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North Shore Health Director Kimber Wraalstad reported that as of April 13, 2021, 86 percent of the employees and 97 percent of the Care Center residents had been fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
In her April management report to the hospital board, Wraalstad noted, “This compares very favorably with other elder service organizations where vaccinated employees range between 47 percent and 55 percent.”
Countywide, 63.8 percent of the county residents have received one vaccination dose and 46 percent have completed the vaccine series. Additionally, 91.4 percent of the population over 65 years old has been fully vaccinated.
“Due to the efforts of Cook County Public Health, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, Grand Portage Health Services, North Shore Health, and our entire community, Cook County still has the highest rate of vaccination in Minnesota,” she said.
Concerning the care center, Kimber said, “Unfortunately, there has not been updated guidance from the CDC and CMS regarding activities in nursing homes. We hope that residents will soon be able to gather in the Dining Room for meals and activities without restrictions. North Shore Living remains one of less than one percent of Nursing Homes in Minnesota without a resident or employee COVID- 19 case, so we will continue to be diligent. However, our residents and their families have greatly appreciated the opportunity to hug each other!”
In other hospital news, Interim Hospital Director of Nursing Fred (Andy) Andrews announced his resignation effective April 23, 2021. Andrews served as Director of Nursing since 2018, and before that, he worked as a contract nurse for North Shore Health. Over the last year, Andy directed much of the COVID-19 response “and supported our clinical efforts as we moved into unknown territory and worked diligently to keep us prepared and safe,” said Wraalstad.
Andrews has accepted a job at Care Choice Cooperative in the Twin Cities as Director of Clinical Development.
An interim director of nursing has been hired to fill Andrew’s position. Carolyn Olson, MA, MSN, RN, APRN, FNP-BC is from Pathway Health Services. She will serve in the interim director position until a permanent director of nursing can be found. Carolyn has worked as a Director of Nursing and Nurse Manager in acute care hospitals, as well as worked in an emergency department, skilled nursing facility, and as an administrator for a home health and hospice organization. She is also a teacher at Lake Superior College.
Resident Care Manager Amy James, RN, has announced her retirement from North Shore Health effective July 9, 2021. Over the span of ten years, Amy has served as a Registered Nurse, Interim Director of Nursing, and Resident Care Manager.
After exploring the option of picking up the Polaris Model– a Minnesota Payment Methodology developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota for critical care hospitals that offers transparency and ease of administration, North Shore Health declined to take part.
Paul Goettl, Chief Financial Officer, and Kimber Wraalstad met with four representatives to discuss the Polaris model and found the impact would reduce reimbursement between $125,000 and $250,000 to North Shore Health, which was too much to lose for simplification and streamlining.
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