Gove County Medical Center

On Sept. 16, the Gove County Medical Center hosted an Open House for employees and the public to visit the new Cancer Exercise Therapy Rehabilitation Suite.

Painted a cheery apple green, the room’s decorations educate about cancer rehabilitation. One section of the wall illustrates the different toxicities which can occur as a result of cancer treatment. Another section explains specifically how the cancer exercise therapy combats those effects.

Cancer exercise rehabilitation therapy is based on cutting edge research which indicates that an individualized exercise program can improve balance and strength, help manage pain, fight cancer-related fatigue, and give a better quality of life. Patients and cancer survivors can benefit, even after cancer treatment is complete.

The cancer exercise rehabilitation therapy offered by Gove County Medical Center has truly been a community effort. Walk-a-Thon funds have been earmarked to the hospital to pay for all therapy. No patient is ever billed. The Talent Extravaganza 2015 raised funds to send two GCMC employees to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Institute to become certified exercise specialists. The Pierre C. Henry Foundation and the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation provided funds to purchase the equipment.

Visitors to the open house included Mr. and Mrs. Kenton Krehbiel representing the Pierre C. Henry Foundation, Kay Goetz and Cheryl Zimmerman of the Walk-a-Thon Committee, Dr. Hiesterman, and a number of patients and hospital employees.

Gove County Medical Center appreciates the generosity from the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation, the Pierre C. Henry Foundation, and the Walk-a-Thon Committee.

Cancer exercise rehabilitation therapy is offered by physician referral. If you are interested in therapy, please visit with your physician.