Author: Stephany Chalberg

Cardiologist publishes study in vascular journal

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 28, 2022) – Bhaskar Purushottam, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, FSVMB,  an Interventional Cardiologist at Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute, has published a randomized controlled research study in Vascular Health and Risk Management, an international, peer-reviewed open access journal focusing on the maintenance of vascular health, disease prevention, risk factors, therapeutics, monitoring and risk management of vascular disease.

The study, “Jetstream Atherectomy Followed by Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons versus Balloon Angioplasty Followed by Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons: Twelve-Month Exploratory Results of the Prospective Randomized JET-RANGER Study,” explores treatment of femoropopliteal (FP) arterial disease. The femoropopliteal artery of the lower extremities is the most common site of disease in patients with peripheral arterial disease, a common condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs.

The study concluded that femoropopliteal arteries experienced a low rate of target lesion revascularization at a one-year follow up when treated by a Jetstream Atherectomy followed by paclitaxel-coated balloons, with a significant reduction in bailout stenting following vessel prepping with the Jetstream.

“It is prestigious and commendable to be selected for this randomized research study,” said Dr. Purushottam of Monument Health’s involvement. 

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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.

Angie Wahl, RN, receives DAISY Award

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

RAPID CITY, S.D. (July 14, 2022) – Angie Wahl, a Registered Nurse at Monument Health Behavioral Health Center, 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 fellow caregiver.

Angie has a tremendous impact on the patients and caregivers at Behavioral Health, the nominator said. “Angie understands the barriers to care for our patients and goes above and beyond to make our patients feel welcome and well taken care of. She listens to their concerns, gives them her full attention when speaking to them, and is an overall positive light.”

“I have had many patients mention Angie’s kindness and have said they feel completely comfortable telling her about their concerns or questions, knowing if she doesn’t have the answer, she’ll ask someone and follow up with the patient,” the nominator added. “I have the utmost respect for Angie, and I can honestly say, without her recognizing the discrepancies, our patients would not be getting the quality of care that Angie so much embodies as an RN.”

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.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Monument Health
Strategic Marketing and Communications
prnews@monument.health
605-755-9100

Inaugural Golden Guitars Gala raises money for Children’s Miracle Network

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

Rapid City, S.D. (June 28, 2022) – The first Golden Guitars Gala, a Monument Health Foundation fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network, raised more than $263,000 on Saturday night at The Monument. One guitar, signed by the Zac Brown Band, went for $11,000 during the gala’s guitar auction.

The Golden Guitars Gala will be an annual CMN event. Each year, one-of-a-kind Golden Guitars signed by the musicians who play at The Monument will be 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.

The Golden Guitars Gala, attended by more than 220 people, featured live music by Kory and the Fireflies, information about the impact of CMN in our region and an auction featuring 16 celebrity guitars, plus one surprise celebrity guitar.

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 Alice Cooper to Morgan Wallen, who have performed at The Monument and other select venues.

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.

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CONTACT:
Dan Daly
Communications Specialist
Strategic Marketing and Communications
Monument Health

Mayo Clinic Care Network eConsults keeping patients close to home

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

eConsults: 1,000 and counting

When Monument Health joined the Mayo Clinic Care Network in January 2020, one of the key Mayo Clinic resources was eConsults, which would allow physicians to collaborate with the experts at Mayo Clinic on their cases.

Terry Graber, M.D., a primary care physician at the Monument Health Hill City Clinic, submitted Monument Health’s very first eConsult. He had a puzzling case and thought Mayo Clinic specialists could help him with his diagnosis. The eConsult was helpful, he said.

Since then, Dr. Graber has ordered 8-10 more eConsults. His most recent eConsult was No. 1,000 for Monument Health – a record for Mayo Clinic Care Network members over a two-year period.

As of this week, Monument Health providers have used eConsults 1,049 times, said Christy Steele, the Monument Health caregiver who works closely with our physicians on eConsults. She said physicians find them a useful way to confirm their diagnoses and treatment plan recommendations. They can also find out if their patients might be a good candidate for any clinical trials that are underway.

Physicians from Monument Health can combine their understanding of their patients’ medical needs with Mayo Clinic expertise so patients get exactly the care they need, close to home and at no additional cost. That’s especially true in specialties such as medical oncology, hematology, neurology and cardiology.

“The coordination of care part of eConsults has been really great. Patients who have previously been to Mayo Clinic for care come home and continue with their specialists at Monument Health,” Christy said. “For some patients, they may never have to physically go to Mayo. Either way the patients’ best interests are our focus.”

Additional resources through the Mayo Clinic Care Network include AskMayoExpert, point-of-care tool that offers clinical information on hundreds of medical conditions, allowing Monument Health’s physicians to draw upon the collective knowledge of Mayo colleagues and eTumor Boards, multidisciplinary, multi-site discussions, offering informal advice regarding diagnostic tests and treatment options for complex cases. There are patient education materials and access to opportunities for professional development, as well.

Dr. Graber said that most often during his eConsults the Mayo Clinic specialists will review the case and confirm his own diagnosis and treatment plan. “That’s reassuring for me, and for the patient,” he said.

In fact, sometimes the patient will ask him to conduct an eConsult. “They say, ‘I’d rather have Mayo come to me, ’” he said.

 

Monument Health honors physicians in inaugural awards ceremony

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

RAPID CITY, S.D. (March 29, 2022) – Monument Health recognized seven Black Hills physicians at the inaugural Physicians and Providers Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 24. The event was created to celebrate and honor the hard work and dedication providers have shown their patients and the communities they serve, especially over the last two years.

Five award categories were created to highlight the different areas of the medical profession. The awards included; The Julie Raymond, M.D., Distinguished Clinician Award; The Distinguished Researcher Award; The Distinguished Educator Award, The Mark Harlow Distinguished Community Leader Award and the Dr. William E. Robinson/Dr. Frank Howe Legacy Award.

“Just days before our inaugural awards ceremony the Black Hills lost an incredible physician, friend and community leader, Dr. Julie Raymond,” said Brad Archer, M.D., Monument Health Chief Medical Officer. “It was important to our providers that we cherish her memory and honor her legacy by naming our distinguished clinician award after her.”

The awards were open to any medical provider in the Black Hills region who provides services at a Monument Health facility. Area providers nominated their peers and voted on the winners in each category. To learn more about the awards criteria and nominees, please click here.

“The providers who make a difference, every day in our communities come from many walks of life, with varied backgrounds. Each provider brings valuable knowledge and exemplary care to our communities, which is why we wanted all providers eligible for these awards,” said Dr. Archer.

The 2022 winners are:
John Palmer, D.O., the Julie Raymond, M.D., Distinguished Clinician Award
Bruce Eaton, M.D., FACP and Jason Knudson, M.D., the Distinguished Educator Award
Daniel Petereit, M.D., the Distinguished Researcher Award
Heather Brewer, M.D., the Mark Harlow Distinguished Community Leader Award
Forrest Brady, M.D. and Harold Edward Fromm, M.D., the Robinson-Howe Legacy Award

Photos available here.

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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.

2022 Physicians and Providers Awards Definitions

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

Julie Raymond, M.D. Distinguished Clinician Award
Criteria for Distinguished Clinician Award, includes:
· Mastery of clinical medicine and colleagues consult with them regularly
· Compassionate care of simple and complex problems
· An approachable manner with patients, families, and others
· Superb clinical judgment and colleagues respect them
· Exemplary professional interaction with peers and colleagues
· Dedication to the mission, vision, values of Monument Health

The nominees for the 2022 Distinguished Clinician Award are:
• Rachel Edelen, M.D.
• Jennifer Hasvold, M.D.
• John Palmer, D.O.*
• Stephen Kovarik, M.D
• Mike Statz, M.D.
• Joseph Tuma, M.D.
• Cynthia Weaver, M.D.

Distinguished Researcher Award
Criteria for Distinguished Researcher Award, includes:
· Track record of impactful research and scholarly activity
· Success in publishing research and scholarly manuscripts
· Strong evidence of positive impact of research on patient care, research or education
· Strived for excellence and demonstrated professionalism
· Dedication to the mission, vision, values of Monument Health

The nominees for the 2022 Distinguished Researcher Award are:
· Roger DeRaad, CNP
· Dan Petereit, M.D.*
· Drew Purdy, M.D

Distinguished Educator Award
Criteria for Distinguished Educator Award, includes:
· Significantly contributed to medical education at Monument Health throughout their career
· Demonstrated leadership in areas of education, education research, and/or administration
· Strived for excellence and demonstrated professionalism
· Been recognized or honored by students and/or faculty
· Created new ways of teaching or applied innovative techniques that foster the educational process and/or contribute to the body of knowledge and methodology in medical education
· Actively mentored junior faculty in education
· Dedication to the mission, vision, values of Monument Health

The nominees for the 2022 Distinguished Educator Award are:
• Manuel Arbo, M.D.
• Barry Cooper, D.O.
• Bruce Eaton, M.D.*
• Rachel Edelen, M.D.
• Joy Falkenburg, M.D.
• Hollan Harper, D.O.
• Jason Knudson, M.D.*
• Matthew Simmons M.D.

Distinguished Community Leader Award
Criteria for Community Leader Award, includes:
· Track record of impactful community service, community leadership, and citizenship
· Been recognized or honored by community organization or government
· Actively recruited and mentored others to engage in community service, leadership, and citizenship
· Dedication to the mission, vision, values of Monument Health

The nominees for the 2022 Mark Harlow Distinguished Community Leader Award are:
• Margaret Becker, M.D.
• Heather Brewer, M.D.*
• Lisa Brown, M.D.
• Thom Groeger, M.D.
• Stephen Tamang, M.D.

Mark L. Harlow Distinguished Physician & Provider Award
Recipient of the Mark L. Harlow Distinguished Physician and Provider Award exemplifies a commitment to the practice of medicine and to Monument Health’s mission, vision, and values. The award annually recognizes individuals, currently providing direct patient care, who make distinctive contributions in the areas of patient care, research, teaching, and community service.

[Dr. William E. Robinson/Dr. Frank Howe] Legacy Award
Recipients of the Legacy Award have throughout their career have made significant contributions to Monument Health, the Black Hills community, and to the practice of medicine. These men and women through their lifetime commitment to their patients, their neighbors, and their community have made our world better and inspired future generations. Their life’s work has truly created a lasting impact, a real legacy.

To honor our history, we choose two physicians who through their life and careers left undeniable legacies. The first namesake of the legacy award is Dr. William E. Robinson. Dr. Robinson was a physician, Rapid City mayor, and founder of the Methodist Deaconess Hospital in the early 1900s.
The second namesake of our legacy award comes from the Deadwood Doc himself Dr. Frank Howe. Dr. Frank Howe was a physician, author, civic leader, six-term mayor of Deadwood, and hospital leader in the early 1900s.
Criteria for Legacy Award, includes:
· A respected physician or provider whose leadership at Monument Health and in the community, both locally and at large, has changed our world for the better
· Physicians and providers who provided direct patient care in a Monument Health facility or provided leadership as a Monument Health facility
· It is not necessary for the recipient to be currently practicing
· Previously selected awardees are ineligible to receive the award

The nominees for the 2022 Robinson-Howe Legacy Award are:
• Fredric Birch, M.D.
• Forest Brady, M.D.*
• Samuel Durr, M.D.
• Robert Finley, M.D.
• Harold Edward Fromm, M.D.*
• Deb Kuehn, CNP

*Denotes winner

Monument Health names new Custer President

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

RAPID CITY, S.D. (March 17, 2022) – Barb Hespen has been selected as the new President of Monument Health Custer Hospital and Market. She will lead Monument Health’s health care operations in the southern Black Hills starting March 21, 2022.

Prior to joining Monument Health, Barb served as the Chief Nursing and Quality Officer at Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Sheridan, Wyo. She also worked for Monument (Regional) Health from 1997-2013, serving as Director of Risk Management and Accreditation, Director of Patient Services and Supervisor of the Home Care Department. From 2003 to 2010, she served as Director of Patient Services at Custer Regional Hospital.

“Barb brings a great deal of knowledge and experience with her to this role,” said Thomas Worsley, President of Spearfish Hospital and Hills Markets. “Her strong history of working with communities, building and fostering strong teams as well as partnering with physicians and caregivers in the areas of clinical quality and operational excellence make her a great addition to our Custer team.”

Hespen will replace Mark Schmidt, who recently accepted the role of President of the Sturgis Hospital and Market, in addition to his ongoing role as President of the Lead-Deadwood Hospital and Market. Schmidt had served both the Custer and Lead-Deadwood markets since 2015.

“I’m excited to be coming home to the Black Hills and rejoining Monument Health,” said Hespen. “The opportunity to serve this community and help provide high-quality care to our region is something I’ve always been passionate about.”

Monument Health Custer Hospital is a critical access hospital that serves much of the southern Black Hills. The adjoining clinic is a primary care, family medicine clinic that provides comprehensive care for the entire family through all phases of life, from childhood to senior years. Board-certified physicians and advanced practice providers deliver individualized care to patients at this clinic.

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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.

Monument Health Spearfish Hospital earns national accreditation for metabolic, bariatric surgery

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

SPEARFISH, S.D. (Dec. 13, 2021) – Monument Health Spearfish Hospital has been designated a MBSAQIP Accredited Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a national organization.

MBSAQIP is a joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). It affirms that the hospital’s bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. In addition, accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity.

Also known as weight-loss surgery, bariatric procedures work by changing the anatomy of the patient’s digestive system or by causing different physiological changes to the patient’s energy balance and fat metabolism.

“Metabolic and bariatrics patients require a special type of care, both before and after surgery. We’ve made sure that we’re providing everything these patients need,” said surgeon Andrew VanOsdol, M.D., who leads the bariatrics program at Spearfish Hospital. “This accreditation is a tribute to the hard work of the surgical staff and recognition of the great outcomes we’ve been able to achieve.” 

To earn accreditation, the Spearfish bariatrics program met essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure and patient care pathways that ensure its ability to support patients with obesity. Spearfish Hospital underwent an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviewed the center’s structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data.

Monument Health Spearfish Hospital’s bariatrics program is one of two programs in South Dakota that are accredited by the MBSAQIP. The other is at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls.  

Antibiotics not always the answer, health care professionals say

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Nov. 22, 2021) – Monument Health joins other health care systems across the United States to mark Antibiotic Awareness Week. It’s an observance to raise awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic use to combat the threat of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics are successful in fighting or preventing bacterial infections. When a patient needs antibiotics, the benefits outweigh the risks of side effects and antibiotic resistance. However, antibiotics do not treat viruses, which cause colds, flu, COVID-19 and other viral infections. In addition, antibiotics are often not needed.

And use of antibiotics can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance – when germs evolve with the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. 

Dr. James Keegan, a Rapid City physician whose company Keegan Mason & Associates has worked for years to help health care systems across the country reduce reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics. 

“In much of the country, antibiotics are losing effectiveness, and that’s due to overuse of antibiotics and mainly the use of certain types of antibiotics,” he said. 

He cites broad spectrum antibiotics, which are designed to kill a lot of different types of bacteria. They can be effective, but they can also kill the good bacteria our bodies need to survive, and give rise to new resistant bacteria strains.

Monument Health announces leadership changes

Posted on by Stephany Chalberg

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Oct. 4, 2021) – Mark Schulte, President of the Sturgis Hospital and Market at Monument Health, has been promoted to Vice President of Operations for the Rapid City Market. Monument Health also announced that Mark Schmidt will take over Schulte’s duties as President of the Sturgis Hospital and Market, in addition to his current role as President of the Lead-Deadwood Hospital and Market.  

In his new role, Schulte will be responsible for Medical Imaging, Dialysis Services, Laboratory Services and Respiratory Services throughout Monument Health. He will also oversee Rapid City Market’s Flormann Street Clinic, Urgent Care Clinics, Wall Clinic, Occupational Medicine, Family Medicine Residency and the Post-Acute Patient Care Program.

Schulte joined Monument Health in 2014 as the President of the Sturgis Hospital. Under his leadership, the Sturgis Hospital campus expanded to include a 26,000-square-foot clinic with advanced imaging equipment, a new physical therapy department and a renovated Emergency Department. He received the 2020 Robert S. Hudgens Early Careerist Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives.

“Mark will be a great addition to the Rapid City team. He’s helped turn the Sturgis Hospital and Clinic into a facility that the entire community can be proud of,” said John Pierce, President of the Rapid City Hospital and Market. 

Schmidt joined Monument Health in 2015, bringing with him 27 years of health care management experience in clinics, long-term care centers and critical access hospitals. He serves as Past Chair of South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) and is currently on the board of the South Dakota HOSA-Future Health Care Professionals program for high school students.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Mark over the last six years and can attest to his integrity, professionalism and absolute commitment to the communities that he serves,” said Thomas Worsley, President of Spearfish Hospital and Hills Markets. “We are incredibly fortunate to have his leadership and guidance through this period of transition.”

In recent years, Schmidt also served as President of Monument Health Custer Hospital and Market. With the new role in Sturgis, he will transition out of that post. Worsley said Monument Health will be actively recruiting for a new Market President in Custer.  

Both Schmidt and Schulte are active members of their Black Hills communities, and are committed to the continued success of Monument Health.

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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 12 communities across western South Dakota. 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.