News

A Community HealthCare System associate has tested positive for COVID-19. The associate is a nurse who works at St. Marys Community Hospital.

According to CEO Todd Willert, the hospital was informed yesterday. CHCS has already notified patients who received care from the nurse as well as associates who worked in close proximity to the nurse for longer than 15 minutes, per Kansas Department of Health and Environment guidelines.

“We know that because of our universal...

As COVID-19 swept into the U.S., then the Midwest, it upended everyone’s plans for 2020. Difficulties have abounded, but bright spots have also emerged. One example is the charitable efforts of area citizens.

The Caring Community Foundation, or CCF, recently donated $4,000 to Community HealthCare System, or CHCS, as part of a larger effort to provide local COVID-19 relief. CHCS is allocating those funds to the purchase of a new transport ventilator, raising the total to two.

Ventilators...

The Northeast Kansas Healthcare Coalition is helping Community HealthCare System boost emergency preparedness by providing $7,060 in mini-grants. The funds purchased five 800-MHz radios for systemwide use and will expand the Holton Family Health Center generated electrical system. 

Adding 800-MHz radios, which have statewide reach, across all CHCS campuses strengthens healthcare and medical response coordination in an emergency. CHCS previously conducted a hazard vulnerability...

Community HealthCare System officially resumed elective surgeries and wellness visits at hospitals and clinics more than a month ago. Visitor policies were updated June 1 to allow support persons to accompany clinic and surgery patients and to allow one visitor at a time for hospitalized patients. Although operations have changed, one thing remains the same: Keeping patients and associates as safe as possible remains the top priority.

Several procedures are in place...

Effective Monday, June 1, CHCS will make the following changes to our visitor policy.

For hospital, emergency room, and surgical patients:

Patients will be allowed multiple visitors, but visitors will be allowed into the building only one at a time. We reserve the right to restrict the number of visitors in one day. Visitors must be screened upon entrance and must wear a mask during their visit. Visitors must check in at the nurses station and acknowledge...

We are happy to announce that our Fitness Centers in Onaga, Frankfort, and Centralia will reopen to the public on June 3. Patrons will be asked to adhere to special guidelines to protect everyone against the spread of COVID-19.

Hours

In Onaga and Centralia, Monday-Friday hours will be 5:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.; 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.; and 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. Weekend hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Specific hours are required in these facilities...

We are eager to open our Fitness Centers, and we know our patrons are eager to resume their workouts!

Community HealthCare System Fitness Centers are used for physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, rehabilitation, and cardiac rehabilitation; therefore, we need to act slowly in reopening to the public. Our first duty is to protect the health of our patients and prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Our hope is to open our Fitness Centers to the public on June 3, but...

Healthcare organizations have learned many grim lessons from both natural and human-made disasters in the last two decades. 9/11, an Ebola outbreak, Hurricane Katrina, mass shootings, and more have raised awareness of the need to prepare for the worst. But preparation can’t happen in a vacuum, and no one organization can cover every possible set of circumstances.

Healthcare coalitions aim to help the many contributors to a region’s preparedness break down barriers and increase...

Community HealthCare System is set to resume surgeries and wellness visits at its hospitals and clinics on May 4. Many restrictions and precautions will remain in place to protect patients and staff from COVID-19, but those who need care no longer need to wait. 

Like other healthcare facilities, Community HealthCare System, or CHCS, postponed non-emergency surgeries, yearly checkups, and other elective procedures when the statewide stay-at-home order was issued and the COVID-19...

Dr. Dagoberto Heredia provides psychiatric care for patients of all ages with a range of problems, and he sees patients at the Holton Family Health Center three days each week. He helps children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly find the right medications to treat anxiety, depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, and other issues. He usually has one or two new patients each week, and he sees steady demand for mental health services, which he provides in both English and Spanish.  

COVID-19...