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Krom retires from Sunflower Diversified after decades of service
Sarah Krom
Sarah Krom
Published: Feb 10, 2020, 3:34 PM

          Even though Sarah Krom recently retired from Sunflower Diversified Services, she is comforted to know that the non-profit agency and the people it serves will remain a big part of her life.

            Krom has devoted almost 36 years to people with intellectual disabilities and delays while serving in numerous positions at Sunflower. Her most recent title was chief operating officer.

            “I don’t intend to just walk away,” Krom said. “Sunflower can count on me as an advisor. And I am already on the list for a number of volunteer opportunities.”

            As Krom reflected on her decades at Sunflower, she emphasized the countless ways the agency has evolved over the years. This evolution, she said, has allowed for incredible improvements in people’s lives.

            “It is truly amazing how much has changed,” she said. “Fortunately, the changes have entailed recognizing the rights of people with disabilities, self-advocacy and the vital importance of community inclusion.

            “People came to us from institutionalized settings but today we continue to seek new avenues to personal independence,” Krom commented. “There are more clients and more needs, with many more state and federal regulations.”

            Each of these factors contributed to the evolution of an agency that employed about 30 people in the late 1960s to employing about 160 today.

            Krom was first attracted to Sunflower by her mother “who dreamed about more independence and inclusion. But she would be amazed at how far we have come.”

            Krom, a Great Bend High School graduate, held managerial positions in residential, transportation, employment, community habilitation, production, recycling, human resources and medical supports. She also worked in production sales, community employment, case management and strategic planning.

            “But there comes a time when you need new blood, new energy and new out-of-the-box ideas,” Krom noted. “That time is now. It is time for the next generation.

            “The good news is many up-and-coming leaders are already here. We have a great crew of young people who have already proven themselves in leadership roles. I am confident they have what it takes to carry Sunflower forward.”

            Krom’s confidence in the current staff is based on one thing: the passion to serve people with special needs.

            “You either have a passion for it, or you don’t. If you have it, you will succeed. Many current department heads and other employees demonstrate this passion every day. And I know more are out there.”

            Krom is aware the job can be overwhelming at times. But she knows the staff can handle it because they understand the basics.

            “We always go back to one thing – focus on the clients. Put them first. If you listen to what people want and need, you will make the right decision to help them become more independent. This applies to issues in residential, transportation, employment, behaviors and every other area.”

            In addition to her local responsibilities, Krom has served on boards at the state level in areas such as transportation and recycling.

            “I have been graced with the opportunity to serve on state boards and we have made great strides. That will continue,” she noted.

            Jon Prescott, Sunflower executive director, said he and his colleagues will miss Krom’s day-to-day service at the agency.

            “For more than 35 years, Sarah has been an amazing leader,” Prescott said. “From day one, she has always put clients first to deliver quality service and support.

            “I so appreciate her willingness to help us with this transition from chief operating officer to invaluable advisor,” he continued. “She has so much knowledge about Sunflower and the people we serve. We need her valuable insight.”

            Jim Johnson, who served the agency for 42 years, noted that Krom was one of the first employees hired to staff the residential program established in the early 1980s.

            “Over all these years, Sarah consistently played an important role in Sunflower’s growth, while ensuring quality service for persons served,” said Johnson, who became executive director in 1980 and retired in 2016. “She is always focused on creating opportunities for each individual, which is Sunflower’s mission.”

            Sunflower serves infants, toddlers and adults in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties. It is in its 54th year.
Pawnee Valley Community Hospital now offers proven PAD treatment
pvch-set-pad
Sayra Santacruz, respiratory therapist, and Dusty Thacker, director of Cardiopulmonary Services at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, demonstrate supervised exercise therapy for patients with peripheral artery disease.
Published: Apr 3, 2025, 1:50 PM

Anyone who has a diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD) now has access to a “proven, effective treatment” at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH), said Dusty Thacker, director of Cardiopulmonary Services.

The treatment is called supervised exercise therapy (SET) and is specifically tailored to PAD, a condition in which blood vessels to the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked. This is due to a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries that limits blood flow.

“SET is a structured workout program designed to help people improve their physical health under the guidance of a trained professional,” Thacker said. “Sessions are tailored to the person’s needs and focus on improving strength, endurance and mobility.

“The treatment also helps improve circulation, which can reduce or eliminate pain while walking.”

Exercise sessions typically involve a combination of aerobics, strength training and stretching. This includes walking on a treadmill at a moderate pace, with an incline, until the patient begins to feel mild to moderate leg pain.

The patient then rests until the pain subsides before resuming the exercise during up to 36 sessions with a registered respiratory therapist.

“SET is a key treatment approach that focuses on improving blood flow, reducing leg pain and enhancing overall mobility,” Thacker summarized.

Smoking and diabetes are the strongest risk factors for PAD, Thacker noted. Other factors include being over 75; high blood pressure and/or cholesterol; not enough physical activity; stress; diets high in saturated fats; obesity; chronic kidney disease; and family history.

“A few classic symptoms of PAD are pain, burning or cramping in your legs and feet during an activity that improve with rest,” Thacker said.

Others are leg and foot pain at night or while lying down, as well as coldness or numbness in the legs or feet. Additional possibilities are leg weakness or heaviness, slow-healing sores on feet or legs, discolored skin and leg-hair loss.

The therapist offers education about smoking cessation, a heart-healthy diet, weight management, blood pressure control and increasing physical activity.

“We are pleased that we now offer this important exercise therapy,” Thacker commented. “Many of our patients have benefited from our Cardiac Rehab and Pulmonary Rehab services by gaining control of their symptoms, improving their quality of life and reducing the risk of future hospitalizations.

“SET is a similar service. Patients with PAD now have a treatment that can help them manage symptoms and improve overall vascular health.

“We are excited to expand our cardiopulmonary services and incredibly fortunate to partner with HaysMed and the DeBakey Heart Institute. This collaboration connects our Larned community with any necessary advanced services and direct access to cardiologists. It allows us to offer specialized care close to home, significantly enhancing the quality of care and positively impacting our patients’ health and well-being.”


Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, 923 Carroll in Larned, is a 25-bed facility, offering many services not typically available in a smaller facility. Included are 24/7 emergency care; acute, skilled and specialized nursing; surgery; high-tech imaging and laboratory tests; wound care; rehabilitation; and sleep and diagnostic center. PVCH Family Medicine provides the full range of family-medicine services; physician-assisted weight loss; and women’s health services. The hospital’s number is 620-285-3161; the clinic’s number is 620-804-6007.