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Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare? Understanding the Differences Is Key for Kansas Senior
/in All, News/by Jose MadridAs a physician serving our community, Arlo Reimer, M.D., understands the challenges seniors face when it comes to accessible, affordable health care. Choosing the right Medicare health plan helps overcome those challenges, but how do you know which plan is best when there are different cost and coverage options to choose from? During open enrollment (Oct. 5-Dec. 7), making the right choice for you starts with knowing the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Original Medicare is a federally funded program that offers broad access to health care providers nationwide. Beneficiaries can see any doctor or visit any hospital that accepts Medicare, offering flexibility and peace of mind. Medicare Advantage plans (which are offered by private insurers) cover the same services as original Medicare, but do not offer that same flexibility and peace of mind as most services require prior authorization which many times limits access to services ordered by your provider.
While Advantage plans often include additional benefits (like discount drug programs, vision and dental coverage, and even healthy amenities like wellness plans or gym memberships) and often have lower premiums than Original Medicare, additional costs may arise, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, which can vary significantly between plans.
Another consideration, specifically for seniors living in rural areas like Pawnee County, is that Medicare Advantage plans require beneficiaries to rely on in-network doctors and hospitals, which can be more convenient and affordable for some – but not all. For patients in medically underserved areas of Kansas, limited provider networks can be a significant barrier to care.
Medicare Advantage plans also negotiate reimbursement rates with providers and health systems, which are often lower than Original Medicare rates. That may not seem like a concern for patients, but there’s a hidden ripple effect: low reimbursements add to the financial strain that leads to service and facility closures, further impacting the availability of affordable, convenient, and quality health care. Please note that not all Medicare Advantage plans are currently accepted at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, as some reimbursement rates do not align with our standards for providing quality care.
Choosing a Medicare plan requires careful consideration of your health needs and financial circumstances, especially for seniors with fixed incomes and increased health concerns. Remember, your health care providers are here to help and can answer questions, so discuss your Medicare options with them. Information is also available on our hospital’s website pawneevalleyhospital.com/ and Facebook page. You can also visit medicare.gov for more information or call 1-800-MEDICARE to speak with a knowledgeable Medicare representative about coverage options.
High-Quality Obstetrics Has Arrived at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
/in All, News/by Jose MadridIn a new development for growing families in the Larned area, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) will now offer obstetrics and prenatal care through their Family Medicine clinics starting in November. This care expansion, in collaboration with the Center for Women’s Health at HaysMed, will enhance local access to prenatal care, including imaging and routine testing, allowing patients to receive high-quality care closer to home. Arlo J. Reimer, MD, will be caring for expectant mothers at PVCH. In addition to his experience in specialized care, like obstetrics, he is a trusted family physician, seeing patients of all ages.
As part of this partnership, patients will have their initial obstetrics visit at the Center for Women’s Health at HaysMed. After this first appointment, low-risk patients can be referred to Dr. Reimer at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Family Medicine to continue their prenatal appointments. At 28 weeks, patients will return to HaysMed for third-trimester care and delivery. After delivery, mothers can continue seeing Dr. Reimer for their follow-up care and newborn care.
This shared-care model offers patients flexibility and convenience to choose to receive care closer to where they live, benefiting from the high-quality care and personalized expertise of both hospitals.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our community and the surrounding areas,” said Melanie Urban, Administrator at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital. “Many of our patients are familiar with our providers through well-woman exams, pediatrics and family medicine services. Now, we are able to offer obstetrics services right here in our Family Medicine clinic, fostering an early relationship between patients and providers—an essential aspect of small community hospitals like ours. We look forward to taking this significant step toward providing comprehensive healthcare services for families in and around Larned.”
The partnership emphasizes the collaborative approach to patient care that PVCH and HaysMed strive for, ensuring the best outcomes for expectant mothers and their families. Both hospitals aim to create a smoother, more accessible experience for expectant mothers, ensuring they receive top-tier care both locally and through HaysMed’s facilities.
For more information on referrals and scheduling, please contact the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Family Medicine at 620-804-6007.
About Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is a 25-bed facility offering emergency care (24/7), surgery, high-tech imaging and laboratory tests, rehabilitation, and a sleep and diagnostic center, as well as acute, skilled, and specialized nursing, wound care, and more. Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Family Medicine provides a full range of primary care services for all ages, as well as women’s health services.
Tribune’s 20 Under 40 – Jose Madrid
/in All, News/by Jose MadridJose Madrid
Age:25
Marketing and Communications Director, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
Professional Career:
Jose began his academic journey at Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas, where he earned an associates degree in business administration in 2019. His passion for sports and academics led him to play varsity baseball at both Labette and Bethany College, where he graduated in 2022 with a dual bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. His dedication on the field earned him the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete award, showcasing his commitment to excellence in both athletics and academics. Currently, Jose is pursuing a Master of Health Care Administration at Park University. In 2023, he took on the role of Marketing and Communications Director at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital. In this position, he utilizes his marketing skills to enhance community outreach and improve patient engagement, making a meaningful impact in healthcare communication.
Community Involvement:
He coaches local youth baseball teams, including the Dirt Bags and Bandits. Additionally, Jose serves as an assistant baseball coach at Larned High School. Jose is also an active member of the Pawnee County Childcare Coalition, working to address childcare needs in the community and support families. His involvement reflects a deep commitment to improving the quality of life for residents in the area.
Personal Life:
Jose loves attending concerts and sporting events. He enjoys exploring new dining spots and cherishes visits to his family in Texas. He also values spending quality time on dates with his girlfriend.
Volunteering: A Way of Life
/in All, News/by Jose MadridConnie Carlton grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From local service to mission work, the church’s beliefs are strongly rooted in helping one another at an early age. “Volunteering has always been a part of my life,” Carlton noted. ” I enjoy helping people.”
For the past four years, Carlton has served as president of the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary, which, at 113 members, is the largest volunteer organization in the community. As president, she also serves as coordinator for District 6 in Kansas’ Hospital Volunteers of Kansas. Her district encompasses the auxiliaries of Liberal and Ulysses as well as Larned, among 36 such organizations in the state with a membership of 6,515 volunteers.
Carlton came to Larned with her husband Richard when he accepted a position as director of the Tri-County Special Education Cooperative in 1981 through 1993 when he passed.
Connie, who had studied nursing during her two years in college, was a stay at home mom with nine children. “I had a daycare and I did some volunteering,” she said. “But having nine children at home kept me busy for a while,” she said. “They all graduate Larned High School.”
While her kids were in school, Connie served as office manager for Larned High School. She served there 12 years, leaving in 2014.
While she was child-rearing and working at the high school, Carlton was volunteering. She credits Pat Schartz, who herself was an active volunteer before her passing in 2015, with getting her signed up as a hospital volunteer.
“Pat Schartz asked me to join the hospital Auxiliary and I did, and she gave me a job to do,” Carlton recalled. “I continue to do that today.
The opportunity to join other groups came up. Volunteering was a given. This town works together on a lot of things.”
The Auxiliary has grown since Carlton became a member. In addition to staffing the welcome desk at the hospital in two-person, four-hour shifts, members tend to the Auxiliary Gift Shop. While the Auxiliary operates year-round, autumn is always a busy time assisting with lab fairs, fundraisers and programs with the elementary school.
“At the time that I joined, it was just to be a part of it, do whatever needed to be done,” Carlton said. “I worked at the front desk where we greeted everyone that came in and could get where they needed to go. It just kind of went from there. Now, “we have a craft fair in November, and we help with the Lab fair that the hospital does twice a year. We help with the sixth-grade health fair, where the sixth graders come over and learn about the hospital.
“The Gift Shop is still a big thing,” she said. “They’ve always had a gift shop where people could buy things for patients or friends, but it has gotten bigger. It now is a place where people will come to shop for themselves and others.”
“We will be helping with the October health fair, but our big event is the holiday fair on November 16th. We have vendors come in to sell their wares and we have a food court to feed everybody. Everybody pitches in; somebody bakes pies somebody serves, everyone is involved in one way or another. We have a quilt raffle. “It’s a big event,” she said.
As she steps down from her office as president, there will still be things to do with the Auxiliary. Besides that, Carlton volunteers with members of her church group once a month at the volunteer-run state theater in Larned. She’s also a member of Larned Music Club and Larned Garden Club, Beta Sigma Phi, and the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter.
“I think that I’ve tackled most of the volunteer groups here,” she noted. “Volunteering to me is a way of life; there are the opportunities to do it in organizations that’s sometimes greater than doing it on your own.”
Gunn takes on new responsibilities at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
/in All, News/by Jose MadridAs the new Outpatient Nursing Supervisor at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH), Rosaline Gunn, RN, is using her nursing and administrative skills to oversee Special Nursing Services, Specialty Clinics, and the Operating Room.
Special Nursing involves outpatient care and treatment for those who need wound-care assistance; infusions/injections; catheter insertion; PICC line care and removal; port-a-cath maintenance; blood draws; and other services. “These special treatments enhance the quality of care, while improving the patient’s health and reducing the risk of hospitalization or re-admittance to a hospital,” Gunn noted.
Specialty Care Clinics include cardiology, general surgery, pain clinic, pulmonology, urology, and wound care. “The clinics allow local and area residents to seek treatment close to home. The community is fortunate to access these specialized services at our local hospital.”
The Operating Room provides outpatient surgeries, such as colonoscopies and endoscopies, as well as procedures associated with skin lesions, performed by general surgeon Dr. Brandon Cunningham from HaysMed’s Southwind Surgical clinic.
Gunn has cared for patients and families at PVCH since June 2022, serving as a floor nurse, and charge nurse for acute care before her recent promotion.
“I truly enjoy working at PVCH because of the variety of services offered here,” Gunn commented. “In addition, the patients and staff always have been welcoming, which I appreciate.”
Gunn earned her credentials as a licensed practical nurse at St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Richmond, Va., which is her hometown. Her nursing degree was awarded at Barton Community College.
Previously, Gunn served as a nursing assistant/LPN at Westminster Canterbury Retirement Community in Richmond for 10 years. Gunn moved to Great Bend in 2010 and worked for Angels Care Home Health for about four years.
Gunn and her husband, Richard Gavin Gunn, have two children – Josslyn, 13, and Adrian, 8.
Melanie Urban, PVCH Administrator, said Gunn “demonstrates the leadership skills required to coordinate, supervise and participate in clinical practice and resource management. We are excited she is serving in this new role; she will grow and excel with our exceptional nursing team at PVCH.”
Pawnee Valley Community Hospital hosts Health Fair Oct. 11
/in All, News/by Jose MadridLocal and area residents are encouraged to take advantage of reduced-priced blood tests when Pawnee Valley Community Hospital sponsors its upcoming Fall Health Fair, said Kristi Engle, PVCH laboratory manager.
The event is set for 6:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at First Southern Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 13th and Mann in Larned.
The lab tests include: Hemagram; Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP); Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH); Lipid Panel for triglycerides, cholesterol and direct HDL; Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA); Hemoglobin A1c; Free T4; Iron; and Vitamin D.
Other PVCH departments will be on site with information about the Sleep & Diagnostic Center, advanced directives, living wills, durable power of attorney and DNR/DNI, which stands for do not resuscitate/do not intubate.
The Pawnee County Health Department will be on hand to offer influenza vaccines, while Emergency Medical Services provides blood-pressure checks.
In addition, Gentiva Hospice representatives will provide information.
“My colleagues and I always look forward to the Health Fair because it allows us to meet more of our neighbors,” Engle said. “It also provides opportunities for other PVCH departments and outside local entities to provide services and share information in one convenient location.
“We are aware that not everyone is comfortable going to the doctor or they can’t find time for healthcare visits in their busy schedules,” she added. “Participating in the Health Fair offers a convenient way for them to get a quick glimpse of their health status.”
The PVCH Auxiliary will provide cinnamon rolls during the special event.
The hospital also hosts a Spring Health Fair in April.
Wassenberg shares OT information at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
/in All, News/by Jose MadridAnyone who struggles to perform regular, daily tasks at home or on the job might want to consider the benefits of occupational therapy, said Camelle Wassenberg, OT at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital.
Wassenberg, Larned, wanted to share information about this type of therapy in observance of National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, which was this month, Sept. 16-22.
“Occupational therapists use evidence-based interventions to help people do the things they want and need to do,” Wassenberg said. “We focus on independence with performing daily tasks, while promoting health, well-being and the ability to participate in the activities important to you.”
The main goal is to increase physical functioning and reduce pain after an illness, accident or other event. This can be accomplished by providing assistive devices or strategies, restoring strength and range of motion, and educating patients about ways to prevent further harm and improve quality of life.
The first step is an evaluation during which the OT gathers information on a patient’s history. “We learn about their experiences and interests so that we can determine a plan of care,” Wassenberg explained. “Then interventions are introduced to improve performance of tasks and allow you to reach your goals.
“Outcomes are assessed to ensure you make progress and eventually meet your goals. Helping patients improve their quality of life and regain their independence means so much to me. I can connect with them and celebrate their victories.”
A doctor’s referral is not necessary for OT services.
Wassenberg, a Kinsley native, earned an associate’s degree at Barton Community College; a bachelor’s of General Science from Fort Hays State University; and Entry Level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from The University of Kansas.
Her professional background includes working as a licensed pharmacy technician for nine years. Wassenberg also has OT clinical experience in various settings such as home health, outpatient, memory care, mental health and acute care.
“I have been at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital for a little more than a year and have felt at home from the beginning,” Wassenberg commented. “My colleagues are supportive in every aspect of patient care and communicate well with one another. This creates a welcoming environment for patients and families.
“In addition, we have up-to-date OT equipment and services to meet our patients’ needs,” she added. “As a critical-access hospital, we are fortunate to have this professional team to create patient-centered, holistic healthcare plans.”
Jason Rath, rehab manager, said “Camelle is a great addition to the important OT side of our department. She and Angela Meitner, OT assistant, share a great passion for our patients’ well-being and strive to provide the best care possible.”
Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s Jackie Guzman earns CT certification
/in All, News/by Jose MadridJackie Guzman wanted to enhance her radiologic-technologist skills to better serve her patients at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH).
The result is a new certification credential along with her title of Registered Radiologic Technologist.
“Although I had been performing CT scans at PVCH for more than two years, I wanted to further my education and expand my knowledge,” Guzman said. “This certification helps me apply new information to real-life scenarios, allowing for more efficiency.”
CT scans can help physicians diagnose various types of cancers, blood clots in the lungs, strokes, blood-vessel abnormalities and fractures.
“These are just some of the diseases and conditions that can be detected with a CT scan,” Guzman noted.
As part of her certification requirements, Guzman performed at least 125 procedures that had to be approved by a certified technologist.
“In addition, I completed coursework in physics, procedures, anatomy, pathology, safety and patient care,” she noted. “Next, I passed the national computed tomography exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.”
Guzman’s earlier education included an associate’s degree in Radiologic Technology and a bachelor’s in Medical Diagnostic Imaging at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) in 2022.
Her clinical rotation was performed in a FHSU x-ray program at Garden City where she worked as a student Radiologic Technologist.
“I came to PVCH immediately after graduating from FHSU,” she recalled. “I had met the Director of PVCH Imaging at a Fort Hays State career fair. Since that meeting, I knew where I wanted to work. PVCH is home to a professional, caring staff that serves patients and families in Pawnee and surrounding counties.”
Julie Robben, PVCH Director of Imaging, noted that many CT technologists are not certified “but it is something that we, as a team, feel is important to our community. Jackie’s certification illustrates her dedication to PVCH and her patients.
“Her willingness to go the extra mile, dedication to growing as a technologist and bilingual skills are great assets to our team,” Robben added. “Equally important, her kindness and gentleness demonstrate her compassion for patients. We are blessed to have Jackie as part of our team.”
Robben mentioned that the Imaging staff always looks for ways to improve skills, whether it be with certifications, continuing education or equipment updates.
“Imaging technology and procedures constantly change,” she noted. “It is important for our team to stay current with these changes at our Pat Young Imaging Center to provide the community with the quality care they deserve.”
Rath named rehab manager at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
/in All, News/by Jose MadridJason Rath began his physical-therapy career caring for patients in 2013 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) where he was recently promoted to Rehabilitation Manager.
“I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to step up to the rehab-manager position,” said Rath, a Larned resident. “We have a great group of associates who have the knowledge to guide our patients toward achieving their goals, along with a deep sense of compassion and desire to enhance their lives.
“As physical therapists, we help patients regain optimal function and reduce pain with activities of daily living and work duties. We also guide the rehabilitation and healing process after surgical interventions such as joint replacements and tendon/ligament repairs, just to name a few.”
In general, anyone with acute or chronic pain that affects their lifestyle and employment responsibilities “would be a great candidate for physical therapy,” Rath said, noting a doctor’s referral is not necessary. “We design a regimen that provides the best opportunity for them to get back to their hobbies and careers as soon as possible.”
Rath also uses his education and sports-medicine experience at Larned High School football games, along with all other USD 495 athletics, where he can offer his physical-therapy skills when necessary.
“I still have a passion for sports medicine, and working with young athletes and helping them succeed,” Rath commented.
This passion was evident throughout Rath’s academic background. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training at Fort Hays State University “and was lucky enough to have earned an internship with the Denver Broncos.”
His next stop was Tennessee Technological University where he earned a Master’s in Exercise Science; he then graduated from Tennessee State University with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2013. While in Nashville, he was also chosen for an athletic-training internship with the Tennessee Titans for two summers.
Rath and his wife have two sons who are very active in sports; he also enjoys golf, hunting, and “believe it or not, mowing and landscaping.”
Theresa Roe, Interim Director of Rehabilitation Services at PVCH, said “Jason has been a dedicated physical therapist at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital for more than 11 years. During that time, he has acquired solid leadership skills.
“We are excited for Jason to assume a more formalized leadership role as the rehabilitation department continues to grow and expand services for our community.”