HRMC's Ramos and Win earn community health worker certificates

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HURON — Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) is pleased to announce SauMei Ramos and New New Win, as graduates of the Lake Area Technical College Community Health Worker (CHW) certificate program, according to Teresa Haatvedt, health care career development specialist.

Ramos and Win are community liaisons at Huron Regional Medical Center through a program funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Disparities Grant and the South Dakota Department of Health. “The intent of the program is bridge the gap for community members who need assistance navigating the health care system and accessing community resources,” says Brooke Sydow, who procured the grant and brought the CHW program to Huron.

As graduates of the CHW certificate program, Ramos and Win are equipped with the necessary skills to work as an intermediary between health and social services and the communities in which they have built trust and understanding.

The CHW program at HRMC strengthens the commitment to the community and builds relationships with other nonprofit organizations in the region, with the goal of advancing the health and wellbeing of all populations served.

“SauMei and New New have done an excellent job in linking members of their respective cultures to resources that we already have right here in our community such as assisting expecting moms in preparing to care for their newborns or connecting elderly residents to resources for food and preventative care,” says Haatvedt, who was instrumental in the inception of the community liaison program at HRMC. “They’ve both worked hard to complete this educational program. We’re extremely proud of their achievement.”

In addition to the work of Ramos and Win in their respective cultures within the community, Leah Quam serves as a community liaison assisting patients in navigating medication assistance and providing support to the community in accessing health resources. Health providers in the community may refer patients to any of the community liaisons if a need is determined.

Ramos and Win may be reached at 605-353-6516 and Quam can be reached at 605-353-7750. Visit online at www.huronregional.org/CHW for more information.