News

Thanks to the generous donation from the Burgess Auxiliary, all 25 inpatient rooms at Burgess Health Center received new patient privacy curtains. These strong and durable curtains provide patients with needed privacy during interactions with staff and family visits and prevent infections from spreading throughout the hospital.

The Burgess Auxiliary was founded in 1962, and since then, they have helped raise funds for Burgess Health Center through memberships, book and jewelry sales, gift shop sales, and annual initiatives like Ventures Arts and Craft Fair. Another major source of income is ACT II, a consignment shop in Onawa that opened for business in October 1987.

“We are grateful for the Burgess Auxiliary’s commitment to Burgess Health Center,” Carl Behne, CEO of Burgess Health Center stated. “The incredible amount of time and devotion each of these members have put forth over the years is truly inspiring and plays a critical role in Burgess’ long-standing commitment to provide quality healthcare to the communities we serve.”

The Burgess Auxiliary has collectively donated $39,000 to Burgess Health Center this Fiscal Year 2022, including significant monetary donations to the Poinsettia Ball and the Burgess Foundation Golf Tournament.

For more information on the Burgess Auxiliary, or to become a member, visit www.BurgessHC.org/about/auxiliary.

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Photo: (back L to R) Elaine Eisele, Lou Hewitt, Julie Miller, Cheryl Warner, Michele Waples, Brenda Howland, and Mary Tramp. Not pictured: Teresa Butler, Jessica Hupke, Mona Pithan, Cindy King, Patty Sandmann, Amy Johnston, and Rhonda Willey.

Over the past two years, the staff at Burgess Health Center has worked together to keep our patients, families, and visitors safe and healthy by implementing masking requirements in all facilities. Effective Monday, May 2, 2022, Burgess Health Center’s masking requirements have been updated to better align with the Monona County Transmission Rate. Monona County is currently in a Low Transmission Rate, as of May 2, 2022.

Isolation masks and face shields remain required for team members when providing direct care to patients whether Monona County Transmission Rate is low, medium or high. Team members who are exemption approved from the vaccination requirements (unvaccinated) must remain masked with isolation masks and face shields regardless of the Monona County Transmission Rate.

Patient / Visitor Masking Requirements:

When Monona County Transmission Rate is low or moderate, the following masking requirements will be in effect.

–       Masks are required if the patient or visitor is experiencing respiratory symptoms.

–       Masks are required if the patient or visitor has been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 10 days.

–       Masks are required if the patient or visitor has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days regardless of symptoms.

When the Monona County Transmission Rate is high the following masking requirements will be in effect.

–       Masks are required for all patients, visitors and team members in all areas of the facilities.

Burgess Health Center wants to remind the community that if community transmission levels increase, masks will again be required at all Burgess facilities. Please bear with us as we navigate these changes and Burgess Health Center’s new normal during and after this pandemic.

Burgess Health Center will be closing the Decatur clinic June 30, 2022. The closure comes with a very heavy heart and was a difficult decision made by the Burgess Health Center board.

A recent request to renew our Decatur lease brought upon the necessity to review the operations of the Decatur clinic. Though we have evaluated this in the past, we did not prioritize it at the time. The Burgess Health Center leadership rigorously assessed as they did with the Dunlap services, the financial performance, patient volumes, and the continued compressed/declining reimbursements from CMS and private payers.

“Healthcare is ever changing as well as consumer demands and expectations. Patients expect access to care more than a day a week and we are better suited as an organization and with our partners to do this consistently at our other Burgess Health Center locations.” stated Carl Behne, CEO of Burgess Health Center. “We continue to make decisions that will strengthen our organization, enable us to better serve patients in the future, and allow us to continue to provide quality care for our communities.”

Patients will receive a notice regarding the closure that explains how we can assist with transitioning their care to other Burgess locations or other local providers.

“We will continue to look to support care delivery in the Burgess Health Center and clinic network,” adds Behne. “We will also assist patients who choose to transition their care to other local providers. Ultimately, this is a patient preference and choice, and we hope they will want to continue to use the services provided by Burgess and our partners.”

Burgess Health Center is proud to announce the nominations of five Burgess employees for the Burgess Foundation Guardian Angel Award.

Erin Brekke, her father, John Coil, and her sisters Allison Johnson and Tami Coil, want to recognize and thank Corrina Schild, Cindy Vaughn, Steve Gordon and Lynette Dunham by nominating and donating in honor of their beloved mother, Trudy Coil.  These remarkable and caring individuals went above and beyond to care for Trudy, including difficult transitions of care, making sure her daily needs were met, and of course refilling her stash of Diet Coke.

“Trudy looked forward to each and every one of these invested caregivers,” said Brekke. “They were all true angels providing reassurance and comfort for mom. There are so many special people here that have impacted mom or our family in such a positive way over all of these years”.

Burgess Foundation’s Guardian Angel program provides patients, family members, and friends a chance to show their 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 rear, left to right: John Coil, Erin Brekke, Corrina Schild, Cindy Vaughn, Steve Gordon, Carl Behne, CEO, Lynette Dunham, Dr. John Garred, Bobbi Johnson, Foundation Director; front, left to right: Tami Coil and Allison Johnson.

On March 15, 2022 the Monona County Board of Supervisors signed a proclamation proclaiming April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Monona County and urge all citizens to recognize this month by dedicating ourselves to the tasks of improving the quality of life for all children and families.

Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes 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 during this time.

Throughout CAP month, Prevent Child Abuse America and Monona County Child Abuse Prevention Council are using a community garden metaphor to reinforce the message that “Every day, we help families and children thrive.”  Children and families are our greatest natural resource.  We all have a stake in preparing children to grow up to be healthy and thriving members of our community.  The best time to plant seeds of support for all children is now.  Every season presents a new opportunity to promote a young person’s physical, emotional, and social development.  Adversity is not destiny.

You can show support for promoting positive childhood experiences and preventing adversity by wearing blue on APRIL 1st.  We ask that you post a picture on social media with the hashtag #WearBlueDay2022.  The council will also be distributing pinwheel flower pots to Monona County businesses.  They will serve as a visual reminder of the world we want-for all children to grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed.  Please email dlahr@burgesshc.org or call 712-423-9175 if you would like a pinwheel flower pot in your business.

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.

Burgess Health Center is proud to announce the nomination of Jenny Kenney, social worker in the Home Health/Hospice Department, for the Burgess Foundation Guardian Angel Award.

Donna Jacobs, and her husband Ray, want to recognize and thank Jenny by nominating and donating in honor of her beloved mother, Evon Blakely. Jenny went above and beyond to care for Evon, including arranging weekly FaceTime visits so Jacobs could communicate with her mother from her home in Arizona.

“We so looked forward to her weekly visits,” said Jacobs. “Mother would perk up when Jenny arrived, even when mother was not feeling the best. Compassion is essential in this role and Jenny exuded this quality”.

Burgess Foundation’s Guardian Angel program provides patients, family members, and friends a chance to show their 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: Sherri Johnston-McDowell, Director of Home Health/Hospice, Jenny Kenney, Linda Handke Nepper, Evon’s daughter-in-law, Bobbi Johnson, Foundation Director, and Carl Behne, CEO.

The West Monona Middle School Student Council put together a giving tree where employees and students were able to donate items to provide to families that are involved in the Learning for Life Program. This was a great way to give a little extra to the families who wished to participate. A special Thank You to Stephanie Fredrickson for thinking of our program and getting this organized!

The Learning for Life program also offered a safe and virtual way to talk with Santa on December 16, 2021. The children were able to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas and Santa read a book with them. There were five families in attendance with 10 children.

Learning for Life is a free home visiting program for families with children prenatal through age 5, or kindergarten entry. Through educational activities and helpful information, this program focuses on your child’s growth and development to create an eager learner that’s ready for school. If you’re interested in joining our program, please contact Burgess Health Center’s Public Health, Learning for Life Program, at 712-423-9253. Sara Keenan or Kaylee Kirkpatrick would be happy to talk to you about this exciting and beneficial program available in Monona County!

The Learning for Life Program is funded by grants from the Harrison, Monona and Shelby Early Childhood Iowa Board and the Harrison, Monona and Shelby Decategorization Board and ICAPP grant funding.

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Pictured from left to right: Georgia Jones, Chloe Broer, Brooklynn Hupke, Stephanie Fredrickson, Riley Needd, Drew Bryan, Parker LaBrie, and Breckin Anderson.

The recent Poinsettia Online Ball was a huge success – raising over $103,000 to go toward the purchase of a new ambulance for the Burgess Emergency Department. The ambulance service responds to 911 calls, transfers patients to other facilities, and assists with stand-by’s for fire calls – covering a total of 700 square miles! This new model will replace the older ambulance, which has nearly 190,000 miles.

Hosted by the Burgess Foundation and held virtually, December 6-11, 2021, the Poinsettia Online Ball attracted 142 registered bidders who enjoyed friendly competition, outbidding one another until the last minute on unique packages and items donated by local businesses, community members, and Burgess staff/departments.

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this organization. The Burgess Foundation has really developed its vision and is building momentum for the future,” said Bobbi Johnson, Foundation Director. “I look forward to being a part of the effort to bring the Foundation to the next level, making a positive difference for even more people in the communities we serve.”

The Burgess Foundation Board of Directors would like to extend a sincere thank you to each and every one of the donors, local business owners, corporate donors as well as everyone who has supported this year’s Poinsettia Online Ball.

Photo: Bobbi Johnson, Director of Burgess Foundation

In late October, Bomgaars held a night of festive fun and shopping for ladies to raise awareness of women’s health issues and pass along a 20% discount on purchased items. A donation of the evening’s total sales was pledged back to the radiology department at Burgess Health Center.

“We are grateful to have the support from our local Bomgaars store and the ladies that came out to enjoy the discounts,” Jenny Coble, Director of Radiology Department, stated. “Our communities rally when it’s for a good cause, and in this case, cancer screening and women’s health.”

The donation of $711.58 is earmarked to support mammography services at Burgess Health Center. Breast cancer cannot be prevented; however, Burgess Health Center continues to provide and invest in the latest technologies, education, and support services for early detection.