Vaccine clinics
CHCS continues to collaborate with our partners in county public health departments to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in our communities.
Thanks to everyone who has worked to help deliver vaccines at large vaccine clinics in Holton and Onaga or to smaller groups of patients in our clinics. We also appreciate everyone who is helping counties call to schedule patients for appointments at county public health offices or other locations and those who volunteered to assist the National Guard vaccination effort for K-12 educators. Vaccine delivery has been a true team effort, and many CHCS associates have played a key role.
We are hopeful that vaccine will be distributed directly to healthcare facilities soon!
Below are a few photos from the February 25 vaccination clinic in Holton (top two) and the March 2 clinic in Onaga.
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On a roll
Farmer's State Bank in Onaga delivered some delicious rolls to the night shift last weekend. Thanks to Debbie Nolte, unit secretary, for sharing the good news!
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DAISY Award: Congratulations, Marlaina! |
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CHCS recognized Marlaina Wahl, Community HomeHealth RN, with the winter 2020-21 DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing.
Wahl was nominated for providing compassionate care and improving quality of life for a patient as well as helping the patient’s family through a difficult time. Congratulations, Marlaina!
Wahl was nominated by Cody Patterson and Katie Fitzpatrick for her work with their family member, Harry Woods. According to Patterson and Fitzpatrick’s nomination letter, Wahl always took time to talk with Harry about how he was doing, and Harry would often tell them to “make a note about something in particular so we could ask Marlaina.”
“Marlaina was able to get Harry to open up about his pain and get him to take some of his medications he did not really want to take. Marlaina also helped get some medical equipment which helped make life better for Harry by making it easier and safer for him to get around the house,” they said.
When Harry’s condition deteriorated, Marlaina provided guidance and support to the family.
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March is National Nutrition Month! This special month was initiated in 1973 as National Nutrition Week, and it became a month-long observance in 1980 in response to growing interest in nutrition.
This year's theme, Personalize Your Plate, promotes creating nutritious meals to meet people's cultural and personal food preferences. During March, we will feature weekly nutrition tips and handouts to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Be sure to complete our nutrition quiz by March 29 for a chance to win a prize!
- 1st prize: $10 gift card to the CHCS Coffee and Gift Shop
- 2nd prize: All-natural jam
- 3rd prize: Thermal tote
Prize winners will be announced in April.
--Holly Schmitz, registered dietitian and
Nutrition Services manager
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Order CHCS apparel by March 21 |
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Need a new CHCS spring wardrobe? Now's your chance!
The CHCS apparel store with Blue Chip Athletic is now open! Short-sleeved CHCS T-shirts, performance polo shirts, and several jacket options are available. T-shirts are screen printed with the CHCS logo, and other items are embroidered.
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New this time: Personalize embroidery with your department! For example, add "Eastridge," "Frankfort Clinic," "Dietary," "Respiratory Therapy," "Nursing," etc. If you don't wish to personalize, just leave the box blank on the order form. Please use official department names only.
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ORDER BY MARCH 21. Click the green button below to visit the online store or enter http://bit.ly/CHCS-shirts in your browser.
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Orders will arrive at CHCS in Onaga approximately three weeks after the deadline. Shipping is free, and the Gift Shop will distribute orders to all locations. (Note: When prompted for your address when ordering, use the address associated with your credit card, NOT your work location address.)
- The Gift Shop will order a limited selection of T-shirts, but we will not carry jackets or other embroidered items at this time.
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Questions? Email Sarah Hancock or call extension 5133.
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It's the most wonderful time of the year ... for basketball fans!
Plan to join the CHCS Spirit Squad in celebrating March Madness. Brackets will be available Monday morning, March 15, and they will need to be returned by March 17. The turnaround time is short, so polish those predictions!
Stay tuned for options for turning in brackets to participate in the friendly March Madness bracket competition.
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Carol Perry: Good clean fun at Route Step Farm |
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Many associates do amazing things outside of their work at CHCS. Our occasional series of profiles to help us learn more about the great people who work here.
Carol Perry is an LPN in the Onaga clinic. She has worked at CHCS for almost 30 years. She started as a nurses aide on the acute floor in 1991, then graduated from nursing school in 1995.
Carol also makes soap with her sister, Gail Wege (in the photo above, Carol is on the right, and Gail is on the left). Their business is called Route Step Farm. Gail retired from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel after a 20-year career and moved back to the Onaga area with her family.
Carol and Gail recently took time to answer a few questions about their soap, which is for sale in the CHCS Gift Shop.
What do you enjoy about the soap business? Do you make other products?
I love having the freedom to experiment with the different ingredients and scents to make a soap for specific needs such as dry skin, eczema, or just to have a sudsy soap with a fresh or holiday scent. Not all of the scents or soaps have turned out as expected. We started with just one recipe for our soap, and over the years, we have mixed and experimented with different ingredients, recipes, and techniques to get a basic bubbly bar that our customers love. We do change up the ingredients depending on specific requests. ... Soon, we will be adding goat milk and honey lotions to our line of soaps. This will allow our customers to match their favorite soap with a favorite moisturizing lotion scent.
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Suicide prevention art contest
Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ has joined with other state agencies to sponsor a suicide prevention art contest for youth in grades 6-12. The goal of the contest is to "raise awareness of the possibility of hope and healing while working to provide enough support to Kansas youth so that no one ever walks alone in crisis."
Submissions for posters, public service announcements, or other creative works that convey messages of hope are due April 4.
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Welcome
We are happy to have the following associates joining us. Welcome to CHCS!
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Bethany Kenworth, C.N.A., Onaga Acute
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Steve Land, Rehab and Wellness Manager, Onaga EVS Manager
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Eva Krohn, Dietary Aide, Onaga
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Mackenzie Spear, EVS Tech, St. Marys Manor
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Farewell, Chelsea!
Centralia and Frankfort Rehab wished Chelsea Kufahl a fond farewell last week. Chelsea is recently engaged and is moving to Kansas City. She is pictured below with her CHCS colleagues. The photo at left includes a favorite longtime patient, Dan Becker. Good luck, Chelsea!
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Important reminders
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CHCS sponsors two $500 scholarships for college-bound or trade school students pursuing a career in healthcare. These awards are for graduating HS seniors from CHCS Clinic towns and are offered through the Caring Community Foundation. The application is available online and from high school counselors. Apply by March 31! Some schools may have an earlier deadline, so be sure to have students check with their counselors.
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Employee Assistance Program: All CHCS associates are eligible for three confidential counseling sessions per fiscal year (April 1-March 31). To schedule, contact Regina Gronewoller, LSCSW, at reginagronewoller@chcsks.org (preferred) or call 785-437-3734. Download and share a flyer.
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Coffee Shop special
March 8-12
Salted Caramel Coconut Latte
- 16 oz., $4
- Hot, cold, or frappe
Have you noticed a new brew in our lineup? A tasty new Ethiopian coffee is now available. Tigesit Waqa is from a woman-owned farm and is named after the farmer. Tigesit has been growing coffee for 22 years and is striving to become more financially secure so she and her husband can provide an education for their seven children. The coffee earned PT's a Good Food Award!
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CHCS menus: Onaga and Eastridge |
Note: St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle
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Final funny (take your pick!) |
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Did you miss your Connection?
Important information is relayed every week in the E-Connection. If you miss it in your email, an archive is available on our website. Visit the For Associates page, then click E-Connection Archive.
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Send items for the E-Connection or for sharing with our broader social media audience to sarahhancock@chcsks.org. Please send items by close of business on Tuesdays when possible. Ideas are welcome!
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