Celebrating Rural Innovation in Health Care
A National Spotlight on Community-Driven Care
Waverly Health Center (WHC) is proud to be featured on Public Television’s All Access with Andy Garcia as part of the series Small Towns, Big Care: America’s Rural Hospital Impact. This special segment shines a national spotlight on the exceptional work happening right here in our community—where compassionate professionals combine advanced medical technology with a deeply personal approach to care.
Advancing Person-Centered Care
Putting Patients and Families First
The feature highlights how rural hospitals like WHC adapt to meet evolving health care needs by leveraging innovation, collaboration and community partnerships to ensure high quality health care remains close to home.
Strengthening the Community We Serve
Be sure to tune in on March 30 to see how Waverly Health Center is making a difference, proving that even in small towns, care can make a big impact.
Quick Care When It Mattered Most:
Lincoln’s Story
Lincoln Sieck of Maynard, is a busy kid who loves music and staying active. He enjoys singing, runs cross country and plays saxophone. When he arrived at Wartburg College for a three day All-State choir camp, he was excited to spend time doing what he loves most. But when his parents, Joel and Jennifer, picked him up after camp, they immediately noticed something was wrong.
“We picked Lincoln up from All-State and quickly saw he was in pain,” Jennifer said. “He could barely handle walking.” Concerned, they brought Lincoln to Waverly Health Center (WHC) Emergency Department. “We got right in,” Joel said. “They checked his vitals and took him for an X-ray to figure out what was causing the pain.”
Staff at WHC quickly determined Lincoln was experiencing a spontaneous pneumothorax, a condition where air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall causing the lung to collapse. General surgeon, Dr. Ivey reviewed the imaging with the family and explained what had happened along with the next steps in Lincoln’s care. “He showed us the X-ray and pointed out where his lung had collapsed,” Joel said. “He then walked us through the treatment plan.” The clear communication from the care team helped ease the family’s fears and Jennifer said Lincoln’s relaxed demeanor reflected the way the staff cared for him. “I was struck by how calm he was, which really showed how well the staff communicated with him,” she said.
Another reassuring part of Lincoln’s experience was having the care he needed, available all in one place. From imaging to treatment and monitoring. “So much easier than hearing we would have to transfer,” Joel said. “He could do it all here. Jennifer said Lincoln was even able to stay in his room for imaging. “He did not even have to leave his room for X-rays,” she said. “It allowed him to rest while the hospital staff took care of him.”
Today Lincoln is fully recovered and back to the activities he loves. Jennifer said the experience reinforced their trust in local care. “He is back to cross country, basketball, singing and saxophone,” she said. “The staff’s easy going and supportive nature helped keep the emotional trauma to a minimum.”
The family had visited Waverly Health Center before, but this experience left a lasting impression. Lincoln’s experience is a reminder of the value of strong rural health care. When communities have access to skilled teams and advanced services close to home, families can focus less on where to go for care and more on healing. For Lincoln and his family, that care was right here when they needed it most.
A Trusted Partner in Local Health
The All Access feature underscores the broader impact of rural hospitals across America and celebrates WHC’s dedication to keeping its community healthy, strong and connected.
