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Vernon Memorial Healthcare
On Health
Fall 2012
when Care Means More than Cure North Crawford
THrEE DECaDES oF VMH HoSPICE CarE
Comfort, Respect and Tranquility.
Three words that mean so much to
those experiencing the final phase
of life. Ninety percent of us, if faced
with a terminal illness prefer to be
cared for or die in our home or a
setting that has all of the features
of home. We want to be pain free,
comfortable and alert and have emotional support available to our loved
ones. This type of care does exist
and has existed for 30 years at Vernon Memorial Healthcare. It’s called
hospice.
Hospice relies on the belief that
each of us has the right to die with
dignity and that our loved ones receive the necessary support to allow
us to do so. The focus is on caring
rather than curing. A multi-dimensional team of nurses, nurse’s aides,
physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, social workers,
In This Issue
Lovelights
Remember or honor
a loved one with
lovelights
Page 3
VMH Investigates... Page 4
Investigated by VMH Lyme
disease expert,
Dr. Paul Bergquist
Page 5
Teaching you DIY
fitness tips to keep you
healthy!
Priorities
“A Vaccine Could
Save Your Life”
Hospice
volunteers are a key
component of the
hospice program.
Judy Gates of Coon
Valley has been a
hospice volunteer
for the entire 30
year existence of
the program. Gates decided to become a volunteer because she felt it
was something she was able to do to
be involved in the community. She
explained, “My mother always said…
bloom where you are planted. Hospice is about people and families and
seeing the love and caring that is
part of hospice is super rewarding.
All that you do as a volunteer, no
matter how small a gesture, is appreciated. Being a hospice volunteer
teaches you to think of others first.”
Bonita Dorschied of La Farge
has been a hospice volunteer for 24
years. Dorschied chose to become
HOSPICE, P3
Kupersmith a resource for
Integrative Medicine
Page 6
Dr. Deborah Prior
discusses the
importance of
vaccines for all ages.
VMH Spotlight On Health
We look forward to hearing your
comments about the new Spotlight
On Health format. Please send all
comments to: [email protected] or
call: (608) 637-4219
VMH Family Nurse Practitioner,
Sheila Kupersmith has completed a
Post Graduate Fellowship in Integrative Medicine. The 1,000 hour, twoyear distance learning program created by Andrew Weil, M.D. through
the Arizona Center for Integrative
Medicine, has achieved international
of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle.
Kupersmith chose to continue
her education in integrative medicine because as she put it, “I wanted
to be able to do what’s best for my
patients. By being more knowledgeable about healing-oriented medicine,
nutrition,
herbal and dietary
supplements, energy therapy and
other modalities,
I can now be a
resource for not
only my patients
but for other medical providers. I
wanted to have
more evidencebased research at
my fingertips in
order to know
Sheila Kupersmith, FNP (right) pictured with internationally
what works and
recognized Integrated Medicine expert, Andrew Weil, M.D.
what is effective.”
recognition as the leading integrative medical education program in
the world.
Integrative medicine is defined as
healing-oriented versus symptomfocused medicine that takes account
schools and VMH
Join Forces
a FITNESS ForCE To BE rECkoNED WITH
HEaLINg THE WHoLE PErSoN
New virus or another case
of Lyme disease?
Trainer’s Corner
dietitians, medical providers and
hospice volunteers
care and support
the patient’s needs
and wishes.
Kupersmith has practiced medicine at VMH for 15 years. She works
as a medical provider at the VMH
Family Practice and Complementary
Medicine Clinic located on the first
floor of the Viroqua Area Medical Office Building.
1
Educating people on health issues has always
been part of the mission of Vernon Memorial
Healthcare. That’s why it’s been a natural fit for
VMH to partner with North Crawford Schools and
the North Crawford Fitness Force, a wellness committee formed by the local school district in 2010.
Like the North Crawford Fitness Force, VMH is able
to provide opportunities and education that facilitates and supports overall health improvement.
VMH provided a key letter of support to the
school district in its attempt to secure federal grant
monies to ensure that students become more physically active and make healthy nutritional choices.
Earlier this year the district was awarded over
300-thousand dollars for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant. Tarasa Lown,
the PEP Grant’s Director, said without VMH’s support and the support of other community partners,
the grant award would not have come to fruition.
The intent of the grant is to promote lifelong habits
of health and wellness through North Crawford’s enhanced physical education curriculum and nutrition
programs. Lown said the grant will help assure that
there is a long lasting partnership between North
Crawford schools and VMH.
VMH athletic trainers, personal trainers and
dietitians enjoyed the opportunity to work with
North Crawford athletes this fall. Judd Eastman,
North Crawford Junior High and High School Physical Education Instructor, said athletes found VMH
staff knowledgeable and helpful. Along with speaking with parents of athletes about proper hydration,
Wellness Center staff assisted
fIT SCHOOL, P2
North Crawford Fitness Force Pictured Top Row left to
right: Nate McKittrick, NCFF Chairperson; Judd Eastman,
North Crawford Physical Education Instructor; Angie
Dahl, VMH Manager of Corporate and Community Health
and Wellness; Tarasa Lown, PEP Grant Project Director;
Front Row left to right: Brandon Munson, Principal; Kay
Teague, Food Service Director; Dr. Dan Davies, District
Administrator; Gary Hines, Physical Education Instructor
Fall 2012 • Vernon Memorial Healthcare • Spotlight On Health
BoarD oF DIrECTorS
aDMINISTraTIoN
Ron Moilien, Chair
Chet Lee, Vice Chair
Roger Johnson, Secretary
James Larson, Treasurer
Lee Cunningham
Tim Gaskell
Dr. Robert Knadle
Phyllis Malin
Jerry Moran
Enid Neubauer
Judy Schmirler
chief executive of�icer
Kyle Bakkum
MEDICaL STaFF aCTIVE
Emergency Medicine
Yvonne Brault, M.D.
Daniel Icenogle, M.D.
Anthony L. Macasaet, M.D.
Paul Mariskanish, M.D.
Family Practice
Ben Agar, M.D.
Paul Bergquist, M.D.
David Chakoian, M.D.
James DeLine, M.D.
James R. Feltes, M.D.
Joann Fouts, D.O.
Michael Kalinosky, D.O.
Duane Koons, M.D.
Richard E. Long, M.D.
R.A. Macasaet, M.D.
John Porter, M.D.
Lucas Readinger, M.D.
Jon Radcliffe, D.O.
Elizabeth Roberts, M.D.
Shawn Sedgwick, M.D.
Brian Woody, M.D.
general Practice
Bill Calkins, M.D.
Deborah Prior, M.D.
general Surgery
R.A. Macasaet, M.D.
Michael Thorstenson, M.D.
Alexander Wade, M.D.
orthopaedics
Jeffrey Lawrence, M.D.
Mark Romzek, D.O.
Pediatrics
Jeff Menn, M.D.
MEDICaL aFFILIaTES STaFF
Nurse Midwife
Kim Dowat, MSN, CNM
Jennifer Eissfeldt, CNM
Nurse Practitioner
Bernadette Adams, FNP
Kris Brueggen, RN, MSN-CS, FNP
Sherry Harris, FNP, APNP
Sheila Kupersmith, MS, RN, FNP
Susanne Mlsna, RNC, MSN, FNP,
WHNP
Kelly Scheder, APNP
Patricia Swasko, FNP, APNP
Erin Uhe, APNP
optometry
Andrew Nahas, O.D.
Kenneth Purdue, O.D.
Physician assistant
Tom Franke, P.A.-C
Colin Kratochwill, P.A.-C
Randy Mickelson, P.A.-C
Tamsen Morgan, P.A.-C
Juliane Nevers, P.A.-C
Tammy Pedretti, P.A.-C
Ann Sherry, P.A.-C
Lisa Varnes-Epstein, P.A.-C
Social Worker
Paul Schmidt, MSSW, LICSW,
CADC
Nurse anesthetist
Brian Miller, CRNA
Arnold Nomann, CRNA
Greg Sauer, CRNA
Dennis Stalsberg, CRNA
chief operating of�icer
Kristy Wiltrout
chief Financial of�icer
Mary Koenig
assistant administrator of
Clinic operations
Dan Nelson
CourTESy STaFF
audiology
Angela Manke, Au.D.
Cardiology
Mary Jo Burke, APNP
Jayne Laylan, NP
Janice Schroeder, NP
Rajah Sundaram, M.D.
Julie Wypyszynski, APNP
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Prem Rabindranauth, M.D.,
FACS
Dental
Steven Solverson, D.D.S.
Dermatology
James Hogan, M.D.
Endocrinology
Arnold Asp, M.D.
gastroenterology
Kenneth Horth, M.D.
James Groskreutz, M.D.
Steven Schlack, M.D.
general Practice
Carol Dinges, M.D.
Hematology
John Farnen, M.D.
Kaye Johnston P.A.-C
Neurology
Mary Goodsett, M.D.
Gregory Pupillo, M.D.
Nephrology
Margaret Myhre, MSN
Balaji Srinivasan, M.D.
oB/gynecology
Deborah Simon, M.D.
oncology
Kurt Oettel, M.D.
ophthalmology
Paul Kuck, M.D.
oral Surgery
David Ludington, D.D.S.
otolaryngology
(Ear, Nose, Throat)
Edwin Overholt, M.D.
Pathology
Daniel Schraith, M.D.
Podiatry
Heather Chestelson, D.P.M.
Psychiatry
David Van Dyke, M.D.
Pulmonary
Scott Skibo, M.D.
rheumatology
Sharon Barnhart, MSN, APNP
radiology
Carl Decker, M.D.
Barbara Knisely, M.D.
Paul Leehey, M.D.
Varsha Lyer, M.D.
Brian Manske, M.D.
Anna Myklebust, M.D.
Ewa Plagman, M.D.
Cameron Roberts, M.D.
Lonnie Simmons, M.D.
Nicholas Trane III, M.D.
Thomas Terhorst, M.D.
urology
Marvin VanEvery, M.D.
“200 Women Who Care” Pledge form
Thank You
“200 Women”
Donors
Donor Name: ___________________________________________________________
only 27 More Women Needed!
address: _________________________________________________________________
2 - Anonymous
Bonnie Anderson
Vicki Banta
Pat Biebl
Marilyn Biederman
Nancy Braaten
Kathy Carney
Marie Cimino
Jean Ellefson
Helen Felix
Angela Feltes
Anita Hagen
Joanne Hohlfelder
Linda Holte
Donna Hundt
Karin Iverson
Diane Johnson Bross
Judy Kabat
Anna Mae Krause
Dolly Lisney
Barbara McGlynn
Diane Myhre
Betty Nelson
Coralie Nomann
Janet Schipper
Laurel Shea
Kathryn Thompson
Brenda Torgerson
Phone: _________________________ Email: ________________________________
I would like to make a $1,000.00 gift to Vernon Memorial Healthcare
Foundation’s Circle of Caring 200 Women Campaign.
This gift is: ____ a one Time gift
____ a Pledge Payable over: ___ 2 years ___ 4 years
Please designate my gift: ____ In Honor of Or ____ In Memory of
______________________________________________
Method of Payment
Payments on my pledge will be made:
____ Please Bill Me
___ Semi-annually ___annually ___other
____ Check Enclosed Payable to: Vernon Memorial Healthcare
Circle of Caring - 200 Women Campaign
____ Charge My gift to my Credit Card ___MC ___V ___D
acct:_________________________________ CVV/CVC Code ________ExpDate___/___
Signature_____________________________________________Date______/______/______
" CLIP IT & SEND IT to VMH foundation: 507 S. Main St. Viroqua, WI
fIT SCHOOL, frOM 1
athletes with various strength training activities such
as the bench press, proper squat technique, and how to
improve their vertical jumps. Eastman hopes to continue the good working relationship by involving VMH
staff in additional student physical education activities.
VMH Manager of Corporate and Community Health
and Wellness, Angie Dahl, said that she is working with
school officials and Lown to increase awareness of the
services that VMH is capable of providing to the students and the community. VMH Wellness will begin offering a fitness class for the community at large in the
Gays Mills Community Building in November.
VMH also hopes to share its resources, staff talents
and ideas with Lown and others in the district in helping with the development of a Health and Wellness Fair
at the school in the coming year.
Mark your Calendars!
Sue Olson of Wisconsin Wealth Advisors will speak
about insurance options and available resources at
the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain support group
meeting on Thursday, November 29 at 5 p.m. in
the VMH Taylor Room located in the Lower Level
of the Hospital. For more informtion call Occupational Therapist, Ilana Pestcoe at 608-637-4385.
22nd Annual Crafter’s Holiday
Thursday, December 6
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Medical Office Building Conference Center
VMH Mail Call!
S��� u� y��� S����!
Our 10 year old son broke his ankle in a trampoline accident and was
seen in the Emergency Room by Dr. Menn and then by Dr. Romzek who
performed a reduction.
Both doctors provided excellent care and with the utmost patience
and professionalism, helped us understand our options and the treatment
needed to help our son. Dr. Romzek’s speed in getting to the emergency
room in a very quick manner was also much appreciated as time was of
the essence due to the severity of the break.
Our follow up care was also excellent, with Dr. Romzek even helping us
locate a new Orthopaedic surgeon in Maine to continue our son Malachy’s
care (we were in the process of moving to Maine when the accident happened).
Thank you so much to everyone involved and especially to Dr. Menn
and Dr. Romzek to whom we owe a wealth of gratitude.
2
60+ Vendors!!
Greg and Shonia Taplin
Do you have a special story
about a VMH experience or
one of VMH’s staff? We’d like
to hear from you!
Please email your story to:
[email protected]
You may also send your story
via mail, please send to:
VMH Marketing
507 South Main
Viroqua, WI 54665
Fall 2012 • Vernon Memorial Healthcare • Spotlight On Health
Hospice, from P1
a volunteer in 1988 after personally experiencing what teers, now with a team approach, there is so much more
a family goes through during the death and dying pro- that can be provided to the patient”. Dorschied has taken
cess. She lost her father to cancer in
on much greater responsibilities
1987. Dorschied recognized at that
as a volunteer over the past six
time that it was nice to have a supmonths. She has begun volunteerport system outside of the immediing as a chaplain for patients who
ate family. Dorschied remembers
do not have a spiritual leader in
being told at the age of 17 that she
their lives. She attends hospice
had a gift when it came to comfortteam meetings and reports to the
ing the sick. “I’ve developed many
hospice volunteers if there is a
friendships as a result of my volunchange in their patient’s conditeer work with hospice,” Dorschied
tion. She also assists David Swassaid. “I get to experience such love
ko, MSW with grief group meetand respect from families at a cruings as needed.
cial time in their lives when dying
VMH Hospice this year celewith dignity is so important to their
brates
a 30 year tradition of comloved one.” Dorschied recalls when Volunteers Judy Gates and Bonita Dorschied
passionate
care. What a tribute
hospice began at VMH, “There were work together as auction clerks at a hospice
that
during
its 30th anniversary
two nurses and a group of volun- fundraising event from the past.
year, the construction of The Bland
Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care is underway. This new
home for the terminally ill is being made possible by
generous contributions from hundreds of donors and a
matching gift from Vernon Memorial Healthcare. As the
structure begins to take shape, fundraising continues
for furnishings and equipment and for an endowment
Roger and Miriam Hatlem continue to be longtime supporters of the VMH Hospice Program. Miriam Hatlem, RN led the
charge toward implementing a Hospice Program at VMH. By
August of 1982 Stephanie Wymer, RN was hired as the first
coordinator.
to provide a permanent and stable source of funding for
the future. For more information on funding and donor
recognition opportunities please contact VMH Hospice
Manager Donna Nelson at 637-4362.
Cookbooks for Hospice Now Available!
1992 Hospice Fundraiser photo of Donna Nelson, Hospice
Coordinator and Jackie Nelson, Hospice Assistant. The two
nurses worked together for many years providing care and
comfort to the terminally ill and their families and
coordinating the annual fundraiser at Old Towne Inn.
If you enjoy cooking, collect cookbooks, or just
like to read a good book, we’ve got the cookbook
for you!
For $20 you will receive a beautifully bound
three-ring binder filled with over 540 recipes submitted by VMH Hospice families, staff, and volunteers.
The VMH cookbook committee is pleased to give
Friends to Host Annual
Lovelight Ceremony
" CLIP IT & SEND IT to VMH LOVELIGHTS: 507 S. Main St. Viroqua, WI
VMH Lovelights
Donor Name: __________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________ Email: ___________________________________
‘Tis the season to remember and honor the special individuals in your life. The Friends of VMH will be hosting the annual
Lovelight Tree Lighting Ceremony on Monday, December 10,
2012 at 12 p.m. in the Vernon Memorial Hospital Lobby. The
Lovelight trees will be lit during the month of December. White
lights will be lit on trees in memory of loved ones and multicolored lights will be lit to honor or recognize an individual.
____# In Honor + ____ # In Memory x $5 per light = Total: $_____________
______ Cash
all profits made from this cookbook to the Bland
Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care so families in
need of the hopice center may share their final
memories with their loved ones in a place of peace
and tranquility.
Cookbooks for Hospice may be purchased at the
Friends of VMH Holiday Craft Show on December
6, in the VMH Gift Shop, or by calling the VMH Marketing Department at (608) 637-4244.
______ Check Enclosed Payable to: Friends of VMH
Please print names of lovelights as you wish them to appear below.
In Honor of: _____________________________________________________________________
In Memory of: ___________________________________________________________________
Lovelights may be purchased for $5 per light. If you are interested in honoring your loved one this holiday season, please
complete the attached form and return to:
____________________________________________________________________________________
VMH Lovelights, 507 S. Main St. Viroqua, WI 54665
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
3
Fall 2012 • Vernon Memorial Healthcare • Spotlight On Health
VMH Investigates...
Heartland Virus: New Virus or
Just Another Lyme Statistic?
If you have a question, TV show, or news article you’d like one of our VMH experts
to investigate, email: [email protected] or write to: VMH Marketing, 507 S. Main
St., Viroqua, WI 54665
In this issue’s VMH Investigates, Dr. Paul
Bergquist from VMH Family Practice &
Complementary Medicine has reviewed an
article that was brought to our attention
from a concerned patient that is an avid
outdoorsman. The article, “New ‘Heartland’ Virus Discovered in Sick Missouri
Farmers” by Yahoo! News Correspondent,
Rachael Rettner, was posted on Yahoo!
News on August 30, 2012.
Two men from northwestern Missouri
independently presented to their local
emergency rooms two years ago with
similar symptoms of high fever, fatigue,
diarrhea, muscle aches, and low platelet
and white blood cell counts.
Both men had been bitten by ticks (in
one case multiple bites) 5-7 days before
the onset of illness. Liver functions and
CRP, a special type of protein produced in
the liver that is present during episodes of
acute inflammation or infection, were also
elevated. Their providers at the time suspected the tick borne bacterial infection,
ehrlichiosis. However, all blood tests for
that bacteria were negative in both men.
An infectious disease specialist, Scott
Folk,MD, was consulted, and because of
the lack of response to treatment, sent
blood off to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for further
testing. After 10-14 days in the hospital,
they began to improve gradually, and liver
function tests and platelets returned to
A Lyme-screening test was negative normal. However, there was no evidence
for one of the men, and apparently the of response to antibiotic treatment.
other did not have the test done. One of
At the CDC, numerous cell cultures and
the men developed chest pain in addition tests were performed on their blood. All
to fever to 104 degrees, with irritability. tests were negative, except for electron
A heart attack was ruled out. Both men microscopy, which demonstrated phlebowere presumptively started on doxycy- viruses, which are related to a recently
cline, because the symptoms suggested discovered virus in China that caused
ehrlichiosis, but they did not show signs severe illness, and in some cases, death.
of improvement.
Phleboviruses are carried by sand flies,
mosquitoes, and ticks. They are the
only tick-borne phleboviruses known to
cause disease in humans.
LOOK OUT! It’s a Tick Invasion!
Scientists at the Centers for Disease
Control think the men were infected by
lone star ticks, endemic to Missouri, but
so far all efforts to find the new virus in
any ticks in Missouri have proved fruitless. Laura McMullen, a senior scientist
at the viral special pathogens branch of
the CDC, says that this is a novel virus,
and they have named it the Heartland virus, for the hospital and region in which
it was found.
Drs. McMullen and Folk published a
report on the virus, with these two case
reports, in the New England Journal of
Medicine in August of 2012.
In follow-up on the these patients,
both patients had persistent fatigue and
recurrent headaches, one for two years
following the infection. Both had shortterm memory difficulty and anorexia,
which lasted for several months after
the acute infection. Two years after the
infection, both patients had persistently
elevated antibodies to the virus.
There is no known effective treatment for this virus at present.
The map above shows the occurances of positive and probable Lyme cases in the United
States in 2011. Each dot indicates a case within the infected person’s county of residence.
According to the CDC, there have been positive cases in each state with highest occurance
rates along the northeast coast, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
A potential confusing factor with this
new “disease,” is that Lyme borrelia infection was not adequately ruled out.
The Lyme test that was done on only one
of the patients was negative, but that test
is often false negative in the first 3 weeks
of illness, sometimes up to 75% of the
time.
Many of the symptoms these men
had are common to acute Lyme infection
(borreliosis). Borreliosis is known to
The above illustration shows an enlargement of a Deer tick. During the larva stage, the actual size of the tick is the tiny end of a pin. When full grown, the adult female will generally
be the size of the pin head. The American Dog, Brown Dog, and Blacklegged (common name,
Deer Tick) ticks are the most common species of ticks found in our area. With over 850 tick
species worldwide, only 100 of those are capable of transmitting diseases . The deer tick is
often misrepresented as the cause of Lyme disease. According to the CDC, deer ticks feed on
an infected host (most commonly wild rodents and other small mammals) and then transfer
the disease to its next host. Deer ticks found in southern United States have very different
feeding habits and are far less likely to spread Lyme disease.
4
have many co-infections. These bacteria
and viruses are often present and introduced with the Lyme bacteria during the
tick bite. Normally, the immune system
mops up these “hitchhikers” and no symptoms develop in the patient. However, the
Lyme spirochete bacteria has proven to
rapidly suppress a patient’s immune system allowing the growth of one or several
of the hitchhiker bugs, which develop as
co-infections to the Lyme borrelia spirochete.
It is possible that this new phlebovirus
(Heartland virus) is yet another example
of a co-infection of borreliosis (Lyme disease), taking advantage of the suppressed
immune response, to grow and cause
symptoms of infection.
The trouble is, which symptoms are
caused by the virus, and which are caused
by borrelia? The reason it matters is that
if the borrelia infection is treated aggressively, the immune system may have a better chance of responding to the virus. It is
therefore important in the case of any tick
bite to assume Lyme infection is a possibility, and to try to identify its presence
with tests such as a western blot, PCR, or
culture. Unfortunately, all of these tests
can be false negative in the early stages
of disease. Therefore, presumptive treatment of Lyme borreliosis may be of benefit to the patient, even in the absence of
a positive test and even if the Heartland
viral infection or other co-infection is suspected as the primary cause.
The appearance and identification of
the Heartland virus as a tick-borne disease emphasizes the current trend of a
steady increase in all tick-borne diseases
throughout the world over the last decade.
About the Expert
Dr. Paul Bergquist is a family physician,
trained at the University of Minnesota, who
has worked in the Viroqua area since 1989.
He is educated in integrative medicine, including homeopathy, acupuncture, and botanical
medicine, in addition to family medicine. He
saw his first case of lyme in 1989, and has
since diagnosed and treated hundreds of cases
of lyme disease in this part of Wisconsin, which
is one of the hot spots for lyme disease in the
world. He is a member of ILADS, the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society,
which is a group that works internationally to
investigate and treat lyme disease throughout
the world.
Fall 2012 • Vernon Memorial Healthcare • Spotlight On Health
Trainer’s Corner
Teaching you DIY fitness tips to keep you healthy!
Exercise 1: Kettlebell Goblet Squat
Get acquainted with the VMH Wellness Center - Certified Personal Trainers. Check back to
this area each Spotlight on Health to find exercise tips, new ways to tone up, and what we do
to stay fit! Questions? Let us know! We’re here to help you! Call the VMH Wellness Center @
637-4290 to start your new workout routine today!
CLIP IT & KEEP IT! "
Exercise 2: Plank
STOP!
Watch Your Form!
STOP!
STOP!
Watch Your Form!
Watch Your Form!
Step 1: Start with the Kettlebell pulled to your chest with your elbows at your sides.
Step 2: Consciously grip the floor with your feet. They should be about shoulder
width apart with your toes slightly pointed out.
Step 3: Begin to descend by moving your butt back, pushing your knees outward
and slowly pulling yourself down with your hip flexors. Breathe in on the way down.
Step 4: As you get lower, curl the Kettlebell out to counterbalance your weight in
order to maintain an upright position and straight back.
Step 1: Start on a mat with your elbows and toes on the ground.
Step 5: Try to get your elbows between your knees. Hold this position and push
your knees out with your elbows to help stretch your hips. Remember to keep flexing your core muscles, pushing your knees out and griping the floor with your feet.
Step 2: Squeeze your butt and abs as hard as you can to straighten out your body.
Step 3: Complete the hold by pulling your shoulders toward your feet, driving your
heels back and pulling your toes toward your head.
Step 6: To ascend from the bottom position, squeeze your glutes to stand up powerfully while exhaling and return to Step 1. If done correctly, 3-5 sets of 3-5 repetitions
should be enough.
Step 4: Flex your butt, abs, shoulders, and ankles as hard as you can for as long as
you can.
If done correctly, this should be much harder and more effective than a regular plank.
Proper form is important! Only descend as far as you can until your lower back starts
to round. The depth will vary for each person depending on flexibility and should improve with practice!
Again, proper form is key, do not let your butt rise too high or sink too low. Keep your
neck straight by looking at your hands, not your elbows.
teaching you Health & wellness at VMH
Check www.vmh.org for a complete list of classes and health screenings offered by VMH Health Educators and providers. Register online for your next BLS Recognition
class or sign up your 11 year old for the next session of Safe Sitter! Questions? Please call 637-4298 for more information.
Heartsaver First Aid $30
The Heartsaver First Aid course provides training in
basic first-aid procedures – including the first-aid skills
recommended by OSHA – in a format that can be delivered in a single day. It also offers elective modules in
CPR, AED, and environmental emergencies.
The Heartsaver First Aid course is specially designed
to train anyone who might be the first to respond in the
workplace or community. The course can be tailored to
address the needs of a specific workplace or group of
employees.
November 9 • 11:00 a.m.
Heartsaver CPR
The Heartsaver CPR course trains lay rescuers to
recognize and treat life-threatening emergencies with
adult, child, and infant victims. It includes sections
on CPR and relief of choking in adults and children, as
well as infant CPR and relief of choking. It supports the
Heartsaver CPR course for responders who require a
credential for completion.
**All dates for this course are currently full, please
contact VMH Health Education for more info.
Safe Sitter $40
As a babysitter you take on a very important role.
Babysitting can, and should be fun. But accepting a
babysitting job also means accepting the responsibility
for a child’s life. Students must be 11 years old by the
date of the course to participate.
December 28 • 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
childbirth education $45
Childbirth Education classes present prospective
parents with practical lessons on the labor and delivery
process as well as breathing and relaxation techniques
which can ease discomfort during birth. Included are
discussions on nutrition and diet, the use of medication
and anesthesia during labor, caesarean birth, post partum emotional and physiological changes, maternal and
newborn care after delivery, parenting, and a tour of the
VMH Birthing Center
January 22 - February 22 • 7-9:00 p.m.
Breastfeeding is best $10
Breastfeeding is Best is a course taught by Certified
Breastfeeding Educator, Tara Berg. You will learn techniques to make the breastfeeding experience rewarding
and healthy for you and your baby.
November 20 • 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Parent-tot swim $30
Parent-Tot Swim provides a relaxing, warm water
environment for parent-child interaction. Children
ages 6 months to 3 years are welcome.
5 week session: January 10 - February 14
5-5:45 p.m.
5:45-6:30 p.m.
VMH Swim lessons $30
Children ages 3-10 years old will gain the knowledge
of pool and water safety while learning how to swim in
a safe environment.
December 3-7
4:30-6:30 p.m.
5
The following courses are geared toward individuals in the health care field. For complete descriptions and registration information about these
courses please vist our website at: www.vmh.org.
Basic Life Support for the
Healthcare Provider $40
November 16, 30 • December 14 • January 11, 25
8 a.m. Recognition • 12:30 p.m. Renewal
IV Training $200
December 7 • 8:00 a.m.
Neonatal resuscitation program $145
November 1 • 8:00 a.m.
pediatric emergency assessment,
recognition, & stabilization (PEARS) $80
November 8 • 8:00 a.m.
Community Cholesterol screening
November 21 • 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
December 5 • 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
January 2 • 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Total Cholesterol and glucose
(non-fasting) Fee: $15
Lipid Panel
(12 hour fast required) Fee: $30
Fall 2012 • Vernon Memorial Healthcare • Spotlight On Health
Priorities
A Vaccine Could Save Your Life!
Dr. Deborah Prior, Hirsch Clinic - VMH
don’t let shingles and whooping cough get you down!
Immunization (vaccination) is a way to improve your immune system and prevent serious, life-threatening diseases.
Many diseases that cause great harm to infants and children
are best treated through prevention by vaccination. For many
years vaccines have also been recommended for adults for certain diseases, for example, annual flu vaccines and the pneumonia vaccine for adults at risk over the age of 65.
for Disease Control (CDC) recommend giving it at age 60 or older. The vaccine helps
prevent shingles and more importantly the pain that follows shingles. This “post-herpetic” (nerve) pain can be debilitating and difficult to treat. Even people who have
previously had shingles benefit from receiving the vaccine to prevent another episode.
When the vaccine was first developed there was a supply problem which in recent
months seems to have been corrected. The vaccine is 60% effective but felt to be well
worth preventing an episode of shingles.
In more recent years another vaccine has been developed
Another vaccine that has become important for adults is the Tdap booster. Anyone
for adults, Zostavax, otherwise known as the shingles vaccine. who has ever had a cut or injury is asked about their “tetanus” status. If greater than
This vaccine is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 10 years, a tetanus booster would be administered. This booster routinely was a Td,
for age 50 or older. The immunization experts at the Centers meaning it was a booster for tetanus and diphtheria. It is now recommended that adolescents, young adults and older adults that have not received a Tdap
booster receive one. The “ap” stands for attenuated pertussis and is
Bring these Center for Disease Control recomthe booster vaccine against whooping cough. Whooping cough is a
mendations with you to your next appointrespiratory illness that causes thick secretions and a typical cough.
ment
to
make
sure
you
and
your
family
are
up
"
It is highly contagious. For infants, the illness is very serious and can
to date on your immunizations!
be deadly. Boosters are recommended for adults, especially pregnant women and their partners, and anyone who spends a lot of time
around infants.
Clip it & keep it!
There have been geographical areas throughout the country
where there have been outbreaks of whooping cough. Wisconsin
currently leads the nation for the highest rate of occurrence. Since
less than 10% of adults have received their Tdap booster, it’s important to increase this vaccination rate to protect infants. The CDC
is also looking at the current vaccine and its effectiveness. Several
years ago the pertussis vaccine became “attenuated.” An attenuated
vaccine is a vaccine created by reducing the virulence of a pathogen,
but still keeping it viable. It might wane in effectiveness sooner than
was once thought. The bacteria that causes the disease may have
mutated and thus decreased the vaccine effectiveness. Currently the
Tdap booster is an important weapon to decrease the incidence of
whooping cough but the actual vaccine used may change in the future.
Stay tuned and be healthy!
Memorials & Donations • Fall 2012
In Memory/Honor of
Donor
2012 Foundation golf outing
American Solutions for Business
Bethel Home & Services
Certified Recobery
Citizens First Bank
Clinical Ultrasound Inc.
Dave & Jana Dregne
Elegant Stone Products
GPS Anesthesia Services LLC
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center
Mark Halderson
Brian & Janet Hanson
Hewins Financial Advisors LLC
HSR Associates
Investment Centers of America
James P. Bigley Foundation
Kunkel & Associates
Dr. Jeffrey & Mrs. Angie Lawrence
Ledegar Roofing
Madison Gas & Electric
Market & Johnson Inc.
Brian & Terri Miller
Nelson Agri-Center
Loran Nordgren
Rodney & Martha Olson
Peoples State Bank
Poellinger Electric
Radiographic Services Inc.
Mark & Laura Romzek
Rucker Painting, Inc.
Shared Health Services Corp.
Shared Medical Services
Robert & Janet Starr
Garith & Julie Steiner
Dr. Michael Thorstensen
Trane
Gary & Betty Tricker
Vernon Telephone Cooperative
Viroqua Bank
Dr. Alexander & Mrs. Jennifer Wade
WCCU Credit Union
Wipfli LLP
Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance
Russ Yates
6
Fly for hospice
James Bela
Keith & Jody Boraas
Sam Hanson
Loran Nordgren
Stuart & Bonnie Peterson
Richard & Beverly Schulz
karen solverson’s ride across
wisconsin for hospice
Lori Allen
Karen Allness
Vickie Brueggen
Barb Burke
Mark & Jordan Buros
Scott Cooper
Tammy Cumber
Diane Daines
Dave & Jana Dregne
Edith Egeness
Jan Egeness
Lisa Fieck
Shelley Gabrielson
Lynn Gaustad
“George from the ride”
Sherrie Hawk
Milo & Susan Hendrickson
James Hengel
Joe Hengel
Lois Hengel
Bob Larson
Beth Lee
Alice Leis
Maria C. Lloyd
Misty & Dexter
Steph Neprud
Arlene Orethun
Pastor Kathy
Maggie Schlicht
Tom Sharratt
Sheppard Family
Becky Solverson
Dan Solverson
Karl Solverson
Pete Solverson
Randy Soquet
Marilyn Teghtmeyer
Todd & Carol Von Ruden
Nikki Wang
Stacie Weber
Roberta Young
Edith Egeness
Ruth McClurg
continued on p7
Fall 2012 • Vernon Memorial Healthcare - Memorials & Donations • Spotlight On Health
In Memory/Honor of
Donor
CARDIAC REHAB FUND
Mary Brueggen
Susanne Wedwick
DIALYSIS FUND
Arvalene Vedvick
Beverly Forde
Mons Langhus
Class of 1954
Dave & Jana Dregne
Daryl & Nancy Ertl
Robert & Ruth McClurg
Clarence & Anna Jane Nordin
Friends of VMH
Lottie Adams
Thomas & Mary Fortney
Gerald & Patricia Muehr
Mark & Bonnie Olson
Bob & Janet Starr
Anita Thurin Wildermuth
Hospice house
Vivian Arttus
Kay Baetje
Carol Barlow
Class of 1952
Lynn Edwards
Charlene Elderkin
Roger & LeAnn Espe
Friends of Chaseburg
Friends of VMH
Roger & Miriam Hatlem
Margelyn Hewitt
Eunice Hillman
Ron & Sandra Iverson
Gary & Dian Krause
Dave & Lisa Kowalczyk
James & Rebecca Larson
Dr. Jeff & Mrs. Angie Lawrence
LaVerne & Dolly Lisney
Madison Gas &
Electric Foundation, Inc.
Alvin & Phyllis Malin
Joyce Malin
Fred Nelson
Arnold & Coralie Nomann
Dr. Bob & Mrs. Patty Obma
Howard Olson
Organic Valley
Dr. Kenneth & Mrs. Jane
Purdue
Tom & Sharon Sharratt
Stephanie Skogen
Viroqua Bank
Dave & Kay Vosseteig
WCCU Credit Union
Florence Aasen
Eileen Herbees
Lottie Adams
Frances Bekkedal
Dale & Jolene Gudgeon
Bette Jacobson
Jack & Bonnie Rath
Richard & Agnes Roberg
Larry & Marianne Stokke
Doris Ames
Leo Anderson
Celesta Burkum
Erland Dregne
Betty Grundmann
Gertrude Hill
Jim Jeffrey
Mons Langhus
Vernon Parr
Inez Peterson
Jim Reynolds
Jerry Sines
Carter Thompson
Rayness Tryggestad
Lois Tryggestad
Sharon Ames
Clark Maher
Larry & Annabel McGarry
Tom Arneson
Linda Everson
Larry & Annabel McGarry
Layton & Patricia Thompson
Lois Tryggestad
Douglas Bahr
Peter Vick
Jon & Shari Myhre
Bernard & Annabel Barr
Children and Family
Christine Berens
Mary Brueggen
Herdis Lee
Arvalene Vedvick
Dave & Jana Dregne
Anne Berry
Phyllis Iverson
Dr. P.T. Bland
Howard Johnson
Marie Borgen
Patricia Onshus
Robert Benedict
Deb Campbell
Grace Kirking
Paul & Beverly Jacobon
Richard Burt
Brad & Carolyn Steinmetz
Kathleen H. Christianson
David & Debra Abt
Steven & Barbara Burke
Thomas & Joyce Dolan
Arlen & Mary Erickson
Shirley Latham
David & Evelyn Leirmo
Don & Karen McAllister
Jack Draxler
Sherry Yaun
Erland Dregne
Helen M. Beatty
Phyllis Iverson
Shirley Latham
Edith Egeness
Avis Aasen
Vernon Center Garden Club
Ruth Erickson
Daniel Sandwick
Larry Everson
Scott Braaten & Nellie
Braaten
Bruce & Sue Brye
Steven & Barbara Burke
Mary Campbell
Ryan & Nora Christianson
Lynn Clark-Swiggum
Trisha & Joe Gronemus
IUOE - Local 139
Ralph & Kathryn Lemley
Weston & Karen Mack
Garrel Maybee
Kay & Craig Starr
Chuck & Kathie Stelzner
Lois Tryggestad
Donna & Ruel Fleming
Michael Mellem
Larry & Annabel McGarry
Katherine Ford
Curtis & Carrie Tunks
Kelly Gabrielson
Stephanie & Phil Neprud
Dale Greene
Ted & Elizabeth Harris
James & Rebecca Larson
Cody George
Larry & Linda Everson
Kenneth Hanson
Roger & Bonnie Hanson
Dale Halverson
Margaret Larson
Dorothy Helgeson
Doris Sorenson
Ed Hengel
Bernadette Johnson
Oswald “Ossie” Ihle
Daryl R. Peterson
Donald & Melanie Role
Freddi Jahns-Connell
Anita Zibton
Susan Nesbitt
Mons Langhus
Geoffery & Vicki Banta
Frances Bekkedal
Larry & Janet Douglas
Duaine & Susan Dregne
Roderick & Margie Dustin
Linda Eisenbeis
Gary & Judith Gilbertson
Orland Steinmetz
Dave & Jana Dregne
Susanne Wedwick
Stewart Groves
Dorothy Hoffland
David & Priscilla Jackson
Nancy & Thomas Johnson
Paul & Ann Larsen
Delores Swanson
Graydon & Shirley Tollefson
Vernon County Republican
Party
Susanne Wedwick
Fae Zitzner
Gerda Stephen
Beverly Stephen
Paul & Beverly Jacobson
Wincie Stoleson
David & Kathryn Thompson
Ramona Thompson
Joel & Kathryn Anderson
Doris Larson
Dave & Jana Dregne
Jeffrey & Joyce Houghtaling
Alvin & Phyllis Malin
Susanne Mlsna
Kylie Von Ruden
Jon & Shari Myhre
Bob Walker
Chet & Bea Lee
Harold & Jennifer Schierholt
Class of 1948
Patricia Larson
Marvalene Burt
Rev. H. Alfred &
Mrs. Nora Weltzin
Weltzin Trust
Wilfred Lawton
William & Julienne Baker
Lillian Leum
Dave & Jana Dregne
Norman & Mary Ann Oftedahl
Patricia Onshus
Hospice program
George Franklin
Jerome & Mary Frawley
David & Constance Guetzke
Michael L. & Kristen J. Harger
Microsoft Matching Gifts
Program
Norseland Nursing Home
Tranquil Journey LLC
Mary Lou Malphy-Deichelborer
Class of 1952
Sherrie Martin
Duaine & Susan Dregne
Arlen & Mary Erickson
Tom Arneson
Brian Nelson
James & Tracy Hanson
Frederick McLaughlin
Doreen O’Donnell
Richard Burt
Jason and Jennie Burt &
Family
Dorothy McNeilus
James & Rebecca Larson
Mary Dawn Miller
Doreen O’Donnell
Ron Dach
Almon & Sonja Fortney
Roger Molldrem
Helen M. Beatty
Bonita Dorschied
Robert & Monta Clark
Carolyn Nottestad
Ray Moser
Arlen & Mary Erickson
Jack & Bonnie Rath
Erland Dregne
Duaine & Susan Dregne
James & Tracy Hanson
Brian Nelson
Susanne Wedwick
Ann Eide
Stephanie & Phil Neprud
Kristina Neumeyer
Rod & Mary Berg
Dave & Jana Dregne
Arlen & Mary Erickson
Lillian, Lois, & Tom Hanson
James & Rebecca Larson
Daniel & JoAnn Volden
Cody George
James & Tracy Hanson
Grace Kirking
Joanne & La Verne Campbell
Rob Krause
Dave & Jana Dregne
Rollie & Dody Lander
Doris Noel
Sherry Yaun
Myron Odegard
Kris & Mark Brueggen
Mons Langhus
Elling & Joan Davig
Richard & Jodi Davig
Jim & Paula DeLap
Marlene Hansen
James & Rebecca Larson
Mary Tryggestad
Janet Welch
Mabel Olson
Joel & Kathryn Anderson
Donald Ostrem
Margaret Cade
R. A. Pegram
United Methodist Women
Alvin & Phyllis Malin
50th Wedding Anniversary
Alvina Krause
Rodney & Wendy Johnson
Marilyn Randall
Mary Hugdahl
Patricia Onshus
Garith Steiner’s Retirement
Kay & Kenneth Deaver
Alvin & Phyllis Malin
Robert & Janet Starr
R. A. Pegram
Thomas & Sandra Howard
Lyle Salmon
Barbara Bowen
Patricia Effinger
Donald & Janice Halverson
KVMC Staff
Leon & Marvalene Mellem
Wayne & Becky Nedland
Judy & Lyle Salmon
Karl & Kristy Wiltrout
Lyle Salmon
Larry & Linda Everson
Michael & Lois Knutson
Arnold Schmidt
Ted & Elizabeth Harris
Victoria May
Karla Shaw
Joel & Kathryn Anderson
Eunice Hillman
Alvin & Phyllis Malin
Karla Shaw
James & Tracy Hanson
Fred Nelson
Arnold Schmidt
Gloria Fetty
Maxine Shird
LaVerne & Dolly Lisney
Charlie & Shari Jacobson
Connie Schulz
Loren & Sharon Olson
Rick Sime
Steven & Barbara Burke
Paul & Beverly Jacobson
Mary Koenig & Fritz Rogers
Kay & Craig Starr
Maxine Shird
Virginia Evans
Maureen Hysel
7
Carter Thompson
Dane County District One EMS
Cindy Turner
Arvalene Vedvick
Richard & Agnes Roberg
Mary Tryggestad
Weber Family
Nancy Rhodes
Phyllis Whithoeft
Joel & Kathryn Anderson
Norman Zitzner
Janice Zitzner
Steiner cont.
education fund
Garith Steiner’s Retirement
Tony & Angela Nemes
Brad & Carolyn Steinmetz
Wipfli LLP
Larry Everson
Gerda Stephen
Karla Shaw
Garith & Julie Steiner
Transplant Support
fund
Jean Abbot
Dr. Ben & Julie Agar
Lynn Allen
American Family Insurance
Betty Amundson
Jean Amundson
Mark & Bonnie Anderson
Judy Applebee
Roberta Aubry
Raymond & Rosemarie Aubry
Anne Babbich
Mona Bader
Marcia Bader
Badger Crossing
Daniel Badtke
Bank of Cashton
Tamy Bekkum
Shirley Benisch
Kala Berg
John & Jacqueline Bertling
Gerard & Penny Besenhard
Jessica Bjerkos
Beverly Bjornstad
Bil Bohn
Borgen’s Cafe
Joe & Joan Brannan
Michael Breckel
Brueggen Oil Co. LLC
C & C Landscaping, Inc.
Yvonne & Harvey Cade
Cashton Building Supply
Cashton Farm Supply LTD
Jena & Frederick Casper
Richard & Anna Crogan
Emily Culver
Fritz Cushing
Dr. James & Ann DeLine
Effinger Equipment Sales &
Service LLC
Express Lube of Viroqua LLC
Mildred Fanta
Margaret Farley
Jmee Felton
Nancy Foudray
Audrey Fradette
Marilyn Galletti
Kay Getter
Tucker & Rebecca Gretebeck
Sally & Jim Grubar
Edith & Wally Habhegger
Henry & Wendy Hagenbuch
Albert & Eileen Hagenbuch
Laurie Hall
Carol Hankee
Kelly Hauser-Schaller
Orval & Virginia Hilden
Dawn Hoff
Roger & Rebecca Hooker
Carol Hultberg
Jean & Paul Hundt
Nick Hundt
Becky Hundt
Leah Hundt
Hundt Implement Inc.
Maureen Hysel
Agnes Jenkins
Nora Jernander
Robert & Bertha Johnson
Marcy Jones
Judith Jothen
Randall Juenemann
Mark Katz
Alissa Keenan
Matt & Ann Keenan
Joan Kent
Kickapoo Corners
Patty & Dan Kinsey
Katie Kleckner
Karen Kline
Sean Kline
Joyce Kurth
Gabrielle Kurth
Megan Kurth
La Farge Lions Club
Jim & Karen Lee
Jack & Maggie Lee
DuWayne Lind
LaVerne & Dolly Lisney
Jonah Lottig
Lynn Luckasson
Maple Valley
Jeff & Lori May
Maddie Mellor
Barb Mellor
Sharon Miessner
Levi & Norma Jean Miller
Mitby’s TV & Appliance LLC
LeAnne & Nick Mlsna
Mlsna Dairy & Supply
Kenneth & Rose Mullenberg
Douglas & Geraldine Muller
Kim Mulvaney
Ronald & Mary Myskewitz
Emily & Lance Oium
Old Towne Inn
Dennis Olson
Pat & Carol Olson
Cindy & Mark Ostrem
Peggy Pasker
Don & Dorothy Peterson
John Powell
Esther Pulham
R. Equipment Co. LLC
Gail Raddatz
Rays Gas & Goodies
Teague Reynolds
Walter Reynolds
Michelle Ripp-Ihnen
Muriel Sandman
Donald & Beverly Scharlau
Nancy Schmidt
Carl & Virginia Schwarz
Katie Schwarz
Jayme Seidel
David & Holly Slack
Sleepy Hollow Auto
Howard & Patricia Smith
Eldonna J. Smith
William & Pamela Stack
Brad & Carolyn Steinmetz
Vickie Stevenson
Kay Thrune
Eric & Stephanie Thunstedt
Transition Point Holistic
Services, LLC
Von Ruden Meat Processing
WCCU Credit Union
Westland Insurance Services
Danielle Wight
Daniel & Carolyn Wokosin
Pat Workman
Dick & Linda Yanke
Unrestricted
Michelle & Jeffrey Flick
Connie Frame
Shirley Quinter
Wayne Daniels
Elton & Kathy Krueger
Robert W. Radcliffe
Earl Thomas
Thomas & Cheryl Whittle
Erland Dregne
Duaine & Susan Dregne
Henry Herling
Anna Peters
Myron Odegard
Dave & Jana Dregne
Bonita Dorschied
Wayne & Barbara Robson
Ervin Oftedahl
Dr. Lawrence
Julie Flores
Ned & Diane Miller
VMH Surgeons & Staff
Thomas & Lori Ross
Sharon Zitzner Heywood
Fae Zitzner
Fall 2012 • Vernon Memorial Healthcare • Spotlight On Health
A Great Staff is Our Greatest Strength
Kristy wiltrout named
Chief operating Officer
Kristy Wiltrout has been named Chief
Operating Officer of Vernon Memorial
Healthcare. Kristy She succeeds Kyle Bakkum who is VMH’s new CEO. Wiltrout
says she looks forward to her new role and
meeting the challenges of a changing health care system. Wiltrout is a
graduate of Viroqua
High School and the
Viterbo School of
Nursing. She went
to work at Lutheran Hospital in La
Crosse right after
graduation in 1988
and came to the Nursing Department at
Vernon Memorial from 1993-1999. Wiltrout took a job as a clinic nurse at the
Gundersen Lutheran Viroqua Clinic in
1999. She worked there until 2005 when
Dr. Brian Woody and Dr. Duane Koons
left that practice and joined Hirsch Clinic-VMH. Wiltrout came with them and a
year later became the Nursing Supervisor
for all VMH clinics. Wiltrout was named
Manager of Clinic Services in May 2009.
Kathryn Sutton-anderson
announced as new Physical
Therapy manager
Kathryn Sutton-Anderson has been
named Physical Therapy Manager at VMH.
Sutton Anderson replaces Dan Nelson who
recently accepted his new assignment of
Assistant Administrator of Clinic Operations. Sutton Anderson has been
a member of the
physical therapy
staff at VMH for
16 years.
She
has served as the
Clinical Education Coordinator
for physical therapy and physical
therapy assistant
students, is an Orthopaedic Certified Specialist and most recently attained her Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Therapy,
making her one of a select few in the state
certified in pelvic rehab.
Sutton Anderson plans to continue
to see pelvic physical therapy patients for
an indefinite time.
Sutton Anderson looks forward to her
new management role. She said, “I look
forward to continuing the tradition of excellent service and patient outcomes.”
as a physical therapist in 1986. Nelson
obtained his Physical Therapy degree at
UW-La Crosse. He did his undergraduate studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a 1979 Westby
High School grad.
Nelson said his new role will allow
him to help VMH in additional ways beyond his role as Physical Therapy Manager. His change in duties for the organization, he said, also provides opportunities
for seasoned staff to take on more responsibilities. Nelson added, “I’m interested in
being a part of conquering the challenges
that I believe we’re going to face in health
care.”
Reflecting on the past 23 years in
physical therapy, Nelson said one of the
major changes he was involved in was
expanding the time
that
therapists
were able to spend
with patients. This
was allowed to take
place due to changes in Medicare billing. Not only did
this resurrect his
career as a therapist, he said it also
improved the qualdan nelson promoted to
ity of each patient visit and also helped to
assistant administrator,
recruit staff and expand the department.
clinic operations
Nelson said he has always appreciated the
Dan Nelson has been promoted to As- department’s ability to take care of a wide
sistant Administrator, Clinic Operations. variety of patient diagnosis thanks to a
Nelson had been the Physical Therapy supportive network of medical providers.
(PT) Manager since 1989. He joined VMH
Sullivan and hora expand
knowledge of quality
improvement
Sue Sullivan, Compliance & Quality
Improvement Manager and Bobbi Jo Hora,
Surgical RN, attended the American Hospital Association (AHA) - Hospital Engagement Network Conference in Chicago August 16-17, 2012.
This national conference was attended by over 700 individuals in the health
care field.
Sullivan and Hora presented VMH’s
success story on our Catheter Associated Urinary Tract
Infection (CAUTI)
program that VMH
joined in 2012. The
goals of this program are to reduce
patient harm by
40% and to reduce
readmissions
by
20% by December l-r: Hora and Sullivan
2013.
Vernon Memorial’s aim by participating in this important
initiative is to adopt strategies proven to
prevent health care acquired infections
and improve the overall outcomes for our
patients.
The AHA-Hospital Engagement Network gives hospitals the opportunity to
collaborate with each other, focusing on
the implementation phase of quality improvement work.
Thank You to our Associates for Providing Quality Healthcare
VMH Employees Celebrate Years of Service Anniversaries
20 & 25 Year Associates
10 & 15 Year Associates
5 Year Associates
Vernon Memorial Healthcare staff were honored at the 2012 Associate Recognition Banquet held October 25. The
53 associates that were recognized had a combined total of 620 years of service with VMH.
40 Years
Barbara Burke
35 years
Ellen Natwick
30 years
Michelle Krause
25 years
Marla Heisz
Joyce Krause
20 years
Tara Berg
Cheryl Cade
Joan Kesler
Kim Parker
Sandra Thayer
Linda Zube
15 years
Dr. Ben Agar
Tara Cahoon
Kelly Everhart
Linda Fahr
Elizabeth Glidden
Catherine Herricks
Sheila Kupersmith
Laura Schmidt
Priscilla Sill
10 years
Lisa Anderson Turben
Jenelle Boyer
Kathy Bussie
Linda Congdon
Michelle Fiske
Dawn Froiseth
Laura Kellogg
Shannon Mellem
Jaime Swenson
5 years
Bernadette Adams
Barabara Becker
Jennifer Bjorklund
Andrea Burke
Thomas Cravens
Ellen Effinger
Rachel Eide
Amber Emler
Phoebe Engh
Judy Farrey
Erin Franks
Ashlee Gabrielson
Amanda Hanson
Looking for VMH New Arrivals?
Karen Hillegass
Bobbi Larson
Tom Mather
Doreen O’Donnell
Colleen Ruebsamen
Ashley Schlicht
Elisabeth Senior
Michelle Simunovic
Rikki Sprosty
Jason Tesch
Amanda Walsh
Visit our online newborn gallery at: www.vmh.org/content/newborn-gallery
8