West Holt Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce that Registered Nurse Jennifer Rystrom has accepted the role of Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) effective May 13, 2019.

Rystrom has served as interim CNO at West Holt Memorial Hospital since February, 2019 and has made significant contributions to the organization in a short period of time.

​She obtained a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2017, with a focus on leadership and healthcare administration. Rystrom is a seasoned nurse with 26 years of experience. She has spent most of her career as a staff nurse, charge nurse and nurse manager in intensive care and critical access medicine. Her experience and background will be an asset to West Holt Memorial Hospital.

Concordia University, Nebraska named 271 students to its honors list for the fall 2017 semester.
 
The top 25 percent of all undergraduate students who complete at least 12 credit hours qualify for the honors list.

​Riley Bilstein of Atkinson is currently a sophomore at Concordia earning a spot on the fall 2017 semester honors list. ​

​West Holt Medical Services Foundation is pleased to announce that Christa Wentworth and McKenna Young have been selected as their $500 fall 2017 scholarship recipients.

Wentworth is a 2016 graduate of West Holt High School and is currently pursuing a degree in human biology at Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. Upon graduating in 2020, she plans on attending the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha where she will pursue a doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Through the Rural Health Opportunity Program (RHOP), Wentworth plans on returning to rural Nebraska where she will practice as a Physical Therapist.

She shares, “In small town, Nebraska, patients are treated like family and I look forward to being a part of healthcare in this setting.”

Young is a 2015 graduate of West Holt High School and completed her pre-nursing classes at the University of Nebraska, Kearney. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Kearney, Nebraska.

“When I walk across that stage a year and a half from now to receive my diploma and achieve my goal of becoming an RN, I would be thrilled to say I am returning to a small town community like Atkinson,” shared Young.

The next deadline for the scholarship application submission is April 15, 2018. 

West Holt's one act team is headed to state. 

West Holt played host to the C2-4 district one act competition on Tuesday and came out on top. 

They were led in the performance by a number of outstanding performance award winners. Those students were Devon Dohrman, Blake Hilkemeier, Payton Randolph, Kyla Wallinger, Ben Thiele, Dani Laible, Shayden Neptune, Dawson Borer and Leyton Mlady.

The win qualifies West Holt for the state competition on Thursday, December 7 at Norfolk's Johnny Carson Theatre. 

The body of a missing Atkinson man has been found by local authorities. 

On Friday, a nearby resident discovered a motorcycle accident while moving cattle. The Holt County Sheriff's Department and the Atkinson Fire and Rescue responded to the accident around 3 p.m. on Highway 11 just south of Atkinson. 

The driver of the motorcycle was identified as Warren Wondercheck, 69, of Atkinson who was reported missing August 23, the believed date of the accident. 

According to the police report, Wondercheck was headed northbound on Highway 11 when the motorcycle left the roadway east, became airborne and struck a tree, throwing Wondercheck from the motorcycle. 

Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly has ordered an autopsy, and the accident remains under investigation. ​

Law enforcement and family are still searching for a 68-year-old Atkinson man.

Warren Wondercheck was last seen leaving his home at noon on August 23rd. He was seen leaving on his 2003 black and silver Harley Davidson with a windshield. License plate 36-230. Wondercheck does not have any belongings with him, and the family has no information on his whereabouts or a specific destination to which he would be headed. Law enforcement and the family are concerned for his welfare due to his unexplained leave. 

If you have any information on Warren Wondercheck, please contact your local law enforcement immediately. ​

​ATKINSON — West Holt Medical Services Foundation will host their second annual Wacky Bed Races fundraiser on Sunday, August 20 at 1:00 p.m. as part of the Atkinson Hay Days Celebration.

Teams of five will compete by pushing beds with a “patient” driver in a race around West Holt Public School’s parking lot, in hopes of being the fastest or wackiest. Some teams will race for speed and others for show, but all will race for a good cause.

Foundation & Marketing Director Jessica Prussa describes the Wacky Bed Races as a “unique team-building activity for businesses, families and organizations that makes an impact on patient care at West Holt Medical Services.”

Last year’s event brought in $1,115 and was used towards the purchase of a bariatric hospital bed. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit West Holt Medical Services Foundation to be used for areas of greatest need such as equipment purchases, staff education, or facility improvement projects.

Ages twelve and above are allowed to participate. Teams may register online at www.westholtmed.org under the Wacky Bed Races link or may pick up a registration form at West Holt Medical Services in Atkinson. Teams who register by August 15 will get a discounted entry fee of $10 per person ($50 per team). Late & same day registrations will be $15 per person ($75 per team).

Teams will be placed in a double elimination bracket. Please arrive early to register or check your racing time. Races will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the West Holt Public School’s parking lot - 1000 North Main Street, Atkinson.

Racing bed will be provided at the event. The beds were built and donated by Shaun O’Neill of Emmet and have been enhanced with larger caster wheels this year. Also new this year is a $150 cash prize for the fastest team, donated by the Dvorak Brothers Ranches. All teams are encouraged to dress in their wackiest costumes for a chance to win additional prizes. If you don’t want to push a bed around a race track, sponsorship levels at $300, $200, and $100 are available to those looking to promote their business at the event. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to West Holt Medical Services Foundation, PO Box 214, Atkinson NE 68713.

For more information contact Foundation & Marketing Director Jessica Prussa at (402) 340-8372.

​The mission of the West Holt Medical Services Foundation is to obtain, invest, and distribute funds which will help advance and improve the quality of care in North Central Nebraska provided by West Holt Medical Services.

​West Holt Medical Services held its first annual HealthaPalooza celebration on Thursday, July 27 at the Atkinson Community Center drawing approximately 500 people to the event.

“The feedback we have received about the event has been overwhelmingly positive,” shared West Holt Medical Services’ CEO Brad Pfeifer. “This event accomplished its purpose of thanking our patients and community as well as providing educational resources for their health. And, it was fun,” Pfeifer added.

The community appreciation event was run by 60 plus volunteers and over 600 free hamburgers and hot dogs were served. Inside the community center, 30 of the top health resources in the area set up booths to provide information to attendees.

Other activities included live music by The OutBack Band, free swimming at the city pool, a kid’s bounce house, and dunk tank sponsored by WHMS Foundation.

Nebraska State Patrol demonstrated seat belt safety with their rollover simulator and KBR Rural Public Power District showed the power of electricity and discussed safety around electrical lines. 15 car seat and booster seats were checked by certified technicians from Safe Kids North Central, Nebraska State Patrol, and West Holt Medical Services.

Atkinson Fire & Rescue provided kiddie train rides and ambulance rides and KBRX did a live radio broadcast of the event. Sponsors include Faith Regional Health Services, Seim Johnson, Healthland CPSI, and Professional Associates Ltd.