Kathy Freese Receives DAISY Award

Kathy Freese

Kathy FreeseKathy Freese, a registered nurse who works in the medical/surgical department, emergency room, and Recovery Center at MRHC as recently recognized for her exceptional role as a nurse and awarded the 2023 DAISY Award.

Freese’s excellent care as a nurse has never gone unnoticed – several patients nominated Kathy for the DAISY Award, sharing their praises about the great care she provides.

“Andrew and I could never thank you enough for all you did for us. You were a Godsend,” shared one patient. Another added that Kathy “is always kind, smiley, and non-judgmental. You could tell she really cares!!”

These testimonials, among many others, made Freese the perfect recipient for the 2023 DAISY Award, a program that honors and celebrates the skillful and compassionate care nurses provide every day. DAISY Award Honorees are recognized within their department, receive an award certificate, and are publicly recognized. Freese was surprised with the award by her co-workers and family on Wednesday, July 28th.

“Kathy is an empathic nurse who always puts her patients at the center of her nursing practice,” said Chief Nursing Officer, Michelle Andersen, RN, BSN. “Thank you, Kathy for taking extraordinary care of those we serve!”

About the DAISY Award

The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international recognition program established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he died from complications of the autoimmune disease, ITP, in 1999.

During his hospitalization, the Barnes family deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown to Patrick and his entire family. When he died, they felt compelled to say “thank you” to nurses in a very public way. More than 2,500 health care facilities in 15 countries and 50 states now honor extraordinary nurses with The DAISY Award.

Eligibility

All nurses who exemplify MRHC’s mission and values and demonstrate our vision daily are eligible to be nominated. DAISY Award honorees are nurses who provide compassionate and remarkable care while demonstrating clinical excellence. Anyone, including patients, patients’ family members, staff members, physicians, visitors, and volunteers, are welcome to nominate any nurse whom they believe is deserving of the award.

Free Medicare Information Seminar at MRHC on July 18

Nancy Danner

Where can I go to find answers about Medicare prescription drug plans? What is a Medicare Advantage plan? My medications have gotten so expensive I just can’t afford to take them all, is there any help?

Answers to these and other Medicare questions can be found by attending the free “Welcome to Medicare” seminar on July 18th from 7-9pm at MRHC. Interested individuals must call (712) 655-2072 by July 10 to register. Attendees should enter through the Emergency entrance and follow the posted signs.

This free seminar, offered by MRHC and the State of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), a free and confidential service, will cover Medicare Parts A & B benefits, Prescription Drug Benefits (Part D), Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare supplement insurance, as well as share tips to help individuals identify Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse.

Even if you do not yet qualify for Medicare, MRHC’s SHIIP Counselor, Nancy Danner, recommends that “the best time to start getting information is before you actually need it, so I advise thinking about it at least 6-12 months before someone turns 65 years old.” Nancy Danner

If you are unable to attend on July 18th, additional Medicare seminars will be held at MRHC on September 26th and November 28th. Danner is also available every Wednesday at MRHC to meet with individuals by appointment. She can provide information to aid in Medicare decision-making and answer questions related to Medicare itself, benefits, plan options, claims, and how to guard against becoming a victim of Medicare fraud. She will not provide recommendations for plans or agents but can answer questions and provide impartial information to help individuals make educated decisions and assist people who have a limited income.

Anyone interested in making an appointment with Danner can email shiip.counselor@mrhcia.com or call MRHC at 712-655-2072. If a client is only wishing to talk on the phone, they may leave their phone number and Danner will return their call.

MRHC Welcomes Carrie Scharfenkamp, New Speech Therapist

Carrie Scharfenkamp

Carrie ScharfenkampThe therapy department at MRHC is excited to welcome Carrie Scharfenkamp, M.A. CF-SLP, a new speech therapist offering services for adults and children.

Speech therapy services include evaluation and treatment in the areas of speech, language, swallowing, voice, cognition, and augmentative communication. Scharfenkamp can address issues with speaking, reading, listening, writing, thinking, and swallowing. While she has a pediatric background, Scharfenkamp will provide services for all age groups from birth to geriatrics.

“After working with children with disabilities at ChildServe I realized how much I enjoyed helping them communicate and complete tasks in their daily life,” shared Scharfenkamp. “Many of the children I worked with had communication difficulties and would see a Speech-Language Pathologist. I became interested in the field, began to do some job-shadowing, and instantly loved it. While studying speech-language pathology, I realized my passion was much more than just working with children. I love helping all populations with their deficits and disorders. Nothing is more rewarding than helping patients reach their goals, no matter how small.”

Common deficit areas Scharfenkamp works with are apraxia, aphasia, articulation, augmentative communication, dysarthria, expressive/receptive language disorders, oral motor disorders, fluency, swallowing, voice disorders, and pragmatic disorders. She also works with a wide range of diagnoses such as MS, dementia, autism, developmental delays, stroke, Parkinson’s, cancer, ALS, TBI, cerebral palsy, speech/language delay, and more.

“Speech therapy services will look different for everyone depending on their deficits and diagnoses,” said Scharfenkamp. “For adults, some common service areas would be communication, voice, dysphagia, and cognitive deficits. Common service areas for children include communication, speech, language, social skills, and behavior. Regardless of the person’s age or deficit, it is extremely important to find out what their needs and goals are to make functional improvements in their everyday lives.”

Some warning signs that someone may need speech therapy services would be unintelligible speech, delays in speech/overall development, issues answering questions, difficulties with fluency (stuttering), coughing or choking while eating, or problems with any aspect of communication.

“I am excited to begin offering services that are needed in the area, individualized to the population’s needs, and trying new things that the hospital has not been able to offer in the recent past,” said Scharfenkamp. “I would love to offer co-treatment sessions with occupational or physical therapy if appropriate and expand services to a wider variety of populations like adults and inpatients. Manning has a great, supportive community with an expanding hospital, and I look forward to being part of its continued growth and excellent services.”

Scharfenkamp grew up in the Carroll area and received an associate degree from DMACC in Liberal Arts and bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Iowa State University. She attended the University of South Dakota for her Master of Arts in speech-language pathology while completing clinical work in various settings for clients including an elementary school, Scottish Rite Children’s Clinic, SESDAC, and University Clinic. After graduating college, she began working at Northwest Area Education Agency as a speech-language pathologist where she currently works with children from birth to five years old.

“Although I will continue to work in the schools, I chose to work at MRHC as a PRN because I am passionate about many aspects of the field of speech-language pathology,” shared Scharfenkamp. “I want to continue to work with a variety of patients with a range of deficits and learn more in the medical setting to expand the services that I can offer.”

To schedule a speech therapy appointment with Scharfenkamp, call (712) 655-8298.

MRHC Welcomes Dedicated Mental Health Provider, Hollie Schechinger

Hollie Schechinger

Hollie SchechingerTo address one of the primary health concerns affecting our rural communities, MRHC is expanding mental health services. Hollie Schechinger, a counselor in the Recovery Center at MRHC, will now be a designated mental health provider offering services in Manning three days a week for those 12 and older starting July 1st, 2023.

“My new position will help expand the availability of mental health services for everyone,” said Schechinger, LMSW. “I will be able to help people in Manning and surrounding communities get the help they need. Mental health services in this area are difficult to get as there are long waiting lists so people struggle to get appointments. My hope is to provide support for people who are just waiting for help.”

In addition to providing mental health services for the general community, Schechinger will also continue working with Recovery Center inpatient clients two days a week.

“I will be providing mental health therapy by using a wide variety of interventions and therapy models,” Schechinger said. “I am very excited about this opportunity and building the availability of mental health services in Manning. I hope we can spread awareness of mental health and the importance of not hiding it. I want to bring more access to mental health services so that those who are staying quiet about their mental health problems can speak out about them.”

Mental health care has always been important to Schechinger, and she is hopeful that her new role will help those in need and change the stigma surrounding mental health.

“I have always wanted to work in healthcare in some way. During high school when we took those career quizzes, I always got therapist. I just have a passion for helping people,” Schechinger shared. “I found that social work would be a great way to help others in the healthcare setting, so after getting my social work feet wet working with troubled youth at Quakerdale in Manning, I really realized how important mental health is. Many people still see mental health as being taboo, but I want people to understand that mental health impacts everyone in multiple ways. That is when I realized I wanted to focus on helping others in mental health.”

A 2009 Coon Rapids-Bayard graduate, Schechinger received a social work degree from Briar Cliff University in 2013. After working at Quakerdale, she worked in the Recovery Center for almost five years before going into Home Health with Carroll Area Nursing Services. She then returned to school to get her master’s in social work with a focus in mental health and trauma from the University of Denver.

“After finishing my degree, I realized I really missed providing therapy, so when a position opened at the Recovery Center, I decided to take it,” said Schechinger. “I spoke with the Director, Taya Vonnahme, about wanting to improve access to mental health services in this community, and she ran with the idea. The amazing administration team at MRHC came together and we came up with the plan of adding a full-time mental health therapist. Having an administration that will help us achieve our career goals is amazing. They really care and want you to succeed. I wanted to expand mental health services, and now less than a year later I am already working on making that goal reality.”

“Hollie is very passionate about helping our community in more ways than we already do,” said Vonnahme, MSN, RN, ARNP, CADC. “She has been working with the Recovery Center in Manning for years, and when she came back, she made it clear that as much as she loves substance abuse that she wanted to do more. I knew we had a great opportunity to provide additional services to our patients and community, so we are very excited to expand mental health services here in Manning.”

In addition to feeling supported in her career goals, Schechinger shares that working at MRHC is fulfilling in other ways as well.

“Working at MRHC is almost like having another family,” Schechinger shared. “I believe it speaks volumes that I worked here for 4.5 years and eventually decided to come back. We are very team-oriented, close with one another, and help each other out. Everyone is very encouraging and helpful in many ways even if they don’t work in the same department. We are all here to work together to help ensure patient safety and needs are met.”

To schedule a mental health appointment, call (712) 655-8100. Referrals are not needed. If you need additional mental health information, education, or would like to discuss support, please contact your primary care physician at (712) 655-2072. For those 65 and older, call Senior Life Solutions at (712) 655-8262. Or call the Manning Recovery Center at (712) 655-2300 and talk to a professional.

Jacobsen Sisters Make an Impact in their Community

Jacobsen sisters

Many employees at MRHC have shared that their coworkers feel like family and that the hospital is like a second home. For four employees in particular, it couldn’t be more true. Four of the Jacobsen sisters, Taya Vonnahme, Mikasia, Neeka, and Kamaya Jacobsen work alongside each other in various roles at MRHC.

Taya VonnahmeTaya, the oldest sister, currently serves as the Director of the Recovery Center at MRHC. After becoming a CNA and working at the Plaza throughout high school, Vonnahme received her LPN from Iowa Lakes Community College in 2009. After transitioning to MRHC full time as a discharge planning nurse in 2011, she continued to add jobs to her title until 2015 when she applied to go back to school for her RN. Once she graduated with her associate degree in nursing, she transitioned to a house supervisor at MRHC and obtained her BSN from Walden University in 2018. In 2020, she earned her master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner with support from the MRHC tuition assistance program.

“I knew I wanted to be in healthcare since I was young after watching the impact my family had on people in the community as healthcare providers,” shared Taya, MSN, RN, ARNP, CADC. “Our parents worked for the local EMS, our father worked with the fire department, our uncle works as a paramedic in Carroll County, and our grandmother was a well-known nurse here at Manning Regional. We’ve had a lot of great influences.”Mikasia

A sentiment that Taya’s sister, Mikasia, echoes when she thinks about what encouraged her to pursue a career in the medical field. “My grandmother was a biginspiration,” said Mikasia, BSN, RN. “She was an ER nurse, and getting to dress up in her scrubs and play with her equipment at home is something I remember fondly.”

Mikasia currently works as a House Supervisor at MRHC. After joining the Carroll County Ambulance as a volunteer in 2016 and completing her EMT in 2017, she decided to start nursing school. She completed her CNA in 2018 and started working at MRHC. Through MRHC’s tuition assistance program, Mikasia received her LPN in 2020, her RN in 2021, and finally, her BSN in 2022.

“MRHC has been a blessing with easing the strain of nursing school by offering me tuition assistance,” Mikasia said. “The relief of not having to worry about affording classes, while in the middle of a pandemic, was another huge weight lifted off my shoulders. My co-workers and supervisors at MRHC were also supportive and pushed me to continue my education.”

In addition to their family members and coworkers being an inspiration for their careers and a solid support system, the sisters have always had, and still have, an important impact on each other.

Kamaya Jacobsen“My family is for sure my main support through my career choices, but my sisters are my biggest supporters. They are the ones I go to for any decisions or help I need along the way,” said Kamaya. “It was because of my sisters I got the opportunity to work at MRHC.”

Kamaya works as a CNA on the med/surg floor and a counselor tech in the Recovery Center. Two roles that allow her to frequently work alongside her sisters.

“Being able to work with my sisters is one of my favorite things. We have a unique bond that we get to bring into the hospital that tends to bring a lot of laughter and joy to our patients, clients, and coworkers when they experience us working together,” Kamaya said. “We are very close and do many things in our lives together so why would work be any different? We have a love for our community as well as our jobs, making what we do easier as we get to care for many people that we know in some way or another,” Taya added.

Yet another factor that played a large role in the girls choosing their career paths – knowing they could make a difference in the community they grew up in.

Neeka Jacobsen“I wanted to help my community in a way that would make an impact,” said Neeka, CADC, a CNA, EMT, and counselor tech in the Recovery Center. Mikasia adds, “there are highs and lows when working in a small town. The lows hit a lot harder as these are the people we have grown up with or have watched grow up themselves. I care a lot for my community, and I hurt when we have a loss. But the highs are worth it. Being able to provide great medical care and seeing progress for our patients is very rewarding. I really enjoy that I can share these experiences with my sisters and that when people come in, they know they can count on one of the Jacobsen/Genzen girls.”

Taya goes on to add that, “this community is where I was raised, and I’ve been shown how important community support is. This [career] is how I can continue to support my community.”

The women also share that, in addition to the support they receive from the community, each other, and their family, they would not be where they are without their team at MRHC.

“MRHC has allowed me to get the opportunity of working in different departments which has helped me expand my knowledge and skills over the last few years,” Kamaya shared.

Neeka adds that “they have helped with studying before licensing tests and have supported me through the transition to various roles throughout the hospital. I like the fun working environment as well as how much support we get.”

Taya points out that “the hospital has developed and changed, offering me different opportunities I never anticipated. My co-workers are truly the best reason to work at MRHC. In addition to that, the flexibility for my family and outside duties are always met.”

Mikasia emphasizes that “my co-workers are great and offer support in both my professional and personal life. I like that I am close to home and get to care for patients I know every day. I know I am where I am needed and that I am doing my part as a nurse to help provide excellent care here at MRHC.”

To join the MRHC team or learn more about the tuition assistance program, visit www.mrhcia.com/careers or call (712) 655-2072 for more information on current job openings.