Monument HEALTH Magazine, Issue 12, Fall 2023 by monumenthealthmagazine

HEALTH

COMMUNITY

Rodeo champions of all ages come together to celebrate what makes them unique.

MONUMENT Issue 12 Fall 2023

PRE DIABETES

Prediabetes is a serious but reversible condition.

More than 96 million Americans have pre-diabetes (that is 1 in 3 Americans). The majority of people with prediabetes do not know that they have it. Without lifestyle changes, prediabetes can lead to a person developing type 2 diabetes.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE OUTCOME

The first step to managing pre-diabetes and preventing diabetes is knowing your current level of risk of diabetes.

Take the diabetes health risk assessment by visiting, monument.health/diabetes.

TUESDAY NOV. 14 2-7 P.M.

GUEST SPEAKER 5:30 P.M.

THE MONUMENT RUSHMORE HALL

JOIN US FOR THE FIRST

MONUMENT HEALTH DIABETES HEALTH FAIR

Come learn about the different elements of diabetes. Visit vendor booths, enjoy kids activities and listen to informative speakers.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER:

Charlie Kimball

Retired Formula 1 driver and type 1 diabetic

A WELCOME FROM

Paulette Davidson

President and Chief Executive Officer, Monument Health

Have you ever wondered what connects people? What takes a street and makes it a neighborhood? How does a group of people become a circle of friends? What takes coworkers and transforms them into a team?

I believe it’s a sense of community, and that’s what you’ll find throughout this issue of Monument Health Magazine: the connections, kindness and compassion that creates community. In our cover story, you’ll see how individuals from our community come together to combine joy, western lifestyle and a fun-loving bunch of people at the Special Rodeo, where individuals of all ages with disabilities can enjoy the rodeo events we love in South Dakota.

You’ll also have a chance to meet tattoo artist

Emma Madsen, who is using her skills to help cancer survivors in the community feel more like themselves again, and the Casilangs, a family of award-winning caregivers who have brought a little bit of the culture of the Philippines to Monument Health.

Get to know Mahra and Isaac, a young couple from Wisconsin whose experience receiving E-cards at Rapid City Hospital illustrates that community isn’t only about proximity, but also caring. You can also read about the Monument Health Family Medicine Residency Clinic in Rapid City, which provides assistance beyond health care to North Rapid City while training up-and-coming family medicine physicians.

Check out a great article about the effects of loneliness on mental, emotional and physical health, as well as a story detailing how the electrophysiology program at Monument Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute became one of the first hospitals in the U.S. to perform an innovative new procedure to treat inappropriate sinus tachycardia, an uncommon form of heart arrhythmia. These physicians and the caregivers that work with them are ensuring that our community has gold-standard cardiac care.

Enjoy these stories and more in this issue of Monument Health Magazine. We’re grateful that we’re part of a community with you. If you enjoy our magazine, we encourage you to share your feedback, suggest stories and send your thoughts to us at magazine@monument.health.

Managing Editor

Melissa Haught

Editor

Stephany Chalberg

Senior Writer

Wade Ellett

Contributors

Karlee Baumann

Dan Daly

Jennessa Dempsey

Stephen Simpson

Bob Slocum

Anna Whetham

Art Director

Stacy Brozik

Layout

Terri Upward Photographer

Bob Slocum

©Monument Health Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this publication without the expressed consent of the publisher is prohibited. The information included in this publication is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing. Additional articles are available online at magazine. monument.health Monument Health Magazine is a free, quarterly publication distributed throughout the Black Hills. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

FALL 2023

Monument Health takes steps to protect physicians and caregivers from radiation

Many interventional procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory use X-Ray fluoroscopy, and although it provides significant diagnostic and therapeutic benefits, scatter radiation from the X-Ray beam may pose a safety hazard to cath lab personnel. Radiation exposure is one of the most dangerous occupational hazards for cath lab workers.

Now, cath lab personnel have additional protection from radiation exposure with a scatter radiation protection system called EggNest. This system reduces radiation exposure by up to 97 percent. EggNest works by adding built-in arm boards and shields around the procedure table that reduce radiation exposure for cath lab staff without compromising their workflow or patient access.

Transportation and lodging grants awarded to Monument Health

The American Cancer Society has awarded $40,000 in grants to the Monument Health Cancer Care Institute to help patients pay for transportation and lodging related to their care. Cancer patients and their caregivers can use the money to cover patient and caregiver expenses such as gasoline, bus fare, hotel rooms and temporary lodging during treatment.

The grants are available through March 31, 2024.

For more information, contact the Cancer Care Institute at 605-755-2300.

National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program recognizes Monument Health Rapid City Hospital

Monument Health Rapid City Hospital was recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a Bronze Level for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a national infant safe sleep organization.

Six doctors complete Family Medicine Residency

Monument Health announced that six physicians graduated from the Rapid City Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program on Friday, June 30.

Each year, the Family Medicine Residency Program accepts six medical school graduates into a three-year program of training in a variety of family medicine roles with an emphasis on rural health care. Beginning in 2024, the program will expand to eight residents in each new class. Dr. Urbaniak (back right) will be joining the Family Medicine Team at Monument Health Spearfish Clinic, North 10th St.

FALL 2023 // HEALTH NEWS // EXCELLENCE 4

Rapid City Hospital honored for advancing diversity, inclusion and health equity

The American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Institute for Diversity and Health Equity (IFDHE) announced that Monument Health Rapid City Hospital is being recognized as one of three health care systems to earn the 2023 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care (EOC) Award.

The AHA’s Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care award honors these hospitals and health systems for their outstanding efforts to advance equity of care by increasing awareness of the National Call to Action to Eliminate Health Care Disparities, for stated goals and milestones to eliminate health care disparities and for spreading lessons learned and progress toward health care equity and the promotion of diversity.

Monument Health Rapid City Hospital was selected as the Equity of Care, Small/Rural Hospital Excellence Award winner for demonstrating excellence in using quantitative and qualitative data to address disparities and improve patient health quality.

Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute recognized for chest pain treatment

For the 12th consecutive year, Monument Health has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain — MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023. Monument Health is one of only 262 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor. The award recognizes Monument Health’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients. It signifies that Monument Health has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

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

The second Golden Guitars Gala, a Monument Health Foundation fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network, raised more than $316,000 on June 10 at The Monument. One guitar, signed by the band Foreigner, attracted a winning bid of $29,000 during the gala’s live guitar auction.

The Golden Guitars Gala, attended by more than 250 people, featured live music by Kory and the Fireflies, information about the impact of CMN in our region and a live auction featuring 18 celebrity guitars, plus one surprise celebrity guitar signed by Willie Nelson.

HEALTH // FALL 2023 5

TOGETHER AGAIN

Amanda and Katie — reunited and striking up conversation

Written by Wade Ellett

In our spring 2021 issue, we introduced you to Katie Young, a young woman who was celebrating her college graduation at a bowling alley when her heart stopped beating. You also got to know Amanda Gunter, the Registered Nurse who — coincidentally — was in the same bowling alley, and who saved Katie’s life.

Unbeknownst to Katie, she had a condition called Long QT syndrome (LQTS),

which causes problems with the body’s electrical system that regulates heartbeat. Since our initial story about Katie came out, she met with a specialist at Mayo Clinic, who recommended a procedure called left cardiac sympathetic denervation. “This is where they go in and remove a portion of your left sympathetic nerve in your chest cavity,” Katie explained. This helps regulate heartbeat and minimizes the risk of future

WHERE ARE THEY NOW // COMMUNITY 6 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

Photos by Bob Slocum

To read the spring 2021 article featuring Katie and Amanda, scan the QR code.

arrhythmias. “It’s not a cure. The LQTS will always be there, but they’ve reduced the problem, so it’s much less concerning.”

In addition to Katie’s good health, she has completed a tattoo apprenticeship and has spent the last two years tattooing at Good Dominion Tattoo Company in Rapid City. “I’ve been really busy but it’s great,” she said. “It’s crazy, you know? I get to see all sorts of different people every single day, and I’m doing something different every day.”

Last year, she even had the opportunity to tattoo the nurse who saved her life. “I really wanted to commemorate our happenstance meeting, and just really wanted a piece of her artwork on my body,” Amanda said. “I had her design something that I had in mind, and she did it for me. We bonded over that, too.”

Amanda is still an RN at Rapid City Hospital. “I’m still working in Labor and Delivery, and I’m just enjoying spending time with my husband and two kids — we try to enjoy as much time outside as possible in the summer.”

Katie and Amanda do their best to stay in touch — they haven’t had the opportunity to get together lately, but the two share a connection that neither takes for granted. “I think about her all the time, and I’m so grateful that she’s doing well. She is an incredibly special person, and it’s wonderful seeing what she’s capable of,” Amanda said.

“I’m still always so grateful for her,” Katie

said. “I think about her all the time, how lucky I am that she was there — things could have gone very, very differently. Amanda is an amazing person, and I’m thankful that she’s part of my life.”

Katie recently had exciting news to share with Amanda — she and her boyfriend, Josh, are expecting a child.

“We are so excited! It’s one more reason I want to say thank you to Amanda. Without her, this wouldn’t have happened either,” Katie said.

For mothers with LQTS, the risk of cardiac events is reduced during pregnancy, but often increases during the first nine months following delivery. Katie and her family have planned for this and are working with specialists every step of the way to ensure she and her baby will be safe and healthy.

“There are definitely new challenges, but I think that’s true for every new mom,” Katie said. “Mine are just a little different. We’re doing everything we can to keep me and the baby safe, and we’re so excited to meet him or her.”

7 HEALTH // FALL 2023

INNOVATION // EXCELLENCE

Charan Mungara, M.D. (LEFT)

Levine,

are frequent partners in helping patients treat heart rhythm disorders, including a groundbreaking case earlier this year where they performed their specialties simultaneously.

A NEW RHYTHM

The Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) at Monument Health recently became one of the first hospitals in the U.S. to perform an innovative new procedure treating an uncommon form of heart arrhythmia.

The case required simultaneous collaboration between electrophysiology and cardiothoracic specialists to treat a patient suffering from inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST), a disorder characterized by extreme racing of the heart for no known reason. The condition predominantly affects young women, many of whom are in otherwise good health. So it was for the patient who sought treatment at HVI and was referred to Ethan Levine, D.O., FHRS, one of HVI’s resident electrophysiologists.

“The patient had come to us with very troubling symptoms that had been going on for a while,” Dr. Levine

8 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

The Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute’s electrophysiology program is setting a standard for exceptional patient care using state-of-the-art methods and technologies, with leading cardiologists at the helm. As a result, hearts across the region are beating right on time.

Story and Photos by Bob Slocum and Ethan D.O., FHRS,

said. “With IST the group of cells that govern heart rate are inappropriately overactive. It makes it so everything you do feels like running a marathon.”

As alarming as the symptoms are, IST can be challenging to diagnose in the first place. Those with the disorder may experience palpitations, general weakness, tremors and exercise intolerance.

“It's a very tough problem for a few reasons. One is that it's very often misdiagnosed as anxiety or something else,” Dr. Levine said. “So it can be very frustrating for the patients. And then you can also imagine that if you're not feeling well, you stop doing everything. Then you lose your quality of life and you get de-conditioned and depressed. All these things compound each other.”

Dr. Levine was aware of an ongoing study overseas that showed promise. It involved a tag-team approach with an electrophysiologist and a cardiothoracic surgeon, who would work together on the hybrid thoracoscopic ablation. He reached out to Charan Mungara, M.D., a Cardiothoracic Surgeon at HVI, and asked if he would like to collaborate on the procedure.

“This is an entirely new procedure for us, which works out because Dr. Mungara enjoys heart rhythm work and is very good at it,” Dr. Levine said.

Upon reviewing the study for the novel sinus node-sparing hybrid ablation procedure, Dr. Mungara was confident it could be done at Monument Health. The HVI team spoke with the AtriCure team running the study in Europe and Asia to coordinate a plan for the procedure. With HVI’s electrophysiology and cardiac surgery teams and the AtriCure team all on the same page, the procedure was scheduled.

“The company was great. They brought their whole team in from overseas and we got the case done, so I thought it was a win,” said Dr. Levine.

While HVI physicians have been performing convergent ablation procedures in which cardiovascular surgeons and electrophysiologists work in tandem to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib) in patients for some time, this procedure was unique. Both Drs. Mungara and Levine and their teams were in the operating room at the same time throughout the procedure, working to perform mapping and ablation simultaneously rather than 30 days apart.

“We’re one of the busiest atrial fibrillation places in the country, so the relationship that we have built with Dr. Mungara, that we built from so many convergent atrial fibrillation ablation cases, gave us confidence in his ability to do this.”

Using the relatively new Octaray multipolar mapping catheter device, of which Monument Health was the first hospital in South Dakota to have, Levine mapped the patient’s heart to create a three-dimensional electron atomic map, a computer model of the heart that plots the electrical signal in tens of thousands of places throughout the chambers of the heart.

“It’s kind of like a GPS, and after we get that model made we project it on a screen and then we can turn to the surgeons and say ‘that's where we want to be.’ It's like taking your EKG from 5,000 different spots.”

That is when Dr. Mungara and his team took the reins of the procedure. Mungara used catheters to reach the heart with a camera and his tools for performing acute actions to affect the sinus nerve. Once Mungara’s work was complete, Levine resumed mapping and recording rhythms, ensuring the desired result had been achieved.

“After he finished up, we went back in with our equipment and double checked that everything looked good and solid. If there were any gaps, anything that could have been missed from the outside, we would have taken care of it from the inside. When we finished that, we removed all of our equipment, and Dr. Mungara removed his and the patient was off to recovery.”

In terms of acute recovery, the patient has had several incisions and they’ll be sore and in the hospital for a short stay, during which time the initial or junctional rhythm of the heart may still be abnormal. As the patient prepares to go home, wearable heart monitors are used to ensure normal rhythm is coming back.

HEALTH // FALL 2023

Technological advances in Electrophysiology

As opposed to other areas of health care which are more mature, electrophysiology is a fast-moving field. Developments have exploded over the last 20 years, with technological advancements coming along at a rate as rapid as you see in consumer electronics, said Saverio Barbera, M.D., FACC, FHRS. Barbera is a Cardiac Electrophysiologist at HVI who has worked to build the EP program. And while astounding new technology sounds impressive, it’s more than just window dressing. It manifests in real, difference-making outcomes for those in our communities.

“It translates to real people getting care for these serious conditions, and being able to live their lives free from fear,” Barbera said. “As the technological advancements have come along, we’ve expanded the population of patients we are fixing. The safety factor has gone to a new level and so we’ll take these procedures on more. Indications and efficacy have expanded and improved. It’s really become a lot of fun.”

The EP program at HVI treats heart rhythm disorders, the most common of which is AFib. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. It affects between 2.7 and 6.1 million Americans. AFib often leads to heart-related complications and a fivefold increase in the risk for stroke.

“There are things that we do here that weren’t done five years ago, 10 years ago, and people don’t know,” Levine said. “People live with these conditions, and maybe they don’t have to. Maybe we can fix it. It’s exciting stuff.”

This dedication to patient care garnered Monument Health recognition from the American Heart Association the last two years running. In its first year participating in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-AFib Registry, the Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) earned the Silver Award, the highest possible award it could receive in its first-year time frame. The GWTG recognizes participating health care systems which use the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and outcomes. Monument Health began participating in the AFib Registry in January 2021 and it is already one of the AMA’s major contributors. Notably, HVI received the Gold award for 2023 based on achievement scores over the two-year span.

“We’re proud that we’ve been able to get that gold standard and show that we're doing something that's safe and effective,” Levine said. “It really comes from having a busy program that does quality work and gives us early access to new technology.”

The new QDOT MICRO technology allows for safe use of a higher power (90 watts vs. 20-40W) during ablation procedures. Compared to lower power ablation catheters, QDOT MICRO has a faster application time which reduces risk to surrounding heart tissue. In addition to being faster, less temperature fluctuation during ablation helps ensure a precise lesion formation.

OCTARAY

The OCTARAY mapping catheter reduces mapping time and provides better clarity in high-density maps across multiple arrhythmias in all four chambers of the heart. Mapping time is 56% shorter with OCTARAY compared to previous devices, in addition to faster acquisition rate.

Leadless pacemakers result in less invasive and shorter procedures and eliminate the need for replacing leads as well as the risk for infection in them. A new product from Abbott called the Aveir DR now has the potential to be combined with a second leadless pacemaker; one in the atrium and one in the ventricle. “It's a game changer,” said Levine. “And we've got the technology here again before just about anybody else in the area. So it’s been wonderful.”

INNOVATION // EXCELLENCE

10 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

QDOT MICRO AVEIR DR Written

parents, those opportunities are fleeting and bittersweet, as one day those moments will be gone.

But that’s not the case for the child care aides at the Monument Health Children’s Center. Here, each day is a new opportunity to rock a baby, watch a toddler take those first, uneasy steps and play hide-and-seek with spunky kids.

Samantha Chilstrom is a Child Care Aide at the Children’s Center. She works in the Tigger Room, surrounded by Pooh, Piglet and Roo, too. The youngest children of Monument Health’s physicians and caregivers spend their days in the infant to 3-year-old building under the loving and watchful eyes of child care aides.

As a growing employer in a growing community, Monument Health saw a need for more child care options. The Children’s Center was opened in 1981 as an affordable option to provide preschool and day care services to those working for Monument Health. Three buildings provide space for children of different ages, and both the day care and preschool are fully licensed.

“Our physicians and caregivers often make life and death decisions in their professional roles,” said Trina Allen, Vice President of Human Resources. “Having a safe, loving place for their children allows them to focus on delivering high-quality patient care — knowing we are providing love and care to their children.”

Child Care Aide, Monument Health Children's Center

11 HEALTH // FALL 2023

As babies grow and get older, you never know when it’s the last time they’ll need you to pick them up or rock them to sleep. For

by Stephany Chalberg Photos by Bob Slocum

“Any day spent with you is my favorite day.”

COMMUNITY // MY SPACE

- WINNIE THE POOH

Samantha Chilstrom

The Monument Health Children’s Center is a full-service day care and preschool available for the children of physicians and caregivers. Rapid City Children's Center child care programs are owned by Monument Health, and children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age are eligible to attend the day care programs.

Samantha has been watching kids grow at the Children’s Center for seven years — and she loves what she does.

“Simply put, my role is to provide nurturing care to young children and services that support the needs of working parents,” said Samantha. “Each day I come to work with the goal of giving the best care I can to help these little minds grow into bright and caring young boys and girls.”

As a mom of three boys, Samantha said one of the unexpected perks for her is girl time.

“I always say, ‘my girls,’ and ‘my girl time is at work,’” said Samantha as she received an extra hug from Zoey. “I might not get to pick out the cute outfits, but I do love my girls — and the boys too. Really they’re all great!”

Inside the classroom, there can be joyful giggles, and nervous cries — especially when a little one is first dropped off in the morning. For the approximately 65 babies and toddlers at the Children’s Center, they don’t have to wait long or go far for a hug. There is always a friendly face with a warm smile close by for children needing comfort. Each of the 18 caregivers knows the children by name and has built trust to console even the biggest tears.

“Samantha is just an awesome caregiver who cares deeply for these kids,” said Shelly Godkin, Child Care Supervisor. “You can see she uses her whole heart to care for our kids. She absolutely loves her job and loves to be here and take care of the kids every day.”

Samantha and Shelly also agree it’s hard to have a bad day when you get so many hugs.

“If I’m feeling a little down, or just need something to cheer me up, I have the best job in the world. I get the best hugs and snuggles from these kids. It’s hard to have a bad day when you see how much love these kids have to offer,” said Samantha.

There are bittersweet moments: each year Samantha and her Tigger team say goodbye to their little friends who have taken up quite a bit of space in their teachers’ hearts. When the children turn three they move up to a new building, with new friends and new child care aides to love and learn alongside.

“It’s difficult to see them leave,” Samantha said. “You really build a strong bond with these kids. I try to visit them in the big kid building — it’s hard to say good-bye.”

So instead of good-bye, it’s “TTFN! Ta-ta for now!”

12 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

- WINNIE THE POOH

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

- WINNIE THE POOH

FURRY, FEATHERED OR FRIENDLY

Monument Health physicians share the stories behind their unique pets.

People love their pets, and with good reason — research indicates that pets can improve our lives. Some studies have shown that our furry friends can decrease stress, improve mental health and help children with emotional and social skills. Not to mention, being responsible for another living creature teaches kids the importance of responsibility.

Pets offer unconditional love and provide companionship to those who care for them. Choosing to have a family dog, a lovable lizard or even an army of sea monkeys may bring a little extra work, but the rewards are well worth it.

13 HEALTH // FALL 2023 TRUST // ASK THE DOC

BOOMER, 9

Peter Ostler, M.D., Faculty Physician, Family Medicine Residency Clinic

I have six parrots: one Black-Capped Caique named Frida, one Sun Conure named Vincent, two Green-Cheeked Conures named Jacques and Rembrandt and two Lovebirds, Mater and Fezzik. Frida is the largest and by far my favorite. Her black cap makes it look like she has a unibrow and reminds us of the famous painter she is named after. She loves to play and is a clown — because she loves to play, she also loves to explore different people. She is typically very gentle, but she has a very strong beak. If she is not happy with what you are doing she can take a wicked bite out of your finger.

Our Sun Conure is named after Vincent van Gogh because his colors are very similar to the colors used in the famous Sunflowers paintings. He loves my wife the most and will call out to her from our aviary in the morning as soon as he hears her voice. He is also very special to us because although he was bred in captivity, his species is endangered and there are an estimated 1,000-2,500 mature individuals left in the wild. They are very popular in captivity and as such there is a robust population left in the world. Our Lutino Lovebird, Fezzik, is a strange one in that no matter the photo, his colors are so vibrant that it makes him look like he is photoshopped into the photo. His best friend is one of our Green-Cheeked conures named Jacques, and when out of their cages, they are never far apart.

Leslie Van Dyne, M.D., Trauma Surgeon

Boomer is a rescue from Columbus, Ohio and he just celebrated his ninth birthday on Labor Day. About five years ago he lost both of his eyes after contracting a fungal infection. He gets around just fine though. The setback didn’t slow him down at all! He is thriving in South Dakota and loves getting out and about. Boomer is one lucky pup, when he isn’t begging for — and getting — treats, he loves lounging on his couch, going for walks and ear scratches. We were lucky enough to have Boomer join my now husband and I as the flower dog in our wedding. He is a natural in the spotlight and it made a magical day even more memorable.

14 FALL 2023 // HEALTH ASK THE DOC // TRUST

Monument Health physicians are very familiar with the rewards of sharing their lives with pets, whether they’re furry, feathery or even scaly.

With more than 430 physicians employed at Monument Health, there are lots of pets to get to know — we asked our doctors to share the animals they’ve invited into their lives, and these are just a few of the creatures adopted into the extended Monument Health family.

Joy Falkenburg, M.D., Family Medicine

I have many animals at my farm, from domestic to livestock. It was hard to pick which ones to highlight.

The duck is Auggie. His mother abandoned the nest before he hatched and my daughter brought him in as he was breaking through the shell. She kept him under a light until he hatched and then he imprinted on us. We often use duck eggs in our baking as the slightly higher cholesterol levels make them nice for cooking.

The llamas are a mom and daughter pair that we received as a gift. They came to my farm after a patient was moving into town and couldn’t bring them in from her country farm. She wanted them to have a good life, and we benefit by having them protect our farm from coyotes and predators. We also have alpacas; they are smaller and produce fiber for gloves and hats.

Finally, this piglet belongs to my Mangalitsa pig, Natasha. She’s on her third set of piglets. My kids and I have farrowed the piglets together. We raise them for meat and they’re sold locally at The Shed at Dakota Greens-Custer Greenhouses and Nursery. When Natasha doesn’t produce enough milk, my husband helps bottle feed the piglets and even reads books to the mom when she’s heavily pregnant.

Ryan Gianatasio, M.D., Interventional Neurologist

I love introducing people to Gus, our bearded dragon! This guy is about three years old but only joined our family a little over a year ago. We adopted him from another family who could no longer care for him. Since then, he has gotten a lot bigger and has become just another member of the crew. He enjoys being with, on and around people and hanging out. For him, hanging out is just as comfortable on your shoulder as in his tank. His favorite foods are arugula, raspberries and mealworms. For the most part he’s pretty chill, but he definitely does not like baths in the sink.

15 HEALTH // FALL 2023

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Comfort and kindness are just a mouse click away.

When an accident left a young couple hospitalized far from home, friends and family showered them with kindness using Monument Health’s E-card program.

Written by Wade Ellett Photos by Bob Slocum

For most people, a hospital stay isn’t a great time in their life. It can be scary and uncomfortable, often coming as an unpleasant surprise. However, there are things that can make it a little better, including hearing from loved ones.

Just ask Mahra Wick and Isaac Thompson.

Mahra and Isaac are a fun couple — they just seem to go together, like peanut butter and jelly. On break from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, the two decided to take a vacation

16 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

PATIENT STORY // COMMUNITY

Anyone can send an E-card to a patient by visiting monument. health/ecard. There, a card design can be selected and a personalized message included. You must know a patient’s name and room number to send an E-card.

Available locations:

• Custer Hospital or Assisted Living

• Lead-Deadwood Hospital

• Orthopedic & Specialty Hospital (Rapid City)

• Rapid City Hospital

• Spearfish Hospital

• Sturgis Hospital or Care Center

together, visiting three National Parks — Rocky Mountain, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. They bring out good humor in one another, and conversations tend to be cheerful when they’re in the room. That even includes their hospital rooms after a driver going 80 miles per hour in the wrong lane collided head on with their vehicle.

They both needed serious medical attention, especially Mahra, and Monument Health was able to provide that care. But stepping into their hospital rooms, you’d notice that they received more than clinical care — their walls were plastered with printed cards, part of an E-card program provided by Monument Health.

“At first, I didn’t even know this existed, and then we both started to get cards from my family and his family,” said Mahra. “People I’ve never met before sent me prayers and blessings on the cards. Some brought me to tears and others gave me a couple of laughs and smiles.”

“It has been mind-blowing. The cards really brightened my time here,” she added.

A silver lining

“The E-cards are something that came out of COVID-19,” said Pete McQuiston, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for Monument Health. “Everyone was coming together and trying to find ways to help our patients, and one thing that came up a lot is that patients couldn’t have visitors.”

Pete explained that developing the E-card program was an effort that involved a lot of stakeholders across the organization — IT who built out the process, Public Relations and Marketing who designed the cards and Food and Nutrition who delivered the cards with the patients’ meals.

The COVID-19 pandemic has passed, but the E-cards have stuck around. “It still gives friends and family members a way to stay in contact with their loved ones if they can’t come visit in person or live far away,” said Pete.

Since the pandemic ended, Guest Services at Rapid City Hospital has taken on the task of delivering cards to patients. For Judi O’Connell, the Manager of Guest Services,

Judi O'Connell Manager of Guest Services

“There is something a little bittersweet about my role — I’m always sorry that anyone needs to be in the hospital, but I’m grateful to do everything that we can to make their stay a little more pleasant. Whether that’s delivering an E-card or helping them be more comfortable. That’s what Guest Services is all about. We may not be able to help heal anyone in a clinical sense, but I believe we can help them feel better.”

17 HEALTH // FALL 2023

this is a highlight of her role. “It’s so awesome getting to take the cards to people,” she said. “You can see how it brightens their day.” Judi encourages as many folks as possible to send E-cards to patients that they know. “Sometimes people can’t come and visit as often as they’d like, or they just want a way to send someone a smile, and the E-cards are the perfect way to do that.”

Keeping in touch

Because Isaac and Mahra were on vacation, no one was nearby to visit them right away. To make matters worse, both their phones were lost in the accident, so friends and family members couldn’t reach out via text or social media. Instead, the two were flooded with E-cards.

“It completely made our day when we’d see Judi come in with a folder,” Isaac said with a chuckle. “She’d come in waving it, saying, ‘You got more!’ and it was a lot of fun. It was awesome, and really powerful. It made us both feel better knowing that people were thinking of us.”

Before long, they were locked in a fun-spirited competition — who would receive the most E-cards? “A couple of Isaac’s uncles started to send multiple cards with jokes on them,” Mahra said, “And my brother sent one that said, ‘I hear there’s a competition now, so tear it up!’”

A little piece of kindness

Not everyone gets into a competition over who gets the most E-cards, but many people are happy to receive them during their stay at Monument Health. “So many patients are excited to share the messages they receive, and I’m always happy when they tell me what people have written. It’s a little piece of kindness that we get to share.” Judi said. “One woman received an E-card each day from her daughter, and it was so meaningful to her. We’ve had patients receive cards from across the country, and even from all over the world. It’s incredible.”

Pete echoed this sentiment and said, “We don’t have the same restrictions on visitors that initially led to the creation of this program, but it’s still a way to stay in contact. It’s great that this is so well used by the community and even by people from far away.”

“Morale is important, and I think there’s even an argument to be made about boosting patient satisfaction, improving recovery times and maybe even improving length of stay times,” Pete added.

Isaac and Mahra agreed. “Just getting these cards from everyone, it made us feel a whole lot better about our situation. It’s powerful,” said Isaac.

“I wish this was a common thing. I wish that everyone got these because they really did brighten our time in the hospital and made us forget for a few moments that we got in this accident,” added Mahra. “We got to hear from so many different people. I know Isaac got a bunch of cards from my family members who he’s never met before, and I got them from his family members who I’ve never met before either. It’s like we got to interact and connect with these people. Even though it was unfortunate circumstances, it was really a great experience.”

Jennifer Hasvold, M.D. Hospitalist

“Being hospitalized for an acute illness is an almost universally stressful experience. For many of our patients, staying connected to their loved ones makes all the difference. It’s easy to feel a sense of despair and isolation during a hospital stay, and I really see patients light up when they talk about the important people in their life. We serve a very large geographic area and many of our patients have friends and family who are thinking of them but are unable to visit in person. Cards and E-cards are a wonderful way to show patients that they are cared for. Healing is about much more than medicine — even small reminders to stay positive can make a huge impact.”

18 PATIENT STORY // COMMUNITY FALL 2023 // HEALTH

Written by Dan Daly by Bob Slocum

A FAMILY OF CARE

For Lito and Lucita Casilang and their daughter Sandra Gruenig, Rapid City is very different from their native Philippines 7,500 miles away. The food, the culture, the weather — especially the weather — are different.

But what is not different is that hospital patients need to receive health care with skill and compassion. The family’s hard work and attention to detail has attracted the attention of patients and staff.

All three family members work at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital. Sandra is a Registered Nurse in the Float Pool. Lito is a Nurse Aide in the Progressive Care Unit. Lucita is a Nurse Aide in the Inpatient Oncology Unit.

EXCELLENCE // NURSE PROFILE

19 HEALTH // FALL 2023

Award-winning family develops strong bonds with patients.

Photos

In August 2021, Sandra received the hospital’s DAISY Award for RNs who go above and beyond in patient care. In January 2023, Lito received the TULIP Award honoring support staff who make a difference in the lives of patients and families. And Lucita received employee of the month honors in her oncology unit.

Sandra believes that the family’s awards could be due in part to the Philippines’ culture, which emphasizes extended family and care for others.

“We do not have nursing homes and assisted living in the Philippines. We take care of our families at home,” Sandra said. “And when you say family in the Philippines, you don’t mean just your mom and your dad. It’s your aunts, your nieces, your cousins.”

Marriage brought Sandra to Rapid City in 2015. Two years later, she began work as a nurse aide while attending nursing school. She graduated in 2020 and became an RN. Her class was the first group of new nurses to start their careers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After achieving citizenship, Sandra filed a petition to bring her parents to the United States. Neither had a health care background. Lucita had a small business in the Philippines, and Lito, who studied law in the Philippines, was working as a security officer and sometimes bodyguard at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Amman, Jordan.

“When I came here, I was thinking of a job maybe in security or cleaning. I did not think I would be employed as a nurse aide,” Lito said. He admits he was a little intimidated

by the idea of patient care at first. “As a security officer or a bodyguard, for example, you will just look around for a suspicious person. And that's it,” he said. “As a nurse aide, you will go into the room and take care of the patient.”

One of the patients who nominated Lito for the TULIP Award wrote: “I know when a person loves his job. Lito goes out of his way to clean and to ensure everything that needs to be done is taken care of.”

Lucita, who started work as a nurse aide in July 2022, said she also loves her job, even though it can be difficult working in inpatient oncology. Some of the hospital’s sickest patients are treated there. And she still is trying to adjust to South Dakota’s winters.

Two more members of the Casilang family, Sandra’s brother and sister, are still in the Philippines. Lucita said they hope to bring them to the United States as well.

NURSE PROFILE // EXCELLENCE 20 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

“I know when a person loves his job. Lito goes out of his way to clean and to ensure everything that needs to be done is taken care of.”

- TULIP AWARD NOMINATOR

MONUMENT HEALTH FOUNDATION IS PROUD

TO BE PART OF ON GIVING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023, people just like you who love South Dakota have an opportunity to support patient needs in the Black Hills region.

HOW TO GIVE

On November 28, scan the QR code or visit www.monument.health/dayofgiving.

You will be directed to our Day of Giving form. You may choose to give to our Monument Health's Greatest Need fund or another fund that’s close to your heart, such as: Children’s Miracle Network, Hospice Services, Cancer Care, and the Children’s or Spearfish Expansions.

AN EPIDEMIC OF

LONELINESS

Written by Stephen Simpson

In 1999, Britney Spears sang the words, “My loneliness is killing me…” Those lyrics weren’t meant to be taken literally, but Britney was ahead of her time — new evidence indicates that loneliness has an incredibly detrimental effect on our health.

But you don’t have to just take Britney’s word for it. Last spring, the Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Hallegere Murthy, released a bold statement: loneliness is a public health epidemic. In the 85-page document that accompanied this declaration, the surgeon general and his team cited research that made the eye-catching claim that chronic loneliness has the equivalent outcome on an individual's mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

It’s easy to understand how factors like obesity, smoking and contagious diseases are connected to matters of public health — their impacts are observable. Mental health ailments, on the other hand, tend to work less visibly and in more incremental ways. Smoking clearly causes emphysema, but can moods, feelings — whatever you’d like to label them — like loneliness really take years off our lives?

22 HEALTH & WELLNESS // EXCELLENCE FALL 2023 // HEALTH

Mental, emotional and physical health are all connected — so what happens to the mind and body when they’re faced with long periods of loneliness?

Joy Mueller, M.D.

Strong enough to ask for help

Joy Mueller, M.D., is a Family Medicine Physician at Monument Health Sturgis Clinic. For the last five years, she’s helped the people of Sturgis and other Northern Hills communities live healthier lives. Dr. Mueller has a deep understanding of how mental health can’t be ignored if individuals want to get the most out of their health. So, when she read that the surgeon general compared loneliness to smoking, she wasn’t surprised.

“What the surgeon general said is really important because he called out that our health is more than just our labs and our vitals,” Dr. Mueller said. “He really brought attention to the idea that there's so much more to ourselves — that the support and the people around us and how we choose to interact or not to interact with people around us is an important part of our health.”

Dr. Mueller said that she encourages her patients to not neglect their mental well-being, and that receiving support isn’t a luxury; it’s a critical component of their overall health. But, she said that this view of mental health as a necessity often clashes with some of her patients’ lifestyles. “In South Dakota most of my patients are self-reliant, hard-working, strong people. So asking for help or support can be challenging.”

Dr. Mueller pointed to her aging patients or patients who receive serious diagnoses like cancer as prime examples of individuals who have a strong potential to isolate because they don’t want to burden their loved ones. “We have a lot of conversations like this: ‘Your son, or your daughter or that nice lady who brought you last time seemed to really enjoy being here with you. Why don't we give her a call?’”

These sorts of conversations play a serious role in the overall health of a person — if someone is missing doctor’s appointments or can’t make it to the pharmacy or grocery store, their overall well-being is going to take a hit. And research has shown that isolation, as the surgeon general pointed out, can cause the systems of the body to deteriorate in measurable ways. That’s why Monument Health has invested in the mental health needs of their patients with the presence of caregivers like McKenzie Grim.

A non-negotiable

McKenzie Grim, CSW-PIP, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who practices alongside Dr. Mueller at the Sturgis Clinic. “People will often hear the term social work and assume case management or social services, but once you reach the master’s level, the focus is mostly psychotherapy, and that’s primarily my job description at the clinic,” she said.

McKenzie helps patients see a complete picture of wellness — that regular social interaction isn’t a nicety; it’s as important to our health as eating healthy or exercising. “Your physical and mental well-being is the core of your everyday life,” she said. “It is non-negotiable. Are you surviving, or are you living?”

Like Dr. Mueller, McKenzie wasn’t surprised when the surgeon general sounded the alarm about loneliness in the U.S. “I don't think the topic of loneliness is new, but COVID-19 ripped off the Band-Aid,” she said. “The surgeon general’s office has categorized it as an epidemic, but it has been around for at least the last five years. It can cause issues with blood pressure and BMI, as well as your mental health. However, all of these things are manageable.”

Major diagnoses like cancer usually receive an automatic referral to mental health professionals like McKenzie. “Usually the first time I meet with someone, I just let them know that I’m here for them; that I’m not going to force myself on them or judge them — that I’m just a part of their toolkit.” A complete picture of wellness must include an honest look at mental health. As McKenzie pointed out, it’s non-negotiable.

Dr. Mueller said of McKenzie, “She’s wonderful at her job, and we are so fortunate to have her in our community. I really think that’s one of the things that the surgeon general is getting at. How can we provide more mental health support for people?” Both McKenzie and Dr. Mueller appreciate that Monument Health has invested in treating both the physical and mental health of patients by having social workers, counselors and other mental health professionals readily available to patients.

McKenzie has said that loneliness doesn’t discriminate, and that anyone has the potential to suffer from isolation — including families. “Family time is so important, but being in a dual income household is more common than not,” McKenzie explained. “Daily schedules really help a family maintain continuity for everyone. Twenty minutes a day of quality time with your family has the potential to increase your overall well-being.”

Sometimes, finding opportunities to socialize can be difficult, especially in a rural setting.

McKenzie has a tip on building self-confidence and combating loneliness in rural South Dakota: “Small towns are really trying to encourage more community gatherings. Throughout the Black Hills we see opportunities to socialize are out there; I encourage everyone to search them out.”

HEALTH // FALL 2023

Family Medicine Physician

McKenzie Grim, CSW-PIP Licensed Clinical Social Worker

RODEO

COVER STORY // 24 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

FOR

Monument Health’s Special Rodeo brings an authentic rodeo experience to the Black Hills' special needs community.

is a celebration of inclusion which is gratifying for everyone involved.

When eight-year-old Rayne Rucker entered the Central States Fair on August 23 for Monument Health’s Special Rodeo, she knew just what she wanted to do: everything!

By the time Rayne was seated in the saddle of a practice bucking bull, she was no greenhorn. She had already ridden a horse, had her face painted, run a barrel race and cuddled with therapy animals. The one constant as she enjoyed the different stations was an exuberant smile and frequent gleeful giggles.

Waving one hand in the air and hanging onto the saddle with the other, Rayne beamed at her mother, Miranda. Rayne is a lot like any other third-grader, she just gets around differently. When she needed a hand or a boost she received one, but nothing was stopping her from getting all over the arena and enjoying the event to the fullest.

At Special Rodeo, no one is defined by their limitations. Participants are rodeo cowboys and cowgirls first and foremost. That’s been the mission behind the event since the start: rodeo is for everyone. Each person has a place here and everyone is a champion.

“It was so much fun,” Rayne exclaimed. “My favorite part was getting to pet the duck, named Cheese. My second-favorite part was the horses; actually all the animals!” Miranda said it is not always easy for Rayne growing up different from other kids. Special Rodeo is meant to provide an inclusive, supportive environment where all feel free to enjoy new experiences.

they do really well with her,” Miranda said. “She’s not different, she’s unique.”

About 100 participants with special needs – aged 5 to 80 – and 170 volunteers converged on the James Kjerstad Event Center, where western activities and fun galore awaited them. Participants were partnered with a “rodeo buddy” who showed them the different stations and cheered them on.

25 HEALTH // FALL 2023 ALL

Story and photos by Bob Slocum

The free event offered horseback rides on certified therapy horses from SunCatcher Therapeutic Riding Academy, stick horse barrel races, roping, a goat ribbon pull, miniature horses, face painting and other therapy animals to interact with. A sensory area was provided for contestants when they needed a break. Each participant received a t-shirt, a trophy belt buckle and lunch. The Special Rodeo is also held in January during the Black Hills Stock Show, in partnership with Rodeo Rapid City.

The success of the Special Rodeo hinges on a sincere mission of inclusion and respect. Among the key organizers are neighbors from the local farm and ranch community who create an authentic western atmosphere, where differences are not only accepted but embraced. Participants have an opportunity to experience the thrill of rodeo and a connection with animals that brings a distinct expression of fulfillment to faces throughout the arena. Kami Peri brought her daughter, Sayler, to Special Rodeo in the past. Although Sayler, 5, isn’t very verbal, she told her mother just how much fun she was having with a mile-wide smile.

“Seeing her shine in her moment and feel like a million bucks just made my heart explode,” Kami said. “We really loved that everything was geared towards her.”

Rhonda Fuhrer, Supervisor of Business Operations at Monument Health Belle Fourche Clinic, got the event started by bringing the idea to Anna Whetham, Community Relations Specialist at Monument Health. She had been involved in similar events and thought Monument Health would make an excellent partner for this rodeo. In just a short time, she said, interest in the event from participants and volunteers alike has exploded.

“It is only going to continue to grow,” Fuhrer said. “You can’t take part in this and not feel good about the impact it makes.”

Rhonda understands how meaningful and therapeutic these kinds of activities and access to animals can be. She lives on a small acreage and is mother to a 23-year-old special needs daughter, Morgan. Morgan rides horses at home with the help of a custom saddle, and

FALL 2023 // HEALTH 26 COVER STORY // EXCELLENCE

her family has long made modifications so that Morgan can be involved.

“It’s humbling. It can take some effort, but she’s made us better people,” she said.

The western spirit shines through when participants and volunteers meet in the arena, pairing together friends new and old. For a growing number of participants and volunteers, returning to the event each time is a chance to reconnect with their rodeo buddies. As they circulate through the stations, accommodations are made and encouragement given with the goal of giving each guest a great experience.

“Rodeo is for everybody, and this is a great event to show it,” said Glen Lammers, Black Hills State University Rodeo Coach. “I thought Monument Health did a great job with the events. The bull and the roping steers are equipment we would use to train with, so it’s the real deal.”

Lammers has brought members of his team multiple times to assist as rodeo buddies.

“What stands out is the enthusiasm and infectious positivity they bring,” Lammers said of the rodeo participants. “You can’t help but smile with them. We get more out of it than they do, probably.”

Amy Morrill, Nurse Clinician for Rapid City Hospital Pediatrics Unit, has helped volunteer along with her fellow pediatric nurses at previous events.

“It is an absolute blast,” Morrill said. “For the pediatrics team, kids are our jam. When we get to bring joy to kids outside the hospital, it’s like icing on the cake.”

Abounding support for the event proves just how much it has resonated with the intersecting communities which cooperate to make it possible. For the participants it is a chance to be celebrated, to feel included and empowered, and to experience the sport of rodeo in a way that is tailored just for them.

“We’re all unique but we can experience the same joy,” Fuhrer said.

HEALTH // FALL 2023 27

“It is only going to continue to grow. You can’t take part in this and not feel good about the impact it makes.”

RHONDA FUHRER Supervisor of Business Operations, Monument Health Belle Fourche Clinic

LITTLE TATTOOS, BIG IMPACT

Written by Wade Ellett by Bob Slocum

Emma Madsen’s fine line tattoos

Hang around a tattoo shop for a while and you’ll see all kinds of art pass through the door. Rose tattoos with a loved one’s name, cosmic planetscapes, geometric patterns and meaningful dates. Of course, every shop is different, and at Emma Madsen’s studio, Duende Ink, what you’ll find are graceful fine lines creating elegant designs.

“That’s what I’m most known for,” Emma said. “I do try to incorporate a wide variety of styles, and try to blend my style with what my clients want, but I’m usually known for the fine lines.”

That may be Emma’s signature style, but there's another technique that she’s grown passionate about — microblading. From a technical perspective, this differs from traditional tattooing, which uses a needle to inject the ink into the dermis, the second layer of the skin. Microblading uses a small blade to make fine, hairlike cuts in the top layer of skin, called the epidermis. “After the cuts are made, you gently stretch the skin and then add the pigment,” Emma explained.

are growing in popularity, but in addition to tattooing she’s become passionate about helping cancer survivors feel beautiful again.

PATIENT STORY // COMMUNITY 28 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

Photos

“It’s considered cosmetic tattooing, and is most commonly used to create or enhance the appearance of eyebrows.”

When it comes to tattooing, Emma is largely self-taught, but cosmetic tattooing like permanent makeup and microblading are specialized skills — after graduating esthetician school at the beginning of the year, she traveled to California for training to master them. Since then, microblading has become popular among her clients, and it's a service that Emma has decided to offer to cancer patients free of charge.

“I had one of my clients here and she works at Monument Health, and I brought up the idea of doing free eyebrows for cancer patients. She was excited and put me in touch with the people at the Cancer Care Institute,” Emma explained. “I told them what I wanted to do — the initial idea was to actually go to the hospital and do the microblading there, but we weren’t able to do that yet. Instead, we started with gift cards for free microblading.”

Meet Tina

“I had breast cancer in 2012, localized on the right side,” said Tina Kettner, one of Emma’s clients. Because of a family history, she opted for a preventative mastectomy paired with chemotherapy and has been cancer free since then. “In the process, I hardly lost any hair, but for some reason I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes.”

Tina was one of Emma’s first microblading clients, and the effects

have stretched far beyond simple cosmetics. “There are so many challenges when you’re going through cancer, and you can lose your identity with these changes inside and outside of you,” Tina said. “It made me feel more confident in myself when she did it — it made me feel like a woman again.”

“I think it’s incredible what Emma is doing, giving back to the community and cancer survivors. There are so many people affected by cancer, and this may seem like a minor thing, but it’s so impactful to us,” she added.

Caring for her community

Emma is aware of how much cancer can affect a family and a community. “I had a cousin who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021. She passed away at the age of 27. A family friend passed away last year from cervical cancer. Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer,” she said. Emma credits the experience of growing up in the small town of New Underwood for helping her see how connected people are. When you lose just a few people in a small town, she explained, you see how significant the

impact is on the whole community.

“People care about others in their community, and when someone is affected by cancer, we want to help,” Emma said. “This is something I can do. It’s easy for me, but it can be life changing for them — that makes it worthwhile.”

Tina added, “What she’s doing, it can give you hope. It’s a piece of the puzzle moving forward after you’ve overcome cancer. You’re able to look in the mirror and think, ‘this is great, here I am again.’ I can’t say how grateful I am for how Emma has helped me feel like myself again.”

Because chemotherapy weakens patients’ immune systems, they need to wait six weeks after their final treatment to get the procedure done, and then get their physician’s approval.

Emma is excited to continue to help cancer survivors feel like themselves again and hopes that soon she can work with the Monument Health Cancer Care Institute to provide microblading in the facility’s salon.

29 HEALTH // FALL 2023

MEDICINE MORE THAN

The Monument Health Family Medicine Residency Clinic in Rapid City was created nearly 30 years ago to address two challenges: a shortage of rural doctors and a need for care in underserved neighborhoods of North Rapid City. Today, the clinic continues to meet those needs, but it does so much more.

Written by Dan Daly Photos by Bob Slocum

In the early 1990s, two health care challenges were emerging in western South Dakota. First, the number of new family physicians practicing medicine in rural areas was not keeping up with demand. Second, the North Rapid City neighborhood was especially underserved.

Regional Health — now named Monument Health — devised a single solution that addressed both challenges. Its Family Medicine Residency Program provides new doctors with three years of residency training in family medicine. And the doctors work primarily at the Family Medicine Residency Clinic just off LaCrosse Street in the heart of North Rapid City.

The doctors work alongside experienced faculty physicians to hone their skills in obstetrics, pediatrics, emergency medicine, internal medicine, geriatrics and more. Most residents deliver more than 100 babies during their training, said Bobbie Schneller, D.O. She has been program director since 2017, and she too is a graduate of the program.

Each year the Family Medicine Residency Program accepts six new medical school graduates. Starting with the 2024 class, the program will expand to eight new doctors each year.

FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY CLINIC // COMMUNITY 30 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

Family Medicine, Rural Health

Since the first graduation in 1997, nearly 150 doctors have completed the program. Sixty-seven stayed in South Dakota, and many have remained with or returned to Monument Health.

Sports Medicine Specialist Hollan Harper, D.O., is a good example. A native of Washington state, he received a Doctor of Osteopathy degree in Pennsylvania. He applied for residency at a number of family medicine programs. He was accepted by Monument Health.

“I was completely unfamiliar with Rapid City before coming here for my Family Medicine training,” he said. “For three years I had the wonderful opportunity to train with some amazing individuals, and I became close friends with many of them. It was primarily friendships my family and I made and the community atmosphere that made us consider staying here in Rapid City.”

Monument Health offered Dr. Harper a sports medicine position at the new Monument Health Orthopedic and Specialty Hospital. After completing a fellowship in Sports Medicine in Texas, he returned to Rapid City in 2020.

The medical clinic provides a range of services for patients of all ages and income levels. The list includes obstetrics and newborn care, minor surgical and dermatology procedures, onsite laboratory and X-ray services, well-child visits, women’s care, vascular screenings, Medicare wellness visits and nursing home patient visits.

Nutrition Training

For Family Medicine residents, nutrition is part of the training. As an exercise, each resident must create a nutritious one-week meal plan for a hypothetical family of four — including a father with diabetes. And they have a budget of $150, the amount a family would receive in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

“It's very easy to say, ‘Well you need more fish, chicken and fresh fruit in your diet,’ but when they realize how little these patients have and how much these foods cost, it changes how they approach their patients,” said Bobbie Schneller, D.O., Director of the Family Medicine Residency.

Food Pantry

In low-income or rural communities, patients

Community Closet

When Jennifer Callahan, M.D., was a second-year resident she saw first-hand how medicine alone is not always enough. She was treating an expectant mother at the Monument Health Family Medicine Residency Clinic in Rapid City. The patient was living on just $300 a month and couldn’t afford baby clothes. Dr. Callahan bought baby clothes, delivered the baby and continued ongoing treatment of mother and child.

“When her baby outgrew the clothes, she brought them back so another mother could use them,” recalled Dr. Callahan, who is now on the Family Medicine Residency faculty. “It kind of snowballed from there.”

Today the Family Medicine Residency Program’s community closet features a wide range of clothing for patients and accepts donations from the public.

don’t always have access to fresh, healthy foods. They often end up subsisting on fast food or convenience store foods, both of which are high in fats and carbohydrates.

“We can give our patients all the medicine in the world and have these great health care plans. But if they can't afford it, it doesn't matter. They don't get healthy,” Dr. Schneller said. “And so we're trying to figure out how we can mitigate some of those circumstances for our patients.”

The program’s food pantry distributes about 2,000 pounds of food per month to 45 patients and their families, said Mary Beth McLellan, RN, who has been involved in the pantry since it began. In addition to food, the clinic provides cooking equipment that has been donated by community members.

Services provided at the Family Medicine

Residency Clinic:

• Annual exams

• Diabetic retinal screenings

• Laboratory services

• Medical imaging services

• Medicare wellness visits

• Minor surgical procedures, including vasectomies

• Newborn care and well-child visits

• Nursing home patient visits

• Obstetrics

• Primary care for the whole family

• Vascular screenings

• Women's care

Accepts most major insurance plans including Medicaid and Medicare.

31 HEALTH // FALL 2023

Mary Beth McLellan, RN Bobbie Schneller, D.O.

Robert Santa-Cruz, m.d.

Urologist, Rapid City

Monument Health urologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract problems involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra in both men and women. They also treat conditions involving the prostate and other reproductive organs in men. Urologists with Monument Health are members of the American College of Surgeons.

My Role

First and foremost, I am a urologist who provides care to my patients. I am also the director of the Monument Health Robotics Program, which gives me the opportunity to collaborate with different specialties such as neurosurgery, general surgery and pulmonary medicine — which also use robotics during surgery.

My Goal

We are building a world-class group of robotic surgeons who are on the cutting edge of medicine — right here in the Black Hills. It's important to me that surgeries go well, the outcomes are good and we don't have a lot of readmissions or patients having to return for more unplanned care. To accomplish this goal, we are continuously building our robotics program to utilize the best equipment.

My Passion

I have a special interest in urological cancer and am passionate about providing great cancer care. I love collaborating with my colleagues in different specialties, such as medical oncology and radiation oncology, to give patients the best outcome they can get. We have a chance to cure a lot of diseases as surgeons and it makes me happy to be able to do that. One way we have ensured those high-quality outcomes is by expanding the technology with a single port robotics system.

To learn more, visit monument.health/urology.

32 FALL 2023 // HEALTH

Monument Health has the first single port robotic surgical arm in use in South Dakota. The single port reduces the number of incisions needed to perform surgery and is clinically proven to reduce post-procedure pain. The single port allows surgeons more versatility, allowing them to work in smaller areas or in areas with existing scar tissue.

Advanced Practice Provider (APP) refers to physician assistants (PA-C), certified nurse practitioners (CNP) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA). Because of their advanced training, APPs can do many of the same things a physician does. Patients benefit from having both their physician and their APP working together on their care.

Monument Health Spearfish Hospital is one of two Accredited Comprehensive Centers in the state designated by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a national organization. This affirms that the hospital’s bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success.

I am a Nurse Practitioner in general surgery in Spearfish. I work primarily with Andrew VanOsdol, M.D., in our accredited Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence program. I am also fortunate to see patients for non-surgical weight loss using lifestyle changes and medications when needed.

My Goal

Keena Byrd-Moro, dnp

General Surgery, Spearfish

Bariatric surgery can be life-changing to patients who need it, but it isn’t a quick fix — it requires a dedicated approach and a team effort. Luckily for her patients, Keena Byrd-Moro, DNP, is happy to be part of the team.

My goal is to provide excellent care to my community. I strive to establish a trusting relationship with each patient and want them to feel positive self worth. We collaborate to develop an individualized plan of care to improve nutrition, activity, energy and sleep while decreasing stress load. I aim to support each patient’s journey toward future goals of improved health.

My Passion

I am passionate about preventative health and setting an attainable example of a healthy lifestyle for future generations. I personally love running. It helps me to find daily mental, physical and emotional balance. I enjoy supporting others as they find and pursue their activities that bring about sustainable joy and long-term health.

33 HEALTH // FALL 2023

A LIVING HISTORY

“When I went through my training, I was taught how to hand-develop the X-ray images,” Robert said.

He’s witnessed, firsthand, the transition from film images to automatic processors and now to the digital imaging used today.

“The nice thing for a rad tech, and the patient, is that you can see the images right away. You don’t have to process them,” Robert explained. “You know right away if you need to repeat an image, so the patient doesn't have to wait around to know if the images are ok or if you need to retake something.”

A LOOK INSIDE

Written by Stephany Chalberg by Bob Slocum

34 FALL 2023 // HEALTH MY SPACE // COMMUNITY

Radiologic Technologist Robert Schroeder has made a career of looking below the surface and — just as importantly — teaching the art of caring.

Photos

To learn about Monument Health incentive programs for radiology technologist and CT technologists, visit monument.health/careers.

From the outside looking in, it may look like Radiologic Technologist Robert Schroeder and his fellow caregivers have a straightforward job — creating high-quality X-ray images for physicians and their patients. But just like those X-ray images show, there’s a lot more under the surface. You just need the right tools to find what you’re looking for.

Some of the tools of the trade include curiosity, kindness and adaptability. “We never know what kind of a day we’re going to have until we leave,” explained Robert.

Perhaps it’s the ability and desire to learn and experience something new each day that has given Robert the drive to get to where he is. On July 1, 2023, Robert celebrated his 45-year anniversary working in medical imaging. An accomplishment like that doesn’t happen by chance.

“I’ve had various roles from staff technologist working nights to the Director of Medical Imaging Services. I still take X-rays, but I’m also certified to perform a CT scan,” said Robert, who is also the clinical preceptor for the Mitchell Technical College radiology students who rotate through Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street.

“He’s an amazing teacher, he knows how to break things down for each individual so that they learn what they need to, which helps them become better caregivers,” said Julie Rueppel, Radiologic Technologist.

Julie has known and worked with Robert for 24 years. Both have seen their share of change, progress and growth, within their own roles and the industry as a whole. She’s adamant that through everything she’s seen, one thing has been consistent: Robert’s role as a mentor and teacher.

“He has taught me patience with our students — to slow down and make sure they understand what we’re trying to teach them. Because ultimately, we want the students to stay here and work at Monument Health.”

Not only is Robert inspiring new X-ray techs as they begin their careers, he’s also raising a member of the next generation of caregivers as well.

“My son is finishing his fellowship training at Mayo Clinic as a Neuroradiologist,” he said. “Next year he will move back home and work at Dakota Radiology. I'm getting close to retiring, but I told him I would wait until he gets started so perhaps he will be reading my

images to care for his patients.”

Robert knows his career had an impact on the path his son chose. His ability to inspire others in this field means he can relax in his retirement, knowing there will be qualified and passionate caregivers to take over.

“I have been involved in the education of several technologists that are currently working for Monument Health.” Robert noted. “In fact, my current supervisor is actually a former student of mine.”

The future’s so bright, you need to wear X-ray glasses

After 32 years working at Monument Health, Robert may be thinking about retirement, but there’s still more he wants to do. Specifically, he wants to continue inspiring, educating and training the students that will take his place.

“This is a very interesting career path. It’s what you make of it, and it's totally up to you if you want to advance in the profession, because there are plenty of opportunities,” Robert said. “I tell my students, ‘when you’re done and you take your boards for general radiology, don't stop progressing.’ I encourage them to take the CT Registry, or learn ultrasound, whatever interests them. I really encourage them to get another advanced specialty so they can move into additional roles.”

Robert, Julie and their team of X-ray techs are happy to tell you the importance of their roles, because at the end of the day, they know the most important thing is that they’re helping to care for patients.

“We do so much more than push a button on an X-ray device,” Julie said. “We really drive patient care by helping the patients feel comfortable in whatever exam we’re doing. We help them understand the process of taking the X-ray.”

HEALTH // FALL 2023

Welcome our newest physicians

FAMILY MEDICINE

Tracey K. Tracy, m.d., is a Family Medicine Physician at Monument Health Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street. Dr. Tracy is board-certified in family medicine. She completed her residency at the Providence Milwaukie Family Residency and obtained her medical doctorate from Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, Ore. Dr. Tracy is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and being with her family and friends.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Sandeep P. Sohal, m.d., is an Infectious Disease Physician at Monument Health Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street. Dr. Sohal completed his infectious disease fellowship at Beaumont Royal Oak program in Royal Oak, Mich. He also completed his internal medicine residency at the Brooklyn Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Dr. Sohal specializes in patients with a variety of infection levels and his practice includes antibiotic therapy, HIV care and viral and bacterial infections. When he isn’t working with patients, Dr. Sohal enjoys hiking, watching Formula 1 Racing and finding the best brunch spots.

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Kenneth Anderson, d.o., is an Internal Medicine Physician at Monument Health Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street. Dr. Anderson completed his internal medicine residency at Valley Hospital Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Touro University, Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in Henderson, Nev. Dr. Anderson is a member of the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Internists. When he’s not working with patients, Dr. Anderson enjoys fishing, camping, paddle boarding, hiking and spending time at his children’s activities.

INTERVENTIONAL NEUROLOGY

Ryan Gianatasio, m.d., is an Interventional Neurologist at the Monument Health Neuroscience Center in Rapid City. Dr. Gianatasio completed his endovascular surgical neuroradiology fellowship at the Texas Stroke Institute in 2014. Before that, he completed his vascular neurology fellowship in 2012. Dr. Gianatasio holds a medical doctorate from St. George's University School of Medicine and did his neurology residency at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. When he isn’t working with patients, Dr. Gianatasio enjoys the outdoors with his young family.

NEUROSURGERY

Jennifer Kang, m d., is a Neurosurgeon at the Monument Health Neuroscience Center. Dr. Kang received her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in applied biomedical science/bioengineering and her Bachelor of Arts in biological basis of behavior, the physiology of neural systems, from the University of Pennsylvania. She then obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. She completed her Neurosurgery residency at the University of Colorado. Dr. Kang is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, AO Spine Society and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. She specializes in degenerative spine, spine trauma, treatment of spine pain, brain surgery and peripheral nerves. In her free time, Dr. Kang enjoys skiing, interior design and spending time with family and friends.

ONCOLOGY

Ghassan Al-Shbool, m.d., is an Oncologist at Monument Health Cancer Care Institute in Rapid City. He completed his fellowship in hematology and oncology from Saint Louis University in Missouri. He also completed his internal medicine residency at Washington Hospital Center and medical school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Al-Shbool specializes in blood disorders and oncology. When he isn’t working with patients, Dr. Al-Shbool enjoys hiking, reading, playing soccer and spending time with friends and family.

36 FALL 2023 // HEALTH NEW PHYSICIANS // EXCELLENCE

MONUMEN

T HE

ALTH TALEN T Has

$5 ADMISSION TICKET AND ONE VOTE TOWARDS THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD.

Come out for a fun evening during the Monument Health Has Talent competition. Local Talent Shows will be held across the Black Hills. Cheer on and vote for Monument Health caregivers as they put their talents on display for prizes and a chance to perform at the Board Dinner Finale in December.

All proceeds to benefit the Monument Health Foundation.

Local Talent Shows held at the following locations:

Northern Hills

Thurs., Oct. 12

6 - 8 p.m.

Matthew’s Opera House

Spearfish, SD

Southern Hills

Fri, Oct. 20

6 - 8 p.m.

The Custer Beacon Custer, SD

Rapid City

Tues., Oct. 17

6 - 8 p.m.

Performing Arts Center

Rapid City, SD

To purchase tickets: monument.health/talent or scan the QR Code.

We’re near you

ASSISTED LIVING

Monument Health

Assisted Living

432 North 10th Street

Custer, SD 57730

605-673-5588

AUDIOLOGY

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic

4150 5th Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-5700

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue

1445 North Avenue

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4170

BARIATRICS

Monument Health

Gillette Clinic

620 W Four-J Court

Gillette, WY 82716

307-682-1204

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue

1445 North Avenue Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4170

Monument Health

Rapid City Hospital

353 Fairmont Boulevard

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-5700

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Monument Health

Behavioral Health Center 915 Mountain View Road

Rapid City, SD 57702

605-755-7200

Monument Health Family Medicine

Residency Clinic

502 East Monroe Street Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-4060

Monument Health

Lead-Deadwood Clinic

71 Charles Street

Deadwood, SD 57732

605-717-6431

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue

1445 North Avenue

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4170

Monument Health

Sturgis Clinic

2140 Junction Avenue

Sturgis, SD 57785

605-720-2600

CANCER CARE

Monument Health

Cancer Care Institute

353 Fairmont Boulevard Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-2300

CARE CENTER

Monument Health

Sturgis Care Center 949 Harmon Street Sturgis, SD 57785 605-720-2400

DIABETES

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street 640 Flormann Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-3300

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North 10th Street

1420 North 10th Street Spearfish, SD 57783 605-717-8595

DIALYSIS

Monument Health

Dialysis Center

425 N Cambell Street, Suite 200 Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-6950

Monument Health

Dialysis Center

132 Yankee Street Spearfish, SD 57783 605-722-8110

DERMATOLOGY

Monument Health

Gillette Clinic

620 W Four-J Court Gillette, WY 82716 307-682-1204

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, 4150 5th Street 4150 5th Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-5700

Monument Health Dermatology

550 East Colorado Boulevard

Spearfish, SD 57783 605-717-8860

EAR, NOSE & THROAT

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, 4150 5th Street

4150 5th Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-5700

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue

1445 North Avenue

Spearfish, SD 57783 605-644-4170

ENDOCRINOLOGY

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street

640 Flormann Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-3300

Visiting Clinics: Belle Fourche, Custer, FMR, Hot Springs, Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, Sturgis

GASTROENTOROLOGY

Monument Health

Rapid City Hospital

353 Fairmont Boulevard

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-5700

GENERAL SURGERY

Monument Health

Gillette Clinic

620 W Four-J Court

Gillette, WY 82716

307-682-1204

Monument Health

Rapid City Hospital

353 Fairmont Boulevard Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-1000

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue

1445 North Avenue

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4170

HEART & VASCULAR

Monument Health

Gillette Clinic

620 W Four-J Court

Gillette, WY 82716

307-682-1204

Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute

353 Fairmont Boulevard

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-4300

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North 10th Street

1420 North 10th Street

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-717-8595

Visiting Clinics: Belle Fourche, Custer, Hot Springs, Lead-Deadwood, Sturgis

HOSPITALS

Monument Health

Custer Hospital

1220 Montgomery Street

Custer, SD 57730

605-673-9400

Monument Health

Lead-Deadwood Hospital

61 Charles Street

Deadwood, SD 57732

605-717-6000

Monument Health

Rapid City Hospital

353 Fairmont Boulevard

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-1000

Monument Health

Spearfish Hospital

1440 N Main Street

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4000

Monument Health

Sturgis Hospital

2140 Junction Avenue

Sturgis, SD 57785

605-720-2400

HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT STORES

Monument Health Home+

Home Medical Equipment

1800 N. Haines Avenue

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-9000

Monument Health Home+

Home Medical Equipment

911 East Colorado Boulevard

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-717-8930

HOSPICE CARE

Monument Health Home+

Home Health & Hospice

224 Elk Street Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-7710

Monument Health Home+

Home Health & Hospice

931 East Colorado Boulevard

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4444

Monument Health Home+ Hospice House

224 Elk Street Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-7710

IMAGING SERVICES

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street

640 Flormann Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-3300

Monument Health Custer Hospital

1220 Montgomery Street Custer, SD 57730 605-673-9400

Monument Health

Lead-Deadwood Hospital 61 Charles Street Deadwood, SD 57732 605-717-6000

Monument Health Rapid City Hospital

353 Fairmont Boulevard Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-1000

Monument Health

Spearfish Hospital

1440 N Main Street Spearfish, SD 57783 605-644-4000

Monument Health Sturgis Hospital 2140 Junction Avenue Sturgis, SD 57785 605-720-2400

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North 10th Street

1420 North 10th Street Spearfish, SD 57783 605-717-8595

Monument Health

Orthopedic & Specialty Hospital 1635 Caregiver Circle Rapid City, SD 57702 605-755-6100

Monument Health

Orthopedic and Sports Medicine

2479 East Colorado Boulevard Spearfish, SD 57783 605-644-4460

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Monument Health Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street

640 Flormann Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-3300

INFUSION SERVICES

Monument Health Infusion Services

2880 5th Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-7700

LAB SERVICES

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street 640 Flormann Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-3300

Monument Health Custer Hospital

1220 Montgomery Street Custer, SD 57730 605-673-9400

FALL 2023 // HEALTH 38 DIRECTORY // COMMUNITY

Please call your local clinic to schedule an appointment. Monument Health is also offering extended services through video and telephone visits with your provider.

Monument Health

Lead-Deadwood Hospital

61 Charles Street

Deadwood, SD 57732

605-717-6000

Monument Health

Rapid City Hospital

353 Fairmont Boulevard

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-1000

Monument Health

Spearfish Hospital

1440 N Main Street

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4000

Monument Health

Sturgis Hospital

2140 Junction Avenue

Sturgis, SD 57785

605-720-2400

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North 10th Street

1420 North 10th Street

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-717-8595

LIFESTYLE MEDICINE

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street

640 Flormann Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-3300

NEPHROLOGY

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street

640 Flormann Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-3300

NEUROLOGY

Monument Health

Neuroscience Center

677 Cathedral Drive Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-5000

NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

Monument Health

Neuroscience Center

677 Cathedral Drive Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-5000

NEUROSURGERY

Monument Health

Neuroscience Center

677 Cathedral Drive

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-5000

OB/GYN

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue

1445 North Avenue

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4170

Visiting Clinic: Sturgis

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE

Monument Health

Rapid City Urgent Care, Lacrosse Street

1303 N Lacrosse Street Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-2273

Monument Health

Rapid City Urgent Care, Jackson Boulevard

2116 Jackson Boulevard Rapid City, SD 57702

605-755-2273

Visiting Clinic: Spearfish

ORTHOPEDICS

Monument Health

Gillette Clinic

620 W Four-J Court

Gillette, WY 82716 307-682-1204

Monument Health

Orthopedic & Specialty Hospital

1635 Caregiver Circle Rapid City, SD 57702

605-755-6100

Monument Health

Orthopedic and Sports Medicine

2479 East Colorado Boulevard Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4460

Visiting Clinics: Custer, Sturgis, Gillette PHARMACIES

Monument Health Home+ Pharmacy

353 Fairmont Boulevard Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-8184

Monument Health Home+

Pharmacy

1420 North 10th Street, Suite 1

Spearfish, SD 57783 605-717-8741

Monument Health Home+

Specialty Pharmacy

2006 Mount Rushmore Road, Suite 2 Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-3065

PLASTIC SURGERY

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, 4150 5th Street

4150 5th Street Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-5700

PODIATRY

Monument Health

Orthopedic & Specialty Hospital

1635 Caregiver Circle

Rapid City, SD 57702

605-755-6100

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North 10th Street

1420 North 10th Street Spearfish, SD 57783 605-717-8595

PRIMARY CARE CLINICS

Monument Health

Belle Fourche Clinic

2200 13th Avenue

Belle Fourche, SD 57717

605-723-8970

Monument Health

Buffalo Clinic

209 Ramsland Street Buffalo, SD 57720

605-375-3744

Monument Health

Custer Clinic

1220 Montgomery Street Custer, SD 57730

605-673-9400

Monument Health

Family Medicine

Residency Clinic

502 East Monroe Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-4060

Monument Health

Hill City Clinic

238 Elm Street Hill City, SD 57745

605-574-4470

Monument Health

Hot Springs Clinic

1100 Highway 71 South, Suite 101 Hot Springs, SD 57747

605-745-8050

Monument Health

Lead-Deadwood Clinic

71 Charles Street

Deadwood, SD 57732

605-717-6431

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street

640 Flormann Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-3300

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North 10th Street

1420 North 10th Street

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-717-8595

Monument Health

Sturgis Clinic

2140 Junction Avenue Sturgis, SD 57785

605-720-2600

Monument Health

Wall Clinic

112 7th Avenue Wall, SD 57790

605-279-2149

PULMONOLOGY

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street

640 Flormann Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-3300

RHEUMATOLOGY

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street

640 Flormann Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-3300

SLEEP CENTERS

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic,

2929 5th Street

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-4000

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue

1445 North Avenue

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-644-4170

SURGERY CENTER

Same Day Surgery Center

651 Cathedral Drive

Rapid City, SD 57701

Monument Health Surgery Center

1316 North 10th Street

Spearfish, SD 57783

605-642-3113

THERAPIES –

PT, OT, SPEECH

Monument Health

Inpatient

Rehabilitation Center

1050 Fairmont Boulevard, Suite A100

Rapid City, SD 57701

605-755-1230

Monument Health

Rehabilitation

2200 13th Avenue Belle Fourche, SD 57717

605-723-8961

Monument Health Rehabilitation

1220 Montgomery Street Custer, SD 57730

605-673-9400

Monument Health

Rehabilitation

61 Charles Street

Deadwood, SD 57732 605-717-6000

Monument Health

Rehabilitation

2140 Junction Avenue

Sturgis, SD 57785 605-720-2400

Monument Health

Rehabilitation

2449 East Colorado

Boulevard

Spearfish, SD 57783 605-644-4370

Monument Health

Orthopedic & Specialty Hospital

1635 Caregiver Circle

Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-6100

TRAVEL MEDICINE

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, Flormann Street 640 Flormann Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-3300

Monument Health Spearfish Clinic North 10th Street 1420 North 10th Street Spearfish, SD 57783 605-717-8595

URGENT CARE CLINICS

Monument Health Rapid City Urgent Care, Lacrosse Street 1303 N Lacrosse Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-2273

Monument Health Rapid City Urgent Care, Jackson Boulevard 2116 Jackson Boulevard Rapid City, SD 57702 605-755-2273

Monument Health

Lead-Deadwood Urgent Care Services 71 Charles Street Deadwood, SD 57732 605-717-6431

Monument Health Spearfish Urgent Care 1420 North 10th Street Spearfish, SD 57783 605-717-8595

Monument Health

Sturgis Urgent Care Services

2140 Junction Avenue Sturgis, SD 57785 605-720-2600

Monument Health Custer Urgent Care Services 1220 Montgomery Street Custer, SD 57730 605-673-9400

UROLOGY

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, 2805 5th Street 2805 5th Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-5700

WOUND & OSTOMY CARE

Monument Health

Rapid City Clinic, 2929 5th Street 2929 5th Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-755-1309

Monument Health

Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue 1445 North Avenue Spearfish, SD 57783 605-644-4170

HEALTH // FALL 2023 39

Oct. 6-8

Monument Health

Health Screenings at Black Hills Pow Wow

Oct. 7

Hope in the Hills –Black Hills Road Trip of Hope

Oct. 12, 17, 20

Monument Health Has Talent

Oct. 13

Monument Health

Nov. 2

Dermatology & Plastic Surgery

Fall Open House

Nov. 14

Diabetes Community Health Fair

Nov. 15 ExtraLife

Dec. 12-16

Monument Health

Health Screenings at Lakota National Invitational

FALL 2023 // HEALTH 40

SPEARFISH | CUSTER | RAPID CITY

Works Gala RAPID CITY CALENDAR // COMMUNITY

6-8:30 P.M.

RAPID CITY

HILL CITY

RAPID CITY

2-7 P.M.

RAPID CITY | THE MONUMENT, RUSHMORE HALL

RAPID CITY

PRIMARY

all busy — kids, school, work, hobbies, to-do lists. With same-day appointments, you can still take care of your health with a Primary Care Physician without having to wait. SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS To schedule your same-day appointment with a Primary Care Physician, call 605-755-3300.

CARE NOW We’re

General information 605-755-1000 SUBSCRIBE CONTACT MyChart For assistance with MyChart, please call the MyChart patient portal hotline at 605-755-9890 or email mycharthelp@monument.health At magazine.monument.health

Monument HEALTH Magazine, Issue 12, Fall 2023

HEALTH

COMMUNITY

PRE DIABETES

Prediabetes is a serious but reversible condition.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE OUTCOME

JOIN US FOR THE FIRST

MONUMENT HEALTH DIABETES HEALTH FAIR

A WELCOME FROM

Paulette Davidson

CONTENTS

Monument Health takes steps to protect physicians and caregivers from radiation

Transportation and lodging grants awarded to Monument Health

National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program recognizes Monument Health Rapid City Hospital

Six doctors complete Family Medicine Residency

Rapid City Hospital honored for advancing diversity, inclusion and health equity

Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute recognized for chest pain treatment

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

TOGETHER AGAIN

Amanda and Katie — reunited and striking up conversation

INNOVATION // EXCELLENCE

A NEW RHYTHM

Technological advances in Electrophysiology

OCTARAY

FURRY, FEATHERED OR FRIENDLY

Peter Ostler, M.D., Faculty Physician, Family Medicine Residency Clinic

Leslie Van Dyne, M.D., Trauma Surgeon

Joy Falkenburg, M.D., Family Medicine

Ryan Gianatasio, M.D., Interventional Neurologist

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

A silver lining

Keeping in touch

A FAMILY OF CARE

MONUMENT HEALTH FOUNDATION IS PROUD

HOW TO GIVE

AN EPIDEMIC OF

LONELINESS

A non-negotiable

RODEO

FOR

LITTLE TATTOOS, BIG IMPACT

Emma Madsen’s fine line tattoos

Caring for her community

MEDICINE MORE THAN

Family Medicine, Rural Health

Nutrition Training

Food Pantry

Community Closet

Robert Santa-Cruz, m.d.

My Role

Keena Byrd-Moro, dnp

A LIVING HISTORY

A LOOK INSIDE

Welcome our newest physicians

FAMILY MEDICINE

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

INTERNAL MEDICINE

INTERVENTIONAL NEUROLOGY

NEUROSURGERY

ONCOLOGY

MONUMEN

T HE

ALTH TALEN T Has

$5 ADMISSION TICKET AND ONE VOTE TOWARDS THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD.

We’re near you