Medical professionals at Freeman Health save lives and provide telemedicine
Freeman Regional Health Services utilizes Golden West’s internet services to power their telemedicine program. This robust connection allows them to quickly consult with specialists in other cities through AVEL eEmergency Care, enhancing patient care in their rural community.
Freeman Regional Health Services is a great rural healthcare provider in South Dakota, but they make sure they are superpowered with a connection to medical professionals and specialists from other hospitals to help with patients when needed.
“Providing high-quality medical care in the rural setting can be challenging due to isolation and limited resources,” says Dr. Jay Allison from Freeman Regional Health Services. “The ability to reach out to a colleague with specific expertise and a fresh set of eyes can literally be lifesaving.”
High-quality e-care
Jay, along with colleagues Nurse Practitioner Sheila Rigo and Hospital Manager and Care Coordinator Angie Wollmann, use AVEL eEmergency Care to help care for patients close to home. The team can push one button and receive a second opinion from doctors in Sioux Falls or other hospitals.
Sheila explains the button is on the wall in the intensive care unit and emergency room. When pressed, it directly connects to experienced emergency staff on call in another city. Within seconds, emergency nurses and a certified provider are available to give additional opinions to assist with patient care.
“As a former staff nurse with AVEL eEmergency, I witnessed on a daily basis how telemedicine positively impacted and affected rural health care,” says Sheila. “Now, as a new nurse practitioner working in a critical access hospital in rural South Dakota, I personally experience the benefits and can’t imagine practicing medicine without this awesome service.”
Freeman Regional Health Services subscribes to phone and high-speed internet services from Golden West. This provides them with quick, easy access to telemedicine services, communication between coworkers, and more services for their nursing home, lab, and x-ray facilities.
“If I didn’t have all these resources, I think it would be a little bit too overwhelming,” says Angie. “It’s reassuring and builds your confidence a lot more when you have services to back you up.”
Medical help within the community 
Sheila and Angie both have roots in Freeman. With more than 20 years of combined experience in their hometown, they continue to provide the best care possible.
“I wanted to stay local and take care of the citizens in my community because they’re my people,” says Sheila. “Everyone is so appreciative of our care.”
Medical professionals in Freeman care deeply for the people and the services they provide. Although challenges arise, they remain confident with the support they have from other hospitals and community members.
From nephrology to pulmonology, telehealth consultations allow medical professionals to adjust medication dosages or care plans, saving remote patients hours of travel.
Starting strong, building care options
The life-saving hospital opened in Freeman in 1952 with more than a dozen beds; an expansion occurred not long after. In 1971, a nursing home was added to the hospital, and it slowly became a regional healthcare hub.
Then in 2004, the hospital was renamed Freeman Regional Health Services to reflect the new offerings of the hospital and their care for the community. Today, the various health services can operate independently but maintain contact with the medical communities in areas such as Yankton and Sioux Falls if upper-level help is needed.
Freeman Regional Health Services plans to continue leveraging AVEL eCare and their online connection to strengthen their community. With the right tools, dedicated professionals, and a strong connection to broader medical networks, rural healthcare can deliver exceptional medical care. Freeman Regional Health Services is proof of that.
