There’s a lot to see here UKHS - GB making improvements, advancing services

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

Last year was a busy year at University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus as the healthcare facility brought new high-tech equipment online, grew services and outreach, and completed a major renovation. Below is a list of accomplishments provided by UKHSGB

Administrator John Worton and Strategic Marketing Program Manager Regan Reif:

• In summer 2022, The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus updated their CT scanner at the hospital from a 16-slice to a 128-slice CT scanner that provides clearer images and shorter scan times for patients. Additionally, they added X-ray services to St. Rose Medical Pavilion to better serve their family medicine and Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic patients.

• They continue to grow their orthopedics, sports medicine and physical therapy teams at Central Kansas Orthopedic Group. Central Kansas Orthopedic Group joined The University of Kansas Health System in August 2021. Randall Hildebrand, MD, and Joshua Boone, DPM, are now joined by orthopedic surgeons, Bruce Toby, MD, and Matthew Vopat, MD.

• The emergency department provider team grew in 2022. Their new providers have extensive background in emergency medicine, including two certified flight and emergency nurses.

• Dr. Thomas and Dr. Anna Dagg joined the family medicine practice at St. Rose Medical Pavilion in September 2022. In addition to seeing family medicine patients, Dr. Tom treats sports medicine patients at Central Kansas Orthopedic Group, and Dr. Annie joined the growing obstetrics team.

• The University of Kansas Health System’s obstetrics team in Great Bend continues to grow. They now have six physicians who provide obstetrics care: Veerayyagari Annapurna, MD, Thomas Dagg, MD, Anna Dagg, MD, Jodi Henrikson, MD, Jonathan Pike, MD, and Micca Schneider, MD.

• They are proud to be a partner in educating the next generation of healthcare workers. The health system partners with colleges and universities – local and around the country – to provide the clinical and shadowing experience students need to graduate.

– In 2022, 17 students in paramedic, surgical, radiologic and medical lab technician training, and physical therapy and ultrasound programs shadowed professionals at the health system.

– In 2022, more than 120 nursing students worked on their clinical experience requirements at the health system.

– Five seniors from Great Bend High School are interning with the health system during the 2022-2023 school year.

• The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus completed a $4.6 million renovation of its four operating rooms, the perioperative areas, and sterile processing department in fall 2022. All areas were updated and equipped with new patient safety features. Renovation in the ORs included removal of unnecessary doors and windows. All wood doors in the OR area were replaced with doors made of nonporous materials. The ORs and perioperative areas each received new floors, wall surfaces, countertops and in some areas, ceilings that have nonporous, cleanable surfaces to improve prevention of Two OR suites also received new lighting. During the sterile processing department remodel, the SPD gained about 250 square feet and new sterilization e health system is currently installing a new MRI machine at is new technology is expected to be available to patients in March 2023. The upgraded machine features a larger opening to improve patient experience.

Also, with the newest technology, many scans will be shorter in length but offer more accurate and precise imaging.