About PrairieStar
PrairieStar Health Center is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). We offer comprehensive medical, pediatric, dental, behavioral health, occupational medicine, vision & optical, lab, x-rays, mammograms, and money-saving pharmacy programs for people of all ages. Appointments are usually available within 24 hours for minor illnesses and injuries. Our walk-in clinic for same-day urgent care is available too.
Our Mission
Improving lives through quality care for all.
Our History
In the 1990’s Gene Schmidt, then President of Hutchinson Hospital realized that the emergency room was filled with non-emergent patients. The hospital applied for and received a grant and created Reno County Health Center (now PrairieStar Health Center) as part of the Reno County Health Department. The need was greater than anticipated so the Health Center moved to the old KP&L building and quickly began to fill that space. The application was made to become a Federally Qualified Health Center and was granted in 2007 creating a new organization known as PrairieStar Health Center.
A Time of Growth
Continued growth necessitated a move to the Trade Center, allowing for 10,000 square feet of space to grow into. By 2010 it was evident that PrairieStar was rapidly growing out of this location, too. Looking to the future making an investment in the community was the next step. A five million dollar grant was applied for to build a new facility.
Nearly two years after beginning and working through the application process, PrairieStar received word that a grant had been awarded to build a new 32,000-square-foot facility at the corner of 30th & K-61 highway. Construction began in 2014 and the new PrairieStar facility became operational in March of 2015.
PrairieStar Today
Today, PrairieStar continues to grow and serve all those that come through our doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Our philosophy has always been it doesn’t matter if you are a homeless person or the President of the United States, you deserve quality healthcare and to be treated with respect and dignity.
PCMH (Patient Centered Medical Home)
PrairieStar Health Center is pleased to have received Level 3 Certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for demonstrating our ability to provide patient care services as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). The NCQA certification recognizes PrairieStar’s ability to provide comprehensive care that addresses the patient’s physical and mental healthcare needs, including prevention and wellness, acute care, and chronic care.
We partner with families while respecting each patient’s unique needs, culture, values, and preferences. We bring together healthcare systems including specialty care, hospitals, home healthcare, and community services and support for the patient. We provide easy access to services with shorter waiting times for urgent needs. By combining health information and evidence-based medicine, the clinician can monitor the improvements, quality, and safety management of the plan of care.
Since its humble beginning with just two employees working out of one room, PrairieStar has realized amazing growth. Today, PrairieStar has over 130 employees who consider it a privilege to serve thousands of patients from all walks of life.
While PrairieStar has experienced much change through all the growth, the main focus is still the same today as it was in the beginning. We believe we have a responsibility to provide quality healthcare for everyone regardless of their ability to pay.
At the heart of PrairieStar’s success is its employees. It takes a special kind of person to work at PrairieStar — someone dedicated to putting others before self. Those who choose to become part of the PrairieStar team, do so because they believe in and desire to live out the mission.
Our employees strive to transcend the expectations of our patients. We’d like to believe that our patients, those who we have the privilege of serving, can see and feel the difference in the care and customer service they receive. We welcome you to come experience the PrairieStar difference.
God Bless,
Bryant Anderson, CEO