Care Within Reach
When their daughter fell ill, Dr. Josh and Bridget Carr were given peace of mind at HRMC
Dr. Josh Carr and his wife Bridget knew Huron Regional Medical Center was an incredible asset in the community, but it was a health scare with their young daughter last fall that really drove that case home.
Josh grew up in Miller, and Bridget grew up in Indiana but was living in Chicago when she met Josh. In 2009 they moved to Huron when Josh joined Carr Chiropractic, a business founded by his grandfather. The move to South Dakota was a major change from big city life, but one Bridget said she doesn’t regret. “We feel comfortable, happy and fulfilled here.”
Comfort was something they both felt when Josh was out of town last November and the youngest of their two children fell ill. Their four-year-old daughter’s symptoms—back pain and a struggle to walk—alarmed Bridget. “It was a Friday night and the doctor came in for us,” she said. “I was on my own, and from the emergency room to radiology techs to the nurses, they all made us feel comfortable and informed. I’m glad we stayed in Huron for our care. It reminded me how important it is to have a hospital in our community.”
Their daughter was diagnosed with a bacterial infection of the blood. She stayed in the hospital for five days before recovering at home. Today, she is a healthy and energetic girl. The experience was a great reminder, Josh said, of the quality of health care in the region, and the connections the hospital has with other providers. The nurses and physicians kept in contact with an infectious disease specialist in Sioux Falls during the hospital stay, and they were able to provide the correct diagnosis and care right in Huron. It’s a pillar of the Foundation’s mission. “It’s something the Foundation does so well—strengthening our local hospital,” he said. “The Foundation is helping create a great local health system so you don’t have to go to Sioux Falls or Rapid City.”
The Foundation has also worked to promote a holistic approach to wellness in the community, something Josh has seen in his work as a chiropractor. “In our chiropractic practice, we’ve been able to easily work with the hospital,” he said.
“As new providers come in, we have the opportunity to sit down and gain trust with each other. The willingness to support one another is great for our community.”
Both Josh and Bridget hope to witness continued expansion and support of the Foundation, which provides thousands of dollars each year in grants and scholarships to individuals and organizations, as well as the entire healthcare system in the region. “HRMC is on the right track,” Bridget said. “It’s one of the reasons we came to Huron and started a family, and one of the reasons we will stay.”
“Between the Foundation and healthcare providers like the hospital and the Carr clinic, we have a great opportunity to provide great health care and preventative care to this region,” Josh said. “You can get it local. You don’t have to go somewhere else. You can trust that we’ll keep moving health and wellness in the right direction.”