MANHATTAN — The K-State 105 initiative is bringing together several partners — Kansas State University, The University of Kansas Health System and Phillips County Health Systems — to support rural health care in Phillips County.
As part of this partnership, Phillips County Health Systems is serving as a pilot program for innovative health care solutions. The pilot program involves actively engaging community members in identifying and addressing community-specific health care priorities.
“Together, we aim to advance our health care services, make sound and sustainable decisions, and continue providing exceptional care for our area,” said Tara Overmiller, CEO of Phillips County Health Systems.
Through the K-State 105 initiative, Kansas State University and The University of Kansas Health System are working together to explore ways to support health care in rural Kansas communities. The partnership involves K-State Research and Extension and the Care Collaborative with The University of Kansas Health System.
Overmiller said the partnership work in Phillips County stems from community requests — made during a series of spring 2024 community meetings — for increased education and collaboration and the desire to be actively engaged in the health care services available in the community.
“We are excited to work with Kansas State University and Phillips County Health Systems to help the community identify and address its most critical health care needs,” said Tammy Peterman, MS, RN, FAAN, executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for The University of Kansas Health System. “The University of Kansas Health System’s partnership with the K-State 105 initiative is one of the ways we are supporting strong health care across the state of Kansas, by working to help communities find new solutions to evolving health care needs.”
Through K-State 105, K-State Research and Extension agents are assisting Phillips County Health Systems in surveying the community. K-State 105 partners are helping with data and information analysis as well as strategic health care initiative development to keep care close to home.
“As part of the pilot program with Phillips County Health Systems, K-State Research and Extension professionals are working with the community to develop a plan and take strategic action based on community feedback,” said Deborah Kohl, community vitality state specialist who is leading the K-State Research and Extension community facilitation initiative. “The K-State community facilitator program has received funding and support through the K-State 105 initiative.”
Phillips County Health Systems also has seen success from being an early participant in the Care Collaborative’s heart and stroke programs.
In addition to the pilot program, Phillips County Health Systems is pursuing several new initiatives. One example is a new focus on increasing accessibility to health care providers. Phillips County Health Systems has added a walk-in, quick care clinic each weekday morning to provide easy access to treat acute care needs. The health system also has optimized provider schedules to accommodate more patient appointments.
There will be additional community meetings throughout the fall and specific dates will be announced. The meetings will be free and open to the public.
“We are thrilled to partner with K-State and The University of Kansas Health System, a collaboration that underscores our commitment to working closely with our community and stakeholders,” Overmiller said. “I am incredibly proud of our patient-centered approach to care, which has not only translated into growth but also positive outcomes for our patients. This partnership allows us to build on that success and continue to advance health care services in our region.”
The K-State 105 partnership between K-State and The University of Kansas Health System is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that brings together the land-grant mission and statewide presence of K-State through K-State Research and Extension with the expertise and experience of the state’s only academic health system.
The partnership also builds on the work being done by the Care Collaborative, a health system program that originally started to drive better outcomes in stroke, heart attack and sepsis care in rural Kansas. It now reaches 73 counties statewide, providing access to a variety of tools, expertise and resources for rural health care providers.
“As a next-generation land-grant university, K-State is supporting community health and well-being across the state,” said Jessica Gnad, K-State 105 director. “Through K-State 105, we are building on our land-grant mission to help all 105 counties — including Phillips County — thrive, because we know that economic prosperity happens in thriving communities.”
About K-State 105
K-State 105 is Kansas State University’s answer to the call for a comprehensive economic growth and advancement solution for Kansas. The initiative leverages the statewide K-State Research and Extension network to deliver the full breadth of the university’s collective knowledge and solution-driven innovation to every Kansan, right where they live and work. Additionally, K-State 105 forges the connections and partnerships that create access to additional expertise within other state institutions and agencies, nonprofits and organizations — all part of an effort to build additional capacities and strengths in each of the 105 counties in the state.
About The University of Kansas Health System
The University of Kansas Health System is the region’s premier academic health system, providing a full range of care. It includes The University of Kansas Physicians, the region’s largest multispecialty physician group. The health system is affiliated with the University of Kansas Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions and their leading-edge research projects. In the Kansas City metro area, the health system offers more than 150 hospital and clinic locations, including its flagship hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, a hospital at Indian Creek Campus in Overland Park, hospitals in Liberty, Olathe and Miami County, and two mental and behavioral health hospitals in the Kansas City area. The health system in Kansas City has received Magnet nursing designation four times in a row for the highest level of care and has ranked every year since 2007 on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals lists (best in Kansas and Kansas City). It provides the region’s most experienced, nationally verified burn center and Level I Trauma Center, as well as a leading transplant program in liver, pancreas, kidney, heart, and blood and marrow. The cancer program is part of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, one of 56 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers. In addition to Kansas City metro locations, the health system has locations in Great Bend and Topeka. It receives no state or local appropriations, instead relying on operating revenue, bonding authority and philanthropy.
About Phillips County Health System
Phillips County Health Systems, or PCHS, is dedicated to delivering “Patient-Centered Excellence” in health care to the Phillips County community and beyond. This mission drives PCHS to provide comprehensive, compassionate and high-quality medical services, including primary care, emergency services, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation and specialized treatments.
Guided by a vision to be a place where patients want to come, providers want to practice and people want to work, PCHS continually strives to create an environment of trust, innovation and collaboration. The PCHS team of skilled health care professionals is committed to improving the health and well-being of patients through personalized care and community engagement. As a cornerstone of health in the region, Phillips County Health Systems is committed to expanding services and partnerships to ensure access to advanced medical care close to home.
