Dear Patients,
Healthcare has been essential to Smith County and the surrounding area for a long time. Smith County Memorial Hospital is celebrating 100 years of healthcare in the county this summer. Our medical team and clinical staff feel that health has never been more important than 2020-2021.
We know the last 16 months have been challenging for some, and others have hardly felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Smith County, we are fortunate to have experienced relatively low incidence and hospitalization due to the virus.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration added regulations focusing on keeping patients and employees in healthcare settings safe. We have reviewed these regulations and have made changes at the hospital and clinic because of the requirements. Masking and screening continue to be required for everyone—staff, patients and guests—who enter the facility.
Our priority is patient care. We want patients to be safe and feel safe while they are in the building.
While all our providers would tell their patients that the COVID-19 vaccine is effective and safe, even more research has been conducted since vaccine administration began in December 2020.
Research has found that vaccines are critical in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, vaccines are the only thing making an impact on the spread of COVID-19 variants.
As we see growing cases of COVID-19 and renewed regulations, we want to do our part to help prevent measures that limit an individual’s ability to visit family, attend large gatherings or return to work. The best way to ensure this is to continue promoting vaccines, good hand hygiene and asking people to stay home when they are sick.
We don’t live in a bubble. People in North Central Kansas cannot afford to pay attention to city and county lines when doing business, receiving education, going to church, taking care of household matters and generally enjoying life. As COVID-19 cases increase, we anticipate renewed state, county and city protections around the country. The best course of action is to be part of the solution and get vaccinated.
Sincerely,
Kenton Weltmer, Board Chair
Jim Sweat, Board Treasurer
Dr. Joe Barnes, Board Member
Bruce Hardacre, Board Member
Bret Strine, Board Member
Ferrill Conant, MD
Hannah Haack, MD
Justin Overmiller, MD
Leah Wiehl, MD
Perry Desbien, APRN
Meg Huey, PA-C
Jill Kuhlmann, APRN
Hallie McCall, PA-C
Lindsay Rut, PA-C