February 25, 2015
Story and Photo by Joe Vinduska

Nothing can prepare a student for a career like hands-on experience with real-world equipment.  Barton’s Nursing, Adult Healthcare and Pharmacy Technician programs will all have more opportunities for continued real-world scenarios with the help of a recent, sizable donation of about $140,000 worth of equipment from St. Rose Health Center in Great Bend.

St. Rose has gone through several transitions over the past few years that made some of its equipment available to donate.

Barton’s Director of Nursing and Healthcare Education Kathy Kottas said the donation will be a huge benefit to her students.

“This is just huge for us,” she said.  “Even if we were to request this equipment, it would take us years to acquire it all and some of these pieces we could never even ask for.  It has just put us ahead leaps and bounds.”

Two Omnicell machines, which were two of the largest pieces physically, also carried the largest price tag of about $40,000 each.  The machines are found in almost all hospitals and are used to dispense medicine.

Kottas said experience with equipment is invaluable to students.

“They (medicine dispensing units) are in every facility that we go to, and they are big units and the thought of accessing them is pretty overwhelming for them at times,” she said.  “It’s similar to any other piece of equipment.  If they can get their hands on it here on our campus, where it’s safe and if they make a mistake it’s not going to be an issue, when they have to use one in real life, they’ve at least touched it and accessed it and it makes it less nerve-wracking or scary for them.”

The Omnicell units, in addition to the other items donated, contributed to a larger opportunity as a whole.  The materials allowed for the addition of a dedicated Pharmacy Tech lab for Pharmacy Tech students and an Adult Healthcare lab for Certified Nurses Aide and Certified Medical Aide students to get hands-on training.

“We were just getting limited with our facilities, and trying to find times for everybody to be able to use our existing nursing labs,” Kottas said.

In addition to increased space, the dedicated Adult Healthcare Lab, which includes a mock resident’s room, has helped meet regulations for instruction set forth by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

One of the most meaningful pieces donated was not medical equipment.  It was a pew from the original chapel that resided in one of the iconic circular towers of St. Rose Hospital, which will eventually be demolished.

“It really is a symbol of our heritage,” Kottas said of the college’s longstanding partnership with St. Rose. “We have a lot of great partnerships with other institutions in the area, but this one is a little bit unique in that we have a bit of our nursing program’s history that connects us to them.”

Starting in 1966, the college teamed up with what was then known as the Dominican School of Nursing and decided a nursing curriculum would be established at Barton once it opened.  Sister Mary Ann Klein, who worked at the Dominican School of Nursing, became the first Director of Nursing at Barton and the relationship has grown from that first connection so many years ago.

St. Rose Administrator Leanne Irsik said the transitions at St. Rose will be helpful to Barton’s students as they continue their clinical work.

“Healthcare services are changing as we go forward and the opportunities for nursing students as they move into their careers are varied,” she said.   “Getting an opportunity to have an experience in a clinical environment that is not only a hospital environment, which will always be there, but the opportunity for them to work with patients in every environment that they can be cared for is critical because it is a totally different kind of relationship that they have with their patients in ambulatory setting and urgent care.”

The partnership continues to be vital to St. Rose as well.

“It is a critical partnership,” she said.  “It provides us the opportunity to help prepare the nurses of the future.”

For more information on the nursing program, call (620) 792-9357 or emailkottask@bartonccc.edu.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting
Monday, March 2, 2015 — 9:00 a.m. Until Close

I. OPENING BUSINESS:
A. Call Meeting to Order.
B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Consider Approval of the Agenda.
D. Minutes of the February 23, 2015, Regular Meeting will not be approved.
E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes.
F. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those used by the media, should be shut off.

II. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.

III. NEW BUSINESS – All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time.

A. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trails:
-The proposed Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trail commemorates the routes followed by upwards of ten million cattle as they traveled northbound from southern Texas to Kansas and adjacent destinations between 1867 and the 1880s. Ellinwood citizens are interested in moving the designation forward as it may positively impact the City of Ellinwood. Lloyd Kurtz will request that the Commission approve a Letter of Support.

B. PROCLAMATION 2015-02: Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 2-6, 2015:
-Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 2-6, 2015, is a cooperative effort of the National Weather Services and the Kansas Emergency Management Association. Barton County Emergency Management would like to remind everyone to be prepared for the spring severe weather season. The proposed Proclamation encourages individuals, businesses and communities to plan and prepare for an emergency. Amy Miller, Emergency Manager, will present details.
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C. SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Prisoner Holding Fees – City of Great Bend:
-Kansas law provides that cities committing prisoners to the County jail “shall provide for the payment of such compensation upon receipt of statement from the Sheriff of such County as to the amount due from such city”. Under a 1972 agreement and revisions thereto, the City of Great Bend provides an annual fee of $37,000.00. Other municipalities within the County are charged $17.50 a day per inmate, plus any medical expenses. The reduced rate is given to County municipalities as citizens already pay Barton County taxes. After a review of current costs and in the interest of fairness to all the citizens of the County, effective June 30, 2015, the Sheriff’s Office will begin billing the City of Great Bend $17.50 per day, per inmate, plus medical expenses. Sheriff Brian Bellendir will provide details.

D. COUNTY CLERK’S / ELECTION OFFICE: Office Remodeling:
-Barton County solicited proposals to remodel the County Clerk’s office, to include building shelves on the north, south and east walls of the office. In addition, sound proofing and lighting will also be addressed. Bids were accepted until February 25, 2015. Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk, recommends that a $19,229.00 bid from Thomas Quality Homes be approved. Monies are available in the Capital Improvement Fund for the suggested remodeling. Ms. Zimmerman will provide details.

E. ROAD AND BRIDGE: Replacement of the Heating and Air Conditioning System:
-The Road and Bridge Department accepted bids for the replacement of the heating and air conditioning system at the Road and Bridge Shop until 2:00 p.m., February 5, 2015. The project included the replacement of shop heaters and the installation of a HVAC system for selected work areas. A&F Enterprises, Comfort Pros, Moeder and Rube’s all bid the project. Monies are available in the Capital Improvement Fund for this purpose. Dale Phillips, Road and Bridge / Noxious Weed / Memorial Parks Director, will provide details.

F. NOXIOUS WEED: Purchase of Replacement Copier:
-The copier currently used by Noxious Weed, purchased nine years ago, is experiencing maintenance issues. As a result, Noxious Weed personnel contacted Office Products Inc. and requested information on like copiers. After a review of machines, it is suggested that the Cannon Image Runner Advance C5235A be purchased from OPI. With a trade of the current copier, the cost comes to $8,375.00. Monies are available in the Equipment Replacement Fund for this purchase. Mr. Phillips will provide details.

G. COUNTY SERVICES: Informational Update:
-Richard Boeckman, County Counselor / Administrator, will provide the informational report of work completed during the last period. The report, which will be made available to the media, will serve as a public reminder of the services provided by the County on a regular basis.
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IV. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items, including announcements, will be heard.

A. ANNOUNCEMENTS: -Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of personnel changes for classified positions, sign any documentation approved during the agenda meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action may take place throughout the day.
B. APPOINTMENTS:
MARCH 2, 2015
10:00 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Assistance with Equipment Funding – Laura Patzner, Family Crisis Center
10:15 a.m. – Hazard Mitigation Plan – Amy Miller, Emergency Risk Manager
10:30 a.m. – Grants – Shelly Schneider, Health Director
10:45 a.m. – Program Update, to include Federal Funds Exchange – Clark Rusco, County Engineer
11:00 a.m. – Program Update – Employee Relations Committee
11:15 a.m. – Extraordinary Case Costs – Doug Matthews, County Attorney, and Casey Hubbard, Office Manager / Investigator
11:30 a.m. and continuing through the Lunch Hour – The Commissioners will have a working lunch to discuss financial conditions with Richard Boeckman, County Counselor / Administrator; Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk, and Jessica Wilson, Financial Officer
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Richard Boeckman, County Counselor / Administrator, is scheduled for March 5, 2015.

V. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Discussion Items.
B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration.
C. Announce the Commissioners are available to the Public on Mondays during regular business hours.
D. Announce that the Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County business at their discretion.
E. Announce next Regular Meeting will be Monday, March 9, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.

VI. ADJOURN.