HaysMed receives Get with the Guidelines Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System,  has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with The Guidelines Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

HaysMed earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“HaysMed is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines-Stroke initiative,” said Carol Groen, stroke coordinator. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”

HaysMed additionally received the association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

“We are pleased to recognize HaysMed for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and executive vice chairman of neurology, director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get with The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Hays-area garage sales

Scroll to the bottom for a map of garage sale locations. Hays Post offers FREE garage sale listings weekly. Having a garage sale next weekend? Click HERE to submit your information.

510 Sunflower Dr

Thursday July 18th 3pm to 7pm, Friday 3pm to 8pm, Sat 9Am to 12pm

Harley Items, Longaberger, Sofa Table, Dirt Devil Shampooer, Scrubs, Lots of Brand name clothing XS to Plus size clothing, Halloween and Christmas decorations and lots of Misc.

—————–

401 East 22nd

Friday, July 19, 2019 from 3 – 7 pm

– Beautiful antique chest of drawers (4) with matching head and footboard

– Curio cabinet – New NEVER WORN men’s & women’s clothing

– Oscillating fans

– Various other household items

——————-

3502 Hillcrest

Saturday July 20 8am

Huge sale ~ a lot of stuff need to get rid of … oak futon mattress w oak Fulton chairs …outside furniture …table …collectibles…. fishing .. tools … ele smoker…

—————–

1352 W. Highway 40, Hays, Prairie Acres
Friday, 19th from 9A.M. -7P.M. Saturday, 20th from 9A.M.-12P.M.

new& display items books, electronics, home goods, many kids games, learning items excellent gifts items priced from $1 – $15 books are fun/collective goods items, 2002 Crown Victoria, refurbished furniture Air Conditioned Shed and outside items

—————–

Restructuring at Eagle Communications will result in community investment

Eagle Communications on Friday announced a major structural change designed to ensure growth in the coming years in its ever-expanding broadband footprint — a move that is expected to bring significant investment in the broadband infrastructure across Eagle communities.

During the third quarter, Mega Broadband Investments will acquire the assets of Eagle’s broadband division, which operates in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado. Mega Broadband currently operates Northland Communications, which serves markets in the Northwest, Southeast and several markets across Texas.

Eagle’s operations will merge with those of Northland along with those of additional future acquisitions of Mega Broadband.

As part of the evolution, Eagle will become the Midwest region of Mega Broadband. Eagle employees will remain with the new company, and current Vice President of Broadband Travis Kohlrus will oversee the existing Midwest operations and its expansion.

The move is expected to result in significant investment in Eagle’s existing broadband footprint, and the new company will also be growing its operations in and around Eagle markets.

“I’m excited to lead this next generation of Eagle Broadband. We will be investing $20 million in our communities over the next 36 months to expand our footprint, upgrade our network, extend our fiber and significantly increase our internet speeds,” Kohlrus said. “This evolution will allow Eagle to expand its delivery of high-quality broadband services to meet the needs of businesses, enterprise customers and residential customers for years to come.”

Eagle’s 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri will continue to operate as-is under the leadership of longtime Eagle CEO Gary Shorman.

“Eagle Radio has been broadcasting since 1948, and we look forward to many more years of providing listeners with quality programming and advertisers the most effective marketing solutions,” Shorman said.

Founded in 1948, Eagle Communications Inc. is a Hays-based broadband services and media company with over 280 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, as well as broadband systems in 60 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers e-business solutions, web hosting, telephone service, high-speed internet, wireless internet and video production.

“This truly is a great opportunity for our company that will ensure Eagle continues serving our communities well  into the future. As transition officer, I’ll be working with our employees to see our new structure is implemented seamlessly – which given that we will be operating with the same leadership and the same great employees, it just shouldn’t seem like much of a change at all,” said Eagle COO Kurt David.

Officials from both the broadband and radio divisions of the company called the change, which is expected to be finalized in the third quarter, “the next step in the evolution of Eagle.”

Eagle Communications, Inc. is a Kansas-based Broadband Services and Media Company with over 280 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri as well as broadband systems in 60 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers e-business solutions, web hosting, telephone service, high-speed internet, and wireless internet in most service areas. For more information, visit www.eaglecom.net.

Eagle Communications is the parent company of Hays Post.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, has issued a public health warning for the Colby City Pond (Villa High Lake) in Thomas County, in addition to other advisories issued July 18.

Other Warnings Still In Effect:

Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (unchanged)
Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County (unchanged)
Marion County Lake, Marion County (unchanged)
Gathering Pond near Milford (Hatchery Supply Pond), Geary County (unchanged)
Hiawatha City Lake, Brown County (unchanged)
Lovewell Reservoir, Jewell County (unchanged)
South Lake, Johnson County (new 7/18)

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
• Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
• Water contact should be avoided.
• Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
• Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
• If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation. 

Watches Still In Effect:

Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County (unchanged)
Marion Reservoir, Marion County (unchanged)
Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Norton County (unchanged)
Rock Garden Pond (Gage Park), Shawnee County (unchanged)

A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop.  People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.

During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Signage will be posted at all public access locations
• Water may be unsafe for humans/animals
• Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
• Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms
• Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.
• Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.

KDHE samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.

Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visitwww.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly appointed Earl Lewis as Director of the Kansas Water Office.

“Earl has proven to be a skilled and knowledgeable leader when it comes to water conservation and other important issues related to this precious resource,” Kelly said.

Lewis joined the Kansas Water Office in 1999 working first with reservoir operations and analysis before serving as the agency’s chief technical staff and overseeing agency operations. Before joining the Kansas Water Office, he worked for seven years in the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources working on water use, water right compliance, water conservation, and interstate litigation.

“I’m honored the Governor has selected me for this position and am excited to join the Kelly administration,” Lewis said. “I look forward to working with the Governor and stakeholders across Kansas to improve our water resources.”

Lewis is a lifelong Kansan and was raised on a farm in Osage County. His family raised row crops, cattle, and ran a custom hay business. He attended both Emporia State University and the University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1992. He also holds a professional engineering license in Kansas.

Lewis’ appointment is pending confirmation by the Senate.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in June. This was down from 3.5 percent in May and up from 3.3 percent in June 2018.

“June estimates show a 0.9 percent decline in state government jobs over the year,” said Secretary Delía García. “The main components of state government jobs are state hospitals, state universities and state agencies.”

The jobless rate in Ellis County was unchanged at 2.4 percent, while the unemployment rate in Rooks County fell from 4.8 percent in May to 4.5 percent. The Rooks County economy has taken two big blows recently with the bankruptcies at Dessin-Fournir and Plainville Livestock Commission.

Logan, Gove, Scott and Hamilton counties all posted unemployment rates of 1.9 percent, and Rush (3 percent) and Decatur (3.1 percent) were the only northwest Kansas counties with jobless rates at or above 3 percent.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs decreased by 900 from May. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 600 from the previous month.

Since June 2018, Kansas gained 11,000 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 10,000 private sector jobs.

“The unemployment rate in Kansas fell to 3.4 percent in June as the result of a significant decline in the number of unemployed people in the state,” said Labor Economist, Emilie Doerksen. “This also reverses the slight upward trend over recent months and extends the current period of low unemployment.”

KDADS

LARNED – Larned State Hospital (LSH) will host “Frontiers in Mental Health,” its 16th annual mental health conference August 5-8, 2019, in the State Theatre, 617 Broadway, Larned, KS, Superintendent Lesia Dipman announced. The conference will kick off August 5 with a 5K run at 5:30 p.m. on the LSH campus. Medals will be awarded to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place finishers in five age divisions.

“This annual conference has become one of the premier behavioral health events in Kansas. We conduct this conference annually to aid the professional development of those working in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, nursing, social work and corrections, but it is open to anyone with an interest in mental health,” Superintendent Dipman said.

Rich in history, LSH is the largest psychiatric facility in the state serving the western two-thirds of Kansas with more than 990 staff and the capacity to treat more than 450 patients. The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) is responsible for administrative oversight of the hospital.

“Larned State Hospital has again put together an exceptional lineup of speakers and important topics to enrich the knowledge and treatment skills of attendees and help them better care for the people we serve,” KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said.

For more information and to enroll in the conference, visit: https://kdads.ks.gov/Frontiers-Mental-Health-Conference or contact LSH development staff at 620-285-4566.

Presentations at the conference include:

• “Critical Incident Stress Management”
• “Distinguishing Between Self and Professionalism”
• “Ethics: You are Fine, How am I?”
• “Palliative Care: Core Principles and Practical Applications”

Featured speakers at the 2019 conference will be:

• Dr. David Barnum, Ph.D.
  Dr. Barnum, Diplomate of the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists, completed his doctoral training in clinical psychology with a specialization in health psychology at The University of Kansas. After his internship at Temple University Health Sciences, he began a 20-year career in community mental health, with particular emphasis in establishing and expanding clinical training programs as a means for developing professional staff in rural and under-served areas.Currently, he is the Clinical Director and Director of Clinical Training at Larned State Hospital as well as a co-owner of The Family Therapy Institute Midwest. He has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kansas and Benedictine College. Dr. Barnum has been an ambassador for the National Health Service Corps, is a past-president of the Kansas Psychological Association and served on the Continuing Education Committee of the American Psychological Association. He is a frequent presenter at local, national and international conferences on topics including diagnosis, ethics, risk management, clinical training and supervision, family psychology, autism spectrum disorders, treating family injustice, elements of effective psychological treatment and Ericksonian approaches to treatment, among others. He has published work in the treatment of children affected by abuse and foster care health psychology. He is currently co-chair of the Hospital Ethics Committee at Larned State Hospital. 

• Teresa Strausz
  Teresa Strausz is passionate about the human experience in organizations and learning. She has been supporting staff, students and adult learners throughout her career by providing education, supervision, training and dynamic learning opportunities in a variety of formats. Teresa earned a Master’s degree in Social Work in 1996 from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Organization Development in 2012 from Friends University. Teresa serves as a founding member of the Trauma-Informed Systems of Care team, social work field instructor, leadership coach, facilitator and consultant. 

• 

  Leo Herrman, Ph.D.
  Dr. Leo Herrman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from FHSU. He completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Developmental and Child Psychology at the University of Kansas. He currently is the Associate Professor/Director of Psychological Screening Clinic at FHSU.

  He has an extensive background in administration and clinical supervision having served as Administrative Program Director for Kansas’ Violent Sexual Predator Treatment Program, Superintendent of Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility, Program Director and Acting Superintendent of the Youth Center at Topeka as well a chief psychologist there. His clinical experience includes work as a psychologist sex offender treatment programs, youth centers, substance abuse treatment programs and mental health centers.He is a licensed clinical psychotherapist and a certified substance abuse counselor. His teaching experience includes Fort Hays State University and the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authorities’ Training Academy.

  Dr. Herrman has written many articles and is known for his scholarly presentations to professional organizations. His research interest lies in the area of forensic psychology and suicide prevention programming, particularly in youth.

• 

  Brooke Mann, M.S.
  Brooke Mann is a lecturer and the Director of the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). She earned her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Clinical Psychology from FHSU and is finishing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University – Commerce.

  Her experiences include psychotherapy in in-patient and out-patient facilities, psychometric assessment, coordinating graduate clinical practice, supervising graduate students, and community outreach.

  Her current research interests are in reducing stigma of mental illness, and diagnosis assessment of ADHD. 

• Karin Porter-Williamson, M.D.
  Dr. Porter-Williamson is an Associate Professor and Division Director of Palliative Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is also the Medical Director for Palliative Care Services at the University of Kansas Health System and is the Medical Director for the KS-MO TPOPP Coalition. Dr. Porter-Williamson grew up in Topeka, Kan., attended Washburn Rural High School, then KU for her undergraduate degree in Biology, French and Psychology. She completed medical school and an internal medicine residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2002, and then completed fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative medicine in 2003 at San Diego Hospice. After training she returned to the University of Kansas and has been on faculty there for the past 16 years.Dr. Porter-Williamson’s academic interests include building systems for patient-centered, goal concordant plans of care, to improve the value of medical care for patients and families facing serious illness, and to integrate the principles of palliative medicine as the standard of care for all seriously ill patients and families. Dr. Porter-Williamson’s educational focus is on the training of medical professionals and inter-professional teams across the continuum of care to understand these principles and integrate them into their practice, with specific attention to communication skills necessary for goals of care discussions and serious illness care planning.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners are proud of the Hays Fire Department.

Commissioner Eber Phelps Thursday night suggested a letter of commendation and thanks should be sent from the commission to the city fire department for their recent assistance to the Plainville Fire Department.

HFD took on fire coverage in Plainville to allow its firefighters to attend the funerals of two retired PFD chiefs.

“I thought it was great that we had our firefighters and a truck over there to stand guard on the city of Plainville while they paid tribute to fire chiefs,” Phelps said.

The commission noted the Hays Fire Department has performed such coverage assistance in other towns.

Below is the Hays Fire Department’s Facebook post about its assistance in Plainville.

“It’s a task no department ever wants to take on, but it is an honor to help out our brothers and sisters in Rooks county as the Plainville Fire Department lays to rest two retired chief officers. Your Hays firefighters sent an Engine and 3 firefighters to cover calls for the City of Plainville during the funerals of Retired Chief Keith Mongeau and Retired Assistant Chief Bob Wise. Covering for the Plainville Fire Department allowed their firefighters to attend the funerals without worry of being interrupted by calls.The Hays Fire Department sends our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Chief Mongeau and Asst. Chief Wise.”

The Ellis County Sherriff’s office was warning of a phone scam from someone claiming to be from their department Friday afternoon.

“The scammer scares the call recipient into believing they’ve missed a court appearance and needs to send them money for bond,” the announcement said.

The department said anyone receiving similar calls should hang up and can check with the department at 785-625-1040 to see if they have outstanding warrants.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism , has issued public health advisories for Kansas lakes.

Warnings:

Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (unchanged)

Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County (unchanged)

Marion County Lake, Marion County (unchanged)

Gathering Pond near Milford (Hatchery Supply Pond), Geary County (unchanged)

Hiawatha City Lake, Brown County (unchanged)

Lovewell Reservoir, Jewell County (unchanged)

South Lake, Johnson County (new 7/18)

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
• Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
• Water contact should be avoided.
• Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
• Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
• If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation. 

Watches:

Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County (unchanged)

Marion Reservoir, Marion County (unchanged)

Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Norton County (unchanged)

Rock Garden Pond (Gage Park), Shawnee County (unchanged)

A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop.  People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.

During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Signage will be posted at all public access locations
• Water may be unsafe for humans/animals
• Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
• Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms
• Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.
• Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.

KDHE samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.

Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.

— KDHE