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We are excited to announce that Sheila Heineken will be retiring on Saturday, May 22, 2021, with over forty-five years of service at Amberwell Health! Sheila joined our organization on March 2, 1976, as a part-time graduate practical nurse. She then graduated from NEKA Vo-Tech of Atchison in March of 1976 and became a full-time LPN. Since then, she has worked in several areas of the organization, including inpatient care,...

Osteoporosis is a degenerative condition that causes a decrease in the density of bones, making the bones fragile and more likely to break. As we age, our bodies naturally lose bone density; however, osteoporosis goes beyond normal bone loss and can lead to serious health issues such as bone fractures, loss of mobility, and extreme pain. Osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease” because people with the condition cannot feel...

This year for Skilled Nursing Care Week, we wanted to highlight our swing bed program because it incorporates 24-hour skilled nursing care for post-acute patients in need of short-term rehabilitation before returning home. Swing bed is an intensive program designed to help Medicare patients who no longer require acute hospital care continue to recover under the supervision of Amberwell Atchison’s professional care team. The program saves patients from having to...

Amberwell Health now has a new check-in process available for our Primary Care, Orthopedic Care, and General Surgery at Amberwell Atchison. Starting Monday, May 10th, patients will have the ability to complete a mobile pre-check prior to their appointment. Primary Care, Orthopedic Care, and General Surgery patients will receive a text, email, or both prompting them to complete a mobile pre-check prior to their appointment. Patients will be able to...

Arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, is a serious health condition that limits a person's ability to perform daily tasks and can interfere with their emotional wellbeing, their social life, and their ability to hold a steady job. Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in America, affecting more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children. Of the more than one hundred types of arthritis and arthritis-related diseases,...

Regular screenings with your Amberwell primary care provider can help monitor your risk of suffering a stroke. Your provider will evaluate your blood pressure, weight, lifestyle, and health history to assess health concerns that put you at risk of having a stroke. Your provider will then determine treatments, recommend lifestyle changes, and prescribe medication to help you stay healthy and reduce your stroke risk. Strokes are sudden and serious Nearly...

Among the many reasons for wellness visits with your Amberwell primary care provider is to get important screenings—like regular blood pressure checks. By monitoring your blood pressure, providers can recognize changes that may indicate a concern. High blood pressure is asymptomatic until it’s too late. Screenings help prevent, or control, this very common condition that quietly damages blood vessels and can lead to serious health risks. A major health crisis...

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in the United States, with more than ninety-five thousand people diagnosed each day. A misconception about skin cancer is that it’s not that serious because it can simply be removed, but the reality is that if left untreated for too long, it can become fatal. More than two people die of the disease every hour. When caught early, 99% of...

Congratulations to Marty Zumbrunn on her retirement! Of her 47 years of experience in the medical field, we appreciate the 15 years, 11 months, and 3 weeks she has been with Amberwell Health. Marty has served in several key roles at Amberwell Atchison over the years including director of clinic operations, manager of clinic billing, clinic billing project manager, and clinic billing coordinator. Marty’s favorite memories of her time at...

Each year, approximately 1% of people living in the United States are diagnosed with esophageal cancer1. Esophageal cancer is a cancer of the esophagus, the muscular tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach. Despite the fact that compared to other cancers, esophageal cancer is relatively rare, most people diagnosed with this type of cancer will not survive it. In fact, more people die of esophageal cancer each...