North Kansas City Hospital

NKCH and MH reached 8,400 da Vinci® robotic surgery cases since 2006. For nearly two decades, patients have benefited from da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery in a variety of specialties, including bariatrics, colon and rectal care, general surgery, gynecology and urology. When da Vinci robotic surgery first started, NKCH surgeons completed 52 cases in the first calendar year. In 2023, that number rose to more than 950 cases. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g9UNHwWt

From the exam room to the football field, Dr. Carl Myers has built a remarkable legacy of service — and now he’s being recognized for it in a big way. The 1974 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Medicine has received the first-ever Dean’s Distinguished Service Award, celebrating his extraordinary contributions to both his alma mater and his community. Dr. Myers, a family physician specializing in geriatrics at Meritas Health Platte City, has practiced with NKCH and MH for more than 47 years. When he attended his 40th class reunion a decade ago, Dr. Myers was embarrassed to learn his class scholarship fund contained less than $10,000. Since then, Dr. Myers diligently worked the phone and his connections to raise more than $500,000 for the class scholarship. Congratulations, Dr. Myers!

Last week, Community Blood Center hosted a press conference with local leaders, healthcare professionals, and advocates to emphasize the urgent need for blood in the wake of severe winter storms and celebrate National Blood Donor Month. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’s proclamation, presented by Kansas City Councilman Crispin Rea, declares January as National Blood Donor Month in recognition of the lifesaving impact of our incredible blood donors. “As a nurse, I’ve seen firsthand the lifesaving power of blood donations,” said Missouri State Senator Patty Lewis. “Whether it’s a trauma patient or someone undergoing chemotherapy, the need for blood is constant. I encourage everyone to take just a small amount of time to donate—it’s one of the most impactful ways you can make a difference.” Our region has already lost over 3,000 donations due to this month's winter storms. Blood donors, especially those with type O- and B-, are critical to restoring the local blood supply. Thank you to all our community leaders and partners who joined us on this special occasion. Your support is invaluable to our lifesaving mission! Kevin Wake, CMR, CHW, M.S., North Kansas City Hospital, The University of Kansas Health System #NationalBloodDonorMonth #DonateBlood #CommunityBloodCenter #KansasCity

Our Acute Rehab Unit works hard to get patients who have suffered an injury or acute illness back on their feet and back into their homes. Department leaders wanted to do something special for the team to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to providing exceptional patient care, even during the holidays and in inclement weather. They recently had the Children's Learning Center students create "thank you" cards and delivered gift baskets around the unit. Thank you for your steadfast commitment to our ARU patients and for being true healthcare heroes!

Shoutout to BioNexus KC for including a North Kansas City Hospital submission into the 2024 Science2Art exhibit! Watch the video for an appearance by *yours truly* to see how art can be used to enhance STEAM education at all levels, by illustrating science to make it more interesting and fun! Also peep the amazing art created by science researchers in our region - amazing stuff happening around here!

Susan Binkley puts her heart into her job as an LPN at Meritas Health Cardiology. Susan’s love for her work is reciprocated by the patients who often wait to schedule with her and the coworkers who recently chose Susan as Employee of the Month. “Susan always tries to be positive and lift up her peers,” commented a coworker. “She always finds ways to brighten someone’s day.” Susan’s tenure at Meritas Health Cardiology spans 19 years, making her second on the department’s seniority list. She has seen the practice grow from nine physicians with the original Northland Cardiology group to the current 16 physicians. Congratulations, Susan! 🎉

Fitness classes don’t have to be intimidating. We have land and water classes available for all fitness levels! Discover what everyone’s talking about and sign up for one today at nkch.org/fitnessclasses.

A rose vial that includes a message from President and CEO Stephen Reintjes Sr., MD, will adorn the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade tomorrow morning in Pasadena. Dr. Reintjes’ rose will be one of thousands on the Donate Life Rose Parade float honoring donors, recipients and others touched by organ and tissue donation. The Donate Life float, called Woven Together: the Dance of Life, honors organ, eye and tissue transplant recipients and donors. The float represents a collaborative national effort by 50 organizations, including the local Midwest Transplant Network, to reach people with the simple, life-giving message that organ, eye and tissue donations save lives. As of Nov. 14, NKCH had nine organ donor heroes with 27 organs transplanted including kidneys being the most donated at nine, followed by: liver (eight), heart (five), lungs (four) and intestines (one). There were 53 tissue and cornea hero donors with up to 5,300 lives improved through the donations.

We love our community ❤️ Community Health & Wellness is out year-round providing free health screenings at farmers markets, libraries, churches and community centers. Visit nkch.org/healthscreenings to find one near you.

Who doesn’t love the feeling of clean sheets? Environmental Services ensures departments across the hospital are stocked with fresh linens. This year, they delivered an impressive 123,201 blankets and 202,868 hospital gowns to help keep our patients comfortable and refreshed. They also clean around 500 rooms every day!