Hyke Recognized as HRMC Innovator of the Quarter
December 09, 2025
Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) recently selected Darlene Hyke, emergency department lead receptionist, to receive the Innovator of the Quarter Award.
Hyke created a solution to make important emergency equipment and tools easily and quickly accessible. She suggested and designed a process utilizing a peg board to hold frequently used supplies, increasing organization, cleanliness and freeing up space at the nurses' station in the emergency department.
Hyke stated, “I was trying to think of something that would streamline the process so we could quickly grab and go when needed. When something is not working the best, I look for better options. If the nurses ask for something to change, I try to find a better option.” Hyke’s innovation makes a huge difference in the department during emergencies to collect the right supplies seamlessly.
Upon acceptance of the award, Hyke remarked, “I was a little stunned and honored and definitely shocked.”
Each quarter, the Innovator Award is presented and celebrated, indicating eligibility for an annual Innovator of the Year Award. Ideas are submitted by employees via online form or paper suggestion card and are selected by a committee of peers based upon impact to patient and employee experience, feasibility, and innovation. The Innovator Award celebrates the power of innovation in solving practical problems and enhancing the quality of care delivered at HRMC .
Hyke has been employed at HRMC over twenty-four years. “I like the challenge and change from day to day. We don't know what's going to come and you have to be prepared every day. I like my job, so I am constantly thinking of ways to improve.”
Hyke lives in Huron with her husband, Buffy, and granddaughter Karli (15). Her husband works for Full Circle Ag and has a business, Buffy's Technology Solutions, where Hyke does the bookkeeping. She has four children, Shad, Dustin, Brooke, Riley and a stepson Austin who all live in different cities. Outside of work, she likes to visit her children, bowl, golf, ride her bike, and enjoy the Black Hills off-road.
HRMC team members, Communication and Recognition Committee members,
and members of the HRMC leadership team surround Darlene Hyke,
as she accepts the Innovator Award at HRMC.
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