Sioux Center Health Celebrates Quality Week with Recognition and Award Win at Avera Quality Congress

Sioux Center, Iowa, October 23, 2025 - As Healthcare Quality Week is celebrated nationwide, Sioux Center Health is proud to announce recent honors at Avera’s bi-annual Quality Congress, an event dedicated to celebrating excellence in quality, collaboration, and mission-driven care across the Avera system. 

The Quality Congress promotes sharing of best practices and recognizes individuals and teams who exemplify Avera’s core values of Compassion, Hospitality, and Stewardship.

“The Quality Congress is a reminder that quality isn’t always about big, complex systems—it’s about doing the right thing, at the right time, for our patients and our community,” said Andrew Geleynse, Outpatient Services Officer.

Each day, Sioux Center Health staff members demonstrate an unwavering commitment to quality and compassionate care. This year, the organization proudly nominated three outstanding individuals and one quality improvement project for recognition at the event. These nominations reflect the dedication, innovation, and mission-centered focus that define the Sioux Center Health team.

Caring Spirit: Hospitality Nominee – Rachel Van Gorp

The Caring Spirit: Hospitality Award honors those who exemplify the Avera value of "hospitality" by providing exceptional care and service to patients and others. Sioux Center Health proudly nominated Rachel Van Gorp for her welcoming and helpful spirit at Crown Pointe Estates.

Rachel is described by patients, staff, guests, and residents as the bright spot in their day. Often the first person you will see when walking into Crown Pointe Estates, Rachel welcomes each person with a warm smile and kind greeting. She prioritizes the needs of those she is serving and will stop whatever it is she may be doing to help with questions or guide guests to their destinations. Recently, Rachel has gone out of her way to make the senior living campus feel like home to our residents. Examples of this include making charcuterie cups for residents, spending her own time and resources to purchase Christmas decorations for the main lobby, and providing Valentines for the residents. Rachel continually puts the needs of residents, guests, and staff in front of her own.

Congratulations, Rachel, on your well-deserved nomination!

Caring Spirit: Compassion Nominee – Hannah Buteyn, LISW

The Caring Spirit: Compassion Award recognizes those whose care reflects the compassion of Jesus—through empathy, understanding, and healing presence. Sioux Center Health proudly nominated Hannah Buteyn for her exceptional dedication and leadership in expanding the Mental Health program.

Hannah has been instrumental in growing and developing mental health services at Sioux Center Health, including the introduction of couples, family, and group therapy. At the heart of her work lies a deep compassion for those going through difficult times. She has a natural ability to create a safe and welcoming environment where patients feel comfortable expressing themselves and finding healing. Hannah also collaborates with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and life circumstances, tailoring her approach to meet each person’s unique needs with professionalism and empathy. Her recent efforts to partner with a local high school have further expanded access to mental health support for students and families in our communities.

Congratulations, Hannah, on your well-deserved nomination!

Caring Spirit: Stewardship Nominee – Kellie Gatzemeyer

The Caring Spirit: Stewardship Award honors those who responsibly manage resources and relationships in alignment with Avera’s mission. Sioux Center Health proudly nominated Kellie Gatzemeyer for her outstanding leadership and commitment to stewardship within the Materials Management Department.

Kellie’s position was created through a unique partnership between Avera and Sioux Center Health to enhance stability and efficiency in materials management. Since taking on the role, she has built a strong, cohesive team culture grounded in collaboration and accountability. Through her leadership, job roles and responsibilities were clearly defined, improving clarity and efficiency across the department.

Kellie has also led several process improvement projects guided by stewardship principles, including optimizing inventory management through cycle counting, redesigning department layouts, and refining restocking processes. These changes have not only reduced costs but also improved workflow for front-line staff. Colleagues frequently describe Kellie as a dependable and approachable resource—someone who prioritizes the patient in every decision. Whether researching new products or answering urgent supply questions, Kellie consistently goes above and beyond to ensure staff have what they need to provide excellent care.

Congratulations, Kellie, on this well-earned recognition!

Mission Award Winners – Specialty Clinic Team

The Mission Award recognizes projects that embody Avera’s purpose and values while making a positive impact on patients and communities. Sioux Center Health is proud to announce that its Specialty Clinic Team was selected as the winner in this category for their project titled “Increasing Appointment Show Rate Among Spanish-Speaking Patients.”

This project began after the Pediatric Cardiology Specialty Clinic noticed that show rates among Spanish-speaking patients were as low as 25%. Recognizing the impact that missed appointments had on care, the team took action. By partnering with the physician’s office and involving bilingual staff members to make reminder phone calls in patients’ preferred language, they were able to foster better communication and trust. The result was a remarkable increase in show rates to 93%, ensuring that patients received timely, essential care.

This initiative demonstrates how a simple, compassionate approach can create a lasting difference in patient outcomes. Congratulations to Kayti Beukelman, Diana Gutierrez, and Daisy Ramirez for leading this impactful project and for being honored as this year’s Mission Award winners.

Looking Ahead

The Avera Quality Congress is more than a celebration—it is a reminder that quality is woven into every interaction, every improvement, and every act of compassion.

“Quality doesn’t have to be complicated,” Andrew shared in closing. “Often, it’s simply about employees doing the right thing at the right time. We’re already looking forward to the next Quality Congress and the inspiring projects that will come from our dedicated teams.”

Sioux Center Health extends heartfelt congratulations to all nominees and award recipients. Their commitment to compassion, stewardship, and excellence continues to make Sioux Center Health a place of healing and hope for the communities we serve.