I wanted to give our community an update on how Wamego Health Center was keeping up with the recent changes. We knew long before this coronavirus outbreak that we had an extraordinary staff. That has been reaffirmed daily with this recent outbreak. The Staff at WHC is holding up tremendously well. Their ability to prepare and adapt to these changes has been impressive. It is truly an honor to work alongside these heroes.

WHC has partnered with Wamego Telecom to have the ability to provide our patients and visitors the ability to visit “virtually” with facetime. This allows our patients the chance to see their families and hear their voices, which is so important in their healing. We have also established a platform for virtual visits for you to see your doctor. This allows you to have a clinic visit without leaving your home or your car. We are blessed to have such a generous team at WTC to work with during these times.

The question of Personal Protective Equipment (gowns, gloves, masks etc.) has come up frequently. Do we have enough? Can we get more? The answer is we are adequately prepared for the current status of the outbreak. We are following the CDC guidelines for PPE usage to protect our patients and our staff but also conserve where appropriate. We are praying for a quick resolution to this outbreak along with our community. If it lasts for a longer period of time we want to be prepared with appropriate protection.

There have been volunteers asking to sew homemade masks within the community. This is such a generous offer of your time and talents to donate to our community. We don’t know yet how these donations will fit into our PPE usage, they may be used by patients at their home or as covers for staff masks to preserve the integrity. We are aware that other non-medical facilities or individuals may have a need for these items. If you have another source which can make use of these, please donate to them there.

Finally, we want to thank you. We understand that your sacrifices within your own homes are very real and very important to this fight. Social distancing while extremely uncomfortable provides our community the best opportunity to reduce exposure. Your diligence to safety and keeping your family healthy is an action that has already reduced the impact of this virus. Continue to be a pillar of strength to your family and let them know that they are also heroes in this battle.

Wamego Health Center is here for you with any needs that you have. If you have questions regarding Cornavirus please contact your primary care physician office. If you need care please know that we are here for you and always will be. May God bless you and your family.

We are proud of our community and our associates here in Wamego. I want to thank our associates who are still working in our hospital and clinic to keep our community healthy and prepared.

Please note that we are not allowing any visitors in our inpatient unit at this time. Effective immediately, the hospital is no longer allowing any visitors except in end-of-life situations, where only one visitor per patient will be allowed. All other visitation is limited to virtual visitation.

It is going to take all of us adhering to the CDC and KDHE guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19 infection. While most people who are exposed to COVID-19 will recover with no issues, there are community members who have a high risk of developing life threatening complications. These are the people we need to protect.

• Stay home with your family members, especially if you’re sick.
• Wash your hands often and thoroughly.
• Only leave your home if you need to – to get medications, groceries, or other essentials.
• Call your older family members or neighbors to check in with them and see if they have what they need (they are members of our vulnerable population).

If you think you are sick and are showing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever of 100.3 F or higher, shortness of breath and cough), you can call a local hotline – 785-323-6400. A health care representative will be available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. In addition, Ascension Kansas has a 24/7 call center for anyone needing COVID-19 information. That toll-free number, 1-855-782-1039, is staffed 24/7, seven days a week.

We encourage people to call either of those numbers or their primary care physician before making the decision to leave their homes. In most cases, people infected with COVID-19 can successfully – and safely – recover at home. Only in very serious cases will people require hospital treatment or hospitalization.

Ascension Via Christi and Wamego Health Center continue to aggressively respond to the evolving Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, announced additional measures today designed to protect patients, visitors, caregivers and associates.

Those measures, effective today, include:

• Revising visitor guidelines to request no more than one visitor per patient and no visitors under age 18. Implementing screening for everyone entering its hospitals and outpatient clinics through limited entrances at each site.
  • Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan – Patient Entrance and Emergency Room entrances should be used
  • Wamego Health Center – Main Entrance, Emergency Room and Rehabilitation Gym entrances should be used
• Anyone who affirms that they have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing will be asked not to visit and return when he or she is no longer symptomatic. They also will be advised to consider a virtual visit through Facebook, Skype or other online platforms. Those who are approved to visit will be asked to limit their movement within the hospital to and from the patient’s room.

“These steps are being taken proactively to protect our patients and associates, while still respecting the

rights of our patients to receive visitors,” said Bob Copple, President of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in

Manhattan. “We continue to be committed to the health and safety of our patients, their guests and our associates.”

Leaders at Ascension Via Christi and Wamego Health Center are in close communication with community physicians and the Riley County & Pottawatomie County Health Departments to help coordinate activities and share knowledge, he added.

“This is a time to stay informed and look for official sources of information, including the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Riley County Health Department,” Copple said. “For the time being, we encourage the community stay home and practice social distancing, and especially individuals who feel unwell, have a fever or have travelled recently. It will take all of us to help reduce the spread of this illness.”

 

 

 

More COVID-19 news:

5 Things to know about Novel Coronavirus

 

 

Click below to donate to the event!

Wamego Health Center is looking for input from our community! Please take the time to fill out the survey! Hard copies are located at Wamego Health Center, Wamego City Offices, and Community Care Ministries.

Fill out the survey online: Pottawatomie County Community Health Needs Assessment

Print copies:

2019 Pottawatomie CNA Hard Copy English

2019 Pottawatomie CNA Hard Copy Spanish

We will also hold focus groups in October-November 2019. Dates to come!

 

Summer’s warm weather can mean more opportunity for outdoor exercise, but it can also result in injuries from pushing too hard or getting too hot.

“To enjoy your summertime fitness, remember to stretch the areas of your body you will use and hydrate 24 hours before, during and after your activities, especially if it’s longer than one hour – for example, swimming at the lake, water park or pool, or during outdoor sports and ball tournaments,” said Dr. Curtis Wolfe, family medicine physician at Wamego Family Clinic.

Here are some other tips to keep in mind when exercising in the summer heat:

• Monitor the weather forecast. Know how hot it is likely to be during your workout, prepare accordingly and dress appropriately.
• Take time to get used to the temperature. This is especially critical if you are used to exercising indoors or in cooler weather. It can take a week or two to adapt to the heat, so don’t push too hard at first.
• Be realistic about your fitness level. If you’re relatively new to exercise, be even more careful when exercising in the heat. Start slowly and take breaks.
• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is one of the most significant factors in heat-related illnesses. Many people will wait until they feel thirsty to drink water, but you should hydrate before feeling thirsty. Sports drinks are not typically needed unless you are performing an intense exercise, and you should watch out for excess sugar content in them.
• Exercise during non-peak hours. Workout during hours that are cooler, like the morning or evening, and exercise in shaded areas, if possible.
• Wear sunscreen. Skin cancer can affect anyone and applying sunscreen has been proven to reduce one’s risk of developing skin cancer.
• Pay attention to your body for warning signs of heat-related illness. Signs and symptoms of heat-related illness can include muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, weakness, headache, confusion, and visual problems. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop exercising, get to a cooler setting, and hydrate to help bring down your body temperature.

Our Volunteer Services team is looking for a additional volunteers, specifically Information Desk and Patient Activity volunteers! For these positions, we require a 16-week commitment.

Information Desk Volunteer requirements

Patient Activity Volunteer requirements

For more information about other Volunteer Opportunities, visit the Volunteering page.

By Tina Rockhold
Development director, Wamego Hospital Foundation

On behalf of the board, we are excited to launch the fundraising campaign to upgrade to 3D mammography at Wamego Health Center! As noted last night, the benefits are numerous. Here is a quick recap:

• 3D is the gold standard in breast imaging, allowing earlier detection of cancer.
• The superior image quality makes it much easier in some cases for radiologist to detect cancer that may not be visible with 2D technology.
• Bringing 3D breast imaging to Wamego Health Center gives our loved ones the opportunity to receive screenings closer to home or work alleviating the burden of travel, and more importantly receive treatments sooner if necessary.

Projects of this magnitude are only possible with support from donors who believe in the mission of providing exceptional healthcare at the local level. Your philanthropic support for the 3D mammography campaign will help patients access the finest in breast cancer detection.

The first fundraiser for the 3D mammography campaign is Wamego Match Day on Friday, June 7, 2019. On that day, Wamego Community Foundation will match donations made by to Wamego Hospital Foundation at .50 cents per $1. Any contribution made on Match Day 2019 will be designated to the 3D mammography campaign.

Here’s how it works:

• Visit Iron Clad in Wamego between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on June 7. Gifts can be made by cash, check or online using a credit card.
• Online Match Day gifts can made anytime that day. Simply visit www.wamegomatchday.com to donate. Profiles for the organization participating in Match Day are already visible at the website.

If you have any questions about the 3D mammography campaign or how the Wamego Hospital Foundation is involved with Wamego Match Day on June 7, please contact me. I look forward to talking with you.

Meanwhile, to learn more about the foundation or to make a donation visit our website. Again, thank you for your support!

(Photo from the Foundation’s Open House on Thursday, May 2 at the Wamego Health Center Cafe.)