The Missing INGREDIENT
Avera Tackles Food Insecurity at the Point of Care
DO Organization Launches Upper Midwest Chapter
How to Keep Your Website HIPAA Compliant
Fall Events to Put on Your Calendar
Pediatric Surgery
Beating a life-threatening tumor with 3D printing? believe
After 18-year-old Karys was diagnosed with a dangerous tumor, she found hope in technology. Seeing her operation being planned with devices like virtual reality headsets and 3D printers filled her with confidence. And her successful outcome proved that innovative surgical techniques and an unwavering commitment to kids and families is a combination that can’t be beat.
THE MISSING INGREDIENT
Avera Tackles Food Insecurity at the Point of Care
■ By Alex Strauss
One in nine children and one in twelve South Dakota adults are not always sure where their next meal will come from. Avera Health is working to change their health picture, and combat the stigma of food insecurity, by setting up food pantries right inside healthcare clinics.
PAGE 6 | THIS MONTH ONLINE
Exclusive online articles, including how to keep your website HIPAA compliant, plus upcoming fall events to note and how to access the digital issue of MED Magazine
PAGE 10 | NEWS & NOTES
A record-breaking year for important fundraisers in Sioux Falls and Sioux City, Sanford Health is again named a top place to work, and UnityPoint moves to acquire MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center plus all the latest healthcare news from around the region.
PAGE 13 | USD SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES SUCCESS
SPOTLIGHT: Alice Cruz Morales
This USD alum turned her personal struggle with addiction into a leadership role at a Wyoming treatment center. Find out how the School of Health Sciences empowered her journey to help others recover.
PAGE 14 | BEYOND THE BORDER
News from MED’s Multi-State Coverage Area
A North Dakota medical center becomes the first in its region to offer this advanced asthma diagnostic tool, Care in Nebraska, and a dog that helps keep patients and healthcare staff safer in Des Moines gets some extra protection herself.
On the Cover : (L to R) Volunteers Bobbie Ramm and Al Arndt
Laura Nostvick: Social worker, Avera Research Institute
Lydia Slattery: Communications and Public Relations Specialist, Avera
CONTACT INFORMATION
STEFFANIE LISTON-HOLTROP
VP Sales & Marketing
VOLUME 16, NO. 5 ■ JULY/AUGUST
FROM US TO YOU
elcome to the July/August issue of MED Magazine, where we’re exploring how healthcare can extend beyond the exam room.
Our cover story this month takes you inside Avera’s innovative approach to food insecurity through their clinic-based food pantry program. By meeting patients exactly where they get their healthcare, they’re addressing a fundamental barrier to health with no stigma and no extra trips required.
You’ll also find our comprehensive news roundup featuring exciting developments across the region, from Monument Health’s new I-90 campus to recognition for several of our healthcare leaders on the national stage. Plus, don’t miss our “Beyond the Border” section with notable news from our neighboring states.
Have a great rest of your summer and we’ll see you in September!
All the best, —Alex & Steff
P.S. Looking ahead to the fall conference season? Take a peek at some upcoming events in our This Month Online section and go online to find even more.
Publisher / MED MAGAZINE, LLC
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Vice President Sales & Marketing
STEFFANIE LISTON-HOLTROP
Editor in Chief / ALEX STRAUSS
Staff Writer / KIM LEE
Magazine Design / ANGELA CORBO GIER
Client Relationship Manager / BARBIE MUNOZ
Digital Media Director / HYA AMURAO
605-366-1479
Steff@MidwestMedicalEdition.com
ALEX STRAUSS
Editor in Chief
605-759-3295
Alex@ MidwestMedicalEdition.com
WEBSITE
MidwestMedicalEdition.com
MAILING ADDRESS
PO Box 90646, Sioux Falls, SD 57109
Nov 10
Editorial contributions due August 5
Ads due August 10
THIS MONTH ONLINE
Exclusive Online Articles
USD Pioneers Advances in Telehealth, Biomedical Computing, and Substance Use Disorder Care
The University of South Dakota has landed nearly $10 million in federal grants to expand telehealth training, launch a biomedical computation collaborative, and combat substance use disorder stigma across the state.
LEARN WHAT RECENT GRANTS COULD MEAN FOR HEALTHCARE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
ACOFP Launches Upper Midwest Affiliate to Strengthen Osteopathic Family Medicine Across Six-State Region
The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians has launched its new Upper Midwest Affiliate Society, creating a unified regional network for DOs across six states including Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakotas.
SEE WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE NEW CHAPTER IN THIS WEBSITE-ONLY ARTICLE.
Women’s Life Phases and Social Influences Shape Their Connected Heart, Kidney, and Diabetes Risks
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
How Hands-On Demonstrations Can Help in Choosing a Nurse Call System
Jeron’s Provider Technology Center in Chicago offers both in-person and virtual tours of the advanced nurse call systems sold in our area by DTB Systems, allowing Midwest healthcare facilities to test-drive integrated communication technology before making critical infrastructure investments.
FIND OUT HOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR OWN DEMONSTRATION ON OUR WEBSITE.
Millions of women may be unknowingly living with risk factors for heart, kidney and metabolic disease –interconnected conditions that together drive risk for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among women, according to experts with the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future
The interplay of heart, kidney and metabolic health is called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health. CKM health factors include blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, blood glucose (sugar) and kidney function. These factors are connected, so if something goes wrong in one area, it affects the others and can lead to CKM syndrome, which is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular
The American Heart Association’s new CKM health initiative, supported by founding sponsors Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim and champion sponsor DaVita, aims to increase awareness of the interconnectivity among heart, kidney and metabolic conditions and improve treatment for CKM syndrome.
Learn the five things your female patients need to know about CKM Health in the extended version of this article.
Web Analytics and HIPAA
How to Protect Your Site — and Your Users — From HIPAA Violations
Websites are built, for the most part, humans. They’re designed for human interactions and created to help communicate to those humans. Yet, the humans who interact with our websites are largely anonymous — that is, unless we provide some kind of user tracking, such as cookies or tracking pixels.
While we depend on this user tracking to help us create more personalized experiences, both through actual personalization and through ongoing improvements based on user traffic, those humans — real humans, with real lives — also have a right to not be tracked. Over the past several years, governments have been working to help protect those rights — including recent changes to how HIPAA-regulated agencies can collect web data.
A POLICY TO PROTECT AGAINST PERSONAL INFORMATION LEAKS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a bulletin clarifying how HIPAA-regulated agencies are allowed to make use of user-tracking technologies across the web and apps. Based on the guidelines, many popular free-service analytics systems, like Google Analytics and Facebook tracking pixels, can’t be used without violating a patient’s rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The main issue in question — and the reason for the more stringent policy — is that free-service analytics systems subsidize their use by collecting a user’s information. That information is then used to help build a broader profile of their behavior across multiple sites — beyond yours! —with a goal of providing more targeted advertising services to that user. (It goes beyond free-service analytics, too — even paid services may not provide service terms that meet HIPAA standards for anonymization, data retention, and storage security.)
This provides an obvious conflict of interest. . . .
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 11–12
8:00 am–5:00 pm Iowa Healthcare Leaders Association (IHLA) Fall Conference Location: Hilton Garden Inn, West Des Moines, Iowa
SEPTEMBER 19
8:00 am–4:00 pm
CNOS Occupational Medicine Symposium
Location: Holiday Inn Express, Dakota Dunes, SD
SEPTEMBER 24–26
8:00 am–5:00 pm 99th Annual SDAHO Convention Location: Sioux Falls, SD
OCTOBER 3
Avera Cancer Institute Oncology Symposium Location: The District Sioux Falls
OCTOBER 7–8
Iowa Hospital Association 96th Annual Meeting Location: Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, Des Moines, IA
OCTOBER 17
8:00 am–4:00 pm
CNOS Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Symposium Location: Holiday Inn Express, Dakota Dunes, SD
Digital Partners
BY ALEX STRAUSS
The Missing INGREDIENT
Avera
Tackles Food Insecurity at the Point of Care
THE ROUTINE SCREENING question seems simple enough: “Do you have concerns about your next meal?”
But for Avera Health, the answers have been eye-opening. A now-standard screening for social determinants of health has revealed a sobering reality about food insecurity in South Dakota communities—and sparked an innovative response that’s changing how patients receive both medical care and nutritional support.
“Over the last several years, as we’ve started doing more screening for social determinants of health, it’s become apparent that we were underestimating the food insecurity in our population,” says David Basel, MD, Avera’s population health officer and a primary care doctor in Harrisburg.
According to recent data, one in nine children and one in 12 South Dakota adults is sometimes unsure of where their next meal will come from. For healthcare providers trying to help patients manage chronic conditions or support healthy development, these statistics represent a fundamental challenge to effective care.
“From a purely medical standpoint, some of the chronic conditions we are most concerned about like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension that lead to morbidity and mortality, are tied to nutrition,” says Dr. Basel.
Meeting Patients Where They Are
Avera’s answer to the challenge has been to establish a simple clinic-based program for food distribution. The idea is to offer food to patients who need it right where they get their healthcare, in the hospital or clinic. No waiting. No travelling. No awkward visit to the community food bank. Just a bag (or bags, depending
on household size) of healthy food and information about other food resources in their community.
“We are asking patients to make healthy choices. But it’s really hard to meet those goals when you don’t have access to healthy food,” says Lindsay Weber, President and CEO of Avera St. Benedict Health Center in Parkston, one of the two pilot sites for the program. “We felt it was our responsibility to help people with this.”
While they are important, traditional food banks aren’t always able to bridge the gap between identifying need and providing immediate assistance.
“People can have problems accessing the local food pantry or food truck because they don’t have time, don’t know where it is or when it’s open, or they lack transportation,” says Dr. Basel. There’s also the matter of dignity: “People notice who pulls up outside the community food bank,” he says. “There can be a little bit of stigma to that.”
A recent Healthy Start grant focused on social determinants of health is helping to fund the program, which is administered in collaboration with Feeding South Dakota, Avera Research Institute, and Avera’s Community Partnerships program.
Tailored Solutions for Different Communities
The two pilot locations for the clinic-based food pantry program have taken slightly different approaches to the same goal. In Sioux Falls, the focus is on pediatric and obstetric patients at Plaza 1 on the Avera McKennan campus who are screened by care teams for food insecurity as part of routine care.
“ We are asking patients to make healthy choices. But it’s really hard to meet those goals when you don’t have access to healthy food,”
— Lindsay Weber
In the rural community of Parkston, all food-insecure patients are eligible for the bags, regardless of whether they visited the clinic, stayed in the hospital, or visited the emergency room.The whole exchange is designed to be simple and efficient.
“We decided, based on the volume of patients we expected to see, that we should get shelf-stable food only,” says Lacey McCormack, PhD, MPH, RD, Director of Rural Research at Avera Research Institute, and one of the leads on the project. Each bag contains about 15 pounds of food from all food groups, including shelf-stable milk and canned proteins.
When each week’s order of food arrives from Feeding South Dakota, community volunteers and Avera staff help with the unboxing and packing process, creating pre-assembled bags that clinic staff can distribute immediately when need is identified. “We don’t have our patients shopping around and we don’t have our clinic staff packing bags for patients on demand,” says McCormack.
Since launching in January, the Sioux Falls location has distributed more than 300 bags. Parkston, which began in November, has provided more than 50 bags, each supplemented with a $15 voucher for fresh produce, redeemable at the local grocery store.
Removing Barriers to Care
The clinic-based model leverages a crucial advantage in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural communities. “The hospital or clinic is an anchor destination for people in rural areas,” says Dr. Basel. “They figure out how to get to the clinic and
then they don’t also have to figure out how to get elsewhere to get food right away.”
The approach also reduces stigma while building on existing trust relationships. “A lot of people have noticed that if you have a pantry attached to a clinic, there is a lot less stigma,” says Basel. “You’re going there for your appointment anyway and you are just able to walk away with some food.”
Lindsay Weber says the trust between patients and their providers creates space for sensitive conversations about food insecurity that might not occur elsewhere, allowing patients to feel seen and supported.
Expanding the Model
The program’s early success has generated significant interest across the Avera system. “We have a list of clinic locations that have already reached out and said ‘We want to be next!’” says Dr. Basel.
Avera plans to add two additional clinics in the current fiscal year, with more planned for the future, creating a win for both patients and staff.
“Patients, of course, are grateful, but what we have heard from staff is that they are also excited to be able to hand something out to people after asking the question,” says McCormack. “It is frustrating to find out about food insecurity and then not have anything to give them. This program really supports Avera’s mission.”
You can help by making a contribution to the Avera Foundation or to Feeding South Dakota. You'll find links to both organizations on our website.
Lacey McCormack
Lindsay Weber
David Basel
News & Notes
AVERA
This year’s 37th annual Avera Race Against Cancer attracted a record-breaking 7,747 participants and raised a record $765,000 to benefit local cancer patients across the Upper Midwest. Events took place across the Avera system in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Mitchell, Pierre, Yankton, South Dakota, and Marshall, Minnesota. In Yankton, the race included the announcement of a $7 million fundraising campaign called ‘Building Hope Here’ to support a new Avera Cancer Institute location in the community.
Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center has received Heart Failure Advanced Certification from DNV, affirming excellence in heart failure diagnosis and treatment. The certification incorporates requirements from the 2022 AHA/ ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure and CMS Conditions of Participation for Hospitals.
Avera has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of 60 hospitals and health systems offering exceptional behavioral and psychiatric health services for 2024. The healthcare organization was selected for its commitment to improving mental and behavioral health through comprehensive programs and innovative service delivery. Avera operates 146 specialized inpatient beds serving senior, adult, adolescent and child populations, along with residential addiction care programs and a newly opened 24/7 behavioral health urgent care facility.
MONUMENT
Monument Health has started construction on a healthcare campus along the Interstate 90 corridor featuring a free-standing Emergency Department.
The one-story, 16,750 square-foot facility will include full laboratory services, X-ray services, a CT scanner, covered ambulance garage, one trauma room, eight emergency exam rooms, and two inpatient rooms. If necessary, a second story could accommodate an additional 20 inpatient rooms. The new campus should be done by next summer.
Monument Health, in collaboration with the Rapid City Public Library and the American Heart Association, has established the area's first free Community Heart Hub. The Heart Hub provides a dedicated space within the Library where adults can check their blood pressure, learn about blood pressure categories and access important health resources. The station features an automated blood pressure cuff and educational materials.
SANFORD
Sanford USD Medical Center has received multiple awards on the Women’s Choice 2025 Best Hospitals Report. The medical center was recognized in nine categories:
• Best for Bariatric Surgery
• Best for Patient Safety
• Best for Heart Care
• Best for Orthopedics
• Best Stroke Centers
• Best Comprehensive Breast Centers
• Best Mammogram Imaging Center
• Best for Women’s Services
• 100 Best for Patient Experience
The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals is a credential that identifies the nation’s best hospitals based on robust criteria that includes relevant clinical performance, patient satisfaction and appropriate accreditations.
Sanford Health has been named to Becker’s Healthcare 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare for the third consecutive year. The recognition acknowledges health systems committed to supporting teams through comprehensive benefits, professional growth opportunities, inclusive work environments, and work-life balance resources. Sanford has expanded benefits for employees, including an increased family building benefit, more compassionate leave, and a doubling of free mental health sessions. Physician engagement scores improved by 11 points in the last year, and turnover decreased by 3%.
Sanford USD Medical Center has been named to Money’s list of Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care in 2025, ranking them among the top 75 pediatric hospitals in the U.S. Money looked at facilities that have received either a four- or five-star quality rating from CMS which makes up 45% of their score. The ranking also evaluates facilities based on pediatric expertise level (45% of score) and any designations or accolades that point to the quality of the care (10% of score).
SEVERAL SANFORD LEADERS PRESENTED AT EVENTS IN MAY AND JUNE.
2025 MCKNIGHT’S WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARDS, CHICAGO
DEEANDRA SANDGREN, chief nursing officer for Good Samaritan, took part in a panel discussion on medication management evolution. Sandgren is a 2025 Hall of Honor recipient.
AIMEE MIDDLETON, chief operating officer at Good Sam and 2023 Hall of Honor inductee, joined a panel on technology strategies for senior care.
REUTERS DIGITAL HEALTH SUMMIT,
NASHVILLE
JEREMY CAUWELS , chief medical officer at Sanford Health, joined a keynote discussion on telemedicine and ambient AI in rural and underserved communities. he recently opened Sanford Virtual Care Center serves as a training ground for clinicians. Ninety percent of Sanford clinicians using AI documentation software reported higher job satisfaction.
THE ALLIANCE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH PLANS, CHICAGO
TOMMY IBRAHIM , MD, executive vice president, president, and CEO of Sanford Health Plan, took part in a panel discussion on the health plan’s journey and growth in Medicare Advantage. In addition, Ibrahim was recently named to Modern Healthcare’s list of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for 2025.
SIOUXLAND
HEALTHCARE AI SUMMIT, MINNEAPOLIS
Sanford President and CEO BILL GASSEN took part in a fireside chat on how technology expands access to care, improves patient outcomes, and supports the healthcare workforce. Gassen also discussed strategic partnerships, research, and responsible AI adoption for sustainable rural health care.
Sanford Health patients can now register as organ, eye and tissue donors through MyChart. Epic and Donate Life America collaborated to offer a seamless way for patients to add themselves to the National Donate Life Registry. Their donor registration status travels with patients if they relocate, similar to medical records in Epic. Sanford is one of the first health systems in the country to provide the simple registration option.
The June E. Nylen Cancer Center has received accreditation from the American Society for Radiation Oncology APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence. JENCC is the first cancer center in Iowa and Nebraska to receive this APEx accreditation from ASTRO, the largest radiation oncology society in the world. APEx is a voluntary, objective, and rigorous multi-step process evaluating radiation oncology practices using consensus-based standards. The accreditation is effective until April 2029. More than 400 U.S. facilities have earned APEx accreditation.
UnityPoint Health has been recognized as one of the 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare for 2025 by Becker’s Healthcare for the fourth consecutive year. The organization stands out as a top-tier employer devoted to supporting teams holistically through wellness programs, community involvement opportunities and a culture that values balance and meaningful connection. UnityPoint Health provides care across Iowa, western Illinois and southern Wisconsin, and is one of only two health systems with headquarters in Iowa recognized this year.
UnityPoint Health has signed a letter of intent to acquire MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center and its facilities, including the hospital, physician practices, and home care services. MercyOne CEO Bob Ritz says the acquisition reflects the organizations’ shared commitment to preserve and enhance access to high-quality healthcare for residents of Sioux City and surrounding communities. As outlined in the letter of intent, MercyOne would transfer all entities including MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, its medical group and home care services. The acquisition is expected to be completed this summer, pending closing conditions.
WELCOME
Daniel Diaz-Aguilar, MD Neurosurgery
We’re proud to welcome Dr. Daniel Diaz-Aguilar, MD, board-certified neurosurgeon, to our expert team at CNOS.
Dr. Diaz-Aguilar will begin seeing patients starting July 14th at our Siouxland clinics and will also be available at our satellite clinic in Le Mars at Floyd Valley Hospital beginning in August.
With advanced training in neurosurgery, Dr. Diaz-Aguilar is committed to delivering compassionate, leading-edge care for patients facing complex spine and brain conditions.
Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint and Sports Surgeons, in collaboration with Spencer Hospital, has completed over 1,500 knee and hip replacement surgeries with the Mako Robotic Arm. The Mako system was acquired with support from the Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation in 2022. It has changed the landscape of joint replacement procedures by enhancing precision, improving patient outcomes, and speeding up recovery. Spencer Hospital offers a Total Joint Replacement Class led by Rehabilitative Professionals and expert physical therapy services to support patients undergoing total joint replacement.
INDEPENDENTS
Brookings Health will participate in Mission: Lifeline Stroke, a statewide initiative of the American Heart Association to strengthen the full spectrum of stroke care across South Dakota. The initiative connects all components of acute stroke care into an integrated system that reinforces evidence-based guidelines to timely and effectively treat stroke patients. Brookings Health outperforms both state and national averages for brain scan results within 45 minutes of emergency department arrival. Stroke is a leading cause of death in South Dakota.
Emergency Nurses Jennifer Hauswedell, RN, and Emily Doremus, RN, care for a patient in Brookings Health System’s emergency department.
OTHER
Alex Ammann is the new Director of Patient Access at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. Ammann will lead hospital and clinic patient access services, including financial clearance, admitting, reception, and scheduling. Ammann earned a BS in Arts and Sciences from SDSU and serves on the Board of Directors for the Watertown Area Community Foundation. She most recently served as Store Director at Target in Watertown.
The South Dakota State Medical Association has installed Dr. Keith Hansen of Sioux Falls as its 144th president during the organization’s annual meeting. Dr. Hansen, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at Sanford Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Clinic and chair of the USD Sanford School of Medicine’s OB/GYN Department, has served the association since 1998 and currently edits the organization’s medical journal, South Dakota Medicine.
AWARD RECIPIENTS RECOGNIZED
Distinguished Service Award: Dr. William Fuller, Sioux Falls
Outstanding Young Physician Award: Dr. Matthew Schaffer, DO, Mobridge
Community Service Award: Dr. Jacob Quail, Vermillion
Media Award: Sheila Agee, Sioux Falls, for contributions to South Dakota Medicine
Young at Heart Award: Dr. Roy Mortinsen, Vermillion
AMA Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Mary Carpenter, Winner
Copic Humanitarian Award: Dr. Margaret Becker, Spearfish, with $10,000 donation designated to Good Shepherd Clinic
The association has also recognized eight physicians with 50-Year Awards for their half-century of medical practice contributions in South Dakota.
❱ Intrigued by something you’ve read here? Want to go deeper? Read the full versions of these and other recent news items on our website.
Alice Cruz Morales Degree: Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling and Prevention
Current Position: Clinical Coordinator/Director, White Buffalo Recovery Center
For Alice Cruz Morales, clinical coordinator and director at a Wyoming substance use treatment center, the USD School of Health Sciences Addiction Counseling and Prevention program represented not just an educational opportunity but hope for a future she thought she might never have.
As a young woman stuck in addiction herself, she had made some bad choices that threatened to derail her life plans, even after she got sober. But Morales says USD helped turn her challenges into a win and gave her the tools to help others raise themselves up.
“Getting accepted into the Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling and Prevention program at USD and hearing others talk about their own challenges was huge for me,” says Morales. “My past no longer holds me back like it used to and I owe a lot of that to USD.”
Before USD, Morales had had some experience with online learning and already held a BS in criminal justice and two associate degrees. But she says a lot had changed for the better in the ten years since her last online classes.
“It was a much more user-friendly platform than I had experienced in 2006,” she says. “And I really appreciated how engaged the teachers still were, especially since it was online. At USD, all the teachers seemed very invested in the development of their students.”
Now sober for more than 11 years, Morales has spent the last five years in charge of the clinical services at White Buffalo Recovery Center, which includes a residential facility, an outpatient clinic, a case manager, certified peer specialists, and others in a rural, underserved community.
“Not only did I deepen my knowledge of substance use, but USD really equipped me to lead that amount of staff,” says Morales. “I have teams and supervisors under me that help me with supervision and a lot of that comes from seeing the way the teachers led at USD. That has definitely helped me grow as a leader.”
This SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT brought to you by
SDSMA award recipients left to right: Jacob Quail, MD; Matthew Schaffer, DO; Margaret Becker, MD; Barbara Smith; Mary Carpenter, MD; William Fuller, MD; Roy Mortinsen, MD. Not pictured: Denise Hanisch, MD and Sheila Agee
BEYOND THE BORDER
In addition to MED Magazine in South Dakota, MED also curates and shares medical community news with 14,500+ digital subscribers in North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. We periodically print some of the most notable news items from our wider coverage area.
NORTH DAKOTA
JRMC Leads Region in Asthma Diagnosis Technology
NEBRASKA
JAMESTOWN, ND Jamestown Regional Medical Center is now offering fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) tests to help diagnose asthma quickly without the patient needing to travel.
Patients simply breathe into the small FeNO device steadily for about 10 seconds while the device measures the nitric oxide concentration in their exhaled breath. Nitric oxide levels can indicate the presence of allergic airway inflammation and give a more comprehensive assessment of asthma than conventional diagnostic methods. The test takes only a few minutes and is often paired with a pulmonary function test, also offered at JRMC.
After receiving questions and orders for FeNO testing, JRMC Respiratory Care Manager Nicole Brandvold’s interest spiked. Recognizing that no one in the region was meeting this need, she decided to act.
“Patients shouldn’t have to travel 90 miles for a test that takes less than five minutes to complete,” said Brandvold.
FROM MED ’S MULTI-STATE COVERAGE AREA
Regional West Leaders Earn Trauma Legacy Awards
SCOTTSBLUFF, NE—Regional West Trauma Medical Director Rommie Hughes, MD, and Trauma Program Manager Susan Wilson, RN, have each earned the Joseph Stothert, MD, PhD Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Trauma. Both also serve on the State Trauma Advisory Board.
Presented by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Legacy Award honors individuals who have demonstrated dedication to the development and ongoing support of the Nebraska Trauma System. The award recognizes distinguished careers and visionary leadership in trauma care.
Dr. Hughes received the award in 2022, recognized for his willingness to lead training opportunities and educate physicians and providers. He serves as State Trauma Region IV medical director and travels to hospitals to determine their qualifications for network inclusion.
“It’s an honor because Dr. Stothert was one of my mentors and he’s the one who started the state trauma
program,” said Dr. Hughes. “Being honored as an initial winner means a lot to me, not just personally, but it’s nice that they recognize what people in western Nebraska are doing.”
Wilson received the Legacy Award in March after over 30 years in trauma care. She has served in various roles including Wyoming interim state EMS director and state trauma program director before becoming Regional West’s trauma program manager.
Nebraska Medical Center Sets New Transplant Records in 2024
OMAHA, NE—More than 390 people started 2025 with healthy, new organs thanks to Nebraska Medical Center's record-breaking year. The hospital achieved unprecedented numbers across multiple transplant categories in 2024.
The center performed 188 kidney transplants, 150 liver transplants, 17 lung transplants, and 41 heart transplants, making it their fourth business year for hearts. Thirteen patients received multiple organs, while 59 transplants involved living donors through the hospital's robust kidney exchange program, which performs
Rommie Hughes, MD, FACS, RPVI, and Susan Wilson, RN, BSN
JRMC Respiratory Care Manager Nicole Brandvold administers FeNO test.
2024 was a record year for organ transplant at Nebraska Medical Center.
more kidney chains (series of transplants between strangers) than almost any hospital in the country.
Among the success stories is eleven -year-old Jailyn Mason from Houston, who received multiple organs including a kidney, liver, pancreas, small bowel, and colon in November. Her mother praised Nebraska Medicine’s exceptional care, saying the team “set the bar very high with their standard of care.”
Patients traveled from 18 states to receive transplants at Nebraska Medical Center in 2024. Dr. Alan Langnas, chief of transplantation surgery, attributes the hospital's success to its dedicated team of Nebraskans who prioritize patient care and form lasting relationships with families.
Nebraska Medicine is one of only 10 transplant programs nationwide that performs all six major organ transplants: heart, intestinal, kidney, liver, lung, and pancreas.
IOWA
UnityPoint Health K9 Officer to Receive Protective Vest
DES MOINES, IA—UnityPoint Health –Des Moines Public Safety Department will receive a bullet and stab protective vest for its K9 Officer, Skye, thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Skye’s vest will be embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love-Trained to Serve-Loyal Always.” The vest should arrive this summer.
UnityPoint Health–Des Moines started its K9 program in 2024. Skye, a black labrador retriever, is the first K9 officer for UnityPoint Health in Des Moines and has completed her training in explosive detection.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. ❖
❱ Interested in more news from MED ’s wider coverage area? Select your preferred regional newsletters on our website.
Orthopedic Institute is ready when you need a partner in care for any orthopedic injury or condition a patient may face. We prioritize collaborative relationships with our healthcare partners, all in the best interest of your patients’ long-term care and recovery.
Whether you’ve previously referred to us or not, we want to build a relationship with you, and become a trusted resource for the care your patients need — when they need it.
Skye, UnityPoint Health’s K9 Officer