Faulkton Area Medical Center

11/13/2025

🌍✨ Happy World Kindness Day! ✨🌍

Today is all about celebrating the power of kindness—because even the smallest act can create a ripple of positivity that changes the world. 💫

✅ Hold the door open.
✅ Share a smile.
✅ Send a thank-you note.
✅ Compliment someone genuinely.

Kindness costs nothing but means everything. Let’s make it contagious! 💛

💡 Remember: Kindness isn’t just for today—it’s a lifestyle.

11/12/2025

Weekly schedule for November 12th - November 19th.

11/12/2025

November is National Diabetes Month

—a great reminder to check in on our health and to support the many people in our community living with diabetes. With Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings right around the corner, it’s easy to get caught up in big meals, sweet treats, and busy schedules. But for someone managing diabetes, those celebrations can bring a few extra challenges. Diabetes affects how the body processes food into energy. If blood sugar levels run too high or too low, it can lead to serious short-term symptoms and long-term complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, or vision problems. The good news is that with mindful choices and community support, people with diabetes can enjoy the holidays while keeping their health in check.

Tips for a safer season:
1) Plan balanced meals. Aim to fill half your plate with vegetables, a quarter with lean protein, and a quarter with healthy carbohydrates.
2) Be mindful of sweets. A small serving of dessert can be worked in but pairing it with protein or fiber helps prevent sharp blood sugar spikes.
3) Don’t skip meals. Skipping food earlier in the day to “save room” for a big dinner can cause dangerous blood sugar swings.
4) Stay active. A short walk after a meal helps the body use glucose more effectively.
5) Take medicines as prescribed. Bring supplies and medications when traveling and set reminders to stay on schedule.

For the community: If you are hosting gatherings, consider offering sugar-free drink options and a variety of healthy side dishes. Small gestures like this make celebrations more inclusive and safer for friends and neighbors with diabetes. Together, we can make November not just a season of gratitude but also one of good health and support. individuals with diabetes can enjoy the holidays while maintaining their health.

11/11/2025

We are closed today for Veteran's Day!

If you need immediate assistance, please go to the ER.
Open 24/7

11/10/2025

🫀 ACLS Training at FAMC🏥

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is a vital certification that all FAMC providers and hospital nurses complete and renew every two years. This American Heart Association course focuses on critical cardiovascular emergencies often seen in the ER—like cardiac arrest, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes.

The ACLS course includes:
📚 Lectures & educational videos
📝 A written exam
👐 Hands-on skill check-offs
👥 Team-based practice in the ER using real equipment (a crowd favorite!)

📅 Upcoming ACLS Course Dates at FAMC:
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Tuesday, May 5, 2026

📩Spots are limited—contact shanda.spilde@faulktonmedical.org to secure yours today!

11/08/2025

🎗💜 November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month! 💜🎗
Let’s turn up the purple and power up the awareness! 💪✨
🟣 Did you know?

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates.
Early detection = better outcomes.
Symptoms are often silent — awareness saves lives!

💡 What you can do:

💜 Wear purple to show support.
📢 Share facts to spread awareness.
🏃‍♀️ Join a local walk or fundraiser.
🧠 Learn the signs: back pain, weight loss, jaundice.

Let’s make noise for a silent disease.

11/07/2025

Good luck to the Faulkton Trojans as the head out to Dell Rapids for round 3 of playoffs!

Football 🏈
9B Semifinal Playoff
Friday, November 7
vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary’s Cardinals
Kickoff: 3pm
Theme: black & gold 🖤💛

Watch here: http://bigsiouxmedia.com
or here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MKJD0S3_KrQ

If you’re staying in town, you can watch at the Lyric Theatre!🍿 Doors open at 2:30pm.

There will be a hallway walk for the team at 8:30am and school will dismiss at 11am.

GO TROJANS!

11/07/2025

🥦 Nutrition Tips for Prostate Health 🥦

Maintaining a healthy diet can play an important role in supporting prostate health and lowering the risk of prostate cancer. Here are some simple, evidence-based nutrition tips:

Add More Plant-Based Foods: Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables—especially tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and leafy greens. These foods are rich in antioxidants like lycopene and vitamin C, which may help protect prostate cells from damage.

Choose Healthy Fats: Limit saturated fats from red meats, butter, and processed foods. Include healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, avocados, and fish instead.

Eat More Fish: Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and trout are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which may help reduce inflammation. Limit High Fat and Processed Meats. Eat more plant-based proteins such as beans and lentils.

Stay Hydrated and Watch Added Sugars: Drink plenty of water and limit sugary drinks and highly processed foods.

Maintain a Healthy Weight: A balanced diet and regular activity help manage weight, which is linked to a lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Remember—nutrition is just one part of prostate health. Regular checkups, PSA screenings, and open conversations with your healthcare provider are just as important.

💙 Small steps in your diet can make a big difference in your long-term health.

11/06/2025

FAMC Board of Directors and Administration would like to recognize Lindsey Fuller, RN for 2 years of service in the hospital, Angie Tarbox, CNA in the hospital for 5 years of service and Blythe Smith, Human Resources and Administration for 15 years of service! Congratulations and thank you again for your dedication and commitment to FAMC and its patients!

11/06/2025

💙 Blue November: Know Your PSA, Know Your Health 💙

In November, we raise awareness for men’s health—especially prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers among men.

🔹 Early detection saves lives.
A simple PSA blood test (Prostate-Specific Antigen) can help detect prostate cancer early—often before symptoms appear.

🔹 Who should get tested?
Men age 50 and older (or age 40–45 if you have a family history or are at higher risk) should talk to their healthcare provider about when to start PSA screening.

🔹 Why it matters:
When caught early, prostate cancer has a nearly 100% 5-year survival rate.

So this Blue November, encourage the men in your life to schedule their checkup at FAMC and ask about a PSA test. Because staying informed is one of the best ways to stay healthy. 💪 605-598-6262

11/05/2025

FAMC Medical Minute
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
By: Cathy Frisko-Holsing, LCSW-PIP

Do you notice your mood change with the seasons? Many people feel “down” at times, but for 5–10% of Americans, it’s more than that—it’s Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression linked to seasonal changes. Most often, SAD appears in fall and winter (winter-pattern SAD) due to shorter days and less sunlight, though some experience it in spring or summer (summer-pattern SAD).

Research shows that people with SAD, especially winter-pattern SAD, have lower levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood. Reduced sunlight can disrupt serotonin balance, leading to symptoms of depression. Winter-pattern SAD often includes oversleeping, overeating, and social withdrawal, while summer-pattern SAD may cause poor sleep, low appetite, anxiety, restlessness, or agitation. Symptoms vary from person to person.

Treatment options include counseling, vitamin D, light therapy, and antidepressants. Start by talking with your primary care provider to review your health and treatment choices. Counseling provides education, coping strategies, and emotional support. Since those in the upper Midwest are at higher risk for low vitamin D, discuss supplements with your medical provider or dietitian. Light therapy and antidepressants may also be recommended, under professional guidance.

Self-awareness is key—notice changes in your mood, thoughts, and behaviors. Build healthy habits: get daily sunlight and fresh air, eat nutritious foods, limit alcohol and caffeine, and maintain good sleep hygiene. Movement of any kind—exercise, yard work, or housework—boosts mental health.

Finally, stay connected. Relationships with trusted friends, family, coworkers, or counselors provide essential support. Staying engaged with work, hobbies, and meaningful activities helps prevent isolation. By being informed, supported, and proactive, you can better manage SAD and protect your mental health through the seasons.

Resources:
· National Institute of Mental Health
· South Dakota Behavioral Health
· 988 Lifeline (call, text, or chat)