Hays Medical Center Announces Recent Changes 
October 27, 2008 -- Hays Medical Center honored local contributors today with the official naming of the Bickle/Eagle Health Complex. Don and Chris Bickle and Bob and Pat Schmidt, were on hand for the unveiling of the new building name, recognizing their generous contributions to HMC. Both families are well known in Kansas for their philanthropic endeavors.
"HMC is committed to offering quality healthcare and services to the people of our region. But, this would not be possible without the commitment of friends and strong supporter to Hays Medical Center," said John Jeter, President and CEO.
The Bickle/Eagle Health Complex houses the Center for Health Improvement, Outpatient and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Southwind Surgical and the Hays Orthopedic Institute. The building was opened in March of 2002.
In addition to the building naming, Dr. Jeter introduced the newest surgeon at Hays Medical Center, Dr. Kirk Potter. Dr. Potter, a western Kansas native, specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He completed medical school at the University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City.
"We continually work to bring in exceptional physicians to care for the people we serve," commented Jeter, "And we are very pleased to welcome Dr. Potter to our medical staff."
A special ribbon cutting was also held at Southwind Surgical recognizing a recent remodeling project. The renovation combined several spaces into an expanded clinic with an open format and more efficient workflow. There are now 6 exam rooms, 2 procedures rooms, a centralized nurse station and waiting room and offices.
Ellis County, Kansas Ranked #2 Best Place to Live in Rural America
Hays Medical Center is located in Ellis County Kansas. The Progressive Farmer magazine has ranked Ellis County as #2 on their list of "Best Places to Live in Rural America." Click here to learn more.
The Progressive Farmer also ranked Ellis County as #8 on their list of Best Access to Health Care in Rural America. Click here to learn more.
Sunflower Bank Creates The Sunflower Bank Endowment of Hope
Sunflower Bank and Hays Medical Center announce the creation of the Sunflower Bank Endowment of Hope, a permanent endowed fund providing much-needed funding for indigent care.
Sunflower Bank's gift to the Hays Medical Center Foundation totals $25,000, and the creation of the endowed fund provides an enduring legacy and consistent revenue to support Hays Medical Center departments, programs, and future endeavors.
"We are pleased to work with such an important organization to bolster health care in the Hays, Ellis County, and Western Kansas communities," said Sandy Jacobs, Executive Vice President of Sunflower Bank. "We pride ourselves on leadership in community development initiatives, and our support of quality health care. It's in that spirit we eagerly work with the HMC to establish this fund."
As with any endowed fund, the principal gift is never accessed, remaining in perpetuity with earnings providing consistent revenue streams for necessary HMC departments and programs, consistent with the purpose specified by the donor.
"This generous gift for an endowed fund will help provide financial stability for indigent care," stated Dr. John Jeter, president and CEO of Hays Medical Center. "We appreciate Sunflower Bank's commitment to quality healthcare for everyone."
The Hays Medical Center Foundation will administer the Endowment of Hope, with earnings earmarked for indigent care. Future contributions to the Sunflower Bank Endowment of Hope are added to the fund's principal balance.
The Hays Medical Center Foundation will administer the Endowment of Hope, with earnings earmarked for indigent care. Future contributions to the Sunflower Bank Endowment of Hope are added to the fund?s principal balance.
Sunflower Bank was founded in 1892 and is owned by the Hale family, with 34 locations throughout Kansas and Colorado.
A full-service financial provider, Sunflower Bank features personal banking solutions, mortgage loans, commercial and corporate services, and trust and wealth management services.
Sunflower Bank now counts more than $1.4 billion in assets. Its home office is located in Salina, Kansas, with other offices located in Colby, Dodge City, Ellinwood, Great Bend, Hays, Junction City, Lawrence, Liberal, Manhattan, McPherson, Osborne, Russell, Topeka, Victoria and Wichita, Kansas, and Cañon City, Monte Vista, Pueblo, Salida and South Fork, Colorado.
The Hays Medical Center Foundation formed in 1995 and is a charitable, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support the Hays Medical Center. The Foundation, in partnership with donors, seeks to meet both immediate and long- range health care needs. A 17-member volunteer board guides the efforts of the Foundation.
The Hays Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital formed by the 1991 merger of two religiously-affiliated facilities, and becoming the only major level service in the region.
HMC Launches RN Residency Program
Thanks to a donor's generosity, Hays Medical Center will launch a nurse residency program that will provide extensive trainng to newly hired nurses and recent graduates.
A $50,000 gift from Lillian Schumahcer, Victoria, assisted the Medical Center in purchasing the program.
"This gift is really an investment in Hays Medical Center that will help attract nurses to our area and benefit everyone in northwest Kansas," stated Schumacher.
"We're starting the RN residency program to help the new graduate registered nurse transition from the academic environment to become leaders at the bedside," said Bevra Brinkman, clinical nurse specialist.
The first class will begin in February for four newly recruited future graduates, and the hospital is hoping to add more, she said.
The training, which will last about 20 weeks, will focus on guided clinical experience, instructor-led core curriculum, a mentoring program, structured debriefing sessions and program evaluations. Residents do not hold primary responsibility for direct patient care; instead, they work under close supervision of an RN.
Approximately 20 percent of the nurses' time will be spent training with professional in various departments, including respiratory and cardiac care, pharmacy and radiology, Brinkman said.
RN residency programs are a growing trend in the medical field, and recent graduates seek such training experiences.
"New graduates are looking for these program," Brinkman said. "Historically, for the program, they're seeing an increase of individuals wanting to come to your organization to be a part of that program. So we're hoping that will have an incentive as well."
Curriculum for the HMC program will be provided by Versant, an evidence-based RN Residency program based in Los Angels. HMC is the first hospital in Kansas to use this program, said Chief Nursing Officer Terry Siek.
"It's part of our strategy to increase nurse recruitment and retention," Siek said. "If they have a better beginning experience, research proves that will lead them to want to stay."
Area Benefactor Contributes Gift
To HMC Foundation Campaign
Lillian Schumacher of Victoria has given a gift of $50,000 to the Hays Medical Center Foundation for its fund raising campaign. The campaign is for a new Image Guided Radiation Therapy system (IGRT) for the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Center at Hays Medical Center.
Schumacher said, “I am happy to be able to contribute to the Hays Medical Center Foundation and help bring this new cancer-treatment technology to Hays.
When asked why she gave the gift, Schumacher said, “My family has a long history of being closely associated with Hays hospitals. My father and mother, Leo and Albina Dreiling, donated the ground where Hays Medical Center is located today.
“Their charitable foundation made a major contribution to help build the wonderful cancer center we have at the hospital today. My fervent hope is that many of us in this area will continue to support Hays Medical Center Northwest Kansas, so that it can provide the best possible medical care for all of us in the future."
Ron Wente, President of the HMC Foundation said, “We thank Lillian very much for her wonderful gift to our campaign. She is a beautiful person with a heart of gold."
“Our fund drive goal is $2 million and our objective is a new radiation beam cancer treatment system or as we call it, IGRT. This system is the latest available on the market and what it really does is zero in on cancerous tumors with less damage to surrounding tissue. In truth what it also does is save more lives of patients afflicted with one of the many kinds of that ugly disease called cancer.”
Senior Activity Center Dedicated
Senior citizens can now gather and enjoy the out-of-doors in a place of their own.Dedication of the senior activity area, east of the Center for Health Improvement, took place on May 30.
After exploring improvements and enhancements to the established fitness trail east of the hospital, the Hays Medical Center Volunteers determined the senior activity area should also be included. The HMC Volunteers proposed to the HMC Foundation that the two organizations match funds to further develop the senior activity area.“We thought the combined project was a great idea,” stated Jo Murphy, director of Volunteer Services, “and it was an opportunity to partner with the Foundation for the benefit not only of Hays Medical Center, but for the community.”
The senior activity area includes a gazebo, horseshoe pits and permanent picnic tables for cards and games. Croquet equipment is also available.
Digital Mamography Arrives at HMC
Thanks to a generous grant from the Hadley Foundation, Hays Medical Center is now using digital mammography, the newest technology for breast cancer detection. Digital mammography features allow the radiologist to evaluate micro calcifications and focus on areas of concern. It will also shorten exam time, minimize patient call backs, and reduce the amount of radiation per exam. To supplement this technology HMC has incorporated digital Computer-Aided Detection (CAD), the first of its kind in Hays. Digital CAD highlights characteristics commonly associated with breast cancer and when activated, flags abnormalities to help the radiologist detect early breast cancer. Statistics have proven that radiologists who use CAD can detect 20% more breast cancers than those without CAD. With the donation of this new equipment, HMC’s mammography program will be in the top 12 percent of technological advancement in the United States.
