News

September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month. Newborn screening is just one of many things that will happen in the first few days after a baby is born. Newborns in Kansas are screened for thirty-four conditions within the first few days after birth. A “heel stick” provides blood drops that are collected on sterile, absorbent filter paper. Kansas screenings also include a hearing test and measure the amount of oxygen in...

The rehabilitation services staff at Amberwell Atchison provide much needed support to patients recovering from chronic disease, sudden illness, traumatic incidents, and surgical procedures. Amberwell offers a range of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac/pulmonary rehab services, speech therapy, and sports medicine. Our highly skilled therapists are not only dedicated to developing the best possible treatment plan for each patient’s individual needs, but they are...

High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, which can cause heart attack and stroke. But what, exactly, is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by the liver and found in many foods. It is essential for good health as it helps the body make hormones and digest fatty foods. But saturated and trans fats–like those found in certain oils and animal products...

Amberwell is excited to welcome Brian R. Duncan, MD, to our Orthopedic Care team. Dr. Duncan is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon providing orthopedic services at Amberwell Atchison and Amberwell Hiawatha. Prior to joining Amberwell Health, Dr. Duncan practiced orthopedic surgery in St. Joseph, Missouri, for ten years. He has also served as the chief of orthopedic surgery at Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and was a...

Research shows that every year, 3 million Americans become persistent opioid users after surgery. By using their knowledge of opioid-sparing and opioid-free anesthesia and pain management, Amberwell anesthesia providers are working to prevent the risk for opioid addiction and dependency. Why is this important? The economic cost of the U.S. opioid epidemic in 2017 was estimated at $1,021 billion, including cost of opioid use disorder estimated at $471 billion and...

Anesthesia providers at Amberwell Atchison are working to bring attention to the need for better pain assessment and treatment. Our efforts are part of activities planned by Partners for Understanding Pain (ACPA), a consortium of more than 80 professional and consumer organizations that have an interest in pain and its effects, for September's Pain Awareness Month activities. David Hart, DNP, CRNA, NSPM-C, is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (and retired...

Women often think that they need to see a gynecologist for quality gynecologic care, but Amberwell Primary Care providers know women’s health and offer many women’s health services to help you maintain a healthy reproductive system. A major health concern for all women is gynecologic cancer. During the month of September, we take extra time to raise awareness about gynecologic cancers and highlight how Amberwell Primary Care providers can help...

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of non-skin cancer among men in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among the same group. The month of September has been designated to raise awareness about this very common cancer that affects so many lives. Risk Factors While all men are at risk for prostate cancer, the most common risk factor for developing the disease is age....

Amberwell Health recognizes the need for orthopedic care in the communities we serve and has been focused on improving access to orthopedic services through adding locations and surgeons to provide orthopedic care. Throughout the past 18 months, significant growth has occurred within Amberwell Orthopedic Care. In February of 2020, a new clinic was opened in Leavenworth, Kansas, that brought orthopedic surgery services to Leavenworth patients. Dr. Shannon Carpenter joined the...

Over 100 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, and millions more are addicted to opioids. You can remove the risk of your unused opioids and help address the devastating opioid crisis affecting so many American families.