Feb24

The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus is Hosting a Virtual Community Town Hall

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

The hospital will be hosting a virtual Town Hall Meeting for the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) via Zoom on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 from 11:30 – 1pm.

This virtual meeting will consist of reviewing the community health indicators and gathering your feedback and opinions on key community health needs. We hope you find the time to join us for this discussion.

If you would like to participate, please RSVP by Monday, March 15. You can register for the meeting by clicking on the link below. Once you have registered, you will be sent information on how to attend virtually three days prior to the meeting.

RSVP here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PawneeValley_CHNA2021_RSVP

Feb11

00

Jewel Davis welcomed as new clinic manager at Pawnee Valley Medical Associates

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

The new clinic manager at Pawnee Valley Medical Associates, on The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus, is passionate about providing healthcare services, especially in the Larned community for professional, as well as personal reasons.

Jewel Davis was recently appointed to the managerial position to oversee all clinic operations.

“The goal of the clinic is to provide the best patient experience for everyone who seeks healthcare here,” Davis said. “My focus is on building the highest level of professionalism and compassion, along with supporting the highest level of patient care.

“In addition, we want to ensure the clinic is the best place to work for our employees.”

The clinic manager’s responsibilities include: performing many administrative functions; ensuring regulatory compliance; helping with scheduling; and keeping the lines of communication open with patients and families.

On a personal note, Davis and her family have relied on The University of Kansas Health System through its Pawnee Valley Campus, HaysMed Campus and other health system facilities in Kansas City.

“My family members have suffered serious illnesses and received care and treatment through the health system,” Davis explained. “I have witnessed the many sides of healthcare through these experiences.

“I quickly learned the health system offers the best care in the state and I am thrilled to be part of it. I want to make a difference in the lives of patients and in my community. The support my family has received in the last five years is unbelievable. I am blessed to be working here.”

Clinic services include: family medicine; colon-cancer screenings; many types of physical exams; health and wellness checks; pediatric and prenatal care; women’s health; and minor on-site procedures.

Providers are Christian Whittington, MD; Crystal Hill, MD; Susan Aistrup and Haley Gleason, both advanced practice registered nurses; and Heather Holaday, doctor of nursing practice.

Davis has always lived in the area and currently resides in Larned. She attended grade school and high school in Macksville and studied office administration and business management at Pratt Community College.

Previous employers include Simmons & Simmons accounting firm and Dwight Shank Chevrolet, where she was business manager. Davis also served as controller at Roth Equipment/Straub International in Larned and corporate office manager/controller at Straub’s Great Bend office. Next, she was an accountant at Francis Companies in Great Bend.

Davis and her husband, Joel, have two sons, Wyatt and Wesley.

Feb11

00

Pawnee Valley Campus offers comprehensive customer-service training

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

Since the focus at the hospital in Larned is on patients and their families, each new hire and current employee participates in customer-service training.

The Five Star Customer Service sessions started last year at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus, 923 Carroll Ave. The first round of classes is wrapping up.

In addition to hospital and Pawnee Valley Medical Associates employees, class participants also include members of the medical staff and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary.

The instructor is Julie Bugner-Smith, director of the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation. Bugner-Smith earned her credentials through specialized training.

“We want to be the best of the best when it comes to customer service at our hospital,” Bugner-Smith said. “Even though we strive to attain this goal every day, it benefits all of us to zero in on customer service through this class.

“Our current employees benefit from a refresher course and newcomers learn that we highly value treating your family like we would treat our families,” she added. “We won’t settle for anything less than excellence. Local and area residents are the reason we are here and we take their care seriously.”

Bugner-Smith also noted she is hearing positive feedback from class participants. “Everyone appreciates the topics we cover and will use the information to support patients and families.”

Highlights of the all-day class include: the needs of heart and mind; diversity and inclusion; and consistency and reliability.

“It is important to make great customer service a habit,” Bugner-Smith commented. “Everyone in the class pledges their commitment to do their part each day.”

Class size was limited to about eight people because of COVID-19 protocols. “We practice physical distancing and everyone wears a mask,” Bugner-Smith noted.

The Customer Service Team will participate in quarterly refresher exercises. In addition to Bugner-Smith, team members are Angela Meitner, Nishka McKenzie, Leslie Presley and Megan Donecker.

Melanie Urban, Pawnee Valley Campus administrator, said customer service is “always a top priority here. All of us strive to be professional and compassionate. These classes help us keep this philosophy at the front of our minds as we interact with patients and families.

“We understand they are going through a difficult time and want to help in any way we can,” Urban continued. “The community can be assured that we will provide the best in medical care and tend to their emotional needs too.”

Feb1

00

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

We know you’re eager to receive your COVID-19 vaccine. We are eager for you to get it. But we at Pawnee Valley Campus do not currently have vaccine doses available to provide to those in Phase 2 of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s distribution plan.

It is our understanding that all doses will be allocated to county health departments. We encourage all patients and their family members who would like to receive a COVID-19 vaccination to contact the Pawnee County Health Department at 620-285-6963 or 1-800-211-4401 to get on the list.

We have requested additional doses for both our hospital at Pawnee Valley Campus and our Pawnee Valley Medical Associates office. If we receive vaccines to offer, we will share updates and instructions on our website.

Thank you for your patience as we work to share information as quickly as we receive it.

Jan21

00

The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus Seeks Public Input for 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment Update

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

LARNED, Kansas – Over the next three months, Pawnee Valley Campus will be working with other community providers to update the 2018 Pawnee County (KS) Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). VVV Consultants LLC, an independent research firm from Olathe, Kansas has been retained again to conduct this countywide research.

ACA legislation requires all tax-exempt hospitals to submit a CHNA to the IRS every three years, regardless of hospital affiliation.

“While healthcare is front and center right now due to the coronavirus, we hope you find the time to help us learn how we are doing in providing healthcare in general to our community and what concerns or suggestions you have for us going forward,” comments Melanie Urban, Administrator. “We urge all Pawnee county residents to participate.”

Every three years, the hospital and health department complete an assessment, which begins with a review of local health data and collecting online community feedback.

The goal of this assessment update is to understand progress in addressing community health needs cited in the 2018 CHNA report and to collect up-to-date community health perceptions. To accomplish this work, a short online survey has been developed.

The survey can be accessed by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHNA2021_PawneeCo and the link will open by default. The link is also available on the Pawnee Valley Campus website in the News section and Facebook page.

All community residents are encouraged to complete the 2021 CHNA online survey by Friday, March 5, 2021.

If you have any questions about the CHNA survey, please call 785-623-2300.

Dec3

00

A sleep study can benefit your health

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

A new home-based sleep test for those concerned about obstructive sleep apnea is now available at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus.

This was made possible because of new equipment and software at the hospital’s Sleep and Diagnostic Center, which is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Sleep apnea is a general term for breathing problems that occur during sleep, including breathing cessation many times during the night.

Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, restless sleep, difficulty concentrating, depression, irritability, morning headaches, high blood pressure and frequent awakenings.

“We encourage anyone who has questions about these symptoms to contact their healthcare provider,” said Megan Donecker, sleep lab director and registered polysomnographer. “If a home sleep test is ordered, we will supply the information and equipment.”

During the apnea test, the patient wears a device called WatchPat on a wrist in the comfort of their own home. The device is disposable.

“This new equipment is more accurate than other devices because we can now see stages of sleep,” Donecker noted. “The only thing we need from the patient is a doctor’s referral.”

The hospital’s sleep lab offers in-house tests for sleep apnea, as well as a host of other conditions. These include insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder, to name a few, Donecker said.

“Sleep apnea is the most common disorder we see at the lab, but we are here for many other concerns,” Donecker noted. “Our two sleep rooms are comparable to hotel suites. Patients are often impressed with the whole atmosphere, which offers many comforts of home.”

Amenities in each room include a queen-size, pillow-top mattress, large recliner chair, large bathroom with spacious shower, television and safe for personal belongings.

The home test for apnea is a good choice for many people but the “sleep-center setting offers many other services too,” the director commented. “We can look for more than 80 sleep disorders at the lab – not just apnea.”

To illustrate the importance of treating sleep apnea, Donecker said it is a risk factor that can contribute to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, daytime sleeping, depression, impotency, traffic accidents and increased mortality.

“Sleep is a huge factor in healing,” Donecker said. “If you aren’t getting good quality sleep, then you increase the risk for many health issues. Our bodies will compensate in amazing ways – until it just can’t.

“We understand it may be difficult to notice sleep-related red flags that our bodies are telling us about, especially when we self-treat with caffeine. I encourage everyone to start listening to what their bodies tell them and speak with a doctor when questions arise. Quality sleep makes for a better quality of life.”

Melanie Urban, Pawnee Valley Campus administrator, said the new home apnea test is “a great example of how the hospital continues to stay innovative and continues to expand services. Having an accredited sleep lab is unique to smaller, rural hospitals. This demonstrates our commitment to provide as many local options as possible.”

The sleep lab sees about 15 patients per month, with the potential for more. Dr. Son Truong is the medical director.

Dec3

00

Latest 3D Mammography Technology Now Available in Larned

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

3D mammography, considered the most significant improvement in mammography in the past 30 years, is now available at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus.

The imaging team at Pawnee Valley Campus encourages women over 40, or those who are overdue for a mammogram, to make an appointment for their 3D mammogram.

“3D has become the standard of care in mammography,” said Shelly Stanton, director of imaging. “It is so gratifying to offer this state-of-the-art technology to this wonderful community. Patients no longer need to travel to another town for a 3D mammogram. These screenings are quick and normally only take 10 to 15 minutes.”

An appointment can be made by calling the scheduling team at 785-623-6565. Specify that you prefer your appointment take place at Pawnee Valley Campus.

“You do not have to be a current Pawnee Valley Campus patient to receive this service,” Stanton said. “Everyone is welcome. All we need is an order for the mammogram from your healthcare provider so we know where to send the results.”

“I tell all women that I recommend screening mammograms starting at age 40, and I recommend that every woman continues screening mammograms each year,” said Crystal Hill, MD, family medicine. “Research shows that this screening regimen saves the most lives. Women need to know that breast cancer screening is so important because it’s the most common type of cancer in women and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death. We know that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime in the United States. I encourage women to schedule their mammograms today.”

Those who have been getting 2D mammograms over the years “may want to consider this enhanced technology,” Stanton said. “3D takes approximately 300 image slices of tissue in the same amount of time as the 2D, which takes only four slices.”

The increased volume minimizes the overlapping of breast tissue, which can either hide or mimic cancer.

“More images results in fewer false alarms and greatly improves the screening’s accuracy, especially in patients with dense breast tissue,” Stanton said.

3D mammography has been clinically proven and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It can detect from 20 to 65 percent more invasive cancers than 2D. “It also has been shown to be superior for women with dense breast tissue,” Stanton added.

The new equipment was delivered Nov. 2 and installed with electrical and internet connections that communicate with electronic medical records and ordering systems.

“The new machine was tested by our radiation physicist to ensure it meets all stringent safety and imaging quality standards,” Stanton said, noting in-house training started Nov. 10.

The local community and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation made this possible, Stanton said. The fundraising goal was realized in less than a year.

“We are so blessed to live in our generous community and have the Foundation’s support,” Stanton said. “Pawnee Valley Campus wouldn’t be here without our neighbors and patients, as well as the many benefactors who donate time and money.”

Those who have questions about mammography or other services are encouraged to call the Pawnee Valley Campus imaging team directly at 620-285-8691.

Nov30

00

Pawnee Valley Campus Angel Tree available to bring Christmas spirit to families

By Gayla Wichman - Uncategorized

There is still a little time to share some Christmas spirit by supporting the local Angel Tree that provides clothing for children who could use a helping hand.

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

The angelic tree ornaments represent particular children. Coded numbers, not names, are used to identity the youngsters. Their ages, clothing sizes and favorite colors are indicated. Anyone who wants to select an angel is encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

“However, due to the many COVID-19 precautions in place, we would like to limit the traffic in the hospital as much as possible,” said Lori Milch, coordinator of the Angel Tree project and health record analyst. “Therefore, people are welcome to call me to request an angel if they prefer not to come in.”

Milch’s numbers are 620-285-8857 and 620-923-5643.

Unwrapped gifts should be delivered to the hospital by Friday, Dec. 4. Even though gifts are not wrapped, it would be helpful if they are boxed.

“We have been offering the Angel Tree here for many, many years with the support of the hospital’s Auxiliary,” Milch noted. “They help us with clothing donations and collecting boxes and wrapping paper, as well as wrapping the gifts.

“Pawnee Valley employees love to get involved with this and other community projects. We appreciate Auxiliary members and everyone else who has helped in any way to make this Christmas season special for local and area families.”

The Angel Tree Project also collaborates with the Lions Club and Larned High School. While the hospital collects clothing, the Lions donate food and the school concentrates on toys.

“We collect clothing for the children in families that apply to the Lions Club for a little help during the holidays,” Milch explained. “The high school has its own tree to help them collect toys.

“This amazing teamwork says a lot about our community,” she added. “We all want to work together to support one another during the holidays and throughout the year.”

Nov13

00

The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus Issues Update on Community Spread

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

Pawnee County, and the entire Midwest, is experiencing record numbers of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. The county currently has 495 positive patients and continues to increase each week per the KDHE tracking website.

The health system encourages everyone to take the pillars of infection prevention and control with you always.

*wear masks that cover your nose and mouth when in public
*consider eye protection, especially when flying
*maintain a six-foot distance with those outside your immediate household
*wash and/or sanitize your hands thoroughly and often
*avoid gatherings where social distancing is not possible.
*Stay home if you are ill
*Do not let down your guard!

Not following these rules will put you at greater risk of contracting and spreading the virus.

“We support our public health officials and the recommendations they are proposing on what they believe will help bend the curve and keep our patents and community safe.” states Melanie Urban, administrator of Pawnee Valley Campus. “This is a critical time and we need everyone in Pawnee County, and surrounding areas, to take this seriously.”

Urban continued, “We know this feels like a marathon with no end in sight, but new antibody therapies are days away and there is hope that promising vaccines are but months away. Please do everything in your power to help slow the spread of the virus.”

FAQs

What does this mean for the hospital, the community and the region in general? The number of beds currently being used for COVID-19 related care has spiked exponentially here and across the Midwest creating a high demand for patient beds. This, during a traditionally busier time of year as people move indoors and other seasonal respiratory viruses are more common.

How close are you to meeting that capacity? Capacity at Pawnee Valley Campus is an ever-changing variable. There are days when we are near capacity. This has happened even when we were not in the COVID-19 pandemic but lately it is happening more frequently due to the additional COVID-19 patients.

Does the Emergency Room ever close? No. Even on the rare occasions when we are near capacity our emergency room remains open to all those who need emergency care. However, if beds and staffing cannot permit us to admit you, we will work to find another hospital with capacity which may mean receiving care in another city, county or state.

How is COVID-19 impacting transfers? If we are at capacity or have patients with critical conditions, it is necessary to transfer these patients to another hospital. It is increasingly difficult to find a hospital that can accept a patient because they, too, are experiencing high census due to COVID. This can affect COVID-19 patients as well as other medical needs including heart attack, stroke, or trauma. Such needs to transfer delays medical care and potentially sends patients far away from home.

What measures are in place should the hospital reach patient capacity? Our health system hospitals manage patient flow every day and have emergency plans for handling a surge in patients whether from trauma or in this case … a pandemic. However, COVID-19 has forced the hospital to take more critical measures including but not limited to:

*Restricting visitors to decrease the spread of COVID-19
*Manage PPE and medical supplies needed to care for COVID-19 patients
*Keep constant contact with the Pawnee County Health Department, The University of Kansas Health System, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Hospital Association to monitor the situation.

Is it safe to come to Pawnee Valley Campus? YES. Hospitals and clinics are currently considered the safest place in every community during this pandemic as the pillars of infection prevention and control are strictly followed and enforced. Telehealth is also a recommended option for healthcare during this pandemic when a conversation with your provider meets your needs. While your experience visiting our facilities to receive care or support a loved one may look and feel a bit different, be assured that what is not different is our commitment to your health and safety, and that of your loved ones.

What can the public do to help this situation? As the number of COVID-19 patients at Pawnee Valley Campus and across the Midwest rise exponentially, it is critical for us to work together to slow the virus spread to avoid overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers.

Help keep everyone safe:

*wear masks that cover your nose and mouth when in public
*consider eye protection, especially when flying
*maintain a six-foot distance with those outside your immediate household
*wash and/or sanitize your hands thoroughly and often
*avoid gatherings where social distancing is not possible.
*Stay home if you are ill
*Do not let down your guard!

We recognize people are weary of the pandemic and this includes healthcare workers. Pawnee Valley Campus and the entire health system is committed to doing whatever it takes to protect your health and well-being and you play a critical part in our ability to provide that care.

Can I assess my risk for attending a group gathering? Yes. Have a plan and ask questions. Know how many people will attend and assume that everyone you meet may carry the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Take the pillars of infection prevention and control with you. The COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool is interactive and shows the current virus spread across the U.S. https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/?fbclid=IwAR168Jpexddvg_gS4JjiX810qsjvwxhEQmOIUu37hCIkbIX7y8J84HqnXHI

Helpful Links:

Link to the KDHE’s COVID-19 Microsite. https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/

Link to the Pawnee County Health Department that has the latest COVID-19 information for Pawnee County. https://www.pawneecountykansas.com/158/Health-Department

Link to the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Nov12

00

Expanded expertise of care team

By Gayla Wichman - Pawnee Valley Campus Hospital News

Three radiologic technologists at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus recently achieved board certifications in additional modalities.

Megan Orth is now registered in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while Kylee Forell and Ivan Garcia are registered in computed tomography (CT).

“Being registered in a certain modality means they have met all educational criteria and hands-on training requirements in the specialty,” said Shelly Stanton, Pawnee Valley Campus Imaging Director. “Becoming board registered demonstrates the technologists’ commitment to advancing their skills and elevating their knowledge and abilities to the highest level.

“Megan, Kylee and Ivan are great assets to Pawnee County families because they are dedicated to improving their knowledge and skills to provide the best care for our patients,” the director added. “We are proud of their accomplishments.”

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists administers the board registry. ARRT is the leading credentialing organization for medical imaging, Stanton noted.

Everyone on the Pawnee Valley Campus imaging staff is an ARRT registered technologist prior to becoming registered in other modalities.

“It is remarkable all of the imaging staff members here are not only registered in radiology, but are additionally registered in one or more secondary modalities,” said Melanie Urban, Pawnee Valley Campus Administrator. “Something you do not see at many critical access hospitals.”

Certifications and continuing education are always a priority at Pawnee Valley Campus, Urban added.

“Imaging techniques and technology are constantly evolving,” she explained. “We must stay up-to-date with that knowledge to provide professional, competent care to patients.”

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