Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

December 22, 2015

MHA Newsline: Dec. 21, 2015

In this issue 

Holiday greetings from MHA

Happy holidays from the Minnesota Hospital Association! At this festive time of year, we celebrate the hospital and health system staff, volunteers, advocates and supporters who help make Minnesota the best place in the nation for health care access, quality and outcomes. Thank you to the hospital care teams who dedicate time away from their families to provide high-quality care to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season! View our holiday cardreturn to top   

Minnesota’s hospitals improve concussion care

A slip on the ice. A big hit during the game. A car crash.   

“Concussions can happen for a variety of reasons,” said Tracy Arduser, pediatric physical therapist at CentraCare Health in St. Cloud, Minnesota. “They can happen when our veterans sustain concussions during combat and experience after-effects when they return home. They can happen in our grandparents when they slip and fall.”   

It’s clear: Concussions are not only a risk for athletes. Concussions can happen to anyone at any time. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 3.8 million concussions occur each year in the United States.   

Concussions come with long-term health impacts if treated improperly. However, not everyone knows how to recognize the signs and symptoms. That’s why it’s important for everyone — from children to senior citizens, from athletes to weekend warriors — to understand the critical signs and symptoms of a concussion.   

Visit the Minnesota’s Hospitals: Strengthening Healthy Communities website to learn more about common symptoms and signs of concussions and to see how Minnesota’s hospitals are working with their communities to improve concussion treatment and overall care.   

Like the Minnesota’s Hospitals Facebook page to get regular updates on how Minnesota’s hospitals work beyond physical walls to strengthen the health of Minnesotans and our communities. return to top   

Open house retirement party in honor of John Rau

John Rau, president and CEO of Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris, will be retiring at the end of 2015 after 33 years of service. An open house retirement party will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, from 1-4 p.m. at the GrandStay Hotel, 5 E. State Highway 28, Morris, Minnesota 56267. Hotel reservations can be made online or by phone at 320-585-4000.   

Rau began his career at Stevens Community Medical Center in 1982, when he was hired as nursing director for the New Beginnings Chemical Dependency Program. He founded and directed the facility’s outpatient mental health program, Life Center, in 1985. In 1987, Rau became vice president of professional services, a position he held until 1989 when he was named interim administrator of Stevens Community Memorial Hospital. He officially became president/CEO of Stevens Community Medical Center in May 1990. As part of the management contract SCMC had in place from 1989 to 2002, he was a vice president with Allina Health.   

Prior to joining Stevens Community Medical Center, Rau worked in the St. Cloud area as a psychiatric nurse at the St. Cloud and VA hospitals. He received his RN degree through the St. Cloud School of Nursing and earned his Master of Health Care Administration degree through the University of Minnesota’s ISP program. Over the past 20 years, he has also served as chairman of the Rural Health Alliance.   

MHA thanks John Rau for his dedicated leadership and service throughout his career and wishes him well on his retirement. return to top   

Newsline holiday schedule

Newsline will take a holiday break next week and will return to its normal publishing schedule on Monday, Jan. 4. return to top