Golden Guitars Gala Sets Fundraising Record for Children's Miracle Network
The Golden Guitars Gala, a Monument Health Foundation fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network, broke fundraising records and welcomed surprise guest Bret Michaels on June 13 at the fifth annual event. The Poison frontman performed a special acoustic set and personally contributed to the evening, helping push the total raised to $781,250, a Foundation record for the largest amount raised at a single event.
Monument Health Opens Emergency Services and Medical Campus in Rapid City
Monument Health today opened the doors of its new free-standing Emergency Department at 1911 East Mall Drive in Rapid City, bringing high-quality emergency care closer to the communities along the Interstate 90 corridor. The facility marks the first completed phase of the Monument Health Emergency Services and Medical Campus and represents a significant investment in the long-term health infrastructure of the Black Hills region.
Monument Health Partners With Community Research Program Walking Forward
For 24 years, Walking Forward has worked to close the gap in cancer outcomes for American Indian communities across western South Dakota. Now, the nationally recognized program is joining Monument Health once again, bringing more than two decades of community-based cancer navigation, research and education work under the health system and strengthening its ability to serve patients across western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming.
Monument Health Investment Marks First Full Year of Graduates From West River Health Science Center
In its first full year of operation, the West River Health Science Center, a nursing pathway partnership between Black Hills State University and South Dakota State University, graduated 122 registered nurses across two classes. This milestone was made possible in part by Monument Health’s $2 million investment to expand the facility in 2022. Sixty-two of those graduates have committed to joining Monument Health.
Rapid City Medical Center Officially Becomes Part of Monument Health
Rapid City Medical Center has officially joined Monument Health, the organizations announced today. The completion of this transaction marks a significant milestone in the two organizations' longstanding commitment to physician leadership, community-based care and keeping health care decisions rooted in the Black Hills.
Monument Health Receives American Heart Association Gold Award for Fostering a Healthy Workplace
The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives for all, has awarded Monument Health Gold recognition in the 2026 Well-being Works Better™ Scorecard, representing a notable commitment to the health of its workforce and community.
Black Hills Community Bank Awards Grant to Monument Health Foundation
Monument Health Foundation has received a $70,000 grant from Black Hills Community Bank through the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Member Impact Fund, furthering a longstanding partnership between the two organizations and supporting critical investments across the region.
American Cancer Society Awards Transportation and Lodging Grants to Monument Health
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has awarded up to $30,000 in grants to Monument Health Cancer Care Institute to help ease the burden for patients who experience challenges with the expense of transportation and lodging to get to their cancer related medical appointments.
Monument Health Introduces AI-Powered Health Care in the Black Hills
Across Monument Health’s facilities, artificial intelligence is changing how clinicians work and how patients experience high-quality care. In daily practice, Monument Health employees already use more than a dozen applications of generative AI in the electronic health record.
Monument Health Named Among Nation’s Top Hospitals for Heart Attack Care for 14 Consecutive Years
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2025, marking 14 consecutive years receiving the honor. Rapid City Hospital is one of only 323 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.
Meet a Make-A-Wish Champion of Hope
Rapid City pediatric hospitalist Tamra Lemley, MD, is new to Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana but she is excited to learn just how many children are eligible for wishes. She’s this month’s Champion of Hope.
Black Hills Surgical Hospital Achieves Milestone With First Symplicity™ Renal Denervation Case
Black Hills Surgical Hospital has successfully completed its first case using the Symplicity™ renal denervation system, marking an important milestone in expanding advanced treatment options for patients with uncontrolled hypertension in South Dakota.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Recognizes the Monument Health Heart and Vascular Unit With Silver Beacon Award for Excellence
For the second year in a row, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently awarded a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence to the Monument Health Heart and Vascular Unit (HVU) at Rapid City Hospital. This is a significant achievement as more than 575 units from around the country applied for the award in 2025.
Rapid City Medical Center and Monument Health Sign Letter of Intent
Rapid City Medical Center and Monument Health announced today that they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for Rapid City Medical Center to join Monument Health. Under the LOI, the parties will perform further due diligence with the intention to sign definitive agreements and close on the transaction later this spring.
Sanford Health Completes Combination With Black Hills Plastic Surgery
Sanford Health has finalized its combination with Rapid City, South Dakota-based Black Hills Plastic Surgery.
Building From the Ground Up
Monument Health added 40 new physicians in the last half of 2025, shoring up access to care and bringing new specialties to the region. We'll meet the gynecologic oncologist, cardiothoracic/vascular surgeon, and colorectal surgeon who are building these new programs from the ground up.
Monument Health and Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Celebrate One-Year Partnership in Western South Dakota
Monument Health and Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI) are celebrating one year of partnership, reinforcing a shared commitment to ensuring every patient in western South Dakota has access to essential dialysis care close to home.
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital Again Earns an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital has again earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety, making it the only hospital in South Dakota to receive this distinction. Only about 30% of U.S. hospitals achieve a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of "A." Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
Christine Zallar, RRT, Honored with PHIL Award
Christine Zallar, RRT, was awarded Monument Health’s 2025 PHIL award. The Phil Award, which is The FACES Foundation’s signature program, is the only nationally recognized hospital-based recognition program dedicated to honoring outstanding respiratory therapists who provide exemplary care and treatment for patients with respiratory illnesses. Winners are nominated by patients, family members and other caregivers.
Primary Focus
At the end of each year, we invite a group of healthcare professionals in our region to share their insights on what's working - and what could be working better - in their practices. This year, we posed two questions to seven primary care providers from across South Dakota, Southwest Minnesota, and Northwest Iowa. From the high cost of care to countering misinformation to preparing for AI, their answers provide a fascinating glimpse into life in rural primary care today.