Inspiring Health Fall 2020

Inspiring Health FALL 2020

Down to the Last Detail Compassionate care and new MRI technology put a patient at ease

Building Trusting Relationships at Home Celebrating 25 years of hospice and 35 years of home health

Stay Strong During COVID-19 Do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19

RU RA L CO M M UN IT Y

WELCOME DR. DREESSEN! Dr. Adrian Dreessen, M.D., recently joined the care team at Brookings Hospital’s emergency room.

Dr. Dreessen comes to Brookings Health System from CHI Health in Omaha. He has frequently vacationed in the Brookings area and has two children attending South Dakota State University this fall.

He received his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and performed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

As an experienced emergency room medical provider, Dr. Dreessen treats and cares for patients who visit the ER. Duties include assessing a patient’s health status and condition, beginning treatment, and ordering tests as needed.

Adrian Dreessen, M.D.

If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, do not delay care. Serious medical conditions often have positive outcomes when they receive prompt treatment. If you experience medical emergency warning signs, seek care immediately at Brookings Health System’s emergency department.

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THE MAGIC

of Handwashing

2.

2

Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Handwashing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of germs, including influenza and corona viruses. Clean hands have the super power to prevent germs from spreading from person-to-person and throughout an entire community—from the home and workplace to schools and hospitals.

3.

3

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum “Happy Birthday” from beginning to end twice.

4.

4

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5.

5

Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

To turn on the magic, the CDC recommends following these five handwashing steps every time:

Want to learn more about the scientific magic behind handwashing? Visit cdc.gov/handwashing.

1.

1

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).Turn off the tap and apply soap.

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Building Trusting Relationships at home Kyla Huntimer

Shelly Deknikker

Lynette Richarz

Kris Zobel

Karla Hanson

This year Brookings Health System celebrates the 25th year of hospice services and 35th year of home health care.

The multidisciplinary team of nurses, aides, therapists, social worker, chaplain, physicians, and other care professionals have not only delivered exceptional care to patients—but also earned their trust.

“ Home is where

everyone is most comfortable,” says Kyla Huntimer, a registered nurse for Brookings Health’s home services, which includes three programs: home health, HEARTH (Helping Elderly Adults Remain in Their Homes), and hospice.

“A lot of times when we go to see a patient in the home they’ve already somewhat developed a trusting relationship with us because we have seen their spouse or we’ve seen them before and so they realize it’s not so bad to let people in their home,” says Kyla.

By building that trust, the home health and hospice team develops a special bond with their clients.

“I have met and become family with several of my patients over the last 24 years,” said Shelly Deknikker, LPN, who assists many HEARTH patients. The HEARTH program provides in-home assistance with personal care and hygiene, baking and meal preparation, housekeeping and laundry, errands and shopping.

“We do everything we can to keep them at their house.”

“They really depend on us,” adds Lynette Richarz, an aide with 21 years of experience. She and other aides come to clients’ homes to help them with items like cleaning, bathing, grooming or other nonmedical needs.

“ We’re kind of like a family member.”

“Some of them don’t have family close by. They really look forward to seeing us because of lot of them don’t have company.”

In addition to building trust with patients, the home services team has also built trust with one another.

“We really do have a great team of interdisciplinary staff in our home health and hospice area,” said Kris Zobel, RN. “We all work together in coming up with a plan of care for our patients. We discuss them and we communicate with each other as to what the best plan of care is so we can all work toward the same goal.”

As a part of Brookings Health, the home services team can bring in specialist care professionals, like pharmacists or dietitians, to help patients.

fall 2020

“We have wound care, nurses, aides, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy,” said Physical Therapist Karla Hanson who often provides physical therapy in the home for patients, “and we’re all working together as a team providing the best quality service that we can. We’re in good communication with the doctor and the family and we try to help people obtain the goals they have for themselves.”

Learn what home health, HEARTH and hospice can do at brookingshealth.org/Home or call (605) 696-8090.

years HOM

E H E A LT H

years H O SPICE

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Down to the Last Detail Laura Quail teaches accounting and finance classes at Brookings High School. She spends a lot of time walking and on her feet while educating students. When she began to feel constant pain and discomfort from putting pressure on the ball of her right foot, she knew she needed to seek medical help.

Laura chose to visit Podiatrist Dr. Tyler Harrell at Avera Medical Group Brookings Specialty Care. Based on her symptoms, Dr. Harrell thought Laura had plantar fasciitis, a type of tissue inflammation in the foot. He gave her some stretches to do and had her wear a small boot.

When Laura came back for a follow-up visit and still had pain, Dr. Harrell knew there was a greater underlying cause to her problem. He ordered an X-ray which showed something else going on. To see more detail in Laura’s foot, Dr. Harrell ordered an MRI at Brookings Health System.

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Laura’s previous MRI experience was several years ago for her back. She felt closed in during the procedure.

Brookings Health’s new MRI technology has a wider opening to accommodate people who are claustrophobic.

This time, while Laura only had to put her foot in instead of her whole body, she felt much more comfortable.

The technologist performing Laura’s procedure also put her totally at ease by explaining exactly what was going to happen. Dr. Harrell had ordered the MRI with contrast to help see if there was any inflammation, something

Laura didn’t expect. The technologist explained why they used contrast for the procedure.

“The people seemed very sincere and that they actually cared about me,” said Laura. “I wasn’t just somebody coming through the door and they wanted to make sure I understood what was happening and what my diagnosis was.”

In addition to the team, the new amenities also enhanced Laura’s experience.

“We have such fine facilities here,” said Laura. “We’re very fortunate and there is no need to go anywhere else.”

The additional detail from the MRI revealed Laura had a torn tendon in both her second and great toe.

“The MRI showed excessively how the tear was, how much it was and where exactly it was located,” said Laura. “There was two little bones in the big toe and the tendon was torn between those two little bones as well as the side of the second toe.”

Dr. Harrell had Laura wear a larger boot for six weeks to further take pressure off of her foot, helping her avoid surgery—something that wouldn’t have happened without the details revealed by the MRI. Watch Laura’s full story and learn about the medical imaging capabilities available locally in Brookings at brookingshealth.org/LauraQ.

brookingshealth.org

Telehealth for the

WIN

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brookings Health began offering telehealth visit options for nutrition consultations and speech therapy. Telehealth visits allow patients to still have access to medical services with the same local health professionals they know and trust while maintaining social distancing.

Telehealth visits take place via a HIPAA compliant platform, ensuring personal health information stays confidential. Visits are required to have both audio and visual components. In addition, patients need a device capable of connecting to the internet, such as a computer, smart phone or tablet, as well as a valid email address.

These visits are ideal for those who are not comfortable in a public setting. Patients are sent paperwork and any other needed material in the mail along with an email containing a link to log in for their appointment.

“We have continued to see patients in our building,” said Lindsey Bothwell, speech-language pathologist, “but some of our therapy kids are more immunocompromised and thus telehealth is a great option for these kids” While finding a way to meet with patients one way or another helps to avoid losing any therapy progress, telehealth can bring challenges to overcome. One challenge: keeping children entertained during visits.

It takes creativity to keep kids motivated while still meeting their goals. An example: Bothwell sees if the kids have the game Candy Land at home.

She has the child move and play for her during their telehealth therapy session, making it similar to a face-to-face session.

“You’re going to get the same education that you’re going to get if you would come in in-person,” said Dietitian Katy VanderWal. She added if it is a covered service, it gives added convenience for those who live out of town or receive home health care.

As one example of a telehealth win, VanderWal worked with a home health patient to discuss their diet and nutrition needs. The occupational therapy staff, who were already making home visits to the patient, identified the need for the consultation. The therapy team helped get the technology set up, making it possible for VanderWal to educate the patient in the comfort of the patient’s home. Nursing and therapy staff were present with the patient, allowing everyone to be on the same page and keep the patient’s care headed down the right path.

In order to access these services, a doctor referral is required. Before making an appointment, Brookings Health recommends patients contact their insurance provider to ensure telehealth services will be covered.

Face-to-face appointments are still available if telehealth is not covered.

Brookings Health plans to continue looking for ways to expand telehealth options for other services. More information about Brookings Health’s full service line can be found on brookingshealth.org/services.

fall 2020

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At the Top RURAL COMMUNITY

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This past spring Brookings Health System was recognized for the third time in four years as a Top 20 Rural Community Hospital by the National Rural Health Association, ranking nationally in the top one percent of all rural and community hospitals. But an even bigger honor for Brookings Health: the top scores patients give us for our care day-after-day.

Brookings Health works with independent research firm NRC Health to survey patients who receive services from Brookings Hospital. The health system uses that feedback to improve the patient experience. In addition, NRC Health compares Brookings Health System’s performance to other hospitals and health systems nationwide, ranging from large, metropolitan medical centers to small, critical access hospitals.

When recently compared to the peer group of other hospitals and health systems, patients consistently ranked Brookings Health’s inpatient care, obstetrics and same-day surgery services in the top percentiles for the following categories:

• Top 1%: doctor/nurse explained procedure in a way that was easy to understand • Top 6%: overall rating of hospital • Top 6%: check-in process ran smoothly • Top 9%: patients received help when they wanted it • Top 10%: quiet at night “We believe every aspect of care makes or breaks a patient’s experience,” said Quality Director Emily Delbridge.

“While many people automatically think communication with doctors and nurses and receiving care at the bed side when they need it is paramount, just as important are the non-care aspects of a visit: how clean and quiet the facility is, how easy it is to register, how good the food tastes. That’s why we constantly educate our team members about delivering an exceptional patient experience. At Brookings Health, we don’t want to wow one person only one time, but we want to impress each patient each and every time.”

Brookings Health System’s current patient experience education focuses on re-educating team members to live the organization’s core values: trust, integrity, respect, accountability, compassion, teamwork and excellence.

“Our values are integral to our organization and the care we deliver, so much that we even have them written in stone in our Grand Lobby,” said Delbridge. “Our goal is to be a five-star facility and to remain a Top 20 Rural Community Hospital. Reminding our team about our core values and teaching them how to show those values in the services they deliver to our patients will help us reach our goal and remain a nationally ranked facility.”

Want to learn more about the high quality care at Brookings Health? Visit brookingshealth.org/Quality.

brookingshealth.org

THANK YOU! Brookings Health System Foundation THANKS the community businesses and individuals who have shown support through their time, talent and treasure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria

Laura Crooks

Sara Heath

Ralph and Gayle Matz

SDSU Pharmacy

Abundant Life Church

Agnes Currier

Chris Hellekson

Maurices Corporate Office

SDSU Theatre Department

Patty Asmus

Kate Cutler

Richard and Janean Henn

McCrory Gardens

SGS

Banner Associates

Daktronics

Jim and Ellen Herrboldt

Bob McGrath

Jay Shore

Curt and Sandy Bauman

Jason Domagalski

Kristen Hicks

Medary Acres

Veronica Shriver

Donna Behrend

Rheda Edmund

Marilyn Hildreth

Renee Metcalf

Bev Smith

Bel Brands

Kim Ellingson

Kevin Hilmoe

Midwest Fresh Catering

Carol Bergjord

Gary and Connie Englund

Carol Hoistad

Kent Miller

South Dakota State University

LaVon Bessler

Falcon Plastics

Holiday Inn Express and Suites

Brenda Mix

Bisson Dental

Janet Fergen

Chris Moe

Brett Bittner

Sue Fierstine

Dennis Hopfinger and Carolyn Clague

Bozied’s

Flavor Indian and Asian Fare

Joy Bretsch Brookings Area Quilters Guild Brookings Cinema 8 Brookings Convention and Visitors Bureau Brookings Economic Development Corporation Brookings Home Team Brookings Rotary Club Bryant Sewing Group Loreen Bunkers Buck Burdick Bob Burke

Madelyn Francis Todd and Katie Fritzmeier Darryl and Norma Ganter Brian and Carla Gatzke Geise Funeral Home Jean Gengry George Ust, Inc. Larry and Janet Gerjets Nadalee Gerjets Dave and Sheri Jo Gibson Kathy Gustafson

Janet Stange State Farm - Paul Kruse Rae Strande

Kyla Huntimer

National Medical Resources

Independent Insurance Agents of South Dakota

Nutrien AG Solutions

Diane Swanson

Julie Nylund

Harriet Swedlund

Old Market Eatery

Swiftel Center

Joanne Olson

Nancy Temanson

Rita Pankratz

Dawn Theunissen

Al Patin

Nancy Thompson

Margaret Pearson

Town and Country Shopper

Lee Peterson

Twin City Fan

Donna Ramsay

Linda Vaa

Mary Kees

Red Willow Colony School

Gina VanderWal

Kentucky Fried Chicken

Ryan Ross

Rod King

Cassie Roth

Nancy Krueger

Rudes Funeral Home

Alexandra Iyer Jack’s Dining Barb Johnson Peg Johnson Bonnie Junker Becky Jurrens Kelly and Ronda Kantack Kris and Margaret Kappenman

Super 8

Laci Volkers Jody Walsh

Bonnie Busdicker

Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity

Lisa Wanetka

Deb Carlson

Stephanie Hale

Gail Landmark

Donna Rue

Dr. Merritt and Pamela Warren

Cecil Cheney

Hampton Inn and Suites

Larson Manufacturing

Alla Ruffolo

Kathy Watt

Amanda Cheung

Norma Hansen

Ruth Leffler

Runnings of Brookings

Gayle West

Sue Clark

Roberta Hansen

Sandy and Grace Linn

Alex Schafer

Billy Wilburn

Cooks Waste Paper and Recycling

Shannon Harming

Little Caesars

Mike and Danielle Scheff

Jade Withers

Melanie Cope

Peter Hauff

Little Leprechauns 4-H Club

Schoon’s Pump ‘n Pak

Liping Yang

Country Inn and Suites

Robert and Shari Hauschild

LUXE Hair Studio

Scooter’s Coffee

Marian Cramer

Marcella Headly

Layne Manson

SDSU Davis Dairy Plant

Visit brookingshealth.org/foundation to learn about the COVID-19 Response Fund, personal protective equipment needs and ways you can support Brookings Health as we respond to COVID-19. Contact the Foundation at (605) 696-8855 or foundation@brookingshealth.org for more information.

300 22nd Avenue Brookings, SD 57006

This is a recyclable product.

Inspiring Health is published by Brookings Health System. This publication in no way seeks to serve as substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

STAY STRONG DURING COVID-19 Health officials estimate a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready approximately 12 to 18 months from the start of the pandemic.

That equates to late spring of 2021. Until a vaccine is developed, we all need to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

PRACTICE GOOD RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE & HYGIENE. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze in your upper sleeve. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice). If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. Try to stay 6 feet away from others. Do not hug, kiss, shake hands or make other unnecessary contact.

FREQUENTLY CLEAN & DISINFECT HIGH-TOUCH SURFACE AREAS. That includes counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, etc. Household cleaners or soap and water easily cleans COVID-19. Make sure you read and follow household cleaner instructions to ensure germs are killed.

WEAR A FACE MASK IN PUBLIC. Cloth masks do not protect the wearer, but instead prevents an unintentional spread of the virus from the wearer to others.

Some individuals with COVID-19 do not show symptoms. Those who eventually develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before symptoms appear. As such, wearing cloth face masks can help slow community spread of COVID-19.

MONITOR YOUR HEALTH. Be alert for COVID-19 symptoms and take your temperature if symptoms develop.

STAY AT HOME IF YOU’RE SICK. Self-isolate to prevent the spread of illness.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay informed on the pandemic at brookingshealth.org/COVID.