Provider story

Community HealthCare System is pleased to announce that Dr. Ben Harstine will join its medical staff this fall.

Dr. Harstine earned his bachelor of science in Public Health Nutrition from Kansas State University and attended medical school at the University of Kansas Medical Center.  He completed his family medicine residency and family medicine obstetrics fellowship at Waco Family Medicine in Waco, Texas.  He recently received both his family medicine and family medicine obstetrics...

Community HealthCare System is pleased to announce that Dr. Collin Connor will join its medical staff in September.

Dr. Connor graduated from Emporia State University (ESU) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry.  He attended medical school at the University of Kansas Medical Center.  He completed his family medicine residency at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas.

Dr. Connor did not always know he wanted to be a physician. It wasn’t until after...

Community HealthCare System offers an array of specialty clinics in Onaga, Holton, and St. Marys locations to better serve patients in rural northeast Kansas. Partnerships with specialty physicians and providers help patients receive needed care without having to travel long distances to Topeka or Kansas City. Specialty Clinic offerings currently include the following:

A migraine is a headache that can cause severe pain and be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, an extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Individuals who suffer from migraines can be affected for hours to days at a time and can experience interruptions in daily activities. Medications are available to prevent migraines or make them less painful. Botox injections are one option that Community HealthCare System can offer to patients who meet certain criteria.

Dr. Kendra Reith recently took...

Starting in late summer, patients will be able to see an oncologist at Community HealthCare System in Onaga. Dr. Adrian Caracioni from The University of Kansas Cancer Center at St. Francis Campus will see patients one day a month in Onaga starting in early September.

Dr. Caracioni (pronounced ka-ROCH-e-oh-nee) has practiced for more than 25 years and treats patients with blood disorders such as anemia or hemophilia as well as blood cancers and other cancers in patients age 16 and over.

Merica...

by Dr. Kendra Reith

Summer is here, and families are hitting the road for vacations and enjoying time outdoors. Taking a moment to review a few best practices and tips can help you keep your youngest family members safe this summer.

Heading out on a road trip? Take a close look at your child’s car seat. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to U.S. children, and when correctly used, child...

By Dr. Nancy Zidek

A recent study about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, has made news headlines. The study was published in the journal eBioMedicine and stated that the biochemical marker for the cause for SIDS was discovered. This is exciting news, but the big headline is not completely accurate. The study was based in Australia. The group analyzed blood samples taken at birth from 600 newborns. The researchers then found that babies who died from SIDS had a lower level...

Community HealthCare System is pleased to welcome Dr. Kendra Reith to its medical staff. She will begin seeing patients in January 2022.

Dr. Reith (pronounced “right”) graduated from Kansas State University and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She finished her residency at Smoky Hill Family Medicine in Salina earlier this year. At Smoky Hill, Dr. Reith gained extensive hands-on experience in family practice along with obstetrical care, or OB,...

CHCS provides a number of specialty clinics each month in our Onaga, Holton, and St. Marys locations. Dr. Kenneth Hobbs, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, or DPM, is our specialty clinic provider of the month.

Podiatry is the medical and surgical treatment for foot disorders. Dr. Hobbs said his interest in podiatry stems from his college days when he was an avid jogger. “I get great satisfaction when I can help my patients maintain their mobility,” he said.

Some...

They care for clinic patients, they help cover weekends and nights at the hospital and emergency room, and they keep up with the latest developments in patient care and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now three Community HealthCare System physicians add County Medical Director to their list of responsibilities.

Dr. Nick Cahoj, Dr. Nancy Zidek, and Dr. David Allen are all serving in the capacity of Medical Director for Pottawatomie, Marshall, and Jackson Counties, respectively. The position entails...