Healthy Kids Initiative Wins

Kansas Hospital Association Award

Participating in the June 29 presentation of the Kansas Hospital Association's Community Connections Award at Labette Health were, from left, Vince Schibi, President Labette Health Board of Trustees; Tom Macaronas, Labette Health Interim CEO; Cindy Samuelson, KHA Vice President of Public Relations and Member Services; Dr. Manish Dixit, Medical Director, Healthy Kids Initiative; Shellie Collins, Labette Health Diabetes Coordinator; Stella Clark, Labette Health Vice President of Patient Care Services; Reno Jain, Labette Health Registered Dietitian; and Rod Landrum, Labette Health Foundation Director.

PARSONS, Kan., June 29, 2010 – Labette Health wins this year’s Community Connections Award for their Healthy Kids Initiative. The program offers education and assistance to children with type 1 diabetes and helps to prevent type 2 diabetes in Labette County and surrounding community youth.

In 2009, Labette Health staff screened 658 children. Forty-one percent of them had a BMI at or above the 85% percentile. Labette Health invited children who might be at risk for type 2 diabetes to Healthy Kid Classes. The classes designed to prevent type 2 diabetes are free of charge to the children and their parents. The classes meet one night per week for six weeks and address psychosocial, nutritional and physical activity aspects of being healthy. For children with type 1 diabetes, the program provides a special watch with an alarm. The program has hosted glucose monitor training for families and school nurses and hosted a “Diabetes Academy” for the general public and student nurses.

“As obesity continues to be a top health concern, the Healthy Kids Initiative is an example of Labette Health’s leadership on top issues,” said Tom Bell, president and CEO of the Kansas Hospital Association. “It is programs like this which exemplify the ideals of the Community Connections Award, and we are pleased to recognize this program at Labette Health for their ongoing commitment to make their community a better place to live.”

The Kansas Hospital Association established the Community Connections Award to recognize hospitals that have distinguished themselves through efforts to improve the health and well-being of their communities. 

Labette Health is one of six hospitals in Kansas to be recognized for their hospital-based program, and the first to receive the award twice in three years. The hospital was honored in 2008 for its transportation program.

The Kansas Hospital Association is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. KHA membership includes 196 member facilities, of which 125 are full-service community hospitals. Founded in 1910, KHA maintains its vision of “an organization of hospitals working together to improve access, quality and the affordability of health care for all Kansans.”

Also celebrating the award were HKI participants, from left, Amanda Rogers, Shelby Smith, Titus Fegan, Angelica Gonzales and Stephon Dorsey.