Author: Stephany Chalberg

STURGIS, S.D. (July 13, 2021) — The recently renovated and upgraded Emergency Department is now open for patient care at Monument Health Sturgis Hospital. The construction project took about six months and added additional space, private rooms, updates to furnishings and fixtures, staff enhancements for charting and dictation, a behavioral health safe room and a negative airflow system.

The Greater Sturgis Lifecare Foundation contributed $150,000 to Monument Health Sturgis Hospital, and the Monument Health Foundation matched the contribution with a $150,000 donation. Monument Health paid the remainder of the $900,000 cost.

“We took everything down to the studs and bare concrete, and then built everything back up to take advantage of the space in the best way possible,” said Mark Schulte, President of the Sturgis Market. “We implemented new features like completely enclosed shelving and storage areas, as well as a negative airflow system that will protect our caregivers and other patients from any aerosolized contaminants or microbes.”

Schulte said that while the upgraded Emergency Department will help the area be prepared for anticipated high number of rally-goers this year, it’s just as important that the Sturgis community has access to the best possible medical facilities year-round.

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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.

Rapid City, SD (May 27, 2021) – Monument Health announced it will join in a partnership to build a new specialty hospital in Rapid City to serve the acute medical rehabilitation and long-term acute care needs of patients throughout the region.

The new hospital will be operated by a joint venture partnership between Monument Health and Vibra Healthcare, an industry leader that operates 29 long-term acute care & rehabilitation hospitals nationwide.

The Rehabilitation and Critical Care Hospital of the Black Hills will have 36 rehabilitation beds, as well as 18 long-term acute care beds. It will be built near the northwest corner of the Catron Boulevard and U.S. Highway 16 intersection.

Monument Health’s existing rehabilitation hospital, now located at The Village at Skyline Pines Assisted Living and Memory Care, will move to the new facility when construction is complete. The new Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) will be part of the new facility. It will be the first LTACH in the region.

“Patients are typically at these locations for weeks on end, which puts a significant burden on their families,” said Mark Longacre, Vice President of Operations for Monument Health in Rapid City. “It’s important for patients to be near their families, and we’re excited that we will be able to provide this care locally.” Currently, patients who need this type of advanced care may be transferred to Billings, MT, Bismarck, ND, Sioux Falls, Lincoln, NE, or Denver, CO.

When a patient suffers a heart attack, brain injury or other type of serious medical condition, they are admitted to an acute care hospital for surgery or other treatment, usually on a short-term basis. Monument Health Rapid City Hospital or Spearfish Hospital serve in this role.

However, when patients need long-term hospitalization for complex medical issues, an LTACH is often better equipped for that type of care. These hospitals specialize in treating serious respiratory, cardiac, multi-system, neurological and infectious disease, as well as wound healing and other conditions. Hospital stays are often 21 days or more.

Acute medical rehabilitation, the type of treatment currently offered at the Village at Skyline Pines, helps patients recover after a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury or other traumatic event. Monument Health’s existing 16-bed acute rehabilitation unit has outgrown its space in The Village at Skyline Pines, said Dr. Kelly Stacy. M.D., Monument Health Executive Medical Director. “With this expansion, we will be able to offer a greater number of services to more patients, which will help in their return home,” she said.

“We are extremely pleased to partner with Monument Health to expand post-acute care services in the region,” added Brad Hollinger, CEO of Vibra Healthcare. “Our collective leadership and teams will continue to work closely together to bring the Rehabilitation and Critical Care Hospital of the Black Hills to Rapid City. We intend to complement and build upon the excellent services that Monument Health offers the community, and we look forward to providing patients and their families with two specialized restorative care options close to home.”

Construction on the 55,000-square foot hospital is expected to begin in the fall of 2021, said Dave Ellenbecker, Vice President of Facilities Management and Plant Operations.

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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.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Jan. 8, 2021) – Monument Health has announced that Robin Zebroski, Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications, has expanded her role to also serve as the senior leader of the Monument Health Foundation. Her new title will be Vice President of Foundation and Brand Strategy.

The Monument Health Foundation is responsible for all fundraising programs and serves as the liaison between Monument Health and a generous family of benefactors. One hundred percent of gifts are used for programs, patient care environments and equipment to support important services throughout the Black Hills including the neonatal intensive care unit, hospice, cancer care and more.

“A successful philanthropic foundation requires a leader who enjoys and builds authentic relationships, achieves results, keeps the foundation vibrant and relevant, is resilient in overcoming obstacles and applies creative thinking to develop sustainable programs to support the ever-changing health care environment,” said Paulette Davidson, Monument Health President and Chief Executive Officer. “These are all traits that Robin demonstrates as a current Monument Health executive.”

Zebroski joined the organization in May 2017 as the Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications. Her accomplishments include the systemwide Monument Health rebrand, securing the naming rights of the Rapid City Civic Center (The Monument), leading the due diligence process for joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network and developing a communications platform to support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pat Burchill, retired banker and Foundation Board Chair, has served in an interim role as Acting Foundation President since July. Burchill will continue to serve as Foundation Board Chair.

“I would like to thank Pat Burchill for serving as the Acting President of the Monument Health Foundation as well as presiding as the Foundation Board Chair during 2020,” Davidson said. “Throughout the year and during the uncertainty of the pandemic, the entire Foundation team remained active, connecting the community to our mission and raising needed funds to support the delivery of health care in our region. Pat’s leadership in a time of need has been invaluable.”

Prior to joining Monument Health, Zebroski spent 10 years at the Sioux Falls-based marketing firm Lawrence & Schiller. Before that she was Director of Internet Marketing and an adjunct professor at Black Hills State University. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing Strategy from Regis University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Black Hills State University.

Zebroski currently serves on the Visit Rapid City board of directors and the Sturgis Booster Club and is an active volunteer throughout the community.  She and her husband (Melvin) and their five sons (Braden, Tegan, Teryn, Chase and Tarver) enjoy a busy life in the Sturgis area.

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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 33 medical specialties and serves 20 communities across western South Dakota and in eastern Wyoming. With over 4,500 physicians and caregivers, Monument Health is composed of 5 hospitals, 8 specialty and surgical centers and more than 40 medical clinics and health care service centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

About Monument Health Foundation 

The Monument Health Foundation strengthens the health of our communities by building a culture of generosity. In partnership with Monument Health, the foundation aspires to excellence in health care through gifts of engagement and generosity. The foundation shares the values of Monument Health and maintains a high level of accountability and dedication.