Author: Stephany Chalberg

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 21, 2023) – Monument Health Rapid City Market has attained Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet designation is the highest recognition for nursing excellence and quality patient care in the United States. This prestigious award, granted by the ANCC represents a commitment to quality and patient safety.

“With this Magnet recognition, we are well positioned to continue providing high-quality care for our patients and our community,” said Tasha Frisinger, MSN, RN, CNML, Vice President of Nursing in the Rapid City Market. “Magnet values a shared governance model for nursing practice. At Monument Health, nurses are at the center of decisions for their professional practice. These values and standards will guide us in our efforts to continually improve nursing excellence and provide high-quality care to patients.”

Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence. The assessment process is a rigorous and comprehensive review of Monument Health’s nursing practices and quality patient care. The process involves collecting and submitting extensive data and documentation that demonstrate a commitment to excellence in nursing. This process typically takes up to four years of work from the nursing team and leadership.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our nursing caregivers. They have shown that they are committed to providing the highest quality care for our patients,” said Paulette Davidson, Monument Health President and CEO. “Magnet recognition is not achieved by a single individual or department, but by the collective efforts of the entire organization. It is a testament to the commitment, dedication, and hard work of our nurses, physicians, and leaders.”

Magnet designation is an important recognition of quality patient care because it demonstrates the commitment to high standards of nursing practice and patient safety. This translates into better patient outcomes, such as lower infection rates, readmissions, and medical errors. 

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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 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

About ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program 

The Magnet Recognition Program — administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world — identifies health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program is the highest national honor for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet. 

RAPID CITY, S.D. (SEPT. 12, 2023) – Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – AFib GOLD quality achievement award for its commitment to managing atrial fibrillation (AFib), ultimately helping to reduce patients’ stroke risk. In 2022, Rapid City Hospital was recognized with the Silver Award, the highest possible award an organization can receive in its first year participating and has now upgraded to the GOLD recognition.

AFib affects millions of Americans, often leading to heart-related complications as well as increasing the risk for stroke fivefold. However, proper care and treatment can reduce these risks. 

The Get With The Guidelines – AFib quality achievement award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date research-based guidelines as outlined by the American Heart Association. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. 

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality AFib care. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their AFib at home. 

“We are pleased to recognize Rapid City Hospital for its commitment to providing high-quality care for persons with atrial fibrillation,” said Jonathan Piccini, M.D., MHS, FACC, FAHA, FHRS, volunteer expert for the American Heart Association and associate professor of medicine and director of cardiac electrophysiology for Duke University Medical Center. “Hospitals that participate in Get With The Guidelines often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.” 

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About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

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 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

SPEARFISH, S.D. (August 24, 2023) – Monument Health began the construction enabling phase of the Spearfish Hospital expansion project. This important step lays the groundwork for the large hospital addition and remodel project. 

This early construction phase focuses primarily on the northern parking lot of Spearfish Hospital. The majority of the work will be to reroute all necessary utilities, expand the parking lot and start the process of ordering long-lead materials. 

When complete, the Spearfish Hospital project will nearly double the size of the existing hospital. The project will include more than 94,000 square feet of new construction to expand the existing hospital while 14,000 square feet of the existing space will be remodeled. 

“As the needs of the community grow, especially in the northern Black Hills, Monument Health remains committed to providing high-quality care, close to home,” said Paulette Davidson, President and CEO of Monument Health. “This necessary first step is an exciting one for the growth and expansion of care for the Northern Hills.”

The Monument Health Foundation committed to contributing $6 million toward the project, with $5.6 million of the fundraising goal currently raised.

“The Spearfish community has shown great excitement and support for this project,” said Thomas Worsley, President of Monument Health Spearfish Hospital and Hills Markets. “Our Physicians and Caregivers are dedicated members of our local community and expanding the health care we can provide with this expansion helps each of us.”

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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 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

Photo link: Monument Health President and CEO, Paulette Davidson (left) joins Sandra Ogunremi, DHA, Monument Health Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging to accept the award.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (July 19, 2023) – The American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Institute for Diversity and Health Equity (IFDHE) announced that Monument Health Rapid City Hospital is being recognized as one of three health care systems to earn the 2023 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care (EOC) Award. 

The Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award is an annual recognition of outstanding efforts among hospitals and health systems to advance equity of care to all patients and to spread lessons learned and progress toward diversity, inclusion and health equity. Lewis was the first African-American and first hospital trustee to chair the AHA Board. 

“The AHA’s Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care award is given to these hospitals and health systems for engaging in exceptional and transformative efforts to reduce health disparities and other inequities within their communities,” said Rick Pollack, AHA’s President and CEO. “This year’s honorees have shown exemplary commitment to understanding and improving the lives of patients and employees of diverse populations through advisory councils, comprehensive data collection, community engagement and outreach and staff training, to give just a few examples of their important work.” 

Monument Health Rapid City Hospital was selected as the Equity of Care, Small/Rural Hospital Excellence Award winner for demonstrating excellence in using quantitative and qualitative data to address disparities and improve patient health quality. 

“At Monument Health, we are committed to being one team, to be inclusive and to listen. To do the right thing. Every time. Those aren’t just words in our mission statement but values we hold dear and bring to work each day,” said Sandra Ogunremi, DHA, Monument Health Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. 

Since signing the AHA Equity of Care Pledge in 2015, Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has consistently collected race, ethnicity and language data at a capture rate above 98 percent. It has also collated other pertinent information resulting in the ability to strategically focus on the needs of its patients. Monument Health Rapid City Hospital formed a Health Equity Team that analyzes data and is empowered to develop and specifically tailor a care plan that includes additional monitoring and an increased frequency of discharge phone calls to reduce readmission rates.

Recognizing its unique patient population, Monument Health Rapid City Hospital engages and collaborates with its community populations. Caregivers complete cultural awareness training as part of their orientation and the workforce is highly engaged in ongoing educational sessions. Since 2016, cultural awareness seminars have been held to understand and address health disparities that affect Native Americans. A Health Equity Seminar was added in 2022, where expert physicians presented data and clinical findings on specific medical conditions such as peripheral artery disease, congenital syphilis, cancer detection and research impacting the Native American communities.

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About the American Hospital Association (AHA)

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA advocates on behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners – including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers – and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides insight and education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at aha.org.

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 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2023: (Left-to-right) Justin D. Avigliano, D.O.,* Domonique J. Cunningham, M.D.,* Lee N. Hosler, D.O., Michael J. Osterholt, M.D., Emily L. Urbaniak, M.D., Ali S. H. Weiss, M.D.
*Chief Resident

RAPID CITY, S.D. (July 5, 2023) – Monument Health announced that six physicians graduated from the Rapid City Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program on Friday, June 30. 

Each year the Family Medicine Residency Program accepts six medical school graduates into a three-year program of training in a variety of family medicine roles with an emphasis on rural health care. This year’s graduates were honored at a ceremony at The Monument in Rapid City.

“The goal of this program is to recruit and train medical school graduates to specialize in family medicine. It’s important that we continue to train physicians and make sure they understand the dynamics of rural health care. Family physicians are the only specialists qualified to treat most ailments and provide comprehensive health care for people of all ages — from newborns to seniors.” said Family Medicine Residency Program Director Bobbie Schneller, D.O.

This year’s graduates include:

•  Justin Avigliano, DO, has been accepted into an Emergency Medicine fellowship with SSM Health Monroe Clinic in Monroe, Wisconsin
• Domonique Cunningham, MD will be practicing Family Medicine with Community Health Center of SE Kansas in Pittsburg, KS
• Lee Hosler, DO, has been accepted into an OB fellowship with Essentia Health in Duluth, Minnesota
• Michael Osterholt, MD, has been accepted into a Sports Medicine fellowship with University of Nebraska in Omaha, Nebraska
• Emily Urbaniak, MD, will be practicing Family Medicine at Monument Health Spearfish Clinic – North 10th Street.
• Ali Weiss, MD, has been accepted into an OB fellowship with Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska

For more information about the Family Medicine Residency Program and Clinic, or to visit the clinic, call 605-755-4060.

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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 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

PHOTO LINK: The guitar signed by the band Foreigner was the top selling guitar at Saturday’s event. The winning bid was $29,000.

Rapid City, S.D. (June 13, 2023) – The second Golden Guitars Gala, a Monument Health Foundation fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network, raised more than $316,000 on Saturday night at The Monument. One guitar, signed by the band Foreigner, attracted a winning bid of $29,000 during the gala’s live guitar auction.

This event is in its second year and raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Each year, one-of-a-kind Golden Guitars signed by the musicians who play at The Monument and other select venues were auctioned off during the event. All of the money raised will stay local and support children in the Black Hills who receive care at Monument Health hospitals.

“Once again, our incredible community showed up to help us break records and raise funds for our littlest patients,” said Hans Nelson, Director of the Monument Health Foundation. “The money raised helps Monument Health, as a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, purchase medical equipment and fund programs for children’s services and future expansion.”

The Golden Guitars Gala, attended by more than 250 people, featured live music by Kory and the Fireflies, information about the impact of CMN in our region and a live auction featuring 18 celebrity guitars, plus one surprise celebrity guitar signed by Willie Nelson.

South Dakota artist Kory Van Sickle of Kory and the Fireflies developed the event as part of his company’s philanthropic program, Firefly Guitars. For this event, Golden Firefly Guitars were signed by musical luminaries and up-and-coming stars, from Elle King to ZZ Top, who have performed at The Monument and other select venues.

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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 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

PHOTO LINK: Dan Petereit, M.D. receiving the SDSMA Community Service Award

RAPID CITY, S.D. (June 7, 2023) – The South Dakota State Medical Association elected its new board of directors during the organization’s annual meeting in Sioux Falls on June 2. 

Deepak Goyal, M.D., MBA, and Lisa Brown, M.D., were nominated to the board. Dr. Goyal, Monument Health’s Executive Medical Director of Revenue Cycle and Supply Chain, will serve as an At-Large Director for the SDSMA board. Dr. Brown, the Custer Community Medical Director, will serve as the SDSMA Policy Council Chair. She will continue to see patients at Custer Hospital and Clinic.

The SDSMA serves physicians, residents and medical students who are dedicated to the health of South Dakotans. The mission of the SDSMA is to promote the art and science of medicine, protect and improve the health of the public and advocate for the well-being of physicians and patients and the best environment for physicians to advance quality health care.

The SDSMA presented awards to recipients at the Annual Awards & Scholarship Recognition on Friday. Dan Petereit, M.D., received the Community Service Award. This honor is presented each year to a physician who separates themselves through outstanding work in the area of community affairs. 

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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 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (June 2, 2023) – Annually Monument Health Dermatologists provide free skin cancer screenings to raise awareness for skin cancer during the month of May. This year Monument Health Dermatologists in Rapid City and Spearfish provided 195 patients with free skin checks. During the events 15 biopsies for potential cancers were recommended.

“Providing skin checks to the community is an important way to promote early detection and awareness about skin cancer,” said Christopher Gasbarre, D.O., Dermatologist at Monument Health Dermatology in Spearfish. “Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 5 million cases are diagnosed each year with melanoma being the most serious kind of skin cancer.”

Doctors recommend you perform consistent skin checks to look for changes in your skin — like irregularly shaped moles or lesions, or areas that don’t heal. Early detection of skin cancer gives you the greatest chance for successful skin cancer treatment.

“We know that skin cancer is preventable — in fact it is one of the most preventable forms of cancer,” said Siri Knutsen-Larson, M.D., Dermatologist at Monument Health Dermatology in Rapid City. “As we head into the summer months, it’s important to remember the key to prevention is proactive methods like wearing long sleeves, broad brimmed hats and sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection.”

To learn more about Monument Health Dermatology or to schedule an appointment go to www.monument.health/dermatology.

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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 38 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.