When Roman Reznik, M.D., talks about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), he stresses two major points for the public to consider.

Dr. Reznik, who sees patients at St. Rose Health Center, took the opportunity to share a bit of advice during November, which is COPD Awareness Month.

He is based at Hays Medical Center but cares for patients at St. Rose once a month; his nurse practitioner also visits St. Rose monthly. They are here on different days.

“The take-away message about COPD has two key points,” Dr. Reznik said. “First, smokers are at high risk for COPD. And second, if you think you may have COPD, make an appointment with your primary-care physician who can refer you to a pulmonologist if necessary.

“Sometimes people assume a breathing problem is COPD, which it might be. However,” he noted, “it could be something different. It could be asthma, heart-related or a variety of other things.”

COPD symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and/or sputum production.

The disease can lead to difficulty walking short distances and an inability to perform other activities of daily living such as climbing stairs.

In addition to smokers, other at-risk populations include welders; older farmers who drove tractors without cabs; and industrial workers that use certain chemicals on the job.

Pulmonologists rely on breathing tests and x-rays to determine if the problem really is COPD or something else.

“These are the basic diagnostic tools that help us decide what action to take,” Dr. Reznik said. “The tests are performed right here at St. Rose. This is great for local and area patients because they don’t have far to travel.”

In most cases, COPD is treated with medications that could involve inhalers or nebulizers.

Dr. Reznik suggested that those who have COPD, or are at risk, should consider the flu vaccine and pneumonia shot.

“These folks have a higher risk of developing infections,” he explained. “Bad lungs tend to do poorly with infections.”

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States; it kills more than 120,000 people annually.

“We will see even more of this in the next 10 to 15 years,” Dr. Reznik said. “This is because of heavy smoking in the 1980s and 90s. It takes time to develop COPD.”

About one-fourth of Dr. Reznik’s patients have COPD. Others have conditions such as lung cancer, asthma, shortness of breath or a persistent cough.

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Imaging, Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.

The new member of the St. Rose Family Medicine team brings with her to the position more than seven years of experience in a variety of health-care settings.

Haley Gleason, advanced practice registered nurse, recently arrived at St. Rose where she sees patients of all ages; she is accepting new patients.

“I care for and treat many acute conditions such as the common cold, sore throat and the flu,” Gleason said. “But I also see patients who need chronic-disease management. This includes those who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease and diabetes.”

In addition, Gleason provides women’s health services such as pap tests and breast exams. She also treats minor injuries, some dermatology patients and those who need wound care.

Gleason noted she has been impressed with the services, personnel and the facility itself at St. Rose.

“This building is beautiful,” she commented. “It is awesome that all the different resources and services are right here under one roof.”

In addition to St. Rose Family Medicine, these services include MRIs and CAT scans in the Imaging Department, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and the St. Rose/HaysMed Specialty Clinic.

“And to top it off,” Gleason said, “the people here have been extremely friendly. I couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming atmosphere – from the front desk to housekeeping to the nurses and everyone else.”

Gleason began her career at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita where she cared for patients in the hospitalist unit and neonatal intensive care. She also was a traveling nurse serving in Knoxville, Tenn., Los Angeles and Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

Most recently, Gleason worked in the Orthopedic Institute at Hays Medical Center.

Gleason earned her bachelor’s of science degree in nursing at Fort Hays State University in 2009, and her master’s of science in nursing at the University of Cincinnati this year.

She is board certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and licensed by the Kansas State Board of Nursing.

Gleason and her husband, Sean, live in Great Bend. Her parents are Steve and Deb Webster; Stephanie is her sister.

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Imaging, Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.

Those who have been diagnosed with heart failure may benefit from a four-session support group at St. Rose Health Center.

The free weekly sessions are scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon beginning Nov. 22 at St. Rose; use the south entrance. The other dates are Nov. 29, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12; the time and location are the same.

Kristin Steele and Melanie Krier, both St. Rose registered nurses, will lead the discussions.

“We understand heart patients have many questions after their cardiac event,” said Steele, who cares for patients in St. Rose’s Cardiac Rehab Department. “They receive tons of new information when released from the hospital, and inevitably, questions arise. We want to provide answers.”

Heart failure is diagnosed when the heart is not pumping well enough to keep up with the body’s demands. Steele said medical science has made many strides in the treatment of the disease.

Proper follow-up care is crucial to recovery, Steele noted, adding the support-group setting will provide guidance to patients and caregivers.

“Seventy percent of re-admissions to a hospital are preventable,” she commented. “This is because it is easy to overlook specific information about medications, blood-pressure control and lifestyle changes.

“When people are overwhelmed with information, they don’t immediately know the right questions to ask,” she explained. “But when they are feeling a little better and have time to review recovery guidelines, they realize they need advice.”

Support-group participants will learn from one another and realize they are not alone, Steele said.

“In this kind of give-and-take setting, we anticipate patients can more easily retain the information,” Steele noted. “It is much better than reading several pieces of paper with a lot of instructions.

“With proper medications, a heart-healthy diet and exercise, people are living longer with a good quality of life,” she added. “We notice patients feel empowered when they realize they are in control of their recovery.”

St. Rose is a member of the Kansas Heart Stroke Collaborative, which supplied the funding for the nurses’ training as support-group facilitators. St. Rose, Hays Medical Center and the University of Kansas Hospital are partners with other Kansas facilities in the collaborative. The goal is to improve outcomes for heart and stroke patients.

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Imaging, Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.

Holly Milligan, the new physical therapist at St. Rose Health Center, brings to the job almost a decade of experience in a variety of settings.

“At St. Rose, my colleague, Melanie Schroeter, and I work with people who experience joint, neck and back pain from arthritis or a fall. We also work a lot on strengthening and balance to improve safety.”

A population Milligan believes is missing out on the benefits of physical therapy are those between the ages of 30 and 60.

“I hear women say, ‘I had a baby a year ago. I thought it was normal for my back and hips to still hurt,’” Milligan related. “Others tell me ‘my neck began to hurt six months ago but that is just part of getting older.’ With earlier treatment and education, the hope would be to help decrease and prevent more significant or intense symptoms later on.”

When discussing with others the option of physical therapy, Milligan states, “I think it is important to focus on how their day would look differently if they could walk through the grocery store without having to lean on a cart and stop to rest five times; or if they could get down on the floor and play with their children or grandchildren with more energy. If physical therapy could help them do these things better, how would that change their day-to-day living?”

In Kansas, a doctor’s referral for physical therapy is not necessary; insurance provider requirements vary.

At St. Rose, physical therapy treatment depends on the patient’s circumstances. It could entail one to three visits a week for a few weeks. “But I have patients come in for one or two sessions for a tune-up treatment and education,” Milligan noted. “And then they are good to go.”

Milligan, who is originally from Larned and now lives in Great Bend, received her undergraduate degree in kinesiology at Kansas State University in 2004. She then earned her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2007.

Milligan is currently being trained in Fascial Strain Counterstrain, a new technique that uses a gentle approach to release the fascia, a connective tissue located throughout the body, in order to treat a variety of dysfunctions.

She has experience in outpatient treatment; acute and skilled nursing; home health; and pediatric care of children age birth to 10.

The St. Rose Physical Therapy Services number is 620-786-6515.

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Imaging, Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.

Dr. Wright / HaysMed

Dr. Michael Wright, radiologist, has been noticing that some women are not having annual mammograms and wanted to take advantage of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to encourage them to reconsider.

Dr. Wright, whose main office is at Hays Medical Center, visits the imaging department at St. Rose Health Center on a regular basis.

He speculates that some women over age 40 are not having the exam every year because they are constantly bombarded with contradictory information.

While he understands the conflicting reports may be confusing, he encouraged women to consider advice from the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging. Their advice is to get an annual mammogram beginning at age 40.

“The guidelines of both these respected organizations are clear,” he said. “Unfortunately, people who spread false information through the media can influence patients’ decisions.

“A mammogram is simply the best tool we have for early detection,” he added. “If we can find breast cancer early, there are many successful treatment options that are less invasive than surgery. In some cases, surgery may not be required if it is caught early enough.”

Women in central Kansas have the benefit of state-of-the-art digital mammography and diagnostic breast ultrasound at St. Rose, Dr. Wright noted.

“The screenings and diagnostic evaluations at St. Rose are extremely helpful to central Kansas residents,” he said. “When patients do require more advanced evaluation and/or intervention, HaysMed has the Breast Care Center. It provides breast MRI, advanced ultrasound and 3-D mammography.

“In addition, the breast center offers genetic testing and consultation with surgical and therapeutic specialists,” he continued. “HaysMed also provides a nurse navigator who guides patients every step of the way.”

Mammography also is a valuable tool for detecting benign breast diseases, the radiologist noted. These include cysts, fibrocystic disease, fibroadenomas and lymph-node conditions.

“There is another factor to consider when deciding to get a yearly mammogram,” Dr. Wright pointed out. “Patients who receive a good report following the exam will have peace of mind, and that is a wonderful thing.”

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Imaging, Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.

Since an annual vaccination is the first step in protection against the flu virus, St. Rose Health Center is once again offering its free drive-thru, flu-shot clinic, Site Manager Zena Jacobs announced.

The event, which is for those 18 and older, is scheduled for 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the St. Rose parking lot, 3515 Broadway.

“We encourage the community to attend this clinic,” Jacobs said. “Protecting yourself against the flu also helps protect the people around you who may be more vulnerable to the virus because of a compromised immune system.

“St. Rose has a long history of providing this service to the community,” she added. “The health and wellness of our neighbors is important to all of us, and a flu shot is a great way to prevent problems.”

Many associates of St. Rose will be on hand at the clinic because “they recognize the importance of preventing the flu,” Jacobs noted. “They are volunteering their time as a way to give back to their community.”

Eagle Country 100.7 will host a live remote at the clinic.

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Imaging, Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.

While visitors at the Women’s Expo will have access to a wide range of information at the St. Rose Health Center and Hays Medical Center booths, they will get an up-close look at local physical therapy services.

The expo is set for 3:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10^th.

“Our physical therapists will attend the expo and demonstrate some hands-on activities,” St. Rose Site Manager Zena Jacobs said. “We also will distribute information about our physical therapy department and the demonstrations.”

A doctor’s referral for physical therapy is not required. St. Rose Therapy Services recently re-located to the facility’s second floor; its number is 620-786-6515.

Other expo offerings include handouts that explain St. Rose’s imaging department, blood-screening schedule and the many other services provided at its clinics.

“We are strong advocates for women’s health and have enjoyed participating in the expo each year,” Jacobs commented. “St. Rose continues to play a major role in the growing health-care initiative that promotes health and wellness.

“Maintaining and improving overall health is vital to all of us,” she added. “We want to focus on preventive care and collaborate with our patients on ways to manage their health concerns.”

The St. Rose and HaysMed booths will be adjacent to one another at the expo. HaysMed and Centura Health co-own St. Rose.

“It is great to have this partnership with the folks at HaysMed,” Jacobs said. “Great Bend and the surrounding area are reaping many benefits, including coordination of care and easy access to many HaysMed specialists. We are eager to talk to expo visitors about this wonderful collaboration.”

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Imaging, Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.

Melanie Schroeter has been providing physical therapy services at St. Rose Health Center for only a short time but she has noticed that many people don’t realize they can have treatments without a doctor’s referral.

“Patients can have direct access to St. Rose Therapy Services,” Schroeter said. “In the past, you did have to have a referral but the requirement changed in 2013 in Kansas.”

Because Schroeter sees first-hand the benefits of physical therapy, she encourages anyone with questions to contact her – with or without a doctor’s referral. The office number is 620-786-6515.

“If someone is suffering from neck or low-back pain or any type of joint pain, physical therapy can be a big part of the solution,” she said. “People experiencing problems with balance or dizziness can also find relief. Other diagnoses that can be treated with physical therapy include rotator cuff tear or injury; meniscus tear; plantar fasciitis; spinal stenosis; and scoliosis.

“In addition,” Schroeter continued, “the proper therapy can at least delay some surgeries and prevent others. But even if surgery is ultimately determined to be the best treatment, the patient will be stronger at the time of the operation. And that is always a good thing.”

Schroeter refers patients to physicians when appropriate; she will keep the lines of communication open with patients and doctors.

The St. Rose therapist is aware that some people think physical therapy is painful, and therefore shy away from it.

“The primary goal of therapy is to eliminate pain,” Schroeter noted. “I accomplish this by performing a thorough evaluation of each patient, while listening to their concerns. My skill in assessing the musculoskeletal system can help determine the cause of the pain.

“For instance,” she continued, “those who have knee pain may have weakness in the hips, causing the knee to hurt. I then tailor the treatment plan to the individuals’ needs, guide them in exercises and provide manual therapy to relieve the pain.”

Schroeter recommends patients seek help when the problem begins. A knee problem can lead to hip and/or ankle problems but therapy can improve the patient’s quality of life by decreasing pain, she explained.

“Patients will notice gradual results at first and continue to get stronger and more mobile in a short amount of time,” she added. “Even after the therapy sessions are complete, patients can perform these exercises at home to help ensure lasting effects.”

Schroeter earned bachelor’s degrees in kinesiology and nutrition in 2007 at Kansas State University, and her doctorate in physical therapy in 2010 at Wichita State University. She is a 2001 graduate of Larned High School.

St. Rose specializes in primary care, prevention and wellness. Services include St. Rose Family Medicine, Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, Great Bend Internists, Imaging, Cardiac Rehab, Physical Therapy, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice and a comprehensive Specialty Clinic. St. Rose is co-owned by Hays Medical Center and Centura Health.