Author: Winneshiek Medical Center

Patients needing pure, pressurized oxygen to promote the healing of chronic wounds can now get that care locally at WinnMed. 

In September, the first hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) chamber in the region opened as part of WinnMed’s Wound Center in Decorah.  The chamber was purchased with funds donated to the WinnMed Foundation through their Annual Fund.

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. This therapy is indicated for certain non-healing wounds, such as a diabetic foot ulcer, radiation injury or osteomyelitis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not appropriate for all patients – as with most medical treatments it truly depends on the patient’s condition and needs.

Why is a hyperbaric oxygen chamber beneficial for wound care?

The body’s tissues need an adequate supply of oxygen to function normally, and to heal. When tissue is injured it needs even more oxygen. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber has been proven to enhance tissue oxygenation, stimulate growth factors, reduce inflammation, fight infection and ultimately promote healing.

Steve Mayer, HBO technician at WinnMed, joined the Wound Center team earlier this summer to help build the HBO program.  He came to the area from a long career of providing HBO therapy in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  Mayer says, “It has been my privilege to assist many patients heal problematic wounds, such as radiation injuries from their past cancer treatments, or diabetic ulcers. Some of these patients have literally endured painful, unhealed wounds for years. I have found it very rewarding to see people heal their wounds and regain an improved quality of life and health.”

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be recommended in coordination with other wound healing treatments, or independently to address wounds due to radiation injury, sudden hearing loss, or other conditions, as directed by a health care provider.

The WinnMed Wound Center, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, is led by Caroline Schwickerath, D.O., Mayo Clinic Health System general surgeon and board certified wound specialist.  In addition to Dr. Schwickerath, Wound Center providers include: Bethany Stevens, ARNP; Thomas Marquardt, D.P.M.; Caity Schultz, ARNP; and Jenny Schrandt, ARNP, who will join the team this fall.

To learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, visit www.winnmed.org/service/wound-center.  To schedule a consult, call WinnMed at 563-382-2911 and ask for the Wound Center.

WinnMed is pleased to share that allergy specialist Michael D’Netto, M.D., M.B.A., has joined the Mayo Clinic Health System practice full time in Decorah, and is accepting new patients.

An allergist helps patients manage allergic and immunologic diseases.  As a Mayo Clinic-trained allergist, Dr. D’Netto provides testing and treatment options for infants through adults who experience food, environmental, medical, venom (insect bites or stings) and other allergies.  He provides skin testing, food and medication challenges, and lung function and immune system testing all at WinnMed in Decorah.  In addition, Dr. D’Netto provides care for patients with asthma and skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.

Background

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. D’Netto received his Bachelor of Science from University of Notre Dame. He then went on to concurrently receive his Master in Business Administration and his medical degree from Ohio State University, completed his residency in Internal Medicine from Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, and his fellowship in Allergy and Immunology, also from Mayo Clinic.  He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and a member of both the American Academy and American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. 

Dr. D’Netto says, “Personally, I have multiple food and environmental allergies. I hope to help others manage their own allergic and immunologic conditions as well as possible, as others have done for me. I have already started meeting people in the community, starting with the recent community picnic at WinnMed.  This is a welcoming community and I look forward to helping people identify and manage allergies so they can live a full life.”

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with Dr. D’Netto at WinnMed in Decorah, call 563-382-2911.

WinnMed will hold their Grand Community Picnic on Thursday, August 31 from 4-7 pm on the WinnMed campus. 

Thomas Marquardt, D.P.M., WinnMed Chief Medical Officer, says, “The Community Picnic has become a staple for many individuals and families in the region as summer winds down and the fall season begins. We are honored to host such an event that brings people together. We are inspired daily by the communities we serve, and as we grow with new services and facilities, want to continue to share our thanks to those who trust us with their health care. We hope everyone joins us for the picnic!”

Free Community Picnic Attractions

• BBQ pork sandwich, chips and a beverage
• Game/activity area for kids
• Popcorn from the Lion’s Club
• Pokey Pete rides
• Face Painting
• Live music by Mike McAbee
• Garden tours
• Emergency vehicle tours
• And more!

Moo-Mobile shakes will be available for $2 each throughout the evening.  The WinnMed Foundation, in connection with ReRooted Connections, will also hold a cut stem sale featuring flowers from the WinnMed garden.

More Information

The picnic is made possible with the help of staff volunteers from WinnMed, the WinnMed Auxiliary and WinnMed Foundation, and will be held rain or shine.

Convenient parking will be available, with regular Earl Bus rides from WinnMed parking lots to the event site. Information on the WinnMed Grand Community Picnic is also available at www.winnmed.org/event/grand-community-picnic.  For additional information on the picnic or other WinnMed activities, please call the WinnMed Marketing & Communications department at 563-382-2911 or email communityrelations@winmedical.org.

The annual WinnMed Hospice Memorial Ride is set for Sunday, June 25.  The event will begin on the WinnMed campus in Decorah with a free-will donation breakfast, and will be held rain or shine. 

The 2023 event will support new specialty therapies for hospice patients: Pet Therapy, Music Therapy, Massage Therapy and Spiritual Counseling. 

“There are many benefits to the complimentary therapies provided through WinnMed hospice,” says Nancy Haberichter, director of WinnMed Hospice.  “For hospice patients dealing with both physical and emotional pain and anxiety, the therapies can provide positive changes in mood, relaxation, peace and comfort. They reduce anxiety and stress and bring on more social interaction with caregivers and families. These therapies inevitably bring a smile to the faces of patients, which in turn, is a gift to both hospice staff as well as to families.”

Event Details

Free-Will Donation Breakfast

Breakfast is open to the public from 9 -10:30 am in the WinnMed Café Courtyard.  Convenient parking is available in Lot F. The menu includes: French toast and sausages, cinnamon rolls, fruit, coffee and juice.

Poker Run

All vehicles are welcome to participate in the poker run.  The ride entry fee is $20 per person and sign-in is available at WinnMed from 9-10:30 am (during the breakfast). Bikes and cars will take off at 11:00 am from WinnMed to begin the poker run.  The ride will take a tour of the beautiful roads of northeast Iowa and will end at Pivo Brewery in Calmar at 4:30 pm with a silent auction, door prizes and refreshments.

WinnMed Hospice provides end-of-life care that ensures quality of life, compassion and comfort for patients and their loved ones. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to patients and families in Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. Haberichter says, “We have received such wonderful support from the communities we serve. We are extremely happy to provide all the new therapies to our patients. The Hospice Memorial Ride donations will help to keep these therapies available for a long time to come.” For more information on the Hospice Memorial Ride, contact WinnMed Hospice at 563-387-3024 or ride organizer Daryl Hinton at 563-423-5564.

At tonight’s WinnMed Board of Trustees meeting, the Board approved the purchase of Donlon Pharmacy of Decorah. The acquisition will take place in late fall of 2023.

Donlon Pharmacy owner Ryan Frerichs, Pharm.D., who purchased the business in 2019, says, “Local, independently-owned pharmacies face increasing economic challenges. Pharmacy Benefit Managers, which work as middlemen between pharmacies and insurers, have increased complexities and lowered reimbursement to unsustainable levels for small-business pharmacies. In this case, a partnership was our best path forward. Our pharmacy’s history is deeply rooted in Decorah, and WinnMed ownership will allow our tradition of personalized, local care to continue well into the future and protect access to community pharmacy services.”

Donlon Pharmacy opened its doors in 1932 and has served the extended Decorah community for nearly 100 years.  Though the industry has changed over the past century, Donlon’s commitment to providing local, community pharmacy services has remained constant.

Frerichs says, “Donlon Pharmacy has always focused on the patient and their individual needs.  It is important to us that our patients feel valued and like family.  Our values closely align with those at WinnMed and we are confident the change in ownership will be positive for our community for years to come.”

At WinnMed, the retail pharmacy will be located in the North Building on the WinnMed campus.  WinnMed intends to open the pharmacy late fall, pending construction completion.  WinnMed Pharmacy will offer services patients want and expect like a new drive-through window for medication pick-up, delivery, medication packaging, meds-to-beds program (a program in which the pharmacist delivers discharge medications to the bedside before the patient leaves the hospital), convenient parking, charity care/financial support programs, and more.  WinnMed patients will have convenient access to fill prescriptions following clinic appointments, and patients who receive health care services outside the WinnMed system will be welcome to fill their prescriptions in the same manner as they did at Donlon Pharmacy.

Additionally, the retail pharmacists will serve in a consultative role for the Mayo Clinic Health System clinical practice at WinnMed.  Physicians will be able to consult with the pharmacist for medication support and patient education, as part of the patient’s appointment.  Pharmacists will also join the primary care team and provide services and education within the hospital walls.

Steve Slessor, chief administrative officer, WinnMed, says “Our acquisition of Donlon Pharmacy will support the continuation of a locally-owned pharmacy that will serve our entire community and region, and better meet the needs of our patients at the point-of-care.  Additionally, revenue from the retail pharmacy will support WinnMed’s investment in our staff, buildings and technology as we strategically grow to serve the needs of our region well into the future.”

With the change in ownership, all current Donlon pharmaceutical staff will be offered employment at WinnMed. Donlon Pharmacy will continue to operate out of its current location until construction is complete on the WinnMed campus.

Slessor says, “I am pleased at the Board’s decision to move forward with this purchase, and we are honored to hold the responsibility to continue the tradition of quality, community-based pharmacy services.” 

This week, Winneshiek Medical Center officially transitions to WinnMed.  The Board of Trustees approved the new name and brand in March, to launch June 5, and continue roll-out efforts through the end of the year. A new tagline to support WinnMed was also adopted by the Board of Trustees: Excellence lives here. 

Steve Slessor, chief administrative officer, says, “The new name closely connects to the current identity, but is shortened to be easy to see, say and remember.  The ‘Winn’ portion gives respect to Winneshiek County citizens to whom we are so deeply connected, and the ‘Med’ portion broadens our scope from a physical place or ‘center’ to a larger medical system that encompasses the entire region.  The tagline speaks to the ideal that every patient receives the absolute best care here, and that care is inspired by the patients and health care providers who choose to live, work and care for each other locally.” 

Thomas Marquardt, D.P.M., chief medical officer, says, “Our strategic long-term vision points to growth and expansion of our Mayo Clinic Health System specialty services.  We wanted to roll out this plan under a new and modern name and look.  During the rebranding process, we also worked closely with our colleagues at Mayo Clinic to ensure compliance with their updated brand standards. The resulting logo change and future use of the MCHS logo when referring to our physician group reflects the new standards for both organizations.”

As under the legacy name and brand of Winneshiek Medical Center, WinnMed’s partnership with Mayo Clinic Health System for physician services is strong.  Dr. Marquardt says, “Our nearly 20-year partnership with Mayo Clinic Health System continues to grow. The leadership and physician services we receive from Mayo Clinic Health System will help keep WinnMed on the cutting edge of health care.”

Background

In 1992, the first of all Mayo Clinic Health System clinics opened in Decorah and worked in partnership with the local hospital, then Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital.  In 2005, Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital entered into a Professional Services Agreement and Management Services Agreement with Mayo Clinic Health System, and rebranded itself to Winneshiek Medical Center.  The medical center continued to grow and evolve, adding service lines and specialty services until the present time, and is now the largest and most specialized hospital in the region.  Currently, 565 staff and physicians work at WinnMed, and in addition to being a top economic engine for the region, WinnMed has significant plans to expand the facility over the next five to ten years.

Clark Goltz, chair of the Board of Trustees, says, “Our history is one of change and growth in response to the evolving needs of the patients we serve, and the continuous innovations in health care.  As demonstrated in our past, and as we approach our future, we are committed to serving as the medical home for our broader region, where our full team of medical professionals and support services can focus on providing patient-centered, compassionate care.”

Winneshiek Medical Center’s Mabel Clinic has expanded once again to offer three health care providers to patients weekly. 

Sarah Kach, PA-C is now seeing patients in the Mabel Clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  She joins Kirsten Wyffels, DNP, who has provided daily family medicine care in Mabel since 2013, and Dr. Anna Mark, Mayo Clinic Health System family medicine physician, who started seeing patients each Wednesday in Mabel in March.

Sarah joined Winneshiek Medical Center in 2007, providing family medicine and urgent care services in Decorah and Ossian.  A native of Winneshiek County and a graduate of Luther College, Sarah completed her physician assistant degree from the University of Iowa.  Sarah treats patients of all ages for acute, chronic and preventive health care. 

Patients can schedule with Sarah in either location by calling the main WMC line at 563-382-2911, or by calling the Mabel Clinic directly at 507-493-5115.

Winneshiek Medical Center’s Wound Center is now open. The Wound Center is located in the North Building on the WMC campus in Decorah.

The Wound Center is a specialized outpatient service for patients with non-healing wounds due to common conditions such as: diabetes, burns, pressure ulcers, and other conditions.  Patients have access to the latest techniques and treatment modalities for the best chance for healing wounds, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, coming this fall.

Bethany Stevens, ARNP, joined Winneshiek Medical Center in August 2021 to provide advanced wound care to patients. Bethany is a board certified wound specialist and has been providing wound care since 2015. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from Allen College in Waterloo, IA.

Providing care alongside Bethany is Mayo Clinic Health System general surgeon Caroline Schwickerath, D.O., who is also a board certified wound specialist physician.  Dr. Schwickerath achieved this certification through the American Board of Wound Management.

Bethany shares, “I’m looking forward to expanding this specialty service to our region. I have seen first-hand the stress and burden carried by those living with a chronic wound. And I have also witnessed the impact that wound healing brings. That’s why I chose this specialty — to help patients heal and get back to living again.”

To learn more about the Wound Center at Winneshiek Medical Center, or to schedule an appointment, call 563-382-2911.

Winneshiek Medical Center is pleased to share that allergist specialist Michael D’Netto, M.D., M.B.A., has joined the Mayo Clinic Health System practice in Decorah and will begin seeing patients full time this fall.

An allergist helps patients manage allergic and immunologic diseases.  As a Mayo Clinic-trained allergist, Dr. D’Netto will provide testing and treatment options for infants through adults who experience food, environmental, medical, venom (insect bites or stings) and other allergies.  He will provide skin testing, food and medication challenges, and lung function and immune system testing all at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.  In addition, Dr. D’Netto will provide care for patients with asthma and skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.

Education and Training

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. D’Netto received his Bachelor of Science from University of Notre Dame and his Master in Business Administration from Ohio State University. He then went on to receive his medical degree from Ohio State University College of Medicine, completed his residency in Internal Medicine from Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, and his fellowship in Allergy and Immunology, also from Mayo Clinic.  He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and a member of both the American Academy and American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. 

Dr. D’Netto says, “Personally, I have multiple food and environmental allergies. I hope to help others manage their own allergic and immunologic conditions as well as possible, as others have done for me. I’m really excited to begin an Allergy/Immunology practice at Winneshiek Medical Center, as part of the Mayo Clinic Health System. Training within the unique model of care at the Mayo Clinic allowed me to truly put the needs of the patient first while providing high quality care. I look forward to bringing that care to the region so patients are able to receive excellent Allergy and Immunology treatment closer to home.”

Appointments

Winneshiek Medical Center has a waiting list for patients who are interested in allergy care, or patients who would like to transfer their allergy care to Dr. D’Netto when he arrives this fall.  Patients who would like to be added to a waiting list may call 563-382-2911.  Clinic staff will contact patients on the waiting list when Dr. D’Netto’s schedule opens.

Beginning Monday, April 10, Winneshiek Medical Center is relaxing masking requirements on their campus in Decorah and in all outreach locations.  Masks will be optional for patients, visitors and staff in most settings.  Masks will still be required for staff when caring for severely immunocompromised patients; and patients who are immunocompromised, showing symptoms of illness or feel more comfortable doing so are encouraged to wear a mask.  Masks will be available at all entrances and upon request. 

Thomas Marquardt, D.P.M., chief medical officer, “All of our service area counties currently show low or moderate transmission rates. In addition, Mayo Clinic is changing their masking guidelines, and we closely follow their direction in our COVID-19 response.”  He adds, “We understand this announcement may be received with mixed emotions.  Some people may still choose to wear masks, and we support their decision.” 

Since the onset of the pandemic, Winneshiek Medical Center has developed and adjusted guidelines  following the guidance of CDC, Mayo Clinic, other federal and state agencies, and partner health organizations. 

Dr. Marquardt says, “Our staff’s commitment to COVID-19 safety measures has been exceptional, and we are grateful for everyone’s efforts in keeping Winneshiek Medical Center safe and healthy for our patients, visitors and staff.”