Many health care options exist
This listing is current as of June 2011
Nursing homes
Three facilities in Ellis County offer 24-hour skilled nursing care -- two in Hays and one in Ellis. Waiting lists vary with each facility.
* Good Samaritan Society-Hays, 27th and Canal, has 70 beds that are both Medicaid and Medicare certified.
Residents generally apply through hospital discharge planners, or contact can be made by prospective residents or family members. There is a 16-bed Alzheimer's wing that accepts Medicaid or Medicare. For more information, call (785) 625-7331.
* St. John's of Hays, 2401 Canterbury, is a 60-bed facility that accepts residents using Medicaid or Medicare.
Most residents are introduced to the facility through physicians and hospital discharge planners. However, contact can be made by the family. For more information, call (785) 628-3241.
* Ellis Good Samaritan Center, 1101 Spruce, Ellis, is Medicare and Medicaid certified. Outpatient speech, physical and occupational therapy is offered to residents and others in the community. For more information, call (785) 726-3101.
One facility in Victoria offers intermediate nursing care.
* Located at 701 Seventh, Victoria, St. John's of Victoria offers intermediate nursing care and the same amenities as its Hays counterpart and offers 70 beds that are Medicaid approved. For more information, call (785) 735-2208.
Most residents come from a hospital stay through the recommendation of a physician or discharge planner.
Assisted living
Assisted living typically is geared toward an individual having problems keeping up the daily chores of life due to physical limitations. Services usually include help with medication, assistance with bathing and help with special diets.
Unlike nursing homes, contact for assisted living usually is made through the resident or the resident's family. Waiting lists vary with each facility.
* St. John's Assisted Living, 2225 Canterbury, has 41 apartments, both single and double.
The fee includes maintenance, housekeeping, meals, utilities, laundry service, cable television and medical transportation. The facility also offers an on-site chapel and Catholic/Protestant religious services. Telephone service is extra.
For more information, call (785) 628-8742.
* Sterling House, a 33-apartment licensed assisted living facility, is located at 1801 E. 27th and offers individualized services.
While there is no skilled care available, residents can contract for rehabilitative services. The facility has adult daycare and respite care. The facility is certified to accept Medicaid patients.
For more information, call (785) 628-1111.
* Meadowlark Place, 1101 Spruce, Ellis, has nine units that are part of Ellis Good Samaritan Center. Included in the monthly fee is housekeeping, laundry, meals, assistance with bathing, transportation to and from medical and dental appointments and cable television.
No physician order is needed and contact can be made through families or the prospective residents. For details, call (785) 726-3101.
* Cedar View Assisted Living, 2929 Sternberg, has studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units available, some with patios. Amenities include housekeeping, laundry, three meals per day, a private dining room, activities, personal care services, restorative aid therapy, a courtyard, Protestant and Catholic church services and emergency call systems. For more information, call (785) 628-3200.
Independent living
* Garden Terrace is a 12-unit, private pay, apartment complex offering independent living apartments for seniors at 2710 Canal and is part of Good Samaritan Society-Hays.
Included in the monthly fee are all utilities except phone service; security system; one meal per day, seven days per week; scheduled transportation; structured activities; exercise room; bi-monthly housekeeping; 24-hour emergency response and laundry facilities; $500 damage deposit; no long-term leases. For more information, call (785) 625-2815.
Senior housing
Several apartment complexes in Ellis County cater specifically to senior residences. Rent typically is based on income.
* Wyndam Place Senior Residences, 2734 Hall, (785) 625-5757.
* Centennial Towers, 2502 Sherman, (785) 625-6242.
* Epworth Towers, 2800 Augusta Lane, (785) 628-6825
* Hays Plaza Apartments, 1005 W. 28th, (785) 628-2660
* Spruce Villa, 1201 Spruce, Ellis, (785) 726-4746
* The Elms, 612 Grant Street Terrace, Victoria, (785) 735-2620.
Home health and therapy
Home health is for people who choose not to leave their homes for medical assistance, but require daily visits from medical professionals.
Home health visits are ordered through and directed by a physician. Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances have specified qualifying criteria for this type of service.
It is not necessary to be hospitalized to receive these services, but hospital care-coordinating staff of physicians can answer questions about these services.
* Professional Home-Health Services provides part-time and intermittent services. Services available include, but are not limited to, skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and home health aides.
Services are provided by individual referral and doctor approval. Services can be provided within a 100-mile radius of Hays, and service requests are considered on an individual basis. For more information, call (785) 625-0055.
* Outpatient Rehabilitation Services is located in the Center for Health Improvement, 2500 Canterbury, (785) 623-5691. Services include, but are not limited to: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, High Plains Sports Medicine, Speech Therapy, and Ergonomics.
This allows patients the opportunity to work with clinicians with specific knowledge and skills to best treat their injuries. Services require a physician order and are conducted on an outpatient basis.
* Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging, 510-B W. 29th, provides information and in-home services to help people stay in their homes and independent for as long as possible. For more information, call (785) 628-8204 or (800) 432-7422.
Mental health
* Hays Psychiatric Associates is located at the Center for Health Improvement, 2500 Canterbury. No referral is necessary, but the center will take referrals from doctors, medical providers or other mental health centers. For information about fees, call (785) 623-6331.
* KVC Behavioral Healthcare, 205 E. Seventh, (785) 624-6000, (866) 582-2273. The KVC Wheatland Psychiatric Hospital opened its doors in 2010 and accommodates children and adolescents in western Kansas. www.kvc.org.
* High Plains Mental Health Center, 208 E. Seventh, provides comprehensive mental health programs in northwest Kansas. In addition to the home-based services in Hays, the center serves 20 northwest Kansas counties from five branch offices.
Access to service can begin with a telephone call or a visit with staff. Crisis calls are handled immediately 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Requests for non-crisis services will be scheduled as soon as possible.
Sliding scale fee reductions for mandated services are offered to anyone who lives or works within the service area. For information, call (785) 628-2871 or (800) 432-0333.
Other services
* Hospice/Palliative Care is a department of Hays Medical Center, 2220 Canterbury. Hospice provides care to terminally ill patients and their families, in Ellis, Rooks and Rush counties. Hospice consists of an interdisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers.
The department also offers free community presentations and bereavement services following the death of a patient.
Call (800) 248-0073 or (785) 623-6200 for more information on Hospice, Palliative Care or Lifeline.
* Lifeline, is a department of Hays Medical Center. It is a personal emergency response system that allows individuals to call for help from their home with the push of a button when needed. Call (800) 990-0731 or (785) 623-6217 for more information.
* Catholic Charities Outreach, (785) 625-2644 or (877) 625-2644, is open to all denominations.
It offers a variety of services, including individual, couple, marriage and family therapy; divorce support group; adoption services; pregnancy counseling and immigration services.
There is an income-based fee using a sliding scale. Catholic Charities Outreach also accepts insurance.
Staff therapists are licensed professionals, and services are confidential. Sessions are scheduled by appointment and can be arranged by calling the office.
Special services
* LINK Inc. (Living Independently in Northwest Kansas) at 2401 E. 13th, in Hays is a consumer-driven, independent living center for individuals who have any type of disability.
LINK provides services that include information and referral, skills training, peer support, advocacy, deinstitutionalization, home and community-based waiver services for the physical and traumatic brain injury waivers, adaptive equipment loan pool, recreational opportunities and transportation.
LINK also has an independent home care program that provides help for individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid, but still need to obtain in-home attendant care.
LINK has five offices in Hays, Great Bend, Hill City, Colby and Liberal. Call (785) 625-6942 or (800) 569-5926 for more information.
* SKIL of Western Kansas, an independent living center in Hays, has an office at 1015 Centennial, and is a branch of the Parsons-based Southeast Kansas Independent Living Resource Center. The Hays office is staffed by Lou Ann Kibbee, Gia Scott and seven additional staff members.
Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact (785) 628-8019 or (800) 316-8019 for more information.
SKIL has branch offices in Independence, Chanute, Fredonia, Columbus, Pittsburg, Sedan and Yates Center. SKIL is affiliated with South Central Assistive Technology for Kansans, based in Wichita.
It is a nonprofit that works with people with all types of disabilities and ages in assisting them to live in the community of their choice. Services include home and community-based services, assistive technology, Americans with Disabilities Act support, housing, benefits counseling, communication, job training, mobility assistance and transportation.
The five core independent living services are individual and systems advocacy; information and referral; peer counseling; independent living skills training; and advocating for persons with disabilities and those who care about them by planning and supporting a life of dignity, interdependence and personal satisfaction in the community.
* Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas Inc., with administrative offices at 2703 Hall, is a private, nonprofit organization serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. DSNWK offers services to children ages birth to 3 years, youth and adults.
Services are available through a network of community-based and outreach programs and interagency agreements with other service providers in 18 counties of northwest Kansas.
DSNWK serves more than 500 people with mild to severe disabilities with programs such as the College for Living, Employment Connections, Business of My Own and much more.
A variety of supervised and supported living alternatives are available as well as family support for children and youth services. For more information, call (785) 625-5678.
* Infant and Toddler Early Intervention Services is a community service provided by the Hays Area Children's Center, 94 Lewis Drive.
Children under 3 years qualify for special services, including free developmental screenings, comprehensive evaluations and community services.
Special services include assistance with the development of speech and language, motor, thinking and social skills as well as hearing and vision screenings. The program collaborates with Early Childhood Connections, the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, Hays Medical Center, Ellis County Health Department, area school districts, High Plains Mental Health and other community partners.
Hays Area Children's Center has been serving young children with disabilities since 1966 and was one of the first programs of its kind available in the state. For details, call (785) 625-3257 or visit www.hacc.info.
Clinics
* Ellis Family Care Center, 1204 Washington, 726-4956. Medical providers are Lisa Frost, ARNP; David Day, PA; Jesse Belville, PA; Robert Clark, MD; Kristie Clark, MD; and Gordon Lang, MD.
* St. John's Victoria Nurse Practitioner Clinic, 208 Marc Wagner Drive, (785) 735-2627. Medical providers are Maren Moody, ARNP, Dorothy Ochs, ARNP, and Carleen Gilmore, ARNP.
* First Care Clinic, 105 W. 13th, is a Federally Qualified Health Center that offers services on a sliding scale for qualifying patients.
The clinic offers health and dental services. Call (785) 621-4990.
Medical providers are Dr. Lynn Fisher, Amanda Bickle, ARNP, Lisa Whittom, ARNP, and Dana Pfeifer, ARNP. Dental providers are Dr. Jake Richards, and Amy Schwarz, RDH.