Although the Ebola crisis may seem far away the local hospital and clinic have been taking measures to mitigate the danger to Cook County residents should the illness reach our doorsteps.
“We are receiving many updates and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Hospital Association, Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Department of Health and St. Luke’s Hospital,” said Cook County North Shore Hospital/Care Center administrator Kimber Wraalstad at the hospital board’s October 23 meeting.
Staff members that register patients are also receiving training on the Ebola screening process, said Wraalstad, adding, “The Cook County Emergency Preparedness Committee has come together for a situational awareness meeting. This includes the Emergency Manager, Cook County Public Health, Grand Portage Public Health, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center. Together with our county partners, we are preparing to safely manage a patient with Ebola or other infectious disease.”
Other measures include, “updating our personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, equipment as well as policies and procedures in case of an exposure,” said Wraalstad.
The Sawtooth Mountain Clinic now has signs posted informing staff of the Ebola Health Advisory. The signs are a reminder to ask if patients have traveled to affected Ebola areas, primarily West Africa within the last three weeks and if they have symptoms, said Wraalstad.
“It is very, very unlikely that we will ever see an Ebola patient” she added, “but this is a good opportunity to review the various precautions that are used and to have employees practice using PPE.”
On a final note, Wraalstad said that people can protect themselves from an illness seen all too often in the county, the flu, by following a few simple procedures: “Wash your hands often and thoroughly, stay at home when you are ill and get a flu shot,” she said.
Renovation plan discussed
Rebecca Lewis of DSGW gave an update on architectural plans for the proposed hospital/care center remodel and she also discussed adding “bump outs” or window seats in Care Center patient rooms and their costs. Lewis also discussed possible hospital patient room improvements with the board. She will create mock-ups of these in the former Masonic Temple and show them to the board at the next meeting.
Deficiencies corrected
Cook County North Shore Care Center’s annual Medicare and State licensure inspection of the Nursing Home occurred mid-August and 10 federal deficiencies were identified and a plan of correction was developed to correct them by September 30, 2014. The revisit found that nine of 10 deficiencies had been corrected with one remaining. Some of the things tagged included chipped paint, not always labeling meds with clear plastic tape and establishing written data for the public about nurse staffing including licensed and unlicensed staff.
“We expect to receive another Statement of Deficiency and will submit an enhanced Plan of Correction,” for the one remaining violation, said Wraalstad.
In other business
• The board adopted the management agreement with St. Luke’s for the coming year and adopted the USDA—Rural Development Community Facilities Application (United States Department of Agriculture) resolution and will be requesting letters for support from the city, Grand Portage Tribal Council, the Lutsen, Tofte, and Schroeder townships, and Cook County board of commissioners, said Wraalstad. A loan from the USDA not to exceed $20,000,000 will be sought to help assist financing the $20 million remodel/buildout project for the hospital/ care center.
• Bridget Sobeick and Shelly Starkey demonstrated the HealthStream software the hospital purchased that would be used for employee education. Both Sobieck and Starkey have completed their administrator training. Greg Johnson, Information Technology, has created user accounts for all employees and is in the process of providing general education for employees with limited computer skills. This will allow employees to pick up needed training and sometimes earn needed certifications without leaving the county.
• The board also thanked the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation for awarding a $2,000 grant to purchase specialized pediatric equipment to support the occupational therapy program.
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