Pipestone County Medical Center and Family Clinic Avera

04/11/2026

Another session of the Middle School Acceleration program has concluded, and PCMC is honored to have worked with PAS student-athletes and helped them build strong foundations for their future athletic endeavors!

Please feel free to contact Jeffrey Haufschild, PCMC Athletic Trainer and Acceleration Program Leader, at 605-203-3177 with any questions or to inquire about signing up for the next Middle School Acceleration program.

04/10/2026

April is Foot Health Awareness Month! Take the path to healthy feet and prioritize routine foot checks. These checks, especially for those with diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, can detect potential foot injuries and wounds. To learn more, call 507-825-7225.

04/08/2026

April is Occupational Therapy Month, recognizing the role occupational therapists like Ashley Dwire play in helping patients regain independence and confidence in everyday life. Occupational therapy focuses on practical goals such as improving function, supporting recovery after injury or illness, and helping patients return to meaningful activities. At PCMC, care plans are individualized to reflect each patient’s needs, abilities, and priorities. Progress looks different for everyone, and care should reflect that. Call 507-825-6054 for more information.

04/06/2026

Make plans to move with purpose this June!

Join us for the Rock Steady Boxing 5K Fun Run & Walk on Wednesday, June 10. This event is more than just a race; it’s an opportunity to support individuals in our community who are fighting back against Parkinson’s disease.

Whether you choose to run or walk, every step helps fund equipment, education, and access for those committed to staying strong and active.

PAS Track & Field Facility
Registration at 6:00 p.m. | Run begins at 6:30 p.m.
$25 per person

Register today: bit.ly/RockSteady5K

04/03/2026

After 22 and a half years of service, Becky Steffan, Patient Services Coordinator, is retiring from Pipestone County Medical Center and Family Clinic.

Becky’s career started at the front desk in the old clinic, where she served as a receptionist. Shortly after, she transitioned into the pod system, a role that would define much of her time at PCMC. “I worked with Dr. Christensen for 15 years as a pod coordinator, and I absolutely loved it,” Becky said. “When he was gone, I had the chance to work with all of the other providers at one time or another, which was a great way to learn and grow.” After Dr. Christensen retired, Becky continued working with Rachelle Vandegriend and later with Dr. Zephier. She credits the pod system for helping her build strong, lasting relationships with patients.

“You really got to know people,” she said. “That’s something I’ll always appreciate.”

In recent years, Becky moved into the central scheduling queue, assisting patients across all providers. Although her role evolved, the connections stayed the same. "It’s been nice to continue talking to patients I’ve known for years,” she said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Becky also took on a PRN role in hospital admissions, mainly covering evenings and weekends. It was a new experience that quickly became one of her favorites. “I loved that job,” she said. “Every time the alarms went off and someone entered the emergency room, you could feel that adrenaline. The staff, nurses, and providers do such an incredible job taking care of those patients.”

Over the years, Becky has witnessed many changes, but one stands out. “When I started, most of my coworkers were around my age,” she said. “Now I work with people the age of my kids and even my grandkids. That includes providers.”

As she looks back, Becky says she will miss the people the most. “My coworkers have become more than friends. They are my family,” she said. “And I’ll really miss the patients, too. Being in the pod system, you just get closer to them.”

Looking forward to retirement, Becky is excited about having more flexibility and time with her loved ones. “I’m looking forward to being able to visit my kids and grandkids whenever I want,” she said. “And I’m definitely looking forward to supper get-togethers with coworkers, past and present.”

Becky’s influence on PCMC shines through the relationships she's cultivated over the past twenty years. We are blessed to have worked with her and wish her the very best in her retirement!

04/03/2026

Today is Hospital Admitting Clerks Day, recognizing the first point of contact for many patients at Pipestone County Medical Center. Our admitting team—Casandra Preteau, Emily Nelson, Judy DeRuyter, Kammy Stueven, Katiyanna Finzen, Lisa Gorter, Lori Sterrett-Gardner, and Stacy Mitchell—helps patients navigate registration with professionalism, accuracy, and respect. Their work supports privacy and a smooth start to each patient visit, and we appreciate them all! Call 507-825-5811 for more information.

04/02/2026

For a multi-sport athlete like Brooke Einck, there isn't really an "off-season." When the PAS junior isn’t on the volleyball court, she’s usually preparing for gymnastics. So, when she went up for a block during a volleyball warm-up last October and came down hard on the side of her ankle, the timing couldn't have been worse.

"I don’t know if I came down on someone else’s foot or just landed wrong," Brooke recalls. The result was a high ankle sprain in the middle of the season, the kind of injury that can easily sideline an athlete for months if not handled correctly.

With gymnastics season just around the corner, Brooke knew she couldn’t simply "wait and see" if things improved. She needed a plan to regain her strength, and that’s why she partnered with Jeff Haufschild, PCMC’s Athletic Trainer.

Rehab can often feel like a chore, but Brooke discovered that working with Jeff in the training room was a different experience. Instead of a high-pressure setting, she found a space where she could just be herself.

"It’s fun," Brooke says. "I like talking to him, and he just kind of listens. He’s easy to talk to, so coming in here isn’t very stressful."

A typical session followed a consistent routine to rebuild the stability Brooke needed for the floor exercise and vault. They began with ankle bands—sets of ten lifting, pushing, and moving side to side—then moved on to rotations to regain her flexibility.

We tried different tape jobs depending on how weak the ankle felt," Brooke explains. "We eventually settled on just a normal tape job.”

By the time gymnastics season arrived in November, the hard work had paid off. Brooke was back to full strength, competing without issues. While she still wraps her ankle as a preventive measure, she feels confident in her recovery.

While Brooke looks forward to the "less stressed" life of a high school senior, she admits that the prospect of ending her competitive sports career is bittersweet. "I’m not really looking forward to my sports being done. I know it’s going to be hard leaving my teammates because we have such a close bond."

As for what’s next, Brooke has her sights set on Southeast Tech in Sioux Falls for radiology. It’s a fitting path for someone who has spent a fair amount of time seeing how the medical world helps people get back on their feet.

For other students who might be nursing a "minor" injury or feeling nervous about asking for help, Brooke has some simple advice: just walk through the door.

“I sometimes get nervous asking for help, too,” she admits. "But once you get in here, it’s really not bad at all. It’s easy to talk to Jeff, and he has quick solutions that can help you. It’s better to get it fixed before it gets worse."

Whether it’s a high ankle sprain or a persistent ache, the team at PCMC is here to ensure our local athletes don't have to stay on the sidelines. Thanks to her dedication and some help from Jeff, Brooke proves that with the right support, you can get back to doing what you love. If you have questions about the athletic training services at PCMC, give Jeff a call at 605-203-3177.

04/01/2026

April is Foot Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of early attention to foot care and wound concerns. It is especially important for individuals managing diabetes, neuropathy, circulation issues, or having mobility challenges. Foot health plays a critical role in overall well-being and long-term mobility. Treating wounds or changes in skin conditions early can often prevent complications and support complete healing. At Pipestone County Medical Center, wound care services focus on providing evidence-based assessments, individualized treatment plans & patient education, and close follow-up. Led by Wound Center Director Melissa Scotting, APRN, CNP, WCC, the wound care team uses evidence-based practices and clear communication to help patients understand their care plan and healing process. Early evaluation and coordinated care support better healing outcomes and help patients stay active and independent. Call 507-825-7225 for more information.

03/31/2026

Debbie Reinert, MSPT, Therapy Manager, and Michaela Surat, DPT, recently represented Pipestone County Medical Center at the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference in New Orleans. Their work was highlighted through PCMC’s participation in the AHA Mission: Lifeline Grant Project.

Debbie presented during the Rural Health Panel on how rural hospitals can coordinate timely stroke care. Michaela delivered a poster presentation at the Global Quality Showcase on behalf of Mission: Lifeline facilities. Their topic focused on a challenge many rural hospitals face: limited access to Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). For nearly a year, PCMC had an unfilled SLP position, making it difficult to complete swallowing evaluations for stroke patients.

“Early detection of swallowing problems after a stroke is critical,” Debbie explained. “If we can’t assess them quickly, patients may need to be transferred to another facility. We wanted to find a way to safely keep patients here, close to home.”

The team explored telemedicine speech therapy as a solution. Through collaboration with nursing, providers, and system partners, PCMC implemented a telehealth model that enables a licensed SLP to evaluate patients remotely via secure video technology.

“Telemedicine enabled us to deliver timely, high-quality care without unnecessary transfers,” Debbie said. “It was an effective solution during a period when staffing shortages were a real concern.”

Today, PCMC is pleased to have Morgan Clarke, SLP, on-site as part of the therapy team. “We’re grateful to now have an in-house SLP,” Debbie added. “But the telemedicine model showed us that rural hospitals can be innovative and adaptable when it comes to patient care.”

PCMC is proud to share this work on a national stage and continue advancing stroke care in southwest Minnesota.

03/30/2026

March is National Nutrition Month, and throughout the month, PCMC Nutritionist Sarah Parr will be answering some common nutrition-related questions for us. This week, the question is:

How can I make healthy food taste good?

PCMC Nutritionist Sarah Parr shares some tips for healthier eating to help celebrate National Nutrition Month.

03/30/2026

Thanks to everyone who helped make our 25th annual Avera@Home Pipestone Hospice Benefit one to remember! We are so blessed to be part of such a supportive community, and we were honored to see the Pipestone Country Club filled with so many people. Thank you all!

03/27/2026

March is National Nutrition Month, and throughout the month, PCMC Nutritionist Sarah Parr will be answering some common nutrition-related questions for us. Today, the question is:
Can healthy eating be affordable?

PCMC Nutritionist Sarah Parr shares some tips for healthier eating to help celebrate National Nutrition Month.