In
this issue
Lt.
Gov. Smith visits CentraCare Health – Long Prairie
Lt. Gov. Tina Smith visited CentraCare Health – Long Prairie on Sept.
23. Hospital leaders and community stakeholders met with Lt. Gov. Smith to
share how CentraCare Health – Long Prairie works to meet the needs of its
community, both inside and outside of the hospital.
Participants in a community roundtable that highlighted how closely the
hospital works with community partners included: Dr. Paul Van Gorp, chief
medical officer, CentraCare Health – Long Prairie; Dan Swenson, administrator,
CentraCare Health – Long Prairie; Jodi Gertken, director of wellness,
CentraCare Health – Long Prairie; James Ruiz, member of the Long Prairie City
Council, community stakeholder and volunteer firefighter; Katherine Mackedanz,
community health manager, Todd County Health and Human Services; Luan
Thomas-Brunkhorst, chamber director, Long Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce; and
Rick Utech, economic development, Todd County Development Corporation.
The discussion showed how central the hospital is to the town. They discussed
CentraCare Health – Long Prairie’s efforts to build a healthy community and
reduce health disparities through collaboration with public, philanthropic,
business and community partners. Highlighted projects included the Better
Living: Exercise and Nutrition Daily (BLEND) program, which works to improve
the health of children in Central Minnesota by reducing the epidemic of
childhood obesity; several programs designed to combat food insecurity by
providing local families and community members with access to fresh produce;
and the Building a Healthy Community campaign, which supported construction of
a new medical campus building in Long Prairie. The community also talked about
how the old hospital may be repurposed into a community center following the
opening of the new hospital.
“We enjoyed hosting Lt. Gov. Tina Smith as the Todd County site for the 87
Minnesota counties tour,” said Swenson. Prior to the roundtable, Lt. Gov. Smith
met community members at the Long Prairie Farmers Market, which is organized by
CentraCare.
Gov. Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith are conducting a statewide tour of
Minnesota's 87 counties. If the statewide tour visits your community, MHA
encourages you to participate in the events as you are able. MHA can provide
assistance with scheduled hospital visits during the 87-county tour. If a visit
is scheduled at your location, please contact Mary Krinkie,
vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465.
Meeting resources, including handouts that can be printed and shared, are
available on the MHA Member Center, which is username and
password protected. For help resetting your username and/or password, contact Ashley Beno,
member services and communication specialist, MHA, 651-603-3545. return to top
Hospitals,
health systems, MHA participate in NAMIWalks Minnesota
MHA member hospitals and health systems on Sept. 24 sponsored and participated in
the 10th annual NAMIWalks Minnesota, a 5K walking event designed to raise
awareness about mental illnesses and reduce stigma. MHA and LeadingAge MN also
sponsored a walking team. Over 3,200 participants came together in Minnehaha
Park to walk together and celebrate 40 years of NAMI Minnesota’s work improving
the lives of people living with mental illnesses and their families.
The following MHA members and associate members sponsored NAMIWalks Minnesota:
- Allina Health Mental Health
- Avera
- Behavioral Healthcare Providers
- CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital
- Children’s Hospitals and
Clinics of Minnesota
- HealthEast Foundation
- HealthPartners/Regions
Hospital/Melrose Center
- Hennepin County Medical Center
- North Memorial Health Care
- PrairieCare
To learn more about NAMIWalks Minnesota and make a donation,
visit the NAMIWalks website. return to top
2017
Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant Program application cycle begins
Applications are now being accepted for the
Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) 2017 Rural Hospital Capital Improvement
Grant Program. Eligible hospitals are non-federal, not-for-profit, general
acute care hospitals with 50 or fewer beds that are located in a rural area or
in a community with a population of less than 15,000 and are outside the
seven-county metropolitan area.
Grant funds are for updating, remodeling or replacing aging hospital facilities
and equipment necessary to maintain the operations of the hospital.
Approximately $1.6 million is available. Applicants may apply for grants of up
to $125,000.
The request for proposals and application instructions are available on the
Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) website. The pre-application deadline is Nov.
4. For hospitals selected to go to the final round, final applications are due
Feb. 3, 2017.
For information and assistance, contact Lina Jau, Office of Rural Health and Primary
Care, MDH, 651-201-3809. return to top