Those seeking a way to share the Christmas spirit throughout the community may now support the local Angel Tree project that provides clothing for children who need a helping hand.

The decorated Angel Tree is located in the lobby at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus, 923 Carroll, Larned.

The angelic ornaments represent individual children. Names are not used; coded numbers identify the youngsters. Ages, clothing sizes and favorite colors are indicated.

“We encourage folks to select an angel as soon as they can,” said Lori Milch, Angel Tree project coordinator and health record analyst. “However, because of the many COVID-19 precautions here at the hospital, we want to limit the amount of traffic in the lobby.”

Those who prefer not to visit the hospital in person are welcome to call Milch to request an angel. Her numbers are 620-285-8857 and 620-923-5643.

Unwrapped gifts should be delivered to the hospital by Monday, Dec. 6. Even though they are not wrapped, it is helpful if they are boxed.

“This annual project could not have been so successful over the years without the tremendous support from other groups and individuals,” Milch noted. “For example, the hospital’s Auxiliary helps with clothing donations, while collecting boxes and wrapping paper. They also help wrap the packages.”

This type of teamwork extends far beyond Pawnee Valley Campus. Fort Larned Lions Club gathers the names of families who need help and provides information about ages and sizes. They also donate food baskets to the families. Lions members deliver the food and clothing too.

Included in the deliveries are toys that Larned High School gathers after learning about ages and wish lists. This information is placed on the school’s Toy Tree.

“Our hospital has offered the Angel Tree for many years thanks to my co-workers and this widespread community support,” Milch commented. “Pawnee Valley employees love to get involved with this and other local projects.

“We are sincerely grateful to the Auxiliary, Lions Club, high school and everyone else who has helped with their time, money and talent. They are making the Christmas season a little brighter for local and area families.”

A Pawnee County native has returned to her hometown and is serving the whole community as the new marketing and communications director at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus.

Marie Norris, a Burdett native, has been getting to know her new colleagues and re-acquainting herself with the community. She recently returned from Fort Worth, Tx., where she earned two degrees at Texas Christian University.

“I am so happy to be home and working at the hospital and clinic,” Norris said. “The culture here at Pawnee Valley is great. Everyone is super friendly and supportive in this beautiful facility.

“The hospital is a big part of the solid foundation of Pawnee County. It is an honor and privilege to be here and I am eager to contribute in any way I can.”

While her job description is lengthy, the bottom line is “I want to ensure our message is heard throughout central Kansas. We offer a vast amount of services and I want to share this information with local and area media and the entire community.”

This includes participating in events such as the recent Larned Area Chamber of Commerce Fall Frenzy and the Women’s Expo in Great Bend. “These were my first events and l look forward to many more,” Norris commented.

Her short-term goals include learning more about the hospital and other entities in Pawnee County. “I then hope to work on some long-term goals with my colleagues and other members of our great community.”

Norris earned her bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in general business in 2019; she went on to graduate in 2021 with a master’s in business administration at TCU.

While at college, Norris played Division I tennis and served as team captain for four years. She also was assistant coaching coordinator for children at the Bayard Friedman Tennis Center.

Previous employment includes serving as business development operations specialist at Norris Propane Gas Co. in Burdett.

Melanie Urban, Pawnee Valley Campus administrator, said “Marie is already starting to build relationships in the hospital and throughout the community. She will play a big role in ensuring we do all we can to meet the needs and expectations of our community.”

Rob Miller, MD, has served as Emergency Department (ED) medical director for only a short time but already is “impressed with the resources” at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus.

 Dr. Miller credits this to local healthcare providers and administrators who share their talents and foresight while caring for and treating patients.

 “The family-medicine providers at Pawnee Valley Campus are obviously talented and focused on high-quality care throughout central Kansas,” Dr. Miller said. “Administrators are constantly working to expand the number of resources available to patients and staff to improve healthcare in the region.”

 Dr. Miller also fills the role of ED medical director at HaysMed; he has been in that position for four years.

 I am a full-time emergency physician at HaysMed and will start working some part-time shifts at Pawnee Valley Campus this fall,” Dr. Miller noted.

 Responsibilities for the medical director position include supervising and developing the ED providers, and reviewing and creating protocols for patient safety.

 “I am impressed with the amount of experience the ED providers at Pawnee Valley Campus have,” Dr. Miller commented. “I look forward to working with them in my new role.

 “It has been very gratifying for me to be part of the transformation in the HaysMed Emergency Department,” Dr. Miller added. “For example, we have hired more physicians certified in emergency medicine and I have served on committees to help with quality improvement while refreshing our policies.

 “I have heard countless comments from local residents that celebrate the enhanced quality of care. I am excited to see how I can help lead the ED team here in Larned.”

 Melanie Urban, Pawnee Valley Campus administrator, said “we are excited to have Dr. Miller join our ED. Not only does he bring a wealth of ED experience and leadership to our team, he has a thorough understanding of what it takes to achieve service excellence.”

Dr. Miller earned his bachelor’s in biology in 2010 at Bethany College and medical degree in 2014 at The University of Kansas. During his KU emergency- medicine residency, he was chief resident from 2016-17.

He also was a LifeStar flight crew physician in 2016-17. He is board certified in emergency medicine.

 Dr. Miller was born in Honolulu and moved throughout the United States because his parents were in the military.

 He and his wife have four children.

It’s not just the availability of 3D mammography that attracts patients; it’s also the ability to offer diagnostic follow-ups and breast ultrasound at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus.

Shelly Stanton, director of Imagining at the hospital, shared information about all these services in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

“The 3D mammogram is state-of-the-art technology but our follow-up services are also important,” Stanton said. “For example, if an abnormality is detected, and a diagnostic mammogram and/or ultrasound are needed, we can accommodate you right here at Pawnee Valley Campus.”

Stanton and her colleagues are aware that an abnormality “can cause anxiety. But we can help ease that anxiety because the same technologist who performed your mammogram is here during the follow-up with answers to your questions.”

In addition, Stanton noted, if a patient needs a diagnostic mammogram, the radiologist is consulted in real time via telephone and reviews the diagnostic images with the technologist. The radiologist can determine if further imaging is needed while the patient is still at the hospital.

3D mammography became available at Pawnee Valley Campus almost a year ago, as a result of a capital campaign spearheaded by “our awesome Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation and the support of this great community,” Stanton said.

This combined effort resulted in technology that takes approximately 300-600 image slices of tissue in the same amount of time as the 2D, which takes only one image for each view.

The increased volume minimizes the overlapping of breast tissue, which can either hide or mimic cancer. “Having multiple image slices results in fewer false alarms and greatly improves the screening’s accuracy, especially in patients with dense breast tissue,” Stanton said, noting mammography takes only 10 to 15 minutes.

The new technology has been popular at the hospital since it became available but COVID-19 has made “some people leery of getting routine testing,” Stanton acknowledged. “Patients can be assured our hospital is following all precautions to ensure safety.

“Yearly mammograms can detect changes while they are small,” she added. “Not every abnormality is cancer, but if it is, early detection is crucial. An early diagnosis can prevent growth and the spread to other parts of the body. Annual screenings help ensure the earliest diagnoses with the most treatment options.”

Stanton noted that central Kansans are fortunate to have Pawnee Valley Campus and its many services close at hand.

“We are fortunate to have a Critical Access Hospital with this advanced level of imaging equipment,” Stanton commented. “Our administrators and board of directors want to provide the very best healthcare services to our local community.

“We are proud that we don’t compromise on quality because we are a smaller facility. We know many of our patients and take the time to reassure them. Larger facilities may not be able to do this.”

A familiar face to many patients and their families in central Kansas is now the new chief of staff at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus.

Crystal Hill, MD, who recently was appointed to the position, said “this is a great place to practice medicine. I am truly honored to represent and lead such a remarkable medical team.”

In the role of chief of staff, Dr. Hill leads the Medical Executive Committee; serves as a member of the hospital’s Board of Directors; serves as a liaison between the board and hospital administrator on medical matters; and oversees performance and quality related to medical care.

“As I serve in these capacities, we will continue to provide quality care to the community and promote the services we offer through primary-care and specialty providers,” Dr. Hill said. “I will listen to the needs of the community and respond accordingly.”

The family-medicine team provides a host of services including acute and swing-bed admissions, outpatient therapies and treatment, and clinic appointments. Specialty providers offer cardiology, general surgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology.

“The hospital and clinic are dedicated to providing family medicine and specialty care locally,” Dr. Hill noted. “With the support of our Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation, we invest in state-of-the-art equipment. All of us strive to secure the best patient outcomes and improve the overall health of our community.”

Dr. Hill has cared for and treated patients for more than five years in her family-medicine practice at Pawnee Valley Medical Associates. She is board certified in family medicine, with the added qualification of board certification in hospice care and palliative medicine.

Her special interests include preventive care and physician-assisted weight loss.

Dr. Hill earned her bachelor’s degree in human biology in 1997 at The University of Kansas and her medical degree in 2002 at The University of Kansas School of Medicine. She completed her Via Christi family-practice residency at Wichita in 2005.

Honors over the years include the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Diabetes Provider; nomination for Kansas Family Physician of the Year; and AMA Physician Recognition Awards.

Melanie Urban, Pawnee Valley Campus administrator, said “we strive to have the best patient outcomes by delivering quality care. We focus on this with a team of trained medical staff, nurses and other professionals committed to putting patients first, while collaborating to offer high-quality care.

“It is critical to have the chief of staff and administrator working hand-in-hand to lead the team,” Urban continued. “This type of leadership is what it takes to provide exceptional healthcare and excellent service. I look forward to seeing the positive impact Dr. Hill’s leadership will bring to our community.”