(Riverton, KS) Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), Pittsburg, announced today that it is expanding medical and dental services in Riverton with the construction of a new clinic on the campus of The Family Life Center, located at 6610 Southeast Quakervale Rd.

Construction of the 4225 sq. ft. clinic is expected to begin in the spring of 2010 according to Krista Postai, Chief Executive Officer of CHC/SEK. The new facility will have seven medical exam rooms and seven dental operatories. 

The Riverton clinic will be staffed by CHC/SEK’s physicians, advanced nurse practitioners, dentists and support staff. The health center will provide a full range of preventative and primary healthcare services and dental services. 

With the expansion of services to Riverton, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas hopes more patients will be able to receive its services, Postai said. “We know that a person’s geographic location or lack of transportation can be barriers to accessing health care,” she said.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas presently serves more than 20,000 patients, regardless of health insurance status, income, race, ethnic culture or health condition. Approximately 42% of CHC/SEK’s patients are age18 and under and 52% are 18-64. About 6% are seniors.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate in Cherokee County is the second highest in Kansas, behind only Wyandotte County. More than one-fourth of Cherokee County’s 21,300 residents are on Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor.
 
“Part of the mission of community health centers is to collaborate with others to address the needs within the regions it serves,” Postai said.  “With the Family Life Center, we have an established partner dedicated to bringing comprehensive and affordable healthcare to the underserved populations in Cherokee County.” 

The Family Life Center is a Community Mental Health Center and offers counseling and therapy, psychological evaluations, and psychiatric services for Cherokee County residents.

Family Physicians Joshua Brueggemann MD and Michelle Prebyl MD will be joining the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas this summer following completion of their residency training in July.

“CHC/SEK has seen a tremendous increase in patients over the last two years with Dr. Linda Bean, our medical director, and our five nurse practitioners now at capacity. To meet the growing demand here in Pittsburg and at our clinic in Columbus, it was essential that we add staff,” said CHC/SEK CEO Krista Postai. “A second full-time pediatrician was added last summer and recruitment efforts for family practice have been underway for more than a year.”

Initial plans for Drs. Bean, Brueggemann and Prebyl to see patients at the Pittsburg clinic, with Dr. Bean and Dr. Brueggemann to also see patients in Columbus. All will be providing family practice care, as well as prenatal and labor/delivery services. All will be providing inpatient care at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center. Pediatricians Susan Pence and Krista Mijares will continue to see patients at both the Pittsburg and Columbus medical clinics.

“Our new doctors were extremely impressed with our existing medical staff and all that southeast Kansas has to offer,” said Postai, adding that Dr. Brueggemann was especially pleased to be practicing near his wife’s family in Galena. Sammie Brueggemann is the daughter of Don and Susan Ezell and the granddaughter of Bob and Barbara Shears of Galena.

Dr. Brueggemann is a graduate of Kansas State University with a BS in Biology and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He is currently completing his training in Wichita with the Via Christi Family Medicine Residency program and also works as a staff physician with the West Wichita Minor Emergency Clinic. He is a member of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association. Community activities include volunteer service with “Truth, Love and Character,” (sexual responsibility education for youth), the JayDoc Free Health Clinic (as a provider and preceptor) and Care for Kids (a social support program for pediatric patients).

Dr. Michelle Prebyl is a graduate of Emporia State University with a BS in Biology and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She is currently completing her training in Greeley, Colorado with the North Colorado Family Medicine Residency. She is a member of the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Colorado Medical Association. She has served as a volunteer with two medical missions in Guatemala and Honduras, with the JayDoc Free Clinic and with KUMC Kids (volunteer work with hospitalized children).

Both physicians will begin seeing patients this August, according to Postai, and patients will have the option of staying with Dr. Bean or selecting one of the new physicians as their primary care physician.

“This addition will allow us to assign patients to specific patient care teams which include a physician and a nurse practitioner,” Postai said. “In the past, many patients in need of a quick appointment had to see whoever was first available. After this August, patients will see the same physician and or nurse practitioner who are familiar with their needs on a consistent basis.”

“This will be a major enhancement in our consistency of care, further supported with the addition of additional examination rooms and consultation space this supper in an area formerly housing medical records,” Postai said. “With our conversion to electronic medical records last January we are able to capture additional room for patients.”

“These are exciting times for CHC/SEK and we are grateful to all those who have helped make this growth possible – especially our 16,000 patients who trust us with their health and the well being of their loved ones.”

CHC/SEK provides primary medical, dental and mental health services to children and adults regardless of ability to pay. Services are available on a sliding fee discount for those meeting financial guidelines. CHC/SEK accepts Medicare, Medicaid, all private insurances and self-pay patients.