Community health news

Community HealthCare System is expanding its Cardiac Rehab program. The program, which began in early 2020, will now include both Phase 2 and Phase 3 options for individuals who are recovering from a heart attack, heart or heart valve surgery, or heart catheterization. The program also helps patients who are managing chronic congestive heart failure.

Phase 2 lasts 6 to 12 weeks, and participants attend up to an hour-long session three days a week to exercise and learn about topics such...

The early February sun shone on the first Phase 2 COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Pottawatomie County, an event that one vaccine recipient said felt “like a party.”

Vicki Flattery said everyone from the staff to those arriving for the vaccine was “excited and festive.” “It’s a great vibe,” she said.

Pottawatomie County Public Health collaborated with county healthcare leaders for months to ensure smooth delivery of vaccine. The event at...

Community HealthCare System clinics in six northeast Kansas locations were recently recognized as achieving Patient-Centered Medical Home status by the National Center for Quality Assurance, or NCQA. PCMH is a model of healthcare delivery focused on treating the whole patient through the lifespan.

“The PCMH designation means that our clinics are set up to offer a higher quality of care. When a patient visits, our care teams focus not just on one episode of care they are providing...

Community HealthCare System is collaborating with public health authorities in four counties to begin Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Although plans are proceeding, vaccine supply from the state is limited. Vaccine supply will grow in the coming weeks, but patience will be required as healthcare providers and public health departments work through the planning and distribution process.

CHCS patients who are interested in receiving the vaccine should do the...

By Ashley Edelman, speech therapist: COVID-19 has undoubtedly caused many difficulties for families this past year. Children in our surrounding communities are also facing many new challenges. Quarantines, remote learning, COVID-related illness, and general disruptions to routine ways of living have taken a toll. 

Children are dealing with increased social isolation from peers and family members and disruptions to everyday school routines, which puts them at risk for loss of language...

Community HealthCare System received an allocation of 150 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, December 17, for healthcare workers. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Nicole Huey received the vaccine on Friday, December 18. Nicole also took time to share her thoughts on the vaccine.

Why did you choose to receive the vaccine?  

I feel immunization is the only way to get control of this virus as natural immunity does not produce...

Community HealthCare System received an allocation of 150 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, December 17, for healthcare workers. Dr. Nicholas Cahoj was the second associate to receive it after longtime CHCS physician Dr. Tom Walsh. Dr. Cahoj also took time to share his thoughts on the vaccine for those who are interested in learning more.

Why did you choose to receive the vaccine?

I’ve seen a number of patients test positive...

Community HealthCare System received an allocation of 150 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, December 17, for healthcare workers. Dr. Tom Walsh was the first associate to receive it. Dr. Walsh also took time to share his thoughts on the vaccine for those who are interested in learning more.

Why did you want to receive the vaccine?

I wanted to protect myself from the coronavirus.

What should people know about side effects?

The...

The rollout of a vaccine against COVID-19 has begun. The Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer vaccine late last week, and another vaccine from Moderna is likely to be granted the same authorization in the next few days.

CHCS has been working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and other regulatory authorities for several months to prepare for the arrival of the vaccine. Some patients have started to ask questions about vaccine...

The surge in COVID-19 cases in Kansas has been well documented in the news, and many have heard about full hospitals in Topeka, Wichita, and Kansas City. But rural hospitals are feeling the pinch, too. In northeast Kansas, Community HealthCare System hospitals and clinics have felt the impact, sometimes in ways that are not readily visible to the public.

Testing increasing numbers of patients for COVID-19, experiencing busy emergency rooms, and admitting more COVID-19 patients to the...