LMH Health looks back at 2024: Improved infrastructure, new technology and new providers among year’s achievements

photo by: LMH Health

Karin Rexroad peeks through the bore of the PET-CT scanner that was acquired by LMH Health last summer.

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back on the moments that defined the past 12 months. From the addition of new technology, infrastructure improvements and adding new providers, it’s been a busy year at LMH Health. Let’s look back at some of our achievements during 2024.

Cancer Center renovations

The need for cancer care in our community continues to increase each year. The LMH Health Cancer Center has grown to provide more than 19,000 patient encounters per year, while continuing to operate in the same space where we provided care for 2,400 patients in 2001.

In June, much-needed renovations began to enhance the space and greatly expand the square footage of the LMH Health Cancer Center. Improvements will include:

• More treatment and exam rooms.

• Larger waiting room with a respite area for families.

• Two laboratory areas.

• Patient education and consultation rooms.

• Natural lighting for patient and family comfort.

Donors to the LMH Health Foundation provided more than $7.2 million in philanthropic support for the project. Completion of the new Cancer Center is on track for completion in mid-2025, culminating with a communitywide grand opening to celebrate this remarkable achievement.

Recognition for expertise in joint replacement

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas recognized LMH Health as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement in May. Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions.

“This designation is an extremely important milestone demonstrating the dedication of LMH Health and OrthoKansas to the highest quality and most cost-effective total joint care,” said Dr. Adam Goodyear, orthopedic surgeon at OrthoKansas and LMH Health vice chief of staff. “People in the community and surrounding areas can feel confident that they will receive total joint care that rivals that provided anywhere in the country.”

Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement include hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, or ASCs. All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation, and ASCs are also required to have an advanced orthopedic certification. In addition to meeting these quality thresholds, hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are on average 20% more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other facilities.

LMH Health earns heart failure accreditation

In June, the American College of Cardiology ACC recognized LMH Health with accreditation for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with heart failure.

“This accreditation is a testament to the quality of care provided at LMH Health. Heart failure patients often touch the entire continuum of care, including primary care, the Emergency Department and inpatient settings,” said Christina Salazar, a cardiologist with Cardiovascular Specialists of Lawrence and medical director of ACC Heart Failure Accreditation. “The collaboration between these teams and their commitment to providing exceptional care make this accreditation possible.”

PET scanner unveiled

LMH Health introduced a permanent on-site Positron Emission Tomography, or PET, scanner in July. As the only permanent PET/CT scanner performing cardiac studies outside the Kansas City metro, the technology is available for use for oncology and cardiology patients referred by a provider.

“PET scanning allows identification of metabolic disease rather than just anatomic pathology as seen on CT or MRI,” said Dr. Thomas Grillot, chair of the radiology department at LMH Health and radiologist with Radiologic Professional Services. “This information has important diagnostic implications in several fields, particularly oncology, cardiology, and neurology.”

The acquisition of the PET/CT scanner was made possible in part due to gifts from donors and corporate partners, including funds raised through the LMH Health Foundation’s biennial Hearts of Gold gala and the Penny Jones Golf Tournament.

Innovative agreement leads to sustainable option

Beginning in August, LMH Health began using a safer, sustainable option for medical waste disposal through a partnership with WasteMedX. LMH is leading the country in this commitment as the first community hospital in the United States and one of only five hospitals nationally with this technology.

WasteMedX uses ozone treatment technology to provide safe, environmentally friendly and more affordable medical waste disposal to health care organizations. It sterilizes and shreds biohazards including trace chemotherapy and nonhazardous prescriptions, pathological waste, sharps and documents containing personal health information, reducing waste volume by up to 90%.

In addition to reducing the health system’s carbon footprint, WasteMedX is fiscally sustainable. LMH Health estimates saving $78,000 over five years and $329,000 over the 10-year agreement with this green technology.

New physicians/APPs

People are the heart of our health system. LMH Health has hired or contracted with nearly 40 physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, or APPs and other clinicians to join our medical staff in 2024, including:

• Gastroenterology: Alka Hudson, MD.

• Hospitalist: Ryan Hokesema, PA.

• Interventional cardiology: Aaron Doonan, MD.

• Orthopedics: Cole McGregor, MD; Jordan Willis, MD; Ryan Xiao, MD.

• Primary care: Savannah Ericksen, DO; Desiree Gleason, DO; Alex Winkler, MD.

• Rheumatology: Joy-Ann Tabanor-Gayle, MD.

• Spine: Hemil Maniar, MD.

We also added three new members to the LMH Health Senior Leadership team.

• Jan Wiebe came to the organization in 2017 as the Emergency Department director and took on the role of chief nursing officer in late March. Prior to working at LMH, Wiebe worked for Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics for 28 years.

• Rob Chestnut is a familiar face at LMH Health. Prior to being named as chief financial officer in March, Chestnut served on the board of trustees for 12 years and chaired the finance committee for six years. In addition to his work as a trustee, Chestnut previously served on the Lawrence City Commission.

• Ron Baker joined LMH Health in August as the senior vice president of Operations and Clinic Enterprise, which supports more than 160 physicians, advanced practice providers and other clinicians across the health system. Baker has more than 25 years of health care management and leadership experience. Prior to coming to LMH, he served as vice president of Physician Services for Advent Health in Overland Park.

As we reflect on 2024, we’re grateful for the progress we have made. Welcoming new members of the medical staff has strengthened our ability to provide exceptional care. Renovations and advanced technology have enhanced the patient experience and improved outcomes, and new accreditations serve as a testament to our commitment to you, our patients. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey this year, and here’s to an even brighter future.

— Autumn Bishop is the marketing manager and content strategist at LMH Health.