Huron Regional Medical Center

Fall 2015

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NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT continued from page 1 From the CEO David Dick David Dick President and CEO Huron Regional Medical Center Buckle Up With Our Experts To help improve car safety in the community, Huron Regional Medical Center has teamed up with South Dakota Child Safety Seat Distribution Program. Two members of the HRMC's maternity staff, Jennifer Kahre and Pam Poulisse, RN, have received Child Passenger Safety Certification. As certified educators, Kahre and Poulisse provide free education including: • Child safety seat checks • Parent and/or caregiver education and instruction • Hands-on support and demonstration Additionally, they assist qualifying parents and caregivers with obtaining free car seats from the SD Child Safety Seat Distribution Program. South Dakota residents who receive Medicaid, WIC or CHIP resources typically qualify. All parents who deliver at HRMC receive safety seat education, and staff ensures the infant has a quality safety seat which is installed correctly before leaving the hospital. For more information on the program, contact the maternity staff at (605) 353-6251 or visit dss.sd.gov/childcare/childsafetyseat. Look Before You Lock When you're out for an afternoon running errands with your child in tow, making a quick dash into a store while your little one waits in the car may seem harmless. Don't do it – leaving your baby or toddler unattended is extremely dangerous and may put your child at risk for heatstroke or hypothermia. To raise awareness about the risk and steps parents may take to avoid a dangerous situation, HRMC has joined with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in promoting the "Look Before You Lock" educational program. "The temperature in a car can change drastically and very quickly, so communicating these messages to parents is absolutely critical," says Rebecca Jones, RN, CLC, OB patient experience coordinator with HRMC. "At HRMC, we provide each family with education about the dangers of heatstroke and hypothermia before the baby goes home." For information about maternity care and programs for new parents at HRMC, call (605) 353-6255 or visit www.huronregional.org/services/maternity. PREPARING PARENTS to Care for Baby Beyond Delivery So, what is going on at the hospital? The answer – a lot! Let me fill you in on one development. The HRMC board of directors voted to join a brand new organization called the Northern Plains Health Network. You haven't heard of it before because it was just formed in May by five independent hospitals in Eastern Central South Dakota. The purpose of the organization is to strengthen the South Dakota independent hospitals by working together on common projects to bring more value to our communities. The network members are hospitals located in Watertown, Madison, Brookings, Sisseton and Huron. Area physician clinics and practices will also be invited to join the network. This will give our rural communities the ability to leverage greater resources and continue being locally owned, independent hospitals. It was on our small farm in western South Dakota that I learned the value of a good neighbor. We were able to stay on the farm largely because we helped each other work livestock, plow fields (I am dating myself now) and harvest crops. On those rare times when we went on vacation, the neighbors fed our livestock for us. It is in this spirit that the new Northern Plains Health Network looks to add similar value to the services provided in each community by sharing resources and preparing together to meet the many opportunities and challenges coming from healthcare reform. Delivering quality and compassionate care to our friends and neighbors is at the heart of everything we do here at HRMC. I welcome your input on how HRMC and the network can continue that mission. Jen Kahre, certified car seat installation technician at HRMC, instructs Paw Naw Naw and Say He on proper car seat installation as they prepare to take their newborn, Melody, home. 2 welloneconnection w w w. h u r o n r e g i o n a l . o r g

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