MDNews - Greater Kansas

"We are extremely proud to be part of such a select group," says Terry Schirk, Chief Quality Officer for CHC/SEK. "To be among the top 3 percent of health centers in the nation for quality is a true testa- ment to the hard work and dedication of our staff." CHC/SEK earned the distinction by exceeding national clinical quality benchmarks, including Healthy People 2020 goals for chronic disease management, preventive care and perinatal/prenatal care. Schirk added that CHC/SEK was also recognized as a Health Center Quality Leader for achieving the best overall clinical performance among all health centers. In addition, CHC/SEK was awarded $162,110 in Quality Improvement funding — the largest award for quality outcomes in the state — based on its 2016 achievements, including $46,470 for being a National Quality Leader and $50,000 for achieving Patient Centered Medical Home recognition. "This award not only reflects our commitment to providing first- class patient care," says Krista Postai, CEO, "it allows us to continue working on improving the health outcomes for issues like diabetes, depression, substance abuse and several others that are a challenge in southeast Kansas." The funding is part of nearly $105 million in grants awarded by HRSA to health centers nationwide to further improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the health care delivered to the communities they serve. CHC/SEK WELCOMES NEW FAMILY PHYSICIAN PITTSBURG — The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is pleased to announce the arrival of family physician Maggie Barnidge, DO, to its medical staff. Dr. Barnidge earned her medical degree at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in 2014 and completed her residency training at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, MO. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. "I'm very happy to be joining CHC/SEK and its wonderful mission," Dr. Barnidge says. "It's exciting to be part of an organization that is as passionate about caring for people as I am." Dr. Barnidge is currently accepting new patients and is based at CHC/SEK's clinic at 3011 N. Michigan Street in Pittsburg but will also provide services at the CHC/SEK clinics at 120 W. Pine in Columbus and 2990 Military Avenue in Baxter Springs. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 620-231-9873 in Pittsburg, 620-429-2101 in Columbus or 620-856-2900 in Baxter Springs. VIA CHRISTI FIRST TO IMPLEMENT ROBOTIC IV DRUG COMPOUNDING SYSTEM A new high-tech sterile compounding system is now being used by the pharmacy at Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph — providing a safer and more efficient way of ensuring timely access to critically needed IV medications. The Omnicell i.v.STATION system is the first of its kind in Kansas and for Ascension, which is the largest nonprofit health system in the United States. "This is a major investment in patient safety," says Jim Garrelts, Senior Director of Pharmacy for Via Christi Health, of the new system, which will be used to compound a variety of medications that are deliv - ered intravenously, including drugs given during surgery, antibiotics for combating infection and analgesics to alleviate pain. "The robots are precise and record each and every step of the compounding process, which is then confirmed by the pharmacist." In addition to reducing the opportunity for error, IV medications compounded by the robotic system have a significantly longer shelf life — ranging from an average of two to three months versus the one- to-seven-day average of those compounded manually. While located within the pharmacy at St. Joseph, the system will be used to prepare IV medications for Via Christi's hospitals in Wichita, Manhattan, Wamego and Pittsburg, as well as for Via Christi Clinic's outpatient sites. Being able to compound IV medications locally is also expected to help ensure access to medications during times of national shortages. "Often the shortages are related to certain dosages or packaging," Garrelts says. "But being able to compound our own in a highly precise, ready-to-administer form with a long shelf life will provide us with an actionable alternative." Nationwide, IV medications represent 80 percent of drug spending and about two-thirds of all hospital pharmacy costs. NEW NEONATAL TRANSPORT AMBULANCE JOINS LIFESAVING WESLEY FLEET WICHITA — Babies born prematurely or critically ill after birth often need specialized care from a high-level neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Wesley Medical Center serves as that beacon of hope and expertise for most areas of Kansas. That's why Wesley's NICU staff and its LifeWatch neonatal transport team were excited to receive a brand-new $540,000 ambulance this month — the first in nearly a decade — adding a boost to its ground fleet of three ambulances. "We are thrilled beyond measure," says Paula Delmore, manager of the Neonatology department. "I'm most happy for the staff and the patients, who often have to ride in the ambulance for very long hours." Roughly 200 infants are transported to Wesley's NICU every year from smaller or rural hospitals around Kansas and surrounding states. The new ambulance features state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment, including a power lift that bears the weight of an Isolette and attached equipment, which can weigh as much as 450 pounds. Wesley has always been on the cutting edge of providing high-level care to sick infants and maintains a Level III NICU with specialty care nurseries and ad - vanced newborn care. The hospital serves as a regional referral center for central, southeast and western Kansas. 2 6❱❱❱❱❱ H O S P I TA L R O U N D S

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