Health Care

 
Lucas County Health Center

Lucas County has a rich heritage of quality healthcare, beginning with the arrival of two brothers- William D. Waynick, M.D., and Wyatt W. Waynick, M.D., in June, 1848.  From those pioneering family doctors to the cutting edge medical teams of the 21st Century, residents have long reaped the benefits of a strong tradition of healthcare excellence.  Lucas County Health Center is the most recent example of Lucas County residents' commitment to providing quality healthcare locally. 

Services

Lucas County Health Center offers a full range of medical services, including a 24-hour Emergency Department and paramedic ambulance service with two intensive care ambulances.  The 25-bed acute care hospital is able to meet the needs of its obstetric, surgical, and critical care patients.  LCHC may also meet the needs of patients requiring extended post-operative or respite care.

Expectant parents await the arrival of their child in the comfort of beautifully appointed delivery rooms.  With wood floors, oak cabinetry and the comforts of home, each birth occurs under the skillful watch of highly trained medical professionals who specialize in obstetrics.

LCHC Surgical Services sees thousands of patients each year, performing procedures for cancer, cataracts, and general surgery.  Visiting surgeons treat patients surgically for problems related to orthopedics; urology; ear, nose and throat; and podiatry, among others.  Other visiting physicians from many specialties see patients in the LCHC Specialty Clinics.

The radiology department has state-of-the-art imaging equipment, including machines for mammography, CT scan and nuclear medicine.  MRI services are also available.
 

Other departments included at LCHC include physical therapy, counseling services, adult daycare, childcare, diabetes self-management education, registered dietician services, and obstetrics.  LCHC also has a comprehensive laboratory with the latest technology.

LCHC is looking toward the future.  Eight additional rooms came under Northridge Living Center in the spring of 2000.  The Iowa Room, a common room for the Northridge Living Center use, received a major facelift.  Patient room renovation is also planned for the acute care wing of the Health Center.

The tradition of providing quality healthcare continues in Lucas County.  Under the guiding hand of its Trustees and administration, Lucas County Health Center keeps its ear tuned to the constantly changing needs of rural healthcare, and keeps its eye on the future.

For more information about Lucas County Health Center, visit its website at  www.lchcia.com or call (641) 774-3000

History

In 1956, a group of citizens interested in developing a county hospital gathered 200 signatures in support of the project and placed the matter in the hands of the Lucas County Board of Supervisors.  A public vote Nov. 6, 1956, showed the public was firmly behind constructing a county hospital.  The supervisors issued $200,000 in bonds to begin the process.  The supervisors applied for and received a $180,000 Hill-Burton federal grant.

The Lucas County Memorial Hospital Foundation formed and organized a drive to raise matching funds to comply with the Hill-Burton requirements.  Foundation members Judge Harold Levis, John Woodman, F.B. Ryan and John Baldridge were able to raise $170,000 in private funds.

The hospital's founding fathers organized when its first Board of Trustees meeting convened.  The first trustees-Delbert James, Arthur Keller, Oliver Kent, Fred Curtis, Dean Ferguson, Earl Wright and Oran Garrett-met to decide how to pursue the construction of a modern hospital in Chariton.  Months of attention to the smallest detail produced a hospital plan including 12 baby beds and a thoroughly modern surgical facility.

Construction on what would become Lucas County Memorial Hospital began in the fall of 1959.  A Grand Opening was held May 1, 1961, to announce the community's modern medical facility was open for business.

The hospital was so well used by area residents, that a 48-bed addition was constructed in 1969.  A two-unit ambulance service was added in 1990.  To meet the growing needs of Lucas County residents, a four-bed intensive care unit was equipped in 1971 with the latest technology.

As healthcare needs continued to evolve, the Lucas County Memorial Hospital Board of Directors kept pace.  In 1985, Northridge Living Center was developed to meet the growing need for residential facilities for the elderly.

The 1990s brought more changes to the hospital, including a name change.  The Lucas County Memorial Hospital was renamed Lucas County Health Center.  A spacious medical office building was added to the north side of the building, a project that included the construction of an airy atrium entrance to the Health Center.

The LCHC Mammography Center began offering on-site mammography every weekday in 1999.  Neal Sokol, D.O. joined the LCHC staff in 1999 as general surgeon, and then opened his private surgical practice, Surgical Clinic of Southern Iowa, PC, in Chariton.

The beginning of a new millennium brought more changes to LCHC.  The acute care wing of the Health Center underwent a complete renovation.  From floor to ceiling, the patient rooms and adjacent areas received a facelift.  Soothing colors, new furnishings and equipment let the facilities reflect the high quality of care received by patients at Lucas County Health Center.  Eight patient rooms were renovated for use by Northridge tenants.
 

Medical Clinic

Chariton Family Medical Center, P.C., located in the Medical Office Building at Lucas County Health Center at 1200 N. Seventh St. in Chariton, provides quality, compassionate medical care for the entire family.  Chariton Family Medical Center offers a full range of medical services, including obstetric services.  Physicians, Physician Assistants, and a Registered Nurse Practitioner see patients Monday through Saturday by appointment.  Healthcare professionals at Chariton Family Medical Center include Kenneth R. Anderson, D.O.; Greg D. Cohen, D.O.; Douglas W. Hoch, M.D.; Gregory McKernan, D.O.; Phillip Sundquist, M.D.; Juanita Woollums Durham A.R.N.P.;  Chris Osier, P.A.-C.; and Allison Krutsinger,  P.A-C.

For more information about Chariton Family Medical Center, or to make an appointment, please call us at  (641) 774-8103.

Kids' Life Discovery Center

Kids' Life Discovery Center, a childcare service of Lucas County Health Center, is licensed to meet the physical and developmental needs of up to 135 children from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Trained and educated staff members foster a nurturing environment of acceptance and welcome for all children.

Within the cheerful spacious rooms, children ages 6 weeks to 12 years are encouraged to explore and learn.  A wide variety of activities, both structured and unstructured, allow the children to stretch their minds and bodies.  Field trips are frequent and specifically geared toward different age groups and capabilities.

Nutritionally balanced tempting meals, including breakfast, lunch and up to two snacks, are planned by a registered dietician and prepared by skilled cooks in the Kids' Life kitchen.  Children eat family-style to develop good social skills and table manners.

Kids' Life is a fun and exciting place for all children.  For more information about Kids' Life Discovery Center, email klife@lchcia.com, or call (641) 774-3215.
 

Circle of Friends Home Care
 
After taking on their first client in March of 2002, Circle of Friends Home Care has firmly established themselves as the area leader in home health care.  The staff at Circle of Friends is compassionate, knowledgeable and professional.  Circle of Friends Home Care has set a new standard in homecare, bringing the best possible care to Chariton and surrounding communities.  Give them a call and find out for yourself what all of the talk is about!

What is Home Health Care?
Homecare is a service used by consumers to enhance, restore, or maintain their positive health within their home.  Homecare increases quality of life by helping maintain a safe, independent living environment in one's own home, prolonging the need to look into long term care options.

Who Qualifies for Home Care?
There are many different conditions that qualify individuals for homecare.  A few examples of these are congestive heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, post-surgery needs and many more.  Call if you have any questions regarding you or a loved one's homecare eligibility.

Services Provided by Circle of Friends Home Care