News

Burgess Health Center is proud to announce the nomination of Matt Garred, ARNP at the Whiting Family Clinic, for the Burgess Foundation Guardian Angel Award.

Todd Clark, Sioux City, wants to recognize and thank Matt for his thoughtfulness and confident care. He trusts his health to the medical professionals at Burgess and wants to thank Matt for going above and beyond and always being there for him.

It took over eight years for Todd to find a team to help with his medical condition, and after being introduced to Dr. John Garred, Jr. (Matt’s father) and Matt, Todd felt a special connection and understanding.

Burgess Foundation’s Guardian Angel program provides patients, family members, and friends a chance to show gratitude to a physician, nurse, or another caregiver who has played an exceptional role in their lives. The Guardian Angel received an acknowledgment letter announcing that a donation has been made in their honor and given a custom-crafted lapel pin to wear proudly.

Did a caregiver at Burgess make a memorable difference for you or your family? If so, you can honor that special person in a highly visible way through Burgess Foundation’s Guardian Angel program. It is more than a pin. When you take advantage of our Guardian Angel program, you also help ensure the future of outstanding health care in the region.

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Photo: Teresa Butler, Sr. VP of Clinical Services & Interim CEO, Laura Garred, Samuel Garred, Matt Garred, Justin Hummelgard, Director of Clinics, and Bobbi Johnson, Foundation Director.

The Learning for Life program at Burgess Health Center would like to thank the Monona County Community Partners Foundation.  With grant money received from the Foundation, we were able to purchase child care and safety items for families in our program.  The families are able to earn points for the items by taking their children to well-child checks, the library, having home visits and a variety of other healthy activities.  These items purchased range from baby lotion and soap to pack-n-plays, safety gates, high chairs and more.  The grant allowed Learning for Life to have the child care items readily available when there is a need for them.  This will ensure children in our program have access to a safe environment.  Thank you!

Learning for Life is a free home visiting program for anyone in Monona County with children prenatal-5 years old.  Our parent educators assist parents in giving their children the best possible start by building a strong relationship and helping parents increase their confidence.  Our staff bring fun educational parent-child activities, provide support and encouragement, as well as complete developmental assessments to be sure the children are school ready when that time comes.  Enrolled families have access to passes to the LaunchPad Children’s Museum and the Henry Doorly Zoo.  To enroll or find out more information call 712-423-9175.

The Learning for Life Program is funded by the Harrison, Monona and Shelby Early Childhood Iowa Board, Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program grant funding and the Monona County Board of Supervisors.

The Burgess Health Center Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Lynn R. Wold as Chief Executive Officer, effective early September.

With nearly 30 years of progressive and diverse experience in the healthcare industry, Wold brings a wealth of leadership and strategic expertise to Burgess Health Center. As the new CEO, Wold will lead the 25-bed critical access hospital in Onawa, three Burgess Family Clinics serving the communities of Sloan, Whiting, and Mapleton, and a retail family pharmacy in Whiting.

“We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Lynn’s caliber, experience and locally connected to step up to lead Burgess,” said Keith Schrunk, Board President. “Just wrapping up an $18 million expansion and renovation, we look forward to his leadership. We believe he will successfully continue to improve the quality of life for the people and communities we serve by providing excellent healthcare and exceptional patient experiences.”

During his 18-year tenure at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s, Sioux City, Iowa, Wold led the development of the Pierce Street Same Day Surgery facility, worked to improve patient satisfaction scores and employee engagement, oversaw the development and construction of an 80,000 square foot ambulatory medical plaza and led the expansion of highly effective Medicare-certified Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE), to name a few initiatives accomplished under his leadership.

“I am honored to have been selected as the next CEO for Burgess Health Center,” said Lynn Wold. “I am excited to join this team, organization and community that has prioritized high-quality healthcare delivery for decades. Alongside the physicians and staff, I plan to continue moving the organization forward with excellence and distinction while always putting patients first.”

“I can think of no one better to push Burgess to another level in healthcare and continue to be a huge impact in medical care in the area,” added Schrunk. “Lynn is an engaging leader with proven qualifications in strategic planning, physician recruitment, master planning, community relations, and patient experience. We look forward to welcoming him to the Burgess team.”

Wold was raised in a rural community in SE North Dakota and is the proud son of a farmer and medical laboratory technician. Lynn is a farm boy at heart. He and his wife, Beth, are the parents of five children and currently live in LeMars, IA. He and Beth look forward to establishing a home as soon as possible in or around Onawa. Wold is extremely excited to meet the Burgess team and get to know the communities and patients we serve.

Burgess Foundation recently held two very successful golf tournaments! Willow Vale Golf Course in Mapleton hosted on June 9 and the Onawa Country Club in Onawa on June 16. Golfers had the choice to register for one day or sign up for both fun-filled Fridays.

The teams enjoyed camaraderie on the greens, a steak sandwich meal for lunch, a 19^th-hole putting contest, and pin prizes. Both tournaments raised over $36,000 that will be used to purchase new medical equipment which furthers Burgess Health Center’s purpose of providing excellent healthcare.

“The success of this annual golf tournament depends very much on the overwhelming support and participation from our sponsors, volunteers and staff,” Bobbi Johnson, Director of the Burgess Foundation, stated. “The dedication and commitment are truly making a difference in advancing the mission of the Burgess Foundation and helping us TEE IT UP FORE Burgess Health Center.

Mapleton Tournament:
Champion: First Security Bank -54, Team Lander – 57, Fister Farms – 59.
First Flight: Denison Drywall – 66, Lander Farms – 67, Team Copple – 67.
Second Flight: Lee’s Small Engine Repair – 75, Team Warner – 77, Maple Heights – 80.

Onawa Tournament:
Champion: Team Lander – 55, Security National Bank/Spring Valley Ag -55, The Hoffman Agency – 55.
First Flight: AgriVision Equipment – 59, Nelson & Rock Contracting – 60, Mac’s Chevrolet – 63.
Second Flight: Lee’s Small Engine Repair – 66, Graham Construction – 68, Dr. Knudson – 68.

Sponsors:
1% Lists Dream Street, 6 Mile Pursuit, AgriVision, AssuredPartners/ServiShare, Bayer Crop Science, Carl & Allison Behne, Black Hills Energy, Burgess Auxiliary, Burgess Family Clinics, Burgess Mapleton PT, Burgess Ute, CHI Health, CMBA Architects, Community Bank, Rob & Karla Copple, Dr. Peter & Jennifer Daher, Denison Drywall Contracting, Echo Electric Supply, Family Medicine Clinic, First Security Bank, Fister Farms, Friends Divided, Graham Construction, Grip it ‘n Rip it!, Great Southern Bank, IP Pathways, Dr. Rachel Knudson, Josh Lander, Lander Farms, Lee’s Small Engine Repair, Long Lines Broadband, MAC’S Chevrolet, Inc., Maple Heights, Morton Buildings, Inc., Nelson & Rock Contracting, Security National Bank, Specialized Engineering Solutions, Spring Valley Ag, Dr. John Terry, The Hoffman Agency, Timber Ridge, Uncommon Grounds, Vision Care Clinic, Grady & Stacy Warner, Kathy Westergaard, Williams & Company, WIPCO, and Xigent Solutions.

Prize Sponsors:
Bomgaar’s – Mapleton, Bomgaar’s – Onawa, Burgess Auxiliary, Casey’s, Graceful Boutique, Graceful Grind Coffeehouse, Hard Rock Main & Abbey, Hometown Variety, Mapleton Press, Onnen Company, Scheels, Jessi Tadlock – Century 21, Uncommon Grounds, United Bank of Iowa – Moorhead.

Meal Sponsors:
Mapleton: Fiesta Foods – Breakfast, Uncommon Grounds/Kathy Westergaard – Lunch
Onawa: Fiesta Foods – Breakfast, Black Hills Energy – Lunch

Beverage Sponsor:
Mapleton: 1% Lists Dream Street
Onawa: Williams & Company

Putting Contest Sponsor:
Great Southern Bank in both Mapleton and Onawa

19th Hole Sponsor:
Mapleton: Xigent Solutions
Onawa: Specialized Engineering Solutions

 

Photo #1: Shane Erlemeier, Chris Leif, Scott McCandless, and Ethan Wolf.
Photo #2: Josh Lander, J.J. Lander, Tommy Miller, and Carl Miller.

Five scholarships of $500 each are awarded each spring to area high school seniors and first-year college students that wish to pursue a career in a health-related field.

The 2023 recipients are as follows: Gracie Cloud (Sloan, 3.944 GPA), graduate of Westwood High School plans to attend WITCC for Nursing; Emma Collison (Onawa, 3.34 GPA), graduate of West Monona High School plans to attend Wayne State for Mental Health Counseling; Damian Orr (Turin, 3.529 GPA), graduate of West Monona High School plans to attend the University of South Dakota for Physical Therapy; Brooklyn Pekarek (Blencoe, 3.927 GPA), graduate of West Monona High School plans to attend the University of Iowa to become a medical provider; and Lariya Templeton (Oto, 3.88 GPA), graduate of MVAOCOU plans to attend Kirkwood Community College for Nursing.

Applications are available January through March online at www.BurgessHC.org/auxiliary or at the Burgess Health Center front desk and accepted until April 1.

Over the past few weeks, the Burgess Health Center Board of Directors has met and decided an interim CEO was best to keep the momentum and positivity of our expansion and successful strategic planning moving forward during this transitional period of Carl Behne’s resignation.

“We are pleased to announce Teresa Butler, our current Senior VP of Clinical Services, will fill the role of interim CEO.” Said Keith Schrunk, President of the Burgess Health Center Board, “With her proven leadership with Burgess for over 17 years in both clinical and operational settings, we are confident she will provide guidance and support during this time of adjustment.”

Though Behne’s last day with Burgess will be June 2, 2023, he will remain on consultatively to support Teresa, the senior leadership team, and the Board as needed until the role is filled.

“Teresa exemplifies, like the rest of the team, the heart, compassion, desire, work ethic, and perseverance of improving Burgess to make it, as our Vision Statement indicates, ‘To be the best rural healthcare system in America.’” Added Schrunk.

The Board of Directors continues to be committed to Burgess Health Center and are grateful to have a team that works together to uphold providing excellent healthcare and exceptional patient experiences.

Photo: Teresa Butler, Senior VP of Clinical Services

Thank you to everyone that participated in our Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month activities!  In April, we recognized the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promoted the social and emotional well-being of children and families.  April is a time to help people understand that safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments are necessary to ensure that children grow up happy and healthy. We all play a role in supporting the well-being of others.

In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month, the Burgess Public Health Learning for Life program and the Monona County Child Abuse Prevention Council sponsored many activities.  You may have seen one of our over 30 Pinwheel Flower pots around the county.  The blue pinwheel is the national symbol Prevent Child Abuse America.  Or perhaps you participated in our Family Bingo.  We distributed over 700 Family Bingo cards to children and their families.  Each bingo card was filled with fun, free family activities to promote positive bonding and togetherness.  With generous funding from the Harrison, Monona and Shelby Early Childhood Board, families who completed a “blackout” and turned their card in, were eligible for a prize drawing of one of three family memberships to the Henry Doorly Zoo or one of three family game baskets.  Congratulations to our winners from each school district: Kendyl Purcell, Jasmine Warren, Madison Golden, Wylie Eckert, Hudson Blatchford and Trigg Fox!  It is our hope that the families who did not turn in a “black out” card were able to complete some of the activities or at the very least read through the cards to see how simple it can be to spend quality time together.

The Monona County Board of Supervisors also signed a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month to show their support to the families and children in our county.  We appreciate their time and collaboration.  We also want to thank those that wore blue on Fridays during April to show their support!

The Monona County Child Abuse Prevention Council meets regularly to ensure that EVERY CHILD has a safe childhood free of violence.  The Council is actively seeking members. For information on how to be involved or if you or a friend would like to learn how to participate in educational early childhood home visits that will help your child’s growth and development, please contact Burgess Public Health at 712-423-9175.  Our Learning for Life Program is a free home visiting program for families with children prenatal through kindergarten entry.  The Learning for Life Program is funded by grants from the Harrison, Monona and Shelby Early Childhood Iowa Board, Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program grant funding and the Monona County Board of Supervisors.

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Photo: (back, left to right) Paula Nagel, West Central Community Action/Head Start, Michelle James with Family Crisis Centers, Debie Lahr, Kaylee Kirkpatrick, and Adam Hadden. (front, left to right) Vince Phillips, Tom Brouillette, and Bo Fox of the Monona County Board of Supervisors.

Burgess Health Center proudly announces it has achieved accreditation through Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for the Sleep Program.

Accreditation is a process through which healthcare organizations demonstrate compliance with national standards. Accreditation by ACHC reflects an organization’s dedication and commitment to meeting standards that facilitate a higher level of performance and patient care.

ACHC is a nonprofit organization that has stood as a symbol of quality and excellence since 1986. ACHC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and has CMS deeming authority for Home Health, Hospice and DMEPOS.

If you are interested in the Sleep Program offered at Burgess Health Center, please contact your primary care provider for a referral.

 Congratulations to Burgess Family Clinic Mapleton, Sloan, and Whiting! They have been selected as the 2023 Population Health Pioneer Award Winner for Community of the Year from Signify Health for the state of Iowa!

The Population Health Pioneer Awards are presented each year to honor those who have best served their communities, patients, and the healthcare industry through their leadership and innovation over the past year.

This accomplishment was made possible by the efforts, focus, and determination of the Burgess Family Clinic’s Population Health Nurses, Dana Longlee and Becca Petersen, and with the support of the nurses, medical assistants, registrars and providers.

“I am so proud of the efforts made by Dana, Becca, and the entire team to ensure the health of our communities,” said Justin Hummelgard, Clinic Director. “None of this would have been possible without their hard work and dedication.”

Justin Hummelgard, Dana Longlee and Becca Petersen will be traveling to San Antonio in May to represent Burgess Family Clinics and to receive the award.