By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A little experiment at the Barton County Health Department is paying off for residents of the county. Beginning Sept. 30, the office began staying open until 6 p.m. four nights a week to better serve clients. Director Karen Winkelman said those hours will continue into the New Year with even more hours.
"We are going to continue with that," she said. "After we looked at numbers, we are serving more individuals being open later every day. Also, starting Jan. 1, we will be open through the lunch hour."
Starting Jan. 2, hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday. Winkelman said her department is largely able to avoid overtime costs, but that extra hour in the evening has been beneficial to families.
"That one hour we've seen immunizations," she said. "My office window is strategically placed where I can see people coming to the door. It was breaking my heart to see people running, dragging their kids out of the car at 4:45 to get to get in there and get their shots."
The Barton County Health Department will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. The office will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve, closed for New Year's Day, then re-open on Jan. 2, including over the lunch hour.