News

Four northeast Kansas healthcare organizations recently collaborated to raise funds for Damon’s Purpose, a grassroots organization dedicated to suicide awareness and prevention and improving mental health. We’re proud to say that employees from Sabetha Community Hospital, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Holton Community Hospital, and Community HealthCare System raised $5,813.15 for this amazing cause! We hope it will help Damon’s Purpose continue to do amazing...

Dr. Heidi Smith has been providing orthopedic services at Community HealthCare System since the summer of 2021, including outpatient visits at the Onaga Specialty Clinic and minor surgical procedures such as trigger finger release and carpal tunnel release at Onaga Community Hospital. Knee arthroscopy procedures are the latest addition to services available in Onaga.

Knee arthroscopy uses a small camera to view into the  knee joint. The procedure is a commonly used...

A new report by Mental Health America tracked mental illness and the ease of accessing care. The report found that Kansas was in LAST PLACE in the country because of high rates of addiction among young people, high rates of mental illness and suicidal thoughts among adults, and lack of access to care in our state.

We see the signs of stress and the need for mental health care in our communities every day, and so do our colleagues...

Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, is a common virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. The virus has been making headlines recently because of a high number of more severe cases in children. Emergency rooms in metropolitan areas are seeing a large number of RSV-related visits, and many children have been hospitalized. Some hospitals, including Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, are reaching capacity because of RSV and influenza.

Although the...

Community HealthCare System has recognized Alexis Whorton, RN and Community HomeHealth manager, with the fall 2022 DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing. She was nominated for helping a local family navigate securing hospice care for a loved one with metastatic melanoma.

“I contacted Alexis for some assistance and answers to questions regarding the hospice care process. Alexis had previously helped us with home health care. She has been a lifesaver for our family,” wrote...

Community HealthCare System is adjusting its mask policy effective Tuesday, October 18, in accordance with evolving CDC and KDHE guidance.

Starting October 18, universal masking will be required if COVID-19 Community Transmission is high for two weeks in a row, but masks will no longer be required if COVID-19 Community Transmission is low, moderate, or substantial according to the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker. Community Transmission data...

You may have heard that new COVID-19 boosters have been approved and recommended. These boosters are bivalent vaccines, offering protection against COVID-19 along with the omicron variant. The updated boosters are now available at CHCS clinics.

Individuals recommended to receive a bivalent COVID-19 booster are as follows.

For the Pfizer booster, anyone age 12 and up who has completed a primary vaccine series, with the last dose at least two...

The Community Home Care Equipment store at Onaga Community Hospital will be under construction from October 24 through December 31. During that time, the store will provide curbside service to patients and customers. 

Anyone who needs assistance should call 785-889-5018. Curbside pickup will be available on the west end of Onaga Community Hospital's parking lot near the Community HomeHealth building. Look for the yellow flag on the west side of Associate Parking.  

Hours...

We often invoke sayings about the importance of time: time is of the essence, time flies, and time is money. When someone has a stroke, taking quick action can improve survival rates and outcomes, so it’s worth taking a little time to understand the warning signs and what to do when you or a loved one experience them.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked or ruptures, causing brain cells to die. The American Stroke...

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 offer a higher quality of care. When a patient is seen for an appointment, our care teams aim to focus on the overall health of the patient....