MRHC Provides Top-Notch Surgical Services to Rural Patients

Julie Danner and Dr. Stokesbary

When most people consider services offered by rural, critical access hospitals, surgical care is not always a standard service. However, in Manning, general surgeries have continued and most recently they have started offering total knee replacement and hip surgeries thanks to a visiting specialist.

Dedham resident, Julie Danner, recently received a total knee-replacement under the care of CNOS board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Stokesbary, M.D., FAAOS, at Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC). She had her first knee replaced this January and her second knee replaced last month. Julie Danner and Dr. Stokesbary

“I had a great experience with Dr. Stokesbary,” said Danner. “He has fantastic bedside manners; he is personable and easy to talk to. He listened to my questions and concerns, and he truly advocated for me.”

Danner said she was scared to get her first knee replaced, but the surgery went so well that it encouraged her to get her second knee replaced.

After a recent follow-up appointment with Dr. Stokesbary, Danner shared, “I am very blessed. I was able to ditch my walker one week post-surgery. Dr. Stokesbary said he is proud of me. He made me feel so special and taken care of.”

Danner shares that she has also had a positive experience recovering from surgery. “After the surgery, I stayed overnight and then they sent me home with exercises to do on my own,” explained Danner. “I now go to physical therapy three times a week in Manning, and the PT team makes me feel right at home.”

Julie has been a patient at MRHC since the hospital was in its previous location on Main Street. “I like coming to MHRC because it is a top-notch facility, in my opinion, that is close to home,” shared Danner. “It is the best of both worlds. My primary doctor is there, and every staff member has treated me well during my visits.”

Besides the friendly staff, Danner mentioned how the hours of operation and billing processes are also convenient. “They were able to schedule me in pretty quickly,” said Danner. “Other people that I have recently talked to didn’t even know that MRHC offered services like knee replacement surgeries. I highly recommend this facility for these surgeries.”

The ability to receive high-quality specialty services close to home is very important to Danner. “MRHC is a really great facility. The doctors are very professional and great at their jobs,” explained Danner. “At MRHC, you don’t feel like just another number. I am so grateful we have this rural facility at our fingertips.”

In addition to orthopedic care and surgery, MRHC provides surgical services for hip surgeries, ear, nose and throat issues, OB-GYN, podiatry, urology, and general surgeries such as abdominal surgery, appendectomy, gallbladder removal, colonoscopy, hernia repair, hysterectomy, vasectomy, and more.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy

Taylor Nelson, MRHC Physical Therapist

“I had knee pain all the time and it was hard to walk very far. I decided it was time to have surgery when I went to shoot a basketball with my son and could not bend my knees enough to even do that. I want to be able to do more activities with him,” shared Julie Lamp, a Manning resident who recently underwent a double knee replacement.

Due to the close proximity of having the knee replacement surgery and physical therapy services in the same building at MRHC, Lamp could start physical therapy as soon as her surgery was finished. That same day she was up and walking and well on her way to recovery.

“Being able to do surgery, recovery, and rehab at MRHC has made it a lot easier and faster to recover,” Lamp said. “All the providers are under one roof and can talk to each other, and it saved me having to drive somewhere else. Driving and getting in and out of the car makes a person tired. I also had more time after therapy to go home and put ice on to keep the swelling down and get things to heal faster.”

Lamp was also grateful that she was able to recover close to home and continue her physical therapy sessions at MRHC with Therapy Director, Taylor Nelson. Taylor Nelson, MRHC Physical Therapist

“Taylor is very helpful, knowledgeable, and keeps things light with his sense of humor,” Lamp shared. “If something isn’t working, he will find a different way to get it done. And he has taught me how to use practical items at home for weights instead of having to go out and buy new equipment.”

Nelson is a Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist, which uses an exercise-based program to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems. He also specializes in orthopedic type conditions, implementing a multi-faceted approach, including hands-on and exercise treatments to help patients achieve their rehab goals.

“Here at MRHC, we pride ourselves in providing individualized care and creating varied treatment plans for everyone,” said Nelson, PT, DPT. “We evaluate, diagnose, and manage health conditions and movement problems in people of all ages and abilities.”

Nelson also reminds people that physical therapy is not just for those recovering from a surgery or an injury. “It is also commonly used to treat lower back, neck, or chronic pain as well as muscle and joint pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, weakness or loss of motion, body misalignments, and to recover from strokes,” said Nelson.

Studies also show that starting physical therapy sooner rather than later can lower out-of-pocket expenses compared to injections or surgery and is also associated with decreased opioid use, healthcare costs, and imaging services.

“Physical therapy allows us to identify factors contributing to your pain such as muscle weakness or joint and muscle stiffness and develop a treatment plan to fit your needs including hands-on treatment, exercise, and education,” Nelson shared.

Physical therapy appointments can be made without a doctor’s referral by calling (712) 655-8298.

MRHC Welcomes New Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Stokesbary, orthopedic surgeon

Manning Regional Healthcare Center is excited to welcome Dr. Steven Stokesbary, M.D., FAAOS, a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon to the Specialty Clinic. Dr. Stokesbary will offer orthopedic services in Manning on the second and fourth Tuesday every month beginning February 22nd. Dr. Stokesbary, orthopedic surgeon

Dr. Stokesbary looks forward to, “providing general orthopedic services, local outpatient surgery, local total joint replacements, and access to more specialized orthopedic services when needed,” he shared.

As a General Orthopedist with an emphasis in total knee and hip replacement, sports medicine, and arthroscopic surgery, he will also offer knee ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repairs, treatment for chronic and acute pain, carpal tunnel release, ulnar nerve transposition and trigger finger release.

“We are excited to partner with The Center for Neurosciences, Orthopaedics & Spine (CNOS) so we are able to continue to offer these specialty services for our patients,” said MRHC CEO, Linn Block, RN, BSN, MHA. “We understand how convenient and important it is to have surgeries and procedures done close to home, so we are eager to welcome Dr. Stokesbary to our wonderful list of specialty providers.”

Dr. Stokesbary attained his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Iowa as well as his doctorate degree in the years following. Dr. Stokesbary, often known as “Stokes”, spent his Residency in Orthopedics at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He started his practice in Sioux City in 1998 and has been with CNOS since.

Dr. Stokesbary and his wife of eight years, Kim, have four kids together. He lives a very active lifestyle with his hobbies including golf, skiing, and scuba diving.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Stokesbary, call (712) 655-8100.