantine period is seven days with a negative test result or 10 days without testing, with release from quarantine on Day 8 and Day 11, respectively. Further information on quarantine periods can be found on KDHE’s website.

For those traveling internationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring testing within three days of flights into the U.S. For further information on this and other requirements, visit their website.

For those who are fully vaccinated (meaning it has been greater than two weeks since they completed their vaccinations) they are not required to quarantine regarding travel if they meet all of the following criteria:

  • Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2- dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
  • Are within 6 months following receipt of the last dose in the series
  • Have remained asymptomatic since the travel

Persons who do not meet all three of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel.

Additionally, people with previous COVID-19 disease are not required to quarantine following travel if they meet all of the following criteria:

  • Have evidence of a previous infection supported by a positive PCR or antigen test
  • Are within 6 months following infection. If an investigation was done documenting the date that symptoms resolved, or the date isolation measures were discontinued for asymptomatic patients, then the 6-month period can start from that end date. If those dates are not available, then the period will start from the date of the positive laboratory test. A serology or antibody test may not be substituted for a laboratory report of a viral diagnostic test.
  • Have remained asymptomatic since the travel

Persons who do not meet all three of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel.

The travel quarantine list is determined using a formula to evaluate new cases over a two-week period, then adjusted for population size to provide a case rate per 100,000 population. This provides a number that can then be compared to the rate in Kansas. Locations with significantly higher rates — approximately 3x higher — are added to the list.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the KDHE website at www.kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus.
Government, Health Care, Kansas

Preventing Stillbirth

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KDHE partners with parents and providers to improve birth outcomes

TOPEKA – This Mother’s Day, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Bureau of Family Health is partnering with Count the Kicks, an evidence-based stillbirth prevention campaign. The goal of Count the Kicks is to improve birth outcomes by educating expectant parents and providers about the importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy. According to Kansas Vital Statistics, one out of every 179 pregnancies* ends in stillbirth.[1] That equates to approximately 210 babies born still each year.[2]

“The Bureau of Family Health is committed to working closely with partners and organizations to support the healthiest outcomes for mothers and infants,” said Rachel Sisson, Director of the Bureau of Family Health at KDHE.  “We are proud to support evidence-based prevention programs such as Count the Kicks, and we have heard from Kansas moms that this campaign has made a difference in their lives.”

Maternal health providers, birthing hospitals, social services agencies, childbirth educators and other providers across our state can order FREE Count the Kicks educational materials available at www.countthekicks.org to guide them through the kick-counting conversation with expectant parents.

Count the Kicks also has a free app available in the iOS and Google Play app stores, giving expectant moms a simple, non-invasive way to monitor their baby’s well-being every day. The Count the Kicks app is available in 12 languages, including English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole. Features include kick-counting history, daily reminders and option to count for twins. Nearly 2,100 Kansas moms have downloaded the app.

Count the Kicks teaches the method for, and importance of, tracking fetal movement during the third trimester of pregnancy. Research shows the benefits of expectant moms tracking their baby’s movements daily and learning how long it normally takes their baby to get to 10 movements. After a few days, moms will begin to see a pattern, a normal amount of time it takes their baby to get to 10 movements. If their baby’s “normal” changes during the third trimester, this could be a sign of potential problems and an indication that a call should be made to the health care provider.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, expectant moms have reported changes to their regularly scheduled prenatal visits and an increase in telehealth visits. Now is an especially important time for moms to track their baby’s movements every day in the third trimester. By doing so, moms will have the peace of mind to know when things are okay and when things have changed.

In Iowa, where Count the Kicks began, the state’s stillbirth rate dropped by nearly 32 percent in the first 10 years of the campaign (2008-2018). Iowa’s stillbirth rate was one of the highest in the country and is now one of the lowest. KDHE is hoping to bring the same success that Iowa has seen to Kansas which would save approximately 58 babies each year.[3]

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About Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Family Health

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s mission is to protect and improve the health and environment of all Kansans. The Bureau of Family Health within the Division of Public Health provides leadership to enhance the health of Kansas women, men, children, and families through partnerships with providers and communities. The Bureau administers the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programming for Kansas, which includes improving maternal and infant health. Find more information about KDHE and the Bureau of Family Health at: www.kdheks.gov/bfh/index.html.

About Count the Kicks

Healthy Birth Day, Inc. is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that created the Count the Kicks public health campaign. Count the Kicks has been featured on Good Morning America, Inside Edition and in O Magazine. Count the Kicks has more than 75 baby-save stories from moms in 24 states around the country who have written in to share how they used Count the Kicks to help save their baby’s life. B-Roll of the Count the Kicks app in use is available upon request. For media interviews or to learn more about the Count the Kicks campaign, please contact Kimberly Isburg at 515-494-5115 or at [email protected].

 

[1] Number based on dividing 1,000 by the 5-year average stillbirth rate. Stillbirth data from KDHE Bureau of Epidemiology & Public Health Informatics. Stillbirths do not include abortions.

[2] Number based on the 5-year average stillbirth numbers, total stillbirth data from KDHE Bureau of Epidemiology & Public Health Informatics. Stillbirths do not include abortions.

[3] Number based on 5-year average stillbirth rate, multiplied by the 32% reduction seen in Iowa. Stillbirth data is from Kansas Vital Statistics. Note stillbirth rate is calculated by: Fetal Deaths/(Total of Live Births + Fetal Deaths)*1,000.

*Pregnancies does not include abortions, only live births, and stillbirths.

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Business

Evergy’s Plan: Public Comments Sought

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KCC invites public comments on Evergy’s Sustainability Transformation Plan

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has opened a public comment period beginning today through July 7 to allow Evergy customers the opportunity to weigh in on the company’s proposed Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP). The plan, approved by Evergy’s Board of Directors in August, is designed to cut operating and maintenance expenses while increasing capital expenditures.

To protect the interest of Kansas ratepayers, the Commission opened a General Investigation on August 27 to provide KCC staff, stakeholders, and Evergy an opportunity to discuss and evaluate the plan.

As part of the investigation, a series of workshops were scheduled and broadcast for the public on the KCC’s YouTube channel.  The final workshop is scheduled for May 24 at 10 a.m. At that time, Evergy will present an updated STP plan incorporating feedback from earlier workshops and answer questions from intervenors and Commissioners.

Recordings of the three previous workshops are available on YouTube for anyone who missed them. Topics covered include grid modernization investments and related benefits, operational efficiencies, and enhanced customer experience.

Additional information is available in Docket No. 21-EKME-088-GIE on the KCC’s website .  The Commission has requested all participants in the docket file background information explaining the proceeding and their respective positions.

Public comments can be submitted online via the KCC website, through email ([email protected]) or in a letter to the agency’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1500 SW Arrowhead, Topeka, KS 66614. All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on July 7 and will be included in the case record.

Bourbon County Local News