Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital (SBAMH) is pleased to share that the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) announced their first of four nominations for the 2021 Heath Care Worker of the Year Award. The first being SBAMH’s Chief Nursing Officer, Cecilia Goebel, who has served in many leadership roles for the past 42 years.

“This is truly a well-deserved honor for Cecilia. She is someone who has exemplified transformational leadership and loyalty for decades at SBA. We are very fortunate to have her patient-focused vision and expertise in our hospital,” said Leonard Hernandez, President & CEO, Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital.

Cecilia started at SBAMH in 1979 as a staff RN and has remained strong and resilient through the years. She has moved through the ranks and has been our Chief Nursing Officer since 2005. She has overseen many projects, transitions and board initiatives. Most recently, was her diligent efforts through the COVID-19 pandemic as she led our leadership and patient care teams through uncharted waters with true calmness, quick action and strength.

To read the announcement visit:
https://www.kha-net.org/Communications/CurrentReportArticles/Health-Care-Worker-of-the-Year-Nominee-Has-Four-Decades-of-Professionalism-and-Leadership_161701.aspx

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital (SBAMH) is pleased to announce two achievements for our Birth Care Center. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has designated SBAMH as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care. SBAMH is proud to be one of only 18 contracting hospitals designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Specialty Care through a program that identifies hospitals providing quality and affordable care. Click here to read more

SBA employees wore RED on Friday to support two big things this weekend....the American Heart Association’s #WearRedDay as well as the Kansas City CHIEFS playing in the Super Bowl! We love our staff

Knox Buckley earned the recognition of being the first baby born at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in 2021. Knox was born to Lacie Hutson and Nick Buckley of El Dorado at 2:21 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7. He weighed 8 pounds 2.7 ounces and measured 19 ¼ inches long.

They didn’t expect to have the first baby at SBA, but were excited about it.

“He’s been a really good baby,” Lacie said. “It was an easy birth and he came quickly.”

“I was just super excited,” Nick said as he held his new son.

“He’s so tiny,” Lacie added. “I thought he would be bigger.”

Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital volunteers came out of their COVID-19 hibernation to be celebrated as Very Incredible People (VIP’s) on Sept. 10.  Guests and hosts sported masks until they snacked on cake and beverages in the HEC.  Holly Landon, SBAMH Executive Director of Foundation, Community Relations and Guest Services, began the program by thanking the SBA Senior Leadership Team and all SBA employees who helped with the event.  She then thanked the volunteers for their efforts during this eventful year.  She introduced Interim CEO Jeff Egbert, who addressed the volunteers one last time before he moves on in October. 

SBAMH Auxiliary President Linda Stanford took a few minutes to highlight some achievements of the past year.  The Auxilians and Volunteers gave 23,320 hours of service this last year.  Our productive and thriving auxiliary is 131 members strong.  There are 87 in-house volunteers who serve with heart and play a part in the day-to-day operation of the hospital. Click here to read more.

Jessica Norris was announced as SBA’s latest Employee of the Quarter, recognizing her dedication and hard work over the last 14 years.

Jessica received multiple nominations for Employee of the Quarter.

One nomination said, “Jessica has gone out of her way to help the Home Health Department during our very trying times with limited staff, looking for ways to help the RNs to get a day off by rearranging schedules or asking surgery if we could have one RN for a day to take our place to give us one day of peace of mind. Jessica has helped to boost all staff in the department by bringing back celebrating birthdays. She makes sure everyone in our office is remembered and made to feel special. This has gotten our office so very much closer. Click here to read more. 

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary announced its 2020 Fall Scholarship recipients.  
Ciarra Thomas will graduate from Butler Community College with an Associate Degree in Nursing this fall. 
Raegen Davis and Angela Walter are also working toward Nursing Degrees at Butler Community College. 

Click here to read more.

For Linda Weaver, the care she received at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging made all the difference in the outcome of her treatment for cancer.

Linda had gone in for her mammogram, when she was called back for a sonogram.

“Dr. (Paul) Hutsey said there had been changes and he wanted to look at it now,” she explained.

That led to another mammogram and a needle biopsy.

“Sharon (Stewart) and Tina (Englett) in mammography are top notch,” Linda said. “They are compassionate and very professional. They were with me every step of the way being encouraging and telling me what was coming next.”

Because of the concern and quick testing, while Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer, all she had to have was a lumpectomy. Click here to read more. 

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is excited to announce Leonard Hernandez as its new President and CEO. Leonard brings over 27 years of CEO and executive healthcare experience -- all in rural Kansas.

For the last 5 years, Leonard has been the CEO of Coffey Health System (CHS) in Burlington, Kansas. Under his leadership, CHS accomplished a $4 million turnaround over the past four years. Coffey Health System is an 89-bed health system (25-bed critical access hospital, 28-bed assisted living facility, 36 bed nursing home facility), 5 rural health clinics in the county, separate physical therapy rehabilitation and wellness facility, home health agency, county-wide medical emergency services, and approximately 300 employees with a $42 million budget. Under Leonard’s leadership, the hospital has amassed numerous awards and distinctions, including five-star ratings for both CHS and its long-term care unit, Sunset Manor. Sunset Manor is currently ranked #1 of 331 nursing homes in Kansas. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is among 115 hospitals statewide being recognized for its exemplary achievements to improve patient safety.

The Kansas Healthcare Collaboration (KHC) recognized Kansas hospitals recently at the conclusion of the AHA/HRET Network – a major patient safety initiative spearheaded by the American Hospital Association/Health Research and Educational Trust and coordinated in Kansas by KHC.

SBA received “Highest Achievement 2016-2020” recognition for working toward AHA/HRET Network goals set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and preventable readmissions.

“Highest Achievement” is earned by hospitals that have achieved goals for both data submission and measure performance milestones, as well as one or more operational milestones of health equity organizational assessment and/or patient and family engagement. Click here to read more. 

The Joint Commission will begin resuming regular surveys and reviews in June.
The Joint Commission is committed to working closely with organizations, with safety being the first and foremost priority. As we start to resume surveys and reviews, account executives will begin to contact organizations due for a survey to assess the impact that the coronavirus pandemic had on their operations and their current state.
The Joint Commission is reviewing a variety of factors and criteria for determining where and which organizations will be surveyed, including identifying and then prioritizing low-risk areas in which we can go in safely to survey. Click here to read more.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways. It affects the muscle and leads to decreased airflow. According to the CDC, 1 in 13 people have asthma. That equates to more than 25 million people affected (7.7% of adults, 8.4% of children).

Common asthma symptoms include cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Triggers include upper respiratory infections/colds, allergies, environmental exposures (pollution, tobacco smoke, odors) and activity. These triggers cause an increase in mucous production or irritation of the muscle and cause narrowing of the airway. Subsequent difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath occurs. A clear pattern of symptoms must be established before this diagnosis is made. Discussion and evaluation with a doctor or asthma specialist is recommended. Although there is no diagnostic testing for asthma, there are breathing tests that can be performed to evaluate airflow in the lungs. Known as Spirometry or Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), they are done in a doctor’s office or hospital. Click here to read more. 

The Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital recently welcomed two new board members. The Board approved the addition of Michael Rausch, M.D., F.A.A.F.P., and Henry Richard Kuhns, M.D., during their May meeting.

"I grew up in Douglass, a small town without a doctor,” Dr. Rausch said. “Therefore, I grew up with an appreciation for access to medical care. When Dr. Varner urged me to apply for the Board of Trustees, we both felt that my ties to both Douglass and Augusta would be a benefit to the board."

He also hopes to provide communication between the physicians' and community's interests. "Over the last 25 years I’ve held several positions throughout the community that I believe will make me a valuable liaison between the board and the community's interests.” Click here to read more. 

In early April, Butler Community College participated in the call for personal protective equipment donations by the healthcare industry. Personal protective equipment has been in short supply for health care workers across the country since the public health crisis began.

While Butler’s nursing program certainly had such supplies like masks, gowns and gloves, Butler’s contribution was a campus-wide effort. The auto collision repair program, the college’s student health care clinic, as well as the biology, fire science, EMT and allied health programs all donated supplies to three area hospitals to help keep health care workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Beth Eagleton, Butler associate dean of nursing and allied health, Butler collected about $5,320 worth of supplies for area healthcare facilities at the suggestion of professional nursing associations. Click here for more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital and Kansas-based FreeState Healthcare are pleased to announce a partnership that will demonstrate new solutions for healthcare delivery, allowing the hospital to sustain critical services while expanding access to care. 

Through this partnership, FreeState Healthcare will provide coverage of Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department and inpatient care units, utilizing their cutting-edge and comprehensive approach combining experienced advanced practice providers on-site with the virtual, real-time collaboration of emergency medicine, internal medicine and pediatric physicians. Under this new model, Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital will be able to offer more inpatient care services than ever before through a virtual medical staff via telemedicine, including pediatric care, expanded ICU care and subspecialty services like Cardiology, Neurology, Infectious Disease, Psychiatry, Nephrology and others. Click here to read more.

The leadership team at the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital have been monitoring and preparing for the situation involving the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) that is rapidly moving across our country. We have been meeting multiple times daily and planning in conjunction with the Butler County Health Department, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Hospital Association and the CDC to review current up to date information and recommendations. Our team is following the CDC’s Hospital Preparedness Assessment Tool. This checklist highlights important areas SBAMH is reviewing in preparation for arrivals of COVID-19 patients.

The safety of our patients, staff, volunteers and providers is of utmost importance to us. As of 3/19/2020, SBAMH has made the decision to implement visitor and entrance restrictions at the hospital. The only entrance open to the hospital will be through our Emergency Department at the front of the building. Entrances to the Cancer Center, and the east doors to our clinics will remain open.

Visitor restrictions include -- 1 visitor per patient, No visitors under 18 years of age, No visitors with fever or cough and visiting hours are strictly from 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM. ALL patients and visitors will be screened upon entry at the Emergency Department.

Out of abundance of caution and anticipation of the expected influx of patients over the coming weeks, we also made the decision to send all of our very special volunteers home and to close our SBA Gift Shop. Because many of our volunteers are in “at risk” groups as defined by the CDC it is for their safety that we are instituting this change. 

We ask that each of you take your own precautions and follow CDC’s website guidance on How to Protect Yourself. If you are experiencing any of the signs of COVID-19, we ask that you please CALL your healthcare provider first, then we can proceed with the appropriate healthcare plan for you. It’s imperative that you don’t just arrive at the hospital with symptoms. 

As this situation is very fluid, we are continually evaluating the new updates and guidelines as we plan and adapt our approach to this issue. We will continue to ensure our mission of providing compassionate, professional healthcare to the people we serve remains our top focus, as well as ensuring the safety of our patients, physicians and colleagues.

TO:          El Dorado and Surrounding Communities   

FROM:     Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital

DATE:     March 11, 2020

RE:          Covid-19

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital has been monitoring and preparing for the situation involving the new coronavirus (COVID-19). Our staff have been meeting regularly and in conjunction with the Butler County Health Department, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the CDC to review current information and recommendations. If you are experiencing any signs of mild to severe respiratory illness, including fever, cough and shortness of breath, please CALL your healthcare provider to discuss recommendations BEFORE traveling to a health care facility or doctor’s office. Calling your healthcare provider FIRST ensures that appropriate protective equipment (such as masks) can be used upon your arrival for your safety and the safety of the public and healthcare workers. If there is a symptomatic patient at SBAMH, the guidance of the CDC will be followed. SBA staff are trained, equipped and capable of caring for patients with infectious diseases such as COVID19.

Should you have any questions, please contact your healthcare provider, or Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital at 316-321-3300.

Click here for more information from the KDHE.

Click here for tips to keep your workplace and home safe.

#####

After suffering a heart attack in September of 2018, El Dorado resident Day Radebaugh no longer had the energy to live the life he was used to. That changed after he went through the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital.

Radebaugh began his cardiac rehabilitation in November of 2018.

While he said his wife and the EMS crew saved his life, the SBA Cardiac Rehab Department gave him his old life back.

“They gave me back a life that’s worth living,” he said. “I was feeling down – I couldn’t drive; I couldn’t eat anything. Everyone was telling me what I couldn’t do.” Click here to read more. 

Phil Wickwire of El Dorado had experienced coronary issues in the past, including a heart attack, but when he started feeling under the weather recently, he never expected it would lead to a triple bypass. It was through Cardiac Rehabilitation at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital that he was able to get back to his old, active lifestyle following his surgery.

Phil said he had been having some tightness in his chest and went to see his cardiologist, Dr. Aziz Maksoud, who sees patients at SBA weekly. Dr. Maksoud did some tests and sent Phil to a cath lab at another hospital, where he expected to get a couple of stents. But he ended up having a triple bypass, then, he said, everything that could go wrong with his health did go wrong, and he ended up spending seven days in ICU before he was released. A month after his surgery, he was ready to start rehab, which Dr. Maksoud recommended he do at Susan B. Allen. Click here to read more.

Following a hip surgery in December, Alicia Bigelow has seen great improvement from her physical therapy at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital.

After having surgery on Dec. 17, Alicia began physical therapy on Dec. 23. She knew she wanted to come to SBA for her therapy.

“It was close, since I have to have a driver,” she said. “And Mom really likes it here so she encouraged me to come here.”

Alicia has been coming to PT three times a week and is glad she made the choice to use SBA.

“It is wonderful,” she said. “They are very, very good. They are very kind people, excellent listeners and very helpful.” Click here to read more.

Sisters Sharon Cline and Karon Young, who live outside of Augusta, and their aunt, Bobbye Andrews, of Midwest City, Okla., love the experience they have received at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital with their mother and sister, Martha Jo Johnston, who is 92.

Martha was admitted to the hospital recently and her daughters called Bobbye to tell her she should come visit her sister because she wasn’t doing well. Bobbye is Martha’s youngest sister at age 89.

During their time at SBA, they have been extremely pleased with the care and comfort they have been shown.

“Every nurse and staff member who comes in through the door is pleasant and has a smile,” Bobbye said. “They go above and beyond.”

Bobbye said she has volunteered in a lot of hospitals after she retired. Click here to read more.

The first baby of the new year to be born at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital arrived on Jan. 3, 2020. Patricia Bell and Kevin Taylor, of El Dorado, welcomed a baby girl at 3:28 p.m. Katana Rae Taylor, “Tana Rae”, was 8 pounds 5.5 ounces and 20 inches long.

Patricia said she was due on Jan. 5, and when someone mentioned to her she might have the first baby of the new year at SBA, they were hoping they would.

Although they already knew they were having a girl, there was one surprise during the birth for Patricia. Click here to read more.

In May of 2018, Julia Anderson went in for her routine mammogram. Then she was called back for further tests, where they found several little areas of concern and scheduled a biopsy. In July of that year Julia had a lumpectomy.

She said the fact she had cancer didn’t really sink in at first. It wasn’t until after surgery and learning she had to have treatments that it became a reality for her.

She had thought surgery would be the end of it, but that changed when she saw Dr. Pavan Reddy.

“I was very impressed with Dr. Reddy because my surgeon didn’t think I needed chemo, but Dr. Reddy was on the border of if I needed it. He consulted with several colleagues and then said yes. That impressed me that he would go through that much trouble.”

Dr. Reddy recommended four chemotherapy treatments, one per month. Then following the chemo, she started radiation treatments. Click here to read more.

Renee Taylor, of El Dorado, thought she was just going in for a routine mammogram, but the results led to an unexpected cancer diagnosis.

Renee said she was diagnosed at the end of February.

She said after the mammogram, she was called back because they saw a suspicious spot close to the chest wall, but she had been called back before, so that wasn’t unusual.

This time she had a biopsy, which led to a diagnosis of Stage 1 breast cancer.

“I am a big proponent of getting mammograms done,” Renee said.

She explained that she had not had any symptoms or lumps prior to the mammogram, so without it, the cancer would not have been detected as early.

She went to see Dr. Paul McKesey, who did a lumpectomy, and although she thought that would be the end, she also went through 12 treatments of chemotherapy and is just finishing her radiation treatments. After that, she will continue injections for a year. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital announces Jeff Egbert as the interim CEO as the search for a new CEO continues.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the staff, as well as the medical community at Susan B. Allen,” he said.

Egbert has spent 29 years in hospital leadership, including hospital CEO experience in AZ, KY, MT, NM, OH, OR, TX, UT, & WA. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital announced Diane Deblon, CPA, CHFP, from Southern Minnesota, accepted the position of Chief Financial Officer.

When asked what attracted her to this position, she said, “The opportunity to work for a larger hospital in an area that is a little bit larger, as well as a larger community to be able to provide assistance with systems and services. SBA has a great reputation, and I am interested in being a part of the community.” Click here to read more.

Kansas Joint and Spine Specialists began their new partnership with SBA on Aug. 28. Through this partnership, Dr. Thomas Sanders, the Medical Director for SBA’s Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, will be holding Orthopedic Clinic in El Dorado on a consistent basis.

The Kansas Joint and Spine Specialists Office in El Dorado will be open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and there will be someone there to answer the phone, greet your walk-in referral, and coordinate the clinic schedule. They are located in Suite 105 and can be reached at 316-321-8746.

Kansas Joint & Spine Specialists has been dedicated to providing expert bone, joint and muscle care to patients in Wichita and the surrounding area since 1976. Through four locations in East Wichita, West Wichita, Scott City and El Dorado, the specialty-trained doctors are experts in providing experienced orthopaedic care for injuries and conditions affecting the ankle, back, elbow, foot, hand, hip, knee, neck, shoulder, spine and wrist as well as specialized care in joint replacement and sports medicine.

At nearly 80 years of age, Russ Jones still works 35 hours a week and keeps busy with a variety of activities. His health had not been a concern to him until his wife started noticing some symptoms that made her suspect he had some heart-type issues, but he still didn’t want to go to the doctor.

Russ, who lives in Emporia, was convinced to come Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital and go through the DARI Motion Health exam and have a Cardiac Calcium CT Score Screening. Both he and his wife came down for the screenings. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary announced its 2019 Fall Scholarship recipients. 

JoDee Swank will graduate from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Nursing degree in May of 2020. 

Ciarra Thomas will graduate from Butler Community College with an Associate Degree in Nursing in the spring 0f 2020. 

Rayvn Bonomini, a new recipient, is attending Wichita State University to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene in May of 2021. 

The Auxiliary Scholarships are awarded to students who have successfully completed 12 credit hours in the healthcare field.

SBAMH Auxiliary has provided $179,417 in scholarships since 1973, to assist students in preparing for healthcare service.

After a visit to Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital for the birth of one of their grandchildren three years ago, Rocky and Ruth Schmied of Wichita enjoyed their time here so much they continue to come to SBA for their healthcare needs.

Rocky said they were first introduced to SBA when one of their daughters had her baby at the SBA Family Birth Center. Through a family member, their daughter, Jubilee Critchfield, began seeing Dr. Camille Russell-McKesey during her first pregnancy. She was not happy with her current provider and Dr. McKesey was recommended to her.

“Jubilee came back very pleased,” Rocky said. “We’ve been very pleased with the care at the hospital.”

In fact, Ruth also has returned to SBA to see Dr. McKesey and to Diagnostic Imaging for her mammograms. Click here to read more.

Every year, millions of American workers experience an injury or illness that puts them at risk of leaving the workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital and the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas received funding through a grant in the amount of $1.8 million from the Kansas Department of Commerce to develop and implement a program.  Kansas is one of eight states who have received the grants to create, implement and evaluate early intervention strategies designed to improve stay-at-work and return-to-work outcomes.  For Phase 1, SBAMH’s portion of the grant was $1,067,133. Click here to read more.

Project Search of Butler County concluded its year with a celebration of its interns and recognition of their Spotlight Partner of the Year.

The program matches students with three internships throughout the year, where the youth learn job skills needed to succeed in life.

For four years, Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital has partnered with Project Search, hosting 38 of the program’s 44 interns for at least one of their internships. Of the SBA interns, 11 have worked in Environmental Services, led by Cole Gilliland, Environmental Services Manager. Click here to read more.

After eight years of training, teaching medical students and serving patients at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, Dr. Rebecca Sanders launched her clinical practice in interventional pain management at the Pain Center at Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital in Wichita. In addition to her office at Kansas Spine, Dr. Sanders began seeing patients at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in April.

Dr. Sanders will be leading SBA’s Pain Clinic. She will see patients at SBA on Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Her office is located in SBA Medical Clinic East, Suite 103.

Dr. Sanders looks forward to re-engaging with patients to provide interventional pain solutions. Click here to read more.

Kansas Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers visited Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Wednesday afternoon to discuss Medicaid expansion in Kansas, as well as take a tour of the hospital. Rogers was accompanied by Tom Bell, Kansas Hospital Association President and CEO.
They began their visit by meeting with SBA President and CEO Jim Kirkbride, senior leaders and staff members to discuss the impact Medicaid expansion would have on SBA, as well as learn more about the services offered at the hospital. 
The Kansas House has passed the Medicaid expansion bill and now it is at the Senate. Rogers encouraged people to contact their legislators and request they have a debate about the proposal. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital has met the requirements and received renewal of its High 5 for Mom & Baby status, a recognition the Family Birth Center has received three years in a row.

“This is a great testimony to the dedication and hard work of our staff,” said Deb Rieb, SBA Family Birth Center Manager. “The care of our new moms and babies is the most important thing to us. To be recognized for our efforts to provide outstanding care means a lot.”

The High 5 program incorporates specific maternity care procedures based on the proven health benefits associated with breastfeeding. It was initiated, funded, and is provided at no charge to Kansas hospitals by the Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. High 5 for Mom & Baby was developed by the Health Fund in conjunction with the Kansas Breastfeeding Workgroup. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital and Air Capital Emergency Services, LLC have partnered to provide local, emergency room care for their patients.

The agreement began at the first of the year when Dr. Matthew Moll formed this new physician group. Dr. Moll has worked in the SBA Emergency Department for several years and when the previous ER provider ended its contract, he proposed an agreement with his new company.

“We want there to be a more stable presence of local physicians,” Dr. Moll said. “As we get the same group of doctors coming in, our goal is for them to have a good rapport with the community physicians.”

Dr. Moll hopes to have more full-time doctors for the Emergency Department and said he has all but one in place now, and everyone has worked at least a couple of shifts. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital and Butler Community College continue to build upon their partnership by providing expanded health care options to Butler’s students.

The latest partnership between the two entities brings an eSusanB kiosk to the Butler Community College Andover Campus. Located at the north end of the 5000 Building, the kiosk provides a computer, along with additional scopes, for students to use to contact a provider through eSusanB if they have a health concern. The goal of this service is to provide relief to students outside of the college’s health center hours.

“We are excited for this collaboration with Butler,” said Jim Kirkbride, SBAMH President and CEO. “We have previously partnered with them in other ways such as through lab testing and this is just one more way for us to extend our services to Butler’s students to serve their health care needs in a more accessible manner.” Click here to read more.

Jackie Standridge is not only concerned with her own health but also that of the employees at Holly Frontier El Dorado Refining.

Standridge is the head of Employee Health at the refinery.

“At Holly Frontier Refinery we have been offering screenings for employees,” Standridge said.

Because of that she is always watching for different wellness opportunities and had been following the Cardiac Calcium CT Score Screenings for a couple of years.

“We were able to get approved to offer it to all employees,” she explained.

“I had several employees thank me for providing this because it picked up some pretty serious potential problems,” she said. “They said they would have had no idea because they were not having any symptoms.”

Standridge said the best advocates they have had for this screening are those who took part in the first one. Now she is hoping to offer it again for the employees.

“We’ve been getting a lot of inquiry into offering it again,” she said. Click here to read more.

The first baby of 2019 arrived at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital on January 6, 2019.

Trea and Chelsea Mann of El Dorado welcomed their first baby at 9:41 a.m. at the SBA Family Birth Center. Chaselynn Rose was 5 pounds 13.4 ounces and measured 18.5 inches.

“I cried because we were filled with joy,” Chelsea said of their first reaction to seeing their daughter. Click here to read more.

You now have a new option for care with the opening of Susan B. Allen’s Urgent Care facility in El Dorado.

Urgent Care opened its doors on Dec. 17 at 2710 W. Central Ave. in El Dorado, offering immediate care for your minor emergencies.

“We are excited to bring this new choice in healthcare to El Dorado and the surrounding communities,” said Cecilia Goebel, SBA Chief Nursing Officer. “Urgent care facilities have seen tremendous growth in recent years and we have received a great response from the community for our Augusta Immediate Care Facility. We are pleased to be able to offer this new service in El Dorado.”

Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce it has been named a 2018 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey. The National Guardian of Excellence Award recognizes top-performing health care organizations that have achieved the 95th percentile or above of performance in Clinical Quality.

Using 2017 data, clinical measures from the Emergency Department, inpatient and outpatient services, measure sets were used to calculate overall score, compared to other facilities in the nation.

The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award is a nationally-recognized symbol of achievement in health care. Presented annually, the award honors clients who consistently sustained performance in the top 5% of all Press Ganey clients for each reporting period during the course of one year.

Click here to read more.

Being diagnosed with cancer is a scary experience for everyone and Sharon Leible-Teeter was no exception. But it was the care and compassion from the SBA Cancer Center staff that is helping her through the process.

Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer in early summer through a routine mammogram. She said when she got the call to say they wanted to redo the test, she was naturally a little concerned, but not too much since she had been called back before and everything was fine.

But then she got the call that it was cancer and they needed to do a biopsy and further tests.

After some thought, she had a lumpectomy but then waited quite a while to decide on the next step.

She said she is a Christian and believes God is her healer, but still she was dealing with a lot of fear.

“I waited for a while to get the lumpectomy because I wanted to get out of that fear zone,” she said. Click here to read more.

Kelsey Sundgren has delivered both of her daughters at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital’s Family Birth Center and she would never want to go anywhere else.

“I had a phenomenal experience,” she said. “Dr. McKesey is just the best – so professional and knowledgeable, experienced, and extremely warm and personable.”

She said she is a private person and childbirth is such a raw, emotional experience.

“Having someone to trust and make you feel comfortable is so important,” Kelsey said.

In addition, she said the nursing staff was exceptional.

“I was lucky enough to have the same labor and delivery nurse for both children,” she said. “It was not just the quality of care, but their attention to detail. Even when you are not, you feel like you are the only patient on the floor.” Click here to read more.

Jean Plummer, of El Dorado, has dealt with heart problems for a while, having gone through 25 heart catheterizations already, but her most recent was a major heart attack.

“I had always hoped I would never have a major heart attack,” Jean said. “I always knew the symptoms, but I waited too long because I was working on an event for the first responders.”

Once she had recovered from her heart attack, she began cardiac rehab. She told her doctor she wanted to come to Susan B. Allen for rehabilitation.

“I can’t say enough about those girls,” Jean said of the staff in cardiac rehab. “They were all wonderful. They were so encouraging.”

She said they let her go at her own pace, but still pushed her to do better.

Jean went to 36 sessions of rehab.

“They were good about monitoring everything,” she said. “The equipment and everything was wonderful.”

While healing, Jean also enjoyed the social aspect. Click here to read more.

Cancer has touched Rosie Nelson’s life in many ways over the years, and now she is dealing with it first hand as she battles an aggressive lung cancer.

Cancer first impacted Rosie’s life in 1993 when her husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was diagnosed on April 1 and passed away shortly after that on May 19. She said he underwent radiation treatments to try to extend his stay at home, but unfortunately, he was only home from the hospital three days before she lost him.

“I couldn’t wrap myself around it,” she said.

They lived in Iola at the time, where they both worked at a small garment factory.

“Everyone was behind me,” she said. “We were a very close family.”

As she dealt with her loss, she knew she wanted to do something someday to pay back the support she had been given. Click here to read more.

The care Ashley Cox and her family received in the Susan B. Allen Memorial Department Emergency Department made all the difference to her during a very stressful time.
She brought her 20 month old in at 2:30 a.m. on a Sunday for what she thought was difficulty breathing. 
“We had an ER visit earlier in the week for the same thing at a different location,” Ashley said. Click here to read more.

An open house and ribbon cutting welcomed the new SBA Medical Group – Podiatry Clinic to Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Dr. Nicholas Posge is offering podiatry care at SBA in Suite 105.

Dr. Posge has been working with Dr. Larry Abraham, who announced his retirement this year, when he first came to El Dorado a few weeks ago.

“What we have enjoyed most about El Dorado so far is how friendly everyone is,” Dr. Posge said. “When we go on walks, people wave and ask how we are doing, and are very genuine. While El Dorado is a smaller city, it still has plenty to offer us.” Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital’s Diabetes Education Classes have played an important role in living a healthy life for Kim Meadows of Augusta.

Meadows said she was not feeling good, so she went to her doctor who tested her blood sugar. It was close to 400 at that time. After that, she began taking medication and signed up for SBA’s Diabetes Education Class.

She said the experience of being diagnosed with diabetes was a tough one for her and her doctor was her shoulder to cry on.

“I went to the class and everyone was wonderful,” she said. “Everyone had a lot of compassion.”

To read more on this, click here

Glenn and Lori Buchholz are grateful for a community hospital, which can meet their healthcare needs locally whenever possible. Recent injuries sent them outside of SBA to receive care from Advanced Orthopaedic Associates, PA, which also provided a great experience for them.
They are pleased AOA is now partnering with SBA and soon they will be able to receive that orthopaedic care without leaving El Dorado. Click here to read more.

Patients at the SBA Cancer Center recently took part in a groundbreaking trial for breast cancer treatment options. The Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (Rx) (TAILORx) found that most women with early breast cancer do not benefit from chemotherapy.

Jamie Richards, M.S. RT(R)(T), SBA Radiation Oncology Manager, said the Cancer Center of Kansas (CCK) had 14 patients among the 10,253 eligible women enrollment between 2006 and 2010. Some of those were treated at the SBA Cancer Center.

“It’s important for us to be able to let patients know they don’t have to go anywhere but SBA to get screenings, surgery and treatment, as well as take part in national trials,” Richards said. Click here to read more.

Advanced Orthopaedic Associates (AOA) is excited to announce that we will be partnering with Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital (SBA) to provide exceptional orthopedic care to the residents of El Dorado and surrounding communities.

Beginning in mid-July 2018, AOA will occupy a 1,400 square foot medical office in the SBA Medical Clinic West located at 700 W. Central, Suite 105, El Dorado. This space will boast three exam rooms and services including on-site casting and bracing as well as state of the art imaging. AOA physicians will host clinic every week in El Dorado along with 24/7 ER coverage. Click here to read more.

Dr. Nicholas Posge is joining the staff at the SBA Medical Group as Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital opens a new Podiatry Department. Dr. Larry Abraham, long-time El Dorado podiatrist, was key to bringing Dr. Posge to the community.

Dr. Posge, who is from Cincinnati, Ohio, recently completed his surgical residency at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, after receiving his undergraduate degree from Xavier University and his graduate degree from Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine.

“I am the first person in my family to have a career in medicine,” he said. Click here to read more.

(El Dorado, KS) –   During the last school year, more than 100 school-aged children came to the Emergency Department due to asthma complications. Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital will be working to improve the health of students in area communities, specifically those suffering from asthma, through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant.

“Our mission is to assist with asthma through SBA’s School Nurse Navigation program and the HRSA Rural Health Care Services Outreach program funded by the grant,” said Pam Cartwright, RN, BSN, SBA Director of Community Services. Click here to read more.

Nutrition is important at any age, but especially for older adults. Senior citizens have specific nutritional needs and it is important to meet those needs. Eating right helps a person stay healthy and active, especially when faced with other health issues, such as diabetes or heart disease.

“Meeting one’s nutritional needs benefits a person in a number of ways,” explained Diane Heilman Felt, MPH, RD, LD, of Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Nutrition Services. Click here to read more.

Keeping your heart healthy is a vital part of a long and worry-free life. Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is pleased to offer one more preventive step in maintaining cardiac health with the new Cardiac Calcium CT Score Screening.

The screening only takes 15 minutes and does not require a physician’s order. The CT screening looks at your heart to see if you have any calcium buildup in your coronary arteries. Calcified plaque results when fat and other substances build up under the inner layer of the artery. This material can calcify, which signals the presence of atheroscelerosis, a disease of the vessel wall. Click here to read more.

After thorough consideration, the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital will no longer be providing surgery services for laminectomy procedures effective May 31, 2018. This decision specifically includes laminectomy, laminectomy with discectomy, decompression laminectomy, decompression laminectomy/fusion and revision decompression laminectomy/fusion but does not include cervical spine fusions. Other orthopedic or surgical procedures or services available at Susan B. Allen are not affected.

Our decision is compelled by the fact that reimbursement for these procedures often does not cover the Hospital’s costs. This encompasses costs for items such as personnel, equipment and supplies, but the Hospital’s costs also include items that are implanted in a laminectomy patient or adjuncts to such items. These implant costs may easily be many thousands of dollars. In addition, a number of patients undergoing this procedure at Susan B. Allen have been from outside the Hospital’s primary service area. The Hospital’s mission and goal is not to serve as a regional referral center for spine fusion surgery in competition with spine surgery hospitals and programs in Wichita and Kansas City. Rather, the primary focus of Susan B. Allen is upon acute care hospital services for Butler County and the surrounding service area.

This decision was not made lightly but we are confident that it will make Susan B. Allen a stronger organization moving forward as it continues its mission of service to this area.

Amy Hall didn’t think the care she received at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital was anything out of the ordinary – it was simply the same exceptional care she had come to expect, until it was pointed out to her how extraordinary it was.

Amy, age 34 at the time, visited the Emergency Department in 2017 after experiencing chest pains. She said what she was feeling was more like shoulder pain the entire day, like she had pulled a muscle. She said she had joked maybe she was having a pulmonary embolism, but didn’t think it was really serious. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is excited to announce plans for a new Urgent Care Clinic.

With the success of our Immediate Care Clinic in Augusta and continued requests from the public for a similar facility in El Dorado, the Hospital is working toward opening an SBA Urgent Care Clinic in El Dorado.

The clinic will be located on West Central, next to Hibbett Sports. No appointments will be needed for this walk-in clinic. Click here to read more.

Many people suffer from allergies, whether Spring allergies or throughout the year, and local resident Janell Jessup understands those struggles.

She has dealt with allergies her entire life and recently visited Dr. Iram Sirajuddin, an allergist and immunologist located at the SBA Clinic in Augusta. Dr. Sirajuddin was recommended to Janell by her physical therapist, who had begun seeing her.

Janell said she appreciated having an allergist in her own county.

“I was impressed with the time Dr. Sirajuddin and her nurse spent with me,” she said. Click here to read more.

SBA its new Occupational Medicine Clinic in February.

Bill Wallace, APRN, will be providing services at the new clinic, along with Darla Wilken, RN, and Jennifer Gannon, MA.

The goal of Occupational Medicine is to create healthy employees who are happier and more productive.

“We want to promote a healthy workforce through immediate care for injuries and illness, follow-up care to get the employee back to work or find work in an area that can accommodate any restrictions they may have,” Wallace said. “We also will submit claims quickly to the insurance carrier so the claim can be processed quickly.” Click here to read more.

(El Dorado, KS) – Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy offers some patients an opportunity for cancer treatment without surgery or chemotherapy.

This new technology is now offered at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, following the addition of a Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator System in April 2015 and a Siemens Large Bore CT Scanner in August 2016 at the SBA Cancer Center.

“It offers as little as one – up to five – treatments versus the up to 45 treatments with traditional radiation,” said Jamie Richards, Radiation Oncology Manager at Susan B. Allen. “There is no surgery, recovery time or risk of infection.”

“It’s actually pretty amazing they have this for the size of El Dorado,” said Dr. Barbara Luder, Radiation Oncologist at the Hospital. “Usually, people would have to go to Wichita.”

Whether or not a person is eligible for this treatment will depend on the case, as well as the location of the cancer. Click here to read more.

Taking care of your heart is the most important thing a person can do for health and wellness. February is a time to reinforce heart healthy lifestyles and initiatives during National Heart Health Month.

Husam Bakdash, M.D., with Heartland Cardiology, sees patients each week at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in the Specialty Clinics. Dr. Bakdash encourages people to do everything they can to improve their heart health, starting now.

“I want to give a friendly reminder to take care of your heart,” Dr. Bakdash said. “Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. It is very common and often underdiagnosed.” Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is continuing its commitment of Bringing Healthcare to You with its first SBA Community Care Clinic.

“Through an already strong partnership with the YMCA, this is another step in making SBA healthcare more accessible to those who need it in the community,” said Chase Locke, SBAMH Foundation Executive Director.

The Community Care Clinic, which will be located in the lobby area, will provide a variety of options to learn more about health care, as well as receive care. A person does not have to be a member of the YMCA to visit the Clinic. Click here to read more.

With cold and flu season upon us, it can be difficult to balance work, sick children and your own illness. Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is working to help ease the stress of finding time to get to the doctor with the new eSusanB app.

Through our new eVisit-based service, people can see a provider from their smartphone, tablet or computer seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition, SBA has opened its first Community Care Clinic at the El Dorado YMCA.... Click here to read more.

Sixty-five million people in the United States, or 29%, provide care for chronically ill, disabled, or aged family members or friends in any given year. Some of these caregivers work eight hours or more a day feeding, cleaning, changing diapers, and administering medications. These tasks may also include house cleaning, grocery shopping, transportation to doctor’s appointments, and other responsibilities. Who cares for these caregiver? Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is beginning a Living with Loss Support Group. Each session last eight weeks with one-hour meetings each week.

SBA’s model for its “Living with Loss” support group is a blend of instruction and conversation. Attendees will be given information and research on the bereavement process, coping skill sets, and the opportunity to explore with others their journey through grief. 

Questions we often ask in grief:

• Is it normal to cry too much or not enough?
• Will there always be a hole in my heart?
• Is there really such a thing as closure?
• Will I ever fall in love again?

Click here to read more.

hris Towner has always been active and healthy. So when a trip to the doctor turned more serious, he was surprised.

Towner, who has lived in El Dorado since he was a kid, was a distance runner in high school and college. Now his hobbies include biking, swimming, kayaking, skiing and more. His job as a federal probation officer also keeps him on the move, as well as serving as a volunteer fire fighter.

In September, Towner trekked to the base of Mt. Everest. He was back from that trip and continuing to work out until his knee became swollen and stiff by late November. He started using crutches to let it heal, but eventually had to go seek help from Dr. Kyle Tipton, with Internal Medicine. Click here to read more.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital welcomed the first baby of 2018 on Jan. 2.

Sara Regalado and Benjamin Huff, of El Dorado, had their first son, Owen, at 5:34 p.m. Owen weighed 6 pounds 0.9 ounces.

“He is just handsome,” Sara commented while holding Owen.

She was surprised at the amount of hair Owen was born with, having a full head of hair. Her two daughters, Abbie and Haylie, were not born with much hair.

“I was overwhelmed,” Benjamin said of the first time he saw his son. “I was trying not to cry.” ... Click here to read more

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is committed to giving back to the communities we serve. We are excited to launch #SBAcares, a campaign encouraging our employees to get involved in our service area.

 At the center of everything that matters to us are people. The people we care for inside of our walls, the people we serve in our community, the people we work alongside each and every day.

Many of you already spend countless hours volunteering at local schools, churches and area non-profits. In 2018, we are challenging our employees to volunteer 2 hours a month in our service area.  Click here to read more.

For 42 years, Steve Bland, PA, has served the medical needs of the Augusta Community, most recently with the SBA Medical Group – Augusta office. Now, Bland will be retiring at the end of this year.

Bland has a long history in medicine.

“I became interested in medicine because out of high school I went into the Air Force,” Bland explained.

When he enlisted in the Air Force they assigned him as an Air Force medic. That experience got him interested in medicine. Click here to read more.

The Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Family Birth Center was recently designated as a Blue Distinction achiever in Maternity Care.

This recognition comes from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is a national designation recognizing healthcare facilities demonstrating expertise in delivering quality care safely, effectively and cost efficiently.

Deb Rieb, SBA Family Birth Center Manager, said this recognition
means a lot to her and the OB staff...Click here to read more. 

The Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital diabetes self-management education program was recognized by the American Diabetes Association following an on-site audit on Aug. 29.

During the audit, records from 2014 were reviewed and audited extensively by two auditors, who determined the program meets the national standards of the Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME). ... Click here to read more.

Chuck Stafford, who works as a Medical Physicist in the SBA Radiation Oncology Department, received the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Employee of the Quarter recognition.

“It’s a great honor and very big surprise,” he said. “I’ve loved working here for many, many years.”

He began working at the hospital in 2003, starting when the Cancer Center was opened.

“I very much appreciate being here,” Stafford said. “It’s a great place to work.” Click here to read more.

Getting a mammogram has never been easier with some recent changes at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital.

One of those changes was the creation of a Mammogram Suite, which includes adjoining rooms for ultrasound and mammography procedures. 

This change came about when they started doing 3D stereotactic biopsies and no longer needed the room that had been set up for biopsies, which was next to the mammogram room.... Click here to read more.

Former Hospital Board of Trustees member Rod Ziegler received the Trustee of the Year award from Kansas Hospital Association.

He served on the Hospital Board for 28 years, holding the positions of Chair, Secretary-Treasurer and numerous committees.

Also, in what has become a tradition, the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary received the 2017 Gold Award of Excellence from the Hospital Auxiliaries of Kansas and the Kansas Hospital Association. 

Click here for more information. 

A soft stuffed animal or doll can ease the pain or fear for a child in many situations. That comfort is made available in numerous departments at Susan B. Allen thanks to the efforts by a group of ladies in the Hospital Auxiliary Sewing Saints.

Twice a month the group of about 14 members get together for an afternoon of sewing, laughing and having a good time.

“I love the camaraderie, I love making things,” said Sewing Saints Chair Linda Stanford. “It’s just from the heart. You can come here and your spirit is renewed.”

The creative, hand-made toys come as a variety of animals from giraffes to bears, and they are washable with no small pieces that could be a hazard.

About 45 stuffed animals are delivered to various departments in the Hospital each month, including ER, X-ray, Lab, ASU...

Click here to read more about the SBAMH Auxiliary Sewing Saints.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital recently received a Kansas Health Foundation grant through the Healthy Communities Initiative: Improving Health Equity in Kansas.

The grant funded up to 20 cities or regions in an effort to address health equity.

The “Butler County Community Coalition to Improve Health Equity” proposed plan would convene a group of diverse community partners in Butler County with SBAMH. Together they would work to identify and address health inequities impacting the community.

Inequities could include such things as poverty, limited access to food or no access to recreation/exercise.

This grant would support efforts already underway...Click Here

Patty Tucker, who works as a Registered Nurse in the SBA Quality Assurance Department, received the Employee of the Quarter recognition.

Patty started at the Hospital in Med/Surg, then began working in several areas of the Hospital part time, including Quality Assurance and Radiation Oncology. Then this past January, she began working full time in Quality Assurance.

“I abstract quality measures for inpatient and outpatient and work with IS on the electronic quality measures, as well as submit cancer data to Kansas Cancer Registry,” Patty said.

Patty enjoys what she does.

“I like the wide variety of the aspects of the job,” she said.

In her nomination, one of her peers stated: “Patty has gone above and beyond to help me over the last year. Patty meets with employees in various departments in the Hospital to explain... Click here to read more.

Jennifer Pharris, DO, has joined SBA Medical Group – Family Practice and will begin seeing patients at the Susan B. Allen Medical Clinic in Augusta this month.

“I don’t remember a time I wasn’t interested in medicine,” Dr. Pharris said. “Ever since I was very young, I thought I wanted to go into medicine. The more I learned about it, the more I was pulled toward it. It just clicked for me.”

She liked the idea of Family Medicine because it can be anything you want it to be.

“You can remain a generalist and see a little of everything, or you can tailor your practice to a specific niche you really enjoy,” she explained. “Also, Family Medicine is exciting, you never know what your day will bring. It keeps life interesting.”

One area of medicine in which Dr. Pharris has a strong passion is Obesity Medicine, for...Click here for more information. 

Several Emergency Department nurses from Susan B. Allen had the opportunity to take part in a Hydroflouric (HF) Acid training event at HollyFrontier Refinery recently.

HollyFrontier was conducting a training session by Solvay Products that produces HF Acid. HF Acid is an extremely caustic acid that requires a specialized treatment protocol. HollyFrontier invited SBA staff to be part of this training in the event of a possible exposure at the refinery because advanced treatment is critical.

Hydroflouric Acid is a highly corrosive acid which can severely burn skin and eyes. The vapors from Anhydrous Hydroflouric Acid also can burn tissues. The training, held on June 13, showed how HF Acid affects a person systemically and is not limited to a topical or dermal burn.

The difference with HF Acid from other acids is the fluoride ion penetrates the skin causing destruction to layers of deep tissue and bone. This process may continue for days. The effects of exposure may not be seen for one up to eight hours for concentrations in the 20 to 50 percent range. With less than 20 percent, symptoms may not be seen for up to 24 hours or more. Acids with over 60 percent concentration can cause immediate symptoms.

Concentrated HF Acid may cause severe burns, metabolic imbalances, pulmonary edema and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.

Those attending from SBA were Abby Maclaskey, Keri Gagnon, Brandy Hall, Robin Dean, Carrie Cunningham, Kristy Motter and Hope Pena.

“This was a tremendous opportunity for our ER nurses to take part in a training event that could impact them in the future,” said Robin Dean, RN and Director of Critical Care. “We appreciate HollyFrontier inviting us to be a part of the HF training.”

In addition to attending this training, SBA also participated in HollyFrontier’s annual ALKY Unit emergency drill on June 14. During this, they simulated a HF Acid leak at the ALKY unit, with simulated victims of HF exposure who were brought in to the SBA Emergency Room by Butler County EMS, HollyFrontier staff and Solvay staff. 

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is lowering prices, improving access and building community relationships to promote healthy lifestyles.

The discussion of a new pricing structure and philosophy began about a year ago following input from business leaders and community members throughout the Hospital’s service area. While many liked the fact SBA is a community hospital with local employees and high-quality care, they expressed concerns that prices were...click here for more information.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital has successfully completed a Joint Commission laboratory survey, demonstrating continuous safety and quality practices at the Hospital which lead to quality care for its patients.
The three-day survey process evaluated 236 standards with 1,180 elements looking for compliance in processes, documentation, staff qualifications and competency. Although the survey is targeted at the laboratory and respiratory care... Click here for more information.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is Bringing Healthcare to You with the newest addition to the SBA Cancer Center programs. Lung Cancer Screenings are now being offered as Susan B. Allen continues to expand the care it provides to the community.
“Most lung cancers are caught in later stages which are more difficult to treat,” said Jamie Richards, Radiation Oncology Manger at Susan B. Allen. “If we catch it sooner it is easier to treat.” 

These screenings will help doctors do just that.... Click here for more information.

Employees have always been a priority for Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital and that focus continues with the implementation of the Living Wage Program for the Hospital’s Healthcare Support Professionals.

The Living Wage is a national model, which shows an hourly rate a person must earn to support their family’s basic needs, if they are the sole provider and are working full time. It draws upon geographically specific expenditure data related to a family’s food, childcare, health insurance, housing, transportation and other basic needs, such as clothing, etc. The Living Wage adds these costs with the expenses of income and payroll taxes to determine the minimum employment earnings necessary to meet a family’s basic needs. In Butler County, that rate is calculated as $9.88 for one adult.

SBAMH will raise their minimum base rate to...click here for more information.

Dr. Iram Sirajuddin will bring a new specialty to Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital. She is an Allergist and Immunologist, who will see patients in the SBA Clinic – Augusta beginning Monday, June 5.

Dr. Sirajuddin got interested in medicine at a young age. Her father is a doctor (anesthesiologist) and she enjoyed hearing him discuss his cases with the family. She also had a cousin with a blood disorder and would sometimes accompany her to doctor’s appointments. She was inspired by the caring relationship between the doctor and her cousin.

“That’s what drew me to medicine,” Dr. Sirajuddin said.

Dr. Sirajuddin graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, then completed her pediatric residency and an allergy / immunology fellowship through Washington University at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

“I have always loved working with children,” she said. “Their energy and curiosity about things is something I admire.”

She rotated through different specialties during her training, and developed an interest in Allergy/Immunology.

“I feel when I do my job correctly, it can help people lead their best possible lives,” Dr. Sirajuddin said. “It’s a field where you can say you really have made a difference.”

She is trained to see adults and children with seasonal and food allergies, asthma, eczema and immunodeficiencies.

She has practiced at Wesley Medical... Click here to find out more.

Communication impacts many areas of a person’s life. A person’s speech and hearing are vital to good communication. May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, and the theme this year is “Communication: The Key to Connection.”
“Hearing and speech go hand in hand,” said Carly Sturm, Au.D., Audiologist at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital. “The purpose is to improve communication.”
One way to do that is to be aware of your hearing health.
“People of all ages are recommended to get screenings... Click here for more information.

The Kansas Hospital Association invited communities to join area hospitals in celebrating National Hospital Week, May 7-13. This annual observance celebrates hospitals and the men and women who, day in and day out, support the health and wellbeing of their communities through dedication and compassionate care from the heart. Celebrated since 1921, National Hospital Week is a time dedicated to reinforcing the valuable contributions hospitals make in their communities, 24-hours a day, seven days...Click here for more information. 

The Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Family Birth Center’s efforts to encourage breastfeeding have been recognized with a High 5 for Mom & Baby Award.

A focus on evidence-based maternity care practices began with the World Health Organization’s Healthy Baby-Healthy Start Initiative that created 10 steps for new mothers and their babies.

“There are studies that show if you follow at least five of those guidelines it will impact the breastfeeding rate,” said Deb Rieb, Family Birth Center Manager.

The High 5 program encourages adoption of five of these guidelines. Hospitals have to meet those requirements at least 80 percent of the time to earn the High 5 Award, which is an initiative supported by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and promotes hospital practices that encourage breastfeeding.

“That just leads to a healthy baby across the board,” Rieb said.

SBAMH got involved with the initiative about a year ago...Click here for more information.

The rain Saturday didn’t keep the crowd away from the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s Inspirations and Sweet Indulgences fundraiser.

The event replaced the long-time Holiday House Tour, previously hosted by the Auxiliary.

“We are so thrilled you took the time to come and support us,” Volunteer Coordinator Karen Hockett told those gathered for the sold-out event. “We plan on doing this every other year in lieu of our Holiday House Tour.”

The event began with shopping and social time. Attendees could browse the items for sale by the Auxiliary and Sewing Saints, as well as purchase their tickets for the wreath raffle. Auxiliary members made 65 wreaths... Click here for more information. 

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital would like to recognize our newest Employee of the Quarter, Kenny Ehrlich. Working as a Culinary Tech in the Dietary Services Department, he has dedicated almost 9 years of influential service to the staff, patients and visitors that come through the SBA Cafeteria.   Because of the hard-work ethic he has and the friendly atmosphere he creates, this is Kenny’s second Employee of the  Quarter award.

The anonymous peer nomination was filled with example after example of the positive impact Kenny makes on the people around him. “I have watched Kenny over the last several years work cheerfully with co-workers, hospital employees, patients and their families. He is eager to serve others and make them feel comfortable and welcome in the SBA cafeteria. Kenny goes out of his way to help when someone is confused about dining procedures and most gracious when someone drops their tray or forgets to pay for their meal. In the last two years, Kenny has gone out of his way to make the Project Search Students a genuine part of the  hospital. He is patient with them, offering direction in a manner that is relaxed and helpful. He makes corrections with grace and good humor. I watch these students turn to him many times a day, and sometimes an hour, asking for help and guidance. Their eyes and the tone of their voices speak respect for one who has become a mentor.”

To recognize the great work that he has been doing Kenny was surprised with a department party, a $50 gift certificate and special use of the Employee of the Quarter parking space.

Food provides our bodies with the energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live and function properly. We need a wide variety of different foods to provide the right amounts of nutrients for good health. When you have health issues, your food choices may affect greatly how quickly you recover from the illness. Think of Vitamin C when you have a cold or reducing colorectal cancer with a high fiber diet that reduces constipation.

What goes into a meal takes planning and expertise. Would you believe the Food and Nutrition Department staff has served more than 35,000 meals during the first two months of 2017?

These meals not only include the inpatients, but...   To read more, click here.

A donation from Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital’s Radiology Department is benefiting students at Hutchinson Community College. The Hospital donated an old C-Arm imaging scanner to the college for their radiology students.

“We haven’t donated a large piece of equipment like that before,” said Crystal Schlegel, Radiology Supervisor.

The donation came about because of the HCC radiology students who have been training at SBAMH for more than 10 years...   Click here to read more.

A new pastime turned into a healthy lifestyle for Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital’s Network Administrator Lew Harter.

In 2012, Lew and his daughter, April Harter, began running to have an activity they could do together.

He said he had been sedentary for some time so this was a change for him.

“Prior to that I never considered myself a runner,” he said.

Now they have run 5K, 10K, 15K, and half and full marathon races. They are currently training for the Eisenhower Marathon in Abilene in April. Lew also has qualified for the Boston Marathon...   To read more, click here.

Doctors play an important role in the lives of many people. Doctor’s Day is a chance to say “thank you” to doctors for the work they do. The first Doctor’s Day was observed in 1933 in Georgia, then the national recognition began in 1990 and is celebrated on March 30 each year.

Our dedicated physicians are an integral part of how Susan B. Allen cares for the health of our community. Celebrate the physician what has made a difference in your life with a gift in their honor to the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Foundation in time for Doctor’s Day. You can make a gift online here.

View a list of our current providers here.

Faced with a growing shortage of physicians, rural hospitals in Kansas are using telemedicine to ensure consistent physician coverage, and now Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is the
latest Kansas hospital to use the innovative technology to enhance its Hospitalist program.

To read more, click here.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is happy to welcome Vikrant Azad, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon, to the Susan B. Allen Medical Staff.  Dr. Azad received his medical degree from Goa Medical College in Goa, India and completed his orthopedics residency at Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals in New Delhi, India.  He has completed a Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, a Foot and Ankle Fellowship at the University of Alabama – Birmingham, and an Adult Reconstruction (Arthroplasty) Fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University.

"The wonderful complexity of the human body and ability to help others, as well as the respect and appreciation one gets in return, motivated me to go into medicine," said Dr. Azad.  "My ideal place of practice is a smaller hospital with all specialties, as I feel this combination allows me to connect with staff and the hospital's administration, one-on-one, which allows for quicker changes and improves quality of care.  I saw this combination at Susan B. Allen."

Dr. Azad, along with Caleb Grove, PA-C, and Bill Wallace, APRN,  now provide a wide range of orthopaedic services including

• Total joint replacement (knee and hip)
• Scoliosis and spondylosis
• Arthritis
• Congenital club foot
• Carpal/tarsal release
• Tendon and ligament injuries or degeneration
• Bone and joint infections
• Adult and pediatric fractures.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Azad, call the SBA Medical Group - Orthopedics office at 316-321-8757.  

Featuring DARI, a markerless predictive human motion analytics system developed by Kansas entrepreneurs.

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital (SBAMH) in El Dorado, Kansas, announced the creation of Susan B. Allen Motion Health Services. The new service line combines elements of current SBAMH offerings — occupational medicine, sports medicine and training, and concussion management — with new advanced motion health capabilities promoting bone and joint health.

SBA Motion Health will serve physicians, employers, athletes, and health-minded people of all ages.

The expansion includes the acquisition of breakthrough medical technology by Scientific Analytics named DARI, a markerless predictive human motion analytics tool. The system is the world’s most advanced technology in motion health, quickly and accurately capturing musculoskeletal movements to identify possible threats to bone and joint health, and identifies areas of weakness where conditioning can be targeted to improve wellness and performance.

To read more, click here.

The Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees announced the hiring of James “Jim” Kirkbride, MBA, RT (R), as the new President and CEO of Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital.  Mr. Kirkbride will assume responsibilities at the Hospital on March 14.

“This is an amazing opportunity and honor to become the leader of this outstanding healthcare organization,” Kirkbride said.  “Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is a progressive, well-respected organization with a long history of providing quality care to members of the community.  The facilities and medical equipment at this hospital are exceptional for an organization of this size, and the team of care providers I came in contact with were progressive and innovative thinkers, and very tenured.  I am very excited to become part of an organization with staff members who have dedicated themselves to this organization  and its patients for so long, it assures me that it’s a great place to work, and a great place to receive care.  This is the type of organization I want to be a part of.”

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Susan B. Allen has been recognized by The Joint Commission as a 2013 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures^®.  The Joint Commission recognized the Hospital for its excellence in accountability measure performance shown to improve care for certain conditions and is one of only 1,224 hospitals in the United States to achieve the distinction as a 2013 Top Performer.

Susan B. Allen has been recognized for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for Pneumonia and Surgical Care.

“At Susan B. Allen, we have made it a top priority to address patient safety and quality health care by improving upon our evidence-based care processes,” said Gayle Arnett, FACHE, President and CEO. “We are proud to be named a Top Performer and thank our entire Hospital staff for its knowledge, teamwork and dedication to improve our Hospital’s performance.”

For more information about the Top Performer program, including eligibility criteria, visit http://www.jointcommission.org/accreditation/top_performers.aspx.

The Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and Volunteers got together and did something pretty extraordinary for the Hospital.  The two groups recently put their efforts together and made a donation in the amount of $130,000 to purchase two property monument signs for the Hospital - one which is at the main entrance to the Hospital in El Dorado, and the other at the Susan B. Allen Immediate Care facility in Augusta.  These signs not only designate the business names, but also include large LED panels which display messages created to help educate the public about services, providers and announcements at those facilities. 

“Our previous monument sign didn’t allow us the ability to post messages for our community,” says Gene Kimble, Director of Marketing at SBAMH. “The new signs allow us to educate community members about new providers and other Hospital news and give us the opportunity to update or change information as needed.”

The SBAMH Auxiliary runs the Hospital Gift Shop and also hosts 12 fundraising events each year to support the Hospital. Annual events include two Life Uniform scrub and accessory sales, three book fairs sponsored by Books Are Fun, three Mountain Man Nut and Fruit Company sales, a logo apparel sale for employees, and the Everything $6 sale, which features jewelry and purses and is held three times each year.

“Our Auxiliary is very active and enthusiastic about supporting our Hospital,” says Karen Hockett, Volunteer Coordinator and Gift Shop Manager at SBAMH. “The majority of Auxiliary proceeds go directly to the Hospital in the form of a gift (with the remainder of the proceeds funding healthcare educational scholarships), so when you purchase from the Auxiliary, you are supporting Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital.”

For more information about the SBAMH Auxiliary and ways you can become involved, call (316) 321-8708.

Dr. Jace Giannetti and Jeremy Sundgren were recently welcomed by the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees as new members.  “We are very pleased to have these community members join the Hospital’s Board,” said Jim Kirkbride, Susan B. Allen President and CEO.  “Each of them gives us a fresh viewpoint from different areas of expertise, and will provide new ideas which will benefit the Hospital and our community as we move forward.”

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