Jan16

HaysMed Welcomes Radiation Oncologist

By Gayla Wichman - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

Hays, KS– Lyle M. Harrison, MD, has joined medical staff of HaysMed at the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute at HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System. Harrison has been seeing patients on a part time basis and has moved to full time status.

Dr. Harrison completed medical school and a residency at the University of Utah School of Medicine, in Salt Lake.

He joins the cancer team of Anthony Accurso, MD, Hematologist/Oncologist, Babu Prasad, MD, Radiation Oncologist and Robert Rodriguez, MD, Hematologist/Oncologist.

Dr. Harrison is accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment please call 785-623-5774.

Oct1

00

HaysMed Breast Care Center Sponsors Positively Pink

By Gayla Wichman - Breast Care Center,Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

Hays, KS (Oct 1, 2018) – The Breast Care Center at HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, will hold a Positively Pink event on October 20 from 6 pm – 8 pm. This program is for breast cancer survivors and their family and friends. The event will be held at The Center for Health Improvement, 2500 Canterbury Drive, Hays.

A variety of events and activities will be offered. Dr. William Smith, Breast Radiologist and Denise DeBoer, APRN will kick things off with opening remarks at 6:00 pm. The public is encouraged to bring their sneakers to participate in activities such as; stretch and balance, Zumba, Yoga and meditation. During the event, participants will have an opportunity to schedule a mammogram with the Breast Care Center. The Center for Health Improvement massage therapists will provide complimentary chair massages.

There is no fee for the event and participants do not have to register. Healthy snacks and educational material (nutrition, lymphedema, sleep, health coaching, etc.) will be provided along with door prizes and drawings. Call 785-623-5114 for further information.

Aug6

00

HaysMed Welcomes New Hematologist/Oncologist

By Gayla Wichman - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

Hays, KS (August 7, 2018) –Dr. Anthony Accurso, Hematologist/Oncologist, has joined the medical staff of HaysMed as a full time physician. Dr. Accurso will join Drs. Tracy Coe and Robert Rodriguez at the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute.

Dr. Accurso completed medical school at the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine. He completed a residency at Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education and a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of Kansas. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Accurso’s wife, Kelsey Accurso, MS, APRN, AGCNS-BC, has also joined HaysMed as the Director of Continuous Improvement.

Dr. Accurso is accepting new patients. Please call 785-623-5774.

Jun13

00

HaysMed Presents Cancer Symposium 2018

By Gayla Wichman - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

Hays, Kansas (June 13, 2018)— HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, will present a Cancer Symposium 2018 on Thursday, June 28, 2018. The programs are jointly provided by HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, The University of Kansas Medical Center Continuing Education and Professional Development and the Area Health Education Center – West. The program will be held at HaysMed in the Hadley Conference Rooms.

Registration for the program begins at 8:30 am with Breakfast and Vendor booths. The program is designed to improve the care of cancer patients including, but no limited to, radiation oncology, lung cancer, gynecologic oncology, urological cancer, genetics and pain management.

Speakers for the program include: Fen Wang, MD, The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Jacqueline Morgan, MD, Wichita; Anthony Accurso, MD, Edward Braun, MD, Jennifer Klemp, PhD., MPH, The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Ernesto Lopez-Corona, MD, HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System. The program is designed for Physicians, PAs, APRN’s, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Social Workers, PTS, OTS and other interested Healthcare Professionals.

All participants are required to complete and sign a “verification of attendance” form. After the program, a certificate of completion will be provided to activity participants based on documentation of actual attendance time.

Physician: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of The University of Kansas Medical Center Office of Continuing Medical Education and HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System. The University of Kansas medical Center Office of Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The KU Medical Center Office of Continuing Medical Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TMPhysicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of the participation in this activity.

CNE: Hays Medical Center is approved as a provider of continued nursing education by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. The course offering is approved for 6 contact hours applicable for RN, or LPN re-licensure. Kansas State Board of Nursing Approved Provider Number: LT0021-1138.

PT/OT

Paperwork will be provided to submit to KOTA and KPTA for credits.

ASRT

An application has been submitted to ASRT. Approval is pending.

EMS

Ellis County EMS is an approved as a provider of continuing education for Emergency Medical Personnel. The course offering is approved for 6.0 contact hour applicable for all EMS recertification. Approved Provider Number: pp5800.

The fee for the program is $60 for non HaysMed employees, $30 for CAH employees. There is no registration fee for HaysMed, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital and St. Rose Health Center Associates. You can register online: www.haysmed.com/education and click on professional education or registering by calling 785-623-5500. You may pay online with a valid credit card or may choose to be invoiced.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Refund of CE fees: Workshop fees will be refunded if notification of cancellation is made 24-hours prior to the workshop. Cancellation: HMC reserves the right to cancel any workshop that does not meet enrollment quota. All pre-registered attendees; will receive a full refund.

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

Nov20

00

HaysMed Hospice Sponsors Community Memory Tree

By Gayla Wichman - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

HAYS, Kan. (Nov. 20, 2017) – HaysMed Hospice once again will be sponsoring a Community Memory Tree. With the holiday season approaching you can honor someone special in your life by donating $20 to the HaysMed Hospice. A brass dove ornament will be then be engraved with the name of the person you are honoring or remembering. The doves will be placed on one of two trees located at HaysMed and in the Dessin Fournir building at 308 W. Mill in Plainville.

For over 30 years, Hospice at HaysMed has lit the community and the surrounding area with hope, comfort and understanding for the terminally ill and their families. Donations enhance the resources available for education, support the volunteer and bereavement programs in their entirety and cover patient-related expenses not paid for by insurances.

Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. The Memory Tree form is available at https://www.haysmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Memorial-Tree-Flyer-2017.pdf For more information contact the HaysMed Hospice at 623-6200.

-30-

Nov2

00

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) at HaysMed Reduces Travel and Treatment Time for Patients Receiving Radiation Treatments

By Gayla Wichman - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

Hays, Kansas (Nov 2, 2017) – When Larry Dreiling learned he was a good candidate for a specialized form of radiation treatment, he thought it might entail traveling to Kansas City. But much to his “surprise and relief,” the treatment is available close to home at the Dreiling Schmidt Cancer Institute at HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System.

Dreiling, a 62-year-old Catherine resident, was originally diagnosed with kidney cancer in December 2009 and had a nephrectomy in February of the following year. In August of this year, an MRI detected a brain lesion and Dreiling was referred for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS). This one-time radiation procedure, which was performed Sept. 14, uses extremely precise, high-power radiation.

“If HaysMed didn’t have this, I would have had to travel to The University of Kansas Hospital,” Dreiling said. “It would have taken about 4-and-a-half hours to drive there.

“Instead, I got up in the morning and the drive was only 15 minutes,” he continued. “This was a lot nicer – much less stress.”

The procedure took about an hour and 15 minutes. “There were no new side effects, except maybe a slight increase in the headaches,” Dreiling noted. “I don’t think the radiation held me back from doing anything. I took that afternoon off after the treatment but returned to work the following morning.”

Dreiling is a contract pumper in the oilfield, traveling throughout Ellis County to check the status of wells and tanks. Prior to the SRS treatment, he said there were “lots and lots of x-rays and lots and lots of planning on the part of the cancer institute staff. They had to ensure this high-dose radiation would be in the exact right spot.”

Dreiling noted he is “very thankful to Dr. Babu Prasad and Dr. Robert Rodriguez who go above and beyond. And they have an awesome staff that does the same.”

Leo Elms, dosimetrist/operations manager at Dreiling Schmidt, said that SRS is commonly used in the treatment of small metastatic brain lesions. “In the past, treatment for these types of tumors would entail treating the entire brain,” Elms said. “All the normal brain tissues would receive the same radiation dose as the tumor. But SRS zeroes in on the tumor, without affecting other tissues.” The process involves devising a computer plan that fulfills the oncologist’s prescription for radiation and stays within all the normal tissue dose constraints.

Elms also noted that the term “radiosurgery” is a bit misleading. “When people hear ‘radiosurgery,” they may think an incision is involved. However, there are no incisions made in the body with SRS,” he explained. “The radiation is precisely delivered with surgical accuracy. In addition, the procedure is minimally invasive and there are significantly fewer complications than with actual surgery. This type of treatment is optimal for our patients because the entire course is only one treatment. This saves time and significantly reduces travel and stress.”

SRS is a very complex treatment that requires the expertise of many staff members in the radiation oncology department. The team consists of a Medical Physicist, Medical Dosimetrist, Radiation Therapist, Nurses, and support staff. SRS would not be possible without the unique roll that each person brings to the table to treat these patients.

“We take great pride knowing we are offering the same or better care as many other larger cancer centers.” said Elms. “We are so fortunate to have the resources at HaysMed to provide this level of care for our patients in Western Kansas.”

Oct23

00

HaysMed’s Low Infection Rates Recognized With National Certification

By Gayla Wichman - Breast Care Center,DeBakey Heart Institute News,Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,Emergency Department News,Family Medicine,HaysMed News,Nursing News,OB-GYN,Orthopedic Institute News,Pediatrics,Urology,Women-Infant Services,Would Healing & Hyperbaric Center News

Hays, Kansas (Oct 23, 2017) – HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, is the only hospital in Kansas that has earned a prestigious certification because of its low infection risk. And it is one of only four hospitals in the United States to receive the Management of Infection Risk (MIR) certificate.

“HaysMed goes above and beyond current standards to prevent patients from acquiring an infection while they are in the hospital,” said Kim Koerner, BSN, RN, infection prevention officer/associate health nurse. “As a result, we are at or below national hospital-acquired infection rates.

“Every department here works to decrease infection risk by reviewing processes and practices,” Koerner continued. “High-risk areas became focal points for each department, which has resulted in decreased infection risk and increased patient safety at HaysMed.”

Koerner cited just a few examples of areas in which safety has been enhanced.

They include: decreased hip/knee surgical site infection risk; decreased surgical site infection risk in colon procedures and hysterectomies; decreased device-related infections with urinary catheters and central lines; and decreased infections related to the environment.

“This certification validates the importance of decreasing infection risk and increasing patient safety to every single person at HaysMed,” Koerner commented. “Eighteen primary factors that cover the entire facility are considered in certification.

“And it’s not only doctors and nurses that are involved,” she added. “Processes in maintenance, dietary and environmental science also are reviewed.”

Melanie Urban, BSN, RN, HACP, patient quality services director, said Koerner has empowered all HaysMed employees to enhance safety. “It takes the motivation of everyone here to identify vulnerabilities, re-design systems and efficiently manage resources,” Urban said. “The Management of Infection Risk Committee has been diligent in getting everyone engaged.”

The committee includes clinical and non-clinical associates, as well as Dr. Kayla Gray, Hospitalist. “Attainment of this distinguished award demonstrates Hays Medical Center’s continued commitment to excellence in both patient and community healthcare. “ Gray stated.

HaysMed is accredited by DNV Healthcare, which is the entity that awarded the MIR certification. “This is a world-leading certification entity,” Urban said. “It helps us achieve excellence by improving quality and patient safety.”

MIR certification builds on three important pillars, Urban noted. These are: being proactive instead of reactive; developing a safety culture that is transparent and accountable; and engaging all staff in a systems-driven approach to safety.

“Therefore, our certification lets our community and region we serve know we have the resources and commitment to provide the best possible care while managing infection risk,” Urban said.

DNV GL – Healthcare, which operates in more than 100 countries, surveys HaysMed annually. Patrick Horine, chief executive officer of DNV GL – Healthcare, said “achieving certification shows commitment to excellence. And it helps demonstrate to your community that you are performing at the highest level.”

Aug14

00

HaysMed’s Medical Oncology/Hematology Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Certification Renewed for another 3 Years

By Gayla Wichman - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

HAYS, KS (Aug 14, 2017) – The HaysMed Medical Oncology/Hematology Section of the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute has been recertified by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI^®) Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The QOPI^®Certification Program provides a three-year certification for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet the highest standards for quality care. HaysMed’s recertification is for another three years through May of 2020.

“We’re extremely proud to receive QOPI recertification for ASCO”, said Dr. Robert Rodriguez, Medical Director of Medical Oncology/Hematology. “It represents our sincere commitment to excellence for our patients.”

QOPI analyzes individual practice data and compare these to more than 160 evidence-based and consensus quality measures. The information is then provided in reports to participating practices. Individual practices are also able to compare their performance to data from other practices across the country. Based on this feedback, doctors and practices can identify areas for improvement.

To become certified, practices have to submit to an evaluation of their entire practice and documentation standards. The QOPI^® Certification Program (QCP™) staff and steering group members then verify through on-site inspection that the evaluation an documents are correct and that the practices meet core standards in areas of treatment, including: treatment planning; staff training and education; chemotherapy orders and drug preparation; patient consent and education; and monitoring and assessment of patient well-being.

The QCP™ is a project of ASCO’s Institute for Quality, an ASCO affiliate dedicated to innovative quality improvement programs. It was launched in January 2010, with more than 200 practices already certified. This certification for outpatient oncology practices is the first program of its kind in the United States in which oncologists can achieve certification by meeting the highest standards of care. The QCP seal designates those practices that no only scored high on the key QOPI quality measures, but meet rigorous chemotherapy safety standards established by ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

Jul31

00

Dr. Tracy Coe, MD, Oncologist/Hematologist Guest on KAYS Health Information Please

By Gayla Wichman - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

Dr. Trace Coe, MD, Oncologist/Hematologist was a recent guest on KAYS Health Information Please show broadcast on Saturday, July 29

https://www.hayspost.com/2017/07/29/health-information-please-show-audio-july-29th-2017/

Jul21

00

HaysMed Pharmacist Earns Board Certification as an Oncology Pharmacist

By Gayla Wichman - Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,HaysMed News

Hays, KS (July 21, 2017) James Meier, PharmD, recently earned his Board Certification as an Oncology Pharmacist from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), the premier post-license certification organization serving the pharmacy profession.

BPS Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) have the advanced knowledge and expertise to deal with an increasing number and complexity of drug therapies for treating and preventing cancer, manage cancer-related and drug-related adverse events or clinical situations not encountered in other disease states. BCOP can optimize outcome for patients with malignant diseases by:

recommending, designing, implementing, monitoring and modifying pharmacotherapeutic plans
reducing medication errors
recognizing and responding to adverse physical and emotional issues that may arise during treatment and when providing education and counseling.

Meier is the Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor and Oncology Pharmacist at HaysMed and has been with the hospital since 2011.