med-midwest medical edition-june 2010

Table of ContentsJune Volume 1, Issue 2

Publisher’s/Editor’s Page

Cover Story

Opening New DoorsSioux Falls Surgical Hospital

has come a long way since its

humble beginnings as a small

outpatient surgical center in

1985. The hospital has grown

to offer a full range of inpatient

and outpatient procedures and

has taken its place among the

surgical options in Sioux Falls, with impressive clinical outcomes,

low nurse-to-patient ratios, and high patient satisfaction scores. We

talked to some of the hospital’s physician-owners for this month’s

MED Cover Feature.

Pediatric Residency Now Available in Sioux Falls

Sanford Verified as Pediatric Trauma Center

AHA Grant to ImproveSTEMI Outcomes in SD

Grape Expectations: The Wines of SummerBy Heather Taylor Boysen

Featured Story

Joint Camp at CNOSCNOS in Dakota Dunes finds patient education is key to better outcomes in joint replacement surgery.

Sioux Falls Company Uses Text Messaging to Support Healthcare

Autism Spectrum Disorders Program at Center for Disabilities By Shelly Grinde

News & Notes

PublisherSteffanie Liston

Editor in ChiefAlex Strauss

Magazine Layout & Web Design5j Design - Sioux Falls, SDCreative Director - Jake Peterson

Cover & Logo DesignDarrel Fickbohm

Contributing WritersMary Olinger,Charlotte Hofer, Dave Hewett,

Heather Boysen, Shelly Grinde

Advisory Board:John Berdahl, MDMary Berg, MDMichelle L. Daffer, MDJames M. Keegan, MD, Timothy Metz, MDPatty Peters, MDJuliann Reiland-Smith, MD Luis A. Rojas, MDDaniel W. Todd, MD

Published by:MED Magazine, LLCSioux Falls, South Dakota

Staff

Steffanie Liston, Publisher [email protected]

Alex Strauss, [email protected]

Fax: 605-271-5486

Visit us on the web at www.MidwestMedicalEdition.com

Mailing Address:PO Box 90646Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Contact Us

Reproduction or use of the contents of this magazine is prohibited.

©2010 Midwest Medical Edition, LLC

Midwest Medical Edition (MED Magazine) is committed to bringing our readership of 3500 South Dakota area physicians and healthcare professionals the very latest in regional medical news and information to enhance their lives and practices. MED is published 8 times a year by MED Magazine, LLC and strives to publish only accurate informa-tion, however Midwest Medical Edition, LLC cannot be held respon-sible for consequences resulting from errors or omissions. All material in this magazine is the property of MED Magazine, LLC and cannot be reproduced without permission of the publisher. We welcome article proposals, story suggestions and unsolicited articles and will consider all submissions for publication. Please send your thoughts, ideas and submissions to [email protected]. Magazine feedback and advertising and marketing inquiries, subscription requests and ad-dress changes can be sent to [email protected].

MED is produced eight times a year by MED Magazine, LLC which owns the rights to all content.

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Midwest Medical Edition - June 20104

Letter from the Publisher

Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the second issue of MED, the area’s only

locally-produced publication for, by and about our

medical community. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback

we got about our first issue. And a special thanks to all the

advertisers who have put their faith in this magazine to help

bring it to you, free of charge. We hope that you will use

their services and thank them for making this possible.

I have been so busy during the last two months, representing MED and

meeting people at many local medical events. We started with the SDMGMA

Conference in Sioux Fall, SD. It was great to meet so many new people and learn

about the progress happening in area clinics and hospitals. I also spent time in Rapid

City to get a feel for new things happening in that area of our readership. (You’ll see

some of what I learned in our next issue!) It was great to have a chance to meet so

many doctors and learn about the new West River initiatives.

I would like to thank the Sole Sisters team from North Central Heart and Avera Heart Hospital for letting me be

on their team for Avera’s Race Against Breast Cancer that was held on Saturday, May 8th in Sioux Falls. This was a great

time and it was fun to be included.

Finally, a heartfelt thanks to all of you who are reading this. We do what we do because of you and we want

to make sure we are providing you with a communication tool you will enjoy, respect, and use. We welcome your

suggestions and contributions any time.

Until next month,

Steffanie

If we had any doubt about the wisdom of producing this new, local publication, your response

to our first issue of MED put those doubts to rest. Thank you for all of the great feedback,

suggestions and ideas. We are committed to making MED the best communication tool it can

be for our wide and diverse medical market. You can always reach me with your ideas and

contributions at [email protected].

The Sioux Falls area has seen an explosion in medical development in recent years. Our

featured facility, Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital, is a perfect example. The hospital’s history of

expansion and improvement mirrors that of the medical market as a whole and has earned them national recognition as

well as high patient satisfaction rates. We’ll take you inside this newly renovated physician-owned facility, as another local

hospital prepares to open a new surgical center of its own.

We have been thrilled with the number of editorial contributions and news items we have received and our

second issue is packed with them. We hope you will find MED a valuable resource for keeping up with local medical

news, learning about new programs and technologies…. And maybe even choosing a bottle of wine for your backyard

barbeque. (Thanks to our own local wine writer!) If you have information to share with MED’s 3500 physician readers, we

would love to hear from you.

Here’s to a happy, healthy and productive start to your summer.

Alex

Steffanie Liston

Alex Strauss

MED Publisher Steffanie Liston surrounded by her North Central Heart/Avera Heart Hospital teammates at the Race

Against Breast Cancer on May 8th.

Midwest Medical Edition - June 2010 5

Over the years, advances in genetic testing have improved doctors’

ability to treat and diagnose certain illnesses. By analyzing small

samples of blood or body tissue, doctors can use genetic tests to

determine whether someone carries gene mutations or chromosome

rearrangements for certain inherited disorders.

Now, the Sanford Clinic USD Genetics Laboratory offers an

advancement in that technology: microarray testing. The Cytoge-

netics Whole Genome Array* allows screening of a patient’s entire

genome at a finer resolution than can be achieved by light micros-

copy. The test is highly effective at detecting something (a section

of DNA) that is missing from a chromosome or something extra

(an additional copy of a section of DNA) that shouldn’t be there.

While this test can’t see everything, it does allow for detection and

diagnosis that the microscope alone doesn’t allow.

The lab’s director, Patricia Crotwell, PhD, says this type of

genetic test had to be sent out of state in the past but now can be

performed here in South Dakota.

“This technology allows us to see gains and losses of ge-

netic material that we simply can’t see at the microscope,” says

Crotwell. “It won’t replace a good clinical genetics evaluation, of

course, but we expect it to be very helpful in determining whether a

patient’s symptoms or physical findings are related to chromosome

imbalances, even if those are too small to have been detectable in

the past.”

Patients with the following characteristics are most likely to

benefit from microarray testing:

• Congenital anomalies or birth defects

• Delayed growth and psychomotor development

• Autism spectrum disorders

• Abnormal sexual development

• Abnormal or unusual physical features

• Seizures or neurological dysfunction

• Chromosome abnormalities

Although this new technology allows for diagnosis of a broad

range of genetic disorders, it does not replace the need for a clinical

genetics evaluation or genetic counseling.

Advanced Genetic Testing Now Available at Sanford Children’s Introducing the Cytogenetics Whole Genome Array

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Juliann Reiland-Smith, MD, Breast Surgery

Michelle L. Daffer, MD, Dermatology

Luis A. Rojas, MD, Gy-necologic Oncology

John Berdahl, MD, Ophthalmology

Mary Berg, MD, Family Practice

James M. Keegan, MD, Infectious Disease

Patty Peters, MD, Family Practice

Timothy Metz, MD, Anesthesiology

Daniel W. Todd, MD, Otolaryngology

Opening New DoorsOpening New Doors

Opened in 1985 as the Sioux Falls Surgery Center, the building has been expanded to include 13 OR’s and extensive radiology services and is licensed for 35 overnight patient beds. To reflect the expanded services, the building was renamed the Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital in January 2009.

Sioux FallS Surgical HoSpital BuildS on itS StrengtHS


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By Alex Strauss

When it opened its doors in 1985, the Sioux Falls Surgical Center was a single-

story building in the shadow of what was then McKennan Hospital. About two

dozen doctors and staff performed a handful of procedures every week – basic

outpatient surgeries, such as tonsillectomies, ear tubes, and basic orthopedic

knee scopes – in the facility’s six operating rooms.

Today, the Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital is an eye-catching multi-story

building with 13 modern operating rooms and 35 private patient rooms. Two

hundred and forty surgeons and staff members from independent practices

as well as both area health systems now perform everything from total joint

replacements to pediatric surgery, delicate neurological procedures and cancer

surgery.

With a volume of more than 800 procedures per month– about 10,000 a

year – this physician-owned facility has carved out a significant place for itself

among the region’s surgical options.

Growth of a Hospital From the day it opened, the Center grew rapidly.

Just seven years after it welcomed the first patients, the Sioux Falls Surgical

Center had expanded to ten operating rooms. Four years after that, in 1996, a

Recovery Care department was added, which consisted of five patient rooms,

designed to accommodate the needs of patients having more extensive types

of surgery. Though it wouldn’t change its name for years, these first overnight

rooms made the surgical center officially a hospital.

That was the same year that Orthopedic Surgeon Pete Looby, MD, began

his career at Orthopedic Institute in Sioux Falls. Dr. Looby started performing

outpatient orthopedic procedures at the Center, which was conveniently located

not far from the Orthopedic Institute. A year later, he decided to invest in the

venture, becoming a physician owner and eventually joining its management

team.

“It was evident to me early on that the Sioux Falls Surgical Center was

filling an important need,” says Dr. Looby, who now serves as director of

the management team. “It was the ideal setting for the types of orthopedic

procedures I do and it had been expanding every couple of years since it first

“It was evident to me early on that the Sioux Falls Surgical Center was filling an important need… There was every reason to believe that that trend would continue.”


Orthopedic surgical services at Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital have been nationally ranked and recognized. Pictured are Anesthesiologist Dr. Tim Metz and Radiology Technician Ashley Westerman.

opened. There was every reason to believe that that trend would

continue.”

In 1998, the Sioux Falls Surgical Center expanded its

radiology services to include advanced Magnetic Resonance

Imaging. As the number and complexity of surgical cases

continued to grow, eight more private patient rooms were added

to the Center.

The Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital (SFSH) adopted its new

name in January of 2009, in the midst of its biggest expansion

project to date. This project, begun in 2007 and completed in

2009, added two floors to the hospital, increased the number of

overnight patient beds to 35 and included a complete renovation

of the lobby and reception area, staff lounge, preoperative

admission rooms, and post anesthesia unit (PACU). The entire

project took more than 20 months as construction crews worked

around the hospital’s busy surgery schedule.

“The expansion project has just upgraded everything,” says

Sioux Falls otolaryngologist Paul Cink, MD, chair of the

hospital’s physician management board. “The entire facility is

just fresher, newer and beautifully laid out. The 22 new patient

rooms are spacious, private and well-appointed. They also have

accommodations for family members who may want to stay

overnight. It just makes for a better experience for patients and

for doctors.”

Physician-Owned, Patient-Focused The Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital is owned by physician

investors and is managed by a series of leadership teams,

responsible for different aspects of its operation. A publically-

traded Canadian company called Medical Facilities Corporation,

owns 51 percent, a decision made to raise capital for continued

expansion projects. Dr. Looby says MFC is not involved in the

management of the hospital.

“There is no more powerful force for patient advocacy than

the physicians who are delivering the care,” asserts Dr. Looby.

“My constant message is that this facility is physician-owned

and physician-run for the benefit of patients. Our entire goal is to

provide the highest possible level of care to our patients.”

It isn’t just the physician owners who perform cases at the

facility. Last year alone, more than 60 non-owner physicians

also performed procedures for their patients at SFSH. SFSH can

accommodate a wide range of surgeries, including those that

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require specialized equipment such as balloon sinuplasty, or hip

surgery from an anterior approach, for which the hospital just

acquired a special operating table. The facility has multiple lasers

available and is considering the addition of robotic technology.

“We are committed to having the most advanced equipment for

the best possible patient outcomes,” says Dr. Cink. “If a surgeon

has a request for new instrumentation, they put in a request, we

look at it and we get it done.”

Other types of surgery performed at SFSH include:

• Dental/Oral Surgery

• Dermatology

• Ear, Nose and Throat

• General Surgery

• Gynecology

• Neurosurgery

• Ophthalmology

• Orthopedics

• Pediatrics

• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

• Podiatry

• Radiology

• Urology

“We do just about everything here but open-heart surgery,”

says Dr. Looby, who adds that, as a Medicare-certified facility

SFSH is often used by various pediatric surgeons providing care

Multiple types of surgeries are now performed daily in the hospital’s 13 operating

rooms, including Orthopedic surgery, ENT, Urology, Ob/

Gyn, General, Dermatology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology,

various Pediatric procedures, Plastic Surgery, Podiatry, and

Oral Surgery.

The entire facility is just fresher, newer and beautifully laid out… It just makes for a better experience for patients and for doctors,

Insight Marketing Design/Bill Goehring

for some of the youngest, neediest and most fragile patients.

Patient satisfaction scores suggest that most are happy

with their care at SFSH. According to the HCAHPS, a national

initiative that collects data on patient perspectives of their

hospital experience, SFSH is ranked third out of the 32 South

Dakota hospitals that publically report their data. The survey

measures patient perspectives on topics such as nurse and doctor

communication, responsiveness of the staff, pain management,

cleanliness and quietness. Patients gave SFSH an overall score

of 86%, a higher composite score than any other Sioux Falls

hospital.

But Dr. Cink says patients aren’t the only ones who like the

SFSH approach.

“Turnover time between cases and efficient use of our

surgical suites is important to surgeons and this is something at

which the Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital excels,” he says. “For

a surgeon, to be able to get cases done efficiently is refreshing.

Managing nurses are always in scrubs, in the rooms, all the time,

so that they can make decisions. This allows for efficient flow

and keeps everyone happier.”

Consistent with an Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) finding on physician-owned hospitals nationally,

SFSH’s morbidity and mortality levels are lower than the

average traditional hospital and surgical outcomes, risk of

infection, postoperative pain and complication rates are

excellent, especially in the area of orthopedics. HealthGrades has



(Photo Below) Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital attributes much of the credit for its high patient satisfaction scores to its low nurse-to-patient ratio. Here Jeanne Wheeler, RN, talks with a patient.

(Photo Left) Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital offers access to powerful 3T MRI imaging capabilities. 3T provides superior imaging for neurological, vascular, spinal and musculoskeletal conditions. Pictured is MRI technician Kayla Woods.

“There is no more powerful force for patient advocacy than the physicians who are delivering the care.”

awarded the hospital’s total knee replacement service line its

five-star rating for the past four years through 2010. Sioux

Falls Surgical Hospital also ranked better in the avoidance of

excessive bruising or bleeding as a consequence of surgery and

avoidance of respiratory failure following surgery, according

to HealthGrades.

The hospital is accredited by the Accreditation Association

for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and Becker’s Hospital

Review named SFSH one of the 32 best physician-owned

hospitals in the country.

Unique Advantages Drs. Looby and Cink give much of the credit for SFSH’s

high marks to the hospital’s high nurse-to-patient ratio. In the

adult PACU area, there is one nurse for every two patients. For

children in PACU, the ratio is one to one. In addition, there is

one nurse available for every three inpatients during the day,

and one-to-four overnight.



Patients who may have medical conditions or problems, including

those that are unrelated to their surgery, such as diabetes

or hypertension, have the peace of mind of having on-site

hospitalists. These internal medicine physicians are at the Sioux

Falls Surgical Hospital round-the-clock to provide care, even

when the patient’s attending physician cannot be there.

Because communication is a critical aspect of high quality

patient care, especially in a growing facility like SFSH, the

hospital has invested in state-of-the-art personal communication

technology for its entire staff. With the building-wide Vocera

system, every employee wears a tiny communication device that

allows them to instantly communicate with anyone – or everyone

– in the facility.

“We believe that superior nurse-to-doctor communication is

vital to all aspects of patient care,” says Dr. Cink. “With Vocera,

no one would have to leave a procedure in the OR to request that

something be brought in, for instance. This system allows us

to make sure we are communicating and operating in the most

efficient manner possible.”

Pain management, whether as a part of post-surgical

treatment or as a goal in itself, is also a big part

of care at SFSH. The hospital’s Pain Clinic

is managed by hospital

medical director and board-

certified anesthesiologist Dr.

Tim Metz. Dr. Metz and his

colleagues use techniques

such as injections,

stimulation, life style

changes, exercise and, most

recently, implantable pumps,

to control and alleviate pain

that can slow recovery and

inhibit the enjoyment of life.

The Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital expanded to include

its first overnight beds in 1996. The hospital is now licensed for

35 beds.

“We are committed to having the most advanced equipment for the best possible patient outcomes.”


“For most types of surgery, there is no question that we provide an outstanding patient experience and the numbers bear that out.”

High-End Imaging and the Future As part of its extensive imaging department, SFSH offers

ultra high-field 3T MRI capabilities. 3T technology produces

sharper, clearer images than ever before, which are particularly

helpful in diagnosing neurological and vascular conditions, as

well as imaging the spine and musculoskeletal system.

In June of 2009, SFSH opened its freestanding outpatient

imaging facility just across from the hospital. Open Upright MRI

of South Dakota is a highly versatile scanner that allows patients

to be evaluated in various positions, such as sitting, standing

or bending. The open configuration not only allows for these

positional studies which are superior for evaluation of certain

conditions, but is also ideal for those whose age, size or anxiety

level make traditional MRI too difficult.

Due to limitations on the growth of physician-owned

hospitals in the new Healthcare Reform Bill, the Sioux Falls

Surgical Hospital has probably undergone its last expansion

project for the foreseeable future. But with more and larger

patient rooms, state-of-the-art OR’s, top level imaging services,

highly-trained staff and a growing following, Dr. Cink believes

the hospital is poised for success.

“We will continue to follow our mission to offer world class

surgical care with low complication, pain and infection rates at

the lowest possible cost. We think that this is what patients in our

region deserve.”


Aspiring physicians in the area have a new place to look when

choosing a residency program and it’s much closer to home.

Sanford Children’s is now accredited and offering a pediatric

residency program.

The new training program is led by Joseph Zenel, Jr.,

MD, Director of the Sanford Pediatric Residency Program and

Professor, Department of Pediatrics for the Sanford School

of Medicine of The University of South Dakota. He is also

Executive Director of Medical Education at Sanford Health. The

pediatric residency program will accommodate six residents each

year in a three year training curriculum. Sanford Children’s plans

to admit its first residency class in the summer of 2011.

“Sanford Children’s Hospital will be the center of training

for our residents; however, the program will take advantage of

the distinctive characteristics of healthcare in South Dakota,

including rural pediatrics and the unique aspects of caring for

Native American children,” said Dr. Zenel.

The program will take advantage of the opportunities offered

at the existing and developing Sanford Children’s World Clinics

here in the United States, as well as international clinics. It will

also offer students opportunities with Sanford Research and

Sanford Children’s Health Research Center. The new pediatric

residents will work side by side with medical students from the

Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota.

“This is a remarkable pediatric residency for medical school

graduates from South Dakota as well as many others because it

combines an outstanding pediatric healthcare facility with the

expertise of so many committed pediatric specialists, generalists

and researchers,” said Rodney R. Parry, MD, Dean of the Sanford

School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota. “The end

result will be highly-trained physicians committed to the well-

being of children.”

“The immediate goal of the residency program is to enhance

the care of children in the Upper Midwest by training specialists

in children’s health who will populate our communities, both

large and small,” says H. Eugene Hoyme, MD, Professor and

Chair, Department of Pediatrics Sanford School of Medicine of

The University of South Dakota. “By keeping local doctors in the

area, we are taking pediatric care in this region to the next level.”

Pediatric Residency Program Gains Accreditation


By Dave Hewett,

President/CEO SDAHO

“Value, not volume; quality, not

quantity.” That’s the theme health care

providers are hearing from politicians

and health care policy makers from both

sides of the political aisle when referring

to new reimbursement systems for health

care providers. This comes in the wake of

passage of national health care reform.

For now at least, reimbursement based on volume appears

to be the way forward in the short-term. That will likely change

over the next three to four years as the results from pilot projects

studying different approaches to reimbursement are produced.

Also contributing to the change will be payment penalties

for facility acquired infections and hospital readmissions for

complications related to original admissions.

These challenges are primarily

affecting hospital payments for now.

They have not crept into the debate on

“fixing” the Medicare payment issue

for physicians – at least not yet. I say

that only because the message from

the provider community thus far has

been to not allow a 21% decline in

physician Medicare payments to be

implemented. Congress’ response has

been to grant short extensions “while

more comprehensive solutions to the

physician payment issue sought”.

Given the current rhetoric surrounding

the issue, that “more comprehensive

solutions” will likely include payment

based on the value and quality of

care delivered. Exactly how that will

manifest itself is anyone’s guess at this

point.

The good news for South Dakota

is that the hospitals and physicians in

this state are relatively well positioned

to take on these policy and payment challenges. Our delivery

systems are better integrated; we have a greater emphasis on

primary care; and our hospital readmission rates are among the

lowest in the country.

That said, this reformed model of health care won’t always

be easy. It will require hospitals and physicians to work together

at a level they may not have in the past. It will require better

a better understanding by physicians and hospitals of post-

discharge treatment options for their patients. A closer working

relationship with home health services and nursing facilities will

be important.

“Value, not volume; quality, not quantity” is a phrase we

will be hearing a lot over the next few years. The politicians will

likely not understand all of its ramifications. As providers, only

by working together will we make it a reality!

The New Face of the Health Care Continuum

Dave Hewett


Are you concerned about a patient’s behavior, communication or social skills?

If so, we can help! Refer them to the Autism Diagnostic Clinic at the Center for Disabilities. The Center for Disabilities o�ers an Autism Diagnostic Clinic for families in South Dakota and the region. Reduced rates may be available due to recent federal funding. Other Autism Program services include consultations, technical assistance, information dissemination and trainings available to schools, agencies and families. Other diagnostic clinics available through the Center for Disabilities include Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Clinic in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, LEND Developmental Clinic in Vermillion and Reservation Developmental Clinic in Cheyenne River.

For more information, please call the Center for Disabilities at (605) 357-1439 or 1-800-658-3080. www.usd.edu/cd

A University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service

Avera McKennan will open its new Avera Surgery Center for

patients in July.

The outpatient surgery center is newly constructed on the

Avera McKennan campus in Sioux Falls, designed to have the

convenience of a free-standing surgery center, with the medical

support of Avera McKennan. As a department of Avera McKennan,

the center offers the same medical expertise and technologically-

advanced procedures in a new location, specially designed for

“5-star” comfort and service.

Outpatient or ambulatory surgery accounts for about 65

percent of all surgeries – up from 20 percent only two decades ago.

The new center will offer a host of same-day procedures in the

following specialties: ear, nose and throat; orthopedics; gynecology

and gynecologic oncology; urogynecology; general surgery;

neurosurgery and spine; plastics; urology; and GI.

Advanced surgical techniques include minimally-invasive

laparoscopic techniques, such as gall bladder removal,

appendectomies or gyn procedures. Some of these procedures are

even scarless, because all surgical equipment is inserted through a

single incision in the navel.

The Avera Surgery Center offers a dedicated canopy entrance,

convenient parking, and valet service. A separate entrance and

designated elevator takes patients and their families directly to the

center, so there’s no chance of getting lost on the way.

Patients are taken to a private room where they’ll prepare for

their surgery, and then recover afterward until they’re ready to go

home. With the help of an alpha pager and an advanced patient

tracking system, families know exactly where their loved one is in

the surgery process at all times, either by checking a confidential

electronic board in the waiting room or their pager.

For pediatric procedures, parents are allowed to accompany

children to the OR as they are placed under anesthesia, and they

can be with them as they wake up in their recovery room.

In the eight surgical suites themselves, the latest in OR

equipment is mounted off the floor on booms and is controlled

by touch-panel technology. The Surgery Center is connected by

skywalk to Avera McKennan, in the event a hospital admission is

necessary.

Physician tours of the facility will be scheduled throughout the

month of June.

New Avera Surgery Center to Open in July


By Mary Olinger

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of South Dakota

The 7 year-old stood by the step and looked up at his new pop-up

tent camper. His face beamed as he watched his most heartfelt

dream come true. For weeks, he and his family had been dealing

with the pain, fear and anxiety of his brain tumor diagnosis. He

had been undergoing treatments to shrink the tumor and steroids

had caused his handsome young face to bulge into red, chubby

cheeks. It was hard to smile, but this camper’s grin shined

through anyway.

Weak, but excited, Luke took his family, friends

and classmates on a tour of his new camper. Despite the

unseasonably cool May weather, he could hardly wait to try it

out. On his special “wish day”, this little boy even got to share

pizza and s’mores – his favorites – with his family and friends.

For a little while, he was able to completely forget about his

tumor.

A wish fulfilled for a child suffering with a life-threatening

medical condition can give him or her unforgettable and

sustaining memories. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of South

Dakota is committed to creating magical moments that give these

children hope for a better tomorrow, strength to fight their illness

today, and joy away from hospitals and treatments.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of South Dakota depends

on the help of medical personnel, physicians, nurses, social

workers and more. If you know of a child who has been

diagnosed with a progressive, degenerative or malignant medical

condition, please call us. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of

South Dakota can be reached at 1-800-640-9198, 24 hours a day,

7 days a week.

Sanford USD Medical Center Offers Region’s First and Only Verified Pediatric Trauma Center

CAMPER CREATES HOPE, STRENGTH & JOY

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma has

verified Sanford USD Medical Center as a Level II Pediatric

Trauma Center – the first and only one in the region.

The verification as a Pediatric Trauma Center means access

to an experienced and dedicated team of board certified pediatric

surgeons, specially trained emergency physicians, a dedicated

pediatric trauma flight team and rapid access to state-of-the-art

operating rooms. Following treatment at Trauma 5, Sanford

Children’s Hospital is easily accessible for continuing care.

“This is a wonderful step forward for the care of the pediatric

trauma patient in our region. To know that a pediatric specialist

is involved in your child’s care from the moment they arrive at

Trauma 5 through their rehabilitation should be comforting,” said

Pediatric Trauma Director and Pediatric Surgeon Adela Casas-

Melley, MD, FACS, FAAP. “Our board-certified pediatric trauma

surgeons are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, each

and every day of the year.”

In addition to the new pediatric trauma verification,

Sanford also received re-verification as a Level II Adult Trauma

Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on

Trauma. Sanford has been verified as an adult trauma center for

16 years.


The Corn Palace Has HeartThe MEGA Heart™, the world’s first inflatable walk-through

heart exhibit that demonstrates the effects of heart disease

prevention and treatment was on display at the Corn Palace in

Mitchell in April.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S.

and the American Heart Association says education, diet and

exercise are the best ways to fight it. The MEGA Heart™ is an

interactive tool which displays the complex heart anatomy so that

the general public can more easily visualize disease processes.

Presented by Medical Inflatable Exhibits, Inc., the MEGA

Heart™ is a 10-foot tall, 21-foot long, and 15-foot wide replica

of the human heart that provided visitors a close-up view of

healthy and diseased tissue, artificial valves, and a stent as well

as the damage caused by a heart attack.

Visitors entered the exhibit through the superior vena cava

and exited through the aorta. During the tour, they learned about

cardiovascular functions, observed examples of various types

of heart disease, and read about the latest medical treatments

for heart problems. In addition to the MEGA Heart™, the Corn

Palace event featured stations on a variety of topics including

heart healthy nutrition, the importance of CPR, using Public

Access Defibrillators, and more.

The South Dakota/Minnesota MEGA Heart™ tour was a

collaborative effort between the Avera regional facilities: Avera

St. Luke’s in Aberdeen, Avera McKennan and the Avera Heart

Hospital in Sioux Falls, Avera Sacred Heart in Yankton, and

Avera Marshall in Marshall, MN, each of which sponsored a

MEGA Heart™ event during the week of April 19.”

Specializing in:

Orthopaedics

Neurosurgery

Neurology

Hand Surgery

Physiatry

Podiatry

Rheumatology

Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Spine Care

Sports Medicine

Medical Imaging

Durable Medical Equipment

Athletic Training Services

575 Sioux Point RoadDakota Dunes, SD 57049

605-217-2667cnos.net

Experts who care.


The Midwest Affiliate of the American Heart Association will

receive $8.4 million over three years from the Leona M. and

Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to implement Mission:

Lifeline, a community-based initiative aimed at improving the

system of care for heart attack patients throughout South Dakota.

“It is a tremendous affirmation of the importance of Mission:

Lifeline and positions South Dakota as a leader in our nationwide

effort,” said Darrin Smith, Senior Director of Advocacy and State

Health Alliances for the Association. “This is a historic day for

heart attack patient care in our state. As

a lifelong South Dakotan, I’m proud we

will be leading the way nationally right

here in South Dakota.”

Each year, hundreds of thousands

of Americans have an ST-elevated

myocardial infarction, or STEMI,

in which blood flow is completely

blocked to a portion of the heart.

Currently, around two-thirds of

STEMI patients fail to receive the

best available treatments to restore

blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks

to save lives by closing the gaps that

separate STEMI patients from timely

access to appropriate treatments.

Although Mission: Lifeline is focused

on improving the system of care for

patients who suffer from a STEMI

each year, improving that system will

ultimately improve care for all heart attack patients.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, South Dakota

is in the Class 5 category for STEMI death rates, making it one of

the states with the highest STEMI death rates in the nation.

“The full implementation of Mission: Lifeline with this grant

will save lives in the Black Hills region, throughout western

South Dakota, and indeed all across the state,” said James

Walder, M.D., cardiologist with Regional Heart Doctors in Rapid

City and chairman of the South Dakota Mission: Lifeline Task

Force.

The grant will fund the critical elements of an optimal

STEMI system of care: assistance to every ambulance service in

the state in acquiring 12-lead ECG equipment and comprehensive

12-lead ECG training; transmission and receiving equipment

for STEMI-referring and receiving hospitals; a system-wide

data tool for quality measurement and improvement; ongoing

medical provider training and education; development of STEMI

protocols for EMS and hospital personnel; regional plans for

rapid transport and/or transfer of patients; and an aggressive

public education campaign on heart attack signs and symptoms

and the need to activate the 9-1-1 system.

“Mission: Lifeline will enhance our

existing systems and enable us to create

new systems of care for heart attack

patients in areas we have only dreamed

about until now,” said Tom Stys, M.D.,

an interventional cardiologist with

Sanford USD Medical Center and member

of the American Heart Association’s

Midwest Affiliate board of directors.

More than 20 stakeholders from

across the state will be involved in the

implementation of Mission: Lifeline,

with representation from large and small

hospitals and ambulance services as well

as the American College of Cardiology,

the South Dakota Department of Health

and the South Dakota Office of EMS.

“The success of Mission: Lifeline

will translate into dramatically improved

heart attack patient care all across South

Dakota, and improved patient care means lives saved,” said Tom

Isaacson M.D., Medical Director at Avera Heart Hospital and

interventional cardiologist with North Central Heart Institute.

The Mission: Lifeline funding is part of the Helmsley Rural

Health Program which over the last two years awarded a total of

more than $41 million in grants to institutions and organizations

in the upper Midwest.

American Heart Association Receives $8.4 Million Grant to Improve Heart Attack Care in South Dakota


Grape ExpectationsBy Heather Taylor Boysen

Good Spirits Wine & Liquor

I must admit that I like to follow the rules. I go the speed

limit much to the chagrin of some of my adult passen-

gers, never text while driving, and try to never miss any

of my family’s doctors’ appointments. I am adamant about

teaching my children to look both ways before crossing the

street, wearing their bike helmets and being “politeful” as

my five-year-old son likes to say.

There is comfort in rules and organization and routine.

Why then do I disregard certain age-old rules when

it comes to wine and

food pairings? I am

constantly experi-

menting and seeing

how the flavors of

wine and food affect

each other. The red

wine with red meat

and white wine with

white meat rules don’t

apply anymore. As our

palates become more

sophisticated, unusual

ingredients and wine

choices become more

abundant in our area,

many of the old rules

we used to follow are just that – old.

A wonderfully imaginative and

talented chef recently prepared a salad for our

tasting group that I can’t stop thinking about. It

was made of fresh, young lettuce, chick peas, English

sliced cucumbers, lump crab, fried capers and lightly

dressed with parsley and lemon vinaigrette. It is a salad worth

repeating, I just need to figure out the recipe for the dressing. A

beautiful California Sauvignon Blanc is absolutely perfect with

this salad. But let’s throw in a slice of goat cheese dredged in

egg white and lightly sautéed in panko crumbs. Not a rule-

breaker by any means, but do you ever think about Sauvignon

Blanc with Goat Cheese? You should because it is wonderful!

It is the time of year when grill covers are removed for the

season, grates are cleaned, tanks are filled and a trip to your

locally-owned butcher shop is in order. As South Dakotans, we

are in the middle of beef country. We have the best beef in the

world here and have a plethora of choices in the steak depart-

ment.

Steak is not the easiest wine pairing because each cut of

meat brings different flavors and textures to the table. A mild

and fork-tender piece of filet mignon wrapped in bacon would

be better suited with a bold, smokey Pinot Noir whereas an

aged, peppercorn-rubbed New York Strip would be wonderful

with a spicy Australian Shiraz. Many people would immediate-

ly consider a Cabernet Sauvignon for any steak pairing and it

is by no means incorrect. It’s a rule we have all followed since

red wine was paired with red meat.

However, why not consider a Sangiovese? Most of us

know this grape as Chianti (the region in Italy where the grapes

are grown), but this varietal has an underlying acidity and hint

of saltiness which is incomparable with the richness and fat of

certain cuts of steak such as a Porterhouse or T-bone. Consider

a Chianti Classico Riserva or Brunello di Montalcino the next

time you decide to treat yourself with a juicy piece of bone-in

steak on the grill.

There is so much information regarding food and wine

pairings and many more rules to “bend”, but please remember

one thing when pairing wine with food. It is about the experi-

ence and the joy of the meal. Whether it is with good friends,

family or as an individual experience, it is your experience. No

one is going to tell on you if you drink Cabernet Sauvignon

with the salad, steak and dessert. But if you are going to drink

Cabernet with your dessert, please make it a really great dark

chocolate. You won’t regret it.

Heather Taylor Boysen


Midlands Clinic Surgeons in Dakota Dunes are utilizing a new technique for gallbladder removal. This procedure known as Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery or LESS is performed through a single incision in the bellybutton. This revolutionary surgical procedure reduces recovery time and leaves almost no scarring. The first three patients to have the procedure done by Midlands Clinic surgeons all went home the same day of their surgery and have no scars. Surgical skills must adapt and advance to make minimally invasive techniques such as traditional laparoscopic surgery even less invasive. Dr. William Rizk, Dr. Lawrence Volz, Dr. Robert Anderson and Dr. Michael Wolpert have received the specialized training to perform this procedure not only for gallbladder removals, but other procedures as well. “We anticipate that we will be able to utilize this single site approach for a number of procedures besides gall bladder removal, appendix removal, and some hernia repairs,” states Dr. Volz.

For the patient, LESS has the cosmetic advantage of virtually no scar since it requires only one incision, typically in the navel, instead of several. “The actual incision is so small, most patients can’t even see the scar hidden in the bellybutton,” adds Dr. Rizk.

Siouxland Patients Get More with LESS

Joint Camp at CNOSPutting Joint Replacement Patients

One Step AheadBy Alex Strauss

Joint replacement patients who start gentle range of motion

and muscle strengthening exercises even before their

surgery recover faster, have less pain, and are more likely to

comply with their physical rehabilitation plan after surgery. That

research finding is just one of the reasons the CNOS Clinic in

Dakota Dunes has launched a series of joint surgery preparation

seminars, dubbed ‘Joint Camp’.

“The idea of Joint Camp was to help educate our patients

prior to their total hip or knee surgery,” explains one of the

program’s developers, Brandee Koedam, DPT. “We are here

to prepare them to have the best, most successful surgical

experience possible. Patients who understand exactly what is

going to happen and have realistic expectations going in, tend to

have better outcomes.”

The Joint Camp program, which began in March, features

a free seminar (including lunch) every Tuesday from 11 to 1

pm. The comprehensive program is open to anyone scheduled

for hip or knee replacement by a CNOS surgeon, regardless of

where they live or where they are having surgery performed.

Participants can attend any time before their scheduled surgery,

whether it is weeks in advance or just days before.

“We let them decide what would work best for their

schedule, but we do encourage them to try to attend. A few weeks

before surgery is ideal. We feel like it is an important way for

them to prepare both their bodies and their minds for surgery,”

says Koedam.

The invitation to Joint Camp is also extended to patients’

family members. At CNOS, we believe in a family-centered

methodology. The patient must have ownership into their care

and a support structure to help them succeed. By developing

active collaboration among providers, patients, and families, we

are all partners dedicated to a common goal of efficient, high

quality care.

A key component to the program is access to education

from a multi-disciplinary team. Healthcare is at its best when

the care continuum is linked to ensure all the different services

Stacy Georgopoulos, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, instructs patients at a recent CNOS Joint Camp.


function as one unit. During the two-hour Joint Camp, attendees

get a complete overview of the surgery process from a nurse,

information on physical and occupational therapy from the

therapists, and instruction from the clinic’s DME specialist

on durable medical equipment that might be helpful during

the recovery process. The seminar includes a tour of the rehab

department and therapy sessions can even be scheduled at

this time. Patients come away from Joint Camp with a pen,

t-shirt, information booklet and educational DVD. But the most

important thing they receive, says Koedam, is knowledge.

“We believe that information and knowledge are power.

From a nursing standpoint, we try to walk them through the entire

process, from the time they come in for their surgery, through

anesthesia and post-operative recovery. We talk to them about

medications, risks, precautionary measures, anything we think

might help them go into surgery with more confidence and get

through the experience more smoothly.”

During the physical therapy portion of the Joint Camp

program, patients learn the specific exercises that they will be

doing during their post-surgical rehabilitation, which is a vital

part of recovery after joint replacement.

“There are about seven different exercises that we teach

them,” says Physical Therapy Assistant Michelle Pierce who

helps with the program. “We demonstrate exactly how to do

each exercise properly and explain how each exercise works on

different muscles to support the new joint.”

Patients learn how ankle pumps work to get blood

flowing again and help to prevent clots. Short and long-arc

quads, heel slides and sets to strengthen the gluteal muscles for

hip replacement

patients are all part

of the training. By

the end, participants

not only understand

how to do each

exercise and its

value, but also

understand why

they should get

started on them

even before surgery.

“What the

Joint Camp at CNOS

research shows, and what we have found to be true after the first

few months of our Joint Camp program, is that patients who

have been doing the exercises before surgery just do better after

surgery,” says Pierce. “Their range of motion, speed of recovery,

and pain level are all better than they are in patients who do not

begin to exercise until after surgery.”

When Joint Camp graduates do begin their physical

rehabilitation program after surgery, they also have the advantage

of working with therapists who are already familiar to them

because of the program. They may even find themselves doing

therapy beside other patients they met at Joint Camp, creating a

spirit of camaraderie and encouragement that can make the work

of therapy a little easier.

Even the most well-prepared of patients may encounter

something unexpected during or after their surgical experience.

The developers of Joint Camp hope to allay patient fears by

discussing common concerns, such as the amount of bruising or

wound drainage to expect, so that patients will be less worried by

their own normal physical symptoms to surgery.

Joint Camps, which started in March, bring in a handful

of patients every week, but there is plenty of room for growth.

The surgeons of CNOS perform approximately 500 knee

replacements and 200 hip replacement surgeries every year and

each of those patients will be invited to take advantage of the

Joint Camp program.

“Joint Camp gives them the opportunity to talk with

specialists in so many areas and get their questions answered,”

says Koedam. “What we are already seeing is that patients who

come through this program are ten steps ahead of other patients

after surgery.”

CNOS plans to soon launch a Spine Camp for patients who

are scheduled to have spine surgery.

Nurse like Sure Reuter, RN, walk patients through the entire surgery process so they will know what to expect before, during and after their procedure.


Inside the new Lee Med Building on the campus of the Sanford School of Medicine in Vermillion.

By Charlotte Hofer and Ashley White, American Cancer Society

No one knows better than physicians the impact that cancer can

have on a person touched by the disease. In honor of National

Cancer Survivors’ Day on June 6, the American Cancer Society

reminds area physicians of the range of online resources designed to

support the medical professionals who work with cancer patients.

At the ACS website, cancer.org, physicians and other healthcare

professionals can find accurate, up-to-date information on cancer

diagnosis, treatments, prevention and local resources. In conjunction with the ACS toll-free

phone line, 1.800.227.2345, it is designed to provide fast easy access to the most relevant

cancer information, day or night, 365 days a year.

For those interested in Continuing Education resources, including information on all

aspects of oncology, from cancer prevention and diagnosis to treatment and palliative care,

access the ACS Continuing Education (CE) program at cme.amcancersoc.org.

The American Cancer Society also provides a wide range of resources for

patients, including online mammogram reminders. Patients can sign up at cancer.org/

MammogramReminder and receive a free screening mammogram. Smokers can find clear,

in-depth information about the dangers of lung cancer and practical support for quitting at

cancer.org/quittobacco. The website provides honest information from people who have

been through the quitting process themselves and understand the challenges.

American Cancer Society Online Resources for Physicians.

Charlotte Hofer

Before inpatient or outpatient surgery,ask your doctor about Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital.

WE SUPPORT.From a warm welcome through treatment, recovery and healing, our services support you every step of the way.

9 1 0 E . 2 0 t h S t r e e t , S i o u x F a l l s6 0 5 - 3 3 4 - 6 7 3 0 • w w w . s f s u r g i c a l . c o m


The Sanford School of Medicine has

been re-accredited through 2018 by

the Liaison Committee on Medical

Education.

“We received one of the best re-

accreditation reports in our history,”

Rodney R. Parry, M.D., vice president

of health affairs and dean of the medical

school, said. “We are truly blessed with

outstanding leaders and committed

faculty and staff throughout the state.”

The LCME report cited nine

strengths and only three relatively

minor matters that are being addressed.

Two transitional issues were noted. For

the first time, the report did not mention

any concerns about the school’s

facilities.

The most serious concern in

the last accreditation report was the

inadequate facilities on the Vermillion

campus. That issue was addressed

with the state-of-the-art, $37 million

Andrew E. Lee Memorial Medicine and

Science Building, which was officially

dedicated in the fall of 2008.

In addition to the Lee Med

Building, other strengths included

the medical school’s leadership,

professionalism integrated fully into the

curriculum, a supportive environment

for medical students, dedicated doctors

who teach courses throughout the state,

faculty mentoring and strong hospital

system partners.

The accreditation site visit team

came to the medical school in October

2009. The Liaison Committee on

Medical Education issued its final

report after its February 2010 meeting.

The Sanford School of Medicine of

The University of South Dakota has

presented its 2010 Distinguished Alumni

Award to a physician who is a leader on

bioterrorism prevention, patient safety

and medical education.

Wendell Hoffman, M.D., Class

of 1979, is a specialist in infectious

disease and the patient safety officer at

Sanford USD Medical Center. He received his undergraduate and

medical degree from The University of South Dakota. He then

completed his residency training in internal medicine as well as a

fellowship in infectious disease at the Mayo Graduate School of

Medicine. Hoffman has been part of the medical school’s faculty

since 1987. He’s now a clinical associate professor of internal

medicine.

The award was presented at the annual alumni banquet,

which is sponsored by the medical school and the school’s

Alumni Relations Council, on Friday, May 7.

Medical school achieves one of best re-accreditations ever

Dr. Wendell Hoffman Receives Medical School’s Alumni Award

Hoffman


By Cheri Kraemer, RPh

The term ‘compounding-only’ means that every prescrip-

tion a pharmacy dispenses is made from scratch according to a

practitioner’s order. There are many potential advantages to this

approach for physicians. Pharmacy compounding can allow doc-

tors to think “out of the box”. Doctors have many manufactured

products to choose from but compounding can be valuable when

there is a medication problem or a gap to fill. An example of this

is when a great product was discontinued or may be temporarily

unavailable.

When a product is available as a capsule or tablet, in an adult

form only, a compounding pharmacy can make that medication

into a pediatric liquid. Sometimes doctors have a “product wish

list” and use compounding to fill this need. A compounding phar-

macy can make medications dye free, preservative free, gluten

free, casein free, egg free, soy free, corn free, metal free, phenol

free and sugar free.

Many times a patient can benefit from a medication in a tab-

let or capsule form but that same medication contains an inactive

ingredient that the patient cannot tolerate or may have an allergy

to. This inactive filler may be a dye, a gluten or even lactose.

With a doctor’s prescription, a compounding pharmacy can make

that medication in a capsule form but leave out the problem filler.

Sometimes oral dosage forms will cause drowsiness, diz-

ziness, constipation or nausea. Classic examples of these are

antispasmodics, anti-emetics and pain management drugs. A

compounding pharmacy can take the active chemicals and com-

pound them into a topical transdermal application. The product is

absorbed without use of the stomach and or liver, and side effects

are limited. There are many drugs that do work through systemic

absorption when needed.

Compounding-Only Pharmacies are Prescription ‘Problem Solvers’

Prescriptions are com-pounded in a special sterile ‘clean room’ at Pharmacy Specialties in Sioux Falls


The healing touch in

medicine may soon

become the healing

text. With advances

in technology, mobile

messaging gives

healthcare professionals

new ways to communicate

with each other and with

patients. Now a South

Dakota company is

working on ways of using

the technology to make

medicine more mobile.

2DigitMedia™, a start-up based in Sioux Falls, gives healthcare

providers new ways to use text messaging to communicate.

With this system, clinics can remind patients of appointments.

Patients with chronic conditions can receive automatic messages at

an exact time telling them when to take medications. Patients can

even receive test results directly without the need to call a lab and

first responders can be sent critical patient health information on-

scene in emergency situations.

Robert Amundson, 2DigitMedia™ President, says, “There

are two different products we’re developing. One is an interface

that will work with existing clinic appointment and management

software systems to send si mple, short reminder messages.”

The other, patent-pending system will employ encrypted text

messaging which will be HIPAA and HL7 compliant. Amundson

says the secure system can also send up to 5000 characters that

will be received in a single text. “We can send extensive medical

records this way since we’re not limited to the 160 characters in a

standard text message.”

Mark Schuler, 2DigitMedia™ Vice President, says healthcare

providers using similar systems in Europe have seen a 50-percent

drop in the number of missed appointments.

“While some may be concerned about the cost of

implementing the system, we believe it pays for itself. Some

industry experts estimate a single missed appointment could cost a

clinic $250, so avoiding just a few of those in a month covers the

investment,” Schuler says.

And Amundson says this advanced technology is not limited

to large health systems. “It’s designed to be usable even for a single

practitioner’s clinic,” he says.

2DigitMedia™ is working with CellTrust, Inc. of Arizona, the

leading company developing secure technology.

“For rural areas, text messaging is a good solution because

people tent to have their phone with them. There are very few dead

spots in South Dakota today, compared to several years ago, since

so much has been invested in the past two years for improving

towers,” says Schuler.

Once a planned automated state health information exchange

is in place, Schuler and Amundson say their system would allow

first responders to log in with their phones and get information

about prescriptions or conditions while transporting a patient,

possibly several hours across the state. But they know challenges

exist.

“Texting is so new to the United States, some people think it’s

just for kids and that it is going away,” says Schuler. “But it’s also

proving to people it is more than the Internet, and more secure and

regulated than the Internet, so it’s a public education process.”

“In the future, mobile technology will be part of the life line

for all Americans and we believe healthcare, too,” adds Amundson.

Sioux Falls Company Uses Text Messaging to Support Healthcare

Mark Schuler and Robert Amundson, owners of 2DigitMedia in Sioux Falls


By Shelly Grinde, MA, CCC-SLP

Director of Services and Supports

The Center for Disabilities Autism Spectrum Disorders Program

provides training; consultation, including on-site assistance;

evidence-based diagnostic evaluations; and information

dissemination to families, agencies, and those entities working

in the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Trainings for

professionals, parents, and family members are offered throughout the year. Consultation

may consist of on-site observation and interviews with professionals and parents, as well

as specific feedback “in the moment” for classroom teachers working with a student with

an ASD.

Clinical diagnostics include evaluations from an interdisciplinary evaluation team

specifically trained in ASD. Information dissemination includes the distribution of

handbooks that provide strategies and techniques for working with a person with ASD as

well as a wide variety of materials available in the Wegner Health Science Information

Center.

Recently, the Center for Disabilities led the state in a Region 8 Act Early Summit

in order to bring together key participants from across the state to finalize a State Plan

and logic model which is integral to the success of people with ASD and their families.

Participants from South Dakota state agencies, colleges and universities, parents of

children who have been diagnosed with an ASD, physicians, and agencies working with

children who have been diagnosed with ASD and their families, will continue to meet to

ensure activities will continue. Follow-up activities include:

• Identifying a screening tool for pediatricians

• Identifying a cadre of 5-10 parents of children with ASD who are

interested in providing training and support for other parents

• Compiling a resource guide specific to ASDs

• Providing an autism summer training in 2 sites across the state

• Working with a dedicated group of stakeholders devoted to improving

the systems of care for South Dakotans with ASDs.

Because of the unique nature of the Center for Disabilities Autism Spectrum

Disorders Program within the state of South Dakota, families have access to highly-

qualified, experienced clinicians who utilize the latest evidence-based techniques for

diagnostic evaluations.

For more information about the Center for Disabilities Autism Spectrum Disorders

Program, call 605-357-1439 or 800-658-3080(V/TTY) or visit the website at www.usd.

edu/cd.

The Autism Spectrum Disorders Program at The Center for Disabilities

The Avera McKennan laboratory

has been named Medical Laboratory

of the Year for 2010 by Medical

Laboratory Observer magazine. The

peer reviewed publication rates labs

across the nation on criteria such as

accuracy, efficiency and customer

service.

MLO deemed the Avera

McKennan Lab superior for topping

several benchmarks including

achievement of a phenomenal testing

accuracy rate of 99.99993% — or only

about 70 errors per 1 million tests.

Avera McKennan Laboratory Wins Top Honors

Shelly Grinde


The lab was also credited for outstanding efficiency through its

extensive use of LEAN principles. Identifying and improving

upon the most effective use of work time allows lab staff to be

more productive and efficient while still providing lab results that

are incredibly accurate in fast turnaround times.

“Our system is designed to best utilize the exceptional talents

of our individuals to achieve the extraordinary goals of the team,”

said Leo Serrano, Avera McKennan Laboratory Director. “That

leads to results and service to our patients that are second to none

and we’re very proud of that.”

The MLO article also points out that rising above the rest is

nothing new to the Avera McKennan Lab and listed several other

firsts to go along with the Medical Lab of the Year distinction.

• The first hospital-based molecular-diagnostics department

and full-service virology section;

• The region’s only bone-marrow/peripheral-blood/cord-

blood stem-cell processing laboratory;

• The first same-day rapid-processing service in anatomic

pathology in the region; and

• The first hospital lab in the nation to achieve the

College of American Pathologists (CAP) ISO 15189 SM

Accreditation.

Medical Laboratory Observer conducts the ratings each year

and presents the winners in conjunction with National Medical

Laboratory Professionals Week, which was April 18-24, 2010.


AveraDr. Megan Leloux received a Women of

Excellence Award in the category of Young

Woman of Excellence at the April 27 Sales

and Marketing Executives Women in Business

event in Sioux Falls. Dr. Leloux is a psychiatric

pharmacy resident at the Avera Behavioral

Health Center. Among her duties are educating

patients and families on medications and how

to use them, and developing protocols for patient medication

reconciliation. In addition to board certification in psychiatry, Dr.

Leloux hopes to become a Certified Geriatrics Pharmacist, with

a goal of developing a geriatric pharmacy program on the health

system level.

SanfordChildren in northwest San Diego County will soon have their

own Castle of Care™. Sanford Health plans to open a Sanford

Children’s Clinic in Oceanside, CA. In partnership with Rady

Children’s Hospital-San Diego, the primary care pediatric clinic is

made possible by a $2.5 million donation from Pamela and Martin

Wygod and the Rose Foundation. The Sanford Children’s Clinic in

Oceanside is the third Sanford Children’s World Clinic announced

by Sanford Health.

Central America is one step closer to having more pediatric

healthcare closer to home after the groundbreaking on May 4 of

the first Sanford Children’s international clinic. The clinic in Belize

City, Belize will open by the summer of 2011. It will provide

pediatric care to the growing population and be designed in a castle

theme similar to other Sanford Children’s facilities. Belize is a

country with about 320,000 people with 160,000 of them children.

The Bariatric Program at Sanford USD Medical Center is

pleased to announce that it has received the Center of Excellence

designation by OptumHealth Care Solutions (OptumHealth). The

goal of the OptumHealth Center of Excellence networks is to

provide customers value by identifying hospitals and physicians

that meet or exceed rigorous performance standards. This

information enables consumers and payers to make informed

choices and become more engaged in healthcare decisions.

The Center of Excellence designation is given to those medical

programs that combine superior clinical care with excellent patient

support.

Construction has begun on a new hospital in Aberdeen. Site-work

for the hospital in Aberdeen began with an official groundbreaking

on May 18th. The 48-bed, 113,000-square-foot hospital will attach

to the current Sanford Clinic Aberdeen building at 3015 3rd Ave,

S.E. The three-story hospital is expected to open summer 2012

and will employ more than 200 people. Sanford Medical Center

Aberdeen will provide many services including an emergency

department, heart catheterization lab, advanced imaging, operation

rooms, labor and delivery and more.

Sanford Cancer Center will receive $2 million in funding from

the National Cancer Institute over two years to expand existing

cancer research programming and patient services. This includes

adding at least nine new staff members to support additional early

(Phase I) clinical trials for cancer patients, increased outreach and

education targeted at populations with cancer healthcare disparities

(i.e. Native Americans, new immigrants and colony populations)

and nurse care coordinators who will work with newly diagnosed

patients and cancer survivors.

RegionalRegional Health is implementing a new outpatient electronic

medical records and practice management system at its clinics.

Regional Health Physicians, Regional Health’s multi-specialty

physician organization, will begin using the electronic medical

records system at Buffalo Regional Medical Clinic, Dakota Hills

Regional Medical Clinic in Sturgis and Queen City Regional

Medical Clinic in Spearfish. The system will be phased into all

other Regional Medical Clinics by January 2011.

An update of the results of a study on the breast cancer drug

raloxifene (initially used to prevent and treat osteoporosis

in postmenopausal women) showed the drug improved its

effectiveness against noninvasive breast cancer, caused

significantly less endometrial cancer and was significantly less

toxic than tamoxifen. The Regional Cancer Care Institute (CCI)

participated in the Study of Raloxifene and Tamoxifen (STAR),

Leloux

News & Notes


one of the largest breast cancer prevention clinical trials ever

conducted. CCI enrolled 36 women. 161 total were enrolled in

South Dakota.

Patty Kussman, LPN, CBPN-IC, of the Regional

Cancer Care Institute, recently earned the

designation of Certified Breast Patient Navigator

in Breast Imaging and Breast Cancer Navigation

from the National Consortium of Breast Centers

(NCBC). She is now a certified breast health

educator in western South Dakota. Breast Health

navigators coordinate the clinical, educational, and support needs

of breast cancer patients and their families.

SiouxlandDr. Beth Bruening of Bruening Eye Specialists

in Dakota Dunes has been distinguished as a

2009 Top 10 Surgeon in the U.S. by Sightpath

Medical. She was chosen from hundreds of

surgeons nationwide. Dr. Bruening has been

serving Sioux City and surrounding areas for 19

years. She is certified by the American Board

of Ophthalmology and specializes inno-stitch cataract surgery,

an advanced, minimally invasive outpatient lens replacement

procedure. Sightpath Medical is a leading U.S. provider of surgical

services and equipment for cataracts, glaucoma and refractive

procedures.

OtherOrthopedic Institute in Sioux Falls welcomes

Corey P. Rothrock, MD. Dr. Rothrock graduated

from the University of Nebraska School of

Medicine and completed residency at Orlando

Regional Medical Center. Following residency,

Dr. Rothrock completed a musculoskeletal

oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Rothrock specializes in the treatment of bone and soft tissue

tumors including sarcoma, primary and revision joint replacement,

and pelvic and acetabular fracture surgery. He is a member of

the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society and the Connective Tissue

Oncology Society.

The Sioux Falls Advisory Council, Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter

of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation held a walkathon on May

22nd at Sertoma Park. Over 100

patients, families and friends

participated. Money raised will

go to provide research funds to

help find a cure for Crohn’s &

Colitis. Some of the money raised also provides funds for Camp

Oasis in Minnesota, a camp for children with these diseases.

Questions about CCFA or Camp Oasis, visit www.ccfa.org/

chapters/minnesota/

This year’s annual Hot Harley Nights fundraising event for Make-

A-Wish will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 9,

10 and 11. A motorcycle is not needed to participate, however,

those who have them are encouraged to shine them up and join in

the parade. Events will take place at J & L Harley Davidson in

Sioux Falls on Friday and Saturday and will continue downtown

on Saturday night. This event is held annually and sponsored by J

& L Harley Davidson to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of

South Dakota. In 2008, $162,758 was raised to help grant wishes

to children throughout South Dakota suffering with life-threatening

medical conditions.

Orange City Area Health System will celebrate 50 years of

healthcare services with a Prairie Grass Music Festival on

Saturday, June 12, from 11:30am to 8:30pm. This family-friendly

event is held in conjunction with Blue Mountain Culinary

Emporium’s Annual Rhubarb Festival. Free concerts on an outdoor

stage -- located near the pond on Highway 10 East -- will feature

local entertainers, culminating in Des Moines-based rockers The

Nadas at 5:30. In addition to Blue Mountain’s popular rhubarb

cookoff, there will be rhubarb-inspired foods for sale, a wine and

beer garden, Dutch games for the kids, and more. Details can be

found on the health system’s web site at www.ocHealthSystem.

org. Rhubarb Cookoff information and registration can be found at

www.bluemountainemporium.net/rhubarb/

Kussman

Bruening

Rothrock

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Make-A-Wish ............................................................................................................................. Inside Front Cover

Pharmacy Specialists .................................................................................................................................... Page 5

Make-A-Wish / Hot Harley Nights .............................................................................................................. Page 12

Sioux Falls Cardio ....................................................................................................................................... Page 13

USD Sanford School of Medicine ............................................................................................................... Page 14

CNOS ......................................................................................................................................................... Page 16

Sioux Falls Surgical Hospital ....................................................................................................................... Page 22

Sanford Health ............................................................................................................................Inside Back Cover

Index of Advertisers

Sioux Falls is home to an addiction recovery program designed

specifically for regulated health care professionals.

In collaboration, Avera Behavioral Health Services and

Transitional Living Corporation (TLC) offer the Medical

Professionals Recovery Program at Tallgrass, the only specialized

program of its kind in the upper Midwest, said Craig Kindrat,

MS, LPC, LMFT, CCDC III, Supervisor and Clinician with Avera

Behavioral Health Services’ Addiction Recovery Program.

“Unique issues often come into play for health care professionals

in recovery,” Kindrat said, including licensure, certification or

state board directives.

The Medical Professionals Recovery Program at Tallgrass

is designed to assist the health care professional in regaining

and maintaining productivity, health and esteem necessary to

reintegration into professional practice.

Medical professionals can access the program on a voluntary

basis, or they can be referred by another health professional, a

state board, or a respective state Health Professionals Assistance

Program.

Avera Behavioral Health Services has 15 years experience in

working with medical professionals in recovery on an outpatient

basis, but there are times when a more intensive program is

needed, Kindrat said.

Tallgrass, an 18-bed residential recovery facility located on

the southwest corner of Sioux Falls, utilizes a curriculum of deep

immersion in the 12-steps of recovery. As a component of the

minimum 30-day stay, treatment guests will have the opportunity

to attend numerous 12-step meetings and meet many individuals

from the local recovering community.

In the Medical Professionals Recovery Program, Avera

complements the TLC non-clinical approach with specialized

clinical services which may include psychiatric consultation,

psychological assessment, dual diagnoses services, history and

physical examination, physician-directed toxicology testing,

physiatry and pain management services as well as group therapy

and other counseling assistance for individuals, couples or

families.

“We’re taking the best of what works in both non-clinical

and clinical areas to care for a specialized population,” Kindrat

said.

It’s estimated that 10 percent of adults in America will

experience a substance abuse or chemical dependency issue

during their lifetime, yet only 10-15 percent of that 10 percent

will seek help. Studies indicate that the incidence of substance

abuse or chemical dependency is equal to or higher among health

care professionals than the general population, with the health

professional typically being even less inclined to reach out for

help than the non-medical professional.

“Addiction, like cancer, is non-discriminatory and affects

people in every walk of life,” Kindrat said. “Our whole goal is

to remove barriers and create access so individuals will seek

the assistance they need and deserve before it becomes an

employment or licensure issue, a family problem, an intensified

personal health issue or a patient liability.”

For more information about the Medical Professionals

Recovery Program, call Avera Behavioral Health Services at 322-

4079 or TLC Tallgrass at 368-5559 or (877) 737-6237.

Local Recovery Program Designed for Medical Professionals

Leading the future of HEART CARE takes singular vision.

Bringing the most innovative heart care to the region takes a team with the same foresight. These specialists always look beyond convention. They lead research. They publish. Sharing knowledge, exploring breakthroughs, and bringing the world’s most innovative solutions to you. The future of heart care is here.

To make an appointment, call 605-328-2929. For more information, visit BeHeartSmart.org.

© Sanford Heart Hospital

med-midwest medical edition-june 2010

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