Horizon Health surgery redefines rural healthcare

This article originally appeared in The Prairie Press newspaper’s “Our Home 2025: Trailblazers of Tomorrow” publication.

In the heart of Paris, Horizon Health is redefining rural healthcare—shattering expectations with a bold, compassionate and innovative approach to surgical care. Far from the traditional perception of a small-town hospital, Horizon Health’s surgery department is proving that cutting-edge medicine isn’t just the domain of major cities—it’s thriving right here in Edgar County.

“People are completely blown away when they learn about the advanced surgeries we offer here,” Kimberly Sweitzer, Director of Surgical Services, said. “They assume they’ll need to travel to Chicago or Indianapolis for specialized treatment, but we’re doing procedures here that most hospitals can’t.”

With specialties that include bariatrics, orthopedics, podiatry, spine and urology, Horizon Health’s surgical center has become a beacon for both innovation and personalized patient care. The hospital’s advanced offerings range from laparoscopic surgeries and mastectomies to minimally invasive spine procedures and stereotactic breast biopsies—all performed by a passionate team of board-certified and award-winning surgeons and specialists.

“We might be a small-town hospital,” Surgery Manager Heather Crippes said. “But we’re definitely not a small-town approach to healthcare.”

That small-town-big-offering mindset is reflected in the department’s outstanding outcomes. With a current 100 percent patient satisfaction score, the surgical team has successfully blended high-tech solutions with the kind of personalized care that only a tight-knit community can offer.

“Our surgeons all have excellent bedside manner, the patients rave about them,” Sweitzer said.

Reviews promote “a very caring human feel to the experience,” doctors who “explain things so well and are very understanding” and a “highly professional staff that are very thorough, friendly and make me feel comfortable.”

A large part of the department’s success with patients is advancements in intraoperative treatments, according to Crippes.

“Our patients, they get up sooner and they leave sooner; they require little or no narcotics,” she said.

“They are not taking all of that medicine, and that’s the technology we are keeping up with. The procedures and benefits we can provide patients really do help and benefit them.”

Anesthesia advancements, nerve blocking techniques and several laparoscopic procedures make the list of innovations that benefit patients.

Another point of success for the surgical team is a culture that embraces innovation without bureaucracy, a culture the team of surgeons and support staff members have worked hard to build together.

“Around here, we really are a family and we celebrate all of the occasions and accomplishments together,” Crippes said. “We are truly blessed with the team that we have, and we are lucky to have a very, very low turnover rate.”

Sweitzer noted that many of the hospital’s top surgeons came from larger hospitals where their ideas were stifled.

“They were frustrated because they had innovative new techniques but couldn’t get approval to use them,” she said. “Other hospitals didn’t want to invest in the equipment. Here, we say, ‘You betcha—let’s do it.’”

That willingness to invest in both people and technology has paid off, making Horizon Health a designated Center of Excellence in multiple specialties, including both Bariatrics and Axonics Therapy.

“Horizon Health is known for its fantastic culture, but we are also performing complex specialized procedures utilizing minimally invasive and advanced technologies,” Sweitzer said. “These are life-changing procedures for patients suffering with chronic conditions.”

UROLOGY: PRECISION AND PROGRESS

Horizon’s urology team employs groundbreaking techniques like Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate—a minimally invasive option that improves recovery time. They also offer complete care for conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia, pelvic reconstruction and bladder and bowel stimulation therapies.

Axonics Therapy, also called Sacral Neuromodulation, is a treatment for overactive bladder and bowel. The hospital has received multiple awards for the minimally invasive procedure.

BARIATRIC SURGERY: A YEARLONG COMMITMENT

The Center of Excellence in Bariatrics offers a full suite of weight-loss procedures, including sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal switch and gastric bypass. But surgery is just the beginning—the program includes a year of follow-up care, dietary support and mental health counseling.

Surgeons also perform TIFF procedures for GERD and Bravo testing for diagnosis. They are also nationally recognized by the American Academy of Surgeons.

PODIATRY: SAVING SOLES, SAVING LIMBS

Horizon’s podiatry team treats a wide range of conditions, from bunions to diabetic foot ulcers. One standout physician has gained national recognition for her use of fish-skin grafts to heal diabetic wounds—earning awards two years in a row and even traveling to Iceland to be honored.

SPINE AND ORTHOPEDICS: TOTAL CARE, TOP TECH

From total joint replacements and arthroscopic shoulder surgeries to emergency spine stabilization, Horizon offers full-spectrum orthopedic and spine care.

“We do it all—cervical, lumbar, fractures, instrumentation,” Sweitzer said.

Procedures include anterior hip replacements, advanced knee reconstructions, osteoporosis care and sports medicine for all ages.

BREAST SURGERY: COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE

Horizon’s team performs stereotactic procedures, lumpectomies and sentinel lymph node biopsies. They also offer complete diagnostic services, including digital mammography, breast ultrasound and biopsy services, helping patients detect and treat breast issues early.

GENERAL SURGERY: MINIMALLY INVASIVE, MAXIMALLY EFFECTIVE

The hospital’s general surgeons prioritize opioid-free, minimally invasive techniques, often allowing patients to go home the same day. They address everything from hernias and gallbladder disease to colon surgery and advanced endoscopy, including ICG fluoroscopy and bile duct exploration.

Additionally, the department offers multiple advanced, surgical pain procedures including kyphoplasty, used to treat vertebral compression fractures typically caused by osteoporosis or spinal tumors, surgically implanted spinal cord stimulators, MILD (minimally invasive lumbar decompressions) and implantable pain pumps.

Innovation in the surgery department at Horizon Health isn’t just about procedures—it’s about people. The team addresses social determinants of health, such as transportation and access to home care, to ensure patients are supported before and after surgery.

“We look at everything,” Crippes said. “It’s not just about what happens in the OR. It’s about the whole patient.”

With plans for continued expansion and an unwavering commitment to community wellness, Horizon Health is proving that rural hospitals can be leaders in world-class care.

“Nothing is ever off the table for us,” Crippes said. “We might have hometown roots, but we’re providing world-class medical care.”

For residents of Edgar County and beyond, the message is clear: the future of surgery isn’t just arriving—it’s already here. The department is currently expanding its search for an ENT specialist, offering continuing education programs for its staff members and opening its doors to a variety of students.

Plans are also in the works to add an additional operating room to the department, complete with the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment.

“We have been traveling to New York and a few other places to see other operating rooms and learning all about the technology that is available. We hope a new operating room and an expansion are in our future; it is something we definitely need,” Sweitzer said. “We have an incredible team and surgeons who are truly dedicated to finding the latest, innovative ideas and pushing them forward … what it all comes down to at the end of the day is giving every patient that walks in our doors the best experience we can and that is what we are committed to doing.”