Feb14

HaysMed Designated a 2022 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital

By Gayla Wichman - DeBakey Heart Institute News,Emergency Department News,HaysMed News,Nursing News,Orthopedic Institute News

HAYS, Kansas – HaysMed has been recognized as a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital in 2022, 2020 and 2019 by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This annual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™.

“Being recognized as a Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital is especially important to HaysMed.” Said Eddie Herrman, President and CEO. “We are passionate about rural health and this recognition validates the focus we have on the quality of the specialty services we provide close to home.”

“Despite unprecedented adversity rural providers continue to display resiliency and a steadfast commitment to their communities,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “Honoring the Top 100 is one of the highpoints of our year. We are delighted to recognize the exceptional performance and innovation of this year’s recipients, particularly in light of the extraordinary challenges facing America’s rural health safety net.”

Over the course of the last 12 years, the INDEX has established itself as the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is trusted by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health across the country to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

Jun14

00

HaysMed Among Nation’s Top Performing Hospitals for Treatment of Heart Attack Patients for Third Consecutive Year

By Gayla Wichman - DeBakey Heart Institute News,Emergency Department News,HaysMed News

Hays, KS – HaysMed has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2021. HaysMed is one of only 212 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.

The award recognizes HaysMed’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that HaysMed has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

To receive the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, HaysMed has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020), and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.

“As a Platinum Performance Award recipient, HaysMed has established itself as a leader in setting the national standard for improving quality of care in patients with acute myocardial infarction,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “By meeting the award requirements set forth in the registry, HaysMed has demonstrated a commitment to providing reliable, comprehensive treatment for heart attack patients based on current clinical guideline recommendations.”

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that almost 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.

“Our staff is dedicated to providing the highest level of cardiac care for patients in Western Kansas.” Said Eddie Herrman, President and CEO. “The Debakey Heart Institute was founded over 20 years ago for the purpose of giving people in the area access to life saving cardiac care. Time is of the essence in treating heart attacks and having cardiac care available close to home has a direct effect on saving lives.”

Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

Apr6

00

HaysMed Emergency Room Nurse Receives Certification

By Gayla Wichman - Emergency Department News,HaysMed News

HAYS, Kan.–Allison Jones, RN, recently passed the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) examination administered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing.

The CEN credential represents a commitment of the individual nurse, as well as the emergency department that supports CEN credentialing, to quality state-of-the-art emergency care. Emergency nursing incorporates a wide spectrum of patient care that requires highly specialized skills and extensive knowledge, as well as the unique ability to care for all ages of patients that have illnesses or injuries ranging from the very minor to extremely critical. The CEN examination evaluates the nurse’s knowledge in the areas of clinical pathophysiology, patient care management, and professional issues, environment, toxicology, shock, trauma, and medical emergency care.

Allison is a member of the hospital’s emergency services team that is increasingly recognized for its professional growth and clinical excellence. She has been an Associate of HaysMed since 2010.

Mar12

00

HaysMed Nurse Earns Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Certifications

By Gayla Wichman - Emergency Department News,HaysMed News,Nursing News

HAYS, Kan.– Trisha Haskell, RN recently the requirements for becoming dually SANE Adult/Adolescent and SANE Pediatric/Adolescent certified.

The International Association of Forensic Nurses, through the Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification, offers SANE-A® and SANE-P® certifications to designate the achievement of the highest standards of forensic nursing for sexual assault nurse examiners.

The Forensic Nursing Program at HaysMed offers services to patients of all ages that have been affected by abuse, assault, neglect, and trafficking, providing exceptional trauma-informed care. She joins Jessica Albers and Susan Smith as having attained SANE-A and SANE-P certifications at HaysMed. Within the state of Kansas there are currently 24 SANE-A and 12 SANE-P certified nurses.

If you are interested in joining the Forensic Nursing Program, please contact Cammie Townley ctownley@kumc.edu

Nov13

00

HaysMed Issues Update on COVID-19 Community Spread

By Gayla Wichman - DeBakey Heart Institute News,Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,Emergency Department News,Family Medicine,HaysMed News,Orthopedic Institute News

Hays, Kansas – The Midwest, including Ellis County is experiencing record numbers of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. The county currently has 1820 positive patients which is an increase of 238 cases from a week ago per the KDHE tracking website.

We have had total of 236 COVID-19 in patients admitted to HaysMed since the beginning of the pandemic. As of today, we have a total of 27 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. We have had a total of 33 deaths since the pandemic began with 20 of those deaths occurring since October 1. It is important to note these statistics are not inherent to Ellis county as we are a regional referral center and receive patients from all over the area.

Please refer to the Ellis County Health website for Ellis County specific information. https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health

FAQs

What does this mean for the hospital, the community and the region in general? The number of beds currently being used for COVID-19 related care has spiked exponentially here and across the Midwest creating a high demand for patient beds. This, during a traditionally busier time of year as people move indoors and other seasonal respiratory viruses are more common.

What is the patient capacity at the hospital? We are licensed for 207 beds at HaysMed but we have a total of 113 beds available for use. However, just because beds are available doesn’t mean that we have enough staff to care for the patients in 113 beds. The number of patients we can care for depends on the acuity of the patient and the number of available staff. The critical number that is most important is the number of staff available. We are doing everything we can to accept everyone we can. As long as we can keep our team healthy and able to take care of patients, then we will continue to be able to accept patients.

How close are you to meeting that capacity? Capacity at HaysMed is an ever-changing variable. There are days when we reach capacity and have to divert patients. This has happened even when we were not in the COVID-19 pandemic but lately it is happening more frequently due to the influx of COVID-19 patients.

What does it mean to divert or transfer patients? When we reach a stage where we don’t have any more staff to care for patients, we cannot accept new patient transfers from other hospitals. These transfers are not only COVID related but also include patients who have had heart attacks, strokes and other medical emergency situations. We then must try and find other facilities that can take the patient.

Does the Emergency Room ever close? No. Even on the rare occasions when patients are diverted, our emergency room remains open to all those who need emergency care. However, if beds and staffing cannot permit us to admit you, we will work to find another hospital with capacity which may mean receiving care in another city, county or state.

How is COVID-19 impacting transfers? If we are at capacity, we request to transfer a patient to another hospital. It is increasingly difficult to find a hospital that can accept a patient because they, too, are experiencing high census due to COVID. This can affect COVID-19 patients as well as other medical needs including heart attack, stroke, or trauma. Requests for transfers are coming to the health system from as far away as Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska. Such needs to transfer delays medical care and potentially sends patients far away from home.

What measures are in place should the hospital reach patient capacity? Our health system hospitals manage patient flow every day and have emergency plans for handling a surge in patients whether from trauma or in this case … a pandemic. However, COVID-19 has forced the hospital to take more critical measures including but not limited to:

*Delaying non-urgent elective surgery and procedures to free beds and staff for COVID-19 patients

*Restricting visitors to decrease the spread of COVID-19

*Manage PPE and medical supplies needed to care for COVID-19 patients

*Keep constant contact with the Ellis County Health Department, The University of Kansas Health System, Fort Hays State University, Ellis County Schools, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Hospital Association to monitor the situation.

Is it safe to come to HaysMed? YES. Hospitals and clinics are currently considered the safest place in every community during this pandemic as the pillars of infection prevention and control are strictly followed and enforced. Telehealth is also a recommended option for healthcare during this pandemic when a conversation with your provider meets your needs. While your experience visiting our facilities to receive care or support a loved one may look and feel a bit different, be assured that what is not different is our commitment to your health and safety, and that of your loved ones.

What can the public do to help this situation? As the number of COVID-19 patients at HaysMed and across the Midwest rise exponentially, it is critical for us to work together to slow the virus spread to avoid overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers.

Help keep everyone safe:
* wear masks that cover your nose and mouth when in public

*consider eye protection, especially when flying

*maintain a six-foot distance with those outside your immediate household

*wash and/or sanitize your hands thoroughly and often

*avoid gatherings where social distancing is not possible.

*Stay home if you are ill

*Do not let down your guard!

We recognize people are weary of the pandemic and this includes healthcare workers. HaysMed is committed to doing whatever it takes to protect your health and well-being and you play a critical part in our ability to provide that care.

Can I assess my risk for attending a group gathering? Yes. Have a plan and ask questions. Know how many people will attend and assume that everyone you meet may carry the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Take the pillars of infection prevention and control with you. The COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool is interactive and shows the current virus spread across the U.S. https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/?fbclid=IwAR168Jpexddvg_gS4JjiX810qsjvwxhEQmOIUu37hCIkbIX7y8J84HqnXHI

Helpful Links:

Link to the KDHE’s COVID-19 Microsite. https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/

Link to the Ellis County Health Department that has the latest COVID-19 information for Ellis County. https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health

Link to the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Sep14

00

Drive-Thru Flu Shots Available September 27 at HaysMed

By Gayla Wichman - Community Health,Emergency Department News,Family Medicine,HaysMed News,Pediatrics,The Center News

Hays KS – HaysMed’s annual drive-thru flu shot clinic has been scheduled for Sunday, September 27. The event, which will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will offer free flu shots for all residents older than 6 months.

For the safety of the public and also 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 21st 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.

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.

The event is sponsored by the Hays Medical Center Foundation. While there is no cost for flu shots, participants are asked to bring a canned food item to benefit the Community Assistance Center.

The vaccine also is available at HaysMed clinics for patients who are unable to attend the drive-thru flu shot event. Charges will apply at regular clinic visits, though the vaccine is covered by most health insurance plans.

Sep1

00

HaysMed Among Nation’s Top Performing Hospitals for Treatment of Heart Attack Patients

By Gayla Wichman - DeBakey Heart Institute News,Emergency Department News,HaysMed News

American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Award recognizes high standards of patient care

Hays, Kansas HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2020. HaysMed is one of only 140 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.

The award recognizes HaysMed’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that HaysMed has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

To receive the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, HaysMed has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.

“As a Platinum Performance Award recipient, HaysMed has established itself as a leader in setting the national standard for improving quality of care in patients with acute myocardial infarction,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “By meeting the award requirements set forth in the registry, HaysMed has demonstrated a commitment to providing reliable, comprehensive treatment for heart attack patients based on current clinical guideline recommendations.”

The Center for Disease Control estimates that almost 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.

“This award reflects the ongoing commitment of HaysMed’s DeBakey Heart Institute and the University of Kansas Health System to the goal of improving the cardiovascular health of our patients in western and central Kansas. Congratulations to all involved!” said Jeffery Curtis, FACC, FACP, Director of Cardiology Services.

Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org

Aug25

00

HaysMed Receives 2020 Get with The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus With Honor Roll Elite Quality Achievement Award

By Gayla Wichman - DeBakey Heart Institute News,Emergency Department News,HaysMed News

American Heart Association Award recognizes HaysMed’s commitment to quality stroke care

HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s 2020 Get with The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus With Honor Roll Elite Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

HaysMed earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“HaysMed is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines-Stroke initiative,” said Carol Groen, stroke coordinator. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”

HaysMed additionally received the association’s Target: Stroke℠ Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

“We are pleased to recognize HaysMed for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get with The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year

Apr20

00

HaysMed Now Seeing Patients Using Telehealth

By Gayla Wichman - DeBakey Heart Institute News,Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute,Emergency Department News,Family Medicine,HaysMed News,Orthopedic Institute News,Pediatrics

Hays, Kansas –HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, has begun using telehealth to see patients in their clinics to help increase patient safety and decrease the spread of COVID-19.

Telehealth, or virtual visits, provide a safe, convenient, high quality care in the comfort of your home. There are two types of virtual visits; one is conducted using the telephone and the other is a video visit that uses your home computer or a mobile device such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet with a camera and speaker.

Using a virtual visit allows patients to go ahead with scheduled office visits without having to come into contact with others. It is a safe choice for chronically ill patients as it decreases their risk of exposure to potential illness. A virtual visit is also used for patients who think they may have the novel corona virus or have had a positive screen for the virus.

If you have an appointment coming up the healthcare team will contact you to confirm your appointment, modify your appointment to a telehealth visit or reschedule non-urgent appointments for a later date. Patients do not have to be established with a provider in order to schedule a virtual visit.

You will need an account on the MyHaysMed Patient Portal to utilize telehealth visits. If you are using the video visit option you will need to download the Meditech MHealth app on your mobile device. If you already have al MyHaysMed Patient Portal account you may want to log into MyHaysMed Portal on your smartphone or desktop. The logon is on the HaysMed Website on the main page and click on MyHaysMed Patient Portal. If you forgot your sign-in information, select Forgot Username or Forgot Password. Or call us at 785-623-5151

For more information on Telehealth Visits at HaysMed go to haysmed.com/telehealth

Mar30

00

HaysMed Initiates No Visitor policy due to COVID-19

By Gayla Wichman - Emergency Department News,HaysMed News

Hays, Kansas – HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System will change to a no visitor policy effective Tuesday, March 31 at 6:00 am. Detailed information on visitor restrictions due to the COVID-19 Virus include:

HOSPITAL VISITORS

For most patients, zero visitors are allowed. Exceptions include:

1 parent or guardian for patients younger than 18
1 support person for labor and delivery patients
1 support person for patients with disabilities or impairments needing assistance
1 support person or driver for patients undergoing outpatient treatment or procedures
Support persons for patients nearing end of life

Patients will continue to use Entrance B, which is located at the Miller Pavilion from 6:00 am – 8:30 pm for hospital access.
Patients will use the Emergency Entrance from 8:30 pm – 6:00 am

Any visitor who has a fever or other cold or flu-like symptoms will not be allowed in the facilities.

CLINIC VISITORS

For most patients, zero visitors are allowed. Exceptions include:

1 parent or guardian for patients younger than 18
1 support person for patients with disabilities or impairments

We encourage family and friends to return home to await news of their loved one. You may wait in your vehicle if you wish. Any visitor who has a fever or other cold or flu-like symptoms will not be allowed in the facilities.

Unless you have a scheduled pediatrics appointment, visitors under age 14 will not be allowed in the clinic until further notice.

We know this may be an inconvenience, but our priority is keeping our patients, visitors and staff safe and healthy. These are unprecedented times and we are staying abreast of the situation and taking precautions accordingly.

If you are feeling ill and have the following symptoms:

Fever

Coughing

Shortness of breath

Or have:

Been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19

Have traveled to an area with sustained transmissions

Contact your doctor’s office or call the COVID-19 Hotline at 877-261-7140.

Call before you arrive at your doctor’s office.

Do not go to the Emergency Department unless instructed by your doctor.

Our team treats patients with several respiratory illnesses every day. We have the training, tools and techniques in place to isolate and care for patients who are potentially at risk for COVID-19 following the guidelines identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit:

Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Or your local county or city health department