electricpulp, Author at Monument Health

Lito Casilang, Nurse Aide, receives TULIP Award

Posted on May 5, 2023 by electricpulp

Photo link: Lito Casilang, Nurse Aide

RAPID CITY, S.D. (MAY 1, 2023) – Lito Casilang, a Nurse Aide at Rapid City Hospital PCU, has received the TULIP Award. This award is presented to nursing support caregivers who exemplify Monument Health’s values of trust, respect, compassion, community and excellence. These individuals make a difference in the lives of their patients and patient families, and are a vital part of our nursing care teams. Lito was nominated by two patients.

The first patient wrote, “Over the years, I’ve worked in several jobs and areas, and I know when a person loves his job. Lito went out of his way to clean and to ensure everything that needed to be done was taken care of. He went well beyond expectations to make me happy to be here.” The nomination continued, “Lito constantly did an excellent job. Thank you for having a considerate employee working this floor.”

The second patient wrote, “Lito has been my CNA on many occasions. He is efficient and pays attention to details and comfort levels. He is gentle, kind and compassionate. He is the best and I wish you had more like him.”

TULIP is an acronym for, “Thoughtful upbeat loving individuals caring for patients,” and the TULIP Award recognizes outstanding members of Monument Health’s nursing support teams. Nursing support includes positions such as Nurse Aides, Certified Nursing Assistants, Emergency Department Technicians, Psychiatric Technicians, Health Unit Clerks, Dialysis Technicians, Clinical Assistants, Cardiac Monitoring Technicians, Activities Assistants, Medical Assistants, Certified Medical Assistants, Medication Aides and Restorative Assistants. Caregivers in Rapid City are selected four times a year for this recognition. Caregivers are also honored in Custer, Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish and Sturgis. Visit monument.health/tulip to nominate.

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About Monument Health

Headquartered in Rapid City, S.D., Monument Health is a community-based health care system with a mission to make a difference, every day. The system offers care in 31 medical specialties and serves 14 communities across western South Dakota and in eastern Wyoming. With over 5,000 physicians and caregivers, Monument Health is composed of 5 hospitals and 40 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

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Occupational Therapist helps patients at home and abroad

Posted on April 25, 2023 by electricpulp

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank our Occupational Therapists for the work they do to help our patients and community members, as well as serving communities across the globe.

Occupational therapists help patients develop the everyday skills they need to live and take care of themselves. Illness and injury can leave people needing to re-learn skills to live independent, productive and satisfying lives. This can mean anything from muscle strength and coordination training, to learning how to move safely in their environment and the use of adaptive equipment. Rehabilitation is often personalized to each patient depending on their unique needs.

The drive and desire to help others has long been a motivating factor in the life of Jim Hermeling, Occupational Therapist at Custer Hospital. Jim started his career more than 30 years ago after he suffered a skiing accident, “It was 1989 and I broke my neck while downhill skiing. I had to go through rehab and relearn a lot of things, but I discovered a whole new purpose,” he remembered, “I paid close attention to what my therapists were doing, all the work they were putting in to helping me and it was really inspiring.” Just seven years later Jim was licensed. He says his journey gave him a different perspective when helping his own patients, “When you’ve had a serious illness or injury, things you take for granted every day become so much harder. Things as small as taking a shower or fixing a meal can become major battles. After my own recovery, I wanted to help other people get back to something resembling normal.”

It was a contact from one of Jim’s first jobs as an Occupational Therapist that would eventually lead him to putting his skills to work in another country. “The director of the nursing home where I started my career kept in touch with me over the years, and she let me know about this organization that organized trips to different parts of the world that had different health care needs,” Jim said, “They had a trip planned to Vietnam, and they covered the cost of the flight. All I had to worry about were personal expenses, like food and hotels. It made going a possibility so I decided to go.”

That organization is Hope Haven International, a ministry that focuses on providing support to people with disabilities. One of their programs works to provide wheelchairs to people around the world. Jim’s expertise was a perfect match for the job of fitting the wheelchair to the person who needed it. “There is a lot to consider when fitting someone with a wheelchair,” Jim said. “You have to consider hip size, the positioning of the footrest and how much spasticity or involuntary movement they have.” This was especially important for the people he was helping because many of them would be in wheelchairs every day.

Jim partnered with another individual who worked in assistive technologies. He said they combined their skills to take on some of the more challenging cases. Jim explained,, “Getting someone fitted into a wheelchair requires getting them sitting up straight and giving them the ability to really see and interact in their environment better,” he continued, “There was one gentleman who had been crawling around the streets of Ho Chi Minh City up to that point. When he got fitted for his chair and was able to really move around, his face lit up with the biggest smile.”

Smiles were not uncommon. For the people who received these wheelchairs, Jim’s work made a major impact in their lives. “I remember one lady in particular. I could see the bald spot on the back of her head from being bed-ridden for so long. When she wanted to spend time with her family, they would basically have to carry her from place to place,” he continued. “Getting this wheelchair gave her independence and the ability to really be with her loved ones again.” Reflecting on his trip he felt like he could do more. “We had a three-day clinic where we really helped people. The rest of the time, our escorts showed us around places like Saigon and Hanoi. It was all really cool and interesting; I had never been there before, but I would have gladly just worked on wheelchairs the whole time.”

Stefani Gillette, RN, receives DAISY Award

Posted on April 24, 2023December 5, 2024 by electricpulp

Photo Link: Stefani Gillette, RN

SPEARFISH, S.D. (April 24, 2023) – Stefani Gillette, a Registered Nurse at Spearfish Hospital Wound Care, has received the prestigious DAISY Award. A national program, the award is presented to nurses who go above and beyond for their patients and community. Stefani was nominated by a patient.

The patient wrote, “Stefani has been my wound care nurse for over a year. She was very informative on diabetic health and recommended several different healthy foods for me to try. Because of her persistence and professionalism, I am healed.”

The nomination continued, “I have struggled for a long time trying to heal from a diabetic wound on my foot. Thanks to her caring and concern she continued to pursue different areas of healing for me. Briefly stated she strongly encouraged me to get checked by an ER doctor and because of her persistence I still have my foot and my wound is finally healed. I’m greatly appreciative of her dedication and effort. She is a wonderful example of an excellent nurse.”

The DAISY Award recognizes the outstanding professionalism and compassion that nurses bring to patients and families every day. It was established by the DAISY Foundation in California in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of an autoimmune disease. DAISY is an acronym for “diseases attacking the immune system.” Nurses in Rapid City are selected 12 times a year for this recognition. Nurses are also honored in Custer, Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish and Sturgis. Visit monument.health/daisy to nominate.

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About Monument Health

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Taylor Burr, RN, receives DAISY Award

Posted on April 18, 2023December 5, 2024 by electricpulp

Photo Link: Taylor Burr, RN

SPEARFISH, S.D. (April 18, 2023) – Taylor Burr, a Registered Nurse at Spearfish Hospital, has received the prestigious DAISY Award. A national program, the award is presented to nurses who go above and beyond for their patients and community. She was nominated by a patient.

The patient wrote, “Taylor and I had become acquainted during my several stays in the hospital in 2019. At that time, Taylor was working the main floor and had since transferred to the surgical department. When I expressed my familiarity with Taylor, I was informed that she also remembered me as a former patient, which I found flattering as I am just a typical old, worn-out cowboy of 60 years young, and nothing special that would warrant her remembering me.”

The nomination continued, “Taylor’s personable nature makes her the perfect caregiver. When people like me meet people like her, it’s in the context of being wounded or ailing and at our most vulnerable. Taylor has the natural ability to convert the milk of human kindness which flows through her veins into a healing balm which she readily and liberally distributes to those of us lucky enough to be in her care. You can’t teach that in Nursing school.”

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About Monument Health

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Hospice Ball raises money for health care in the Northern Hills

Posted on April 12, 2023 by electricpulp

Spearfish, S.D. (April 12, 2023) – More than $106,000 was raised during the 26th annual Northern Hills Hospice Ball held on Saturday, April 1. Monument Health hosts the annual event to help raise awareness and support for hospice patients and their families.

Proceeds from this year’s event equally support hospice care in the Northern Hills and the expansion of the Monument Health Spearfish Hospital. “This event is a great opportunity for people to show their support and compassion,” said Hans Nelson, Director of the Monument Health Foundation. “Our dedication to delivering high-quality care to our communities is made possible, in no small part, by the generosity of our donors.” Hans gave special recognition to Kevin Wagner of Ainsworth-Benning Construction, and the Hospice Ball Committee Chairman. “We appreciate the partnership we share with our community business partners. Kevin is one of the people that helps make this event possible.”

The event also honors those who have dedicated their lives to hospice programs throughout the Northern Hills and the greater Black Hills region. Deborah Kullerd, M.D., at Monument Health Spearfish Clinic, North 10th Street, received this year’s Dignity Award. Dr. Kullerd is a board-certified Family Medicine physician who has evolved her practice for nearly thirty years as her patients have aged.

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Skyler Langer, RN, receives DAISY Award

Posted on April 10, 2023 by electricpulp

Photo Link: Skyler Langer, RN

SPEARFISH, S.D. (April 10, 2023) – Skyler Langer, a Registered Nurse at Spearfish Hospital, has received the prestigious DAISY Award. A national program, the award is presented to nurses who go above and beyond for their patients and community. He was nominated by a patient.

The patient wrote, “I wound up in Spearfish Hospital owing to a bad fall that left me with multiple broken ribs and a punctured and collapsed lung – a real Humpty Dumpty deal. I was a hurting cowboy fortunate enough to be under the care of a great team of professionals. One nurse in particular stands out above all in my memory … Many people are content in this life with just getting by, going through the motions while carrying out their daily responsibilities. Skyler is not one of those people. He seemed genuinely concerned with his charges and his duties, and it showed. You can’t fake Skyler’s commitment! I wish there were more like him in this world.”

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Nicole Garman, RN, receives DAISY Award

Posted on April 6, 2023 by electricpulp

Photo Link: Nicole Garman, RN

SPEARFISH, S.D. (April 6, 2023) – Nicole Garman, a Registered Nurse at Monument Health Spearfish Hospital, has received the prestigious DAISY Award. A national program, the award is presented to nurses who go above and beyond for their patients and community. She was nominated by a patient’s spouse.

The patient was induced at the hospital and gave birth to a happy and healthy baby boy. The spouse wrote, “The induction was not easy on my wife and when the shift change came that night for the nurses, it was time for my wife to deliver our baby. Nicole, who helped guide my wife through labor throughout the entire day, stayed until the delivery was over. This was an extra hour and a half out of her already long day. My wife was comfortable and familiar with Nicole, having spent the entire day with her during a very uncomfortable time.”

The nomination continued, “I truly believe that Nicole being there provided her with an extra level of comfort and confidence that she needed. Nicole was also our day nurse for the next two days of our stay and provided us with phenomenal care as well as tips and tricks on everything we needed to know to be more confident as first-time parents.”

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Sisters share incredible bond — and a delivery date

Posted on April 5, 2023 by electricpulp

The chances of the cousins sharing a birthday are pretty remarkable. Marti went into labor two weeks early, and for Maria, that meant delivery was three weeks early. But the sisters agree, there may have been something more about this special birthday.

“March 22 was actually the birthday of our cousin Misty who passed away recently,” Maria said.

“She was a big part of our family, she had such a loving heart,” Marti added. “We realized it was God’s plan and that Misty was smiling down on us.”

Carlee Russow, a Registered Nurse at Rapid City Hospital Labor and Delivery, was working that day and was able to be at both deliveries. “This was one of the most memorable patient experiences that I’ve ever had as a nurse. Marti and Maria are both such genuine and inclusive women and it was so fulfilling to have the opportunity to support them in bringing their daughters into the world,” she said. “These were both such fun deliveries and I will forever cherish the role I had in their shared delivery experiences. I hope Bittley and Leighton grow up to see how special the women in their family are. They are lucky girls to have Marti and Maria as their support system for life.”

Maria and Marti live about 40 minutes away from each other and spend quite a bit of time together, time that will now be shared with the newest members of their families.

Rebecca Stelzle, Nurse Aide, receives TULIP Award

Posted on March 24, 2023 by electricpulp

RAPID CITY, S.D. (March 24, 2023) – Rebecca Stelzle, a Nurse Aide at Rapid City Hospital HVU, has received the TULIP Award. This award is presented to nursing support caregivers who exemplify Monument Health’s values of trust, respect, compassion, community and excellence. These individuals make a difference in the lives of their patients and patient families, and are a vital part of our nursing care teams. Rebecca was nominated by a patient.

The patient wrote, “Rebecca was kind and sincere! She had a smile on her face even at the end of shift when she was so obviously tired. She maintained the sincerity she gives to patients.
Rebecca was trustworthy because she explained procedures, what was being done to me be it meds, doctor’s orders, or any questions I had. If she couldn’t provide an answer, she would say so. I felt good putting my need for information and knowledge in her capable hands.”

“Rebecca is one of the most caring nurse aides I’ve ever known!” continued the patient. “Any medical facility is fortunate to have her. She gives without even thinking of her own rewards, other than her own job satisfaction.”

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Jacob Weasel, M.D., is on track to summit Mount Everest

Posted on March 21, 2023 by electricpulp

Most people like to overcome a challenge from time to time — it feels good to achieve a new best, to accomplish a goal. It’s a good thing to push ourselves, to climb these metaphorical mountains. For General Surgeon Jacob Weasel, M.D., however, the mountains aren’t metaphors.

Dr. Weasel’s interest first piqued as an undergraduate student, when a professor-turned-friend shared his experience on a team trying to summit Mount Rainier in Washington. It stuck with him, though he wouldn’t have a chance to tackle the mountain himself until after he finished his education. “The summer after I finished my training, I went out there and did a four-day mountaineering course. They teach you crevasse techniques, self-arrest skills with an ice axe, how to travel in a roped team, glacial travel techniques and things like that,” he said. “Then you attempt the summit. We had great weather, and of the nine climbers that started, three of us actually reached the summit.”

Dr. Weasel was hooked, and mountaineering took him to Ecuador to climb Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, to Africa to summit Kilimanjaro, and eventually to Alaska to climb Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level.

“Denali is a totally different experience than anything else that I’ve ever done,” Dr. Weasel said. “At no point on the summit day did I ever want to turn back. I was one of maybe three climbers, out of 12, that felt that way.” The group spent 17 days on the mountain, with night temperatures reaching as low as -50 with windchill, waiting for the window to summit. Finally, when they were nearly out of food, they had a chance. After clearing the most dangerous section of the summit stretch — dubbed the autobahn — they were hit with gusts of wind reaching 50 miles per hour. The group would have been exposed to those winds, and temperatures around 20 degrees below freezing, for 12 to 15 hours to summit and return to camp. The guides, realizing that it was likely that the climbers would lose fingers and toes in those conditions, initiated the turnaround. “It was the only time that I’ve ever had to turn around on a mountain, and that was pretty tough.”

Not making the summit hasn’t slowed Dr. Weasel down at all — if anything, it’s fired him up. His next challenge? Earth’s highest mountain, Mount Everest.

Oddly enough, the ultimate peak on the planet didn’t hold a specific draw to Dr. Weasel until recently. As an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, he realized that summiting Everest would provide an opportunity to inspire young Native Americans. “It’s important to me to inspire native youth, and I think this is an opportunity for them to see that they are equally capable as anybody else to do whatever it is that they want in life.”

Dr. Weasel also aims to provide more than inspiration, which is the motivating factor for the creation of the Wopila Project, a non-profit he developed to cultivate gratitude and generosity, and to make a positive impact in communities in need. “Wopila is a Lakota expression of gratitude for all that life has to offer,” he said. “I feel extremely blessed and I wanted to find a way to give back.”

Dr. Weasel is using his Everest bid as a way to bring attention to the Wopila Project. The non-profit is currently working to fund and construct a playground at the Lakota Homes housing community in Rapid City, and sustainable women’s health clinics in Nepal.

“Really, Everest is only the beginning,” Dr. Weasel said. “My goal is to be the first Native American to summit the Seven Summits, which is the highest mountain on each continent. I hope that as I work to accomplish that goal, the Wopila Project can do some real good along the way.”

Click here to learn more about the Wopila Project.