Shawnee County Kansas Commission Meeting 2026/06/15

The Shawnee County Commission held a work session on June 15, 2026, featuring a detailed presentation from Dr. Julie Elder, CEO of GraceMed, a federally qualified health center operating multiple clinics in Shawnee and Sedgwick counties. The discussion focused on GraceMed's challenges with staffing shortages, particularly in clinical and support roles, which have led to the consolidation of services and closure of one clinic in Topeka. Dr. Elder highlighted the impact of these shortages on patient care capacity, especially pediatric services, and noted efforts to train new clinicians and use telehealth technologies to maintain service delivery. Commissioners inquired about reimbursement parity for telehealth and the future of the closed clinic property. Dr. Elder requested advocacy support from Shawnee County to expedite state licensing for new clinicians and emphasized ongoing recruitment efforts. No specific contract awards, RFPs, or procurement actions were discussed during the meeting. The session concluded with administrative updates and reminders for upcoming county events.