Bates County Memorial Hospital

Bates County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) is pleased to introduce Minnie Baldridge, AuD CCC-A and Kathryn Grote, MS, now providing audiology services to patients through Bates County Memorial Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services. Minnie has her doctorate degree in Audiology and has over 20 years of experience seeing patients around the Kansas City & surrounding area. Minnie has worked in many Audiology settings to enhance her knowledge in hearing aid technology, diagnostic evaluations and diagnosis of hearing loss. Minnie serves veterans by performing C&P evaluations. Minnie offers a kind and personalized approach to her patient visits. Her goal is to increase access to hearing health care to all people in need of support. Kathryn Grote is an Audiologist with a passion for helping people by improving their hearing. She is a former leading Regional Representative for two global hearing aid manufacturers and has assisted patients across the Midwest. She realized the need for local care within her community and therefore, founded KC Hearing Center. With 20 years of experience in Audiology, Kathy has developed a deep understanding of hearing aid technology and the impacts of untreated hearing loss. She believes that better hearing allows others to enjoy every moment and build memories with loved ones. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Angie Fyffe, AuD, who has provided audiology services to our community for the past six years. Her dedication and expertise have greatly benefited our patients and our community. Angie sold her audiology business located in Belton (Wright Audiology) to KC Hearing Center earlier this summer. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. With this transition, we are very thankful that KC Hearing Center’s owner Kathy Grote made the decision to continue providing audiology services to our community through our hospital. Audiology appointments at BCMH are available on Wednesdays. To learn more about audiology services, visit https://lnkd.in/gJUqXmYU, or call 660-200-7000, ext. 7186. See insights and ads Boost Comment

We are delighted to introduce Dr. Jon E. Blake, DO, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, to the community. Dr. Blake will offer orthopedic clinic visits and surgical procedures through Outpatient Specialty Clinics and Surgical Suites at BCMH. He joins the esteemed group of visiting specialists who provide invaluable medical services to our patients, making Bates County a healthier place to live. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Blake to our team,” said Greg Weaver, Chief Executive Officer for BCMH. “As an esteemed orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Blake brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will undoubtedly enhance the level of care we provide to our patients. His commitment to excellence and innovation aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are confident that he will make a significant impact in our community." Dr. Blake will see patients of all ages. With more than 20 years of general orthopedic surgery experience, he especially enjoys treating athletes and patients with aging joints. “I enjoy seeing patients in the clinic setting and offering treatment options to help provide them relief from pain and discomfort, as well as maximize their mobility to do the activities they enjoy,” said Dr. Blake. Blake grew up in Missouri, and when he attended the University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Mo., he achieved the distinction of graduating Summa Cum Laude. He completed an internship at the Park Lane Medical Center in Kansas City, and his residency at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. While there, he competed rotations in pediatrics and trauma. Dr. Blake has always enjoyed working with his hands and has demonstrated a high level of achievement throughout his life, including earning Eagle Scout. While growing up, he pursued opportunities that helped others, which has continued in his calling as an orthopedic surgeon. “I worked in a local hardware store in my youth,” said Blake, “so I was around people who wanted to fix things, and I enjoyed helping them. It was from there that I started a house painting business that I continued throughout college and with Aimee, my wife of over 30 years.” Dr. Blake and his wife Aimee are empty nesters and avid travelers. Together, they have three children and three grandchildren. In their spare time, they enjoy activities like tennis and other hobbies that keep them physically active. Dr. Blake will see patients at BCMH Outpatient Specialty Clinics beginning September 9, 2024. Call 660-200-7006 to learn more about orthopedic services at BCMH, or visit https://lnkd.in/g-QZva46

Bates County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) recognizes Carly Murdock, RN, BSN as the Employee of the Month for August. Carly has worked for BCMH since 2021 when she was hired to the Outpatient Specialty Clinic Department. Before joining BCMH, Carly gained valuable experience working in Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Endoscopy and Coronary ICU. She works with patients in the Long-Nissen Infusion Center and other specialty clinics at BCMH. Carly was nominated by a coworker, who said, “Carly consistently demonstrates a commitment to excellent customer service and safe, high-quality care of patients. She gleans positive comments from patients because of her gentle, compassionate demeanor. She explains things clearly and factually in a way that puts patients at ease. Co-workers are drawn to her kindness and her easy grasp of the importance of helping each other do the best work possible. It’s easy to trust Carly’s instincts because they are usually right on target with improving the patient experience.” Carly takes pride in the work that is being done at BCMH and takes her responsibility as an RN very seriously, and she deserves this recognition.

Bates County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) is pleased to announce the Curtis W. Long, MD and Gay L. Nissen, RN Infusion Center is open and seeing patients. On July 21, BCMH welcomed visitors to an Open House of the Long-Nissen Center.    Tours of the new space were led by outpatient clinic nurses Karla Short, RN and Carly Murdock, RN, BSN, and Ann Donnohue, RN and Outpatient Specialty Clinic Manager, pointing out features like private and semi-private rooms, patient recliners in every room with heat and massage controls, comfortable visitor seating, and an air filtration system that sanitizes 99.9% of airborne bacteria in the infusion area with a push of a button.  BCMH recognized donors to the infusion center at the Open House, and Dr. Curtis W. Long was the guest of honor, along with his assistant nurse, Gay Nissen, RN. The Long-Nissen Infusion Center was named for Dr. Curtis Long in thanks for his generous donation, who has provided many years of service to BCMH. Dr. Long has stated that it has been his privilege as a family physician to have delivered 3,000 babies in Bates County, and to perform the first laparoscopic procedure in the state of Missouri right here at BCMH. Gay Nissen has worked with Dr. Long as his nurse for over 40 years.  Others who contributed to the Long-Nissen Infusion Center included:  - Bates County Community Health Foundation donated $10,000 to purchase patient recliners, and more than $3,000 from their annual golf tournament.  - BCMH Auxiliary volunteers covered the cost of a blanket warmer and all guest furniture, a gift totaling $21,871.   - Montrose School district gifted $1,065, proceeds from their Pink Night fundraiser in February, which enabled the purchase of rolling patient trays for all rooms.  - The BCMH Plant Operations department donated funds to purchase a beverage refrigerator for patients.  Reegan Koshko, age 17, donated photography of local rural landscapes in Bates County in memory of her mother, Cheyanna Hellwig, who passed away at the age of 32 from breast cancer. Reegan is a senior at Appleton City High School. She attended the event with her grandmother, Carolyn Hellwig.   William and Linda Gollhofer gave a cash donation for the Long-Nissen Infusion Center. The Long-Nissen Infusion Center is staffed by a team of chemotherapy certified nurses, and patients of Heather Dains, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, will be seen in the new space. Oncologist Jaswinder Singh, MD will continue to see patients on the first floor of the hospital in Outpatient Specialty Clinics. Infusion services include chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as non-cancer therapies, including outpatient IV antibiotic therapy, allergy injections, injections and infusions for various disease processes and preventative medication management. BCMH has provided infusion services, including chemotherapy, since the 1990s.

We are please to announce that Alex Wilson, D.O., has joined the BCMH medical staff. As a trained Hospitalist and Family Practice physician, Dr. Wilson will see patients admitted to the hospital, as well as patients at Nursery Street Family Care Clinic on a limited clinic schedule beginning this August. Wilson said the beginning of his interest in a healthcare career started in sixth grade, when his mother was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, and he saw how the nurses and doctors worked as they took care of her. After graduating from Adrian High School in 2012, he initially wanted to pursue a nursing major. He started as a CNA working for the nursing home in Adrian (previously, Adrian Manor). “I took some chemistry classes and really enjoyed that side of it, so that kind of pushed me into the pre-medicine route. And then when I did some rotations and volunteer work with Dr. Miller here, that’s what sealed the deal and made me pursue a career in medicine,” Wilson said. BCMH played an integral role in Wilson’s path to becoming a doctor. He explains, “I did a rotation during my fourth year of medical school where I worked with both Dr. Miller and Dr. Crary – Dr. Crary in the hospital and Dr. Miller in the outpatient setting. I did that during COVID when our medical was shut down, so I did that as an opportunity to get back home and help where it was needed, but also to get my feet wet in medicine here and see if this was a good route for me to take. It definitely was and I ended up taking a preceptorship rotation which is a month rotation at the end of my residency, and I worked primarily with Dr. Crary during that time, which worked well with the hospitalist perspective.” During his residency program, his choice of specializing as a Hospitalist was solidified. Wilson said, “I just liked the acuteness of being able to treat patients right then and there, get studies done, and see people improve in a short amount of time.” Alex Wilson attended Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, completing his Doctorate of Osteopathy (DO) in 2021. He finished his residency program with Genesis Family Medicine – University of Iowa in Davenport, Iowa this year in 2024. Wilson is board certified with the American Board of Family Medicine. He and his wife, Savannah, have established their home in Butler, and they are expecting their first child in October. BCMH wishes a warm welcome to Dr. Wilson and his family to our community.

We are pleased to announce Lena Tialino has been named July Employee of the Month here at BCMH. Lena was hired to the Patient Accounts department in 2018 and quickly grew in her role to serve as financial counselor for patients for several years. In 2023, she accepted a position in the Human Resources department as Coordinator, where she is responsible for many tasks related to employee benefits, events, orientation, and more, as well as coordinating and overseeing the needs of our Auxiliary Volunteers. Lena was nominated for this honor by another employee, who said, “Although she has a lot on her plate, she always does her best to work through it all. She goes out of her way for everybody and anybody. Cheerful, she takes on tasks with a smile and full attention. She is friendly with every department. She gives her work 110% with all her heart, plus some.” Lena consistently displays a dedication to excellence in her role, and she deserves this recognition.

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Terri Lewis, LPN was one of several employees helping with our entry to Saturday's parade in Adrian. We love the chance to thank everyone in our communities for trusting us with your care. For the Adrian Optimist Salute to Freedom Parade, our team used the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) SUV, funded through a grant in 2023, to represent our hospital, our rural health clinics (like Adrian Family Care Clinic) and our Ambulance department. The Ambulance SUV was purchased with the SFY 2023 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFR) Emergency Medical Service Providers Grant for $20,000. Thanks to our employees who volunteered their time for this event! Crystal Dizney, CMA, CRHCP, Family Care Clinics Supervisor Terri Lewis, LPN Donna Thornton, MA Amber Davis, Patient Access Specialist Savanna Thompson, Plan Benefit Advisor Thanks to photographer Carmen Behringer

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