Konza Prairie Community Health Center Release
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Throughout the month of August, Konza Prairie Community Health Center celebrated Community Care Clinic Month. This annual celebration recognizes the vital role community health centers play by providing accessible, high-quality healthcare for all people regardless of income or insurance status.
Nationwide, community health centers like Konza serve more than 32 million patients – 1 in 10 Americans – delivering whole-person care that meets community needs. In Kansas, community health centers deliver this affordable, integrated care to 1 in 9 Kansans.
Konza Prairie Community Health Center is a locally-owned, not-for-profit clinic which has served the Flint Hills since 1995. Today, the dedicated team of healthcare professionals and support staff care for more than 13,000 patients in 40,000+ clinic visits each year across three locations in Junction City, Manhattan, and Chapman.
“To our patients – we thank you for trusting us to care for you, your families, and our community,” said Konza CEO Danielle Hallgren. “I’m deeply proud to lead this organization and am often reminded of the impact we are making for the people we serve.”
New Walk-In Acute Care Services Introduced
Offering comprehensive primary care is the community health center mission. To further this effort, on August 1 Konza introduced Walk-In Clinic services in Junction City to address acute medical needs. Anyone in the community can access the Konza Walk-In Clinic – no appointment is needed, and new patients are welcome.
The Konza Walk-In Clinic is open weekdays, Monday – Thursday 8 AM – 5 PM and Friday 8 AM – 1:30 PM. The clinic accepts most major insurance plans, including KanCare/Medicaid and Medicare. Uninsured patients are welcome and Konza offers discounts for eligible patients.
Expansion of Full-Scope Dental Services
On August 21, local business leaders and community members attended the Junction City Chamber of Commerce Business During Hours event hosted by Konza at the Junction City clinic. Konza staff provided guided tours and clinic information for those in attendance. During lunch, Konza dentist Dr. Dan Winter enlightened the audience about recent advancements available to Konza patients: placement of dental implants, treatment of sleep apnea using custom dental appliances, and hospital dentistry for patients with special needs.
August Food Drive Surpassed Goal
Konza welcomes patients with compassion and extra care that reaches beyond traditional clinic services. Patients in need of assistance can visit the Konza Cupboard – an on-site food & hygiene pantry located inside Konza clinics in Junction City and Manhattan. A patient resource coordinator fulfills immediate food & hygiene needs and connects people with housing, transportation, employment, and social services.
The Konza Cupboard serves hundreds of people each year and runs primarily on donations and limited funding. An annual food drive to stock the Konza Cupboard is a hallmark event of Community Care Clinic month. This year the clinic set a goal to collect 600 pounds during the food drive – and surpassed that goal with a total 901.2 pounds of food and hygiene supplies.
Konza’s dedicated staff contributed 691.5 pounds and community members brought 209.7 pounds to Business During Hours.
Community Connections Through Outreach
By the end of August, Konza outreach staff participated in seven community events, reaching hundreds of people in the communities of Junction City and Manhattan. These events are an opportunity to meet people where they are, providing information on Konza services and a connection to care.
Community Care Clinic Month was a time to reflect and celebrate the 60-year national legacy of community health centers in America. For more than 30 years, Konza has proudly served local communities, led by the ideal to do all the good that you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways that you can, for as long as you can.
Learn more about Konza Prairie Community Health Center at www.kpchc.org.