Sanford Luverne Medical Center

06/16/2026

Diana Buffington, nutrition foods supervisor at Sanford Luverne Medical Center, was recently awarded the Dietary Department Excellence award from the Minnesota Hospital Association.

She and her staff implemented the Safe Plate Pause practice. This initiative requires two employees to review meal trays before delivery to confirm the patient’s name, room number, order, allergies, and any dietary restrictions. This formal checklist adds a layer of safety and consistency to patient meals.

At the award ceremony, she posed for a picture with Vanh Swanson, their Sanford Luverne Medical Center cook. Congratulations to Diana and her entire team!

06/06/2026

Sanford Health Luverne is proud to welcome physical therapist Madisyn Stegenga to the same facility where her mom, Monica Dingmann, is a lab scientist. Though they're in different departments, they're both on the same Sanford team!

Monica has 32 years of dedicated service to Sanford Health. Madisyn has 2 1/2 years of service, and her journey is just beginning.

We wonder, will they be sharing lunch breaks now? Congratulations to both of you on this special milestone.

Learn about Madisyn's specialties: https://www.sanfordhealth.org/doctors/madisyn-stegenga

05/28/2026

There’s something truly special about helping someone find their voice—and our speech therapist, Carly Sayler, does just that every day. Carly works one-on-one with patients, building confidence through techniques that improve communication. She also evaluates and treats swallowing disorders in patients of all ages.

We’re proud of the difference Carly makes in our community and wish her a very happy Speech Therapy Month!

05/15/2026

We are grateful to Avis Fick and her family for their sweet donation to Sanford Luverne during Hospital Week.

In honor of her late husband, Bob, they sponsored a soft serve ice cream machine for our staff to enjoy. Bob spent time getting to know many of our team members during his appointments and inpatient stays. Everyone who knew Bob knew that ice cream was his favorite, so Avis thought sharing ice cream was the best way to honor him.

Thank you, Avis and family, for helping us celebrate Hospital Week while remembering Bob.

05/10/2026

May 6–12 is National Nurses Week, a special time to recognize the dedication and compassion of our clinic and hospital nurses.

While only a portion of our team is pictured here, each nurse plays a vital role in creating an environment of comfort and healing every single day. Their compassion, skill and commitment make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve.

This week, we proudly say thank you to all of our nurses!

03/06/2026

The nutrition label says a lot, but it doesn't tell you everything. Especially when it comes to protein.

Dr. Jennifer Schriever, family medicine physician specializing in obesity medicine, joins us to cut through the noise on protein timing, portion size, whole foods vs. supplements, and what to actually look for before you buy.

Tune in to the latest episode of the Health & Wellness Podcast:

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Schriever, discusses the growing number of protein products available and proper amounts needed.

03/05/2026

“You break down, you get back up and keep going.”

Familiar with the physical challenges of Division 1 college football, Brendan Webb now recognizes the importance of sharing mental health challenges too. He encourages everyone around him to share their stories and get the help they need.

Read Brendan’s story here: https://san.fo/4pGlMHP

03/05/2026

Kelly Pfeifer is a top-level college basketball official who referees nationally televised games throughout the United States. Josefine Combs, Psy.D., is a Sanford Health neuropsychologist who helps athletes with the mental side of competing. Pfeifer wanted to become a better referee and sought out Combs to help him do that.

Read more: https://san.fo/3YDCKvz

03/05/2026

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋

ORU Basketball takes the dub to begin the men's action 🔥

x Sanford Health

03/05/2026

After Rick Anderson received a TAVR procedure, a surgery meant to replace a valve in his heart, his Sanford Health care team instructed him to follow a cardiac rehab program. He highly attributes that to his successful recovery.

Not everyone attends all of their rehab sessions, but doing so "gives them the encouragement that they're able to exercise on their own when they're done here," says Allison Mildenberger, RN.

Learn more about how Rick's rehab brought the spring back into his step:

Cardiac rehab programs are often recommended for patients after a heart procedure. One man talks about how rehab helped him recover after a TAVR procedure.

03/03/2026

As we wrapped up American Heart Month this weekend, Sanford Health cardiologist Dr. Naveen Rajpurohit left us with a few reminders about heart health.

💙 Symptoms of cardiovascular disease are more atypical in women and often go ignored.

💙 Anyone with a family history of heart disease and above the age of 40 is eligible for a heart screening.

To learn more about how to look out for your heart, click here: https://san.fo/40GpTtm

Dr. Naveen Rajpurohit from Sanford joined Dakota News Now to tell us more about the dangers of heart disease in women, ways to identify heart disease, and methods of prevention.

03/03/2026

Is your medicine cabinet ready for life’s little surprises?

Swipe for quick tips on caring for common injuries and stock up on these basics:

🔹 Antibiotic gel
🔹 Bandages
🔹 Petroleum jelly

Cuts, scrapes, burns and more often happen when least expected. With the right supplies, you can handle them at home.

03/03/2026

Division 1 athlete. All-American. NFL prospect. At his best physically, Brendan Webb faced mental health challenges. Today, he shares his story to help others overcome theirs.

See his story here: https://san.fo/4pGlMHP

03/02/2026

Aging comes with many changes, including gastrointestinal symptoms like heartburn and bloating.

However, there are some gut health symptoms you shouldn't ignore.

Learn more: https://san.fo/4cjPdfZ

03/02/2026

Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility and menstrual pain. It can implant in the fallopian tubes, o***y, pelvis and sometimes outside the pelvis.

It doesn’t have a cure, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t effective treatments.

Learn more: https://san.fo/49XbtcD

03/01/2026

When a group of volunteers making Veterans Day rounds at Sanford USD Medical Center visited Dick Steckley's room to present him with a red, white and blue prayer shawl in recognition of his military service, they didn't know the impact it would have.

Learn more:

A red, white and blue prayer shawl left a lasting impression on the family of a military veteran who passed away on Veterans Day.

02/28/2026

February has a “rare” number of days, making it the perfect month to recognize Rare Disease Day. Observed each year on the last day of February, this day is dedicated to raising awareness about rare diseases and supporting patients, researchers and advocates.

At Sanford, genetic specialists, researchers, genetic counselors and the team behind the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford CoRDS group work tirelessly to advance research and improve care for those affected by rare diseases.

Together, we’re building a future where every patient receives the specialized support they deserve.

02/24/2026

Sanford Luverne diabetic educators Ann Marie Busker, registered dietitian, and Jamie Reisdorfer, RN, were recognized by the American Diabetes Association for meeting national standards in diabetes self-management education. The strategies they teach can be as effective as medication in helping patients manage their condition. They offer monthly classes at Sanford Luverne.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Fact Sheet, more than 38 million Americans—11.6% of the U.S. population—have diabetes. While an estimated 29.7 million have been diagnosed, 8.7 million remain unaware they have the disease.

Thank you to our team for empowering patients with the knowledge they need to manage their health

02/20/2026

Registered nurses Crystal Rosin and Lori Lutmer help our Cardiac Rehab patients grow stronger and thrive after heart attacks, surgeries and other cardiac procedures.

They provide supervised exercise, education and nutrition support — all designed to strengthen hearts and reduce hospital readmissions.

02/05/2026

Jordyn Pater, a Sanford Health registered nurse, won The Daisy Award for her exceptional care toward her patients.

Find out what led to her nomination here: https://san.fo/49WEvKO

12/10/2025

Sanford Luverne physicians assembled 90 holiday meals to distribute through the Rock County Food Shelf. From turkey or ham and ingredients for green bean casserole to a pie and many more fixings, the physicians enjoyed giving this special gift.

Pictured at a distribution day are Dr. Kat Dahl, Luverne Clinic Director Tracy Schultz, Clinic Nursing Supervisor Claire Johnson and Administrator and CEO Tammy Loosbrock.

11/20/2025

Nov. 20 is National Rural Health Day! It’s a concept we celebrate every day at Sanford Luverne. We are proud to go above and beyond to deliver high-quality care close to home.