GERTI (Grow with Evergreen Resources for Transforming Innovations) is the educational arm of Evergreen Community, formerly Johnson County Nursing Center. GERTI's mission is to provide clinical and educational opportunities and resources in geriatric medicine and gerontology for care providers who will serve the older population. Evergreen Community's mission is to provide the best possible long-term care services to Johnson County residents, including residents with limited assets.

GERTI and Evergreen Community were established in January of 2003 as a private, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. The nursing center has been in continuous operation since 1863 and began as the county poor farm, but due to changes in county government, came out from under the county’s governance although it still remains in operation within the county’s building. Currently GERTI offers an Advanced Education in Long-Term Care course to equip everyone who works in long-term care for greater success, job satisfaction, and retention.

Our first course was launched on October 13, 2003. Support from the Kansas Department on Aging (KDOA) allowed us to take our Advanced Education Course for Long-term Care to four towns in rural Kansas in 2004-2005. Through continued support from KDOA in the 2005-2006 we took this program to seven rural locations across Kansas. In the 2007 KDOA grant cycle the program was taken to 11 rural locations. Then in the 2008 KDOA grant cycle the program was taken to 12 rural locations. In 2009 and 2010 the program was offered in 10 or more rural locations through the KDOA grant. GERTI continues to offer classes in rural towns across Kansas to enhance the lives of residents and employees. Other courses have been developed and taught at locations in the Kansas City area and towns across Kansas and Missouri.

GERTI has developed on-line continuing education courses for the Missouri League for Nursing and presented webinars for Kansas Association for Homes and Services for the Aging.

To learn more about GERTI please click here