March 2008 eNews

» What’s New

- Birth Place
  Construction Project

- Patient Story:  Quick
  Thinking Rescues Diabetic

- March is Colorectal Cancer   Awareness Month

» Physician Spotlight

- Tom Boetel, DO

» Welcome

- Michael McNamara, DO

» Sanford in the News

Upcoming Events

» More Events

Construction Project Helps The Birth Place Meet Growing Needs

When it comes to babies, The Birth Place at Sanford USD Medical Center delivers — every year, thousands of local babies are born at Sanford. To meet the growing needs of these moms, dads and their babies, The Birth Place is completing an extensive remodeling and growth project.

The 3,200 square foot renovation project has created an enhanced outpatient and labor triage area, an additional operating room, added labor and delivery suites, updated current birthing suites and added a family center.

“We’re thrilled to complete the first phase of our renovation project. This expansion allows us to continue to meet the needs of the growing numbers of women and their families who choose to have their babies in our care,” said Georgia Stern, Director of The Birth Place.

Outpatient Labor and Triage Area
The outpatient labor and triage service assists expectant moms who aren’t sure they’re in labor or are experiencing pre-term labor. If the baby is on the way, the expectant mom will be immediately admitted to The Birth Place. The expanded outpatient labor and triage area is staffed by experienced labor and delivery nurses from The Birth Place.

Expanded Operating Room
The Birth Place’s expanded operating room is designed to handle the surgical needs of expectant moms, including complex pregnancies. This state-of-the-art operating room has the capacity to handle births of multiples from twins to quads.

Family-Centered Care
During the birthing experience, it’s the little things new parents cherish most. The Birth Place is dedicated to all the details that make your childbirth experience special. Family is at the center of care at The Birth Place and that can be seen in the new family center as well as the large birthing suites. The family areas feature comfortable, homelike furnishings, soft lighting, an internet station, children’s play area and unique artwork. Room service for mom and dad is also available. Each suite is able to accommodate a low-risk birthing experience or, if necessary, a high-risk complicated delivery.

Dedicated to Patient Care and Safety
“The delivery of your baby is a privilege we take seriously,” says Keith Hansen, MD, Sanford Clinic Women’s Health. “The Birth Place allows us to bring new life into the world with all the amenities of home — in the safety of Sanford USD Medical Center.”

While The Birth Place is excited to unveil its renovated space, the key to its success has always been the staff’s dedication to patient care. The Birth Place is proud to have the region’s only in-house 24/7 coverage by OB/GYN specialists, maternal-fetal medicine physicians, neonatologists and anesthesiology physicians. This dedication to patient care and safety means expectant moms have immediate access to the highest level of care.

Click here for more information about Sanford Women's Health Plaza.

Sanford Employees’ Quick Thinking Rescues Diabetic

(Sioux Falls, SD ) You don’t need to go to the movies to see superheroes— just come to work. Right before Christmas, Mindy Gerry and her aunt Erin DenHerder, RN helped save a life, with the help of an Icee®.

“I had my two kids with me and we were standing there waiting for Erin,” said Mindy, an Answer Service Agent at Sanford USD Medical Center and University of South Dakota nursing student. “This man and woman walked in front of me and she stumbled and couldn’t walk on her own. She said she was all right but she had slurred speech and had trouble sitting down. I’d worked clinical with diabetics. I told Erin I think this woman is in diabetic shock.”

“She was totally slumped over, not totally unconscious,” said Erin, an Air Communications Specialist with Intensive Air and Telephone Triage Nurse with Healthformation at Sanford USD Medical Center. “I planted myself firmly in front of her at eye level and proceeded to assess. That’s when my nursing assessment skills kicked in. She knew her name, where she was but then she went into gyrations.”

The two women helped the woman drink an Icee® and waited for paramedics to arrive.

“Mindy is starting in nursing and for her to identify diabetic shock by looking at this woman, amazed me. You can’t learn that going to school, by reading a book, that’s instinctual. That’s a gift,” added Erin.

As for their trip to the theater, the manager gave the gals new Icees® and ten free movie tickets.

(Sioux Falls, SD) Sanford Hospital Luverne physical therapist Holly Sehr was honored by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Newspaper. The Argus Leader gathered nominations for the Everyday Hero feature and honored 15 people who give of themselves on a daily basis.

Sehr was nominated by Sally Buhner, an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher from Pipestone, Minnesota, who wrote, “Holly is the ultimate professional, traveling in a rural area to serve very young children with disabilities in their homes. Holly is humble and modest, and has been there for many people who have lost loved ones or are fighting illness. That is where Holly has been there for me and my family as I have Parkinson’s disease and my husband has leukemia. Her compassion for others can not be measured.”

(Sioux Falls, SD) When five Nutrition and Food Service employees posed for a picture outside the door of Sioux Valley Hospital’s new kitchen in the 1970’s, little did they know they would be gathering in the same line-up at that very location over three decades later. While longevity is not rare at Sanford, it is rare to have five co-workers begin and continue their careers in the same department over the course of more than 30 years.

Karen Stratmeyer, Nancy Goergen, Denise Richter, Linda Bakke and Sue Robinson all began their careers in nutrition and food service, where they continue to work together today. While their roles have changed (three are currently supervisors and two are nutrition techs), their dedication to patients and staff has not. When asked why they stayed at Sanford, responses included: the direct contact with patients, variety, this organization is constantly looking for ways to improve and there is no place I would rather be.

As their careers evolved, so did their work environment. Over 30 years ago:

• 100 degree room temperatures greeted employees during the summer. The cooling system consisted of fans and open windows.
• Mobile cafeterias were on each patient floor. Meals were assembled on a food cart, complete with a toaster and coffee maker, and delivered by nurses to patients.
• White uniforms were mandatory for all nutrition and food service employees.
• Ice cream and sherbet were made in the kitchen.

Thank you for your years of service!