Nov30

Leading Rural Health in our Communities. Always

A Message from the CEO

Dear Friends of HaysMed,

As we work toward our vision of becoming the best tertiary care center in rural America, excitement is building about what the future holds – for the Hays community and across western Kansas.

Returning to our roots as HaysMed, we remain committed to meeting the unique needs of those we serve. Whether you are a HaysMed patient, physician, provider, associate, donor, leader or friend in the community, we want you to know we are stronger than ever. We believe HaysMed can best support the long-term health and wellness of our local communities, and with our eyes on the future, there are no limits to our ability to lead rural health in our communities – always.

I am proud to report that we have added nearly 20 new providers to our Medical Staff since April, our specialty outreach clinics remain vibrant across our multiple locations in Kansas. We are also expanding several service lines in the coming months, furthering our reach in high-quality, local healthcare. These developments have a very positive impact because they increase access and improve services for every patient we serve, both at HaysMed and through our network of providers and hospital partners across the region.

With our vision for the future and your much-appreciated support, we will continue our position of strength as rural health leaders for generations to come. Our values of Respect, Compassion, Spirituality, Trustworthiness, Excellence and Professionalism will continue to drive us forward in our mission as we continue to provide high-quality, local healthcare. From more providers to enhanced services, we’re bringing you every reason to choose HaysMed. It’s all part of our commitment to you, and to everyone we serve.

Thank you for your support. I wish you all the greatest of health!

Eddie Herrman

Chief Executive Officer, HaysMed

Nov17

00

HaysMed Associate Receives Respiratory Therapist of the Year Award

By Gayla Wichman - HaysMed News

HAYS, Kansas– Trey Hamilton, Respiratory Therapist at HaysMed, was recently named Respiratory Therapist of the Year. Respiratory Services awards an annual Breath of Fresh Air award to recognize a respiratory therapist for their hard work and dedication.

The award winner is nominated and chosen by their peers and highlights an Associate in the respiratory therapy department who positively contributed the most teamwork and patient care during the year.

Hamilton has been a respiratory therapist at HaysMed since 2012.

Nov17

00

HaysMed Welcomes New Providers

By Gayla Wichman - Family Medicine,HaysMed News

Hays, KS – Two new providers have joined the staff at HaysMed. Carrie Hines, APRN, FNP and Whitney Hickert, APRN, FNP began seeing patients earlier this month.

Hines completed her bachelor of Science in Nursing at Fort Hays State University and her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She is seeing patients at Family Medicine.

Hickert completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Tabor College-Wichita in Wichita and Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner at Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Michigan. She is seeing patient at the Convenient Care Walk In Clinic.

Nov8

00

HaysMed Celebrates 2021 National Nurse Practitioner Week November 7-13

By Gayla Wichman - HaysMed News,Nursing News

Hays, KS Every day, nurse practitioners (NPs) are saving lives and improving the health of our friends and family. To honor their efforts, hospitals nationwide are recognizing the critical role of NPs as part of the annual National Nurse Practitioner Week (NP Week) celebration, held November 7-13 this year.

NPs provide a wide range of care to America’s patients in more than 1 billion visits annually. This year, the NP Week theme is “NPs: Going the Extra Mile,” recognizes the contributions more than 325,000 licensed NPs make to the health of patients nationwide. These health care professionals practice in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, nursing homes and private practices across the country — wherever patients are in need — and continue to provide front-line care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NPs assess patients, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses and provide treatment, including prescribing medications. As clinicians who blend clinical expertise with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management, NPs are the health care provider of choice for millions of Americans.

“NPs play a critical role in treating patients,” said Terry Siek, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care. “They play a key role in strengthening our ability to ensure patients have access to high-quality care.”

HaysMed employs 26 NPs at the hospital and clinics.

Oct6

00

HaysMed Celebrates National Physician Assistant Week

By Gayla Wichman - HaysMed News

Hays, KS – HaysMed will recognize the Physician Assistants (PA) working at the hospital during National Physician Assistant Week October 6 through 12.

Treating patients in today’s complex healthcare settings takes a whole team of professionals. Physician assistants are medical professionals with thousands of hours of training. Their skills enable them to diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and perform many medical tasks.

As their name implies, PAs work closely with doctors and other healthcare providers. In most states, a PA has an agreement with a specific physician and practices alongside them. The supervising physician doesn’t have to be present when a PA is practicing, letting them take care of other tasks while the PA continues patient care. Physician Assistants can prescribe and administer medication, acting on behalf of their supervising physician. In some cases, PAs can even perform surgical procedures that use local anesthesia without the supervision of the physician.

“Physician Assistants are unsung heroes and deserve their moment in the limelight,” said Terry Siek, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care. “This week is to celebrate them and be thankful for their efforts.”

PAs at HaysMed include: Alaina Dressler, PA-C, Surgery; Nichole Ganoung, PA-C and Jennifer Williams, PA-C, Family Medicine; Mark Heimerman, PA-C, Joshua Lahr, PA-C, Jared Reed, PA-C and Caitlin Thornton, PA-C, Orthopedics; Rachel Ketter, PA and Melvin Setter, PA, ENT; Kelsey Lahey, PA-C, Andrea Paul, PA-C and Tara Roa, PA-C, Internal Medicine; Brittney Stewart, PA-C, Convenient Care; Margo Straub, PA-C, Pediatrics; and Amanda Volchko, PA-C, Cancer Center.

Oct5

00

HaysMed Recognizes Customer Care Representative of the Year

By Gayla Wichman - HaysMed News,Nursing News

HaysMed Recognizes Customer Care Representative of the Year

Hays, KS – Heather Schumacher, was recently recognized with the 2021 Debra Boeken Customer Care Representative (CCR) of the Year award.

A CCR is a vital part of the patient care team and serves as the right hand of the unit’s Charge Nurse and as an asset to every member of the team. CCRs do whatever is needed in order to help patients and visitors be comfortable on the unit; make available whatever supplies that are needed but that are not currently on the unit; and be carry out a myriad of tasks that are needed to help make the shift run very smoothly.

Schumacher works in the Emergency Department at HaysMed.

Oct5

00

HaysMed Nurse Recognized with Daisy Award

By Gayla Wichman - Daisy Award Winner,HaysMed News,Nursing News

Hays, KS – Kayla Reed, RN, OB, was recently recognized as a Daisy Award winner at HaysMed. This award is presented to an RN in deep appreciation of all that they do, who they are, and the incredible meaningful difference that they have made in the lives of so many people. Reed was nominated by a one of her patients.

Reed was selected from a group of blinded nominations voted on by the HaysMed Practice Committee. The Practice Committee consists of Staff and Supervisors from a variety of departments across HaysMed. Nominations are received from patients and family members, physicians, volunteers, and Associates for nurses in inpatient, outpatient, and clinic settings.

“We are proud to be among the hospital systems participating in The DAISY Award program,” said Terry Siek, VP of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at HaysMed. “Nurses are heroes every day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides another way for us to do that.”

The DAISY Award is a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. HaysMed is proud to be a DAISY Award Hospital Partner, recognizing one of our nurses with this special honor every quarter.

To nominate a HaysMed nurse for the DAISY Award online, go to www.haysmed.com/daisyaward. If you have questions, you can call 785.623.2388

Sep27

00

HaysMed Receives Prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation

By Gayla Wichman - HaysMed News,Nursing News,OB-GYN,Women-Infant Services

Hays, KS – HaysMed is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.

This distinguished honor demonstrates that HaysMed is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”

HaysMed joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 590 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.

“We are extremely proud to be recognized for the hard work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly process,” said Terry Siek, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care. “This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life.”

Sep1

00

Drive-Thru Flu Shots Available September 26 at HaysMed

By Gayla Wichman - HaysMed News

Hays KS – HaysMed’s annual drive-thru flu shot clinic has been scheduled for Sunday, September 26. The event will offer free flu shots for all residents older than 6 months. The time this year has changed to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For the safety of the public and those working the flu drive, masks will be required for all people ages 2 years and up. In addition, physical distancing will be observed at all locations on campus.

It will be the 22nd year the hospital has offered the community service, and approximately 3,500 people are expected to be vaccinated during the free clinic.

People age 10 and up can receive their free flu shot without leaving their vehicles. HaysMed volunteers will direct traffic during the event. If you want to fill out the forms and bring them with you please go to https://haysmedfoundation.org/flu and make copies to complete.

Children 6 months through 9 years of age will be vaccinated on the west side of the Center for Health Improvement. Adults attending with children can also receive their shots in the same location.

More than 100 volunteers will be on hand to help with the event. HaysMed partners with Fort Hays State University and North Central Kansas Vo-Tech as both facilities provide students to help with the shots.

There will be no nasal flu vaccine at the drive-thru flu shot clinic. There will be no egg free vaccines available at the drive-thru flu shot clinic. People with a severe egg allergy will need to contact their local healthcare provider for their flu vaccine.

Aug23

00

HaysMed Welcomes New Nephrologist and Hospitalist

By Gayla Wichman - HaysMed News

Hays, KS – HaysMed welcomes two new physicians to the medical staff. Dr. Madhuri Ramakrishman, Nephrologist and Dr. John Kimbugwe, Hospitalist joined the hospital.

Dr. Ramakrishman completed medical school at Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, India. She did her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri. She completed fellowships in Nephrology at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri and Transplant Nephrology at the University of Kansas, Kansas City. Dr. Ramakrishman is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She will be seeing patients in the Nephrology Clinic at HaysMed.

Dr. Kimbugwe completed his medical schooling at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. He did a residency in Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Amarillo, Texas. Dr. Kimbugwe will be part of the hospitalist team that specializes in treating in-patients in the hospital.

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