WMMC Celebrates 60 Years of Compassionate Care

As we celebrate 60 years of providing high quality healthcare experiences, we’re taking a look back at how it all started! Learn more about WMMC’s substantial growth, the impact we’ve made on the local community and the groundwork we’ve prepared for the future of healthcare.

Fall prevention has been a priority since last October. Some efforts include the creation of new patient education material, signs for their walls and tray tables, and educating our staff on the importance of fall prevention.

Additionally, in March, members of leadership began doing safety rounds. There is a checklist of fall prevention strategies that should be in place and the manager, director, CNC and CNO have all been involved in making rounds each day to ensure the proper fall prevention interventions are employed.

Achieving 60 days without a fall on the busy Med/Surg unit and 30 days without a fall on ICU is a huge accomplishment. It shows our whole team is focused on fall prevention. Congratulations to everyone who has worked diligently to achieve these milestones, and we appreciate all that you do!

Celeste Clelland, MSN, RN, will be joining WMMC as the Women’s Health Service Line Director. She will be responsible for the Obstetrics Department in the Hospital as well as Western Missouri Women’s Health Center. Celeste completed nursing school in Wyoming, earned her BSN from Fort Hays State and her MSN from the University of Kansas School of Nursing. The majority of Celeste’s career has been in the Obstetrical specialty with three years as a Primary Care Practice Administrator. She has held leadership roles at Hays Medical Center, University Health (Formerly Truman Medical Center) and Research Medical Center. She will begin working in her role on May 30.

Martha Zink, BSN, RN, will be moving into the role of Interim Manager of Obstetrics. In this role, Martha will be responsible for the hospital Obstetrics Department. Martha received her BSN from Central Missouri State University (now UCM) and has worked in Western Missouri’s Obstetrics Department since 1999. She will begin working in her new role on May 31. 

NEO May 15th

Please join us in welcoming new employees from our May 15th New Employee Orientation!

Front row from left to right: Regan Anderson (Pharmacy), Olivia Hughes (MedSurg), Julie Waldo (Laboratory), Robin Wollard (Cardiac Rehab), Karsyn Cox (MedSurg).

Middle row from left to right: Bryana Lanier (MedSurg), Hanna Benson (Nutrition Services), Cathleen Hall (Wound Center), Saniya Frazier (Med Surg), Aysha Frazier (MedSurg), Katelynn Cooper (MedSurg), Nakayla Kindred (Ambulatory Care).

Back row from left to right: Andrew Mather (Diagnostic Imaging), Taylor Walters (Pharmacy), Shaniqua Hamilton (Laboratory), Bailey Schaaf (Preoperative Services), Kyle Hull (Diagnostic Imaging), Deidra Anderson (Diagnostic Imaging).

RN Earns WCC Certification

Congratulations to Stephanie Culp, RN WCC (left), who recently earned her WCC Specialty Certification for Wound Care! She joins our Certified Wound Specialists Suzanne Vogelsmeier, ANP, BC, CWS (center) and Jennifer Patterson, RN CWS, Clinical Nurse Manager - Advanced Wound Center, in receiving this recognition, demonstrating their dedication to the highest standards in wound care. We're so proud of these specialists for advancing their skills and education to provide the best possible care for our patients! 

Gina DeBarthe, CCC-SLP, PhD, has her masters in Neurogenic Communication Disorders and her Doctorate in Alternate and Augmentative Communication. She has 16 years of experience treating patients throughout the lifespan. We are so pleased to have her providing excellent care to the adults in our community who are both admitted to WMMC and those who come to our outpatient clinic!

Jessica Tolias, M.S. CCC-SLP, will be offering feeding and myo-lingual services to our newborn and our early childhood pediatrics both in OB and in the outpatient clinic! Jessica has been a speech therapist with WMMC since 2014 focused on our outpatient early childhood population. Now she will also be able provide services to newborn inpatients and outpatients newborn to toddlers focusing on typical and atypical feeding/swallowing as well as tethered oral tissues. We are so excited to once again be able to offer this valuable service to our community!

Above and Beyond

This award goes to the employee who is always going above and beyond to meet every expectation.

Winner: Sheila Fitterling

Calmer of Storms

This award goes to the employee that is always calming the most reckless storms.

Winner: Kindra Cox

Consider It Done

This award goes to the employee who always has your back. They complete the task asked of them before you can even finish your sentence.

Winner: Frank Erzar

Highest of High Fives

This employee has so much enthusiasm that they just can’t contain it. High fives for everyone!

Winner: Marty Savage

Absolute Attendance

This award goes to the employee who is always at work ahead of schedule.

Winner: Hubert Newman

Perfect Presence

This award goes to the employee who is always ready to go, on time with a can-do attitude!

Winner: Lauren Stiffarm

Bright Beginning

This award goes to the rookie who we all know will go far!

Winner: Elizabeth Odam

Employee of the Year

This award goes to the employee that is flexible, willing to change and adapt to different roles; supportive and respectful of their colleagues; engaged and improves the morale of others!

Winner: Christine Murray

Leader of the Year

This award goes to the leader who exemplifies Compassion, Collaboration, and Courage. This leader is an excellent role model, inspires others to work collaboratively and creatively, demonstrates initiative, and is actively involved in the mentorship and development of others!

Winner: Karen Caldwell

Different Strokes for Different Folks - June 13

This group is for anyone who has survived a stroke or brain injury and those who support them. The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1. Contact Rehabilitation Services at (660) 262-7536 for more information.

AUL Representative - June 13

Do you have any questions regarding your retirement, a rollover, or your contribution amounts? A representative from AUL will be here for meetings June 13 from 9 a.m. -2:30 p.m. in Conference Room 2. Call Tonya Cole at 7434 or email tcole@wmmc.com to make an appointment.

AFLAC Representative - June 19

Janet from AFLAC will be here June 19^t from 12-1:30 p.m. in Conference Room 2 Please call Tonya Cole 7434 or email tcole@wmmc.com if you are interested in setting up a time to talk to her.