The Cook County North Shore Hospital passed inspection by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) on May 1 and 2 with flying colors. (L-R, standing) Nadine Brown, Lab Supervisor Jennifer Backstrom, Joe Malkovich, Lab Medical Director Dr. Jon Steinhauer, Denise Murray. (Seated, L-R) Bryann Bockovich, Gine Meissner.
Jennifer Backstrom was happy to report that the hospital’s lab and her staff received zero citations after the College of American Pathologists (CAP) inspected on May 1-2, 2012.
Backstrom gave her report to the North Shore Hospital board on May 24.
“It is difficult for a hospital of any size to pass with no citations, and the laboratory staff should be commended. I hope you brag about them,” said Dr. Jon Steinhauer, a Duluth doctor who works with the lab and its staff.
CAP inspectors tour the world inspecting labs, said Jennifer. The inspector for the Cook County North Shore hospital had just come back from Tokyo, and told Backstrom that it’s rare for a lab to be found perfect.
“We have a real committed staff who have real high standards,” Backstrom said.
The board commended Backstrom and her crew for their excellence.
In news from another department, Hospital Director Kimber Wraalstad said that Greg Johnson had been hired to serve as the information technology specialist for the hospital and care center. Greg will split his time with St. Luke’s Hospital and Cook County but will live in Grand Marais.
Wraalstad told the board that 25 individuals participated in six leadership-training sessions held in March, April and May. Jeff Thompson who discussed Personal Leadership and Competence; Interpersonal Leadership and Competence; and Organizational Leadership and Competence led the sessions. Wraalstad said she received many positive comments from the employees who participated in the training.
Finding one’s way around the hospital is now easier since new directional signs have been installed. The signs are larger and are colored blue so they are more visible. Some new overhead signs have also been installed, said Wraalstad, who noted that E.R. Perry Signs & Engraving of Grand Marais made the signs.
The new nurse call system is almost complete in the care center, Wraalstad said. Call stations in the resident rooms and the central station at the nurses station are now installed and staff pagers are in the process of being programmed. Care Center staff will be trained on the entire system, which, said Wraalstad, should provide a quieter atmosphere for residents.
Yvonne Gennrich, head accountant, reported that revenues were up 11.9 percent from last April to this April. Much of the increase was due to rise in patients using swing beds. Last month 236 patients used swing beds while 77 patient days were budgeted for, an increase of 206.5 percent. For the year, 662 patient days have been recorded while the staff had budgeted for 192 days.
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