Medication Management in the Elderly: Beers Criteria Update
Four Decades of Empowering Sick Children
It's Awards Season!
Celebrating the Region’s Top Hospitals
At Children’s Nebraska, we believe in a care experience that celebrates the magical way kids see the world. Because when we choose to believe, a full-service children’s hospital suddenly becomes something greater. It transforms into a place where better treatments lead to better outcomes, and a committed team of health care providers delivers the kind of exceptional care every kid deserves. ChildrensNebraska.org/Believe
When is a routine emergency room case not routine? When the patient is a child. Find out how Sanford Health' pediatric emergency medicine specialists are changing the ER experience for children and families.
A roundup of articles and information you'll only find on our website
PAGE 8 | Medication Management in the Elderly: AGS Beers Criteria Update
■ By Eric Zacharias
Allegations of medication prescribing errors are a leading cause of medical liability lawsuits in the elderly. Here′s how to stay safe.
PAGE 13 | Wishful Thinking: Make-A-Wish’s 40 Years of Empowering Sick Children
From six wishes granted in 1984 to 108 last year, Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana just keeps growing to meet the needs of critically ill children.
PAGE 14 | SD Project Firstline
Creates National Emergency Medical Services Curriculum
South Dakota Project Firstline wins the stamp of approval from CDC and the state for their new EMS curriculum.
PAGE 16 | NEWS & NOTES
PAGE 19 | USD School of Health Sciences Success Spotlight: Alec Michael Baker
PAGE 20 | Beyond the Border: News from MED’s Multi-State Coverage Area
New accreditation means the Human DNA Identification Lab at the University of Nebraska Medical Center will allow them to assist in cold case investigations.
PAGE 23 | Upcoming Events
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CONTENTS
Hello and welcome to your spring edition of MED Magazine, the region’s premier source for medical community news, information, and events.
In this issue, we shine a spotlight on Sanford Health’s emergency department, home to the only pediatric emergency medicine specialists in South Dakota. We learn why it is critical to address the unique needs of pediatric patients, especially in emergency situations.
We also celebrate 40 years of granting wishes with the President & CEO of MakeA-Wish South Dakota & Montana and find out what John Denver, the Pope, the NBA, and YouTube have in common.
At the other end of the age spectrum, the legal experts at COPIC share an update on the guidelines for medication management in elderly patients. Plus, we have a round-up of news headlines from across the region and a full run-down of upcoming regional spring and summer conferences.
As the region’s only news publication for healthcare professionals, we rely on readers like you to help keep us “in the loop” by sharing your organization’s news and events. Reach out directly or share this address with your marketing department: News@MidwestMedicalEdition.com
All the Best,
The MED Team
NEXT
due May 5
A new certification offered by the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health for all, can help skilled nursing facilities support faster and more effective recovery from stroke through standardized coordination, adherence and implementation of evidence-based care. We have everything you need to know about the new program.
The natural progression for physicians in a medical practice can present challenges but planning ahead can make all the difference and ensure a successful transition. Whether you are looking to bring on a new physician, retire, or sell the practice, in this article exclusively on our website, you’ll find some key considerations when planning a physician transition from the experts at Eide Bailly.
According to The Healthy Minds Network, one of the nation’s premier research organizations contributing to young adult mental health, over 60% of college students present with at least one mental health problem. This is compounded for students in the Health Sciences as they prepare for a workforce that is drastically dealing with mental health issues. Find how USD is addressing the problem for tomorrow’s healthcare providers.
Once again, this year, the personal finance website WalletHub has ranked Sioux Falls as one of top 15 happiest cities in the country. The site releases its report to coincide with International Day of Happiness, which fell on March 20th this year.
To identify the happiest cities, WalletHub com pared more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities across 29 key indicators of happiness. Many of the criteria evaluated are directly related to mental and physical health, including things like adequate sleep, rates of depression, and participation in sports. With an ‘Emotional & Physical Well-Being Rank’ of 10 (and the best unemployment rate of all the cities analyzed), Sioux Falls came in at #11 on the list.
HERE
Other cities in our region to rank high on the list include Minneapolis at #13 and Fargo at #16. Rapid City was ranked #36.
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remain a leading cause of medical liability lawsuits in all patients and are particularly common in the elderly population. In all cases, present moment and situational attentiveness when prescribing is important and may help reduce risks of lawsuits. This includes awareness of the higher risk medications.
When using these higher risk medications, providers should consider documentation that supports the clinical decision-making, including why the medication was the best or the appropriate choice in the specific situation, why it was selected over alternatives, how the risk-benefit analysis was discussed with the patient in shared decision-making, and what additional steps and monitoring were undertaken to help prevent or catch early any adverse events. For very high-risk scenarios, providers should also consider an informed consent form in addition to the standard documentation of the discussions and thought process.
One useful resource that providers may consider searching when prescribing medications for adults aged 65 and older is the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria which takes into account that, as patients age, some medications are associated with higher risks of unintended effects. The AGS has published this guide to medications that meet the criteria since 2011 and has periodically updated this guide, most recently in 2023.
The AGS makes it clear that the guide is designed as a tool to support
shared clinical decision-making and does not set standards, so providers should certainly use clinical judgment in all prescribing decisions. However, due to the aging of the US population and the widespread use of many of the medications on the Beers Criteria list, it is reasonable for providers to be familiar with the list and with updates to the list.
In 2023, there were multiple updates, and some of the notable ones for more widely prescribed medications include:
◆ Avoidance of aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
◆ Avoidance of initiating oral or transdermal estrogen. Importantly, topical vaginal estrogen remains appropriate for its major indications of symptomatic vaginal atrophy or urinary tract infection prophylaxis.
◆ Avoidance of warfarin as initial therapy for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism unless alternatives are contraindicated or there are substantial barriers to their use.
❱ You’ll find a link to the updated AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults on our website.
◆ Avoidance of rivaroxaban for long-term treatment for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism unless alternatives are contraindicated or there are substantial barriers to their use. This is due to higher risk of bleeding in older adults relative to other direct-acting oral anticoagulants.
◆ Avoidance of sulfonylureas as first-line or second-line monotherapy or add on therapy. This is due to higher risk of cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and hypoglycemia than alternative choices.
◆ Avoidance of antipsychotics for behavioral problems of dementia and delirium due to increased risk of patient harm.
It may be very appropriate to prescribe medications in the elderly that are on the Beers Criteria list, but, if doing so, providers should consider the enhanced documentation guidance noted previously as a way to engage patients in the decision-making process and to reduce the risk of allegations of negligence in the event of adverse outcomes. ❖
Eric Zacharias, MD, is with the COPIC Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
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STOMACH ACHES , respiratory infections, lacerations, and fractures may be all in a day’s work for a busy emergency department like Sanford Health’s. But when the patient is a child, even a routine case may turn out to be anything but.
“When a child comes into the ER, their needs are going to be different from an adult,” says pediatric emergency medicine specialist Donald Ellis, MD, a Delaware native and the father of seven. Ellis says pediatric emergency medicine specialists have to consider not only differences in anatomy and physiology, but also differences in mental and emotional maturity.
“With an adult, you can say ‘Sit here in this chair and we’ll take care of you in a few hours’,” says Dr. Ellis, whose arrival in 2022 marked the start of Sanford’s pediatric emergency medicine program. “But you can’t say that to a toddler, or even a teenager who might have a lot of anxiety. It’s not just about age but also developmental level.”
“A lot of times, the procedure itself might not be any different than what we would do in an adult,” adds Ellis’ partner, Mason Ruthford, MD. “The difference is in what we do before and after a procedure.”
“For instance, with a laceration, in adults, you can do injectable lidocaine. An adult is going to get through that. But a kid might freak out just seeing the lidocaine needle. So we might need to consider sedation, but that requires additional conversation with parents because those drugs are not without
risk. Then we might have to wait for them to wake up and clear of sedation. A kid might be there for two hours.”
Even a broken bone that might be treated by straightening and offering pain medication to an adult, could necessitate surgery in a pediatric patient, with all of the complexity and considerations that go with it.
“We do see a lot of routine cases, but we also see some very medically challenging cases,” says Dr. Ellis. “We have fantastic emergency medicine specialists here, but we have had such an explosion of population that Sioux Falls was ready for this very specific skill set.”
“When you look at what a typical ER doctor sees, it’s going to be 78 to 90 percent adults,” says Ruthford, a South Dakota native and parent of two small children. “But we all become less comfortable with things we see less often and there is a difference in the care that is offered when you see a specialist as opposed to a generalist. Pediatric emergency medicine requires a much more gentle approach. We want children to be comfortable and safe.”
Drs. Ruthford and Ellis are part of Sanford’s response to the needs of the region’s growing pediatric population.
In its first 18 months, Sanford’s pediatric emergency department has grown along with the need for it. In addition to a dedicated, child-friendly waiting area for pediatric emergencies, the
pediatric rooms with soothing colors and playful murals.
“Having a separate waiting room for families and kids is crucial to making the child feel safe right off the bat,” says Ruthford. Those dedicated pediatric rooms, along with some new procedural efficiencies during the high volume afternoon hours, also mean shorter wait times for families, even as more of them are coming through the doors.
The team has grown, too. It now includes four pediatric emergency medicine specialists — pediatricians or emergency medicine specialists, who have completed an additional
Ellis and Ruthford, the team includes Lily Yu, MD, and Megan Sampson, DO, and three pediatric surgeons.
Ellis says each physician has not only mastered the foundational skills needed to care for sick or injured children, but also brings an additional, more nuanced, level of expertise that strengthens Sanford’s overall ability to provide the best possible pediatric care.
“Dr. Ruthford and Dr. Sampson are geared toward education, for example,” says Ellis. “They derive a lot of satisfaction from educating others on pediatric emergency medicine. Dr. Sampson has also had some
is unique. And Dr. Yu is very geared toward process improvement. How can we standardize our processes for the entire Sanford footprint?”
Dr. Ellis himself gravitates toward disaster training, likes teaching advanced practice providers, and has enjoyed watching the program grow as a part of Sanford’s larger pediatric care ecosystem. “It has been great to work with the subspecialists and hospitalists to constantly be looking for ways to make our program better,” he says.
But Sanford’s response to pediatric emergencies doesn’t end at the emergency room doors. In fact, Drs. Ellis and Ruthford and their partners are just the tip of a pediatric ‘iceberg’ that includes the entire Sanford Children’s Hospital, conveniently adjacent to the ER.
“We have over 75 subspecialists at the Children’s Hospital, so we have a huge breadth of knowledge right next door, including child life specialists,” says Dr. Ellis. “If you are going to have a world class emergency medicine program, child life is
(continued on page 12)
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a must. They are some of the busiest people in the hospital.”
Child life specialists work with the providers to help children and families cope with medical emergencies. Ellis describes it as “stepping into the gap” so that the team can focus on the medical problem.
“They are available for consultation and they’ll come explain what an IV is or how a CT scan or ultrasound works,” says Dr. Ruthford. “They really help to make the whole experience less traumatic.”
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“One big part of what we do involves communication, not just with family, but also with the child,” says Dr. Ellis. “Because, if a child has an understanding of what is happening, they are not only going to be more cooperative but they are going to have a better experience and a more effective experience.”
Although the Sanford ER does not yet have 24/7 coverage with pediatric emergency specialists, Ruthford says there is at least one provider on hand most days and always between the hours of 4:00 pm and midnight. And the department is continually looking for ways to provide a more efficient experience.
“We are creating a fast track in the early afternoons when we tend to see more kids, so that those with less emergent complaints who don’t need imaging or emergent procedures can be identified and brought to a specific area,” says Dr. Ruthford. “We are definitely very busy and still evolving to see more pediatric patients.”
Regardless of when a child comes in, Dr. Ellis says Sanford’s emergency department is always geared toward children’s needs and fully equipped to be the best starting point for a sick or injured child’s healing journey.
“We are continuing to renovate the emergency department to make it ever more child friendly,” he says. “It is our goal that, if you have a child with a significant injury or illness, Sanford will be the place to take them.” ❖
“ THE WISH PROCESS IS MEANT TO BE EMPOWERING FOR CHILDREN AT A TIME WHEN SO LITTLE IS WITHIN THEIR CONTROL.”
THIS YEAR, MAKE-AWish South Dakota & Montana is celebrating 40 years of granting life-changing wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in our region. Incorporated as Make-A-Wish South Dakota in 1984, they aligned with the Montana chapter in 2020 and now serve children in both states.
The organization has come a long way in those four decades. That first year, six wishes were granted, including one to meet singer John Denver and another to meet the Pope.
“Fast forward to last year, when we granted 108 life-changing wishes, ranging from a wish for an ‘Inside the NBA Experience’ to wishes to meet famous YouTubers!,” says President and CEO Sue Salter. “Every wish is as unique as the child who makes it, filled with imagination and the chance to think big.”
Salter says ‘thinking big’ is pivotal to the power of wishes for sick children. It’s something she and her team continually reiterate to both families and healthcare professionals.
“There is sometimes a misconception
that if a family who can afford to, say, take their child to Disney World, accepts a wish, that they would be taking a wish away from another child,” says Salter. “But that really misses the point.”
Not only does Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana have the means to serve all eligible children in their territory, but Salter says the wish process is meant to be empowering for children at a time when so little is within their control.
“It’s not just about the wish, it’s about the entire journey,” says Salter. “A wish gives the child a chance to be the architect of the whole experience. And afterward, they can draw strength from knowing that people they may never even have met cared enough to make their wish come true.”
It will be a full year of celebration for the chapter, which has a number of special events planned, but April has been designated ‘World Wish Month’ at the national level. This year, everyone is encouraged to become a ‘WishMaker’.
“A ‘WishMaker’ is anyone who takes action for wish kids,” says Salter. “And there are so many ways to do that. For instance, people can attend an event, volunteer, become a wish granter, make a donation, buy products and services that
give back to Make-A-Wish, or donate airline miles.”
More than 75 percent of wishes involve air travel, so airline miles are especially appreciated. The donation process is fast and simple via a dedicated website and the donated miles never expire. “A lot of people have miles just sitting in an account that are going to expire,” says Salter. “Please donate them.”
Healthcare professionals can also be “WishMakers” by starting the Make-A-Wish referral process. To qualify, a child must be between 2.5 and 18 years old and be diagnosed with a critical illness that is either malignant, progressive, or degenerative. Contrary to popular belief, more than 70 percent of wish kids live to adulthood and 87 percent of them say their wish marked a turning point in their illness.
“This is about giving every critically-ill child an experience that they can’t get anywhere else,” says Salter. ❖
❱
communities. Every environment they encounter poses infection risks. The South Dakota Project Firstline EMS curriculum provides a solid foundation for infection prevention,” explained Rebecca Sime, RN, program manager for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC). “Project Firstline provides the opportunity to tailor training and education to meet the needs of the EMS community.”
PFL focuses on providing infection control training to South Dakota frontline staff and healthcare workers. Providing access to the latest science and resources will help achieve the mission of creating
❱
Training can take place in-person or virtually for any healthcare or EMS site or department. The SD PFL team provides infection control training and education using interactive presentations. The Scavenger Hunt activity is available for any facility or site to engage staff and encourage questions on infection prevention practices.
“We work with larger cities and their EMS employees and with rural areas comprised primarily of volunteers. South Dakota Project Firstline is honored to provide infection prevention training and education to EMS providers,” Sime declared. ❖
South Dakota | Southwest Minnesota | Northwest Iowa | Northeast Nebraska
Several Avera hospitals are listed among the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals in the United States for 2024 as named by the Chartis Center for Rural Health.
Facilities named to the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital list include:
• Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD
• Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen, SD
• Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, Pierre, SD
• Lakes Regional Healthcare, Spirit Lake, Iowa (an Avera partner)
Facilities named to the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals list include:
• Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller, SD
• Floyd Valley Healthcare, Le Mars, Iowa (an Avera partner)
• Pipestone County Medical Center & Family Clinic Avera (an Avera partner)
Now in its 14th year, this study analyzes rural hospitals through the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, a comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance in the United States
Sanford USD Medical Center has been named to Newsweek’s list of World’s Best Hospitals 2024. In addition, the medical center in Sioux Falls was also named a global leader for Infection Prevention. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The lists are based on four data sources: including Recommendations from Medical Experts, Results from Patient Surveys, Hospital Quality Metrics, and an optional online PROMS survey.
RN Michelle Miner of Sanford Aberdeen Clinic was the 3rd quarter DAISY Award recipient in 2023. Miner is a care manager and was nominated by a patient.
Two Good Samaritan Society leaders have been recognized as 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Award winners in the Rising Stars category. The highly competitive recognition program honors standouts in skilled nursing, senior living, and home care.
A national, independent panel of judges studies all nominees’ credentials, backgrounds and results. The 2024 Good Samaritan Society Rising Stars are:
David Newman, MD, medical officer of virtual care at Sanford Health, addressed how telehealth policies play a critical role in supporting rural health facilities during a webinar organized by the American Telemedicine Association and co-hosted by the National Rural Health AssociaDr. Newman practices endocrinology at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota. He also serves as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Services. Sanford Health’s 60,000 square-foot Sanford Virtual Care Center is scheduled to open later this year.
Home-Based Nebraska STEPHANIE UHRMACHER Administrator, Senior Living – Hastings, Nebraska
The MercyOne Siouxland Foundation recently added three new members to their William Bass with Ho-Chunk, Jon Saylor with Central Bank and Grant Wetz with Bomgaars. The MercyOne Siouxland Foundation exists to support the mission of MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center by generating and providing resources and promoting community involvement. Gifts to the MercyOne Siouxland Foundation establish or enhance programs, improve or build facilities and purchase equipment that would otherwise be unavailable due to budget constraints. The focus of the Foundation is on improving service to patients.
For the ninth consecutive year, Spencer Hospital has been recognized as Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Spencer Hospital is the only Iowa hospital to have earned this distinction every year since the award was created. “Consistently achieving this level of quality is truly a credit to our healthcare team of our staff, physicians, and our local healthcare leaders,” said Brenda Tiefenthaler, Spencer Hospital president.
MercyOne Elkader Medical Center CEO Brooke Kensinger has been named one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 110 Rural Hospital and Health System CEOs to Know in 2024. Kensinger was appointed to her position in Elkader, a 25-bed critical access hospital, in 2016 and was previously named to Becker’s 2022 list of 67 rural hospital CEOs to know, and Becker’s 2023 list of 80 rural hospital CEOs to know. The award recognizes executives “committed to expanding hospital service lines, renovating and improving their facilities and hiring talented team members.
Brenda Larsen, RN, is the new Vice President of Clinic and Hospital Operations at UnityPoint Health–Sioux City. Larsen will oversee operations at UnityPoint Health–St. Luke’s and UnityPoint Clinic locations in Siouxland. Larsen is a graduate of Rockford Memorial School of Nursing. She has a Bachelor of Healthcare Administration from Concordia University and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Phoenix. Larsen began her career as a nurse working as the Director of Ortho/Neuro/Rehab Services for Mercy Health System in Janesville, Wisconsin. Larsen most recently served as System Executive Director of Sanford Health.
Jzar Templin, culinary services manager at UnityPoint Health–St. Luke’s, was recently named the Employee of the Year for 2023. This award recipient is selected annually through a vote open to all team members in the Sioux City region. Fellow team members described Templin him as a leader and goes above and beyond to help others.
IT director, Destiny Finn, VP-quality and risk management.
Huron Regional Medical Center recently honored Herb Ramirez with the Beyond Exceptional Everyday (BEE) Award. Ramirez, who has been employed at HRMC nearly one year, works in the information systems department as a network engineer. He was nominated for the award by colleagues.
Huron Regional Medical Center encouraged the community to dress in blue in March to raise awareness of and prevent colorectal cancer. To help encourage area residents to get a screening colonoscopy, the hospital partnered with the HRMC Foundation Bob Myers Memorial Fund to create “Go Blue – Get Screened to Win!” The promotion, which ran through the end of March, invited area residents to schedule a colonoscopy for a chance to win either a dinner and movie package valued at $150. Those who referred someone during the month were eligible to win $50 in Huron Bucks.
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown has been recognized as a 2024 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This annual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX. PLHS has received this award every year since it was introduced in 2016.
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is an independent healthcare organization that provides care for 90,000 people in a ten-county region of northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota.
champion to Newsweek’s list of World’s Best Hospitals. According to CEO Jason Merkley, Brooking Health is the only South Dakota hospital outside of Sioux Falls to be recognized by Newsweek and Statista in 2024. Brookings Health ranks 189 of the Best Hospitals 2024 in the United States, up 40 spots from last year’s ranking. In addition, Brookings Health has received a Patient Experience Award, marking high patient satisfaction.
For the ninth consecutive year, Brookings Health System has also been included by The Chartis Center for Rural Health on the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list. Utilizing 50 independent indicators, the INDEX assesses performance across eight pillars of performance that span market-, valueand finance-based categories. Brookings Health System includes a 49-bed hospital, a 79-bed nursing home, senior living apartments, the Yorkshire Eye Clinic, and medical clinics in Arlington, White and Volga, South Dakota.
Practitioner, Maria Azpeitia, recently received her Inspire Care Pathway Certification. Inspire ® therapy is a mask-free solution for people with obstructive sleep apnea who have tried and struggled with a CPAP machine. To achieve Inspire certification, each provider goes through a 2-phase certification over the course of many months. At the end of the certification process, they take a 2-part exam: walking a proctor through a series of case scenarios and a sense waveform presentation.
As your premier medical liability insurance carrier, you can trust us to put our expertise and agility to work on your behalf. Our claims support helps you confidently manage unexpected outcomes and preserve patient relationships. We protect and guide you each step of the way. That’s Value Beyond Coverage.
Dakota Vascular recently announced a new outreach location. They will now service patients at Physicians Vein Clinic / Lazaderm, on 9th Avenue in Watertown. Drs. Angelo Santos and Gregory Nissen both provide outreach services in Watertown.
Watertown is one of several outreach locations for Dakota Vascular across South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.
A partnership between the University of South Dakota School of Health Sciences and the South Dakota Department of Health has resulted in a five-year, cooperative agreement from the CDC designated to address childhood lead poisoning prevention. The partnership has enhanced the state’s public health workforce capacity to conduct outreach for lead poisoning prevention while offering USD MPH students the opportunity to learn and practice applied skills. The data collected will continue to increase the program’s ability to focus interventions on geographic areas and populations at higher risk.
❱ Intrigued by something you’ve read here? Want to go deeper? Read the full versions of these and other recent news items on our website.
USD pre-nursing and nursing students had the opportunity to meet with several rural representatives from facilities across South Dakota in March to discuss internship and employment options. Some of the rural facilities attending the career fair included Avera McKennan Hospital, Freeman Regional Health Services, Madison Regional Health System, Monument Health, Pioneer Memorial Hospital & Health Services, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System and Sanford Vermillion. The Rural Career Fair is supported by Grant US6HP47230-01-00 from Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Matt Dewald, PT, DPT, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of South Dakota, was recently honored with a prestigious award for his teaching and service to the physical therapy profession. In addition to his position as assistant professor, Dewald is also director of the Sanford Health and University of South Dakota Sports Residency at USD and is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Sciences, also at USD.The AASPT presents the award annually to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions in sports physical therapy education through excellence in academic teaching and shows leadership and dedication in physical therapy.
Alec Michael Baker
Degree: Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Current Position: Student in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Like many students who earn their undergraduate degrees at USD, Alec Baker chose to stay for his graduate studies. Baker, who is a first year master’s degree student in the Physician Assistant Studies program, says his familiarity and confidence in the School of Health Sciences enabled him to hit the ground running in his new program.
“It’s a very fast paced graduate degree, which I appreciate,” says Baker. “We are already getting clinical experience both at the clinic here in Vermillion and in Sanford’s Emergency Room. I’m so happy I picked USD since I’m already super comfortable here.”
Even as an undergraduate, Baker knew that he wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, but didn’t know exactly what that would look like. He says the Health Sciences major helped him find the right path while his specialization in Clinical Studies helped prepare him for the rigors of the master’s degree program.
“It probably took me a couple of interdisciplinary science classes to settle on being a PA,” says Baker. “They brought in different kinds of providers to talk about their day to day. So I knew that I wanted to be face to face with patients.”
Now in the second semester of his 24-month Physician Assistant Studies program, Baker says he feels not only wellprepared but also well-supported, by both his fellow students and his professors.
“I love that my class size is just 25 people and that our PA faculty really want us to succeed,” says Baker. “There have been some pretty stressful times in this first year, but their offices are always open and they help us keep things in perspective. You can see that they will go above and beyond to help you.”
Baker hopes to practice in South Dakota after graduation.
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Min forensic pathology.
It was in 2000. CBS had just released “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and Helligso, a DNA analyst in the molecular diagnostics section of the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, had just had her first child.
“I remember being up with the baby late at night and watching the show,” Helligso said. “It really piqued my interest how the investigators were able to identify crucial facts that
ultimately solved the case at hand.”
Today Helligso, who is now the manager, technical lead and forensic DNA analyst with the Human DNA Identification Lab at UNMC, has taken part in hundreds of forensic
Most recently, Helligso and her team received news that the Human DNA Identification Lab, under director Jesse Cox, MD, PhD, has earned accreditation to perform Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG), which will allow them to assist in cold case investigations.
“We are one of six labs in the country that are accredited,” Helligso said.
The technology will enable them to assist law enforcement with identifying unknown DNA, she said, and potentially help solve several cold cases.
“You may have heard of this technology, as it was utilized to catch the Golden State Killer, and more recently the suspect for the Idaho University murders, among hundreds of others,” Helligso said.
In early 2023, Helligso said, they obtained funding from a private
donor to bring the FIGG technology into the lab.
After testing the technology for most of the year, they were finally ready in November to move forward for accreditation, and after an audit by the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board, the lab was given the seal of approval.
Since then, Helligso said, she has been doing forensic DNA work for the Omaha Police Department, through a prosecution of cold cases grant, identifying DNA profiles to utilize the new FIGG testing.
“What we are looking for are DNA samples that don’t already have a hit in the national DNA database, CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), to help law enforcement identify potential suspects,” Helligso said.
She currently is working on more than a dozen cold case homicides with the Omaha Police Department.
“This is very exciting, because the cases we weren’t able to solve always linger in the back of your mind, and now we have another tool to use to help bring closure for families and justice for the victims,” she said. ❖
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April 5 – 6
7:00 am – 5:00 pm
SD Society of Health-System Pharmacists Annual Conference
Location: Holiday Inn City Centre, Sioux Falls, SD
April 10 - 11
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Post-Acute Partners in Care Conference (SDAHO)
Location: Mitchell, SD
April 17
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Heartland Cancer Foundation Oncology Symposium
Location: Jack J. Huck Continuing Education Center, Lincoln, NE
April 16 – 18
SD Health Care Association Annual Spring Institute
Location: Ramkota Hotel, Sioux Falls, SD
May 18 – 19
7:00 am – 12:00 pm
Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Symposium 2024
Location: Leighton Auditorium, Siebens Medical Education Center, Rochester, Minnesota
May 19 – 23
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
2024 National Tribal Health Conference
Location: The Monument Convention Center, Rapid City, SD
May 21 – 22
1:00 pm Tuesday – 4:00 pm Wednesday
3rd Annual SD Community Health Workers Conference
Location: Sioux Falls Convention Center
May 21 – 22
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Telehealth Everywhere 2024 (gpTRAC)
Location: Hyatt Regency, Bloomington, MN
May 31
South Dakota State Medical Association Annual Leadership Conference and Awards & Scholarship Recognition Banquet
Location: Rapid City
June 20 – 22
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Leadership and Professional Development for NPs and PA’s 2024 (Mayo Clinic course)
Location: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
June 25 – 26
2024 Annual South Dakota Rural Health Leaders Conference (SDAHO)
Location: Drifters Event Center, Fort Pierre, SD
September 18 – 19
South Dakota Statewide Trauma Conference
Location: Highland Conference Center, Mitchell, SD
September 25 – 27
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
98th Annual SDAHO Convention
Location: Holiday Inn, Rapid City Downtown
September 27
8:00 am – 4:00 pm
CNOS Orthopaedic Symposium
Location: Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Dakota Dunes, SD
Save the Date
October 25
8:00 am – 4:00 pm
CNOS Occupational Medicine Symposium
Location: Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Dakota Dunes, SD
VISIT MIDWESTMEDICALEDITION.COM/EVENTS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE UPCOMING EVENTS AND TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN.
Monument Health Gastroenterology provides the highest level of care for a full range of digestive system diseases including general gastroenterology, hepatology and interventional gastroenterology.
Monument Health Gastroenterology provides the highest level of care for a full range of digestive system diseases including general gastroenterology, hepatology and interventional gastroenterology.
Monument Health Gastroenterology provides the highest level of care for a full range of digestive system diseases including general gastroenterology, hepatology and interventional gastroenterology.
With a multidisciplinary approach, our providers work collaboratively as a team to monitor your progress and provide the best answers for your digestive disease complaints. With advances in medicine and technology, Monument Health is able to provide world-class gastroenterology care, allowing our patients to receive the care they need right here in the Black Hills.
With a multidisciplinary approach, our providers work collaboratively as a team to monitor your progress and provide the best answers for your digestive disease complaints. With advances in medicine and technology, Monument Health is able to provide world-class gastroenterology care, allowing our patients to receive the care they need right here in the Black Hills.
With a multidisciplinary approach, our providers work collaboratively as a team to monitor your progress and provide the best answers for your digestive disease complaints. With advances in medicine and technology, Monument Health is able to provide world-class gastroenterology care, allowing our patients to receive the care they need right here in the Black Hills.
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monument.health/gastroenterology
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JANNINE PURCELL, CNP | ISSAM TURK, M.D. | ALI ZAKARIA, M.D.