November 17 & 24, 2022

National Nurse Practitioner Week

Our system's 11 nurse practitioners bring expertise, experience, and personalized care to our patients, and we are truly grateful for all they do. Happy Nurse Practitioner Week 2022!

Construction update: Centralia and Frankfort

Two weeks ago, we reported on construction of the new Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Community Home Care Equipment spaces in Onaga. Onaga is not the only location enjoying some much-needed changes; work has already begun in both Centralia and Frankfort. The Centralia Clinic is undergoing a significant change (see photos, below). In order to facilitate social distancing, improve patient flow, and enhance staff safety in an emergency, registration will be moving to the space currently occupied by the clinic nurses. The waiting room will remain the same, and a new reception window will be installed between the waiting rom and new registration area. The nurses station is being moved to the former registration space. Most of the cabinets and casework as well as the flooring are also being replaced for better infection control measures. To top it off, the clinic will also be receiving a new coat of paint! Work began on November 14, and patients are now being asked to access the clinic through the east door. The Centralia Fitness Center is also undergoing a slight change. We are building another private treatment room and making other changes that will lead to improved infection control, including new flooring and paint. The work is scheduled to be completed this week! The Frankfort Clinic is getting new cabinetry at the registration desk as well as new flooring throughout the clinic. They are also converting the patient restroom to wheelchair accessibility. Work on the clinic will start December 1. Frankfort Rehabilitation and Fitness is also receiving new flooring as well as repairs and a fresh coat of paint to the walls. The Rehab department will be adding a couple more treatment rooms to improve patient privacy and infection control. This work has already started.   All of these changes are being done through COVID relief funds because they provide improved infection control measures and social distancing for our patients and staff. All work is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2022. We look forward to sharing photos when the projects are finished! --Todd Willert, CEO

Celebrate Home Care & Hospice Month

During the month of November, the home care community honors the nurses, home health aides, therapists, and social workers who make a difference for the patients we serve. Home health strives to encourage independence in the home environment. National Homecare and Hospice (NAHC) noted that home care is provided to more than 5 million Americans annually! Community HomeHealth provides home health services to those individuals residing in Pottawatomie, Nemaha, Marshall, Jackson, Wabaunsee, and Western Shawnee Counties. Our services include diabetes care, wound and ostomy care, IV therapy, medication management, and rehabilitation services. Home health aide Crystal Correll said, “I enjoy the one-on-one care that I am able to provide. I enjoy leaving their home knowing that they are cleaner and happier than when I arrived. Also being able to give them my undivided attention and listening to the stories they have to tell.”  In fiscal year 2022, Community HomeHealth provided care to 321 patients! Community HomeHealth has offices in Onaga and St. Marys.  Thank you to our home health staff for the amazing care they provide!

Above: Community HomeHealth nurses and office assistant L to R: Genevieve Wingerter, Kelly Haug, Ashlea Kramer, Tracy Markley, Alexis Whorton, Marlaina Wahl, Brenda Rosine, Heather Siegrist, Kristi Hutfles. Not Pictured: Korrie Meyer. Right: Home health aides Tracy Koch, Marsha Moore, Crystal Correll.

Open Enrollment reminder

CHCS Open Enrollment is slated for the week of November 28. Please note the dates and times for open enrollment at your location.    Centralia November 28, 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. Onaga (Walsh Room) November 29, 4:00-6:00 p.m. November 30, 7:00-9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Holton November 30, 3:00-5:00 p.m. St. Marys December 1, 7:00-9:00 a.m., 12 noon-2:00 p.m., 4:00-6:00 p.m. Frankfort December 2, 9:30 a.m. Westmoreland December 2, 10:45 a.m. Please note: Attendance at an open enrollment meeting is not required, but it is highly recommended. This is an opportunity to learn about the benefits that CHCS offers and ask any clarifying questions. (A link for online enrollment will be provided at a later date.) This year’s open enrollment is passive, which means that unless you make changes, you will be enrolled in the same benefits you had in plan year 2022, with the exception of Flexible Spending Medical and Dependent Care. You MUST re-elect or enroll in Flexible Spending Medical and Dependent Care every year. If you do not re-elect Flexible Spending Medical and/or Dependent Care during open enrollment, you will not have either benefit in the 2023 Plan Year.

Greater Giving at Open Enrollment Members of our Greater Giving committee will attend Open Enrollment at all locations. We'll share some special treats, a game, and more--plus information on how to give back to CHCS. Learn about Greater Giving funds and how they are used on our website. Greater is also sponsoring a special fundraiser for our Scholarship fund from November 28 through December 9. Buy raffle tickets to win this beautiful handcrafted barn donated by Gordon Beightel, Onaga Maintenance Manager. This heirloom-quality toy took more than 50 hours to complete!

The barn is 2 ft. tall from the base to the top of the cupola. The silo is a bank! The fully finished interior includes tools, a first aid kit, birds' nests, barn cats, and even chickens and calves. Tickets will be on sale during Open Enrollment at all locations, at the Onaga Coffee and Gift Shop, or from the Administration office in Onaga.

Ticket cost: $1 for 1 ticket, $5 for 6 tickets, $10 for 12 tickets. Cash or checks only! Make checks payable to CHCS. This activity is for CHCS associates, but if community members wish to enter, they can purchase tickets as outlined above. Thanks for your support as we work to grow our scholarship fund and offer more scholarships in CHCS communities!

EAP Zoom recording

We held an all-associate Zoom meeting about our Employee Assistance Program last week. If you missed it, check out the video below to learn more!

It's almost time to decorate!

We know everyone is excited to decorate for Christmas! Please take a moment to review safety and regulatory compliance guidelines for holiday decorating. Click the document at right to view the guidelines. Questions? Contact Lorraine Meyer, COO.

Sanders family benefit: Mark your calendar and sign up to help! CHCS friends and colleagues have set up a benefit for Tiffany Sanders, Clinical Informatics Specialist in Onaga, and her family. Tiffany's husband, KJ, has been diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. Please plan to attend a taco bar meal and silent auction on December 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Onaga Community Center. Click the image at right to view the flyer. Want to help in other ways? Click the buttons below to sign up to work at the event or donate food items. Questions? Contact Alexis Whorton.

Sign up to work

Sign up to donate food

Join a Screen Sanity group Digital parenthood is filled with difficult decisions and unanswered questions. We get it: Raising kids in this digital age is hard. But it's even harder to do it alone.   That's why the Mental Health Committee is bringing you Screen Sanity, a highly acclaimed program designed to help parents unpack the hottest screen time topics. New groups are forming that will meet at either 7:15 to 8 a.m. or 12:15 to 1 p.m. Days of the week will be determined by participant availability. Indicate interest in joining a group by emailing info@chcsks.org. Tell us what time you prefer and what day of the week works best!

Congrats! RNs Brenda Quigley and Manda Thompson recently became certified to teach Teen Mental Health First Aid. Congratulations! We look forward to offering this course in our community along with Adult and Youth MHFA courses.

Welcome We are happy to have the following associates join us. Welcome to CHCS!   Ashley Derenne, LPN, St. Marys Manor Ashley Harbolt, RN, Eastridge Kaci Vinsonhaler, CNA, Eastridge James Bottom, Dietary Aide, Onaga

You will also see a new face in our Onaga Administration office. Welcome to Nancy Berges, our new administrative assistant! Nancy started work this week and sits at the desk just inside the Admin door.

Here's to our associates with December birthdays. Join us in wishing them all the best as they celebrate!  Mary Pedersen, Shelly Slama, Shelby Helget, Tabitha Shuler, Rachel Clayton, Rhonda McLaughlin, Benjamin Schlegel, Tamra Jones, Cassandra Petri, Ashley Bean, Amanda Broxterman, Hanna Schober, Kari Holthaus, Jamie Todd, Kendra Reith, Anita Anderson, Lacey Niehues, Karen Zartman, Brian Olberding, Holly Schmitz, Marie Wessel, Sylvia Quenneville, Kayla Jones, Tristan Gernhard, Christie Rabe, Deanne Tanking, Josie Harrison, Nancy Berges, Eve Jones, Maribelle Collado, Alicia VanDonge, Sarah Todd, Joyce Conner, Lani Bresler, Zoey Murphy, Eric Bjelland, Nahtanha Smith, Andrea Lutz, Mary Ewing, Kim Domann, Nancy Rose, Honey Lombardo View a list with dates

Important reminders and community events BE THE CHANGE: Don't forget to donate that spare change by the end of the Day Thursday, November 17 to benefit Damon's Purpose! Find details in the November 10 E-Connection. Help us win the traveling trophy! To inspire the next generation into the healthcare field, the Kansas Hospital Association is hosting a TikTok contest for students and healthcare professionals in Kansas to help us inspire others! The contest will run through Nov. 30. Learn how to enter in the Nov. 10 E-Connection or visit www.HappyInHealthCare.org. Prizes will be awarded! Relias courses have been assigned and are available now. All courses must be completed by December 15. Access Relias from the For Associates page of our website. The login page includes a password recovery option. If you need help, please contact HR.

Coffee and Gift Shop Delights

Special November 21-25: Pumpkin spice macchiato Pumpkin, vanilla, and caramel 16 oz., $4 Hot, cold, or frappe Special November 28-Dec. 2: Maple roasted cinnamon latte Maple, vanilla, and cinnamon 16 oz., $4 Hot, cold, or frappe

Thanksgiving week hours  The Coffee Shop will close at 12 noon on November 23 and 25 and will be closed on Thanksgiving The Gift Shop will close at 12 noon on Friday, November 18 and will reopen at 7 a.m. Monday, November 28. Let us know if you need something during that time!

Holiday plans Click the flyers below to view Coffee and Gift Shop holiday hours and Christmas Open House details.

CHCS menu: Onaga and Eastridge

View menus for November 20-26 Onaga will switch the Tuesday and Thursday noon meal for Thanksgiving. Tuesday that week will be pork meatballs/crab salad, and Thursday will be turkey and ham! Eastridge will serve turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry salad, pumpkin pie, and rolls on Thanksgiving. The menu on Friday, November 25 will be polish sausage, mashed potatoes, gravy, sauerkraut, and strawberry shortcake. View menus for November 27-December 3 St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.

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!

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