Gov. Sam Brownback’s policies have put Horizons Mental Health in an unenviable position again. With economic shortfalls at the state level, the governor has placed the agency in the position where they will have to do better with less.
Medical resources in Pratt County — primary care, specialty physicians and surgeons, diagnostic screening, a regional medical center — aren’t readily available for everyone. Hundreds of county residents, perhaps as many as a thousand or more, are too young for Medicare and don’t have health insurance.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment in a letter to the Pratt County Commissioners recognized the Pratt County Health Department and commissioners for support and work relating to public health done over the past year.
Kansas children are feeling the impact of the recession, with nearly one in five living in poverty and an increase in the number of children who rely on Medicaid and the state-run Children’s Health Insurance Program for health insurance.
During the month of November, and for as long as the supply lasts, every baby born at Pratt Regional Medical Center went home with a purple hat. Their parents carried home a DVD and booklet that can help them understand that it’s normal for babies to cry and that they may not always be able to soothe them.
For the third straight year, the infant survival rate improved in Kansas for 2010, bringing the state closer to national rates. In 2007, Kansas ranked 40th among states in overall infant mortality and ranked worst in the nation for black infant mortality, according to the National Center for Vital Statistics.
A new diagnostic tool being used by Pratt physicians is a tiny camera — but a big pill to swallow. Some patients might balk at swallowing an object an inch long by a little less than half an inch thick, but the data recovered can provide clues to symptoms they’re experiencing.
Water and soil samples at Pratt Regional Airport are the next step in efforts to convince the Army Corps of Engineers to follow through on a commitment to run a water line to the airport from Pratt.
On Saturday, Oct. 1stPratt County hosted the opening of the new Agape Health Clinic (AHC).
Pink is the recommended color for Greenback fans when Pratt High hosts Nickerson at 7 p.m. Friday at Zerger Field.
A new Pratt physician is enthusiastic about his choice, after his first month in practice. Dr. Aaron Zook knew he would like his colleagues, having served a one-month rural medicine rotation with Pratt Internal Medicine Group as part of his medical school studies four years ago.
Gastroenterologist Daniel Suiter, MD and General Surgeon Jason Wiltshire, MD have added new services and products to help detect gastrointestinal diseases and improve patient care.
The 2011-12 Pratt Health Foundation focus is the development of the Pratt Regional Medical Center's Women’s Health Center. As part of its fundraising, the PHF is selling raffle tickets for a new Color Nook (electronic book) during the Pink Out football season.
How many ways can you say sugar? Quite a few, as Miriam Nelson illustrated when she visited a home that may or may not be typical of south central Kansas Friday morning. A box of granola bars, considered as a healthier alternative to cookies or candy, listed some type of sugar 12 times on the label.
In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Pratt Regional Medical Center mammography department will have a bake sale on Thursday, October 20th at 9 a.m. in the PRMC cafeteria. Everyone is welcome to attend. All proceeds will go to the Pratt Health Foundation to support women’s health.
Research and education about what to eat to stay healthy have not been effective —or at least not as effective as they should be. Dr. Miriam Nelson, a research scientist at Tufts University and author of the New York Times best-selling Strong Women book series, has been working in the field of nutrition and physical fitness since about 1985. During that time, the nation has become increasingly obese — more than 30 percent are in that category. Another 35 percent of Americans are overweight.
A year ago, local cheerleaders took on a big project and were rewarded with a sea of pink in the stands, pink shoelaces and pink armbands on athletes, and a whole lot of green money. Pratt and Skyline High Schools’ first Pink Out, combined with efforts at Pratt Regional Medical Center, raised $78,000 towards the purchase of digital mammography equipment at the hospital.
Pratt County Hospital Board of Directors member Richard Sanders asked the Pratt County Commissioners Monday for their approval to conduct a telephone survey, before going to an election to build a new hospital facility for Pratt County. The county hospital board promised to pay for the survey ($12,900), if the commissioners approve. All three commissioners thought it was a good idea and gave their consent.
The Pratt County Health Department will begin offering flu shots Thursday, Sept. 15, at the health department office at 712 S. Main.
State and local health officials have been notified of a probable case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba found in freshwater, that resulted in the death of Sedgwick County resident.
