Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) continues to grow and enhance healthcare services for the community by welcoming new providers and investing in state-of-the-art services.

In April 2025, PVCH welcomed Lacy Bowman, APRN, to its Family Medicine Clinic. Lacy brings with her a comprehensive range of primary care services, including preventive care, chronic condition management, acute illness treatment, women’s health, pediatric care, and well-child visits. She is especially passionate about diabetes management and postpartum mental health care. Since moving to Larned in 2021, Lacy has been dedicated to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care and helping individuals take an active role in their health journey.

In March 2025, Dr. Aaron M. Pfeifer, MD, joined PVCH as the new Emergency Department Medical Director. A native of Hays, Dr. Pfeifer brings extensive experience and leadership to the hospital’s emergency team. His responsibilities include supervising emergency department providers, consulting on complex medical cases, ensuring adherence to current clinical protocols, and leveraging data analytics to enhance care quality. He remains actively involved in day-to-day operations and patient care within the emergency department.

PVCH has also made significant advancements in diagnostic capabilities with the opening of a newly upgraded X-ray room in May 2025. This modernized suite features advanced imaging equipment that allows for more accurate and comfortable patient assessments, including the ability to take standing images. The renovation, made possible through the

PVCH Foundation, also incorporated improved safety features to protect both patients and staff.

PVCH has also expanded its Cardiopulmonary Services with the addition of Supervised Exercise Therapy (SET), a proven and effective treatment for patients diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD occurs when arteries in the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked, often leading to pain, numbness, or cramping. SET involves structured exercise sessions guided by a registered respiratory therapist, focusing on improving circulation, mobility, and overall vascular health. The therapy combines walking, stretching, and strength training, with education on lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, diet, and physical activity. This new service builds on the success of PVCH’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab programs and strengthens the hospital’s partnership with HaysMed and the DeBakey Heart Institute, giving patients access to advanced cardiovascular care right here at home.

Together, these developments reflect PVCH’s unwavering commitment to providing high-quality, accessible healthcare to Pawnee County and surrounding communities. With dedicated new providers and cutting-edge services, the hospital continues to meet the evolving needs of its patients and strengthen rural healthcare in Pawnee County.

LARNED — Susan Sanderson considers the opening of the new Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in 2013 a highlight of her nursing career.

She was already working as a nurse in St. Joseph Hospital in 2009, when the news came out at the hospital would be closed, and with it, its designation as a Critical Access Hospital in the community.

“Our hospital was on the verge of being closed, but then our community banded together,” she recalled. “Through the hard work of many people, reaching as far as the State Capital, our hospital was saved. In 2013 Pawnee Valley Hospital was dedicated. Being a part of maintaining the hospital status and then being involved in the new build was definitely a highlight of my career.”

The experience helped her in developing the belief that “tenacity and flexibilty are two characteristics that can help a person reach their goal.”

Sanderson’s career development

Growing up in Western Kansas, Sanderson was set on a career path working as a Certified Nurse’s Aide in high school. She worked in a Catholic hospital,“where the nuns had such dignity and respect toward the ill and infirm,” she said. “I wanted to have a chance to experience

that; this in when my heart started having a passion for being an influence on a person’s health and well-being.”

She graduated from Dodge City Vocational School in 1971. She moved to Larned in 1976, to work at Larned State Hospital. “The state hospital did not use LPN’s back then, so I branched out and earned a license as a Mental Health Technician,” she said.

After nine years, she was eager to get back into medical nursing. In 1988, she was hired as an LPN at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital. “Quickly, I realized how drastically nursing had changed in the hospital and to be successful, I would need to further my education. Barton Community College was my choice to earn my associate’s degree in nursing, which I did in 1992.”

At St. Joseph, she had the opportunity to work as a direct care nurse on the medical floor, assist with the long-term care unit and give lectures in the chemical dependency unit.

“As I gained experienceI was then sent to theEmergency Departmentwhere I worked for manyyears. One of the bestthings I learned is howimportant it is to havegood mentors. St. Joe’shad some very experienced,devoted nurses who were

willing to share their knowledge with me. I cherish the relationships built on the common ground of helping people feel better and the ability to carry out lifesaving measures. These were the people that gave me the courage to press on in my career.”

Married with three children, she broadened her nursing understanding with a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays State University in 1988.

While at St. Joseph, it was her passion to work in the emergency department. She also assisted the Director of Nursing for several years. She also has worked as a charge nurse until recently at PVCH.

Affordable healthcare starts with prevention, and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is making it easier for you.

We invite you to our Spring Health Fair at the First Southern Baptist Church in Larned on Friday, May 2, from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m.

Take advantage of low-cost blood tests and explore various health and wellness booths. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to prioritize your health. See you there!

See you there!