Columbus Community Hospital Honors Frankie Rivero Vila for Compassionate Care
Columbus Community Hospital is proud to recognize Frankie Rivero Vila, one of our dedicated interpreters, for his outstanding commitment to patient care and communication. Rivero Vila's professionalism, empathy and ability to connect with patients and providers have made him an important part of our hospital community.
Avera Sacred Heart Named Among Great Community Hospitals
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D., has named to Becker's Hospital Review’s Great Community Hospitals list for 2026, released June 2.
CHI Health St. Francis Announces $10,000 Ticket Winner
Keagan Palmerfrom Phillips was the big winner of CHI Health St. Francis Foundation’s annual Ticket to Win raffle drawing on June 4. Palmer’s ticket was drawn for the $10,000 cash grand prize during the free social event held at the hospital.
Sietstra to Lead Orange City Area Health System
Orange City Area Health System has appointed Chris Sietstra as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective July 6, according to an announcement from the health system.
SDAHO Provides In-Depth Education on Guardianship
Through the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) LifeCircle website, visitors can access comprehensive resources and training on guardianship and the role of guardians.
22 Good Samaritan Locations Earn National Quality Award
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced that 22 Good Samaritan locations received the 2026 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award. This recognition signifies a location’s commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care.
Mary Lanning Healthcare Appoints New President and CEO
Mary Lanning Healthcare is pleased to announce the selection of Shanna Stofer, PharmD MHA, as President & CEO of the organization. She will begin her new position on July 13.
MercyOne Now Offers Free Breastfeeding Classes for Expecting Parents
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center is offering free in-person breastfeeding classes to help expecting parents feel more prepared to reach their feeding goals.
Dakota Vascular Sponsors With The Helpline Center to Expand Community Support and Mental Health Access in the Sioux Falls Region
Dakota Vascular, the Sioux Falls region’s trusted leader in vascular care, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Helpline Center’s Step Forward to Prevent Suicide walk on June 6 in Sioux Falls. The public event is one of the non-profit’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Sanford Sports to Host STARS Volleyball Camp
Sanford Sports Fargo is hosting “Sanford STARS”, an all-skills volleyball camp led by program alumni who now compete at the collegiate level.
Avera Health Receives Wellvana CARE Award
Avera Health earned Partner of the Year in the health system segment of Wellvana’s CARE Awards at is 2026 Accountable Care Symposium recently in Denver, Colo. Wellvana is a national leader in value-based care enablement.
Unity Medical Center Earns Best Place to Work Recognition for Fifth Consecutive Year
Unity Medical Center (UMC) has been selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Healthcare for a fifth year in a row. This annual award program identifies and recognizes 150 outstanding employers in the healthcare industry nationwide. Half of these organizations are a combination of healthcare providers and insurance companies while the other half are vendors.
Bethany Gifford Receives Service Over Self Award
Columbus Community Hospital is proud to recognize Bethany Gifford, RN, MSN, as its second quarter Service Over Self Award recipient for 2026.
Great Plains Health and Unitek Learning Partner to Expand Nursing Education Opportunities in Rural Nebraska
Great Plains Health and Unitek Learning have announced a new partnership focused on expanding access to nursing education and strengthening the long-term healthcare workforce across central and western Nebraska.
Advanced Proton Therapy System Arrives at Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Saturday
The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will reach a major milestone Saturday as a state-of-the-art proton beam therapy system is scheduled to arrive on campus. It’s the first proton beam system in Nebraska, marking a significant step forward in bringing advanced cancer treatment to the state and region.
Nebraska Medicine Performs First Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement on a Nebraska Patient
The Interventional Cardiology team at Nebraska Medicine performed the first Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) in Nebraska, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery. The new device (FDA approved in December 2025), allows for the minimally invasive procedure to be an alternative to a much higher risk surgery. All of this is done via a catheter inserted into a small incision in the groin.
Distinguished Service Award Nominations Open Through July 1
Each year, the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) has the privilege of recognizing individuals whose leadership, compassion, and dedication make a lasting impact on health care across our state through the Distinguished Service Awards (DSA).
CHI Health St. Francis Strengthens Care Support for Bedside Nurses
CHI Health St. Francis introduced an extra layer of patient care today. The initiative further strengthens the hospital’s standing as a Magnet with Distinction organization, an international benchmark for providing the highest and most elite nursing excellence and safety.
Anna Wiemken Joins Essentia Health-Osgood Clinic as Elder Care Practitioner
The Essentia Health-Osgood Clinic is excited to welcome Anna Wiemken, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner in elder care.
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.