The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health celebrated Sarah Boone, licensed clinical social worker at Kane County Hospital, with an Impact Award for embodying the “power of rural.” As the only licensed social worker in Kane County Hospital, Sarah Boone is a Kane County Hospital team member.
The lone social worker at Kane County Hospital, Boone provides care to the residents in the skilled nursing facility, support to patients in the emergency and acute care departments, and provides counseling to clients in the outpatient behavioral health clinic. Boone handles all her responsibilities with efficiency and dedication. She is passionate about building a place where people can feel safe, heard, and authentic within the community.
Kurt Loveless, CEO of Kane County Hospital, nominated Sarah for her remarkable work in the community, especially with the LGBTQ+ community. “Sarah is known in the community as a safe place to go for counseling,” Loveless said. “The LGBTQ+ community sees her as a safe person.”
Boone recalls one patient who ended up in the emergency room for attempting suicide. The patient had experienced suicidal ideation for about a year due to being shunned for being perceived as LGBTQ+.
The Kane County Hospital ER team assisted the patient to get the help they needed in a psychiatric hospital. Upon discharge from the psychiatric hospital, the patient returned to the community, and Boone provided ongoing inclusive and affirming outpatient therapy. Boone reported that this patient, who had tried to end their life a year before, went on to pursue higher education and is thriving.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, PCRH is highlighting Boone for her dedicated work within the rural and LGTBQ+ community.
“Access to mental health care is challenging nationwide, and especially in rural America, which is in part caused by the undue stigma,” said Boone. “I want to educate and bring awareness that mental health affects all of us, and especially to those struggling. I want them to know that they are worthy of care, support, and healing, and that we are here to help. You are not alone.”
Every year, PCRH celebrates National Rural Health Day to bring attention to the dedicated work that rural healthcare providers, communities, organizations, and other stakeholders are doing to address the unique healthcare needs of rural America.
PCRH works to improve access to quality primary, behavioral, and oral healthcare in rural and underserved communities. PCRH is an office of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and receives funding from federal grants and state appropriations. For more information, visit ruralhealth.utah.gov.