St. Marys Clinic offers extended hours, fireworks safety, celebrating retirements, and more.

July 1, 2021

St. Marys Clinic to offer extended hours

The St. Marys Clinic will offer extended hours starting Tuesday, July 6.

The clinic will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Hours on Mondays and Fridays will remain 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

According to Merica Surdez, Community HealthCare System chief of provider and clinic operations, the extra two hours three nights per week will help busy families.

“We know it’s a struggle sometimes to make it to the clinic during business hours. Now we will be able to better accommodate patients who need an appointment after work, for example, or parents who find out their child is sick at the end of the day,” Surdez said.

Read the news release

Celebrate safely

To help the public celebrate safely, the Office of the State Fire Marshal offers the following tips for the safe use of fireworks:

Always ignite outdoors
Have an adult supervise all fireworks activities
Have a water supply nearby
Light from a solid, flat and stable platform
Light only one firework at a time
Make sure fireworks debris is cooled off completely before disposing
Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks
Store fireworks in a cool, dry place
Use a long-handled lighter

Parade time!

Everyone loves a parade!

Thanks to Jill Greene, Kelsey Edwards, and Michele Reisinger for representing CHCS at the Havensville parade last weekend. And thanks to Jill and Kelsey's dad, Ross Manuel, for carrying the banner in the parade!

More parades are coming soon! Plans are in the works for CHCS to be well represented in St. Marys on July 3. Thanks to Shannon Heim and Liz Murphy for coordinating our efforts there!

Katie Kufahl, RN and Birth Center manager, has agreed to be in charge of CHCS efforts for the Wheaton Independence Day Celebration on July 10. The parade is at 6:00 p.m., and lineup is at 5:30 at the school. If you are able to join in the fun in Wheaton, please contact Katie by email or call ext. 5122. Thank you, Katie!

CHCS provides a parade banner, candy, and plastic cups to hand out to spectators. Walkers should wear a CHCS T-shirt and a big smile. Thanks to all who represent CHCS at these fun community events. We appreciate your efforts!

CHCS Connect event series

CHCS is launching a series of events at the Onaga Senior Center this month. On July 7, DeAnne Tanking and JoAnn Mott will discuss our swing bed program and Community HomeHealth services. On July 14, Angie Sauvage will present on advance directives and community resources. Download a flyer to share or read our blog post for more details.

Thanks to Mindy Olberding and Lacey Niehues for coordinating this effort! CHCS is hoping to have similar events in other communities in the future. If you would like to help coordinate similar efforts in your location, please contact Mindy or Lacey.

What does it mean to be resilient?

I have a few weeds in my garden that seem to be very resilient. Ugh! Is resilience a good thing? Yes, consider it your ability to bounce back from stress or a disappointment.

Sometimes our ability to bounce can be lessened by how much stress we experience. Why is this important? For the past 18 months, we have been experiencing high levels of stress from living through two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have noted that some of us are struggling with low levels of bounce. How can you keep the pep in your step?

Use the Fab 5 – 5 things that take less than 5 minutes!

Kick judgement to the curb: practice listening and responding without judgement. Being heard is healing. Give judgement free responses to yourself too. We are all doing the best we can!
Leave the building: Taking a short break outside of your work or living space can help you calm down and recharge. A walk around the block or sitting outdoors, listening to your favorite song or podcast, surrounded by fresh air, with a few sips of water can do wonders to reset your stress level.
Take a thankfulness break: Shifting to thoughts of thankfulness is a quick way to build resilience and lower stress. You can use “notes” on your phone, a cheap notebook, or fancy journal to jot down things you are thankful for.
Check in with your people: Learn to recognize when your co-worker, family member or friend needs you to pick up their load for a bit. Practice asking for help rather than “powering through.”
Talk yourself into positive: Adopt a positive saying to repeat when you feel hopeless: “This too shall pass,” “We are all in this together,” “I am strong and will get through this” -- whatever speaks to you and gives you courage and strength! Repeat, repeat, repeat, and repeat again. This exercise is a powerful way to alleviate stress and build resilience.

Resilience and healing take time. Consistently focusing on behaviors that will encourage your body and brain to reset will build resilience. Remember: Practice makes perfect.

In December of 2020, KDHE released a Community Resilience Toolkit. View it here.

Welcome to CHCS!

We are happy to have the following associates joining us. Welcome!

Maria Landolfi, C.N.A., St. Marys Manor
Alaina Riccomini, C.N.A., St. Marys Manor

Important reminders

The CHCS Gift Shop will hit the road on July 8 for a special popup appearance in St. Marys from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Join us in the tree room for some shopping, samples, and fun! Want the Gift Shop to make a stop in your location? Email leahchamley@chcsks.org to schedule.
The public is invited to Frankfort Care Home Fireworks on July 10 at dusk. CHCS helped sponsor the show.
Any CHCS associate who wishes to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or who has questions about the vaccine is welcome to contact Employee Health Nurse Christina Hasenkamp. Questions and conversations will be kept confidential. Contact Christina by phone at extension 5109 or email christinahasenkamp@chcsks.org. View a flyer.
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.

Coffee Shop special

(and Gift Shop goodies)

July 5-9

Snickers latte

Chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut
16 oz., $4
Hot, cold, or frappe

FRIDAY AFTERNOON Special: CHERRY LIMEADES!

Summer sale!

Double your discount (that's 20% off!) during the month of July on select products each week.

Week of July 5: Melissa and Doug (all toys, costumes, puzzles, activity sets, etc.) and Fred items
Week of July 12: All Round Top Collection items (bases, charms, signs, other decor)
Week of July 19: All Natural Inspirations items, including candles
Week of July 26: Christmas items (to help celebrate Greater Giving's Christmas in July)

Not exciting enough for you? We'll also bring back our ever-popular clearance-priced bins in July. We need to clear some space for new items that are coming soon!

CHCS menu: Onaga and Eastridge

View menus for July 4-July 10

St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.

Retirement celebrations

We've had the opportunity to celebrate the careers of three amazing women this week. Congratulations to Peggy Buessing, Pat Hartwich, and Pat Flentie on their retirements! They all leave big shoes to fill.

Pat Flentie, LPN and Onaga Clinic lead nurse, retired yesterday, June 30. A celebration in Onaga drew many patients and co-workers who wanted to let Pat know how much she has meant to them. Dr. Tom Walsh shared how much Pat has done for him and for others, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house!

Peggy Buessing, LPN and Centralia Clinic lead nurse, celebrated her retirement after 30 years at CHCS. Many people from the community brought greetings and good wishes to her reception on June 29. Dr. Tom Walsh said the word that best describes Peggy is "loved," and he mentioned her kindness and her smile and how important they have been to Centralia Clinic staff and patients through the years.

Pat Hartwich, RN, retired from St. Marys Manor and celebrated a wonderful career (and her birthday!) on June 29.

Pat has worked with Donna Tarbutton, below right, for 30 years! Pat has served in many different roles at the Manor and will continue to work PRN and volunteer so she can spend time with the residents.

Good luck, Jes!

The Westmoreland Clinic had a going away party for Jes Hipp, RN, last week to wish her well as she assumes lead nurse duties for Centralia Clinic. Jes is pictured below with two favorite patients, Phil and Deanie Kovar. Deanie is holding Annie Crumbaker's then-11-day-old daughter, Emmy, in the photo.

Good luck, Jes!

Final funny

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.

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!