HESSTON- Two years ago this month, Bluestem Communities announced thePrivate Home for Everyone Campaignto help raise funds to construct a new, two-story assisted-living addition for Schowalter Villa residents and the community.
This week, Bluestem Communities announced the grand opening
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HESSTON- Two years ago this month, Bluestem Communities announced thePrivate Home for Everyone Campaignto help raise funds to construct a new, two-story assisted-living addition for Schowalter Villa residents and the community.
This week, Bluestem Communities announced the grand opening date for the $6.1 million community building will beSept. 7, 2018.
At the grand opening, Bluestem Communities will honor the Mullet Family with a building dedication. The new community building,Mullet Place at Schowalter Villa, will be named in honor ofRoy and Bess Mulletin recognition of lead gifts from Excel Industries and the Mullet Family. Roy Mullet was one of the founders of Excel Industries located in Hesston; he and Bess were Schowalter Villa residents for over a decade. The couple had five sons, each of whom personally supported this community project.
“We are honored to partner with the Mullet Family and Excel Industries on this project and to be able to recognize their generosity in this way,” said Yvonne Sieber, Bluestem Communities Chief Philanthropy Officer.
The driving motivation for the new building was to create private homes for every Schowalter Villa resident. Mullet Place at Schowalter Villa will provide residents with 24 new assisted living homes, resulting in 40 total assisted living homes and 98 private healthcare rooms on campus.
“We firmly believe that every individual on our campus deserves the privacy and dignity of a private home. Thanks to the benevolence of many donors, this belief will become a reality for residents on our campus very soon. We are all so excited for the opening of Mullet Place at Schowalter Villa,” saidJames Krehbiel, CEO/President Bluestem Communities.
The word ‘place’ was chosen due to its broad meaning. Schowalter Villa sees this new addition to be used by the community in many ways, reaching even beyond the organization’s residents and staff. In addition to providing residents with private homes, the building will include two new classrooms for Hesston Intergenerational Child Development Center, community café and bakery, gift shop and outdoor walking paths.Mullet Place at Schowalter Villawill be a place for the community to gather, children to play and seniors to enjoy a dynamic place to live and connect.
“The Private Home for Everyone project was one that resonated with us from a business and family standpoint. Both Schowalter Villa and Excel Industries have been pillars of the local business community for many years and this project will benefit many Hesston residents and their families,” said Bob and Paul Mullet.
For more information on Bluestem Communities visit us online atwww.bluestemks.org.
Participants in a pilot project in Salina, Kansas, are living healthier and more active lives after KanCare (Kansas’ Medicaid program) and Cerner collaborated to improve their overall well-being. Starting in June 2015, the initiative used targeted data to focus on
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Participants in a pilot project in Salina, Kansas, are living healthier and more active lives after KanCare (Kansas’ Medicaid program) and Cerner collaborated to improve their overall well-being. Starting in June 2015, the initiative used targeted data to focus on eligible Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes, and those who were pregnant. Those beneficiaries then learned how they could improve their health through things like healthy eating and exercise.
“The pilot program identified effective ways to improve the health and engagement of those in the Kansas Medicaid program,” said Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, M.D.
When the program ended in July 2016, those who took part in all the program requirements reported a drop in triglycerides and total cholesterol, as well as an increase in physical activity. Total cholesterol fell an average of 9.8 mg/dL, while triglycerides fell an average of 27.5 mg/dL. The group also self-reported an increase in moderate or vigorous physical activity — from 82 percent to 93 percent.
“Cerner and the State of Kansas have a shared vision for improving the health of its residents. The pilot project allowed us to collaborate on innovative ways to engage KanCare beneficiaries and provide a tailored health care experience which led to improved health outcomes,” said Christa Roberts, director of population health client performance management, Cerner.
To encourage participation, Cerner looked at the geographic data on disease prevalence and set up physical locations close to where beneficiaries lived, worked and shopped, including the Salina Emergency Aid /Food Bank, Central Kansas Foundation and Walmart.
At those locations, Cerner’s health team administered labs and biometric screenings, provided health coaching services and offered education about food and transportation resources. Cerner health navigators also matched participants to physicians, monitored program engagement and shared information about the participants’ progress with those involved (managed care coordination). As an incentive, enrollees received water bottles, pedometers or Walmart gift cards for their participation in the program.
Cerner and the University of Kansas Business School created a survey to collect data on participants’ health beliefs, motivations and hopes. Survey results helped break the respondents into various groups. Health navigators then communicated with participants in each group with personalized messaging to encourage further participation.
“Through the program, we found a way to incentivize members to make healthy behavior changes,” said Colyer. “The incentive strategy, combined with collaborative relationships between beneficiaries and their health team, are helping Kansans achieve better outcomes.”
Now that the pilot project is complete, it could lead to similar future projects to improve the health of Medicaid beneficiaries.
On Monday, April 30, City Commissioners will hear a report from City Attorney Jeff Houston regarding options available to reconfigure the structure of McPherson’s governing body. After the November 2017 election, Mayor Tom Brown requested a study to explore options in
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On Monday, April 30, City Commissioners will hear a report from City Attorney Jeff Houston regarding options available to reconfigure the structure of McPherson’s governing body. After the November 2017 election, Mayor Tom Brown requested a study to explore options in response to public concerns about the size of the current commission. Houston will present the report at 7 p.m. during a public meeting designated specifically for this topic.
Following the presentation, citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions and voice opinions and concerns.
The meeting is open to the public and will occur at the City Offices, 400 E. Kansas. For more information, contact City Administrator Nick Gregory at 620.245.2535 or [email protected]
A large wildland fire that originated in Colorado and crossed into Kansas late Tuesday evening, affecting Stanton and Morton Counties, was contained overnight. Multiple structures were impacted by the fire and damage assessment by local authorities will be done today in those
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A large wildland fire that originated in Colorado and crossed into Kansas late Tuesday evening, affecting Stanton and Morton Counties, was contained overnight. Multiple structures were impacted by the fire and damage assessment by local authorities will be done today in those counties. Wallace County also reported a large fire that started last night and has been contained.
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Nebraska National Guard have been requested via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and will arrive in Kansas on Wednesday and remain on standby to assist with aerial fire suppression, due to the expectation of a high fire danger on Wednesday.
A shelter that was established for residents displaced by the fire in Morton County has closed.
The State Emergency Operations Center will remain activated to monitor very high fire weather conditions anticipated across the state on Wednesday due to gusty northwest winds and relative humidity as low as 20 %. Strong northwest winds of 28 – 31 mph, gusting to 29 mph are expected.
Gov. Jeff Colyer, M.D., issued a disaster declaration on Tuesday for western Kansas counties battling wildland fires.
KDEM officials are reminding Kansans to avoid any activity that could create a spark and start a new fire. Because open fires can quickly get out of control, even for experienced fire fighters, people should avoid open burning. Check with the local authorities in each county for information regarding county burn bans. Do not drive on or stop your car on dry or tallgrass because your exhaust can spark a fire; do not throw cigarettes on the ground. Check and re-check any recent fires for rekindling.
For more information regarding the weather and a map of the red flag warning, go to www.weather.gov.
According to data reported to Kansas’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, K-TRACS, there were at least 2,579,058 opioid prescriptions and 189,525,054 opioid units (i.e., pills, patches, films or vials) dispensed to Kansas patients in 2017. This corresponds to a rate of
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According to data reported to Kansas’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, K-TRACS, there were at least 2,579,058 opioid prescriptions and 189,525,054 opioid units (i.e., pills, patches, films or vials) dispensed to Kansas patients in 2017. This corresponds to a rate of 88.5 prescriptions per 100 Kansans and 65.1 opioid units per Kansan. This is equivalent to dispensing an approximate 14-day supply of an opioid prescription to 8 out of 10 Kansas residents in 2017.
There has been an 8.99-percent decrease in opioid dispensation statewide from 2016, or approximately 249,942 fewer opioid prescriptions. Among the 105 Kansas counties, 103 experienced a decrease in opioid dispensation in 2017. Republic, Hamilton, Grant, Haskell and Norton were the five counties with the highest percentage decrease. This decrease may be attributed in part to increased use of K-TRACS by prescribers and pharmacists. In 2017, there were approximately 8,300 prescribers and 2,700 pharmacists using K-TRACS in Kansas – a significant increase from 2016.
“Physicians and pharmacists alike see the value of utilizing K-TRACS. It prevents people from going to multiple doctors to get multiple prescriptions filled at multiple pharmacies without the prescribers’ knowledge,” KDHE Chief Medical Officer Dr. Greg Lakin said. “This allows healthcare providers to become aware of those that may need help and treatment with addiction.”
In 2017, the Kansas Board of Pharmacy and Kansas Department of Health and Environment collaborated to integrate K-TRACS data into Electronic Health Records (EHR) and pharmacy management systems. This enhancement to K-TRACS may also assist prescribers and pharmacists with making clinically informed decisions about prescribing or dispensing opioids.
“Bringing a patient’s controlled substance prescription history into the EHR or pharmacy management system eliminates the need to log into separate systems to review these data,” said Kansas Board of Pharmacy Executive Secretary, Alexandra Blasi. “This saves valuable time in a treatment encounter and promotes informed clinical decision-making.” As of April 2018, 21 hospitals, 22 pharmacies and 4 clinics statewide have integrated K-TRACS data into their EHR or pharmacy management system. For more information, or to request integration, please visit pharmacy.ks.gov/k-tracs-responsive/k-tracs-statewide-integration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Prescription Drug Overdose: Data-Driven Prevention Initiative Program supports this project. For more information on opioid prescription dispensation data and Kansas’s efforts to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, please visit www.preventoverdoseks.org. For more information on K-TRACS, please visit www.ktracs.ks.gov.
Published | Title |
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April 17, 2018 | Traffic Stop Tuesday – Limited Time Parking Zones |
April 16, 2018 | Fire Chief applauds SRO hiring |
April 16, 2018 | Street Dance, Barbecue Cookoff set for May 11 and 12 |
April 16, 2018 | City announces annual budget meetings |
April 16, 2018 | Construction Update April 16 |
April 16, 2018 | Public Works Report April 16 |
April 16, 2018 | Commission approves special events |
April 15, 2018 | April 28 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day |
April 15, 2018 | McPherson Airport to host seminar |
April 12, 2018 | McPherson High School SRO announced |