Month: August 2020

August 31, 2020

Bates County Health Center has confirmed more positive cases of COVID-19 in Bates County. All  cases reside either Butler or Adrian.  Contact tracing is being done at this time and any parties that have had close contact, as reported to us by the positive cases, are being notified.   Please keep in mind that our contact tracing is ONLY as good as the information we get from the positive individuals–sometimes it is difficult to remember everyone you might have had close contact with when we are doing the interview. If you feel you have been a close contact and have not been contacted by the Health Department either reach out to the individual you think you were exposed to or to our office and we will contact the positive case for confirmation.

Any individuals advised of need for isolation and quarantine are per CDC guidelines.  Also, there are questions about having to remain in quarantine for 14 days even if you get a negative result.  The following is information from the CDC guidance:

When to start and end quarantine

You should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.

… even if you test negative for COVID-19 or feel healthy, you should stay home (quarantine) since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

The reason an individual can’t “test out of quarantine” is because it may take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear and you can infect others up to 48 hours prior to showing symptoms.  This was the case of one such individual that quarantined as directed and on day 14 began to show symptoms and tested positive. 

At this time, Bates County has had 85 positives cases, 12 of which are currently active and isolated. 

We would also like to remind individuals that if you have been tested, you should quarantine at home until test results are received—this decreases any possible exposure for others in the event your results come back positive.

With our numbers for Bates County rising, we hope everyone will continue to practice social distancing, clean/disinfect any high touched surfaces, wash their hands with soap and water routinely, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available, avoid touching your face (especially eyes, nose & mouth), and to stay home if you are sick.  Wearing a mask in public is also encouraged.  It is up to each and every one of us to stop the spread of this disease!

Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) is pleased to welcome family nurse practitioner, Katelyn (Triplett) Erwin to Primary Care Center, located at 627 S. Ash in Nevada and at NowCare Clinic at 345 S. Barrett as needed.

A graduate of Nevada High School, Erwin earned her Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Ks. In May of this year, she completed her Doctorate, also from PSU. For the past four years Erwin has worked part-time on the Medical/Surgical and Intensive Care Units at NRMC. Much of her clinical education hours were spent at NRMC alongside Dr. Amanda Turner, Dr. Jacqueline Youtsos, Sonja Albright, DNP, and Dr. Dan Barnes.

“In primary care you see people through the lifespan,” says Erwin. “That’s what I like – that there’s a little bit of everything. I’ll be seeing OB patients prior to delivery and then their babies for their well-child visits, helping manage chronic conditions and making sure my patients stay healthy and out of the hospital.”

Recently married, Katelyn is a new stepmother to three children. She enjoys spending time with her family, including travelling and outdoor activities. Her favorite hobbies include refinishing old furniture as well and reading, although she laughingly says, she would prefer it not be a textbook.

“Katelyn is a welcome addition to our clinics,” says Steve Branstetter, Chief Executive Officer at NRMC. “Having the extra health provider opens up possibilities for extending clinic hours which we know would benefit our community.”

To become an FNP, one must first pass the NCLEX-RN to become a licensed RN. During years spent as an RN, crucial experience is gained. From there, most FNP hopefuls will work toward a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in family practice, a post graduate degree specific to FNP preparation, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) as Erwin did.

FNPs have advanced clinical training and possess a graduate-level education, qualifying them to diagnose and treat complex health conditions. They can perform a wide variety of duties that include but are not limited to development of treatment plans, education, and guidance for disease prevention and healthy living, health examinations, performing diagnostic tests and screenings, and prescribing medicine.

To schedule an appointment with Katelyn Erwin, call Nevada Regional Primary Care Center at (417) 448-3600 or visit the Patient Portal at www.nrmchealth.com.

The Bates County Fair Tractor Pull originally scheduled for last Saturday has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 13th. More details will be announced as they become available.