‘It was a surprise’

Dallenbach, Brown Co. Public Health nurse, receives South Country award

NEW ULM -- Brown County Public Health Registered Nurse Melissa Dallenbach received the South Country Health Care Diamond award Award at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Dec. 3 for exemplary leadership, passion, and commitment.

A South Country Health Alliance Care Connector/Care Coordinator, Dallenbach was cited for upholding South Country's values of collaboration, stewardship, communication and excellence.

“She (Dallenbach) is an incredible asset to Brown County and Brown County Public Health. She strives to meet the needs of South Country Health Alliance (SCHA) members she serves," said Brown County Public Health Director Jaime Brand.

"Melissa has built and maintained several partnerships with skilled nursing facilities and local medical centers to facilitate collaboration and ensure SCHA members have wrap-around care," added Brand.

A Brown County Public Health employee for nearly seven years, Dallenbach received the award at a conference with county commissioners and legislators.

"It was a surprise," said Dallenbach who received the award for Brown County. Community connectors in each of the eight counties received awards.

"There were lots of meetings at the conference that lasted several days. It brought more attention to what community connectors do in each county, which is what makes South Country unique," she said.

Community care connectors are local South Country Health Alliance experts in county public health or human services departments that bridge the gap between medical services, public health, human services, and other community resources.

"I help people on medical assistance find resources they need and eliminate any gaps between them and resources. I like working at Brown County Public Health. It's a happy, positive place to work," said Dallenbach.

"As a community connector, I'm managing and helping 185 to 200 low-income individuals under age 65 find health care and other resources they need. I love being a connector. It's leading people who don't have care coordination. Finding them resources and services they may not know are available to them," she added.

An Olivia native, Melissa Berndt Dallenbach lives just south of the Minnesota River in Eden Township in Brown County.

"I married a farmer, Rick Dallenbach, and moved down here," she added.

Dallenbach studied nursing at Ridgewater College in Willmar. She worked at nursing homes in Morgan, Fairfax, and Sleepy Eye before working for Brown County Public Health. Dallenbach has also taken college courses at Southwest Minnesota State University.

She enjoys vegetable gardening, canning, dogs and cats.

South Country Health Alliance is a county-based, purchasing health plan serving Brown, Dodge, Goodhue, Kanabec, Sibley, Steel, Wabasha and Waseca counties. It is a joint effort to support accessible, quality health care through partnerships with community services and local health care providers for Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees.

South Country began enrolling members in November 2001 and has more than 30,000 members.