(HOWARD, SD)
Horizon Health Care received the Partner in Health Award from the South Dakota Department of Health, particularly for their efforts surrounding Family Planning.
Horizon’s Family Planning Program services include pregnancy testing, education, counseling and screenings to provide patients with personalized care while growing a family. Registered nurse Lindsey Heath, from Martin, SD, has played a pivotal role in the expansion of Horizon’s Family Planning services.
South Dakota Department of Health presents Horizon Health Care with the 2022 Partner in Health Award.
“The Family Planning program has allowed patients access to care they otherwise wouldn’t receive without the program,” said Heath. “Expanding the Family Planning program into our rural Horizon clinics allows patients to receive care for all of their health needs at one location.”
As a part of the 2022 Department of Health Leadership Awards, the Partner in Health Award is given to a team or organization that goes above and beyond in providing health care opportunities in rural communities where many South Dakotans live, learn, work and play.
“With their mission being so in line with the Department of Health’s vision, we have been able to become strong partners in health to expand the Family Planning to 9 (of their 22) locations,” said Hope Klein and Linda Ahrendt from South Dakota Department of Health.
In addition to their Family Planning services, Horizon was also recognized for their partnership within the South Dakota Department of Health’s Health Information Exchange (HIE) program, providing valuable data and testing support. Horizon provides an innovative focus to South Dakota by playing a crucial role in improving access to healthcare and being involved in the strategic planning of rural health within the state.
Horizon places emphasis on whole health medicine and wellness, serving as a medical home where patients can be seen regularly throughout life’s stages. They provide comprehensive, affordable health care services to anyone.
“Our successful partnership with the South Dakota Department of Health has increased the Family Planning services we can provide to rural and underserved communities in South Dakota,” said Wade Erickson, Chief Executive Officer at Horizon Health Care. “Our Family Planning Program is just one step toward providing patients with whole-person health care close to home.”
About Horizon Health Care, Inc.
For over 40 years, Horizon Health Care has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and behavioral healthcare through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental healthcare needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 110,000 patient visits annually in 32 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Alcester, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Elk Point, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River, Woonsocket, and Yankton. For more information, please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.