Health Progress 2022 by Great Bend Tribune

DEDICATION 2022 Health & Wellness Progress

Special to the Great Bend Tribune Sunday, February 20, 2022

• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Medical professionals return to area, dedicated to rural health care issues BY DANIEL KIEWEL dkiewel@gbtribune.com

After growing up in rural Barton County, three local health-care professionals are now dedicated to serving the residents of the rural communities they once again call home. “My husband and I are both from rural communities and enjoyed growing up in our respective towns. We wanted this kind of community for our children,” said Dr. Kayla Johnson, an Odin native who has been a pediatrician with Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington since May 2021. “I enjoy working with the people,” Johnson said. “It’s amazing to see the community support for it’s children and for Clara Barton Medical Center.” Prior to returning home to Clara Barton, Johnson, after graduating from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2015, completed her pediatric residency in Wichita in 2018 and also spent time practicing in Salina. Kelci Burkey, a physician’s assistant with Clara Barton and a graduate of Hoisington High School, said even though she knew upon graduation she wanted to be in health care, her route into the profession was a little more indirect. After initially obtaining her certified nurses aide license out of high school, she spent several summers working part time as a CNA with Clara Barton while going to college in Wichita. She then spent a few years in the banking industry in Wichita, and working as CNA on the side, before becoming pivoting back into full-time health care as a PA. “I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to

be a PA, it just took me took me a little different path than I had planned to get there,” she said. Dr. Roxanne Stiles, a Claflin native, said practicing as a general surgeon in a rural hospital like Clara Barton offers a chance to grow her own skill set while providing much-needed access to quality health care to rural residents. “In most cities, surgery is getting very sub-specialized and practicing rural provides the opportunity to remain a true ‘general surgeon’ which is appealing to me,” Stiles said. “The fact that I am personally connected to this area makes the work even more meaningful.” Performing a wide variety of procedures means Stiles is always learning something new, a breadth of experience Stiles said she enjoys. Dr. Chad Ohnmacht, a dentist in Great Bend, graduated from Great Bend High School in 1999, and returned to the area in 2008 after getting a bachelor’s degree from K-State in 2003, and a Doctor of Dentistry degree from University of MissouriKansas City in 2008. Returning to the area, he said, was all about the people. “I wanted to give back to the people who helped me to get to where I was and go back to my roots...to give back to the community that supported my when I was young in all my endeavors.” Ohnmacht said. He said the high quality of life and availability of outdoor activities were also important in drawing him back to a rural area. All three say it is the values they learned with a rural upbringing that helped draw them both to careers in health care in the first place. For Stiles, it means practicing in the same hospital in which

Johnson

Burkey

she was born. “I had such a great experience growing up here and I had so much support from the entire community,” Stiles said. “The people of Barton county helped shape the person I am today so I was honored to come back and serve them.” Johnson also said she is grateful to be able to provide rural residents with crucial medical services. “Pediatrics is unique and has it’s own challenges if you live outside a major city due to limited specialty availability or pediatric specific procedures/tests,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately it’s common for families to have to travel for care.” Johnson, who graduated from the same class at Claflin High School as Stiles, said in addition to support from the community, injuries sustained in the sports she participated in while in high school gave her a desire to learn more about the human body. With her interest in science and biology, Stiles said a career in health care, as a surgeon specifically, was a natural fit. As a surgeon, she said, she gets to have an instant impact on the patient’s well-being. Burkey said her vision of what medicine and health care should be was shaped heavily by what she saw growing up in Hoisington, in particular Dr. Robin Durrett, whom she describes as a major influence in her health

Stiles care career. “It was so cool to me to see that he not only had a job where he got to help people and do what’s right, but he also got to do that out in the community,” Burkey said. “He would go to games and if somebody would get hurt he would be the first one down there taking care of the kid. Seeing the people I grew up around really helped prepare me for coming back home to practice.” “It is incredibly rewarding to provide someone with instant relief or cure somebody’s cancer but what I also love is your relationship with the patient,” Stiles said. “The trust they have to allow you to perform surgery on them is a unique kind of bond.” Stiles credits the resiliency learned growing up in a rural community for her success in the field. “The people of this community work hard and that is what is expected of the kids brought up here. I didn’t appreciate that as a unique trait until later,” Stiles said. “Hard work and resiliency was just something you came to accept as the norm in this farming community. After spending time training in Wichita, Stiles said one challenge to providing care in a rural area is more limited access to many critical care resources than hospitals in larger cities. Having experienced that, though, she

said she is grateful for the resources Clara Barton is able to provide its patients, which is unique for smaller communities. “Having local services to offer is huge in getting patients the care they need but may not have the resources otherwise to acquire it,” Stiles said. Ohnmacht said the values he learned growing up in Barton County helped shaped him. “It centered on hard work, generosity, and compassion toward everyone who helped you get to where you are. It taught me that there is always a human element in anything that you do and that this takes precedence over anything else.” Burkey said the more personal nature of rural health care can be both rewarding and at the same time challenging. It’s common, she said, to see patients outside of the office in the course of daily life, and she enjoys being able connect with them on more of a personal level, something that is more difficult in larger cities such as Wichita. Ohnmacht also appreciates the personal nature of rural health care. “(I like getting) to know (my patients) and their families on a personal level. Watching them and their children grow through academia and sports is a very rewarding and enjoyable experience.” “It’s one and the same,” Burkey said. “I want to help people that I love and know, but it also makes it very stressful, because I want to do the absolute best for everybody.” Stiles is also grateful for co-workers who have gone above and beyond through the challenges of a global

pandemic. “It is incredible seeing the way everyone has stepped up working both longer hours and outside of their comfort zone,” Stiles said. Outside of their practice, both Johnson and Stiles find themselves active in the communities they grew up in and once again call home. Stiles, whose father, Pat, coaches girls’ basketball at Central Plains High School, enjoys the opportunity to be able to follow her alma mater’s sporting events, and her nephew’s middle school sporting events. Johnson feels the same. “My husband and I have enjoyed attending local sporting events and watching our nieces and nephews compete,” Johnson said. “I am hopeful to get increasingly involved as our kids grow and we get settled in.” Even more than the work itself, which she enjoys, Stiles said what is most fulfilling about her work here is the people. “The patients of this community are very appreciative and thankful for the care you provide them and up to this point, that has not been my general experience in health care,” Stiles said. “This area is filled with kind and genuine people that help each other like neighbors.” Burkey, who is also heavily involved in the Hoisington community, said the chance to be involved in so many things was part of what brought her back to the community. She serves on the boards for both the GPS Kids Club and the after-school latchkey programs in Hoisington, and said her kids are involved in several community programs, as well.

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2022 •

Clara Barton Hospital draws nearer to expansion project completion BY MIKE GILMORE mgilmore@GBTribune.com

HOISINGTON — Clara Barton Hospital is drawing nearer to completion of its extensive expansion project, after a busy year in 2021. As the Hoisington hospital’s new surgical clinic and imaging center took shape, efforts to add providers, staff, equipment and services were underway to continue to provide an environment for its vision, mission and values. Building progress The first phase of the expansion project focused on the reconstruction of the parking lot. Last October, the hospital’s $15 million project took a large visible step in its second building phase, as the addition’s superstructure was complete. A beam-signing ceremony celebrating the placing of a final roof joist enhanced the connection between hospital employees and members of the community. Into the winter, the building exterior materialized as the functional connection between the original hospital and the family practice clinic. When completed, the addition will provide accessible square footage for surgery and radiological services, with accommodations for state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging equipment. The third and final phase of the renovation will include remodels of the existing surgery department, emergency room, lab, pharmacy, and hospital lobby. “One of the most exciting aspects of this project is the renovation of our surgery department, specifically to our pre- and post-op areas,” said Jim Blackwell, Clara Barton Hospital president/ CEO. “This will include the addition of eight pre-op patient bays with solid walls between each bay, enhancing patient privacy and providing a better patient experience.” Renovations will also enhance the existing hospital lobby, providing a more private registration experience while also increasing space in the waiting room area. Beyond that, two IV infusion rooms and a procedure room will be added to the Emergency Department and the hospital pharmacy and lab will be relocated to provide better space accommodations. Equipment upgrades Meanwhile, a new 128-slice CT scanner was

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

A recent view of the eastern face of Clara Barton Hospital’s new surgery and imaging center.

one of the upgrades recently purchased to provide shorter scan times, improved image quality and a lower radiation dose. “Our exams are more consistent with this new CT, as we are now getting better images with a shorter scan time,” said Betty Evers, radiology director. “Upgrading from a 16-slice to a 128-slice scanner has greatly increased image quality and allows for a much more comfortable patient experience since our patients don’t have to hold their breath near as long.” The addition of the new, tablet-based CT scanners from Siemens Healthineers, called SOMATOM go.Top, enables Clara Barton to support routine, advanced CT procedures and enhances diagnostic accuracy by providing additional diagnostic information to patients and their physicians. From pediatric to adult patients, the SOMATOM go.Top CT system delivers a better patient experience, high quality images, and low dose — providing the perfect balance of patient comfort and clinical confidence, Evers said. Technologists operate the CT system with a touchscreen tablet and remote control, keeping patients close during exam preparation. This can improve the patient experience, particularly for children and patients who have mobility challenges and need additional support. In addition, this CT features automated technology that takes the guesswork out of selecting the optimal radiation dose for diverse patient populations. It’s also equipped with Siemens

latest exclusive technologies for optimizing radiation dose, such as Tin Filter Technology. Together, these can reduce unnecessary radiation for a wide range of routine procedures. “The new CT scanner at Clara Barton will help reduce radiation dose, speed up scan times and provide enhanced clarity of the exam, making my job as a radiologist easier,” said Dr. Curt Thompson, radiologist. “However, one key factor that often goes unmentioned, is that the quality of our results coincides with the quality of our technologists. Just because you have the newest technology doesn’t mean you are going to have the best images, as it greatly depends upon who is running the equipment and their ability to adequately use the machine. When I look at exams from the Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic, their images aren’t any better than what I see from Clara Barton and that tells me that we have some of the best technologist in the area.” Having top-notch technologists coupled with patient-centric technology that optimally adapts to each patient, Clara Barton’s CT scanner delivers consistent, reliable results in all aspects of hospital imaging. This includes the most advanced fields such as Cardiac Calcium Scoring, low-dose pediatric scanning, low-dose lung cancer screening, and CT-guided minimally-invasive intervention procedures. The new CT scanner is currently installed in the existing radiology department at Clara Barton. However, once the new

imaging suite is completed – around July – the CT will be moved to the new imaging wing. More providers In June, the addition of Kayla Johnson, M.D. to Clara Barton’s roster of providers also expanded the hospital’s pediatric services. Dr. Johnson is an Odin native and attended undergraduate school at Fort Hays State University. After obtaining her undergrad, she attended medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Salina and graduated with her doctorate in 2015. Johnson then completed her pediatric and chief residency in 2018 at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita and is board certified in general pediatrics. In August, Roxanne Stiles, M.D., joined her brother, PJ Stiles, M.D., and the rest of the providers and staff at Clara Barton Surgical Clinic. “We have a very special group of providers, many of which grew up in this area,” said Blackwell. “It is an incredible feeling to see so many of these physicians return home to care for the people that helped mentor them along the way and inspire them. Kudos goes out to our community that helped raise these gifted clinicians. We as a region now have the benefit of having the brightest talent right here close to home at Clara Barton Hospital.” Stiles is a Claflin native and attended undergraduate school at Missouri State University. After obtaining her undergrad, she attended medical school at the University of Kansas School

of Medicine and graduated with her doctorate in 2015. Stiles then completed her general surgery residency in 2021 at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. New services Among the patient services provided by the hospital, a 2021 assessment need led to a partnership with Sunflower Diversified public transportation, the Hoisington Trolley and Golden Belt Community Foundation for better access and financial assistance for patients’ transportation to and from medical appointments and procedures. Beginning in February, Sunflower Diversified will be providing a 6 p.m. ride to patients and community members. The ride leaves Clara Barton every Monday through Friday evening at 6 p.m., with no advance scheduling. However, riders are asked to contact a hospital staff member with name and address prior to departure. “There have been many instances where we have encountered patients who are ready to be discharged in the evening or who may just be getting out of surgery but are unable to drive themselves or do not have a family member to take them home,” said. Mandy Hoffman, Clara Barton

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VP/COO. “These occurrences often fall outside of local trolley hours and are unable to be scheduled in advance, The addition of the 6 p.m. ride from Clara Barton will be huge for our patients, giving them an option to schedule a later appointment or get a ride home after their surgery or hospital stay without having to make special arrangements well in advance.” Thanks to GBCF, Clara Barton has received a grant to assist with funding to start the pilot program that will not only offer the scheduled ride from their facility, but also will help patients in need of financial assistance pay for their rides to and from their appointments throughout the day. “We’re so very thankful to receive funding from the Albert Gumbir Charitable Fund at Golden Belt Community Foundation to better help our patients receive the care they need,” said Michelle Moshier, Clara Barton Foundation executive director. “Albert’s legacy included many charitable acts, one he was well known for was giving rides to the store or doctor’s offices when he was active with the Senior Center. Clara Barton Medical Center is honored help carry his legacy forward by helping others through these transportation partnerships.”

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2022

FIELD OF DREAMS

DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

There was a Great Bend Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at the Great Bend Sports Complex Thursday, Feb. 17, marking the completion of the artificial turf installation project. Pictured are chamber members, chamber ambassadors, and officials from Great Bend, USD 428 and the Great Bend Recreation Commission.

They’ve been built, turfed and people come BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

On Thursday, Feb. 17, there was a ribbon cutting at the city-owned Great Bend Sports Complex to mark the completion of a project that installed artificial turf to the baseball and softball fields. The turf, an endeavor that dates back to 2018, is cooperative effort among the City for Great Bend, Unified School District 428 and the Great Bend Recreation Commission, all dedicated to making the complex a premier sports venue in the state. It marked the first significant improvement to the city-owned facility since it opened in 2012. The ceremony was sponsored by the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. It was the chamber that held the May 2012 ribbon cutting honoring its grand opening. “This is a tremendous partnership we share with the Recreation Commission and school district,” Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis said. “The only way we could have done this was through a partnership.” Francis said there was talk when he came to Great Bend in 2018 about installing turf at the complex. It took time to gain momentum and soon became a priority. “We want to continue to have a premier facility,” he said. “It will continue to be at the forefront. It will be a big attraction.” The fields see around 300 teams each year for competitions at various levels. Now, it will be even more in demand. “Youth sports is a huge economic driver,” he said. “You can see its impact,” Last November, Great Bend voters approved a .15% sales tax for quality of life improvements. The estimated revenue comes to $566,628 per year to cover improvements to parks and other recreational facilities, as well as maintenance. This approval demonstrated the dedication of the community as a whole to recreation, exercise and the healthy benefits of outdoor activities. It also showed a commitment to the health of the city. Great Bend owns considerable land around the complex, and Francis said a Master Plan for that area was created, which shows multipurpose (soccer/ football) fields as well as additional baseball/softball

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO The Great Bend Sports Complex has hosted many high school, college and youth baseball and softball tournaments.

fields. However, there are no immediate plans to act on it. He did said the city is applying for a Tourism Attraction Sub-Grant for Kansas (TASK), aimed at providing seed money to help bring that plan to fruition. As for the quality of life sales tax, the mayor is planning to form a committee in the very near future to provide recommendations to the city council on how to best utilize those funds. The City Council in April of last year approved the bid from Hellas Construction, Austin, Texas, for $1,360,700 to install the turf. The base proposal is $1,275,600 with an alternate for bullpen area for $85,100. It covers turf on the infields and bullpens of the four sports complex fields and Langrehr field. There was also a batting cage added at Langrehr. The funding broke down like this: Unified School District 428 , $280,000; Great Bend Recreation Commission, $200,000 for the initial installation and $10,000 per year for eight years for turf maintenance; and the city, the remaining $880,700. Work started shortly after that, and was completed in December. Background In August 2018, Mike Minton of the Great Bend Bombers youth baseball organization made a plea to the Great Bend City Council to step up to the plate for youth baseball and softball teams in the community. He urged the city to install turf at the complex. The goal would be to make the city more competitive in attracting tournaments

to town, while providing safer fields that are less susceptible to having games rained out. “I’m here to talk about progress,” Minton said. “If you are not growing, you’re dying.” Minton, who started as a teacher and coach in Great Bend 25 years ago, said much has been done to improve Great Bend. But more needs to be done to keep moving forward and attract people to come to the community. “I want to continue to see the city of Great Bend grow,” said Minton, whose wife coaches softball at Great Bend High School and whose kids are active in sports as well. “I am here tonight to ask the City Council to approve funding for turf at the complex.” Minton was joined by young ball players and other coaches who filled the council chambers. All were present to back his proposal. “This will allow us something to bring outsiders to Great Bend potentially more than a dozen times per year,” he said. “Something as simple as turf on a few fields that make us different from other communities can keep people wanting to come back to our city.” He said he wants these visitors to spend their money in local motels, restaurants and gas stations. This impact can be huge, since these teams travel with many family members in tow. It’s not just the Bombers, he said. The Quicksilver youth softball team, along with the American Legion baseball teams and the Rec Commission, are in the

same boat. “We can build something here,” he said. “I want to see a community that is growing and is known for its summertime fun and activities while bringing in the outside dollars.” With 40 or more teams typically taking part in a tournament, plus coaches and fans, he estimated conservatively 15,000 visitors from April through July. The economic impact could easily exceed $500,000. Turf is important because people want to come and play on the best, he said. They want to know there will be limited games canceled due to rain.

This applies not only to youth programs, he said. State and regional high school and colleges utilize the complex as well, programs that may move to other venues that have turfed fields. “We’re going to lose those if we don’t do something different,” he said. “They will go someplace else.” Turf is also safer for players, limiting ball hops. There is also less maintenance required. However, in December of 2018, the committee formed to study the feasibility of installing turf saw value in the change, it determined that it was then not the time for the costly project. The council concurred. The committee met twice and members soon realized there were much broader, more pressing issues facing the city’s beleaguered recreational facilities that call for a long-range, multi-year master plan. “They determined that turf is not a top priority at this time,” Francis said. The committee did stress the importance of developing a comprehensive plan as soon as possible that would include ways to pay for needed improvements. “Quite honestly, the city has dropped the ball on maintenance on some of our facilities and we need to get them up to par and those will be our first focuses,” Francis said. In addition to turf, he men-

tioned the need to replace the lighting at Veterans Memorial Park fields and other expensive projects. The committee included City Clerk Shawna Schafer, council members Jolene Biggs and Cory Urban, USD 428 Superintendent Kris Thexton, Great Bend Recreation Commission Assistant Director Chris Umphres and community representative Shawn Behr. Members wanted the turf wrapped up in the to-be-developed Master Plan. The complex was initially designed for grass fields. It had to be redesigned for turf which can last 10-15, depending on use. History The grand opening ceremony for the Great Bend Sports Complex was held in May 2012 with Great Bend High School baseball games and a ribbon cutting. Construction had started the spring before. The following year, the gleaming metal sculpture paying tribute to baseball and softball was installed to adorn the entrance. The 25-foot-long, eight-foottall piece was designed by and will be installed by Hoisington’s B&B Metal Arts and paid for by the Thelma Harms Trust is paying for the entire project. Since then, it the facility has hosted many high school, college and youth baseball and softball games and tournaments.

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BCHD’s Winkelman approaches job with compassion, determination BY DANIEL KIEWEL dkiewel@gbtribune.com

When it comes to facing the challenges of her job as Barton County Health Department director, Karen Winkelman is quick to credit her team for their dedication to the difficult work that they do. Winkelman, who was named interim director in March 2020 and named to the permanent position by the Barton County Commission later that summer, said even amidst the unique challenges COVID-19 has presented, nearly two years into the job, her work in public health is a joy. “One of my biggest joys is helping people,” she said. “It has been my passion for a lifetime and I still really love it.” The lifetime Barton County resident has been with the health department for 25 years this month, and has been in nursing for over 40 years. She said she can never remember a time when she wanted to do anything else. Growing up on a farm in rural Barton County, Winkelman had a cousin she looked to as a mentor who was a nurse. “I wanted to be like her and she kept my interest sparked.” From there, she said, working with a team of people who share her passion for serving the public through healthcare helps keep her going in an often challenging industry. Karen and her husband have been married for 41 years. Her daughter, son-in-

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO Pictured is Barton County Health Department Director Karen Winkelman director administering a COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-through vaccination clinic in December 2020. Winkelman has been director for almost two years, and has been with the department in other capacities for 25 years.

law and 12 year old granddaughter all still live locally, so family and community are both vitally important to her. Time with them is something that has been lacking as she faced the work of battling a pandemic. She looks forward to getting back to spending more time with her family, and doing things she enjoys outside of work, something that was sacrificed a lot during the height of the pandemic. “The last couple of years I’ve really missed my family, and they have been so supportive, but I’m ready to get back to spending more time with them,” she said. Her family has a shared passion of spending time outdoors,

and she hopes to begin doing more of that with them in the days and months ahead. Battling against COVID-19 Winkleman said as she stepped into the interim director’s position two years ago, “COVID-19 came in with a vengeance.” When the pandemic hit, she said, the department’s myriad other health roles in the county did not stop. At the time, the department, which relies heavily on grant funding, still had a lot of other grant work on the table. With all of the uncertainties COVID-19 brought, Winkelman and

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the rest of the department had to rely heavily on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Barton County Commission, and local medical providers to help navigate the choppy waters of a global pandemic. Amidst the storm, she saw a tightknit county that supported each other. “I know sometimes the commissioners talk about us being the county family, and I’m telling you, that was that was definitely seen in the pandemic,” Winkelman said. But the staff had to rely even more on each other as a team. “What it did bring together was a lot of cohesiveness, and supporting each other as a group,” Winkelman said. “There’s loyalty and camaraderie with our group that just keeps you going.” As the pandemic wore on, the work became both physically and emotionally draining for Winkelman and her staff. Many days, she said, she arrived at work before 5 a.m., and would work until 8 or 9 p.m. “We’ve had extra sets of clothes down here, we’ve had pillows down here, we had meals in the fridge,” she said. “Sometimes you didn’t even know that lunch happened.” Each day, she said, brought a lot of uncertainty. Much of the department worked countless hours, including weekends and holidays battling the pandemic in the county.

As vaccines rolled out, she said there was a lot of logistical work behind the scenes making sure they were able to get it out to the community. One of the most challenging aspects, she said, was having to often share difficult and unpopular information with the public. “You still want to get that information out there that is in the best interest of the public and the community.” Though there was some backlash, she said, on the whole she’s seen a lot of support from the community as the county worked to get through the pandemic together. The key in the midst of the pandemic’s challenges, she said, is to always remember to be kind first, because you never know what other people may be going through. “Just stop and breathe (before you speak), and think about what kind of day they’re having,” she said. Moving on and moving forward As the daily workload of COVID begins to lessen, Winkelman said she is looking forward to re-establishing some of the health department’s other core programs. The department applies for about 10 grants every year, Winkelman said, with focuses on childcare licensing. maternal child health, family planning, immunizations and chronic disease risk reduc-

tion. In addition, there is the children with special health care needs program, and programs for communicable diseases like tuberculosis, rabies and others. There are numerous other programs and services as well. Also, she said, as restrictions subside, she would like to see the health department get back out into the county’s smaller communities. The department now has a camper which allows them to provide traveling clinic and laboratory services to the entire county. The main focus for the department, she said, is providing services that promote overall community health and wellness, including daily walk-in lab and vaccination services. Being able to focus more on these day-to-day public health services is a welcome break from the grind of COVID. With less central focus on COVID, there are several projects she would like to see the department concentrate more on. “We have some new maternal child health initiatives and objectives that I would like to see us focus more on,” she said. She would also like to see the department expand the chronic disease risk reduction, as well as wellness programs, such as tobacco cessation, outdoor activity, and healthy living and eating. “I’m looking forward to really digging into (these programs) and seeing what other possibilities are out there,” she said.

• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2022

NEW VENTURE

MIKE GILMORE Great Bend Tribune

A draft rendering of the new Ellinwood District Hospital, to be built at the intersection of Park and U.S. 56, features the hospital and clinic under one roof and expanded outpatient service treatment areas. The move to the new site will save hundreds of thousands of dollars in the overall project cost over rebuilding at the current site.

Ellinwood District Hospital project moves forward BY MIKE GILMORE mgilmore@GBTribune.com

ELLINWOOD — Officials of Ellinwood District Hospital are moving forward in their bid to build a replacement building with an application for United States Department of Agriculture funding. Should the USDA application be successful, Kile Magner, EDH chief executive officer, said plans are to break ground in the fall. Estimated cost for construction is $20 million, with a completion schedule of 2.5 years. The Barton County Commission approved a letter supporting the hospital’s loan bid earlier this month. Need for expansion Magner, CEO since 2015, noted that project organizers realized before last June that any construction involving demolition of the existing hospital building, built in 1952 at 605 N. Main St., would be a tight fit. As they discussed strategies, planners realized the complexity and cost kept going up, Magner said. “Our staff team requested time to look into an alternate site. Almost immediately, we identified savings of more than a half-million dollars and that savings number is now even higher.” Magner said the hospital has known for some time they had a visibility problem at the current location. Over the last two years, the administration and board members of the At our residence your loved one has the freedom to live with choice in their care, while you can be secure that they are being cared for by compassionate and professional staff.

hospital have been working through extensive research, financial studies, preliminary design, and other due diligence to develop a plan and take steps to the consideration of a new hospital and clinic facility. The current location also has drainage issues that hamper community development. By building on a separate site, organizers could avoid parking issues and temporary structures, which will save more money. The new site is 15.85 acres located across from the Grove Park Golf Course and Ellinwood Packing Plant in southwest Ellinwood. The site plan, as shown in preliminary drawings from HFG Architecture in Wichita, is three times larger than the existing campus. The new location will play into the hospital’s plan for a marketing and capital campaign, as well as provide a platform for future growth. According to Magner, ground-breaking for the new hospital could take place as early as this fall. About the Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinic. With a 24/7 Emergency Room with two beds. The hospital provides inpatient acute care, skilled swing bed, and intermediate swing bed care and many outpatient services: endoscopy, physical and occupational therapy, a full-service medical laboratory, and a

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2022 •

USD 428 adds one nurse in 2021 BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

The workload of school nurses was increasing, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Last March, Great Bend USD 428’s board of education approved hiring an additional nurse to work at district schools. Assistant Superintendent John Popp noted that although the added position came at a significant cost, it represented a significant increase in the district’s service to children. This allows Great Bend High School to have a full-time RN, Emily Young, Popp said. Previously, she also spent part of her time at Park Elementary School. Here is a list of the school district’s nurses and nurse aides: • Eisenhower/Lincoln Libbie Merritt, RN / Kadie Cass, nurse aide

Keshia Causey

Linda Johnson

Libbie Merritt

Audra Rostine

Emily Young

• Jefferson/Park - Audra Rostine, RN / Kaylyn Blessing, nurse aide • Riley/Helping Hands Preschool - Keshia Causey, RN / Sharon Denney, nurse aide • GBHS - Emily Young, RN • GBMS - Linda Johnson, RN; she also supports Little Panthers Preschool Superintendent Khris Thexton said the CARES Act, the federal Corona-

virus Relief Fund, would cover the cost of another nurse for now. But even before the additional demands from COVID-19 procedures, school nurses were seeing increasing student medical needs. The school board recognized nurses and certified nursing assistants last May with ROSE Awards (Recognizing Outstanding Support of Education). “The nurses for our

school district have taken on an extreme burden and have worked above and beyond for students, parents and staff to support everyone in the midst of the pandemic,” Thexton stated at the award presentation. “Nurses have taken on the roles of contact tracing, community health liaison, deliverer of 14-day quarantines, and all of their regular duties. They have done all this

with patience and grace, supporting crying students, upset parents, and overwhelmed teachers. They have worked weekends, late into the nights, even on days off when their support was needed,” he said. “Our nurses have been

calm under pressure, cool in the face of adversity and reassuring to so many who this pandemic has negatively impacted,” Thexton continued. “The USD 428 school nurses have truly risen to extraordinary levels in supporting education.”

Vision screeners added to inventory Children can’t learn if they can’t see what the teacher is presenting or the words on a page. Now every child in Great Bend USD 428 receives a vision screening at some point, GBHS school nurse Emily Young said. The district increased the number of Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screeners in its inventory this past year. USD 428 had three vision screeners along with an additional unit on loan from the Great Bend Lions Club that it shared with neighboring school districts. Thanks to a grant from the Patterson Family Foundation, USD 428 added two additional units, allowing

each of the five elementary school nurses in the district to have one. This also allowed the Lions Club’s unit to be used in neighboring schools full-time. The screener goes beyond the visual acuity test done with a typical eye chart, Young said. It can identify astigmatism or other eye issues. Students are screened in kindergarten and in grades 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, or any time a teacher notices a student who may have an issue and requests a screening. Also, any student who is new to the district is screened, Young said, as well as any student with an individual-

FILE PHOTO

Emily Young, RN at Great Bend High School, right, demonstrates the use of a vision screener on a GBHS student in this file photo from 2021.

ized educational plan (IEP). The scans can be synced to a printer allowing the nurse to send a fairly detailed report to parents.

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If applicable, the parents then receive a recommendation to send their child to the family eye doctor for follow-up.

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