February 9, 2023
Phlebotomists are drawn to help others!
National Phlebotomists Recognition Week, #NPRW, was established by American Medical Technologists and is taking place February 13-17, 2023.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all the phlebotomists we work with daily and recognize the vital role they play in maintaining patient health and promoting lab efficiency and effectiveness.

CHCS phlebotomists are:
  • Meghan Vernon, Onaga
  • Dallas Ruckman, Holton
  • Donna Jewell, Holton
  • All other who perform phlebotomy functions (nurses, lab techs, radiology techs, respiratory techs, etc.)

Thanks for all you do!

--Eduardo Bertulfo, Laboratory Manager
Schedule a FREE individual
retirement plan consultation
Individual retirement plan consultations are available at no additional cost to CHCS associates. You can discuss your retirement account with an experienced Two West Financial Planner on a confidential basis either over the phone or via video chat (Zoom or Microsoft Teams).

The consultation will provide you with a personalized, actionable plan based on, among other things, your goals, time horizon, and individual risk tolerance. Questions your consultant can answer include:

  • Are my investments properly allocated?
  • Am I on track to meet my retirement goals?
  • Am I saving enough? 
  • Is Roth right for me?
  • How can I reduce my personal debt?
  • What do I do with my rollovers?

SIGN UP TODAY!
 
MORE FINANCIAL PLANNING RESOURCES

Have questions or need assistance with your retirement plan? Contact our plan consultant, Mike Curran, anytime at 913-475-3684 (cell) or 913-647-8376 (office) or via email at mike@twowestadvisors.com.
Hypertension and heart disease
During American Heart Month, we are exploring heart disease risk factors each week along with tips to help reduce your risk. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. Nearly half of adults in the United States (47%, or 116 million) have hypertension. 

If you suffer from high blood pressure, the bad news is that it can damage your health in many ways. It can seriously hurt important organs like your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. The good news: in most cases, you can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems.
Finished renovation = changes in Onaga
A renovation project in Onaga Community Hospital is now complete, so locations, hours, and availability of some services are changing.

Effective February 7, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation will be relocated from the Fitness Center to the area that formerly housed the Community Home Care Equipment store. Patients will receive instructions on how to find the new location, and permanent signage will soon be installed. (A photo of the new space is above.)

Effective February 13, the Fitness Center will resume pre-COVID hours of operation.
  • Members will have access to the facility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Pool hours will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. No lane signup will be required.
  • The Fitness Center will be staffed during pool hours. At all other times, members may access the Center with their door code.
  • To book a pool party, call 785-889-5048 during staffed hours.
  • Members should clean equipment after use, and social distancing is recommended.

Effective February 20, Community Home Care Equipment will re-open in the same suite it formerly inhabited. From the CHCE entrance, visitors will need to turn left and take a few steps down a hall to find the new store. Signage will be available to direct visitors, and curbside service will remain available for those who need it. Hours will remain 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Call 785-889-5018 for assistance.
Do you feel LUCKY?
You can help a local student feel lucky AND get a great CHCS T-shirt for yourself!

Purchase a green CHCS T-shirt for $15 from the Gift Shop, and all proceeds will benefit the CHCS Greater Giving Scholarship fund. This year, we will be awarding THREE $1,000 scholarships in our communities. That's a real pot of gold!
Details: Visit or call the Gift Shop to purchase. Cash or check only. Make checks to CHCS with Greater Giving in the memo line. We are happy to send shirts via courier!

Want us to bring a bucket o' shirts to your location? Let Sarah Hancock know. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Apply for a Healthworks scholarship
The Kansas Hospital Association invites scholarship applications from those currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited Kansas school for health care. Preference will be given to current employees of hospital, particularly those working in a hospital that is licensed for 25 or fewer acute beds.

Awards will be given in undergraduate health care (non-nursing), undergraduate nursing, advanced clinical practice, health care administration, and human resources categories. CHCS associates have been awarded a Healthworks scholarship for the last two years in a row!

Applications are due March 10.
Classroom to Career

The second of five Classroom to Career visits to USD 322 Onaga fourth graders is in the bag! Sydney Zafran (MS, SLP) from Speech Therapy talked to students about her work in preventing, assessing, diagnosing, and treating speech, expressive/receptive language, social communication, cognition, voice, fluency, hearing, and swallowing problems.

Sydney designed excellent activities for the class. She let students try puree, mechanical soft, and regular diets along with thickened liquids. (The students said they did not enjoy puree and preferred the regular diet!) Sydney also had students complete an oral mechanism examination and led them in learning about different speech sounds. Thank you, Sydney!

The Classroom to Career program is sponsored by the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce and Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation, and its aim is to help students learn about jobs right here in northeast Kansas. In addition to visiting the class with different speakers, CHCS will also host the students for a field trip later in the spring. 
Rehab knows how to throw a par – er, meeting

Our Rehabilitation team gathered for a quarterly meeting this week. It’s rare to see this group in one place, because they are usually busy providing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy in Onaga, Holton, St. Marys, Centralia, and Frankfort! This isn’t quite everyone, but it’s as close as we can get. This group knows how to throw a meeting—the buffet is out of the photo, but it was quite a spread!
 
Thanks to Rehab for providing excellent care for our patients!
Welcome to CHCS
We are happy to have the following associates joining us. Welcome, all!
  • Joahna Alicaya, Medical Technologist, Onaga Lab
  • Shayla Harbolt, C.N.A., Eastridge
  • Charlotte Cabler, EVS Tech, St. Marys Manor
  • Avery Huerter, Patient Account Representative, Onaga Business Office
Thank you
It is a very proud feeling to be a part of Community HealthCare System! In December, I was hospitalized for several days, and every minute that I was there, I received excellent care, respect, and a feeling that I was their only patient -- and I can assure you I was not! Dr. Simon, Dr. Weiser, and Dr. Allen: thank you all so much. To great nurses and great CNAs, Lisa and Cole in X-ray; and a very personable and caring young man named Danny, a CNA who was there almost every day I was there: thank you for your kindness!

Eastridge: what a great place to work! Thank you to Lura and Shelli for being so supportive through my illness. Thank you to Jen, Kelly, and Cole for keeping "my people" entertained! I have been told good things about all of you. I would also thank each and every one of you for helping me come back slowly and know what a great team you are to work with!

Thank you all again!
--Charolene McMullen
Community events and important reminders

  • Would you like to help plan fun activities at CHCS? Join the CHCS Spirit Squad! Contact Sarah Hancock at ext. 5133 or via email to volunteer by Friday, February 10.

  • GO CHIEFS! Celebrate the Super Bowl by wearing your fan jersey/shirt and jeans on Friday, Feb. 10.

  • If you need to reach Frankfort Fitness Center, please call 785-292-4615 or use Internal extensions (4701 and 4711). Please note that 785-292-4382 has been discontinued.

  • The Onaga Historical Museum invites all to a Soup and Dessert Lunch on February 11 from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Onaga Senior Center. Enjoy soups, hot dogs, rolls, pies, ice cream, and other desserts for a free will donation that supports the building fund.

  • The Onaga Historical Society invites all to Ghost Towns of the Area on February 16 at 6:30 p.m. Learn more.

  • Recent years have brought many challenges and changes. The CHCS Employee Assistance Program can help you cope! Read an article from VITAL WorkLife about available services and how to access them.
CHCS menus: Onaga and Eastridge

 
If you're in Onaga, stop by the Cafeteria on February 14 for FREE OATMEAL and a toppings bar from 7:30 to 9 a.m. It's good for your heart, so come and celebrate American Heart Month and Valentine's Day!

St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.
Coffee and Gift Shop Delights
Special:
February 13-18

Sweetheart Latte
  • Chocolate, strawberry, and French vanilla
  • 16 oz., $4
  • Hot, cold, or frappe
Wish a resident happy V-Day!

We have a few Valentines left for CHCS residents! We want to make sure ALL residents receive a surprise. You can help by purchasing a Valentine at the Gift Shop. We'll deliver it for you!

Note: Valentines can be personalized or anonymous. You don't need to know a resident to send one!

To purchase, stop by the shop in person, call us at ext. 5059 or 5045, or use our online store.
Flower orders are due Friday, 2/10 at 3:00 p.m.!
We are working with Fun and Fabulous Floral to provide beautiful V-Day flowers to fit any budget. Click the flyer or order form below to get started.

Not into flowers? We have plenty of other options!
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!