Community HealthCare System Announces Completion of Redbud Plaza Generator Project
November 20, 2025
Community HealthCare System (CHCS) is pleased to announce significant progress in the Redbud Plaza Generator Project, a major infrastructure upgrade designed to enhance safety, reliability, and quality of care for residents and staff at Redbud Plaza Assisted Living.
Earlier this month, CHCS completed the final electrical tie-in for the new generator system, followed by a successful full-system test on November 17, 2025. The new generator will now provide comprehensive backup power to...
Community HealthCare System Awarded $371,521 Grant for Portable Ultrasound Machines
September 30, 2025
Community HealthCare System (CHCS) recently received a $371,521 grant from the Patterson Family Foundation to help purchase portable ultrasound machines for its Holton, St. Marys, and Centralia rural healthcare clinics.
“We are extremely appreciative of the Patterson Family Foundation for these grant funds,” said John Fitzthum CHCS Chief Executive Officer. “These grants will help us improve prenatal outcomes, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and support equitable...
CHCS Launches New Transportation Initiative to Better Serve Staff and Patients
September 10, 2025
Community HealthCare System (CHCS) is excited to announce the launch of a new transportation initiative designed to make travel easier, safer, and more reliable for both staff and patients.
Beginning in September, CHCS will offer scheduled daily routes between three of our key locations: Holton, Onaga, and St. Marys. These routes will function much like “bus stops,” giving employees and patients a dependable option for transportation between CHCS campuses.
The daily...
Do It for Damon
September 8, 2025
Categories: General, News, Patient story
We can all look back on our lives and remember moments that changed the path we thought our lives were on. Sometimes those moments occurred after we made a big decision, but sometimes those moments happen when others make choices that change our lives forever.
On January 19, 2021 our 13 year old son, Damon, made the decision to end his life. That moment and many moments in the following days, weeks, and months truly changed the trajectory of my life. In those first few days, I...
Community HealthCare System Earns Five National Awards from American Heart Association for Dedication to Heart and Stroke Care
August 7, 2025
Recognition Highlights CHCS’s Commitment to Lifesaving, Evidence-Based Treatment in Rural Communities
Community HealthCare System (CHCS) has been nationally recognized by the American Heart Association with five “Get With The Guidelines®” achievement awards for excellence in the treatment of coronary artery disease and stroke.
These...
Community HealthCare System Earns OSHA SHARP Recognition for 23rd Consecutive Year
August 5, 2025
For the 23rd year in a row, Community HealthCare System (CHCS) has been nationally recognized for its outstanding commitment to workplace safety, earning recertification through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
CHCS remains the only hospital in Kansas—and currently one of just two in the nation—to hold this prestigious designation, and has done so every year since 2002.
SHARP...
Local Surgeon Offers Faster Recovery with Innovative Jiffy Knee® Procedure No Muscle Cutting Means Less Pain, Quicker Return to Life
July 11, 2025
For those suffering from chronic knee pain, surgery can feel like a daunting prospect. But thanks to a groundbreaking procedure offered by Dr. Daniel Samani, orthopedic surgeon at Community HealthCare System, knee replacement no longer has to mean a long, painful recovery.
Dr. Samani now performs the Jiffy Knee® technique, an advanced approach to knee replacement that avoids cutting the quadriceps or VMO (vastus medialis oblique) muscles—areas typically disturbed in traditional...
Susan Tanking Honored as DAISY Award Recipient
May 8, 2025
Susan Tanking, LPN, Holton Family Health Center, has received the Spring 2025 DAISY Award from Community HealthCare System (CHCS). CHCS presents The DAISY award twice yearly for exemplary nursing.
Tanking was nominated by (Elizabeth) Joe Curtis who highlighted Susan’s compassion and empathy while sharing the story of her sister’s passing.
Curtis stated, “Susan is always so attentive. She is a powerhouse when it comes to patient care and always finds a way...
Mental Health is for Everyone
May 2, 2025
Categories: General
According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, 1 in 5 U.S. adults will struggle with mental health at least once in their lifetime, 1 in 6 children/teens will struggle as well. Risk of mental health struggles increase with poverty, being a member of a diverse and/or minority group, a lack of social supports, and a familial history of substance abuse or mental health diagnosis. Early intervention and supports can drastically increase long term stability and positive outcomes. Knowing what...
The 340B Drug Program Provides Greater Access to Care
April 1, 2025
Access to Care – CHCS uses 340B savings to offset uncompensated care and bad debt, thus helping us keep our doors open and able to provide our communities access to care.
The term “Access to Care” gets used a lot, but what does it really mean? Many hospitals in Kansas have been forced to close or eliminate the services they offer that operate at a loss. For example, in recent months we’ve seen hospitals in our area make the difficult decision to stop offering...
