CareArc’s Community Health department is asking residents to be proactive in preventing measles as the disease continues to spread.
CareArc Marketing Manager Justin Ogleby says measles is highly contagious. It can live in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a given area. Anybody who is infected can also spread measles to up to 90 percent of the unvaccinated people around them.
To Ogleby, being proactive means getting vaccinated as the primary step. He says the measles mumps rubella vaccine is safe and effective, normally administered when kids are 12-15 months old and again when they are between 4-6 years old. Residents who aren’t sure about their vaccination status can reach out to their health providers.
Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and a red rash that typically spreads from the face across the rest of the body. Residents are told to seek treatment and avoid public spaces if they develop those symptoms.
CareArc’s recommendations come as Kansas is dealing with a measles outbreak in southwest Kansas involving nearly 40 cases in eight counties.
Separately, CareArc is getting ready for new personnel to join the team. Following the Board of Directors meeting this week, Chief Executive Officer Renee Hively said the new on-site pharmacy has a new leader coming on board as Melissa Jackson has reached an agreement with CareArc.
Jackson officially begins May 5. When it comes to the pharmacy, Hively is looking at construction ending in June and the new facility opening to the public this fall.
CareArc also recently announced the hire of Dr Roland Darey, has been working at Newman Regional Health’s emergency room the past several years.
The CareArc board also tweaked two bylaws, one to reflect federal changes to diversity, equity and inclusion references and another to shorten the time needed for past employees to become board members from five years to one.
Recent strong financial numbers continue. Chief Financial Officer Seresa Howe says CareArc had a net gain of $61,000 for March and over $160,000 for the first quarter, both numbers higher than budgeted. Howe credits CareArc’s ongoing work to reduce bad debt, increase net patient service revenue and control expenses as reasons for the most recent numbers.
