KLA Cadets Get An Overview Of Healthcare In Kosciusko County

February 15, 2024 at 4:35 p.m.
Kosciusko Leadership Academy cadets recently heard about healthcare in Kosciusko County. Pictured (L to R) are Mark Pepple, manager of Lutheran EMS; Lynn Mergen, CEO of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital; Rob Ryan, CEO of the Bowen Center; KLA cadet Nichole Fifer, sponsored by Kosciusko REMC; and KLA cadet Audrey Hampshire, sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College. Photo Provided
Kosciusko Leadership Academy cadets recently heard about healthcare in Kosciusko County. Pictured (L to R) are Mark Pepple, manager of Lutheran EMS; Lynn Mergen, CEO of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital; Rob Ryan, CEO of the Bowen Center; KLA cadet Nichole Fifer, sponsored by Kosciusko REMC; and KLA cadet Audrey Hampshire, sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College. Photo Provided

By Staff Report

On Feb. 6, the Kosciusko Leadership Academy cadets visited the Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital Administration Classroom where they learned about healthcare in Kosciusko County.
The presenters included Lynn Mergen, CEO of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital; Rob Ryan, CEO of the Bowen Center; and Mark Pepple, manager of Lutheran EMS.
Mergen gave an update on the Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital (LKH). The building construction and remodeling will be completed in five months. In the past year, LKH has provided $112,457,000 in total community investment.
Lutheran Kosciusko has been a full-service hospital since 1976. They have also expanded surgical services plus more robotic services. The hospital has a cardiology program, an oncology program and is working on adding more emergency services as well as women’s services.
Challenges facing LKH include recruiting for physicians and employees.
Ryan spoke on the history of mental health treatment in the country and state including treatment options and funding for mental health centers.
Ryan started his career at the Bowen Center in 2004.
The Bowen Center has become one of the largest mental health centers in the state and provides multiple services in 26 counties. They provide mental health counseling, addiction counseling, counseling for schools, counseling programs for corporations, counseling for the Department of Child Services and more.
Pepple spoke on the history and accomplishments of the Lutheran EMS system in Kosciusko County.
Lutheran EMS has the largest coverage territory in Northern Indiana. Currently, they have mobile integrated healthcare and had over 7,700 calls in 2023. They also provide CPR training to local schools, corporations, and community members and have car seat inspection services.
The Warsaw Area Career Center provides students with an EMT Basic Class taught by Lutheran EMS.
The next KLA session will cover planning for the future in Kosciusko County at the Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 20.
The Kosciusko Leadership Academy is in its 42nd year of service to our county. As an independent 5013(c) organization, KLA conducts biweekly morning sessions around the county to expose leaders to a wide variety of local topics and experts. The annual whitepaper projects have yielded many benefits to the citizens of Kosciusko County. For more information, visit www.kocsciuskoleadership.org.

On Feb. 6, the Kosciusko Leadership Academy cadets visited the Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital Administration Classroom where they learned about healthcare in Kosciusko County.
The presenters included Lynn Mergen, CEO of Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital; Rob Ryan, CEO of the Bowen Center; and Mark Pepple, manager of Lutheran EMS.
Mergen gave an update on the Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital (LKH). The building construction and remodeling will be completed in five months. In the past year, LKH has provided $112,457,000 in total community investment.
Lutheran Kosciusko has been a full-service hospital since 1976. They have also expanded surgical services plus more robotic services. The hospital has a cardiology program, an oncology program and is working on adding more emergency services as well as women’s services.
Challenges facing LKH include recruiting for physicians and employees.
Ryan spoke on the history of mental health treatment in the country and state including treatment options and funding for mental health centers.
Ryan started his career at the Bowen Center in 2004.
The Bowen Center has become one of the largest mental health centers in the state and provides multiple services in 26 counties. They provide mental health counseling, addiction counseling, counseling for schools, counseling programs for corporations, counseling for the Department of Child Services and more.
Pepple spoke on the history and accomplishments of the Lutheran EMS system in Kosciusko County.
Lutheran EMS has the largest coverage territory in Northern Indiana. Currently, they have mobile integrated healthcare and had over 7,700 calls in 2023. They also provide CPR training to local schools, corporations, and community members and have car seat inspection services.
The Warsaw Area Career Center provides students with an EMT Basic Class taught by Lutheran EMS.
The next KLA session will cover planning for the future in Kosciusko County at the Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 20.
The Kosciusko Leadership Academy is in its 42nd year of service to our county. As an independent 5013(c) organization, KLA conducts biweekly morning sessions around the county to expose leaders to a wide variety of local topics and experts. The annual whitepaper projects have yielded many benefits to the citizens of Kosciusko County. For more information, visit www.kocsciuskoleadership.org.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


City of Warsaw
Notice To Bidders

Notice Of Sheriff Sale
MF-000117 Denz

Public Occurrences 04.01.25
County Jail Bookings The following people were arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail:

Data Center
Editor, Times-Union: Clunette is a place I am proud to call my home. My family has had its roots here for over 40 years. It has changed a lot in that time, but the true character of our community has stayed the same. If you come over to our side of town, you’ll see a lot of open fields, farmhouses, and just plain good country folk.

GoBabyGo! Jeeps Presented To Four Toddlers At Warsaw School Board Meeting
Four area toddlers received their GoBabyGo! vehicles and showed them off before taking them home during the Warsaw School Board meeting Monday.