Although small by most standards, Cook County’s hospital and care center will soon get some national attention from an unlikely source, said North Shore Health (NSH) Administrator Kimber Wraalstad to the hospital board at its April 21 meeting.
Wraalstad announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack would be giving a speech before Congress that will mention North Shore Health (formerly called Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center).
“His speech will highlight the role the USDA is playing in rural health,” said Wraalstad.
“It would be nice to get the portion of his speech that talks about us,” said Board Member Tom Spence. “We could put it on our website for the public.”
Wraalstad said she would attempt to get permission to use a clip of the speech once it was given. She wasn’t sure when Vilsack was to appear before Congress.
Imaging department gets grant
A $125,000 Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant was awarded to North Shore Health and will be used to upgrade the facility’s imaging department. The grant comes from the Minnesota Department of Health office of Rural and Primary Care. New digital radiography equipment will be purchased with the funds.
“The new equipment will be installed in the newly remodeled space in imaging,” Wraalstad said. “This will allow the department to relocate without any machine downtime.”
Total cost of the project is $265,000 when completed with the remodel and expansion of the new space, with the hospital picking up 20 percent of the expense. Wraalstad said that Vera Schumann and Caroline Hanford prepared and submitted the grant. “This is a highly competitiveCelecoxib*grant and we thank them for their efforts,” she said. $
Household model coming for care center
With work going full steam ahead on the care center, Wraalstad said employees have been receiving training on transitioning to providing care and service to the residents in a new way, using what is called the “household model.”
To that end a pilot group from the care center travelled to three care centers in Northeastern Minnesota on April 20-22 to see how this model works in a practical application.
Wraalstad said Lutsen Resort loaned its 15-passenger van for the trip which took employees to Neilson Place in Bemidji; Good Samaritan Society in International Falls; and the Senior Living Center in Warroad. In that group were Emily Arnold, Nursing Assistant (N.A.); Lisa Bloomquist, Activities; Dawn Dosey, N.A.; Sarah Groth, Housekeeper; Erik Pignolet, N.A.; Kristi Silence, LPN; Kelly Twiest, Nursing Assistant/Medication Aide/ Rehab Aide; Helena Blake, department head; and Amy James, RN and the project leader.
“The pilot group members have created a list of questions they have about the change process, how specific situations work, experiences that were positive and areas that were not successful,” said Wraalstad. “As we begin to move into the new space, we will have the opportunity to practice various ideas, knowing that more change is to come.”
Leadership training
Bridget Sobieck and Kelly Swearingen were chosen to participate in the Minnesota Leadership Academy, said Wraalstad.
“The Leadership Academy is designed to cultivate high potential leaders and represents a new generation of transformational leaders—leaders who will not just respond to the changing times but who will drive positive change for their organization,” said Wraalstad.
Artwork for the hospital
When the hospital remodel/rehab is done its walls will be adorned with artwork because of a project spearheaded by Board Member Spence.
“The art will be original paintings, photography or sculpture,” said Spence to the board, which several months ago gave him permission to pursue this project.
“The works of art should celebrate and reflect one or more aspects of the cultural, historical, geographical or community attributes of Cook County,” Spence said. “The selected art will be placed in areas of high profile to be observed and enjoyed by visitors, patients, residents and employees.”
Artists will submit a body of work that will be reviewed by the Johnson Heritage Post Selection Committee which will then recommend the artwork to a committee that will be formed by North Shore Health, said Spence, adding, “The North Shore Hospital committee reserves the right to decline any recommended piece of art.”
Selected works will be displayed for 12 months with an identification plaque that will be purchased by NSH for the artist. After six months the artwork can be offered for sale. Should a piece sell, the artist will receive all of the money. “Neither NSH nor Johnson Heritage Post will charge or receive a commission on the sale of art work,” said Spence. “The money will be all theirs.”
While it is the intention to rotate art every year, Spence said if the artist removes a piece before the year ends, the artist must give 30 days notice. Also, after 12 months, the artwork may remain on display by mutual agreement between the NSH and artist.
Spence mentioned he had talked to the Grand Marais Art Colony and told them about the project, and hoped they would spread the word to the artists connected to them.
Spence asked Wraalstad to inquire whether anyone would want to sit on an art review committee as a representative of the hospital. He didn’t feel that more than two or three people would be needed for this committee.
The art display will begin at the time of completion of the hospital/care center, which is scheduled for September 2017. The care center will not receive public art at this time because Spence said they already have a lot of art. The board thanked Spence for his work to organize this initiative.
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