Congrats to St. Marys Manor for an excellent survey, CHCS adds pulmonary rehab services, and more.

January 6, 2022

Survey says: Excellent work, St. Marys Manor!

Congratulations to Shannon Heim, Jake McNally Knoblauch, and the entire staff at St. Marys Manor. This excellent team hosted KDADS surveyors December 15-21. The survey identified only one minor deficiency.

Thank you to everyone at the Manor for managing through a challenging time and providing truly excellent care to residents!

We are proud of you!

Reminder: Join us in celebrating Dr. Tom Walsh TODAY in Onaga from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. All CHCS clinics will close at 3:30 so associates can attend.

Can't make it? Tune in to our Facebook page to view a live stream of the remarks starting at 5:10 p.m.

Please note:

The Walsh family requests that only those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 attend.
Guests will use the hospital main entrance; hospital visitors and others will be directed to use the Emergency Department entrance after 3:30. Associates can use the Associate Entrance.
Please leave as many of the closest parking spaces open for family and guests as possible.
Standard screening and mask protocols will be in effect; please plan to wear your mask when not eating or drinking.
Remarks will begin at 5:10.

We look forward to a truly special celebration!

CHCS adds pulmonary rehab services

Getting oxygen into our bodies fuels even the most basic daily activities: Walking through a store, sweeping the floor, caring for pets. Breathing problems caused by lung disease can make even taking a shower or preparing a meal seem impossible, and those who suffer from such difficulties often lose energy and can become anxious or depressed.

CHCS now offers a program that can help. By adding Pulmonary Rehab to its Cardiac Rehab program, CHCS is ensuring that it can meet area patients’ needs.

“Respiratory diagnoses were already common in our area, but the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how much we needed to add pulmonary rehabilitation services. So we’re happy to unveil our new Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program,” said Andrea Lutz, CHCS director of ancillary services.

The program is just in time to help many area patients. Meranda Schmitz, RN and Cardiopulmonary Rehab nurse, said COVID-19 is causing complications for many people with chronic lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD; emphysema; interstitial lung disease; chronic bronchitis; and more. Schmitz and Respiratory Therapist Michelle Budreau are eager to give patients the tools help them regain strength and breathe easier.

Although pulmonary rehabilitation doesn’t cure lung disease, it helps patients improve breathing and decrease symptoms. Nurses discuss patients’ worries, symptoms, and goals, then they design an individualized program that includes exercise and education to help patients manage their condition and improve quality of life. Patients meet with a nurse or respiratory therapist twice weekly for two hours, and the program can last up to 18 weeks. Condensed programs are available.

Learn more

Associate COVID-19 testing

CHCS is happy to be able to offer rapid antigen COVID-19 testing for associates to help simplify the decision-making process when someone isn't feeling well.

The process is outlined on the Associate COVID-19 Testing handout; please click file at right to expand. Hard copies are being distributed to all locations. If you need additional 11 x 17 copies, please contact Sarah Hancock.

Important notes:

Any associate who isn't feeling well should call their MANAGER to report and discuss the situation. Please DO NOT contact Employee Health first.
Managers will work with associates to determine if the associate qualifies for COVID-19 testing and if the associate can work. The manager will contact Employee Health.
Additional steps that managers, Employee Health, associates, and COVID testers should follow are on the handout.

Questions? Send them to info@chcsks.org

Are you signed up for emergency alerts?

Recent weather events have underscored the need for everyone to receive timely notifications. If you aren't signed up for emergency alerts, now's a great time to fix that!

Click the links below to sign up in your county. Please note:

The time to sign up is BEFORE a storm. No signup = no alert!
Alerts align with the geographic area you specify, so remember that if you live in Manhattan and work in Onaga, for example, you may receive alerts for your home that do not yet apply to Onaga. This can serve as an early warning system, but CHCS response is activated by a location-specific warning.
Even a well-functioning alarm system will alert many more people to take action than explicitly needed at times to keep people safe in a risky situation. Better safe than sorry!

To receive text alerts about emergencies, tornadoes or storms, and other important community news such as road closures, sign up at the links below.

Pottawatomie, Marshall, Riley County (and others)
Jackson County
Nemaha County

Welcome, December babies!

Welcome to the sweet babies who were born at the CHCS Birth Center in December 2021; a few are pictured below.

We're still awaiting our first baby of the New Year! Find details and photos on our Nursery page.

Welcome to CHCS!

We are happy to have the following associates join us. Welcome, all!

Faith Thompson, Resident Assistant, St. Marys Manor
Sydney Blaske, CNA, Onaga Acute
Kaitlynn Fairchild, CNA, St. Marys Manor
Helen Dawson, LPN, St. Marys Manor
Christy McDaris, LPN, Lead Nurse, St. Marys Clinic
Mandy Nott, Registration, Holton Clinic
Darla Wilson, LPN, St. Marys Clinic
Marty Ellis, RN, Onaga Acute
Nicolle Barth, CNA, Onaga Acute, Redbud

Important reminders

All CHCS associates receive a Wellness Benefit that runs for the calendar year. Details on how to use that benefit are in last week's edition of the E-Connection.

All CHCS associates are invited to complete a brief, confidential workplace well-being survey to help the Livewell Committee promote a healthy workplace for all. Take the survey by January 14 at 5:00 p.m. To be entered in a prize drawing for a gift basket from the CHCS Coffee and Gift Shop, send an email to news@chcsks.org with the subject line "Livewell drawing." In the text of the email, tell us what question 23 of the survey asks. (No need to tell us your answer!)

Take a look at the 2022 Calendar of Health Observances and Recognition Days to find important dates for your department and for CHCS as a whole. NOTE: We previously had the wrong link, but it's fixed now! (The file is too large to link here, but you can download it from KHA at the link above.)

Need a quick reference to determine 2022 pay dates? Download this handy chart.

Employee Assistance Program: All CHCS associates are eligible for three confidential counseling sessions per year. To schedule, contact Regina Gronewoller, LSCSW, at reginagronewoller@chcsks.org (preferred) or call 785-437-3734. Download and share a flyer.

Coffee Shop Special

January 10-14

Amaretto mocha

Amaretto and chocolate
16 oz., $4
Hot, cold, or frappe

Please note:

Regular business hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. resumed after the holidays. Please place orders well in advance of 3:00 so afternoon baristas can close on time!

CHCS menu: Onaga and Eastridge

View menus for January 9-15

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

Final funny

Editor's note: Thanks to IT Director Dom Freeman for submitting this week's funny. He has been on a roll lately!

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!