By AMY RICKER
Great Bend Post
The County Medical Consultant for the Barton County Board of Health has resigned.
Dr. Stanley Hatesohl was appointed on Mar. 16, 2020, to provide an essential community service. Dr. Hatesohl has since moved out of the state and resigned from his position.
Public Health Director Karen Winkelman read his emailed resignation, effective Nov. 1, 2020.
“This email is to serve notice of my resignation as a medical consultant to the Barton County Health Department as of Nov. 1, 2020. It has been a pleasure working with Karen Winkelman during these challenging times. I will also be resigning as District Coroner simultaneously as long as a replacement has been found. Otherwise, I can continue in that capacity until such time that a county coroner has been installed. Again, it has been a pleasure working with the Barton County Sherriff’s Department, Health Department, as well as local police departments in Barton County. Sincerely, Stanley Hatesohl, M.D.”
After approving the resignation, Winkelman presented a resolution to appoint Dr. Jonathan Pike as a paid medical consultant to the Local Health Department.
Addressing the board, Dr. Pike said the health community is trying to gather data as fast as possible regarding the pandemic, but COVID-19 does not occur in a vacuum. There are other socio-economic factors to consider.
“I think as we move forward, if there is a decision made to deviate from the KDHE guidelines and or the CDC guidelines at any point in time, I think that deviation would require a very specific plan as to why we are doing it and a group involved with the local education communities as to how we can do that best going forward and serve,” says Pike.
Additionally, Dr. Patrick Stiles will be appointed as the District Coroner to serve a four-year term.