For 20 years, Lynnett Rotert, BSRT, CBDT, was a bone density technologist at Monument Health’s Spearfish Clinic and worked in a clinical area called densitometry. She served the patients of Monument Health by performing a unique and vital procedure.

Using what is known as a DXA machine, Lynnett would measure and examine the amount of calcium and other minerals in a person’s bones. Those results would then be used by physicians and providers to tell patients how strong or weak their bones were and if they were at risk of developing osteoporosis.
Lynnett passed away in August of last year. “I miss her greatly,” said Cathy Sowers, DNP, Medical Director of Monument Health’s Osteoporosis program.

But her work will continue to live on.

In March, this year, Lynnett was posthumously presented with the Dr. Sydney Bonnick ISCD Award for Excellence in Densitometry. This award honors and celebrates technologists who’ve demonstrated expertise in their field. The ISCD, which stands for the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, is a worldwide network of 2,700 individual members from across 25 countries who work together to improve musculoskeletal health.

“We’re honored to celebrate her legacy. Her commitment to health care excellence continues to inspire us all,” said Cathy Sowers. “She had a great eye for the smallest of things. Her attention to detail made her outstanding in her line of work. To me, she represents the millions of people that go to work daily, doing the next right thing, seemingly unnoticed, yet making a difference in the world one person at a time.”

In ensuring that the bones of her patients stayed strong, she also strengthened the clinic’s bone health programs itself, which, in turn, made a huge difference to the community she served.

One of Lynnett’s patients, Susan D. Johnson applauded the care that she received from her. “Whenever I would get my bone scan done, Lynnett was always professional. She was efficient and she took the time to explain what DXA meant and when I could expect my results. Yet, she also made the time to ask about how my family and I were doing. Monument Health was so lucky to have her as an employee all those years.”

Lynnett collected data about fractures from all the local hospitals and tabulated them. She made sure that the technology was up-to-date. When she wasn’t busy with the clinical side of things, she worked on creating materials that would help educate patients.

She, along with Richard Keim, M.D., an internal medicine physician, were instrumental in establishing the clinic’s projects related to fractures and osteoporosis. In fact, she was a driving force behind earning accreditation for them, said Dr. Keim.

Outside of her work at Monument Health, she volunteered “countless hours” at the Good Shepherd Clinic, a clinic based in Spearfish that provides free medical and dental care to those who don’t have health insurance. “She was looked upon as a role model and a leader,” said Cathy.

Another of Lynnett’s co-workers, Heather Delahoyde, RTR, CBDT had nothing but praise for her. “Lynnett was a great teacher. She taught me how to do DXA and provided me with the education I needed to pass my certification exam. She was so knowledgeable, patient, kind and caring. She gave me great life advice over the years and I miss her greatly.”

Patrick Rotert, Lynnett’s husband said, “Her passing was a tremendous blow to our family, friends and colleagues.” Speaking about her illustrious career, he said that Lynnett started out as a nuclear medicine technologist and earned her certification in Nebraska. The Roterts moved to South Dakota in 2001, where Lynnett threw herself tirelessly into her work at Monument Health.

“Her greatest joy, outside of family, was serving her patients and providing them a very high level of care. She was the go-to person when it came to accreditation standards. She would shy away from this praise as it was not in her nature to think she was doing anything but her job,” he said.