COVID-19 surge strains CHCS, other rural healthcare systems
December 11, 2020
Categories: Community health news
The surge in COVID-19 cases in Kansas has been well documented in the news, and many have heard about full hospitals in Topeka, Wichita, and Kansas City. But rural hospitals are feeling the pinch, too. In northeast Kansas, Community HealthCare System hospitals and clinics have felt the impact, sometimes in ways that are not readily visible to the public.
Testing increasing numbers of patients for COVID-19, experiencing busy emergency rooms, and admitting more COVID-19 patients to the...
CHCS resumes visitor restrictions, maintains other COVID-19 precautions
November 11, 2020
COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our service area, so Community HealthCare System is re-instituting visitor restrictions and maintaining other COVID-19 precautions.
Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 12, hospitalized patients, including those delivering babies at the Birth Center, will be allowed one designated visitor. Designated visitors will be issued a purple bracelet to indicate their status during the length of their loved one’s...
Eastridge residents test positive for COVID-19
November 10, 2020
Categories: News
UPDATES:
November 18: All patients are being closely monitored, and appropriate actions are taken as need arises. CHCS invited KDHE to visit Eastridge to ensure that we are doing all we can to protect residents and staff. That visit took place on November 16. We will continue to provide updates as available. As of November 16, 22 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Two have been hospitalized. All are...Protect the people and things you care about
November 6, 2020
Categories: Community health news, News
The following is a joint letter to the editor submitted to area newspapers for publication the week of November 9. The letter is signed by three area hospital CEOs, including Todd Willert from Community HealthCare System.
Dear citizens of northeast Kansas,
Across the state, we are hearing calls of distress from our colleagues in healthcare. Hospital beds and intensive care units are filling to capacity. ER doctors and nurses are struggling to keep up...
CHCS urges area residents to take precautions, prevent the spread of COVID-19
October 29, 2020
Categories: Community health news, News
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment tracks 14-day COVID-19 positivity rates in every county, and each county is given a rating of green, yellow, or red.1 The most recent update from KDHE indicates that both Nemaha and Jackson counties are in the red. Pottawatomie and Marshall counties are yellow along with Wabaunsee, Shawnee, and Geary. Riley County and Douglas County are green. To find the most current information, visit the KDHE COVID-19 website and select Nursing Home Metrics.
Besides...
Procedure masks required starting October 26
October 26, 2020
Categories: News
Community HealthCare System, or CHCS, remains committed to providing high-quality, compassionate, and safe patient care while ensuring the safety of our workforce. Given the widespread community transmission of COVID-19, CHCS is adjusting mask requirements for all patients and visitors starting Monday, October 26.
Masks have been required in all facilities for several months, but as an additional protective measure, CHCS clinics and hospitals...
CHCS nurse shares COVID-19 experience
October 21, 2020
Categories: News, Patient story
Karen Elliott is an infection control nurse. She knows how to prevent disease. She was an advocate for hand hygiene before COVID-19 was in the news. She helps others learn how to take precautions. So she’ll never catch COVID-19, right?
Wrong.
Elliott still doesn’t know how she contracted the virus, but she started have symptoms on October 1. After experiencing gradually worsening symptoms at home (cough, headache, body aches, fever, diarrhea, nausea, loss of taste,...
CHCS sees increased COVID-19 activity
October 2, 2020
Categories: News
Counties in northeast Kansas are seeing increasing COVID-19 activity, and Community HealthCare System is no exception. CHCS clinics are finding increased positivity rates among patients who are tested for the virus.
Widespread community transmission in the area means that our associates are increasingly likely to be affected. Ongoing testing at Eastridge Skilled Nursing Facility in Centralia and St. Marys Manor in St. Marys has identified one positive associate in each...
Mandatory COVID-19 testing begins at Eastridge and St. Marys Manor
September 23, 2020
Categories: News
COVID-19 has caused many problems this year, but one of the most concerning for many people has been the safety and isolation of loved ones in nursing homes. At Eastridge and St. Marys Manor, our staff has worked diligently to protect the vulnerable from COVID-19 infection while also ensuring that residents are cared for physically, spiritually, and mentally. Staff members have planned special activities and worked with residents to maintain family and social connections via FaceTime and visits...
Redbud Plaza Assisted Living employees test positive for COVID-19
September 23, 2020
Categories: News
Two associates at Redbud Plaza Assisted Living in Onaga have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Lura Flentie, director of long-term care services at Community HealthCare System, or CHCS, residents and family members have been informed, per Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Pottawatomie County Public Health guidelines.
“CHCS and our associates have done all we can to mitigate the risks of spreading COVID-19, and the associate was wearing a KN5 mask...