electricpulp, Author at Monument Health

Brandee Skroch, LPN, receives DAISY Award

Posted on January 31, 2023 by electricpulp

STURGIS, S.D. (JAN. 31, 2023) – Brandee Skroch, an LPN at Monument Health Sturgis Clinic, 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 two patients for providing exceptional care.

For one patient, she provided lots of information, listened to concerns, and arranged for a future visit. For another, it was noted that she was a blessing to her stating, “she is so caring and thoughtful, and goes above and beyond.” She does things that are meaningful and memorable to those she cares for, like walking someone to their car when they need help or just listening and showing understanding.

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

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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Monument Health patient shares lifetime of experience

Posted on January 24, 2023 by electricpulp

Judy Donahue is no stranger to tough battles. She has been fighting chronic illness most of her life. Her battle with cancer started when was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 14. At 31 she was diagnosed with a glomus jugulare tumor. One of the toughest battles came when Judy was in her 40’s and she suffered a stroke during an angiogram in Minneapolis. This wasn’t completely unexpected, it’s a risk during that procedure, but she did consider it a remote one. “I was warned that it might happen,” Judy said, “but I had three prior angiograms that didn’t cause a stroke.”

After her stroke, Judy was in a coma for nearly three weeks before she was transferred to Rapid City Hospital to continue her healing. When she arrived she and her physical therapists got to work, fighting for her health. As Judy described it, her team never gave up on her. “They strive for the best, and they help you strive for the best,” she said.

When Judy started her rehabilitation she couldn’t walk or talk. Her team set the goal to have her walking by the next morning, and she said she was walking with help by the end of the day. She still had a lot of work ahead of her. “I would work with the rehab team four hours in the morning and then two in the afternoon,” Judy remembered, “and then I would go back to my room and work every two hours.” She said her children were her saving grace through a lot of those difficult times. “My son is 30 now. He has never known me without having health issues.”

Judy had to learn to adjust to life after her stroke, even after rehabilitation. “I had a left brain stroke, which affected my right side,” she said “I had to learn to do things like brush my teeth and work with my left hand. My right side is still affected to this day.” After her rehabilitation she needed a neurologist. She began care with Matthew Simmons, M.D., a Neurologist with the Neurology and Rehabilitation Clinic and started the next chapter in her healing and life. She has been working with Dr. Simmons for the last ten years and has a lot of praise for him. “He’s an amazing man and a very thorough doctor,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of doctors and he is probably one of the best listeners.” That was key for Judy. For her, communication and empathy from her doctors is what helped them stand out.

Judy continues to work on her health and manages to stay busy. She recently published a book titled, “My Blessings are Different,” about her life and her struggles with her health over that time. She wrote the book for two reasons: one was as an act of praise, because her faith has been an important pillar in her life; the other reason was to help people who might need it. As Judy put it, “If I help even one person with my book, then it’s done what it was supposed to do.”

Hope Ness, Emergency Department Technician, receives TULIP Award

Posted on January 6, 2023 by electricpulp

RAPID CITY, S.D. (JAN. 6, 2023) – Hope Ness, an Emergency Department Technician at Rapid City Hospital, 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. Hope was nominated by a patient.

The patient and the patient’s children were involved in a car accident. Hope went out of her way to make sure that the children were taken care of and comforted while everyone was evaluated. She brought them toys and strikers to help them stay calm during a time of uncertainty. The patient wrote, “I would like her to be recognized for her commitment to not only the comfort of the patients at Monument Health, but for her compassion and ability to comfort those sitting in front of her. Thank you Hope for everything! I pray that others look to you for inspiration because you epitomized what a caregiver should be.”

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

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Monument Health to begin offering ENT services in Rapid City

Posted on January 5, 2023 by electricpulp

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Jan. 5, 2023) – Monument Health will begin offering Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) services to the Rapid City community beginning January 5, 2023. Monument Health Audiology and ENT is located at 4940 5th Street, Suite 2B, the former location of Advanced ENT and Allergy Center of the Black Hills.

Jay W. White, D.O., MS, HCA, Robert Burgess, M.D., Stacie Collins, CNP, and Merrill Hill, AuD., bring with them years of experience and share Monument Health’s mission to provide high-quality care to patients in our community.

Monument Health is also proud to announce that V. Richard Bowen, M.D., and Mark Guy, M.D., are joining Monument Health Audiology and ENT. Dr. Bowen brings more than 20 years of ENT experience. Dr. Guy has been providing ENT care for more than 25 years.

“We are excited about Drs. White, Burgess, Bowen, Guy and Stacie Collins, CNP joining the Monument Health team,” said Bradley Anderson, M.D., FACS, Monument Health Executive Medical Director. “Our mission is to be a state-of-the-art tertiary care referral center for the entire region. These outstanding physicians, all of whom have practiced in the region for many years, will form the core around which we can continue to build a team of ENT specialists and subspecialists to meet our community’s needs in ear, nose and throat surgery.”

“Monument Health is always striving to expand services and access to care for patients in the Black Hills,” said Bill Reynolds, Ambulatory Director. “The opportunity to grow and provide this service within the Monument Health system will ensure we can continue to meet the health care needs of our growing community.”

To schedule an appointment, call 605-755-4100.

Monument Health also offers ENT services in Spearfish with Loren Jones, M.D., and Jeanette Carlson, CNP.

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Danielle Longwell, RN, receives DAISY Award

Posted on December 30, 2022 by electricpulp

Photo Link: Danielle Longwell, RN

RAPID CITY, S.D. (DEC. 30, 2022) – Danielle Longwell, a Registered Nurse at Rapid City Hospital ONS, 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. Danielle was nominated by a patient’s family member.

The patient had an accident during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and had to be transferred to Rapid City Hospital because of his injuries. His wife and mother were in Ohio and didn’t have a lot of information about the patient’s condition. Danielle was able to provide the patient’s wife with details about his injuries and treatment.

The patient’s mother wrote, “Danielle kept her completely updated and reassured her as to the extent of his injuries and that he was doing ok. She answered every question we asked patiently and thoroughly.”

After they were able to fly to Rapid City, they met Danielle and she continued to provide help and support. “Danielle took such good care of my son. When we arrived, she and another nurse assisted us in obtaining food and answering all of our questions. Danielle even got permission from her supervisor to let us sleep in the room with him. She kept his medications on schedule and even gave us pointers on transportation back to the airport once he was cleared to fly home,” the patient’s mother continued. “Your staff took a very scary situation and turned it into a manageable one with ease. My son’s wife and I felt helpless and like we couldn’t get to Rapid City fast enough, but we had full confidence in his medical staff. We knew that they were taking great care of him, based on the conversations we had in the 36 hours we were waiting to leave and while we were in transit. Your staff took a frightening situation and made it so much better, and we are all forever grateful to literally everyone there.”

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About Monument Health

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Give a little love to your heart this holiday season

Posted on December 23, 2022 by electricpulp

As the holidays roll around we often think of family gatherings, hearty meals, busy days of shopping and snow showers bringing a peaceful quiet to brightly-lit neighborhoods. We may not consider the many ways this season also brings an added strain to our hearts. While a time of celebration for many people across the world, the excessive eating and drinking of celebrations and the sudden increase of physical stress can take a toll on heart health and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Responsible holiday feasting
This time of year may come with additional stress, but there are ways to celebrate the holidays in a way that’s easier on our hearts. Stephen Wasemiller, M.D., Cardiologist at Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute points to excessive eating and increased consumption of alcohol as things that increase our risk for cardiovascular issues. Dr. Wasemiller says healthier eating doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite foods for the holidays. “Keep in mind, just because you want to eat healthy, that doesn’t mean you have to exclude your holiday favorites. If you really want to drastically reduce how much you are eating, portion size is huge.” This can mean changing simple things like taking a smaller plate or bowl when serving food and trying smaller amounts of food when there are a lot of options to choose from. “If you want to try the different types of pie that everyone bought, try a half a slice or just share with somebody rather than trying to eat a full serving of everything that is laid out before you,” he continued, “and also, be sure to not only eat one type of food, like protein or carbohydrates. It’s still very important to eat things like leafy green vegetables, salads and fruits. Things that we should be eating on a regular basis anyway.”

Clearing the snow safely
Food isn’t the only thing increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke over the holidays. This time of year brings heavy snowstorms. The physical exertion that comes with shoveling driveways and sidewalks can amount to a lot of increased strain, especially for people who aren’t physically active on a regular basis. Dr. Wasemiller points out, “Shoveling snow in and of itself doesn’t itself pose an increased risk. However, if you’re going to partake in physical activities such as snow removal or any other increased activity in the cold, it’s important to know your limits and be mindful of what your body is telling you.”

Knowing your body’s limits is an important part of having a healthy and safe holiday season. When storms bring heavy snows into the area it can help to take things slow or rely on family or friends for help, “Don’t try to tackle it all at once. Take breaks often and if you feel like it’s going to be a lot for you, solicit the help of a friend or a family member or a neighbor that might be able to help you.”

Warning signs ahead
As with many things, prevention is often the best tool against experiencing something catastrophic like a heart attack or stroke. When we experience overexertion, our bodies will often give us signs that we are pushing too hard. Dr. Wasemiller encourages people to pay attention to those signs. He says, “Symptoms to look out for, may be different for different people. Chest pain is a big one, obviously, but shortness of breath or even just a feeling of uneasiness that you haven’t felt before. That would be something to pay attention to.” He says shortness of breath is normal when doing something physically intensive, but says to take it seriously, especially if it is more than normal. “When you start noticing the symptoms, stop, first of all, take a breather and see how your body responds,” he added, “If your symptoms don’t go away it may be reasonable to seek medical attention.”

Dr. Wasemiller also points to a lot of habits that can help a person stay healthy throughout the year and will reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems over the holidays. Proper hydration, getting a full night’s rest and being regularly physically active all go a long way in improving physical health. He says these goals aren’t as lofty or unattainable as it might seem. “One of the best ways to get exercise, not only around the holidays but every day, is to incorporate physical activity into your regular daily routine. Take the stairs instead of elevators or choose to walk to a nearby store or friend’s house rather than driving. These are things we can do year-round to stay healthy.”

Sunshine Oines, Nurse Aide, receives TULIP Award

Posted on December 12, 2022December 5, 2024 by electricpulp

Photo Link: Sunshine Oines, Nurse Aide

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Dec. 12, 2022) – Sunshine Oines, 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. Sunshine was nominated by a fellow caregiver.

“Sunshine has gone above and beyond in many ways in the care she provides. The patient was confused and required one on one attention to keep him safe. She has picked up multiple shifts to be his sitter and the care she provides is exceptional. She is fully engaged with him,” explained the nomination.

The nomination continued, “She is patient, kind and gentle in her approach. She stands out because she not only provides the physical care he needs, but also the emotional support he so deserves. Sunshine has really helped in driving his care needs, as he has been hospitalized for an extended time. Since his family is not always able to be here with him, I feel Sunshine has gone above and beyond in treating him as though he is her family.”

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About Monument Health

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Family Medicine Physician joins Monument Health Flormann Street clinic

Posted on December 8, 2022 by electricpulp

Rapid City, SD (Dec. 5, 2022) – Monument Health welcomes Christopher Robbins, M.D., CCD, Family Medicine Physician to the Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street. Dr. Robbins is a patient-oriented family medicine physician who treats pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. He takes a hands-on approach to health care when helping patients with a wide range of health and lifestyle related issues. As a clinically certified densitometrist, Dr. Robbins can read DXA scans that allow him to diagnose osteoporosis and aid in its prevention and treatment.

Family medicine physicians are qualified to diagnose and treat a wide range of health issues and are often at the center of primary care. They perform a wide array of routine screenings, including annual health screenings, physicals, preventative care and vaccine screenings. They also provide referrals and help their patients navigate the health care system when other specialties are needed.

Dr. Robbins completed his residency at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital Family Medicine Residency Clinic and obtained his doctorate of medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School in Lubbock, TX.

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Caleb Hansen, RN, receives DAISY Award

Posted on December 2, 2022 by electricpulp

Photo Link: Caleb Hansen, RN

RAPID CITY, S.D. (DEC. 2, 2022) – Caleb Hansen, a Registered Nurse in the Rapid City Hospital ICU, 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. Caleb was nominated by a patient’s family member.

The family member wrote, “Recently my father was a patient at Rapid City Hospital. He had been in the hospital for several days before he passed, and Caleb Hansen was his daytime nurse. He was so compassionate and caring and I don’t know how my mother and I could’ve gotten through without his kindness. His willingness to be honest, while also caring, all while being extremely accommodating to our family’s needs during our difficult time did not go unnoticed.”

The patient was a veteran, and Caleb organized a Hero Walk at the time of his passing, and the family was very grateful, knowing how much it would mean to the patient.

“Caleb went above and beyond concerning both my father’s care and how he treated my family. I can’t thank him enough for his compassion,” the nomination continued. “I know our experience would’ve been so much harder to deal with had it not been for Caleb. He is a truly wonderful human being and an asset to your institution.”

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About Monument Health

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Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon joins Monument Health

Posted on November 30, 2022 by electricpulp

Rapid City, SD (Nov. 30, 2022) – Eric Krohn, D.O., has joined Monument Health Orthopedic and Specialty Hospital in Rapid City, as the only fellowship trained Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon in the Black Hills region. Dr. Krohn specializes in deformity correction, growth modulation and fracture care. His specialized knowledge enables more patients to seek the treatment they need locally.

Dr. Krohn can treat a wide variety of conditions in children, such as abnormalities in walking that may need corrective shoes, bracing or surgery. He can also treat bone and joint infections, broken bones, fractures and dislocations, certain deformities present at birth, scoliosis, as well as sprains and strains.

Mark Longacre, Vice President of the Rapid City Market says Dr. Krohn is a welcome addition to the community. “We work to provide the high-quality care and treatments our patients need, close to home,” he said, “it’s always exciting when we can bring a specialist in and open up new services to our communities.”

Dr. Krohn received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA. He completed his residency at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, OR and a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America.

Learn more about Monument Health Orthopedics at monument.health/orthopedics.

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