Location(s): Onaga
Emergency Department
Our Emergency Department understands your needs during a medical emergency.
All patients receive emergency care from a team of medical providers, nurses and staff who bring generations of experience, expertise, and compassion, providing around-the-clock expert care, as well as diagnostic imaging assessments and lab testing.
The American College of Surgeons, in concert with the Kansas Advisory Committee on Trauma, has certified the Onage Hospital as a Level IV Trauma Center. Onaga Hospital has also received accreditation from the American Heart Association as an Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital.
When deciding whether to go to the Emergency Department or to a Family Practice Clinic, go to the Emergency Department
Look for the following symptoms:
Chest pain
Stroke or stroke-like symptoms
Obvious fracture
Breathing difficulty
Uncontrollable bleeding
Sudden dizziness or weakness
Coughing or vomiting blood
Pregnancy complications
Severe abdominal pain
Severe lacerations
Vision changes
Loss of consciousness
When you first enter the Emergency Department, there is a triage process. A specially trained registered nurse will assess your symptoms to determine the severity of your medical problem. Life-threatening and critical injuries will be treated first. Patients who require additional care can be admitted to CHCS’s hospital, just down the hall from our emergency department.
Emergency Medical Transport, providing high-quality medical care to critically injured or ill patients during transport, is also available.
You can trust that you will receive compassionate care at CHCS.
Level IV Trauma Center
When a traumatic injury occurs, designated trauma centers are prepared to provide a full range of emergency care, including assessment, resuscitation, and stabilization. Designated trauma centers must meet essential criteria that ensures trauma care capability and institutional performance as outlined by the American College of Surgeons and endorsed by the Kansas Advisory Committee on Trauma.
The goal of the Kansas Trauma System is to ensure each patient is properly triaged and matched to the hospital with the most appropriate resources as quickly as possible. Because patients with severe injuries require rapid, specialized treatment to ensure the best chance for recovery, a trauma system increases their chances for survival and reduces their chance of permanent disability.
Community HealthCare System’s Onaga Hospital is a Level IV Trauma Center, which means the hospital provides:
Around the clock coverage by doctors and nurses trained in advanced trauma life support (ATLS) protocols
24/7 laboratory and diagnostic imaging coverage
Close working relationships with local and regional EMTs to ensure patients are transported to the most appropriate facility when necessary
Trauma Team
When the trauma team is activated, patients are met by an emergency room doctor, lab and imaging staff. A thorough evaluation is performed along with any needed lifesaving interventions. On occasion, a higher level of care may be needed, and patients are transferred to a Level I, II or III trauma facility.
Trauma patients admitted to Community Hospital Onaga can count on continued support of their physical and emotional recovery. Patients have access to a full rehabilitation staff, social workers, and more.
Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital
If you or someone you know should experience symptoms of stroke, seek emergency help immediately–call 911–do not wait!
A stroke can be devastating for both patients and families.
Communty Hospital Onaga has met American Heart Association criteria to receive the Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital designation, including adherence to written emergency stroke protocols and the ability to provide around the clock:
Brain image testing (CT scans)
Blood coagulation studies
Thrombolytic therapy (tPA), used to break or dissolve blood clots
A transport plan with one or more hospitals that have neuro-interventional expertise
CHCS has developed this transport plan together with the University of Kansas Medical Center, Stormont-Vail HealthCare and Saint Luke’s Health System.
The University of Kansas Hospital was one of the first five healthcare facilities in the country, and the only one in the Midwest, to be recognized as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) by The Joint Commission
Because time is crucial to stroke care, our stroke team takes immediate action when paramedics notify the Emergency Department that a stroke patient is en route to Community Hospital Onaga. Patients are quickly evaluated and treated—rapid treatment offers the best chance for surviving a stroke—the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Remember the warning signs of stroke:
BE FAST!
B - Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
E - Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes.
F - Does the face look uneven, or droop on one side? Ask the person to smile.
A - Does one arm drift down? Ask the person to raise both arms.
S - Does their speech sound slurred or strange? Ask the person to repeat a phrase.
T – Time is critical. Every second brain cells die.
Call 911 at any sign of stroke and describe the symptoms to the emergency dispatcher.
Emergency Medical Transporation
Air Medical
Children's Mercy Critical Care Transport and LifeStar provide regional emergency air ambulance helicopter service that provides rapid transportation for critically ill and injured patients who need specialized care. Air medical transport can be airborne within minutes of a call, 24 hours a day, every day, traveling at speeds above 150 miles per hour. This significantly reduces the transport time of critically ill patients, either from a transferring hospital or from the scene of an emergency.
Children's Mercy Critical Care Transport and LifeStar service various locations throughout the region, including a predesignated landing zone at Community Hospital Onaga.
Ground Medical Transport
Pottawatomie County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is an advanced life support ground ambulance service that provides high-quality emergency medical care at the scene of traumatic or medical emergencies and during transport to and between medical facilities. EMS works closely with CHCS medical facilities throughout its service area to ensure advanced level transport options are available to the community.
EMS provides regional ground medical transport through four stations located in the cities of Onaga, St. Marys, Wamego and Westmoreland, with the Onaga and St. Marys ambulances and crews residing at Community Hospital Onaga and St. Marys Family Health Center, respectively.
Mission: Lifeline Kansas and Project 10/30
Communty Hospital Onaga participates in the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline Kansas and Project 10/30.
Mission: Lifeline is the American Heart Association’s program establishing regional Systems of Care focused on ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in which blood flow is completely blocked to a portion of the heart, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation.
Through partnerships with area EMS, dispatchers, and transfering hospitals, CHCS establishes streamlined systems of care to improve the process and outcomes of cardiac emergencies.
Project 10/30 is designed to improve the speed of recognition to reperfusion for patients with STEMI. The “10” stands for the time goal of 10 minutes for door-to-EKG interpretation. This time goal has been established by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association for many years, and non-compliance of this time is still found to be a major cause of delay in patient treatment. Rapidly obtaining an EKG, and immediately showing that EKG to an experienced provider for interpretation is the most effective method of triage in a patient with signs or symptoms of ACS. The “30” of Project 10/30 is reflective of 2 other important time goals: 30 minutes Door-in-Door-Out (DIDO) and 30 minutes Door-to-Needle in patients who are determined eligible for thrombolytics.
As part of the Lifeline Kansas network, the team starts preparations the moment its notified that a heart attack patient is on the way.
This network identifies hospitals that participate in coordinated systems of care for STEMI and meet the following 24/7 standards:
Facilitation of immediate STEMI patient transfer to PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention)-capable receiving centers.
Expertise and equipment to treat STEMI patients with thrombolytic therapy, if appropriate and if prompt transfer is not an option.
Treatment of STEMI patients according to American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines.
Use of protocols for immediate treatment and transfer of STEMI patients.
Prompt transfer of patient data to receiving center hospital team.
Coordination of patient’s return to local community and follow-up care after discharge from receiving center.
Through its Mission Lifeline program, the American Heart Association hopes to significantly reduce cardiac death by teaching the public to recognize and react to early symptoms of heart attack, reduce the time it takes to receive lifesaving treatment and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment administered.
For more information on the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Heart Attack Referral Center Accreditation, visit www.heart.org/missionlifeline or www.scpcp.org.

Andrew Barnes, APRN‐C
Medical Staff
Locations: Centralia, Onaga
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Services: Diabetic Care, Men's Health, Women's Health, Youth Services, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Senior Care
Andrew Barnes, APRN‐C
Andrew Barnes, APRN, holds a bachelor of science in nursing from Baker University and a master of science in nursing from Washburn University. He is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is a board-certified emergency nurse. He takes a special interest in emergency medicine, trauma, and acute care. Barnes was drawn to medicine through his father’s encounters with healthcare providers who always amazed him. He lives in Wheaton with his wife and three children, and he enjoys being outdoors with his family. They enjoy caring for cattle as well as dogs and barn cats.
David Allen, MD
Medical Staff
Location: Holton
Position: Physician
Medical Services: Diabetic Care, Youth Services, Men's Health, Women's Health, Emergency Department, Birth Center, Medical & Surgical Care, Family Medicine, Senior Care
David Allen, MD
Dr. David Allen holds degrees from Kansas State University and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita. His specialties are family medicine and obstetrics, including C-sections, GI procedures (upper and lower endoscopy), and pediatric services.
Marcy Evans, PA‐C
Medical Staff
Location: Onaga
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Service: Emergency Department

Merica Surdez, APRN‐C
Executive Team, Medical Staff
Location: Onaga
Position: Chief of Provider and Clinic Operations
Medical Services: Diabetic Care, Men's Health, Women's Health, Youth Services, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Senior Care
Merica Surdez, APRN‐C
Merica Surdez, APRN-C, holds a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Kansas Medical Center and a master of science in nursing-family nurse practitioner degree from Fort Hays State University. She maintains board certification with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is also certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, and Neonatal Resuscitation. Surdez’s areas of clinical interest include women’s health, including contraception counseling; reproductive health; prenatal care; lactation support; and preventive care. Surdez enjoys helping others when they need it most, creating relationships, and watching families grow. When asked for advice to share with patients, she says, “We all take our health for granted. Sometimes it takes work to better yourself. Do it! You’ll never regret investing in your health.” Surdez was born and raised in Frankfort, Kansas, and lives there with her husband, Derek, plus their two sons, Bowen and Blake, and their daughter, Wren. Surdez does not like chocolate but does enjoy spending time with family and friends, creating memories with her children, playing volleyball, and membership in the Teams of Our Lady (TOOL) church group.
Nancy Bosse, APRN‐C
Medical Staff
Locations: Onaga, Westmoreland
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Services: Diabetic Care, Youth Services, Men's Health, Women's Health, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Senior Care
Nancy Bosse, APRN‐C
Nancy Bosse, APRN-C, holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Washburn University and a master of science in nursing-family nurse practitioner degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Bosse worked in critical care, neurology, trauma, and general surgery for 20 years at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City. Her areas of clinical interest are women’s health, pediatrics, and geriatrics, and she loves family practice because it allows her to help patients while getting to know them and their entire family. Bosse says the most important thing patients can do is to “let us know if you are not getting better. Follow up so we can help you!” Bosse grew up in Onaga and now resides in Wamego with her husband and two children. When not at work, she enjoys attending kids’ activities, being outside, gardening, and helping at the farm.
Rebecca Simon, MD
Medical Staff
Location: Onaga
Position: Physician
Medical Service: Emergency Department

John Meriwether, MD
Medical Staff
Location: Onaga
Position: Physician
Medical Service: Emergency Department
John Meriwether, MD
Dr. Meriwether holds degrees from Kansas State University and McGill Faculty of Medicine in Montreal, Canada. He also completed his residency at McGill Faculty of Medicine.
Kay Cummins, APRN‐C
Medical Staff
Locations: Frankfort, Centralia, Corning, Onaga, Holton, Westmoreland, St. Marys
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Services: Emergency Department, Family Medicine

Marcus Weiser, DO
Medical Staff
Location: Onaga
Position: Physician
Medical Services: Birth Center, Diabetic Care, Emergency Department, Medical & Surgical Care, Men's Health, Women's Health, Youth Services, Family Medicine, Senior Care
Marcus Weiser, DO
Dr. Marcus Weiser graduated from Bethany College with a bachelor’s degree in biology and from medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He completed his residency at Via Christi (St. Joseph and St. Francis) in Wichita and served as chief resident. Dr. Weiser is board-certified in family medicine. He is also trained to do obstetrics and performs EGDs (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), colonoscopies, and C-sections. He particularly enjoys teaching both third- and fourth-year medical students as a clinical assistant professor in the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Family Medicine and as a clerkship preceptor for the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. Dr. Weiser enjoys caring for others in a variety of settings. “I love family medicine, and it is a privilege to serve others as a family medicine physician. I find the variety that rural family medicine offers both challenging and rewarding,” he says. Dr. Weiser was born and raised in northwest Kansas and lives in Onaga with his wife and five children. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, helping coach his kids’ sports teams, and, occasionally, golfing.
Michele Reisinger, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Medical Staff
Locations: Corning, Onaga
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Services: Diabetic Care, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Men's Health, Women's Health, Wound Care, Youth Services, Senior Care
Michele Reisinger, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Michele Reisinger, DNP, APRN, and FNP-BC, is a rural Kansas native who has established a longstanding clinical practice of more than 25 years as a family nurse practitioner in her hometown of Onaga. She holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Washburn University and master of science in nursing plus doctor of nursing practice degrees from the University of Kansas. Reisinger serves on several local community and faith-based committees supporting her rural community. She is active in regional organizations including Big Lakes Developmental Center Quality Review Committee, Kansas Department of Health and Environment – Healthcare-Associated Infections & Antimicrobial Resistance Advisory Group, and numerous doctoral committees involving the education of nurse practitioners. Professional affiliations include American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau nursing honorary, and Phi Kappa Phi academic honorary. In addition to her clinic practice, Reisinger is full-time graduate-level nursing faculty at Washburn University School of Nursing and the Primary Investigator on a Health Resources & Services Administration-funded grant focused on the education and preparation of rural nurse practitioners for practice in medically underserved communities. She is a prior fellow for the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities and was named a Rural Health Fellow by the National Rural Health Association. Reisinger’s clinical interests include preventive health/wellness, chronic disease management, and children with developmental exceptionalities. Michele has advanced training in wound, ostomy, and continence care and performs consultative services in these areas. She sees clients across the lifespan at CHCS clinics in Onaga and Corning.
Amy Jones, MSN, APRN-C, FNP
Medical Staff
Location: Centralia
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Services: Diabetic Care, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Men's Health, Women's Health, Youth Services
Amy Jones, MSN, APRN-C, FNP
Amy Louise Jones, MSN, APRN-C, FNP studied pre-nursing at Kansas State University then completed a bachelor of science degree in nursing at Washburn University. After working as a registered nurse for 12 years, she obtained a master of science in nursing from Wichita State University. Jones is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and enjoys working with patients of all ages, but she is particularly fond of the elderly. She loves to help solve dermatological problems, provide women’s healthcare for all ages, help manage diabetes and high blood pressure, provides acute and urgent care needs. . Jones says she has made many home visits to patients over the years. Jones was born in Kansas and started working as a certified nursing assistant, or CNA, at age 16 in a nursing home. She says she loves practicing medicine because it is “never boring and never a waste of time.” Jones has been married to her husband, Barry, for more than 30 years. They live on a farm near Frankfort, and they have three grown children and two grandchildren. Jones currently works as a substitute NP in all of the clinics.
Nancy J. Zidek, MD
Medical Staff
Locations: Frankfort, Onaga, Holton
Position: Physician
Medical Services: Birth Center, Diabetic Care, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Men's Health, Women's Health, Youth Services, Senior Care
Nancy J. Zidek, MD
Dr. Nancy Zidek graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor of arts in microbiology and holds a degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Wesley Family Practice in Wichita, Kansas. She is particularly interested in women’s health and performs colposcopies and places birth control implants and intrauterine devices, or IUDs. Dr. Zidek is a lifelong Kansas resident and a second-generation doctor. Her father practiced for more than 40 years in Marysville, Kansas, and she knew from a young age that she wanted to join the same profession. She enjoys “being part of the family” and watching her young patients grow and mature into adults. Dr. Zidek is married and has two almost-grown kids. Her daughter, Bethany is married. She is a doctor and is in her Family Medicine Residency at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, KS. Elijah is working in Kansas City. Dr. Zidek and her husband, Paul, enjoy being empty-nesters and are trying to travel more. They have two “spoiled mutts” and enjoy feeding hummingbirds in the summer, when they have up to 10 “hummers” who visit their feeders.
Sheila Talley, PA‐C
Medical Staff
Location: Onaga
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Service: Emergency Department
Sheila Talley, PA‐C
Sheila Talley, PA-C, holds a bachelor of arts degree in human biology from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Wichita State University. Talley is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Kansas Academy of Physician Assistants. Her areas of clinical interest include hospital and emergency medicine. She also regularly assists in surgery. Talley is originally from the Seneca area in Nemaha County. She lives south of Corning with her husband, Ross, and four children. She enjoys attending Centralia school sporting events and KU basketball games. Talley also enjoys exercising and spending quality time with friends and family.
Bonnie McKinsey, APRN-C
Medical Staff
Location: Onaga
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Service: Emergency Department
Bonnie McKinsey, APRN-C
Bonnie McKinsey, APRN, completed a bachelor of science in nursing degree at Washburn University and a master of science in nursing at Wichita State University. She as experience in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including the emergency department at Via Christi, the Riley County Health Department, and Lafene Student Health Center at Kansas State University. She has worked nights in the emergency department at Onaga since relocating here nearly six years ago. McKinsey is married to an Onaga native, and they made the decision to try small-town living at the time when their two youngest children were starting school and the oldest was off to college. They have found living, working, raising children, and enjoying life in a community where people truly care about their friends and neighbors to be a singularly wonderful experience. McKinsey feels blessed to have the opportunity to serve those in her community and neighboring communities alongside a remarkable healthcare team. McKinsey enjoys country outings with family and friends in our beautiful, bucolic setting.
Debra Rezac, APRN‐C
Medical Staff
Location: Onaga
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Services: Diabetic Care, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Men's Health, Women's Health, Youth Services, Senior Care
Debra Rezac, APRN‐C
Debra Rezac, APRN-C, holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Washburn University and a Master of Science degree in nursing from University of Southern Indiana, graduating in the family nurse practitioner specialty. Rezac is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Before coming to Onaga, Rezac worked in an intensive care unit and pulmonary-critical care practice in Topeka. She has been with CHCS since 2007. She is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support. Areas of interest include women’s health, preventive care, general wellness, respiratory and cardiac care. Rezac’s practice includes patients of all ages, from infants to advanced age. “Working in rural health care certainly presents significant challenges, but it also provides unique rewards. There is something about being a part of people’s lives during the best and worst of times. You just don’t get to do that with most jobs,” she says. When not at work, she loves spending time with her family and close friends. She likes to travel with her husband, Lance, and spend time with her family. She lives on a farm south of Onaga and has three grown children.
Kendra Reith, MD
Medical Staff
Locations: Centralia, Corning, Onaga
Position: Physician
Medical Services: Birth Center, Diabetic Care, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Men's Health, Women's Health, Youth Services, Senior Care
Kendra Reith, MD
Dr. Kendra Reith graduated from Kansas State University and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Smoky Hill Family Medicine in Salina, where she gained extensive hands-on experience in family practice along with obstetrical care. She also has completed training for Botox injections for treatment of chronic migraines and offers this service in the Onaga clinic. Dr. Reith is a native of Belleville, Kansas. She and her husband, Brent, live in Onaga with their young son. Outside of work, Dr. Reith enjoys spending time with family, traveling, shopping, arranging flowers, baking, and spending time with the family pets (a dog and two cats).
Jeremy Jan Brandt, PA‐C
Medical Staff
Location: Frankfort
Position: Advanced Practitioner
Medical Services: Diabetic Care, Emergency Department, Family Medicine, Men's Health, Women's Health, Youth Services, Senior Care
Jeremy Jan Brandt, PA‐C
Jeremy Brandt, PA-C, studied at Kansas State University and then completed the physician assistant program at St. Louis University. He also holds a master’s degree in physician assistant studies through the University of Nebraska Omaha. In addition he is a licensed X-ray technologist, which enables the Frankfort Clinic, where he is the lead provider, to offer basic radiologic services. Brandt has served in the armed forces for more than 20 years and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Kansas Air National Guard’s 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field, Topeka, KS where he continues to serve alongside some of the finest service men and women he has ever encountered. Prior to his Air Force service he served in the KS Army National Guard and states “I had the fortune to deploy to Iraq and serve with extraordinarily high-quality men and women in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 with the 2-130 Field Artillery Battalion headquartered in Hiawatha, KS.” He recently served as co-clinical advisor for the Northeast Kansas Healthcare Coalition, which benefited from his emergency preparedness experience. Brandt loves family medicine and covering the emergency room. He grew up around healthcare and science; his mother was a nurse and long-term care administrator, and his father was a high school science teacher then came to Frankfort schools to serve as principal. He loves helping people and says he felt that “as a PA, I would be positioned to return to the communities that helped shape me and the values that I hold today.” He feels blessed and honored to care for friends and neighbors and humbled by their confidence and trust. Further, he feels blessed to be able to call CHCS his home. CHCS has been his primary employer for his entire career. Brandt lives in Frankfort with his wife, who is originally from Axtell, Kansas. They have four grown(-ish) children 😊 of whom he could not be more proud. The oldest is married to a wonderful young lady and together they have given them two of the cutest little grand-babies you’ve ever seen! Jeremy is dedicated to fitness and loves being outdoors.