2023 YEAR IN REVIEW: North Central Kansas Medical Center Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of Opening

As we enter into the final days of 2023, this week KNCK News is beginning our annual look back, revisiting some of the biggest stories from the past year.

Engineering News-Record, which reports on the top design firms, both architects and engineers, and the top construction companies as well as projects in the United States and around the world, has recognized North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia in its 2023 Best Project Awards list.

North Central Kansas Medical Center received an Award of Merit in Healthcare for its new single-story, state-of-the-art health care facility that opened last year in Concordia.

TreanorHL, which did the design work for the facility, submitted North Central Kansas Medical Center for the award.

Two panels of expert judges selected 29 winners in 18 categories: projects that represent outstanding quality of work, spurred innovative ideas and overcame intriguing challenges.

Dave Garnas, Administrator of North Central Kansas Medical Center, said they are proud to have received an Award of Merit.

The groundbreaking on the project was originally planned for November or December of 2020, but was delayed because the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the design process.

The delay allowed for a more competitive bidding process on the project.  Over 120 bids submitted on the project, with McCownGordon Construction selected as Construction Manager At-Risk.

The hospital broke ground on the new facility, located close to US Highway 81 along College Drive, in March 2021.

A 14-bed facility, North Central Kansas Medical Center welcomed its first patients on November 16, 2022.

Joel Phelps, President & CEO of Salina Regional Health Center, says they're invested in the Concordia community's success and this new facility fulfills their commitment to quality care for the residents of North Central Kansas.

Employees of North Central Medical Center in Concordia got to have a little fun this year while raising money for a good cause.

In March, employees of the hospital raised funds for the North Central Kansas Down Syndrome Society in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day.  Employees were able to purchase tickets to vote for the person at the hospital they would like to see get a pie in the face, with proceeds going to support the NCK Down Syndrome Society.

Dave Garnas was the lucky person to get pied.  Project SEARCH intern Ian Bergstrom got the chance to pie Garnas.

Project SEARCH is a program to train persons with developmental disabilities for high-need positions.  The Learning Cooperative of North Central Kansas provides the employability and soft-skills training for students in the region, while North Central Kansas Medical Center provides the training room and internship opportunities for learning skills for competitive, integrated on-the-job training at the hospital and in the community.

Lisa McFadden, Coordinator, says Project SEARCH's primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities.

Project SEARCH held a graduation ceremony for three interns in May -- Ian Bergstrom, Loretta Freed and Gabby Southard.

The hallmarks of Project SEARCH are total workplace immersion and a singular goal of competitive employment for every program graduate.  They strive to achieve that goal by creating an atmosphere of high expectations.

Also this year, the North Central Kansas Medical Center presented an $11,061 check to the Learning Cooperative of North Central Kansas in support of Project SEARCH.  The North Central Kansas Medical Center held a golf tournament in April, organized by the employees of the hospital, with net proceeds supporting Project SEARCH.  

Denise Baumann, Cardiopulmonary Director at the North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia, said that in years past the golf tournament was held to benefit the build of a new health care facility in Concordia.  After the North Central Kansas Medical Center opened last year, she said they wanted to support other organizations in the community.

Also this year, the North Central Kansas Medical Center welcomed a new general surgeon, Leah Speaks, M.D. with Salina Regional Surgical Associates.  Dr. Speaks is now providing general surgery outreach along with Dr. Justin Klaassen.  The North Central Kansas Medical Center also welcomed Shanda Schroeder to the Specialty Clinic in Concordia.  She will provide GYN care including exams, pap smears, birth control, mammograms, and general women’s health care.

NCK Medical Center Volunteers, formerly the Cloud County Health Center Auxiliary, received the Hospital Volunteers of Kansas Gold Award of Excellence for the 35th consecutive year.  The Gold Award of Excellence is earned by completing nine requirements during the year.  These requirements involve a great deal of time, effort and hard work on the part of many members.  

The NCK Medical Center Volunteers presented their healthcare scholarships for 2023 to three students: Jenna McFadden, Kynnedi Steinbrock, and Cami Anderson.  NCK Medical Center Volunteers encourages healthcare career choices by awarding scholarships each year to students who are entering a medical field of study.

And this year, more than 360 area student athletes received free physicals, courtesy of North Central Kansas Medical Center.  The hospital offers this service annually to allow area junior high and senior high school athletes and college students to have easier access to physicals, which are required to participate in practices and games.