Provider story

Andy Barnes, APRN, will be joining Community HealthCare System full-time in February 2021. Barnes previously worked on an as-needed basis and provided care in the Emergency Department and family practice clinics at CHCS for two and a half years and continues with Stormont Vail Emergency Room, where he has been for more than 15 years. In his new role at CHCS, Barnes will work three days a week in Centralia Clinic and Onaga Clinic, plus continue to be on call one weekend per month.

“We...

Community HealthCare System received an allocation of 150 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, December 17, for healthcare workers. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Nicole Huey received the vaccine on Friday, December 18. Nicole also took time to share her thoughts on the vaccine.

Why did you choose to receive the vaccine?  

I feel immunization is the only way to get control of this virus as natural immunity does not produce...

Community HealthCare System received an allocation of 150 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, December 17, for healthcare workers. Dr. Nicholas Cahoj was the second associate to receive it after longtime CHCS physician Dr. Tom Walsh. Dr. Cahoj also took time to share his thoughts on the vaccine for those who are interested in learning more.

Why did you choose to receive the vaccine?

I’ve seen a number of patients test positive...

Community HealthCare System received an allocation of 150 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, December 17, for healthcare workers. Dr. Tom Walsh was the first associate to receive it. Dr. Walsh also took time to share his thoughts on the vaccine for those who are interested in learning more.

Why did you want to receive the vaccine?

I wanted to protect myself from the coronavirus.

What should people know about side effects?

The...

Amy Jones, APRN and full-time provider at Community HealthCare System’s Centralia Clinic, will be transitioning to PRN status at the end of January 2021. This means that although she will continue to substitute from time to time, she is retiring from full-time duty at the clinic.

Jones has been with CHCS for 17 years. During her time at the Centralia Clinic, she has provided excellent care to patients of all ages, but she is particularly fond of the elderly. Jones loves to help...

Jeremy Brandt is a physician assistant and licensed X-ray technologist. He serves as lead provider in the Frankfort Clinic as well as co-clinical advisor for the Northeast Kansas Healthcare Coalition.

He is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Kansas Air National Guard 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas. He continues to serve after more than 20 years in the Armed Forces, and he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 with the 2-130...

September is sepsis awareness month. Sepsis affects 1.7 million people and costs 270,000 lives in the U.S. every year. CHCS Physician Assistant Shelia Talley provided the following information to help us learn more about sepsis.

What is sepsis? Why is it a big problem? 

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to an infection. Sepsis occurs when chemicals released into the...

Community HealthCare System is pleased to announce that Merica Surdez, APRN, will transition into a new role as Chief of Provider and Clinic Operations effective immediately. 

Surdez will serve as a liaison with medical staff and will manage operations at the seven CHCS clinic locations in Onaga, St. Marys, Holton, Westmoreland, Frankfort, Centralia, and Corning.

Todd Willert, CHCS CEO, said Surdez is a great fit for the position. “Merica’s knowledge of our...

Michele Reisinger is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who sees patients in Onaga and Corning. She is also a full-time graduate-level nursing faculty member at Washburn University School of Nursing and serves as Primary Investigator on a Health Resources & Services Administration-funded grant.

Michele recently answered a few questions about the many hats she wears. Take a moment to learn more about this amazing CHCS associate! 

In June, we take time to celebrate our fathers. June is also Men’s Health Month, so it’s a perfect time to encourage your dad and other men in your life to get a checkup. Men are much less likely to schedule regular wellness visits, but checkups are important because many health problems can be prevented or treated with early diagnosis.

Dr. Marcus Weiser, family practice physician for Community HealthCare System, recently took time to answer a few questions about...