It didn’t take long for Kathryn Buchanan to notice that the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) team is “patient-oriented with a real sense of community spirit.”

Buchanan is the new family nurse practitioner at PVCH Family Medicine, 713 W. 11th in Larned. She began seeing patients Dec. 11.

“I specialize in family medicine and look forward to meeting my new patients in the coming weeks and months,” Buchanan said. “I will care for and treat patients with acute and chronic diseases and conditions from age 2 and older.”

Buchanan, an Ellinwood resident, noted she is “impressed with the wide variety of PVCH services and up-to-date equipment. This illustrates to me that one of the hospital’s priorities is offering as much quality healthcare as possible close to home.

“In addition, from day one, the environment here has been welcoming. There is a genuine sense of community among staff members who are always willing to help patients and their colleagues. This is important to me.”

Buchanan, who is originally from Mississippi, earned an associate’s degree in nursing in 2019 and bachelor’s degree in nursing the following year. Both degrees were awarded by Mississippi University for Women.

Next came her master’s in nursing/family nurse practitioner earlier this year at The University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Buchanan’s professional background includes serving the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department as a registered nurse at North Mississippi Medical Center; registered nurse at Mississippi HomeCare; and med-surg nurse at The University of Kansas Health System.

Melanie Urban, PVCH administrator, noted that “in the brief time Kathryn has been here, she is already demonstrating her practitioner skills, as well as her compassion towards her patients. Kathryn’s talents mesh well with our mission to provide high-quality healthcare right here at home.”

On November 16, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) in Larned was recognized with a 2023 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Quality. This recognition is PVCH’s third consecutive year to receive the national quality recognition.

Compiled by the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (i.e., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals across our Nation.

“Our hospital’s history is rooted in rural healthcare, and our future is committed to ensuring our community has access to high-quality care,” said Melanie Urban, Administrator. “Living in a rural community should never mean that our residents are sacrificing quality health care. Every member of our Pawnee Valley team is devoted to providing high-quality care. This recognition validates their efforts and drive as high-quality care is a commitment we prioritize.”

The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance across several areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

As a state-of-the-art critical access hospital dedicated to healthcare excellence in the local community, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital has a long history of caring for patients in Pawnee County and the surrounding areas. They pride themselves on providing the best possible clinical care, and through their strong personal connections to the people they serve, the hospital and its family medicine clinic are the go-to guides for better health.

Dr. Arlo Reimer’s recent appointment as Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s new Chief of Staff marks a significant and promising milestone for our healthcare institution. With a distinguished medical career and a proven track record of innovation and patient-centered care, Dr. Reimer brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this key leadership role. His commitment to advancing medical practices and improving patient outcomes is truly inspiring. We anticipate that under Dr. Reimer’s guidance, our institution will continue to excel in delivering high-quality healthcare services, embracing cutting-edge technologies, and fostering a culture of compassion and excellence. We look forward to the positive impact his leadership will have here at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital and the well-being of our patients.

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Family Medicine is proud to offer a new monthly chronic care management program for eligible Medicare and Medicaid patients called “ChartSpan”. Between regular office visits, patients in this chronic care management program will have access to a care team 24/7, including a nurse line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – year-round. Patients can call with any medical questions or concerns they may have. In addition to the 24/7 nurse line, patients will receive benefits such as assistance with scheduling their healthcare appointments, support with filling their prescriptions in a timely and convenient manner, and a monthly review of their progress toward achieving their personalized health goals. The patient care team focuses on keeping you healthy and assists in preventing any conditions from worsening, as well as ER visits or unnecessary hospital stays. The patient care team then reports all updates to your primary care provider within the PVCH-Family Medicine. Medicare and Medicaid patients ready to take advantage of these great program benefits are encouraged to call Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Family Medicine at 855-773-1611 to see if they qualify and get started.

About Pawnee Valley Community Hospital 

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is a 25-bed facility offering emergency care (24/7), surgery, hightech imaging and laboratory tests, rehabilitation, a sleep and diagnostic center, 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.

For specialty care and to ensure a full continuum of care, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is a HaysMed partner, and its hospital and family medicine physicians collaborate closely with HaysMed specialists.