| The Social Services department at Avera St. Anthony’s
Hospital has a profound effect on patients and their family members. The
goal of the department is to assure the patient is provided with needed
services while in the hospital and then to assist them to access available
services they will need when they go back into the community. This provides
a discharge that is as safe and worry free as possible.
With the advent of “swing beds” at Avera St. Anthony's
Hospital discharge planning has gained importance for these patients who
often need services such as meals on wheels, outpatient services like
physical, occupational, speech therapy, or cardiac rehab, durable medical
equipment and in home help.
A close relationship is fostered between Social
Services, Medical Staff, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy, Home
Health, Dietary and Nursing Services to assure that a team effort provides
the best outcome possible for those we serve.
Social Services Staff
 Brenda Halstead, MSW,
MPA has been employed with Avera St. Anthony's Hospital since July of 1998
as Director of Social Services. During that time transportation and the
Faith In Action O’Neill Community Volunteer Program have been developed and
implemented and many changes have been made to the discharge planning
process.
Lenone Koenig, BSW was hired in April of 2005 as Volunteer Coordinator for
the Faith In Action O’Neill Community Volunteer Program and to further
develop the in house volunteer program. She will also assist with the
community-based programs delivered through the Social Services Department.
Lola Taggart began her career at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in July 2002
and continues to assist with volunteer scheduling and other duties in the
Social Services Department. She performs tasks for many other departments
within the hospital as well.
Bonnie Turpin, Dave Eby and Clair Kohl drive the hospital bus and van
providing transportation to elderly and disabled persons in our community as
well as to the general public as time and scheduling allow. Casual drivers
are added as needs arise.
Programs
- Lifeline
The Lifeline program began in 1986 when Hilda Gallagher purchased and
donated the first six units to the hospital. The program has proven to be
very important to northeast Nebraska subscribers as far north as the South
Dakota border, west to Ainsworth, south to Amelia and east to Verdigre. In
July 2000 Lifeline monitoring was transferred to an 800 number in Boston,
Massachusetts, where some 150 Lifeline monitors respond to calls from all
across the United States in 154 languages. This valuable program has
allowed many elderly and disabled persons to remain safely in their home
by connecting them to help when it is needed. Contact Social Services at
(402) 336-5156 for more information about this program.
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Public Transportation
Our transportation service has been in operation since July of 2000. As of
July 2005 the service has provided over 16,000 rides and traveled more
than 35,000 miles to serve over 6,300 elderly persons, 1,700 disabled
persons and 400 of the general public. The service is provided on demand
with elderly and disabled persons given preference, but anyone can use the
service as scheduling allows.
Out of town service is provided using a 2000 Dodge lowered floor handicap
accessible minivan. In town a 2004 Chevrolet minibus is used which will
transport up to 12 ambulatory and 2 wheelchair passengers. Three to five
part time drivers provide courteous, helpful and safe in town
transportation Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. till 5:30 p.m. and out
of town as scheduled. In our first year of providing out of town service
we transported patients to and from areas as far away as Yankton and Sioux
Falls, South Dakota, Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk, Kearney, and Grand Island,
Nebraska.
In town rides can be scheduled through the hospital scheduling office at
402-336-5122 and out of town trips should be scheduled by calling Brenda
at 402-336-5156. For more information see “Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital
Public Transportation Service” under Services on this website.
- Volunteers
Volunteer services are administered through the Social Service Department
at
Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital. An average of 20 volunteers take turns on
most weekdays in the outpatient clinics to help patients sign in and get
to their appointments with specialists. They assist with the Siouxland
Blood Mobile on a monthly basis and at special hospital events as needed.
In January of 2005 the Faith In Action O’Neill Community Volunteer Program
partially funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was started at
Avera St. Anthony's Hospital to provide volunteer services to the
community including friendly visitor, chore services and respite for
caregivers.
Lenone Koenig serves as coordinator for the volunteer program and started
on April 1, 2005. She also works with the in house volunteer program. For
more information, to volunteer, or to seek volunteer services see
“Volunteer Program” under Services on the Avera St. Anthony's Hospital
website, or call Lenone at 402-336-5285.
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