Clyde Toland credits the physical and occupation therapy he receives at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute for his continued recovery from a stroke he experienced almost a year ago.
“I owe it to therapy that I can walk,” he said.
Toland addressed Allen County Hospital trustees at their meeting Tuesday night. His goal was to encourage trustees in their planning of a new hospital to consider an area that included a therapy pool and exercise room as well as departments for cardiac rehabilitation, and occupational and physical therapy.
Toland also encouraged trustees to provide free transportation to the hospital, such as Chanute does. Toland is picked up and returned to his home three mornings a week as part of a carpool.
“It’s also been a great way to make friends,” he said of the service.
Chanute’s “care car” provides transportation to a number of neighboring towns, including Humboldt, Iola, Thayer, Erie, Moran and Yates Center.
“As a way to recruit patients, It’s a profitable service,” Toland said.
Joyce Heismeyer, chief executive officer of ACH, responded to Toland, saying under its current model of business with Hospital Corporation of America, the hospital is not allowed to directly “recruit” patients with such a service as free transportation. She surmised that a foundation set up by NMRMC provides the service.
In a conversation Wednesday afternoon, Heismeyer said the current hospital “simply doesn’t have the space,” for the many exercise machines Neo-sho Memorial has available for its patients.
“As for a therapy pool, we certainly would like to have one in our new hospital, but as of yet we don’t have the money for one. I’ve heard very positive results from their use,” Heismeyer said.
TEN MONTHS after suffering the stroke, Toland’s primary goal now is to regain use of his left arm. Sessions in the therapy pool have increased the arm’s range of motion.
Toland, an Iola attorney, is now back at work on a part-time basis. He takes outpatient therapy about 10 hours a week.
The only downside to Chanute’s rehab center, which is separate from its hospital, is that it is not easy to access, Toland said.
Perched on a hill, the rehab center makes for difficult walking, Toland said. “I suggest you make yours so a person can drive right up to it.”
Toland was life-flighted to Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center when his stroke occurred. Its symptoms were paralysis to the left side of his body.
“I was lucky,” he said. “My memory, speech and ability to eat were not affected.”
When he was released from the Wichita hospital, he entered its rehab center.
“They don’t call it boot camp for nothing,” he said of the grueling exercises he endured to regain use of his body. “Try peeling a banana or opening a carton of milk with one hand,” he suggested.
When he was ready to return home, he discovered that Chanute’s hospital had a better program for stroke rehabilitation. Allen County Hospital provides both physical and occupational therapy. It dropped its cardiac rehabilitation program several years ago. Toland said most of those he rode along with went to Neosho Memorial for cardiac rehab.
“I’ve been the only person using its occupational therapy program, which is helping him to recover his motor skills,” he said.
THE TRUSTEES ALSO heard Kent Tomson, of Iola’s Electric Distribution Department, explain how power lines could be taken along the slough running north of the property of the site of the new hospital on U.S. 54. The lines which carry power to Gas follow that route, Tomson said.
To bury the lines would be “too expensive and I don’t have the crew,” to handle it, he said.
TERRACON, the environmental engineering firm handling the soil borings on the site, should have its report by the end of the week, said Phil Schultze of Murray Construction, the construction managment firm.
The findings will be presented to the board at its June 14 meeting, he said, at which point trustees will decide the best positioning of the hospital on the 19-acre site.
Architect David Wright of Health Facilities Group is leaning to putting the hospital to the north of Monroe Street.
“I think it offers more longterm flexibility,” of the site, including positioning a medical arts building and the possibility of a Veterans Administration clinic, he said.
