For the next year and a half the hospital/care center will be the site of a lot of equipment like this huge crane as a large team of construction workers pitch in to complete the $24.5 million expansion and remodel of the facilities.
North Shore Health board members received an update about the new technology being installed at the hospital and care center on May 19. The facilities are being rewired and cable installed as part of the $24.5 million building project.
When the work is done, IT Coordinator Gary Johnson said, nurses will no longer have to roll computer carts down the hallways into patient rooms because each hospital room will have its own laptop. New phones will be installed in administrative offices and nursing stations and a redundant line will be put through to St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. Johnson said NorthStar Cabling is installing Cat 6 wire that will allow more bandwidth and much faster service for computers.
“Rob from Northstar Cabling is doing a fantastic job,” said Johnson.
Board Member Tom Spence asked if cell phone service would be better inside the completed facilities, but Johnson said that would not be the case because the new, better-insulated walls would block more of the signals. He said unless repeaters were installed, cell service in the buildings would be less than what it is now.
Lab gets good review
Hospital/Care Center Administrator Kimber Wraalstad brought up the bi-annual inspection for the hospital lab by the College of American Pathologist (CAP) representative.
“The inspection went very well, with only a few minor infractions found,” Wraalstad said.
“Jennifer Backstrom and her staff had another excellent survey. The CAP inspector was very complimentary of the lab and personnel,” Wraalstad added.
Care Center staff training continues
Amy James RN gave a Care Center transformation update. Employees are being taught how to blend their jobs under the new household model that will be used at the care center once the work is completed on the facility.
Recently, said James, 10 members of the Culture Change Pilot Group completed visits to three care centers that use the household model. The group visited Neilson Place in Bemidji, Good Samaritan Society in International Falls and Warroad Senior Living Center in Warroad. Tours were taken at each stop and along the way James said the staff learned new things that they could pass on to their fellow employees at home.
When asked how employees were taking the transition, James replied, “There is some anxiety out there. Some are worried that their jobs will change and they like their jobs the way they are now. I’m even anxious and I’m positive.”
Employees will still do 80 percent of their current duties and as much as 20 percent of a blend of new tasks under the new system. The goal is to make the care center into more of a home atmosphere for the residents.
James said 71 people had taken an earlier tour of the care center, but she was going to wait until the work was completed to do any more tours. The first 19 rooms will be completed by mid-June, but state inspections need to be done before anyone can move into their room, said James. Both James and Wraalstad said they were hoping for expedient inspections and passing grades so the new rooms could be used as soon as possible.
In other business
. On June 21, Wraalstad, Jennifer Dowden and Bridget Sobieck will attend the Minnesota Rural Health Conference in Duluth. This year’s theme will be Weaving the Threads of Rural Health with keynote speaker Amit Sood, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic discussing Resilient Living for a Resilient Community.
. Management and employees are currently undergoing seven to eight hours of de-escalation training, said Wraalstad.
The classes are taught to deal with potential violence in the workforce. The first Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB) training occurred May 16-17 and will continue through the early fall. It consists of classroom and hands-on self-defense techniques. Mike Marturano, Security Services Manager from St. Luke’s, is heading up the classes.
. Wraalstad said the Minnesota State Health Department waived the rule that called for a drinking fountain to be put in the care center. The new facility will have a water dispenser with cups and ice that will suffice for residents, guests and employees, she said.
. The 21st Grand Portage Wellness Fair will be held Saturday, June 18, and North Shore Health employees will be on hand to provide information about the services offered at the hospital. They will come with an update about the expansion and remodel of the care center and hospital, Wraalstad said.
. The transition to the hospital/care center’s new name, North Shore Health, continues. Both the new logo and name are being incorporated into printable computer forms and will be used, as existing items are being used up and reordered, said Wraalstad.
Leave a Reply