Community HealthCare System Welcomes Dr. Ben Harstine
July 23, 2024
Categories: General, News, Provider story
Community HealthCare System is pleased to announce that Dr. Ben Harstine will join its medical staff this fall.
Dr. Harstine earned his bachelor of science in Public Health Nutrition from Kansas State University and attended medical school at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He completed his family medicine residency and family medicine obstetrics fellowship at Waco Family Medicine in Waco, Texas. He recently received both his family medicine and family medicine obstetrics...
Community HealthCare System Welcomes Dr. Collin Connor
July 23, 2024
Categories: General, News, Provider story
Community HealthCare System is pleased to announce that Dr. Collin Connor will join its medical staff in September.
Dr. Connor graduated from Emporia State University (ESU) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. He attended medical school at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He completed his family medicine residency at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas.
Dr. Connor did not always know he wanted to be a physician. It wasn’t until after...
Community HealthCare System Welcomes Dr. Karl Haake, Interventional Pain Management Specialist
May 28, 2024
Community HealthCare System (CHCS) has announced that Karl Haake, MD, a board-certified pain management physician specializing in back, neck, and joint pain as well as migraine relief, is joining the CHCS specialty provider team. With nearly 15 years of experience in pain management, Dr. Haake brings expertise that enables CHCS to offer comprehensive pain management services to patients in northeast Kansas.
“We are excited to have Dr. Haake join our team. Meeting our communities’...
A Tribute to Our Nurses
May 9, 2024
Categories: General
It's National Nurses Week and we are celebrating our wonderful nurses who extend compassionate care daily to our patients, our friends, our neighbors.
What better tribute than to honor them with this poem:
“Footprints of Compassion” author unknown
In corridors, both long and bright,
A journey unfolds, day and night.
Nurses walk, leaving behind,
Footprints of a special kind.
Steps of hope, strides...
Language Matters - A Better Way to Talk About Mental Health
April 25, 2024
Did you know that the language we use to talk about mental health may contribute to the stigma, prejudice and discrimination of individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition? We are all unique individuals and want to be treated as such. There is much more to each person than their mental health condition and, many times, in our field of work, we see patients at their worst. Person-first language refers to speaking and writing in a way that acknowledges the...
Community HealthCare System Awarded Sunflower Foundation Grant
April 4, 2024
Community HealthCare System (CHCS) was recently awarded a $75,000 grant from the Sunflower Foundation to support implementation of an integrated care delivery model to increase access to behavioral health services. CHCS will receive the funds over the next nine months as grant milestones are met.
“We are grateful to receive these funds from the Sunflower Foundation,” said Todd Willert, CHCS Chief Executive Officer. “These funds will help support our continued...
Celebrating National Pulmonary Rehab Week
March 11, 2024
Even though diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been diagnosed for many years, pulmonary rehab has only been around since the late 1990’s. Those suffering from COPD used to be told to avoid physical activity. But, in 1952 Columbia University staff member Alvan Barach first noted the importance of continued exercise for those with COPD. Later Thomas Petty would develop the first pulmonary rehabilitation outpatient program. Now today, it is widely...
Onaga Community Hospital receives redesignation as a Level IV Trauma Center
February 20, 2024
Onaga Community Hospital has been recertified as a Level IV Trauma Center by The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Designated trauma centers are evaluated every three years to assure they meet all essential criteria and certify trauma care capability and institutional performance as determined by the American College of Surgeons and endorsed by the Kansas Advisory Council.
“This achievement is hard-earned as the requirements are rigorous to verify...
Community HealthCare System Welcomes Daniel Samani, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
February 12, 2024
Community HealthCare System (CHCS) has announced that Daniel Samani, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in joint care, is joining the CHCS orthopedic team. With nearly 30 years of experience in joint replacement and reconstruction, Dr. Samani brings expertise that enables CHCS to offer a comprehensive Total Joint Program to patients in northeast Kansas, a first for the growing hospital.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Samani join our team. Meeting our communities’...
Willert to Retire from CHCS
February 9, 2024
Justin Boswell, Community Healthcare System of NE Kansas (CHCS) Board Chairman, has announced the upcoming retirement of Todd Willert, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for CHCS. Boswell stated Willert’s last scheduled day is July 12, 2024.
Willert joined CHCS in March 2015 while the new hospital was already under construction. During his tenure, CHCS has brought on a general surgeon and additional family medicine providers, while expanding surgical and orthopedic services. ...