February 15, 2015 RCH MARKS 60 TH ANNIVERSARY SATURDAY Saturday, February 21 marks the 60 th Anniversary of Rooks County Health Center (RCH). Originally opened as Plainville Rural Hospital at 304 S. Colorado Street, the name was changed in 2003 to Rooks County Health Center and our new facility opened September 2008 at its present location, 1210 N. Washington Street. According to articles in the Plainville Times from February 1955, the original hospital opened after two years of hard work and cost $275,000. Bill Brickley was the Administrator and Medical Technologist for 36 years. Dr. E. C. Petterson, the only physician serving the area prior to the hospital construction, helped recruit Dr. A.M. Pederson and Dr. Vale Page to the county. On opening day, the medical staff consisted of Chief of Staff, Dr. Petterson, Dr. Pederson, Dr. Page and two dentists, Robert Andreson, D.D.S. and Arvin Rueger, D.D.S. A few months later, Harold Mauck, M.D., William Votapka, M.D., George Hopson, M.D., all of Stockton, joined the medical staff of the hospital. Year-round celebrations for the 60 th Anniversary will be announced later but we will be celebrating during our annual RCH Health Fair slated for April 25 at the Stockton High School Gymnasium. This year s health fair will pay homage to all those who helped bring the latest in health care to Rooks County and also present an opportunity to see what RCH has in store for the next generation. Having outgrown our original campus, RCH s new facility has experienced tremendous growth within its first seven years: lab tests were up 34%, diagnostic imaging was up 28% and inpatient and outpatient services increased nearly 100%. With last year s addition of a second ultrasound machine, a new CT scanner and soon an in-house MRI machine, these numbers are expected to experience another climb. Doctors Without Delay is credited for increasing patient visits over 630% since opening. Nearly 40% of these visitors travel to RCH from outside Rooks County. 2014 was another record setting year for the clinic. According to the Denver Post, almost 50 rural hospitals have closed since the beginning of 2010 with over half of those just in the last two years. We feel so much compassion for these rural communities and it makes what we are doing here at RCH to keep moving forward that much more important. Follow Us on facebook.com/rookscountyhealthcenter and Twitter @RooksCoHealth 1
RCH Celebrated Nikki Meistrell s 25 Years of Service on Tuesday, February 17 in the RCH Cafeteria. Nikki started working in the lab at Plainville Rural Hospital in May 1969. She stayed there for a little over 2 years before she moved. In August 1974 she returned and started working in laundry for about 1 year. In November 1989, she officially became an LPN and came back to us as a nurse in January 1990. RCH co-workers pitched in and presented Nikki with a gift card to the Quilt Cottage Company in Hays. She was also given a card with money to spend on whatever she d like. RCH and the board presented Nikki with a beautiful plaque. Congratulations Nikki! 2
Darla Sneath is February Employee of the Month Darla Sneath was nominated by Dinah VanSchuyver. Darla has worked in the Environmental Services Department at RCH since June 2008. Congratulations Darla! Human Resource News JOB OPENINGS: CNA Part-time Cook Communications & Development Director Admissions Clerk ************************************************************************ CHANGES IN EMPLOYEES: Buffy Woodward s last day will be Feb. 19. Tonya Jacobs started on Feb. 2 as a PRN receptionist for DWD. Amanda Claridge started on Feb. 4 as a nurse for DWD. CORRECTION: Nickyta Addleman had her 1 year date of hire anniversary on February 10. 3
Mark Your Calendars Friday, April 17 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Saturday, April 25 - RCH Health Fair will be held at the Stockton High School. If you are interested in being on this committee, please let Kandie Morain know. Mandatory Quarterly Staff Meetings for the Rest of the Year are scheduled for: April 30 July 30 October 29. RCH Auxiliary NEWS Happy Birthday! The RCH Auxiliary is offering 25% off coupons to all employees during the month of their birthday. Look for yours to be handed out during the first of the month and the coupon expires at the end of the month. If you have any questions, please see Kandie or the volunteer in the Auxiliary Gift Shop. Thanks Auxiliary! Thank you RCH Employees! We would like to say thank you to all RCH employees that helped to contribute to the fundraiser we had for Danielle Gallardo (Daughter of Susan Romo, Admissions Clerk). We successfully attained the goal thanks to everyone. Plainville goes on this trip annually, which is through World Strides Organization and we were delighted to hear that this year it was opened up to the surrounding communities. Danielle, a Junior, will be the only one representing Stockton. Susan and her mother, Neva, will be joining Tom Nuckols, DDS, as chaperones for Plainville and Natoma students. We will depart on Sunday, March 15 out of Kansas City, Kansas. Some of the itinerary will include visiting: Arlington National Cemetery, Iwo Jima Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Mount Vernon, White House, National Archives, Smithsonian Institute, Washington Monument, FDR Memorial, MLK and Jefferson Memorials, WW II Memorial, Capitol Hill Tour, the Today Show, a Broadway play, and much more! Susan has a complete itinerary if you are interested. Upon our return, we will share some pictures of our exciting experiences in Washington, DC and New York City. Sincerely, Susan Romo and family 4
Lunch Menu Sunday, Feb 15 Swiss steak, mashed potato, cheesy broccoli, pasta salad, crème pie, dinner roll Monday, Feb 16 Chicken strip salad bar, cherry square dessert Tuesday, Feb 17 Spaghetti, green beans, tossed salad, apple crisp, garlic breadstick Wednesday, Feb 18 Beef & noodles, mashed potato, rosy applesauce, Oreo cookie cake Thursday, Feb 19 Top crusted cod fillet, baked potato, Italian vegetable salad, fruit pizza Friday, Feb 20 Cheeseburger/bun, tater tots, vegetable tray w/dip, strawberry ice cream Saturday, Feb 21 Lasagna casserole, green beans, fruit cup, frosted cake Sunday, Feb 22 Roast beef, mashed potato w/gravy, mixed vegetables, small salad, crème pie, dinner roll Monday, Feb 23 Sliced beef brisket, baked potato, tossed salad, strawberry poke cake Tuesday, Feb 24 Grilled chicken wrap, green bean dumpling soup, layered pudding dessert Wednesday, Feb 25 Taco salad bar, chocolate cake Thursday, Feb 26 Ham sandwich, broccoli cheese soup, Hawaiian cake Friday, Feb 27 Brats on bun, potato chips, small salad, iced brownie Saturday, Feb 28 Chicken-broccoli-cheese casserole, pineapple tidbits, two cookies, dinner roll 5