The administrator of Good Samaritan Society – Home Health of the Black Hills, Sarah Angelo, RN, doesn’t get out to see patients that much anymore. When she does, she’s usually jumping in to steady a challenging case.
“Those are some of the patients that I love. Sign me up,” Angelo says regarding complex clients in and around Rapid City, South Dakota. “I think it’s the challenge, but I also know that they need services.
“Everybody deserves to have quality health care.”
This past winter, Angelo’s mettle was put to the test when she met Marnie Herrmann’s father Lawrence Ventling.
“He was a stubborn gentleman. Some may say even difficult,” Herrmann says about the 82-year-old.
Ventling had a fall and after being discharged from the hospital, needed home health services.
“We were anxious about it,” says Herrmann, who works as a senior banking executive and also serves on Sanford Health’s Board of Trustees. “It really was an impossible situation honestly. On my own to make sure he had what he needed and get him where he needed to be and maintain my own obligations.”
Not one to host many guests at his third-floor apartment other than his protective cat, Ventling also wasn’t great at taking orders regarding his health.
“(Sarah) connected with him immediately. It was interesting to see that,” Herrmann says, relieved.
Angelo adds, “We kind of formed an unlikely bond.”
‘The last thing he ever said out loud’
Based on mutual respect, the two built a relationship that would fill the following months with more peace than pain.
“Having home health come to him was just a complete game changer,” Herrmann says.
Herrmann remembers Ventling saying, “‘You know that Sarah, she’s a good one. She kind of keeps me in line but that’s OK.’
“For him to say that about anybody was very rare.”
Angelo says meeting your clients where they’re at and caring for their well-being are reasons why she and her team love serving in home health.
“I like the connection you get to make with people. I like going into their homes, I like getting to see their environment and what their goals and challenges are,” Angelo says.
In January, Ventling fell again and ended up back in the hospital. Because of several chronic ailments he’d been managing, his doctor recommended hospice.
While hospice was expected, Herrmann was understandably sad. She was also worried because telling her dad he’d be moving into a center was going to be difficult.
Fortunately, there was hospice space at Good Samaritan Society – St. Martin Village down the road from Angelo’s office. When Herrmann spoke with her dad, Angelo’s involvement made all the difference.
“They have a spot for you at Good Samaritan and Sarah is going to be there and she’ll be able to check on you,” Herrmann, emotional, remembers sharing with Ventling. “And he said, ‘OK.’ (Sighing.) And that was the last thing he ever said out loud.”
Ventling died on Jan. 19, 2025. Herrmann doesn’t even want to think about what the last few months of his life would have been like without Angelo.
“It was such a relief in that moment. He knew he was going but he also knew that Sarah was going to be there and that made it OK. And it wasn’t a battle, and it wasn’t more upsetting than it already was,” Herrmann says.
National Ever Forward Administrator Champion
That natural instinct to provide support above and beyond, to clients, families and teammates, is why Angelo is the National Ever Forward Administrator Champion.
“I feel like she doesn’t just advocate for our patients. I feel like she’s such a great advocate for us as employees,” says Sally Kangas, Good Samaritan RN case manager.
When nurses have to travel long distances to Spearfish or elsewhere, Kangas says Angelo doesn’t hesitate to chip in as needed.
“Sarah absolutely deserves this award,” Kangas says. “She’s one of the best bosses I’ve ever had.”
RN case manager Amanda Tolsma says Angelo “makes you excited to come to work. She’s a great troubleshooter. So if you run into problems, you’re never afraid to go to her.”
With a chuckle, Tolsma recalls Angelo getting surprised with the honor in front of family, teammates and residents at St. Martin Village. Angelo’s not one to seek the spotlight.
“Sarah deserves this award because she never expects to be recognized for anything,” Tolsma says.
The nomination form for the award points to Angelo’s high quality scores, strong staff retention and exceptional business outcomes.
“She’ll stop whatever she’s doing to help get you on your path and get you back out doing your job,” says Laurel Volesky, Good Samaritan lead occupational therapist.
Compassionate and community oriented, Angelo helped start this home health agency 10 years ago, and it holds a special place in her heart.
“It’s us. It’s not just me. It’s the team. I value everything that they bring to this team. I know that we couldn’t do it without any one of them. It’s a culture. It’s a family,” Angelo says about her crew members who often spend time together outside of work.
“We’re really devoted to the quality of care that we provide. We provide that quality of care to anybody.”
And you can imagine that “we” will be showing up for clients in the Black Hills well into the future.
“Being honored with this award means a lot to me. It means a great deal to me. But I always just think back to my team,” Angelo says.
“There are so many other people that I just want to stand behind and have them recognized.”
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Posted In Awards & Recognition, Nursing and Nursing Support, People & Culture, Sanford Stories, Senior Services
