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...
The 340 B Drug Program Improves Access to Mental Health Resources
April 18, 2025
Categories: News
As past and current Community Health Needs Assessments have prioritized the growing need for additional mental health services, CHCS continues to seek ways to expand that service offering. Since mid-2023 we have added two full-time mental health providers and now offer extended services in Onaga, Holton and St. Marys.
We understand the importance of access to these and other services in our home communities. The 340B program has helped CHCS provide high quality care to our patients...
The 340B Drug Program Does Not Use Taxpayer Funds
April 10, 2025
Categories: News
The 340B Drug Pricing Program is funded by pharmaceutical manufacturers through an inflationary penalty when their prices are excessive. It is not funded with taxpayer dollars. In fact, 340B savings helps hospitals like CHCS from having to rely as heavily on local taxes for operational support. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, CHCS absorbed $971,537 of uncompensated care/bad debt expense and generated $520,469 in 340B savings. Without the 340B program, CHCS and other Kansas hospitals may...
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...
What is the 340B Drug Program
March 24, 2025
Categories: Community health news, News
The 340B Drug Pricing Program was created by the federal government and requires drug manufacturers to provide eligible hospitals medications for significantly reduced prices. Not every hospital is eligible and not every medication has a lower 340B price. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has established rules to ensure that eligible hospitals are serving patients in need. Each year documentation is required to prove continued eligibility. Community HealthCare System...
Additional Staff Trained in Dry Needling
March 10, 2025
Three additional physical therapy staff members recently attended training to become certified in Level I Dry Needling.
Dry needling is a technique that physical therapists use to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues. It’s almost always used as part of a larger pain management plan that could include exercise, stretching, massage and other techniques. During a dry needling treatment, a provider inserts thin, sharp needles through your skin to treat...
CHCS to hold Health Fairs April 5 in Holton, St. Marys
March 4, 2025
Categories: Catch Up On Care, Events, General, News
Regular health screenings are important no matter your age or health status. Community HealthCare System will make it easier to obtain those screenings on April 5 with a Health Fair in both St. Marys and Holton.
The Health Fair at both locations will offer low-cost labs from 8:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. Individuals can receive a complete blood count, chemistry panel, thyroid screen, cholesterol panel, and hemoglobin A1c for diabetes screening for $30. A prostate specific antigen, or PSA, test...
Community HomeHealth Receives 2024 HHCAHPS Honors Status For Exceptional Patient Care
February 6, 2025
Community Healthcare System’s HomeHealth agency is proud to announce it was named a 2024 HHCAHPS Honor recipient by MatrixCare, a leading provider of CAHPS surveys, advanced analytics and other services for home health agencies. This prestigious program recognizes agencies that excel in delivering positive patient experiences and high-quality care as measured by the Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS) satisfaction scores.
To receive...
Fitzthum Hired as New Chief Executive Officer
February 3, 2025
Categories: News
Justin Boswell, Community Healthcare System of NE Kansas (CHCS) Board Chair, has announced that John Fitzthum has been hired as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Fitzthum will assume this new role on March 3.
Fitzthum has more than 12 years’ experience in the healthcare setting, working the past year as the Regional Chief Operating Officer at St. Catherine Hospital (CommonSpirit Health) in Dodge City. CommonSpirit Health is comprised of St. Catherine Hospital in Garden...
CHCS Receives Grant from the Stormont Vail Foundation
January 30, 2025
Categories: News
Community HealthCare System (CHCS) has received a grant from the Stormont Vail Foundation to help continue their mental health offerings to students and community members. The $3,000 grant will help CHCS provide teaching materials for teen, youth, and adult Mental Health First Aid class courses.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant funding to purchase training materials for participants in our Mental Health First Aid classes,” said Andrea Lutz, CHCS Director of Ancillary...
