Avera Announces Largest Building Project In Its History
Avera announces plans to build a six-story tower addition to Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center and a three-story building on the Avera on Louise Health Campus.
Shaping the Future of Rural Healthcare at Avera
This past fall, James "Jim" Dover became the third President and CEO of Avera Health. What drew the California native to Avera? What impressions does he have after his first few months? And what are his hopes for Avera Health in the years ahead?
Looking Forward: Regional Healthcare Leaders Share Their Hopes for the Year Ahead
For our end-of-the-year issues, we invited CEOs of some of the region's leading hospitals and health systems, both small and large, to share some of the things they are looking forward to at their respective organizations in 2024.
Crystal Kirschenmann, RN, Receives DAISY Award At Avera St. Mary's Hospital In Pierre
Crystal Kirschenmann, RN, with the Avera St. Mary's Hospital Women's Center, is the most recent recipient of the DAISY Award.
Avera Announces New President and CEO
James “Jim” Dover, FACHE, a seasoned health care executive with more than 30 years of experience serving in leadership positions across a wide array of hospital and health systems, has been named the next President and Chief Executive Officer of Avera Health.
Avera Wound Care Team Adds Surgical Approach to Help Slow-Healing Wounds
Helping diabetic patients with slow-healing wounds. That’s what the Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center’s multidisciplinary wound-care team has done for years. This year, they added a podiatrist, Peter Bellezza, DPM, whose surgical approaches provide new options for patients with slow-healing wounds.
Leading the Way; Healthcare Leadership in 2022
As we do each December, we are excited to close out the year with a look back at some of the top stories featured in MED Magazine over the past 12 months.
Avera Launches ‘Ask The Question’ Campaign For Suicide Prevention
During September, which is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, Avera is launching a campaign centered around the theme, “Ask the Question.”
Avera’s Walking Forward Program Receives $200,000 Donation From Hansen Foundation
Walking Forward has received $200,000 in grant funding over the next two years from the Irving A. Hansen Memorial Foundation to help improve health outcomes and quality of life in American Indian communities in South Dakota.
Avera Hospitals Earn Highest Rating From Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services
Five Avera hospitals have been named 5-star facilities by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Star ratings enable consumers to more quickly and easily assess the patient experience of care information that is provided on the Care Compare website.
Sr. Joan Reichelt Retires From Avera
Sister Joan Reichelt recently announced her retirement as Chief Culture Officer at Avera Health, effective July 1.
Kirby Place Hospitality House Opens Near Avera McKennan Campus
Avera announces the opening of Kirby Place, an expanded hospitality house for patients and families near the campus of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.
Celebrating You Week at Avera
This week, Avera celebrates all employees who work within its facilities, including clinics, hospitals, senior living centers and more.
Avera Announces New Chief Operating Officer
David Flicek has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Avera Health. In addition, he will continue his duties as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Avera Medical Group.
Avera McKennan DAISY Award Recipients Spring 2022
Avera McKennan Announces Spring Daisy Awards
Avera Observes Second Anniversary of COVID-19 Pandemic
Avera is observing the second anniversary of the COVID-19 virus within its 72,000-square-mile footprint. The first potential cases were identified on March 10, 2020.
Avera's New Behavioral Health Wing Represents a "Sea Change" in Acceptance
This month, Avera opens the doors on the 56,000 square foot addition to its Behavioral Health Center in Sioux Falls. Announced in December 2020, as the pandemic was still raging across the country, this new space for children, youth, and adults with mental health needs could not come soon enough.
![[Interview] Coping with COVID-19, Clarissa Barnes, MD](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61829f4239de034887fef275/1647442324803-149134YRRVYX8TGSHXUD/32.png)
[Interview] Coping with COVID-19, Clarissa Barnes, MD
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, healthcare workers are on the front lines of the battle against it. Clarissa Barnes, MD, is an Internist and hospitalist at Avera McKennan and medical director of Avera’s Light Program, which addresses things like physician stress and burnout. We spoke with her in mid-March on how the crisis is impacting people working in medicine in our area.
Sioux Falls Heart Surgeon First in the Nation to Use Newly-Approved Occlusion Device
Michael Bacharach, MD, a vascular medicine specialist with Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, recently became the first doctor in the country to use a new minimally invasive device for large atrial septal defects commercially.
September/October News & Notes
Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen and Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton have been recognized by Premier Inc. for demonstrated excellence in performance across 13 patient safety adverse event areas of focus, as part of their participation in Premier’s Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN) program. The two Avera facilities were among 27 US hospitals recognized.