Marshfield Medical Center-Ladysmith Emergency Department Team Lead, Courtney Meyer, registered nurse, was recently accepted into the AgriSafe Nurse Scholar program. Meyer was awarded a grant to participate in the online course that is geared towards helping nurses increase their competence in prevention, identification and assessment of diseases and conditions commonly experienced by people working in agriculture.

Meyer plans to share the information she learns with her​ team at Ladysmith to further educate staff on “what to look for” in certain patients that may present to the Emergency Department.

She also wants to eventually share what she learns with the community. “I have a passion for community education,” Meyer said. “I firmly believe that knowledge is power, and that with more people having increased knowledge, the less injuries and devastation we will see.”

National data shows that workers in agriculture are up to eight times more likely to die on the job than workers in other industries. Critical Access Hospitals, like Marshfield Medical Center-Ladysmith, play an essential role in providing high- quality health care in rural settings.

24 hour Emergency Care offered at the facility helps to stabilize patients. For higher acuity situations, patients are able to be quickly and efficiently transferred to a hospital within the System providing seamless continuity of care for the patient.