Specialty Clinic Provider of the Month: Dr. Dagoberto Heredia
April 28, 2021
Categories: Provider story
CHCS provides a number of specialty clinics each month in our Onaga, Holton, and St. Marys locations. Dr. Dagoberto Heredia, psychiatrist, is our May Specialty Clinic Provider of the Month. Dr. Heredia provides general adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry in our Holton location.
Dr. Heredia diagnoses mental health issues and provides medication and management of conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, ADHD, OCD, ODD, panic disorders, schizophrenia,...
FAQ: Changes to services in St. Marys
April 28, 2021
Categories: News
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about our recently announced changes to services in St. Marys. We will add to the list as necessary.
Why did Community HealthCare System make the decision to close emergency services and acute beds in St. Marys?
Utilization of hospital and emergency services in St. Marys has declined for several years running. Low utilization has made it difficult to recruit staff, which has meant CHCS...
Community HealthCare System to adjust services in St. Marys
April 27, 2021
Categories: News
Community HealthCare System will adjust available services in St. Marys effective June 4, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. Changes will include the closure of emergency department and inpatient hospital beds in St. Marys. The St. Marys Clinic will remain open, and other services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy; X-ray; laboratory; and home health will remain available.
The Community HealthCare System, or CHCS, Board of Directors voted to close the St. Marys emergency department and...
CHCS offers Youth Mental Health First Aid
April 21, 2021
Categories: News
One in five teens and young adults live with a mental health condition, and more than 64% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use problems can be difficult to detect. Friends and family members often don’t know when or how to help. As a result, youth in need of mental health services often do not get them until it is too late.
Community HealthCare System, or CHCS, is offering...
Peggy Buessing announces retirement
April 15, 2021
Categories: News
Peggy Buessing, LPN and lead nurse at the Centralia Clinic, has announced that she will retire on June 30.
Buessing has worked for Community HealthCare System for 30 years. After joining CHCS in 1991, she worked part-time at the Centralia Clinic while filling in at other clinics when needed, plus she cared for patients at Onaga Hospital one weekend a month. As the Centralia Clinic grew, Buessing transitioned to working full-time there.
“One of the nice...
Pat Flentie announces retirement
April 15, 2021
Categories: News
Pat Flentie, LPN and lead nurse at the Onaga Clinic, has announced that she will retire effective June 30. Flentie has worked at Community HealthCare System for more than 45 years. When she started working at Onaga Hospital on July 1, 1974, she knew instantly it was where she wanted to be.
Flentie looks back on many changes during her tenure at CHCS. When she first started, nurses worked 8-hour shifts 5 days a week and every other weekend and were paid once a month....
Catch up on mental healthcare
April 9, 2021
Categories: Catch Up On Care
The pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of many people. In addition to catching up on your physical healthcare, now is time to catch up on your mental healthcare, too.
Suicide affects not only an individual or a single family, but entire communities. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, one Kansan dies by suicide every 16 hours. Rural areas have consistently demonstrated higher rates of suicide than urban counterparts. In 2018, suicide...
Tracy Ahlquist joins Community HealthCare System Board of Directors
April 7, 2021
Categories: News
Community HealthCare System is pleased to announce that Tracy Ahlquist of rural Onaga has joined its Board of Directors.
Ahlquist retired from Jeffrey Energy Center in 2018 after a 37-year career in maintenance and control of plant electrical equipment. He recently returned to the plant as a temporary contract employee for a special project.
Ahlquist brings diverse skills and a commitment to community service to the board.
“I spent the first...
Laurie Horgan loves 'giving ability' through adaptive waterskiing
April 6, 2021
Categories: General
Laurie Horgan started working in Onaga Dietary in August 2020. Her mother, Donna Bates, lives at Redbud Plaza Assisted Living. She is also an avid water skier and a volunteer with Warriors Adaptive Watersports. Laurie recently took time to answer some questions.
What is the adaptive ski program, and where is it located?
Warriors Adaptive Watersports, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides recreational watersports events for persons with physical...
