Congratulations to this month’s South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organization (SDAHO) Hometown Healthcare Hero member facility and community, Winner Regional Health in Winner, South Dakota.
To help member facilities with workforce needs, SDAHO has launched the Hometown Healthcare Heroes campaign. The campaign is designed to recognize and celebrate member facilities, the people that work there and the communities they live in. Each month SDAHO will highlight a member facility and the job opportunities at that facility. In addition, community members share insight on the business environment, housing options, details about the school system, and some of the amenities within the town and surrounding area.
Winner Regional Health has served the residents of south-central South Dakota and north-central Nebraska for over 65 years. Located in central Tripp County, the community of Winner is known for great outdoor recreational opportunities, often referenced as a sportsman paradise attracting pheasant hunters across the country. Winner Regional holds the role of the region’s primary healthcare provider. Linda Schueth serves as the facilities Registered Nurse Outpatient Nurse Supervisor. Linda has worked in healthcare for 44 years with 40 of those at Winner Regional Health. “We are so lucky, not only do we have our hospital, but we also have two clinics in town, and we have a surgeon. A lot of smaller hospitals do not have surgery available anymore, that means we can deliver babies. We have optometry, mental health and drug and alcohol counseling in the community. We have two pharmacies, we have physical therapies, we have chiropractors, so we are able to provide a holistic approach to healthcare which is quite unique for our community.” Linda Schueth, RN/RN Outpatient Nurse Supervisor, Winner Regional.
Jack Kerner, a pharmacist in Winner was born and raised in the community. After earning his pharmacy degree from SDSU, he and his wife chose to return to their hometown. Jack says healthcare is a scarce resource in rural communities and people understand that which shows in the way residents treat him and other healthcare professionals who call Winner home. “I feel people tend to be more appreciative of the care they receive, they have a high degree of respect for their healthcare professionals. I am able to see the people that I treat and help in the community whether at the grocery store or out to eat, I run into people frequently and I enjoy that.” Jack Kerner, Pharmacist Winner Regional Health
Winner Regional Health is locally owned and operated, with a local nine-person volunteer Board of Directors responsible for overseeing and managing the strategic direction of the facility. Each year, the Board chooses three candidates from local communities to serve three-year terms on the Governing Board. While still locally owned and operated, an agreement with Sanford Health aides the organization with purchasing, training, technology, and administration.
Winner is a strong agriculture driven community with workforce opportunities abundant. Casey Heenan was also born and raised in Winner. He and his family left for a short time but decided to return to his hometown, where today he manages the Winner Circle Feed Yard. Casey says Winner has a deep sense of community, with lots of functions where the entire community shows up to support. “Whether it is a high school sporting event or a fundraiser, the community shows up and they have a real appreciation for each other.”
Winner’s downtown offers residents a wide variety of shopping, restaurants and more. Casey applauds the community’s effort to ensure residents have everything they need in this town of three thousand. “If someone is coming here with their spouse who got a job at the hospital, additional job opportunities in Tripp County are endless. There are agriculture support jobs and more. If you move here and your spouse has their own business, there are some tax advantages from a business standpoint that will help further their career in that industry.” Casey Heenan, Manger Winner Circle Feed year.
Winner is a robust community with continued growth. Winner Regional Health and the healthcare team are part of that growth with a variety of career opportunities. To learn more about Winner, South Dakota and the healthcare job opportunities within Winner Regional Health, visit their website today.
To learn more about the SDAHO Hometown Healthcare Heroes Campaign Visit our website at https://sdaho.org/hometown-healthcare-heroes/
or Contact Stephanie Rissler, SDAHO Communication Manager Stephanie.Rislser@sdaho.org / 605-789-7530
