The community will have a chance to meet the new director of nursing services at SunPorch of Dodge City during an upcoming event at the long-term care residence, 501 W. Beeson. It is set for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 29.
Families may join their loved ones for brunch; tours of the residence will be available.
Tosha Fields, a native of Cimarron, brings 36 years of experience to her new position.
“I was attracted to SunPorch because of its mission and philosophy of person-centered care,” Fields said. “The atmosphere and the staff are most welcoming.
“That is the neat thing about living in smaller communities,” she continued. “You are familiar with many of the elders and staff members. This makes it more personal.”
Fields also is impressed with the many services SunPorch has to offer. These include professional help with making the transition to long-term care easier for elders and families; round-the-clock nursing care; and on-site physical, occupational and speech therapies.
“Many people are apprehensive about the transition to long-term care,” Fields elaborated. “Our Social Services staff guides the elders and their families through the process, including the Medicaid application when appropriate.
“Licensed nurses also are available 24/7 and the full-service therapy department allows elders to maintain or re-gain their independence for as long as possible.”
In addition, elders can be involved in many SunPorch activities, as well as community events “that keep everyone engaged and having fun.”
Long-term-care nursing is especially gratifying to Fields because “I love to hear people’s stories. We are blessed every day with learning something new about our elders; everyone has a story to tell. Sometimes you get the story in words, sometimes in actions, and sometimes it is just the look in their eyes that says it all.”
In her new position, Fields’ duties include advocacy, accountability and stewardship. Each applies to elders and families, staff members and the community.
“The goal is to provide the highest quality care and peace of mind to elders and families,” she noted. “I also want to promote leadership, training and confidence for the staff so they can enhance people’s lives.
“We also want to spread our message throughout the communities we serve to ensure sustainability and continued growth.”
A graduate of Cimarron High School, Fields received an associate’s degree in nursing at Dodge City Community College in 1983. She became a legal nurse consultant in 2001, after completing coursework from the Medical-Legal Institute in Houston.
Fields earned her bachelor’s in nursing at the University of Kansas in 2011 and her master’s in nursing at Grantham University in Lenexa in 2015.
Her professional background includes varied nursing and management positions at Cascade Health Services in Topeka; Dodge City Medical Center; Finney County Health Department, St. Catherine Hospital and Terrace Garden, all in Garden City; Hillhaven and St. Francis Regional Medical Center, both in Wichita; and Larned State Hospital.
Fields teaches paraprofessional classes at DCCC and serves as a consultant, both as time permits.
Ryan Salinas, SunPorch administrator, said he is “excited Tosha is joining our team and believes in our mission. She has a great track record as a nurse, as well as an educator here in Dodge City.
“Tosha is respected by her peers and has the heart for serving elders. I look forward to partnering with her to help elders have a better rest of their lives here in southwest Kansas.”
