News & Events at Langdon Prairie Health

Langdon Prairie Health and Cavalier County Health District Partner on New Sharp Disposal Box

Langdon Prairie Health and the Cavalier County Health District have partnered to release a new sharp disposal box, which is now available outside of LPH. This disposal box is free to use, confidential, and easily accessible.

LANGDON, N.D., AUGUST 2023 - - Langdon Prairie Health (LPH) and the Cavalier County Health District have partnered to release a new sharp disposal box. The free, confidential, and easily accessible sharp box is now available and located outside of LPH.

Now that the sharp box is available, anyone is able to drop off medical supplies with sharp points or edges like syringes, needles, lancets, fingerstick devices, auto injectors, infusion sets, connection needles, and scalpels.

"This new and secure sharp box will help prevent the spread of infectious disease and pathogens, assisting those who need to dispose of either prescriptive or illicit sharps," said Michelle Skillings, Chief Nursing Officer at LPH. "People are able to either walk or drive up and dispose of their sharps in a safe and confidential manner."

Skillings shared that those disposing sharps in the new box first need to put their sharps in a small, hard, and plastic container, such as a small juice container, before then disposing that container in the box.

"While this was originally a Cavalier County Health District initiative," said Stephanie Welsh, RN, Administrator/Director of Nurses at the health district, "it became a larger project and would not have been a reality without LPH’s willingness, infrastructure, and partnership throughout this process. Working together is what made it possible."

Welsh explained that it is critical that people do not leave sharps or any other items outside of the box. The box should only be used for sharps and cannot be used for medications, trash, or any other objects.

If someone in the Langdon area needs to dispose of medications, whether prescriptive or illicit, those can be disposed of at the Take Back Program locations at Langdon Community Drug and the Cavalier County Sheriff’s Office. For prescription medications only, the Cavalier County Health District uses the free Deterra and DisposeRX disposal systems.

Skillings, Welsh and Angela Booker, LPH’s former CNO that began this process, believe that infectious disease is going to be better mitigated with this box, and other harms related to contaminated sharps that are not disposed of properly will be reduced.

About Langdon Prairie Health

Langdon Prairie Health (LPH) is nationally recognized as one of America’s best rural hospitals and is a member of the North Dakota Healthcare Association, American Hospital Association, North Region Health Alliance and Langdon Chamber of Commerce in Langdon, N.D. LPH is a 20-bed facility that provides 24-hour emergency services, comprehensive laboratory services, general inpatient services, intensive and cardiac care units, pediatric care, swing bed services, respite care, and outpatient services. LPH also operates two outpatient, family-practice clinics in Langdon and Walhalla. To learn more, visit https://www.lph.hospital/.

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Roder Named Outstanding Rural Health Professional

Grand Forks, N.D. – Darla Roder, compliance officer and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Langdon Prairie Health, accepted the Outstanding Rural Health Professional award at the 2023 Rural and Public Health Awards Banquet, which recognized outstanding North Dakota rural health and public health advocates for their accomplishments. This award is presented to a professional located in rural North Dakota who has demonstrated leadership in the delivery of rural health services and is unselfishly committed to making a significant and sustained impact on the health of their community and service area. The awards banquet was held June 15 in Bismarck.

Roder has spent 30 years providing healthcare leadership in small North Dakota communities. She has worked as a compliance officer, COO, and interim CEO at Langdon Prairie Health, as well as nurse and clinic manager. During her time at Langdon Prairie Health, Roder has led the organization in joining an Accountable Care Organization and implementing a value-based care system. Under her guidance, the facility was recently recognized as #1 in a five-state region for Medicare patient outcomes and improved clinical experience.

"Darla has shown she is willing to step up to the plate anytime she is called upon to help our organization,” said Maria Eisenzimmer, clinic manager and population health nurse at Langdon Prairie Health. “Her compassion and accountability inspire everyone who has the privilege of working with her."

Langdon Prairie Health Interim CEO and COO Darla Roder Chosen for the Outstanding Rural Health Professional Award

LANGDON, N.D. – Darla Roder, Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer at Langdon Prairie Health (LPH), was recently chosen to receive the Outstanding Rural Health Professional Award for 2023. This award is granted by the Center for Rural Health, and those who receive the award are chosen based on their demonstrated leadership in the delivery of rural health services and an unselfish commitment to creating a significant and lasting impact on the health of their community and service area.

“She truly lives our values at LPH, consistently serving as a great example for everyone here,” explained Margaret Fontana at LPH. “She works to ensure all staff members bring integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence to the work they do every day.”

The award will be formally presented at the 2023 Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health on Thursday, June 15, in Bismarck, N.D.

“It is an honor to be recognized and to be chosen for this award,” said Roder. “Langdon is such a caring and compassionate place where people truly look out for one another – it’s been a privilege to be able to ensure the people in this community receive high-quality healthcare and health services through the work we do at LPH.”

Roder joined LPH in 2004, and since that time, has overseen daily hospital operations and compliance decisions, while managing the administration of multiple departments within LPH.

About Langdon Prairie Health

A 20-bed facility located in Langdon, N.D., Langdon Prairie Health (LPH) has been nationally recognized as one of America’s best rural hospitals. LPH provides 24-hour emergency services, comprehensive laboratory services, general inpatient services, pediatric care, intensive and cardiac care units, swing bed services, respite care, skin procedures, wound care, pain management and rehabilitative services, like physical, occupational and speech therapies. In addition to the hospital location, LPH operates two outpatient clinics in Langdon and Walhalla that provide screenings, wellness visits, yearly physicals and more. LPH is a member of the North Dakota Healthcare Association (NDHA), American Hospital Association (AHA), the North Region Health Alliance (NRHA) and Langdon Chamber of Commerce.

Contact

Margaret Fontana, CFO margaret.fontana@lph.hospital 701-256-6172