Health in the Heartland Norton County Hospital

Norton County Hospital's Rehabilitation Department has a goal to reducing knee and all lower extremity injuries in student athletes. This involves four phases:
Phase 1: Implement improved warm-up programs aimed at injury prevention.
Phase 2: Screen athletes once per year with DARI Motion Analysis.
Phase 3: Implement an individualized program for the most vulnerable of the athletes discovered in screening.
Phase 4: Continually educate coaches and athletes on jumping, landing and lifting techniques.

Norton County Hospital is updating its electronic health record with Cerner. The launch will be January 2023. Klare Bliss, CIO of the hospital, explains what this means for staff and patients.

Norton County Hospital, located in northwest Kansas, is pleased to offer a pain management clinic with Midwest Anesthesia Alliance.

Many patients may not be aware of some of the specialized nursing care that is available in rural northwest Kansas. The outpatient nursing team at Norton County Hospital can provide many services that include, for example:
1. Placing PICC lines for various age groups, from pre-term babies to geriatric patients (ultrasound is the tool of choice for these insertions, as well as for difficult IV starts and lab draws)
2. Administering numerous specialty drugs, such as IVIG, Remicade, Humira, Tysabri, Methotrexate, Iron infusions, Xolair, Nucala, Herceptin, Reclast, Rabies vaccinations, Antibiotics and Blood products
3. Performing wound care, including wound vacs
4. Caring for and maintaining central lines such as Infusaports, Hickmans, TLIJ and TLSC
5. Therapeutic phlebotomies

Norton County Hospital's Rehabilitation department is making a move to a new location and is also offering virtual appointments. The department manager explains what these changes mean for patients.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a new outpatient program at Norton County Hospital. It is recommended for patients with lung disease who experience shortness of breath frequently and are not able to perform daily activities despite daily use of medication. Many patients in rehabilitation programs have chronic lung diseases that limit breathing and activity. The program's manager explains more.