Meet our Providers: Connie Anderson, FNP

Our Family Nurse Practitioners: Vital to Rural Healthcare

The first advanced education program for nursing in the United States began in the 1960s as the demand for primary care began to grow beyond the number of physicians available to provide it. Today the need for primary care remains greater than ever due to an aging population and many new individuals with healthcare coverage as a result of Accountable Care Act.

In Atchison and Holt Counties, mid-level providers have been a mainstay of the healthcare team for many years. In Missouri, family nurse practitioners can meet many primary care needs and each FNP has a collaborative practice agreement with a physician. Mid level providers extend the reach of physicians, provide emergency care and fulfill specialized roles like pediatric care. The relationship Family Nurse Practitioners have with CH-F physicians also ensures patients have a quick and efficient avenue to the physician when needed.

Meet Connie Anderson, FNP

Connie Anderson, FNP brings a unique perspective to the CH-F team after running her own clinic while serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq during 2007 and 2008. While in Iraq, she provided primary care for both military and contract workers.

“Because I ran a clinic there, I have become more assertive and confident as a nurse practitioner, but at the same time, I have become more compassionate, because I experienced so much in Iraq,” she said.

Connie has been a nurse since 1970 and a FNP since 2004. She enjoys working at the CH-F Emergency Room because of the relationship among providers.

“There is a great connection between nurse practitioners and physicians. We are a great team,” explained Connie.

Connie is also a mom and grandma and makes her home in Maryville, Mo.

Meet Our Providers: Becky Heits FNP

During the first two weeks of May, hospitals all over the United States celebrate Nursing Week and Hospital Week. We love the opportunity to celebrate our hardworking staff. We also feel it is a great time to tell you more about some of our fantastic providers, our nurse practitioners.

Our Family Nurse Practitioners: Vital to Rural Healthcare

The first advanced education program for nursing in the United States began in the 1960s as the demand for primary care began to grow beyond the number of physicians available to provide it. Today the need for primary care remains greater than ever due to an aging population and many new individuals with healthcare coverage as a result of Accountable Care Act.

In Atchison and Holt Counties, mid-level providers have been a mainstay of the healthcare team for many years. In Missouri, family nurse practitioners can meet many primary care needs and each FNP has a collaborative practice agreement with a physician. Mid level providers extend the reach of physicians, provide emergency care and fulfill specialized roles like pediatric care. The relationship Family Nurse Practitioners have with CH-F physicians also ensures patients have a quick and efficient avenue to the physician when needed.

Meet Becky Heits, FNP

Becky Heits began her career thirty years ago as a nurse’s aide at Community Hospital-Fairfax. She went on to become a RN. Through the years, she continued her education and in August of 2013, she celebrated her graduation from a nurse practitioner program. Shortly after her graduation, she began seeing patients in the CH-F Emergency Room.

When asked why she felt called to be a nurse practitioner she explained, “A nurse practitioner is a unique blend of nursing and medical. I wanted to partner with patients to assist them in attaining their optimal health. With the lack of primary care doctors in rural areas, nurse practitioners play an important role in providing healthcare.”

Becky thrives on the challenges provided by her work. She believes strongly in treating her patients with respect and compassion just like her own family.

Becky is a lifelong Northwest Missouri native. She currently lives in Tarkio, but was raised in Mound City. She is married to Todd and they have a son, Kyle.

Community Hospital-Fairfax is so proud of Becky and all that she has accomplished. We are so grateful to her and to all of our staff for choosing rural healthcare! Stay tuned to meet more of nurse practitioners through the coming weeks!

Jo Stevens Is on the Road to Recovery and the Bowling Alley

"Let's try driving," said Helen Jo Steven's friend on a winter day not so long ago.

"We went down to the park. I got behind the wheel and it was like riding a bike. I was so surprised and extremely grateful," explained Jo.

This winter Jo arrived at the CH-F Emergency Room after suffering a stroke. She explains that she never felt bad, but she had lost mobility in the right side of her body. After being evaluated in the ER, she was admitted to the hospital's inpatient floor to begin her journey to recovery.

Jo was a patient at CH-F for 23 days. During that time she was considered a skilled patient. This means that her care was heavily focused on restoring her health and enabling her to get back to her very active lifestyle. Each day Jo received physical therapy, which she calls invaluable to her recovery. Jo especially appreciated the kindness of the nursing staff and the whirlpool baths she was treated to several times a week!

"Seeing a patient admitted to the hospital with an illness or injury is always really difficult, but the day they leave with restored mobility or health is really exciting especially since so many that we care for are also our friends and family," Samantha Grist, RN, CH-F Med Surge Manager shared about the feelings of the nurses at CH-F.

 Jo was grateful to receive the care she needed close to home. As an avid bowler and former mayor of Rock Port, Jo has many friends and relatives. Her hospital stay at CH-F meant that she frequently had visitors. She explains that this made her days go very quickly.

Bowling is a passion of Jo's and with the purchase of a lighter ball, she plans to hit the lanes as soon as possible. Part of reaching this goal is the therapy she received which she shares "helped her tremendously."  She is determined to reach her average score of 130 again.

Shannon Pruitt, PT, Director of Rehab Services at CH-F says that Jo's effort made all the difference, "Throughout Jo's rehab journey, she never lost hope or sight of her goals. She always had a smile on her face and a good joke to keep us laughing. Her determination is a tremendous display of her achievements and will be what continues to help her improve in the future. She remains an inspiration to our entire team."

Ask your physician if skilled care and therapy services are an option for you. And remember that you can come to Community Hospital-Fairfax for skilled care, therapy or other services even if you had surgery elsewhere. For more information talk to your physician or call CH-F at (660) 686-2211.

Other News:

CH-F is Opening a Physician's Clinic in Holt County

Our March Clinic Calender is Available to View Here

New Varicose Vein Procedures at CH-F

Craig Resident is Back on the Combine after Cardiac Rehab at CH-F

Two years ago, rural Craig resident, Richard "Pude" Jackson, was a very different man than today. Recovering from open heart surgery, returning home from a three week stint in an Omaha hospital and feeling extremely weak, he could not imagine a time when he would be behind the wheel of a combine again. 

It was then that Dr. Aron Burke took one look at him and recommended he enroll in the CH-F Cardiac Rehab program.

"When Pude came into Cardiac Rehab for the first time, he was using a walker. I watched as he became stronger and walked in one day with a cane. By the time he graduated from the program, he walked out on his own," commented Jackie Martin, RN and Cardiac Rehab Nurse.

Pude attended Cardiac Rehab over a 12 week period with 36 sessions. During this time, he learned how to use the treadmill and strengthen his arms. He also changed his eating habits substantially. He lost 20 pounds over the three months he was enrolled in the program.

After graduating from Cardiac Rehab, Pude did not stop with the transformation. He began walking two times a day for 30 minutes on the treadmill.  In the summer, he adds a quarter mile walk outside and sometimes uses his stationary bike as well. He has continued to lose weight and his wife, Pat, has joined him in the new healthy lifestyle.

Even though he continued to make strides with his health, Pude was still experiencing weakness in his left arm after the surgery. Once again, he turned to CH-F for help and began receiving physical therapy for his arm. Today, he feels better than ever.

"I'm 67 years old and this fall my neighbor asked if I could run his combine. I wasn't sure that I could, but I ended up putting 137 hours behind the wheel over two weeks. That is something I never thought I'd do again" Pude shared.

Today, Pude sees Dr. Ryan Whitney in the CH-F Cardiac Outpatient Clinic. His last report was glowing.

Dr. Aron Burke, Pude's Primary Care Physician, is proud of what Pude has accomplished, "Pude is an excellent example of someone who took what was learned in Cardiac Rehab and applied it to his life. His health has taken a significant turn for the better in the last two years."

For questions about Cardiac Rehab, please contact Jackie Martin RN at (660) 686-2211 or jackiem@FairfaxMed.com

Wondering about your risk for a heart event? Find out here:

Mental Healthcare Shortage in Rural Areas: CH-F's Efforts

Eighteen months ago, CH-F started on a journey to better understand the needs of our community. When we started the process of our Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), we knew that mental health would rise to the top as an unmet need in our community. For years, our physicians have told us that the need was great and the resources very limited. And time and time again, we have experienced it ourselves when a patient seeks the ER as a last resort.

What you might not realize about mental health in our community:
*14% of the U.S. population suffers from moderate to severe mental illness from short-term situational depression to long term chronic conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
*Suicide rates in rural areas are higher than urban areas.
*Rural areas have a higher proportion of people who are at risk for mental and behavioral health problems, especially older adults.
*Stress is associated with increased mental health disorders. Rural people experience stress with cyclical farm crisis, natural disasters and isolation.
*Rural populations have a greater portion of untreated mental illness than non-rural communities.
*33% of households responding to the CH-F CHNA survey reported depression as a minor or major problem in their household.

And here are a few facts about mental healthcare:
*Distance to mental health providers and transportation costs can be a barrier. There is no psychiatric care in Atchison or Holt Counties.
*Rural Americans are less likely to have health insurance that covers mental health.
*Atchison and Holt Counties are not alone. 104 of Missouri's 114 counties are designated by the federal government as mental health shortage areas.

*http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap8.html

So what is CH-F doing?
We are so pleased to announce that Carl Greiner, M.D. will begin seeing patients in a psychiatry clinic in January. The clinic will be conducted using video conferencing where patients interact face to face with Dr. Greiner through the use of a screen.

With the shortage of psychiatric care, underserved communities all over the country are utilizing technology to increase access to mental health professionals. The CH-F Psychiatry Clinic is the first telemedicine clinic at CH-F.

Patients will be referred to the clinic by their primary care physician. Our staff will then schedule the patient for an appointment at the hospital. At the hospital, the patient will interact with Dr. Greiner face to face via a screen just like a traditional office appointment. After the appointment, Dr. Greiner and the patient's primary care physician will then collaborate on treatment recommendations.

Psychiatry has been a significant need in our community for many, many years. This clinic represents the first  step toward getting the patients the care they need close to home. We are honored to offer this service to our community.

Those interested in this clinic should contact their primary care physician.

Cindy Lewis Breathes Easy After a Visit to the CH-F Emergency Room

Being short of breath with a paling complexion were the first signs that something was not right for Cindy Lewis. When these symptoms turned into a struggle to breathe, it was time to seek help. She arrived at the Community Hospital-Fairfax (CH-F) Emergency Room that October afternoon struggling for every breath.

On duty that afternoon was Nurse Practitioner Melissa Masonbrink and registered nurse Bryan Krutz. The team quickly assessed Cindy's condition and began to examine what could be causing the dangerous symptoms. After giving Cindy blood and running a number of tests, it was determined that Cindy had bleeding ulcers and needed a procedure offered at The Nebraska Medical Center. Cindy was quickly transported north to receive the care she needed.

Not long after her recovery from the bleeding ulcers, Cindy found herself struggling to breathe once again. Without hesitation, she arrived at the CH-F Emergency Room where she was diagnosed with blood clots in her lungs within one hour of arrival. Soon, she was once again on her way to breathing easy.

Cindy Lewis is a believer in the CH-F Emergency Room, "I feel like they are going to figure out what is wrong with me very quickly. They are always friendly, attentive and efficient. When they order a test, it is done and the results are relayed to the patient quickly. When the diagnosis is made, they waste no time starting treatment or, if necessary, getting you to the right place to get the help you need."

Samantha Grist, RN, Med/Surg and ER Nurse Manager, is proud of the response time at the CH-F Emergency Room, "In many larger hospitals, patients wait hours to get help. In most cases, we are able to connect our patients with a provider very quickly. In a stressful situation, the last thing any patient wants is a wait."

Cindy wants to remind the community about the CH-F Emergency Room. She commented, "I lived in Kansas City for 28 years, so I know what it's like to wait for several hours in the E.R. when you're not feeling well.  The zero wait time here is a luxury that I very much appreciate."

The CH-F Emergency Room is staffed 24 hours a day with Family Nurse Practitioners or Physicians. Staffing the Emergency Room are specially trained individuals in emergency care. CH-F is also a stroke ready facility.

For more questions about the CH-F or the services offered, please call (660) 686-2211.

2013 at Community Hospital-Fairfax, The Year in Review

The American Hospital Association reports that 72 million Americans live in rural areas. Serving those Americans are 2,000 rural hospitals like Community Hospital-Fairfax (CH-F), often offering the only access to healthcare within many miles.

Providing the fullest range of healthcare possible, is important to CH-F. Recent service additions include an oncology clinic provided by Susan Kambhu M.D., new interventional radiology procedures offered on a weekly basis and PET/CT scans. Coming in 2014 are varicose vein procedures. These services join acute, skilled and obstetrical care along with radiology, laboratory, cardiac rehab, therapy, surgery and specialty clinic services.

Dr. Douglas Niemann joined the CH-F Radiology Team to share
about new varicose vein procedures at the Me Market. For more information
call (660) 686-2360.

CH-F is also proud to report excellent scores for quality in 2013. In the last 12 months, the hospital recorded a readmission rate lower than the industry standard. CH-F also performs well on Core Measures (standard of care determined by Medicare) with an average of 99% on all Core Measures reported. Medicare's website for hospital patient satisfaction reports that CH-F patients are recommending CH-F at higher rates than patients visiting other local hospitals. Community Hospital-Fairfax is currently outperforming the state and national average. (www.hospitalcompare.hhs.org).

In many communities, the local hospital is the largest employer and adds to the attractiveness of the community to businesses or families planning to make the community their home. In the last year, Community Hospital-Fairfax has employed 104 with a payroll of over $4.2 million. For every hospital job in a rural community, the American Hospital Association uses a multiplier of .77.  That means that CH-F contributes another 80 jobs to the local community. In the last fiscal year, CH-F spent over $145,700 supporting local businesses and organizations in Atchison and Holt Counties.

Community health is important to rural hospitals. CH-F is no exception. In the last fiscal year, CH-F sponsored many events to improve community health. Those include the Wear Red Challenge for Heart Health, Pediatric Orientation for 80 plus area first graders, the Kids Cafe and pool party for over 150 children and families, the Back to School Fairs in Atchison and Holt Counties, a free prostate screening, the Me Market for over 250 women and free screenings for high school students in Atchison and Holt.

Shannon Pruitt PT visits with guests at the Me Market.

Dr. Aron Burke was recognized as the Missouri Family Physician of the Year in 2013!

In 2014, CH-F will be reporting patient satisfaction and quality results at www.FairfaxMed.com. Patients and community members are encouraged to visit the website and learn more about how CH-F is providing care for the community. Other questions about Community Hospital-Fairfax services can be directed to the hospital at (660) 686-2211.