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Cook County is plagued with a shortage of workers in many fields, but the greatest need might be filling job openings at the local hospital and care center.
Despite a waiting list of 20, only 28 of 37 care center rooms are occupied because there need to be more employees to care for additional residents. Many positions at the hospital are filled by temporary workers who are here for several months and then leave to go back home or move to take a similar position at another hospital. It’s a challenging way to run what is an essential operation in the county.
To address the healthcare worker shortage, the North Shore Health Care Foundation (NSHCF) announced through a joint effort it was making a significant investment, $30,000 in healthcare training technology that has never been available in Cook County.
The announcement came on March 2, 2023, outside at the Cook County Hospital ambulance garage on a sunny, wind-free mid-morning day.
“This collaborative initiative led by the Foundation seeks to address critical shortages of Emergency Medical Responders and Technicians (EMTs/ EMRs), as well as Certified Nurse Aids (CNAs) and Licensed Practical Nurses in the area, and maintain fundamental services such as the Ambulance Service and the Care Center,” said Marasco-Eliasen. “The addition of simulation training technology in combination with the recently accredited EMT and EMR training programs developed by North Shore Health will improve access to high-quality career training at home in Cook County and will Inger Andress bring the rural hospital up to par with other facilities.”
Next, North Shore Health Care Foundation President Inger Andress addressed the crowd on hand.
“2023 marks the Health Care Foundation’s 30th anniversary. To recognize this important milestone and our role as a guiding light and support for health in Cook County, we are stepping up to make this investment and work strategically with our partners to identify solutions to ensure we preserve access to health care services for our residents.”
“The Foundation has been working diligently over the last several years to prepare for larger projects such as this, and the timing is right to address this urgent and emerging issue. This will be the Foundation’s largest investment in healthcare training to date, which is critical to protect the availability of our ambulance service for our residents and visitors, and Care Center at North Shore Health for seniors and families. We have to remove barriers for people if we expect them to step up and take on these important roles. The Foundation is proud to lead innovative solutions that work for our unique area.”
So, what is this new type of training?
It uses simulation manikins, but these manikins can offer blood pressure, pulse, sweating, bleeding, and even blinking. There are various simulation manikins ranging from babies to children to pregnant women and so on. According to the company website, “A Simulation Manikin is a trainer for a product that provides a means by which learners and educators can practice their healthcare skills in real-time before attempting to assess or perform a treatment on a patient first-hand. While standardized (or “sample”) patients have been used across medical training since the mid-twentieth century, improving technologies have led to a number of advanced ways that digital patient simulation models can be represented through manikins.”
The company’s website further explains, “Aside from safety and practice, Simulation Manikins are known to produce several other clear advantages compared to traditional training. One benefit is that practice on a simulated manikin often leads to more effectiveness in the clinical outpatient environment. Another advantage is the sheer convenience of using these products. Simulation Manikins tend to be designed to be easily transportable, durable, and can be set up and used anywhere and at any time. This ease in use eliminates the need to have to prepare training and lesson plans around the availability of a live patient.”
So, with blue-tooth technology, these mannequins can be taken into the field to simulate accidents, and people in training can work on them without hurting anyone, said Jon Moe.
“This investment and collaborative partnerships with local health care providers will change the face of how and where those interested in health care careers, current health professionals and emergency service units, can complete accredited health care programs,” said Marasco-Eliasen.
Funding
“The Foundation is dedicating $30,000 of its 2023 grant budget towards the initiative and launching of a community matching fundraising campaign, as well as applying for grants to assist with the costs of the initiative,” said Marasco-Eliasen. “However, due to the urgent need for this equipment and workforce development, the Foundation is purchasing the Simulation Training Technology through a low-interest short-term loan with Grand Marais State Bank, as time is of the essence to begin these critical training programs.
“The overall goal is to raise $80,000 to help implement solutions that will help set up Cook County for the next 30 years. These funds will go towards the purchase of the $57,000 Simulation Manikin equipment, additional workforce training programs with Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, including the second year of the Medical Assistant (MA) Training program and the new Pharmacy Technician in Training program, as well as identify and develop new workforce solutions through collaborative planning.”
The Foundation helped launch the M.A. Training program in 2022 by providing a $10,000 grant which allowed for up to six employees to become certified MAs through the unique work-study program. As a result, five employees participated in the first-year cohort, addressing a critical gap in the local healthcare workforce. This was the first-of-its-kind program in Minnesota through the M.N. Association of Community Health Centers.
“North Shore Health is excited to have this opportunity to provide advanced relevant educational opportunities to our current workforce,” said Kimber Wraalstad, CEO/ Administrator – of North Shore Health. “This will also give community members the opportunity to consider healthcare careers and receive their education here in Cook County. In addition, this gives us greater independence and flexibility with workforce development and means we do not have to rely on colleges that are hours away and require a minimum number of students to hold a course. This is a really innovative partnership and unique accomplishment for rural health.”
Wraalstad praised the work of Jon Moe, Education Coordinator at North Shore Health and Care Center.
“The availability of this technology, along with the new curriculum developed by North Shore Health’s Education Director Jon Moe, will improve hands-on skills training to prepare better those pursuing health careers and come out of training with confidence and muscle memory. Moe is an experienced Simulation Trainer with many years of experience directing simulation training programs at community colleges around the state and recently relocated to Cook County, joining North Shore Health. Moe developed the curriculum for the EMT/EMR training courses recently approved by the M.N. Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB),” Wraalstad said.
Speaking next was Jon Moe. “Simulation allows a student to experience a real-life situation in a safe learning environment. The student gets hands-on practice in a setting where a mistake does not cause any harm to a patient. This is a dream come true to have accredited programs available right here at the hospital where you can train people as needed, along with state-of-the-art technology.
“Having this training available locally removes the need for students to travel outside of Cook County and take these programs through post-secondary education institutions. In combination with the simulation technology, these training, along with new online training courses for Certified Nurse Aids and programs through Cook County Higher Education, will put Cook County on par with other larger training facilities and provide students with state-of-the-art hands-on learning experiences.”
While the fundraising campaign officially launched on March 2, the Foundation already received a $10,000 donation toward the initiative from a local Schroeder resident Virginia Erickson, who recognizes the value of having a local ambulance service and properly trained EMTs after she suffered a cardiac event in October 2022,” said Valerie. “Mrs. Erickson dedicated the donation to the initiative in honor of the First Responders who saved her life and even made sure her dog was taken care of while she was taken to hospital.”
The Foundation will work with all local health providers and Cook County Higher Education over the next year to identify additional solutions to address shortages in the healthcare workforce and develop plans to implement those solutions.
Now celebrating its 30th year, the North Shore Health Care Foundation was started in 1993 by a group of motivated community residents dedicated to improving health services in Cook County and wishing to take a leadership role in larger health projects. The Foundation has awarded over $1.16 million in grants for health care and healthy living programs since 1995. The Foundation is an independent nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization benefiting health care and emergency services in Cook County, Minnesota. The Foundation proactively identifies opportunities to expand equitable health care and healthy living in Cook County and champions solutions through funding, education, and advocacy.
Marasco-Eliasen said the initiative to find a training manikin is just a start in a 30-year plan. “We are celebrating out 30th year with a $30,000 grant for a program that we want to run for 30 years.
To contribute to the Investing in Our Future Health Care Workforce Solutions fundraising campaign, donations can be made online at www.NorthShore- HealthCareFoundation.org, by mail at North Shore Health Care Foundation, P.O. Box 454, Grand Marais, MN 55604, or in person at the NSHCF office at 21 W 2nd St, Suite E, Grand Marais.
“This investment is just one project in the Health Care Foundation’s ‘Investing in Workforce Solutions’ initiative being announced, along with a community matching campaign, to recognize the North Shore Health Care Foundations’ 30th anniversary and role in Cook County,” Marasco-Eliasen said.
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