The Impact of ImagingDiagnostics and treatments with imaging and experience

WomenCertified (Inc.), Patient ApprovedBrookings Health System awarded for clinical excellence

Heart MattersCardiac stress tests close to home

Inspiring HealtHFALL 2014

We Want to Hear From You!Did you have an outstanding experience with Brookings Health System? Don’t just keep it to yourself!

By liking us on Facebook®, following us on Twitter®, or viewing us on YouTube®, not only can you learn about upcoming health system events and technology advances, but you can also leave your feedback and learn about the experiences of others.

Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BrookingsHealth, on Twitter at twitter.com/BrookingsHealth, or on YouTube at youtube.com/BrookingsHealth.

Brookings Health System Welcomes New Faces

OBGYN, Dr. Larissa BeNNis recently joined the OB team. Bennis is trained in da Vinci robot-assisted surgery and previously worked at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Bennis received her Doctor of Medicine at Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota. She recently completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at KU School of Medicine in Wichita, Kansas.

Jamie Lems was recently hired as the new supply chain director at Brookings Health System. Lems previously worked at

Daktronics where she worked as both a project coordinator and a buyer/planner. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of South Dakota.

As supply chain director, Lems is responsible for establishing an effective, integrated supply chain process and ensuring an adequate level of inventory and supply for Brookings Health System. She will oversee the materials department and manage all purchase orders in an accurate and timely fashion.

Vaccines & Boosters

Dr. Larissa Bennis

Jamie Lems

Two new professionals recently joined Brookings Health System.

Interested in careers at Brookings Health System? Visit www.brookingshealth.org.

With Back-tO-schOOL season comes a long to-do list. Parents should make sure that keeping their children’s vaccinations and boosters up to date is on that list.

South Dakota schools require that children have the correct amount of doses of the diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus vaccine, measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, unless they can prove a history of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control also recommend that children receive the hepatitis A and B, and Pneumococcal vaccines.

With a recent outbreak of Pertussis (whooping cough) in South Dakota, it is even more important to have your child vaccinated. According to the South Dakota Department of Health, as of July 3, 51 cases of pertussis have been confirmed in 2014, predominantly on the western side of the state. Children under the age of 15 made up 76 percent of pertussis cases, and a quarter of these children were unvaccinated. Children over the age of 10 need a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis booster vaccine.

Immunization services are offered at Arlington Medical Center and White Medical Clinic.

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Cardiac stress tests (or cardiac diagnostic tests) are used to measure the heart’s ability

to respond to external stress in a controlled clinical environment. With the help of

new providers, Brookings Health System will provide a more efficient and enhanced

experience for patients undergoing stress tests.

Stress Test

Dr. JOhN JerstaD, Dr. Debra Johnston, Dr. Dan Cecil, Dr. Rebecca Vande Kop and Dr. Richard Holm are providers who will be available to perform stress tests for cardiac patients. Having these providers available at Brookings Health System means patients will not need to travel to Sioux Falls to have a stress test done. They can receive quality, timely and personal care here in Brookings.

Providers will be available daily to perform the cardiac stress tests, whether it is a pre-operational stress test, a diagnostic test to evaluate physical condition or a test to diagnose heart disorders. Communication with cardiologists will make it easier for the patient to understand the results of the test and the treatment plan that may develop following the test.

During a stress test, the stress response is induced by exercise or drug stimulation. Cardiac stress tests compare the coronary circulation while the patient is at rest with the same patient’s circulation observed during maximum physical exertion. This shows any abnormal blood flow to the heart’s muscle tissue (the myocardium).

Physical activity during a stress test might include walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike while your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored. A typical stress test lasts 15 minutes or less, as the goal is to have your heart working hard to thoroughly monitor its function.

The results can be interpreted as a reflection on the general physical condition of the test patient. The test can aid in the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, and for patient prognosis after a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Throughout the test a nurse remains present. All clinicians involved in the stress tests are Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certified, meaning the patient receives not only good care, but safe care.

To schedule an appointment or to learn more, contact Brookings Health System at (605) 696-9000.

Dr. John Jerstad

Dr. Debra Johnston

Dr. Dan Cecil

Dr. Rebecca Vande Kop

Dr. Richard Holm

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Brookings Health Honored with Multiple Women’s Choice Awards

BrOOkiNGs heaLth sYstem was recently awarded two honors by WomenCertified, Inc., home of the Women’s Choice Award. Brookings Health System was named as one of the 2014 America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care as well as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience.

Selection for the honor regarding emergency care is based on the seven core measures for emergency care as rated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. Brookings

Health System’s emergency department typically sees patients and responds to their needs more quickly than the South Dakota or national averages.

Brookings Health System was selected as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience based on a variety of survey results analyzing important criteria such as communication with doctors and room cleanliness. In 2014 Brookings Health System ranked 50 out of the top 100 hospitals, a significant shift forward in just a few short years.

The Women’s Choice Award is a seal reserved for hospitals across America who partner with WomenCertified in its mission to empower women to make smart health care choices. The awards identify the country’s best health care institutions based on robust criteria that consider female patient satisfaction, clinical excellence, and what women say they want from a hospital, including quality physician communications, responsiveness of nurses and support staff, cleanliness and trusted referrals from other women.

as part Of the BaBY-frieNDLY Hospital Initiative, Brookings Health System has adapted the practice of “rooming-in.” This is a nationally recognized practice that means infants are cared for by their mothers in the patient room versus away from their mothers in a nursery.

Rooming-in is a healthy choice that promotes family centered maternity care that provides opportunities for new parents to learn how to care for their new baby and learn to recognize feeding cues before going home. Rooming-in is a nationally recognized standard of care supported by many organizations such as American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,

New Beginnings Birth Center Transitions to “Rooming-In” Model of Care

To learn more about Brookings Health System’s emergency department visit www.brookingshealth.org/Emergency.

the Association of Women’s Health and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.

Rooming-in proves beneficial for both mothers and babies, most importantly involving breastfeeding. According to studies, mothers who room with their babies are able to produce more milk, breastfeed longer and are more likely to breastfeed exclusively. As a result of rooming-in, babies spend more time sleeping, soothe more quickly and gain more weight per day.

As a result of the rooming-in practice, infants are able to feed more frequently, resulting in fewer infections due to antibodies present in breast milk which prevent infection. The practice also facilitates skin-to-skin contact which helps newborns regulate and maintain temperature, heart rate, respirations and blood glucose levels.

The New Beginnings unit at Brookings Health System supports rooming-in as a new standard of care, and has started the process of adapting the practice in order to promote healthier babies, bonding and education while simultaneously improving breastfeeding outcomes.

The transitional care nursery will remain available for newborns that need intermediate and acute care.

For more information about the New Beginnings Birth Center, please visit www.brookingshealth.org/OB.

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Imaging Quality Leads to Better Treatment and DiagnosisIn order to best diagnose and treat a condition, diagnostic imaging tests

are necessary. Victoria Byrne has suffered from various medical conditions,

and her many experiences with imaging at Brookings Health System prove

how much of an impact they can have on treatment and diagnosis.

fuLL hip repLacemeNt, gall bladder removal and degenerative bone disease are just a few of the health conditions that Victoria Byrne has had to deal with. Each individual condition had its own symptoms and treatment, but the connecting factor among many of Victoria’s conditions is that in order to diagnose and treat, the doctors needed imaging diagnostic tests.

“I tried for two years to find out what was wrong with my right side … it was red and hot to the touch,” Victoria said.

After two years of testing and no diagnosis at another medical center, Victoria turned to Brookings Health System.

“I came to Brookings and asked them to look at [my side]. They did a test called an IVP [Intravenous Pyelogram] and they were able to tell that my gall bladder was 95 percent diseased … it had to be removed,” Victoria said.

Victoria has had many of her imaging tests done at Brookings Health System, including X-rays, ultrasounds and an MRI. In order to decide whether hip replacement surgery was the best option for Victoria, her doctor had her do an MRI. This was the first MRI Victoria had ever been able to complete all the way through without pain.

“They know I have bones in my spine that are very bad … they propped pillows everywhere … who can say they enjoy an MRI? But it went really well,” said Victoria.

Victoria said the imaging she has experienced at Brookings Health System is different from the imaging tests she received other places.

“[In Brookings] they were thinking how would they feel the best on the table, instead of ‘this is policy let’s do this.’ They were so good at propping me in the right way that the pain in my lower back was not there. It was the first MRI I have been able to go clear through with because of their thoughtfulness and how to do it,” said Victoria.

Victoria says she had positive outcomes with every one of her imaging tests. As a result of the imaging done, Victoria was able to receive the treatment she needed to improve each of her conditions and return to the things she loved most.

“I have never had a bad experience in Brookings with any of my diagnostic testing … I have found that Brookings is quite sufficient and very knowledgeable in how to treat someone just like their family member,” said Victoria.

Want to learn more about Victoria’s experience at Brookings Health System? Visit www.brookingshealth.org/VictoriaB.

Victoria Byrne

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OverexpOsure tO the sun’s dangerous UV light can lead to skin cancer, wrinkles, brown spots and leathery skin. Since sun damage accumulates over time, it’s never too late to start a sun protection regimen. Sunscreen is one of the keys to keeping your skin looking radiant and youthful. Daily use of a SPF 30 or higher, preferably infused with Titanium or zinc, will reduce your exposure and allow your skin time to heal and your immune system the chance to repair existing damage.

Exfoliating your outermost layer of skin (Stratum corneum) with a quality retinol, chemical peels and daily clarisonic

BrOOkiNGs heaLth sYstem’s Outreach Specialty Clinic welcomes a number of new providers this fall and continues to offer a variety of services spanning from nephrology to neurology.

Dr. Arvin Santos, who specializes in nephrology, will be available this fall and will work with dialysis patients at Brookings Health System through the Outreach Specialty Clinic. Dr. Santos comes to the specialty clinic from Avera Nephrology Clinic in Sioux Falls. Dr. Santos studied at De La Salle University School of Medicine in Cavite, Philippines. He completed his residency with Internal Medicine at Carney Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Jeffrey Kowitz, a pulmonologist, will be available to evaluate patients for sleep disorders and will be interpreting sleep studies performed at Brookings Health System. No referrals are needed to see Dr. Kowitz who provides diagnosis and management of diseases involving the respiratory tract, lungs, and bronchial tubes. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Kowitz

brushing will remove the dead cells and leave your skin looking smoother, less blotchy and more even.

Skin lightening products such as Skin Medica’s Lytera will help lighten those unwanted brown spots that have darkened over the summer months. Professional laser treatments can improve everything from blotchiness, hyperpigmentation or discoloration to wrinkles.

Call (605) 695-7394 and make an appointment for a free consultation at Näva Medical Spa to see which treatment works best for you.

received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Wisconsin.

Dermatologist Dr. Valerie Flynn will come to the Outreach Specialty Clinic from the Avera Medical Group Dermatology Sioux Falls. Dr. Flynn received her medical degree from the Sanford School of Medicine at The University of South Dakota, Vermillion and completed her residency in dermatology at Texas A&M Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas.

Dr. Lisa Viola, who specializes in neurology, works with Avera Neurology Associates in Sioux Falls. She will work with a variety of neurological disorders including migraines, pinch nerves, seizure disorders, stroke patients, and Parkinson’s patients. Viola studied at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency in Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York.

North Central Heart will start outreach in September, with two cardiologists available for patients.

Dr. Raymond Allen specializes in cardiology and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Allen works with North Central Heart in Sioux Falls. Dr. Allen received his medical degree from the University of South Dakota and completed his residency at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester.

Dr. David Nagelhout also specializes in cardiology and cardiovascular disease and works with North Central Heart. Dr. Nagelhout studied at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine and completed his residency at Medical College of Wisconsin, Madison.

To learn how to set up an appointment at the Outreach Specialty Clinic, contact Brookings Health System Outreach Specialty Clinic at (605) 696-9000 ext. 8799.

Outreach Specialty Clinic Continues to Grow6

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Repair Your Skin from Summer Sun Damage

Over 116 huNtiNG and firearm enthusiasts and 45 businesses supported Brookings Health System Foundation at the fifth annual Aiming to Inspire Health sporting clays fundraiser. The event, presented by First Bank & Trust, was held August 14th at Medary Creek Hunt Club, rural Aurora, S.D.

“Our annual fundraiser raised $18,129 in net proceeds kicking off our community-wide campaign to raise $175,000 for a new ambulance,” said Foundation Development Officer Barb Anderson. “In addition, Howalt McDowell Insurance and AAA Collections, Inc. contributed lead donations bringing the total raised so far to over $28,000.”

A new Type III ambulance at Brookings Health System is needed to replace an older Type III as part of a fleet of five offering the only Advanced Life Support (ALS) service in Brookings County. The new ambulance will be built and stocked as an ALS unit and will serve as the primary 911 response unit.

According to Anderson, in many communities, ambulances are funded by city budgets and when they need a new ambulance they sometimes enact the second penny tax or use other tax revenue. “Brookings doesn’t do that, so the Foundation is reaching out to the area community for support,” said Anderson.

“We ask area households to support the ambulance campaign similar to buying a ticket to a fireman’s dance; if every home gives $10, we will make our goal.”

The community may contribute to the ambulance campaign by text (605) 646-4661, online at www.brookingshealth.org/foundation, or with the enclosed donation envelope. The campaign will continue through September.

In addition to First Bank & Trust, sporting clays event sponsors included Avera Medical Group Brookings, Helsper & Mahlke, P.C., Clark Drew Construction, Falcon Plastics, Twin City Fan, Iberdrola Renewables, Mills Construction, Sodexo, Sanford Health Brookings Clinic, Banner Associates, A&B Service Garage, Bowes Construction, Eide Bailly, Earthbend, Rude’s Home Furnishings, Rude’s On the Loft, The Exchange, Bankstar Financial, HyVee, Pheasant Restaurant, Clites Electric, Back in Motion Chiropractic, Cubby’s Sports Bar & Grill, WW Tire, Hamlin Building Center, Cinema 5, Tessier’s Inc., Howalt McDowell and Courtesy Plumbing.

The event was also supported by in kind contributions from Runnings, Scheels of Sioux Falls, Kjergaard Sports, Outdoor Adventure Center, Dacotah Bank, Dakota Nature Park, Gas N More, Brookings Radio, Central Business, Minuteman Press, Outlaw Graphics, Walmart, Swiftel Center, Brookings Register and Town & Country Shopper.

Sporting Clays Fundraiser Nets Over $18,000

Come to the Rescue!Brookings Health System Foundation is calling on YOU to...

Come to the Rescue!Please help us raise $175,000 to purchase a new ambulance!

WAYS TO GIVE: 1. Txt2Give: (605) 646-4661

2. Return enclosed envelope

3. www.brookingshealth.org/foundation

Kicks off $175,000 Community Campaign for New Ambulance

For more information about Brookings Health System Foundation, please contact Foundation Officer Barb Anderson at (605) 696-8855 or foundation@brookingshealth.org.

Team Isaac founders Jason and Amber Hemmestad and Amanda Larson present check to Barb Anderson and Mary Schwaegerl of Brookings Health System

The Team Isaac golf tournament held Saturday, July 26 at the Meadow Creek Golf Course in Volga raised over $10,300 to benefit the Team Isaac “Safe to Sleep Gift Pack” project.

Team Isaac gift packs will be provided to the family of every baby born at Brookings Health System. Each pack will contain a HALO SleepSack swaddle, a Charlie's Kids Sleep Baby Safe and Snug board book and other information about the risk of SIDS.

More information about Team Isaac can be found on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/TeamIsaacScot.

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BrOOkiNGs heaLth sYstem believes in delivering quality health care close to home. We know you have a choice when it comes to your health care needs and we want to provide you with information regarding clinical outcomes and customer satisfaction that matters most to you. To increase accessibility to this information, we recently added a health system quality page to our website. This page provides consumers with access to quality rankings that compare care at Brookings Health System to state and national averages.

The quality webpage features a variety of clinical outcome and satisfaction rankings for the hospital, The Neighborhoods at Brookview skilled nursing home, and Home Health services. This data can be directly accessed at brookingshealth.org/Quality or by clicking Health System Quality under the Why Brookings Health tab on the homepage. If you want to learn more, a link is provided to the Hospital Compare, Nursing Home Compare, and Home Health Compare websites located at www.medicare.gov. These sites offer a more comprehensive list of quality measures and allow you to compare hospitals in your state or across the nation.

The health system quality page also includes a “Frequently Asked Questions” section which offers consumers an introduction to health care quality. It also provides insight into Brookings Health System’s dedication to providing exceptional care in our community whether you visit the hospital, skilled nursing facility, or receive home health services.

To learn more about Brookings Health System’s quality ratings, go to www.brookingshealth.org/Quality.

Local Care—How Do We Rate?

Patients who reported that their doctors ALWAYS communicated well

How often the home health team began their patients’ care in a timely manner

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