On July 4, 2017, Labette Health opened a state-of-the-art facility in nearby Independence, bringing much-needed services to the community. Chief among them is an off-campus emergency department (ED).
"Every town deserves at least an emergency department," says Becky Mitchell, RN, Independence Healthcare Director. So Labette Health decided to build one.
Independence Healthcare also offers:
- A cancer treatment center.
- Advanced imaging and lab services.
- Cardiology services.
- Express Care.
- Family medicine.
- Helicopter access.
- Visiting clinics: Surgery, OB-GYN and urology.
Ready 24/7
The Independence ED is well-equipped to provide time-critical care to southeast Kansas. It is staffed with highly qualified and dedicated providers who are on-site at all times; two registered nurses; and an ED technician during peak times.
The ED has around-the-clock laboratory and radiology services. There are cardiac monitors for every room, a defibrillator, a CPR machine and a mechanical ventilator. The ED also offers outpatient services, such as IV antibiotic infusions and shots.
In addition to four treatment rooms, there are three observation beds that can be used as ED beds if needed, a triage room, a medical screening room and a rapid treatment area.
The observation beds enable patients to extend their ED stay when necessary. "If patients need inpatient care, we help transfer them to our main campus or to the appropriate medical facility necessary for their condition," Mitchell says.
Specialty and urgent care under one roof Independence Healthcare also has an attached rural health and specialty clinic. Here you'll find:
- Independence Clinic and Express Care.
- Independence Specialty Clinic.
- Independence Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.
The clinic contains 12 exam rooms and a special procedure room. There are five provider offices and associated nursing documentation areas, a lab for occupational testing, and room for various support personnel as needed.
The clinic's color scheme of orange and blue is a nod to the Independence Bulldogs and Independence Community College Pirates.
Comfortable cancer treatment
Cancer Center of Kansas started seeing patients in the Independence Healthcare Center in September 2017.
The infusion area has large windows for patients to look outside and heaters above each infusion chair to help keep patients comfortable while they receive their treatment.
Phu V. Truong, MD, a board-certified oncologist, sees patients at the Independence Healthcare Center every Thursday in the specialists’ clinic. We are honored to have him with us!
Rural Health Clinic physicians
Michael Bolt, MD, board-certified general surgeon, sees patients at the specialists’ clinic every other Tuesday afternoon. Dr. Bolt is one of our surgeons qualified in da Vinci robot-assisted surgery. 620-820-5840
Ben Legler, MD, board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics, has been with us for several years and sees patients on Wednesdays in Independence. 620-820-5820
Melissa McIntosh, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. 620-577-4310
Caitlyn Nguyen, MD, board-certified in family medicine and obstetrics, has been a great addition to the team. 620-577-4310
Logan Wineland, MD, urologist, is Mayo Clinic-trained. Appointments with Dr. Wineland will be available soon.
Independence Clinic and Express Care
Treating patients at the family medicine clinic and express care are board-certified nurse practitioners Chelsea Bradfield, Darin Hamlin and Dawn McCaffery. These mid-level providers do an excellent job for their patients.
Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
Time is brain, time is heart
The Independence Healthcare ED is equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies such as strokes and heart attacks, both of which are time-critical events.
When a person is having signs and symptoms of a stroke, time is brain; with signs and symptoms of a heart attack, time is heart. It is imperative to get to the closest emergency room as quickly as possible when symptoms begin.
If medical transport is needed—for example, to transfer a patient having a heart attack to the closest cardiac cath lab—we have the ability to get critical patients to the appropriate inpatient facility, either by helicopter or ambulance.
It's just one of the ways that Labette Health proudly serves our community—from Parsons to Independence and throughout the southeast Kansas region.