Agnesian Clinic Ripon

07/14/2025

SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital is hosting a community blood drive from 11 am - 4 pm on Tuesday, July 15 in the Plaza Level Conference Center, 430 E. Division Street, Fond du Lac. Appointments are encouraged.

Donors will get a choice of an electronic gift card, a charitable donation to a Good Giving Partner, or bonus points to the ImpactLife rewards store.

Donors should eat before donating and bring a photo ID. The last date to donate elsewhere is May 20, 2025.

To schedule, call 1-800-747-5401 or visit: https://login.bloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/135548

07/14/2025

The first SSM Health Treffert Center Archipelago 2025: A Celebration of Exceptional Minds was a huge success! An inspiring event with much joy, comradery and fun! Truly inspiring! Great job to all involved!

07/14/2025

SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital has received two nominations in the Dodge County’s Best 2025 - Best Hospital and Best OB/GYN facility. Voting continues through July 20 with winners being named in September. To vote: https://wiscnews.com/exclusive/readerschoice/dodge-county-ballot-2025/?_gl=1%2A19oghln%2A_gcl_au%2ANTA5MDk1ODgyLjE3NTIwMjQ1MTY.%2A_ga%2AMTQ0MDM3OTQxLjE3NTIwMjExNDU.%2A_ga_NK3SLJTMBQ%2AczE3NTIwMjM0ODEkbzIkZzEkdDE3NTIwMjU4ODQkajU4JGwwJGg2MTY4MjUwMjk

07/14/2025

Three area students who intend to pursue careers in health care have been awarded scholarships from the SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Medical Staff.

Scholarship recipients were chosen from among area high school seniors who plan to pursue a career in health care.

The following seniors are recipients of $2,000 scholarships.

Eleanor Eilertson, a Green Lake High School graduate, plans to attend Carroll University to pursue a pediatric physical therapy degree. Her parents are Derek and Heidi Eilertson.

Lauren Moldenhauer, a Markesan High School graduate, plans to attend Winona State University or the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to pursue a nursing degree. Her parents are Richard and Linda Moldenhauer.

Hailey Treder, a Princeton High School graduate, plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater or University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a physician assistant degree. Her parents are Richard and Jennifer Treder.

07/13/2025

Join the Fond du Lac Family YMCA and Kelly Faymoville, RN, SSM Health trauma coordinator and Standing Strong Against Falls Coalition leader, as she shares tips for preventing falls, including tripping hazards removal, assistive devices use, and an active, engaged, and healthy lifestyle. Register today for this Tuesday, August 5 presentation at noon. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=WzgePdYMEkm9_Nj4Icu1h04hAVY4i_xBoukfDQ3OAPZUN0lJVlJSV1NGWjVTMTNKUE9HRFNGWEFXVSQlQCN0PWcu

07/12/2025

SSM Health Cancer Care in Fond du Lac is now utilizing AlignRT® Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) technology, which helps set up and monitor patients with sub-millimeter accuracy, while in many cases eliminating the need for small tattoos or marks for treatment alignment purposes.

The AlignRT® system uses special software and 3D cameras to track patients’ movements in real-time during radiation therapy. This is very important, because patients must remain perfectly in position as the hospital’s Varian TrueBeam® Linear Accelerator delivers treatment to the cancer site.

“The AlignRT® technology works with a variety of methods which notify the radiation therapists if any patient movement is occurring and can temporarily stop treatment to reposition patients, if necessary,” according to Michael Vander Kooy, MD, an SSM Health Cancer Care board-certified radiation oncologist.

AlignRT® uses surface guidance to determine the optimal time to administer radiation. When a patient breathes in, the heart shifts down and away from the chest wall. The patient holds her breath for about 20 seconds, during which time radiation is delivered. The process is repeated throughout the session, decreasing the heart’s exposure to radiation.

“AlignRT® uses three cameras to see the patient from every possible angle,” Dr. Vander Kooy explains. “It's noninvasive, and there is no additional radiation exposure because it's infrared. The system is constantly monitoring patients, so if they lose their breath, cough, or otherwise isn't in the correct the position, radiation isn't administered.”

Not all patients are candidates for AlignRT® or need the breath hold technique. In these cases, the physician will develop a plan to minimize radiation close to the heart.

Another very exciting component of the AlignRT® technology is that it has created the ability for some patients to receive tattoo-less radiation therapy treatments. Traditionally, small tattoos have been a common step in radiation therapy process, as they are used for alignment purposes.

“With AlignRT®, most patients are now able to forgo having any permanent tattoo marks placed on their bodies,” according to Dr. Vander Kooy. “Instead of aligning to just one tattoo point, with AlignRT® we can align patients using well over 10,000 pixels of positioning data, without increasing set up time. In addition to improved accuracy, sometimes it can be difficult for people to see the treatment tattoos and have a permanent reminder of their battle with cancer, so we are pleased to offer this advancement right here in Fond du Lac.

“Our patients appreciate no longer needing tattoos or skin marks that remind them about their treatments long after their cancer journey concludes or needed to wash off marks,” Dr. Vander Kooy adds.

The SSM Health Cancer Care team - with offices in Fond du Lac and Waupun - provides compassionate, state-of-art services close to home, eliminating the need to travel for testing, treatment or other services. To learn more, call 920-926-4100.

07/11/2025

Crystal Wormet, RN, has been named a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses winner at SSM Health at Home - Hospice.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill was inspired by this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is selected based on specific criteria to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented to one recipient on a quarterly basis at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors.

Wormet was nominated by a patient’s family member who wrote:

“Crystal was an amazing, caring nurse. She saw him once a week and was always honest with him about his health. He really liked that about Crystal. She was always willing to do anything to make him comfortable. She always explained anything that changed with his medicine. Crystal always allowed him to ask questions and always took the time to listen and explain things. She always made things easy. As he got closer to passing, there was a close bond between them. He trusted Crystal. He was very fortunate to have Crystal take care of him.”

Wormet was recently recognized during a brief ceremony. She received a certificate commending her as an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin, and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” according to Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses SSM Health at Home - Hospice are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.

07/11/2025

SSM Health has donated $10,000 to support the Moraine Park Technical College Foundation's nursing, nursing assistant and medical assistant scholarships, which support students seeking to become registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, or home health aides.

While health care careers are among the fastest growing in the region, health care employers are struggling nationwide to fill nursing positions. In 2024, it was reported that Wisconsin faced a critical nursing shortage, expected to continue through 2040, with a need to add an additional 10,000 RNs to the workforce. It is also predicted that 9,900 new RNs, CNAs, and home health aides will be needed by 2030 to maintain the current level of care.

Moraine Park offers a wide range of high-quality, affordable programs designed to support individuals pursuing a rewarding career in health care, all close to home. The College’s Nursing Assistant program includes more than 78 hours of online theory, hands-on lab work, and clinical experience, equipping students with the essential skills needed to begin a career in patient care. Moraine Park’s Nursing program is highly regarded and serves as a leading choice for nursing education in the region. Each year, the College introduces nearly 200 nurses into the district communities, with graduates consistently achieving above-average pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) year after year.

“We are grateful to SSM Health for their support of our nursing, nursing assistant, and medical assistant scholarships,” according to Alicia Mattingly, Moraine Park Foundation development officer. “Nursing assistants are often the first point of contact for patients, acting as the eyes and ears for nurses and physicians to help identify patient needs or concerns. They address the specific health needs of individuals, families, and groups across their lifespans, with special attention to diverse and at-risk populations. Mental health concepts cover adaptive and maladaptive behaviors, as well as specific mental health disorders.”

Contributing to Moraine Park scholarships is one way that SSM Health can meet a growing demand for nursing professionals.

“These clinicians play a vital role on our care delivery team working closely with patients to ensure their physical and emotional needs are met,” according to Jodi Dietzel, SSM Health Fond du Lac Market administrator. “SSM Health deeply appreciates the value that nursing and medical assistant team members bring to the care we provide and is pleased to partner with the Moraine Park Foundation to provide financial support through scholarships for those who have chosen this noble career path.”

For more information about Moraine Park Foundation scholarships, visit morainepark.edu/scholarships.

In 2024, SSM Health's local community benefit ministry totaled more than $568,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.

07/10/2025

An August 5 Envision Greater Fond du Lac and Young Professionals of Fond du Lac Professional Development Series session - “Strong Mind, Strong Leader: Improve Your Interpersonal Skillset for Better Leadership” - will feature Robyn Williams, LPC, SSM Health Behavioral Health psychotherapist.

This program is designed to equip emerging leaders with the confidence and knowledge to build mental resilience for effective leadership. Williams, will share meaningful and relevant content, including:

• Defining mental resilience and illustrating the benefits in leadership

• Describing key traits of a strong mind and how these traits impact leading others

• Demonstrating how to build mental resilience with interpersonal skills such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, focus and clarity, and adaptability

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn valuable mental resilience for effective leadership in the workplace!

This event is free of charge. Light refreshments will be provided. The event runs from 8 - 9:30 am at C.D. Smith Construction, 125 Camelot Drive in Fond du Lac. https://web.envisiongreaterfdl.com/.../Strong.../details

07/10/2025

Still time to get your tickets for SSM Health Treffert Center Archipelago: A Celebration of Exceptional Minds on Friday, July 11 from 5 - 9 pm. Visit www.amazingsavants.com.

07/10/2025

Can your kids spot AI generated content? Can you? News 3 Now / Channel 3000's Kyreon Lee put a pair of siblings to the test in this special report.

MADISON, Wis. — From social media feeds to search results, AI-generated images are everywhere and it’s not always easy to tell what’s real. But how well can kids tell the