Specialty & Outpatient Providers

Providing Specialty Services Close To Home

Specialty Providers

KCHS is privileged to welcome a variety of visiting providers into our facility to perform Specialty Outpatient Clinics and Services. This is a great benefit for you, as a patient, so you can reduce the travel outside our community and still receive quality, specialty medical care.

For questions on Specialty Clinic provider schedules, contact us at 308.832.3400
Brittani Hergenreder, RN, Director of Specialty Clinic ext, 2323
– Alicia Sinsel, RN, Specialty Clinic Nurse ext. 2324

*Schedules are subject to change*

Behavioral Health

Suzanne Gregg, APRN

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Schedule:
4th Tuesday of each month
Education:
– Creighton University – Master’s of Nursing Degree
– University of Nebraska Medical Center – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree
– Certified Autism Specialist
Areas of Specialty:
Works with children and adults providing medication management for a variety of psychiatric disorders including ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, developmental disorders, and more.

Cardiology

Douglas Netz, MD FACC

Interventional Cardiologist

Pioneer Heart Institute – Lincoln, NE

Schedule:
2nd Wednesday of each month
Education:
– University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha – Doctor of Medicine
– University of Nebraska medical Center, Omaha – Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease
– Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease
– Board Certified in Interventional Cardiology
Areas of Specialty:
Interventional cardiologist with extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. He provides comprehensive cardiology services including diagnostic cardiac imaging, interventional therapy for coronary artery disease, preventative cardiac care, and medical treatment of cardiovascular disease. 

Lindy Vakoc, APRN, MSN, FNP

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Pioneer Heart Institute – Lincoln, NE

Schedule:
1st Monday of each month
Education:
– South Dakota State University – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
– Walden University, Minneapolis, MN – Master of Science Degree, Family Nurse Practitioner
– Board Certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Areas of Specialty:
Her cardiology interests include structural heart disease, interventional cardiac care, heart failure, and electrophysiology. 

Douglas Kosmicki, MD

Interventional Cardiologist

Nebraska Heart Institute – CHI Health Clinic

Schedule:
3rd Monday afternoon each month
Education:
– Nebraska Wesleyan University – Bachelor’s Degree
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – Doctorate of Medicine
– American Board of Internal Medicine – Cardiovascular Disease & Interventional Cardiology
Areas of Specialty:
His focus is interventional cardiology, general cardiology as well as structural heart disease.

Amy Theesen, APRN

Advance Practice Registered Nurse

Nebraska Heart Institute – CHI Health Clinic

Schedule:
2nd Tuesday of each month
Education:
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – College of Nursing
– Creighton University – School of Medicine
Areas of Specialty:

John Waters, MD

Interventional Cardiologist

Nebraska Heart Institute – CHI Health Clinic

Schedule:
4th Wednesday of each month – Starting in May, 2024
Education:
– University of California Sacramento, CA
– University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KA – Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship
– Board Certified in Interventional Cardiology

Areas of Specialty:
Specializes in the diagnosis and management of diseases of the heart and blood vessels using catheter-based procedures to treat complex cardiac conditions.

E.N.T. (Otolaryngology and Audiology)

John Blecha, MD

Otolaryngologist

Schedule:
3rd Thursday of each month
Education:
– University of Nebraska at Kearney – Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry and Molecular Biology
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – Medical Doctorate
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – Surgical Training in Otolaryngology
– Board Certified in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Areas of Specialty:
Ear, nose and throat surgery and has a special interest in pediatric disorders, chronic sinus disease, facial trauma, neck masses and chronic ear disease.

For surgical procedures performed by Dr. Blecha, see Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Renee Guthard, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Schedule:
3rd Thursday of each month
Education:
– University of Nebraska Lincoln – Undergraduate studies in Athletic Training with a minor in Psychology
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – Master of Physician Assistant Studies
– Board Certified as a Physician Assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Areas of Specialty:
She enjoys all areas of ear, nose and throat surgery with special interests in pediatric ear conditions, chronic sinus diseases, and management of thyroid disease.

General Surgery

Caleb Schroeder, MD,FACS

General Surgery

Hastings General Surgery – Hastings, NE

Schedule:
Most Fridays every month
Education:
– Doane College, Bachelor of Science
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Doctorate of Medicine
– Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Areas of Specialty:
He performs surgery to address diseases of the gallbladder, breast, skin, lymph nodes, skin cancer, wound care, hemorrhoids, small and large bowel. He performs a variety of laparoscopic procedures, as well as colonoscopies and upper endoscopies.

For surgical procedures performed by Dr. Schroeder, see Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Cade Craig, MD

Family Medicine

Kearney County Health Services

Schedule:
Most Fridays every month
Education:
– University of Nebraska at Kearney, Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) Recipient
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Areas of Specialty:
Colonoscopy procedures

For surgical procedures performed by Dr. Craig, see Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Obstetrics/Gynecology

Todd Pankratz, MD

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)

Schedule:
1st, 2nd, and 4th Wednesdays (as needed)
Education:
– 
Areas of Specialty:
Obstetrics and gynecology services

Ophthalmology

Daniel Agraz, MD

Ophthalmologist

Kearney Eye Institute – Kearney, NE

Schedule:
As needed
Education:
– University of Nebraska Lincoln – Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Spanish
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – Doctor of Medicine
– Fellowship in Cornea, Refractive, and Advanced Anterior Segment Surgeries
– Certified from the American Board of Ophthalmology
Areas of Specialty:
Cataract surgery

For surgical procedures performed by Dr. Agraz, see Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Oral Surgery

Marse McCann-Carpenter, DDS

Family Dentistry

Schedule:
As needed
Education:
– 
Areas of Specialty:
Oral surgery

Orthopedics

Jeffrey Schopp, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon

Schedule:
Every 2 weeks, alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays
Education:
– Southern Illinois University
– Southern Illinois University Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program
– Doctorate and Orthopedic Surgery Residency
Areas of Specialty:
Total Joint Arthroplasty, Sports Medicine, Overuse Syndrome, Nerve Entrapments, Arthritis

For surgical procedures performed by Dr. Schopp, see Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Pain Management

Pravardhan Birthi, MD

Pain Management Specialist

Schedule:
Varying Thursdays of each month
Education:
– Bangalore Medical College in India – Medical Doctorate
– University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY – Residency and Fellowship in Pain Medicine
– Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine
Areas of Specialty:
Treatment or relief of acute to chronic pain utilizing medications, injections, and/or therapies

For surgical procedures performed by Dr. Birthi, see Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Kelly Stevenson, PA-C

Pain Management Specialist

Schedule:
1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
Education:
– Nebraska Wesleyan University – Undergraduate degree
– Union College – Masters of Physician Assistant Studies
– Board Certified through NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Areas of Specialty:
Treatment or relief of acute to chronic pain utilizing medications, injections, and/or therapies

Jennifer Chavez, APRN, FNP-C

Pain Management Specialist

Schedule:
1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
Education:
– Chamberlain University – Masters of Nursing Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner
– Board Certified through American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Areas of Specialty:
Treatment or relief of acute to chronic pain utilizing medications, injections, and/or therapies

Benjamin Huls, CRNA, MS

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Schedule:
As needed
Education:
– Nebraska Wesleyan University & Creighton University – Undergraduate degree
– University of Kansas / Bryan LGH School of Nurse Anesthesia – Master of Science in Allied Health
– Board Certified by the National Board Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists
Areas of Specialty:
Epidural steroid injections for pain relief

For surgical procedures performed by Ben, see Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Podiatry

Robert Hinze, DPM

Podiatrist

High Plains Podiatry – McCook, NE

Schedule:
1st Friday of each month
Education:
– University of Nebraska, Lincoln – Undergraduate degree
– Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, PA – Medical degree
– Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)
Areas of Specialty:
Podiatric outreach clinic and surgical services

For surgical procedures performed by Dr. Hinze, see Outpatient Surgical Procedures

Pulmonology

Matthew Stritt, MD

Pulmonologist

Schedule:
2nd Monday of each month
Education:
– University of Nebraska-Kearney – Undergraduate degree
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – Doctorate of Medicine
– Board Certified in Internal, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine
Areas of Specialty:
Full scope of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Abby Gallagher, APRN-C

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Schedule:
2nd Monday of each month
Education:
– Hastings College – Bachelors Degree in Psychology
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – Masters of Nursing Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner
Areas of Specialty:
Pulmonary medicine

Wound Care

Sally Farquhar, APRN

Wound Care Specialist

Schedule:
Weekly each Tuesday
Education:
– University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha – Masters in Nursing Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner
Areas of Specialty:
Healing wounds and optimizing outcomes for patients

Upcoming Events

Health Care Insights

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Kearney County Health Services’ Senior Life Solutions is spreading awareness of the challenges of receiving mental health access in rural areas. Access While mental illnesses are similar in both rural and urban environments,...

New Outpatient Physical Therapy Department

We are happy to announce in January of 2021 we will be open our new outpatient physical therapy department! We are happy to announce that in January of 2021 we will be opening our new Outpatient Physical Therapy department!Our new outpatient physical therapy...

COVID-19 Vaccinations

COVID-19 Vaccinations Pfizer & Maderna Vaccinations Pfizer vaccine needs to be kept at extremely cold temperatures, -70 to –80 degrees. The Pfizer vaccine is two doses that need to be administered 21 days (about 3 weeks) apart. KCHS will be receiving the Maderna...

Contact

Address: 727 East 1st Street
Minden, NE 68959

Phone: 308-832-3400

Email: info@kchs.org

Additional Info