Hospital board report

North Shore Health Hospital/Care Center Director Kimber Wraalstad reports that Cook County has over a 73 percent vaccination rate for COVID-19, the highest percentage of any county in the state of Minnesota.

It’s taken awhile, but North Shore Health finally received a Private Airport License for the hospital’s helipad. Wraalstad said the process to get the license began in July 2018, with meetings and discussions held with representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Aviation Division. The last time representatives visited North Shore Hospital was September 22,2020.

Trees, shrubs, and perennials were planted this past week in the Serenity Garden. Winchester Higgins brought in boulders for the project.

Seven deficiencies found during a May 24 unannounced Federal Survey, biennial State Survey and State survey of the Care Center have been corrected. The Statement of Deficiencies was received June 22 and a Plan of Correction was filed and approved on July 1.

Citing’s included, “One resident door did not fit tightly in the frames with a ¼ inch gap between door and frame; Proper hand hygiene was not followed during meal service during an evening meal; Documentation of the visual inspection of the fire alarm system was not seen during the inspection etc.

Commenting on the inspection and course of actions taken, Wraalstad said, “Changes to care plans, policies and process have been instituted with audits and monitors being completed. This was a challenging year with the COVID-19 Pandemic, and this was a good survey. Please congratulate the employees on their outstanding work!”

A discussion about the 2022 operating budget and potential levy request will be made at the board’s August 19 meeting. North Shore Health must submit a formal levy request to the County by Wednesday, September 15.

On Fisherman’s Picnic Saturday, August 7, North Shore Health will sponsor games and activities for children from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The games will be held in the parking lot of the Security State Bank. The goal is to provide fun activities for younger children who attend the Fisherman’s Picnic. Shalom Richardson, EMT, will coordinate the activities.

Human Resources Director Michele “Goosie” Silence has agreed to serve as interim Human Services Director for North Shore Health in the wake of the resignation of Shelly Starkey. Michele has worked at the hospital since July 1999 and has served as the Human Resource Assistant/Generalist for the last three years.

Goosie is enrolled in the Western Government University working toward her bachelor’s degree in Human Resources.

With the resignation of Nick Cusick, the Public Information Coordinator, the hospital and county are working to hire a replacement for Nick for this shared position. Meanwhile, Nick has agreed to help in the interim. Nick has taken a position with Visit Cook County.

Dr. Dustin Lucarelli, a general surgeon at St. Luke’s, visited NSH on July 14 to determine whether there was possibility of establishing a surgery outreach clinic here. After touring Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and North Shore Health, and discussing the situation with his Practice Manager, Dr. Lucarelli feels it is possible to start a monthly surgery outreach clinic here in September 2021.