DARLINGTON – Lafayette County is an area that is built on several cultures, beliefs and differences; yet work ethics, trust, and sense of community have managed to keep the region strong and thriving. One of the many groups that share our region is the Amish community. Faith, farming, and family is the shared way of the Amish, as well as it is for most living in the area. Lafayette Hospital + Clinics is confident that they have the staff to support the beliefs of every group within the entire community, as each and every patient is equally important to them.
Renee Edge is an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner (APNP) at Lafayette Hospital + Clinics, 211 Bev Anderson Drive, Darlington. She is familiar with the culture and beliefs of the Amish community, resulting in a trust that is respected from both sides.
“I became familiar with the Amish population while working with Dr. Bob Stader in Lancaster, some 20+ years ago,” shares Edge. “He befriended a group of Amish from the Fennimore area, and he wanted to know what he could do to help them with their medical concerns. As it turns out, they were looking for a doctor who would care for their families at a reasonable cost.”
The Amish community in Lafayette County is among the largest in the state, totally more than one-thousand people. In fact Wisconsin has the fourth largest population of Amish in the nation, following Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, according to the website amishamerica.com.
Speaking with someone recently from the Amish community in the Darlington area, it is clear that they seek the same healthcare as everyone else – someone they can trust, at a cost they are comfortable with.
“It isn’t so much the money, as it is someone who can understand our culture,” says a leader of the Amish community, who asks to remain Anonymous. “Renee is someone we can trust. She communicates openly with us, as she has been working with our community for years. We’ve had good experiences with her, as well as other doctors. We appreciate having someone to talk to when we need further care than what our home remedies can provide.”
Renee shares her expertise while caring for all ages of the Amish community.
In my experience, the Amish do not seek medical care unless the home remedies they have tried at home have failed,” says Edge. “My approach in caring for the Amish community is to integrate both modern medicine and natural remedies. I have a close relationship with a few of the “Amish doctors” and midwives, so they will call me if things are not going as expected. I will do home visits if the patient cannot get to the clinic or hospital. As an RN, I would assist with OB deliveries in the home, as well as care for those coming into the clinic.”
Oftentimes people mistake the Amish as a society who rejects modern medicine practices.
“We try to take care of each other with home remedies first,” shared the Amish representative. “When those don’t work, we will connect with Renee, or someone else willing to work with us. We don’t reject modern medicine, in fact we’ve had a lot of successful doctor visits and surgical procedures. We might wait too long to allow the home remedies to work, which means that we reach out for help a little later than we should. We are pleased with the hospital services so close to home.”
Time spent between Edge and the Amish community has brought them both shared support, which helps when working together. Edge recalls a chance meeting during a conference, while in Pennsylvania.
“As I was studying the Amish for my scholarly paper; my mom, daughter, and I traveled 800+ miles to Pennsylvania to participate in a Plain People conference,” she says. “The focus was how to offer good affordable health care, since the Amish do not have health insurance. While in Pennsylvania, the conference took a group of participants to a Mennonite family’s home. After the discussion, I learned this family had 2 daughters who both live in Grant County, who I knew very well. I actually helped one of the daughters with a home birth. What a small world it is!”
“My interest in caring for the Amish has continued as I advanced my career,” Edge shares. “I enjoy working with them.”
Renee Edge is prepared to continue the trusted care with the Amish community, as she has in the past. There is now a hitching rail, provided by the Amish community, for patients to use when traveling to the hospital in a horse and buggy. Lafayette Hospital + Clinics looks forward to continuing the trusted services of healthcare to everyone throughout the Lafayette County area.
By Tammy Kilby
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