Chamber Hears Update from Katy Trail Health

Shelly Trammel from Katy Trail Community Health was the presenter at Thursday's Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly "Chamber Connection Breakfast" at Best Western State Fair Motor Inn, 32nd and Limit.

Katy Trail, located at 820 Westwood, was approved as a Federally Qualified Health Center in 2006 after five or six applications were submitted for that status. Today, Katy Trail has five locations (Sedalia, Warsaw, Marshall, Versailles and Stover) and 104 employees, with plans to expand to a sixth location near Holden, Trammel announced.

A breakdown of the services provided reveal that 63 percent of Katy Trail's business is medically related, while 48 percent of the patients are there for dental care. Fifteen percent of the patients receive social services and five percent go to Katy Trail for behavioral health.

All patients are welcome at Katy Trail, whether they are insured or not, according to information provided by Trammel. The Center provides services to one out of seven people in the four counties that Katy Trail serves.

In addition, Katy Trail has a mobile dental office that travels to eight area schools. Trammel noted.

A Saturday morning walk-in clinic is quite popular with area residents, she said, adding that typically Katy Trail sees between 30 and 40 patients over a four-hour period on Saturdays.

Administrative offices for Katy Trail are now located at nearby US Bank, Trammel pointed out, because of the growth of the dental program.

Chamber Executive Director Angie Thompson Thomas was pleased with the Katy Trail presentation, and the turnout, which was around 60 this time.

"It was awesome, we got to hear about their growth, so we were really excited to hear about their news. We really got a good update," she said.

The Dec. 8 breakfast, starting at 7:30 a.m., will feature Staci Harrison, executive director of the Sedalia-Pettis County United Way and her appearance is sponsored by McCarthy Toyota. The December breakfast is also the date for the ugly sweater and ugly tie contest.

Also on Thursday morning, Thomas introduced John Meehan as the new president of the Chamber's Board of Directors. Thomas noted that Meehan is "already a great mentor and friend to the Chamber." Meehan will begin his term Jan. 1.

Meehan spent 30 years in the banking and finance industry in Sedalia before his first retirement. Then he served for four years as Pettis County County Presiding Commissioner. He is also a member of the Lions Club.

While about 60 normally attend the breakfast, the Sedalia Chamber curently has about 260 members on the roster. The ones attending the breakfast this week heard updates from a variety of sources, including Sedalia Mayor Stephen J. Galliher, Carolyn Crooker from the Sedalia Visitors and Convention Bureau, Brad Pollitt, Sedalia School District 200 superintendent; Barb Peterson, Bothwell Regional Health Center; Amy Jackson, SFCC Learning Force; Jo Ann Martin, Pettis County Health Center administrator; Liz Van Meer of Sacred Heart School; and Jessica Pyle, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of West Central Missouri, Inc.

Sponsorships for 2017 are now available, Thomas noted.

The next major event is the Chamber's annual Christmas Parade, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. in downtown Sedalia.