Local Couple Credits F.W. Huston Medical Center With Life-Saving Care

What started as an ordinary morning walk turned into a life-saving emergency for Richard Quimby — and a moment of gratitude for the quick, coordinated care at F.W. Huston Medical Center.

On August 25th, Richard, a regular walker, was just a half block from finishing his usual three-mile route when he began experiencing chest pain. Assuming it was heartburn, he took Tums and tried to rest. But after 20 to 30 minutes, the pain didn’t ease. He and his wife, Marlys, decided to make the 10-minute drive to F.W. Huston Medical Center.

They were met immediately by Shelby Sprang, APRN, and the entire F.W. Huston emergency department. Staff quickly hooked Richard to monitoring equipment and determined he was having a heart attack. Using Avel eCare telemedicine technology, the team connected in real time with a cardiac specialist to assess his condition and coordinate the next steps.

At the same time, another staff member arranged for an ambulance to transport Richard to The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus in Topeka for emergency surgery.

“I knew that they had the ability to check me out for basically any type of thing,” Richard said. “I know they don’t have the facilities to perform heart surgery — and you’re not going to have that in rural areas — but they can identify what’s going on.”

When he arrived in Topeka, surgeons placed a stent to relieve pressure on his heart. “I felt pretty good at that point,” he said.

Marlys shared she was struck by the precision and teamwork she witnessed in the F.W. Huston ER.

“Seeing the way that the nurses all came in the room and worked with the physician on the telehealth screen — it’s just like they didn’t miss a step,” she said. “You could hear them say the medication over the screen, and it was just like clockwork that they were doing it perfectly. I was paying more attention to the doctor on the screen than looking at Rich, and I could hear the monitor and heard them say ‘myocardial infarction.’”

One staff member told Marlys, “You probably saved his life by bringing him up here.”

“They did an awesome job,” Marlys said.

The Quimbys are no strangers to F.W. Huston. Richard receives his routine care at the facility and has had stitches, radiology scans, and physical therapy there, as well as referrals for specialty care.

“As someone who doesn’t go to the doctor often, every experience I’ve had there has been positive,” Richard said. “You can’t just go somewhere — you have to start with a primary doctor to get the referrals. They’ve always been good about getting a referral out to the place that’s going to help me the most.”

F.W. Huston Medical Center is a standalone, not-for-profit hospital, allowing its providers to choose referral partners based on patient needs rather than facility affiliations — something that benefits patients like Richard.

Shelby Sprang, APRN, said the Quimbys’ story highlights the role of rural healthcare in saving lives.

“Rural healthcare is about more than proximity — it’s about having access to timely, high-quality care when every minute counts,” Sprang said. “Critical access hospitals like F.W. Huston provide patients with the resources and expertise they need locally, while also connecting them seamlessly to specialized care when necessary. That combination can make all the difference in outcomes and lives saved.”

Marlys, who worked in the insurance industry before retiring, said she initially worried about coverage during the emergency. But staff reassured her that Richard’s care came first. She later confirmed on her phone that St. Francis was in network, but that initial reassurance from staff allowed for her to refocus on Richard’s care.

Marlys also remembered how compassionate the staff were as they prepared for Richard’s transfer.

“They told me not to try to keep up with the ambulance — that it would be moving very quickly — and to drive safely to meet them there,” she said.

Once Richard was home and recovering, the couple sent a heartfelt note and floral arrangement to F.W. Huston Medical Center staff.

“Thank you! Words cannot express how much we appreciate the hospital and your staff. You saved my life,” the message read.

The Quimbys said they want their community to know the value of local healthcare resources.

“I think the whole community should know about F.W. Huston,” Marlys said.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that they saved my life,” Richard added. “People need to know not to wait. That is critical.”