Stonewall Memorial Hospital, the parent medical organization of Spur’s health clinic, fielded questions and provided an overview of operations at its facilities in Aspermont, Jayton and Spur Sept. 29 at the Senior Citizens Center in Aspermont. An audience of about fifty came to hear the update, though this crowd was reportedly a bit less than the previous month’s talk due to Covid-19 variant concerns.
Hospital interim CEO Kyle Lee said that events like this are an opportunity to share what’s new, with a goal of encouraging the community to proactively seek care when it’s needed. Following his remarks were brief talks by Dr. Frederic Passmann and new staffers Dr. Gwen Gorman and nurse-practitioner Kobie Benham.
Both of the new medical staff had been hired following a community health assessment that yielded valuable information and laudatory findings, Kyle said.
Gorman addressed the causes and therapies for Alzheimer’s disease–related dementia. “Keeping active and keeping connected” are the best approaches, for staying healthy as people age, she said, as there is currently no cure. But in response to a question many ask, she said, “If you remember that you forget, you don’t have Alzheimer’s.”
Benham, whose specialization is men’s health, sparked laughter with his lighthearted approach but also paved the way for serious advice.
“My mom is here in the room today, and I have to talk about erections,” he quipped.
Benham, who got his start in the nursing profession with a Certified Nursing Assistant class at Jayton when he was 15, will be available for appointments at the clinics in Spur and Jayton at regular intervals beginning immediately.
Kyle said that respondents to the hospital assessment were largely positive. “Most things were pretty glowing,” he said. “Our physical therapy program and our medical staff were complimented.”
Visits to both the Spur Clinic and the Jayton Clinic were up over the previous 12-month period, though volume had tapered off slightly in recent weeks due to renewed Covid concerns.
Nurse Carla English was present to accept honors on her retirement from the hospital after 42 years of service.
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