Coffey Health System

The Coffey Health System Board of Trustees appointed Joben Rieth as chief executive officer during the January 24 monthly meeting.
Since August, Rieth has served as the interim chief nursing officer at Coffey County Hospital in Burlington. In November, he was named interim CEO and has since held both positions.

Coffey Health System’s electronic medical record (EMR) vendor, Healthland, was sold last year—a move that allows CHS to select an EMR that better fits the System’s needs. To oversee the transition and provide ongoing staff support, Samantha Kuhlmann was selected to fill a new role as CHS Director of Informatics. She brings expertise with EMRs and a strong background in training and teaching.

While COVID might be a capstone in her career, Jo’s legacy is far greater. No one will ever know the number of lives Jo Neill has touched or saved—and that number will continue to multiply with every nurse she helps to train.

Our volunteers are working on their annual military care packages—focused again on canine units due to COVID.

The loss of a loved one is always devastating. A new grief support group at Coffey Health System offers help for anyone who has lost family or friends. CHS Social Worker Amy Osner will lead the group. She welcomes anyone needing help in their grieving process and encourages connection with individuals who have shared feelings and experiences.

When is a walk more than just a walk? When it’s led by local doctors and clinicians and brings together participants from all walks of life. Coffey Health System’s twelve-week “Walk With a Doc” program did all this and exceeded expectations.

Kansas healthcare providers are identifying a side effect of the pandemic that has nothing to do with COVID-19: a noticeable drop in preventative care visits to healthcare providers. This includes nearly 25,000 delayed cancer screenings.

Coffey Health System has good news and bad news. The good news is improved patient privacy and safety. The bad news—albeit temporary—is that patients entering Coffey County Hospital and Coffey County Medical Center will be temporarily redirected to alternate doors. Signage will be in place to direct patients when renovations are underway.

Coffey Health System patients now have the benefits of a new CT scanner at Coffey County Hospital. Not only does the new unit produce higher quality images with a much lower dose of radiation, it is also faster and more comfortable for all patients.

Coffey Health System received 80 doses of the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, December 16. The limited national distribution of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine was earmarked specifically for healthcare workers.