By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Avalon Advanced Health is providing a new health care model in Hays — direct primary care.

Dr. Marshall Eidenberg’s practice does not bill third-party insurance.

Instead, patients pay a monthly fee for services some of which include sick visits, weight management, house calls, pre-operation visits, in-office ultra sound, sports physicals, diabetes management, and pediatric sick visits and well checks.

By eliminating its back office staff, Dr. Eidenberg is able to provide services less expensively and more efficiently. He said 90 percent of services are covered under the monthly service fee, which starts at $75 for an individual. Per-person prices decrease for family memberships.

Eidenberg is the former director of the ER department at HaysMed. His medical background includes 12 years in the Army as an emergency medical physician. During that time he also worked in population health and preventive medicine. He also spent four years at Via Christ in Wichita in its ER department.

During his time as an ER physician, he learned the value of preventive care. He said he appreciates being able to spend more time with his patients in his new practice.

Whereas a visit to a physician in a typical clinic might last 20 minutes, appointments at Avalon can be 30 to 90 minutes. This time allows him the opportunity to counsel and educate and decrease patients’ need for medicines. In a fee-for-service model, clinics and doctors make more money if they see more patients and perform more procedures, Eidenberg said.

“By having the time and answering all the questions, making a comprehensive plan with the patient, we actually save them time because then they don’t have to make that appointment next month to come back in and pay another co-pay for the office visit,” he said. “We believe in the value of the comprehensive visit.”

The practice has on-site lab services. Eidenberg can draw labs at the beginning of the appointment and have results back before the patient leaves the office.

Eidenberg recommends patients still keep major medical insurance, but most direct primary care patients can increase their deductibles and save money. His family moved to a higher deductible and is saving $400 to $500 per month.

He said his experiences in the ER lead him to think there was a more efficient way to provide health care.

“I was the chief of the ER here at HaysMed, and we had no clue of what was being billed in our name. We were being given just a salary. My wife was injured and ended up going into the ER,” he said. “We had very good insurance, and there was still a $1,000 co-pay. Just from there, we figured there had to be a better way. Health care does not need to cost as much as it does.”

Of the 30 heads of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield organizations, they made more than $100 million in 2016, Eidenberg said.

“That didn’t keep anybody’s rates down. In fact, most people saw an increase in their insurance rates,” he said.

Eidenberg compared health insurance to car insurance. Direct primary care takes care of the day-to-day needs of patients like changing the oil in a car, and health insurance is saved for major occurrences we hope never happen like heart attacks.

Eidenberg offers after-hours care, which can save costly trips to the ER for conditions that would normally be dealt with in a clinic setting.

“If you are a mother at 2 in the morning with three kids and one of them is sick, do you want to package everyone up at 2 in the morning to go to the ER?” he said. “We can make house calls and save that mother the time and effort and the cost. The ER is allowed to charge an after-hours fee, and believe me they do. I think we are an option for everybody if you want that personalized care.”

By providing easy access to primary care, Eidenberg said he hopes to free the ER to care for true emergencies.

The practice tries to limit specialist referrals by trying to have minor questions about ongoing care answered electronically through email. The practice also tries to save time and money when referring to a specialist by contacting the specialists about labs and studies that need to be done. Those labs can be done in advance. This allows the specialist to address issues in a single visit.

The practice also works with employers to perform site visits to identify instances in which an employee might be injured.

The clinic, 2703 Hall, Ste. 13, opened in April. Eidenberg said he has had good response from the community, including clients from the hospital.

He said he sees direct primary care as a growing trend. There are more than 1,000 practices across the country, although few at present in the state of Kansas.

By CRISTINA JANNEY 
Hays Post

RUSSELL — A patriotic mural sponsored by the Russell Original Art Review (ROAR) was completed last week on the exterior of the Russell VFW, Post 6240.

The mural depicts armed forces personnel from a buffalo soldier to the present.

ROAR commissioned the mural as part of its 50th anniversary celebration this fall. The mural will be dedicated Oct. 13 as a part of that celebration.

Micky Zorn, past post commander, said the VFW has received positive response from the public about the mural.

“It is amazing, and I tell you it really has hit home with the veterans, especially for our older veterans. It really has choked them up,” she said. “You know the VFW has been struggling across the board nationally trying to get members. We hope that maybe it might serve as a little spark because we are the ones who are up there at Congress constantly fighting for benefits for the veterans.”

The mural is 17 feet by 60 feet and painted by Dennis Schiel of Hays, who also painted murals on the exterior of the Fox Pavilion in Hays and the Hays VFW. Schiel began painting the mural in April.

The mural is painted in earth tones similar to the FOX mural with the exception of the American flag, bald eagle, poppies, VFW logo and a Purple Heart. It depicts a timeline of U.S. military history as well as U.S. military symbols. A kiosk will eventually be added to the mural to explain the images in the mural, including the Buddy Poppies, buffalo solider, code talker and military nurse.

He worked with ROAR and VFW to pick the subject matter for the mural and then based the images on historical photographs. He said he appreciated being able to create a tribute to those who served.

“It was fun to do,” he said. “I appreciate the town’s arts commission wanting to do the mural.”

Patty Driscoll, Russell Original Art Review organizer, said she was very impressed with the final artwork.

“We have had so many positive comments about it,” she said. “People are just overwhelmed by it, the size. I guess when they saw a picture of it, they just didn’t realize how large it would be — 20 feet by 60 feet. It was quite surprising for a lot of people. Everybody has been so supportive here in Russell of the mural. They have donated generously, so we are very pleased with the turnout and the response we have gotten from it.”

The mural was funded through a grant and donations. Each of the donors names or their honorariums are listed with the mural. Driscoll said all the funds for the creation of the mural have been raised, but ROAR is still taking donations for the upkeep of the mural. It will need to be resealed every several years.

 

 

By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

The Hays school board approved a pilot program to study the use of Chromebooks in the district at its meeting Monday night.

The program will include purchasing Chromebooks for students at the Learning Center, a middle school class and an elementary school class.

The total cost for 70 Chromebooks, licensing and teacher training will be $22,543.

The board recently approved the purchase of Dell computers for high school students. During that debate, some board members expressed frustration the technology committee did not present an option with Chromebooks. They thought Chromebooks might be a cheaper option.

Superintendent John Thissen said the real test of the pilot would be of the Google platform compared to the Microsoft Suite, which the district uses now.

Board member Sophia Rose Young voted against the pilot program, saying she was not convinced a switch to Chromebooks would save the district money. She said she was concerned about the cost of training on a new system. She said her employer, Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas has been in the midst of a conversion to Google since she has been with the organization. Some systems are still not converted to Google.

“This could be bigger beast than a little study on a laptop,” she said.

Thissen said the investment would not be wasted if the district decided not to transition to Chromebooks. He said the computers would be used in the district in some way.

Board reorganization

The board elected Mandy Fox, former board vice president, as the new president of the board. It elected Mike Walker as the new vice president of the board. Lance Bickle vacated the position of president after serving three years.

The board approved a number of other annual appointments, but delayed board president appointments so nominations could be taken. Those included Hays Recreation Commission, Early Childhood Connections Policy Council, Hays Area Children’s Center Board, Technology Committee and USD 489 Foundation for Excellence Board.

More on the bond

At the end of the meeting, board member Luke Oborny asked if the board needed to direct the superintendent to collect opinions from the public through town halls or a survey since the board voted last week to delay any action on a bond until January.

Board president Mandy Fox said she thought the vote last week directed the administration to do nothing until January.

Board member Paul Adams said he wanted communicated to the public their opinions are valued and there are many opportunities to communicate with board, including attending board meetings and speaking during the audience participation period.

Other business:

• Sarah Wasinger of the USD 489 Foundation gave a report on a dinner and auction the foundation will conduct on Nov. 3. Proceeds will go toward security upgrades at USD 489 schools. The foundation hopes to raise $50,000 toward the cost of the upgrades, which are being done this summer.

• Student handbook revisions were approved

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Thanks to a grant, 120 students in the Hays school district were able to shore up their reading skills during the summer.

A grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation allowed USD 489 teachers to choose 10 students from each school in grades K-2 for a free Summer Reading Camp. The students attended classes two hours per day three days a week through the month of June.

Free transportation and snacks were also offered to the children.

The children practiced independent reading, read in groups, had an author visit, went on trips to the Hays Public Library, worked on phonics and practiced writing skills.

One of the goals of the program was to help all the children in program get their own library cards, so they could go back to the library and check out their own books.

Teacher Aubrey Brooks of Roosevelt Elementary School said students tend to lose some of their skills during the summer.

“A lot of times during the summer the kids slide a little,” she said. “They slide back a little. We really think this is going to keep what they have done during the school year — to keep up those skills and move forward a little bit.”

Brooks said she has seen growth in children — some increasing their skills by a reading level. Practice is the best way to learn reading, and Brooks said the program has created an environment for the children to do that.

“The problem with the summer is children aren’t always reading and practicing their skills, and this is a way to make sure that is happening,” Brooks said. “This makes sure they are still using those skills and practicing their reading and their writing.”

Mandy Meagher, Wilson kindergarten teacher, said she is also trying to promote reading and writing practice among her students.

“It takes lots and lots of practice. Reading and writing are both skills you have to learn just like riding a bike or playing the piano,” she said. “The more you use those skills and  practice those skills, the better you become. Just giving these kids that extra opportunity to practice those skills with a little bit of guidance will help them continue (to grow) and help them for first grade.”

Meagher said she thought the smaller groups and individual approach has helped the children in the program grow their skills. She said she wished the district could offer it for every child.

This is the first year for the program, and Brooks said she and the other teachers hope they receive the grant next year.

“This has been really wonderful for the kids,” she said. “The kids love it. They really want to come. We make it engaging for them. Our philosophy is that we want to make it exciting — reading and writing we want to make it exciting for the kids, so it is something they want to do.”

Brooks suggested parents continue to encourage their children to read and write during the summer.

“A blank piece of paper and a pen is enough,” she said. “It doesn’t need to be guided writing—just whatever they feel to get used to it and get comfortable with it. And to find a love of reading. That is something through this program and through the school year we try to get children to do so that they feel like they can go on an adventure and make reading exciting and see it in a positive way.”

Meagher said she agreed.

“The best thing you can do from the time they are a baby to the time they are older is to read to them because hearing those words and the fluency and the vocabulary helps them gain. Hearing those books is very important for their development and for them to be ready for school.

“I told my kindergarten class three things I wanted them to do everyday before they left. I wanted them to read a little bit. I wanted them to write a little bit, and I wanted them to have fun and be safe. If they spend just a little time everyday, it will continue that growth because both of those skills just need continual practice.”

 

 

 

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The ARC of the Central Plains has the rare honor to send two athletes and a coach Sunday to Seattle for the Special Olympics USA Games.

Kacey Dannels and Joseph Reed, both of Hays, will compete in track and field events and Noalee McDonald-Augustine will be the track and field coach for the Kansas team.

Forty-two athletes were selected from Kansas to participate in the Seattle games July 1 to 6. The athletes must complete a lengthy application to be considered to compete. Both Hays athletes also raised money toward their trip costs.

The national summer games are only conducted every four years. The athletes will stay in an “Olympic Village,” watch other athletes compete, watch firework and do limited sightseeing.

Brent Kaiser, ARC programs and activities director, said it was unusual for a community to have two athletes as well as a coach selected for a games.

“These two have been a huge part of our program and all of the different activities that we do,” Kaiser said. “They show up to practice all of the time and, for the most part, on time. They do a good job of being leaders on our team, so it is really cool to be able to see them be able to move on and compete at the next level.”

Dannels, 25, has participated in athletics through the ARC for five years. She will compete next week in the javelin, 100 meters, shot put and 4X100 meter relay.

Reed, 20, has participated in ARC athletics for two years. He is a distance runner and will compete in the 10,000 meters, 5,000 meters, 3,000 meters and 4X100 relay.

Dannels said she enjoyed participating in Special Olympics because she has the opportunity to spend time with her friends and see people with disabilities do what other people get to do.

Reed said, “I like to hang out with friends and help other people too.”

McDonald-Augustine said both Reed and Dannels have been dedicated to track and other sports through ARC.

Dannels also participates in bowling, volleyball, basketball and softball. Reed plays volleyball, basketball, softball and soccer.

Both athletes also participate in the ARC’s 5K club, which is coached by McDonald-Augustine. Dannels was one of the athletes who requested the club be formed.

A group of about 12 athletes plus volunteers run or walk three times a week, training year round. They participated in the Susan G. Komen, Dash for Disabilities, Turkey Trot, Wild West, Eisenhower Prairie Fire and Bill Snyder runs, among others.

“It is not like any other sport where they have a season,” McDonald-Augustine said. “They practice once a week, and then they’re done. They are really committed.”

McDonald-Augustine said she tries to start participants at whatever level they are at, even it is walking, and encourages them to build on their times and distances. Reed has been working in the 5K Club toward participating in a half marathon.

“You can certainly see a difference,” she said. “When we have new members who join the 5K Club or people who are thinking about it, they’ll say, ‘I can’t run that far’ or ‘I can’t walk that far,’ ‘How long is a 5K?’ I will say 3.1 miles. ‘Oh there is no way I can do that.’ We will say, you don’t have to do that today. All you have to do is the workout we give you today. We will build from there. When they compete and actually finish their first 5K, they say, ‘Yeah! I didn’t think I could do it. I finished!'”

Reed and Dannels also each have practice at least one time per week for the sports they are involved in when they are in season.

The sports and 5K Club help promote physical fitness among the athletes, but McDonald-Augustine said Special Olympics is important for the athletes in other ways as well.

“It gives them the opportunity to one—compete against other individuals of similar ability levels,” she said. “It allows them to have social interaction with not just individuals within their own community, but athletes from around the state. They learn competition. They learn hard work, the value of practice. And it is just a good time. They love meeting up with friends from various towns and being able to catch up with them and see what’s happening.”

Both Reed and Dannels also have jobs. Dannels works at McDonald’s and is cross-trained at a variety of work stations. Reed has a small lawn mower business.

McDonald-Augustine has been a Special Olympics coach for 27 years. She coaches every sport the ARC offers and is an ARC board member. This will be her first time coaching at nationals.

McDonald-Augustine, educational consultant for the Smoky Hill Education Service Center, first became involved in coaching Special Olympics when she was attending college at Fort Hays State University. A couple of students in her residence hall who were already volunteers asked her if she would scrimmage with the ARC’s basketball team.

She strongly encouraged others to volunteer to coach Special Olympics. She said you don’t have to play or know how to coach a sport to be a volunteer.

“We’ll train you,” she said. “It is really about being there and being a friend and getting to know the athletes. It is well worth the experience and your time for sure.”

For more information on volunteering for ARC of the Central Plains, click here.