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GRHSONLINE.ORG 1

TOUCHINGLIVES

First-time expectant mom Teresa Rannow remembers

being terrified back in 2010 when her obstetrician

said she needed an emergency cesarean section.

After all, she was 11 weeks short of her due date.

“My doctor said it’s either deliver him now or

I could die,” she recalls.

Teresa’s blood pressure was dangerously high due to a

condition called pre-eclampsia. It was risky to continue

the pregnancy, so Alexander “Xander” Johnson was

born that day weighing just 2 pounds, 7 ounces. He

spent his first few months in the neonatal intensive

care unit at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital.

MEDICAL ISSUESPremature babies often face medical issues and

developmental delays. For Xander, the most pressing

was an inability to bottle feed, necessitating a feeding

tube. “He had a hard time coordinating his breathing,

sucking and swallowing as an infant,” says Xander’s

father, Trinity Johnson. “Xander had a lot of issues,

but we were always told he was healthy and going to

be just fine, so we clung to that and just did the best

we could.”

A TEAM APPROACHWhen Xander reached 5 pounds, Teresa and Trinity

were able to bring their son home to Glencoe. At

GRHS, they found a pediatrician and other child

development experts poised to help:

• Dietitian Melissa Trebesch, RD, LD, CDE, determined the proper amount of formula and number of calories that Xander needed to grow, and revised her calculations as he did so.

• Speech-language therapist Leah Seifert, MS, CCC-SLP, has seen Xander to address his feeding issues, transition him to table foods and strengthen his jaw muscles. Today, she helps him with written language and articulation.

• Physical therapist Jennifer Keenan, PT, MPT, helped Xander with gross motor delays that caused him to trip and have trouble with climbing before he started kindergarten.

• Occupational therapist Jenna Knudtson, OTR/L, works with Xander to develop his self-care and fine motor skills, and more recently, to address his sensitivity to loud sounds so he can function better at school.

TAKE A

TODAYXANDERGANDER

Former preemie makes big strides with therapy

AT

With help from pediatric development specialists at GRHS, Glencoe’s Xander Johnson, age 7, has conquered many health challenges related to his premature birth.

IN THIS ISSUE:Pediatric Therapy

Hospital Renovation

Health Care Home

246

Pediatric therapists Leah Seifert, MS, CCC-SLP, (left) and Jenna Knudtson, OTR/L, with some of the equipment used for children’s therapy.

Xander Johnson, continued from page 1

Occupational therapist Jenna Knudtson, OTR/L, works with Xander in the new pediatric rehabilitation gym on our Glencoe campus.

GRHSONLINE.ORG2

Some children need more than a short course of

antibiotics or a splint to be “all better.” Those who

face challenges from premature birth, pregnancy-

or delivery-related cerebral palsy, traumatic brain

injuries, or congenital conditions, such as a cleft

palate or Down syndrome, require specialized care

over long periods of time.

A team of skilled pediatric therapists at GRHS

provides individualized treatment to address a

wide range of disabilities and delays experienced

by kids of all ages. Unlike adults who typically

rehabilitate – or relearn skills they lost due to

injury or illness – children work with therapists to

acquire new skills they have not yet developed.

“A pediatric therapist understands typical

development and is better able to recognize and

address a child’s impairments,” says speech-

language therapist Leah Seifert, MS, CCC-SLP.

Leah most enjoys helping children improve their

communication or eating and drinking skills so

they can participate in life as normally as possible.

“Therapy helps us build a foundation for their

success today and later in life as an adult.”

Tools used by therapists depend on the child’s need,

but could include flash cards, puzzles and games,

iPad apps or pediatric gym equipment.

Play is often used to improve developmental skills

and make progress toward goals, says occupational

therapist Jenna Knudtson, OTR/L. It also keeps

pediatric patients motivated and focused. “When

kids are having fun, their progress increases

significantly,” she adds.

Parents with concerns about a child’s physical

abilities or speech-language skills should see their

child’s pediatrician or family medicine provider to

discuss a possible referral to a pediatric therapist.

Pediatric Therapy

Speech-language therapy corrects speech and language disorders, and helps children who have difficulty eating, drinking, swallowing or controlling their lips, tongue and jaw muscles.

Occupational therapy addresses fine motor skills and self-care tasks such as feeding, dressing, teeth-brushing, sensory processing and visual skills such as hand-eye coordination.

Physical therapy improves a child’s gross motor skills, strength and balance, and corrects range-of-motion problems.

LEARN MOREgrhsonline.org/pediatric-therapy

Now 7, Xander works on fine motor skills such

as tying his shoes. His jaw strength is much

improved and he keeps up with classmates on the

playground. And boy, does Xander love to sing!

“He brings so much joy to his appointments,”

says therapist Jenna. “Xander makes jokes with

people in the waiting room and says hi to the

receptionists and everyone he passes on his way

into his session.”

TWO ‘MIRACLE BABIES’Teresa and Trinity had a second child two years

ago. Liberty, who is called Libby, was delivered

five weeks early when Teresa had a stroke from a

brain aneurysm that burst.

“Xander is the best big brother to Libby,” Teresa

says. “He reads to her and is very protective.”

Teresa believes that without the care team at

GRHS, Xander would be wheelchair-bound

today instead of the boy who pedals a toy tractor

at his grandpa’s house and rides a bicycle with

training wheels.

LITTLE HERO“Xander is a delight,” adds Trinity. “He’s small and

a little behind developmentally, but he is wise

beyond his years. He’ll surprise you with a crazy

insight or a well-timed joke.”

The close family has nicknames for each other.

Xander calls Teresa a giraffe because she looks

over family members to make sure they’re OK.

Trinity is a bear or a rock, and Libby is, well, the

little sister. “I tell Xander that he’s the hero,”

Teresa says. “He does everything now.”

Therapists help little ones tackle big issues

BLOCKED MILK DUCTSMilk ducts in breastfeeding women can become

blocked due to overproduction of milk, pressure

on breasts from clothing or bras, dehydration, a

latch that doesn’t adequately empty milk from

the breast, and even the weaning process. When

a duct is blocked, the most common symptom is

pain, tenderness and swelling that presents in a

triangular shape in the affected breast.

“Don’t wait more than 48 hours before seeing

your health care provider or urgent care if you

have these symptoms,” says physical therapist

Kelsey Nowak, PT, DPT. “A blocked milk duct can

progress to an infection called mastitis, which

requires immediate treatment.” Once mastitis or

other complications have been addressed during

an initial visit, patients may ask for a referral to

physical therapy for blocked milk duct treatment.

During this appointment, the therapist will use an

ultrasound wand to deliver deep heat and micro-

massage to the affected breast tissue. This helps

to open the blocked duct, increase circulation and

encourage the movement of milk through the area.

The therapist will also use her hands to express

milk through the blocked duct.

DYNAVISION D2The Dynavision D2 is a board with 64 raised targets

arrayed in five rings around a common center. The

targets light up with variations in color, frequency

and duration. In the center of the board, a screen

intermittently displays numbers, letters, words,

math problems or icons.

The patient’s job is to face the D2 board and touch

each target as it lights up while also identifying the

information that displays in the center screen. A

therapist can adjust the difficulty of the patient’s

task using the D2’s system software, as well as

record each session to monitor changes in the

patient’s speed and accuracy over time.

The Dynavision D2 can help patients return to

basic daily activities, driving and athletics by

addressing deficits in hand-eye coordination,

attention, peripheral awareness, reaction time,

cognitive processing time and vestibular function.

“It was originally designed to help athletes

develop visual-motor skills, but it’s also valuable

in helping people recover from traumatic brain

injury, concussion, stroke, balance impairment and

orthopedic injuries,” says occupational therapist

Michelle Becker, OTR/L.

The Dynavision D2 is also useful for concussion

testing and off-road driving assessments.

GRHSONLINE.ORG 3

When Lindsay Boesche, MPAS, PA-C, was 13, her

mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Twelve

years later, her mom is cancer-free and, by no

coincidence, Lindsay is a certified physician

assistant starting her career in the GRHS internal

medicine department.

Lindsay knew from a young age that she wanted

a health care career, but accompanying her mom

to medical appointments sealed the deal. “After

that, I wanted to be a person who could change

someone’s life,” she says.

HOMETOWN ‘COMEBACK’If Lindsay looks familiar, it’s because she grew

up here. A Glencoe-Silver Lake High School

graduate, Lindsay was awarded two Sanken-Hatz

scholarships from the GRHS Foundation to help

fund her education. She worked as a certified

nursing assistant at GRHS before starting her

physician assistant (PA) program. As a PA student,

Lindsay completed clinical rotations at GRHS in

both family medicine and internal medicine.

MEDICAL FOCUS Today, Lindsay sees adult patients of Bryan Fritsch,

DO, and Bryan Petersen, MD, for minor injuries,

acute illnesses, post-ER and post-hospitalization

follow-ups, re-checks following medication

changes, management of chronic diseases and

preventive care.

“With recommended screenings and other

preventive measures, we can detect conditions

and risk factors before they become major issues

for patients,” she says.

LAKE FUN TO ICE TIMEAway from work, Lindsay enjoys reading,

traveling and doing yoga. In summer, she

often spends time lakeside. In winter, she

enthusiastically cheers for the Minnesota Wild.

Lindsay and her fiancé live in Watertown with

their golden retriever puppy, Myles.

Physical therapist Lexi Quale, PT, DPT, works with a patient at the Dynavision D2 board.

GLENCOE NATIVE M A K E S H E R ‘ C O M E B A C K ’

You Won’t Find Everywhere

LINDSAY BOESCHE, MPAS, PA-C

Our rehabilitation therapists use a broad array of strategies and interventions to help patients recover from illness, injury and surgery. In this issue, we’re highlighting two unique rehabilitation services available at GRHS.

SPECIALIZED THERAPIES

“This community supported me and helped me

fulfill my dream.”

The therapy appointment includes education on

breast anatomy, positioning during breastfeeding,

self-massage techniques, and pumping or feeding

schedules. The therapist may also recommend the

patient meet with a lactation specialist to correct

any issues with the baby’s latch.

At the end of the therapy appointment, the patient

will feed or pump to stimulate milk flow through

the area that was blocked. Most patients will only

need one therapy session.

GRHSONLINE.ORG4

New ER bays have more space for staff to work and maneuver equipment during fast-moving trauma cases.

WERE

A spacious new waiting area with a refreshment center provides a comfortable stop between the check-in desk and the triage nurse for ER and urgent care patients.

Now Open! Just What the Doctor Ordered

HOSPITAL RENOVATIONS

The new hospital entrance design created more interior space for improvements to the check-in desk, waiting areas and several patient care departments.

The redesigned hospital check-in desk provides patients with more privacy and confidentiality than the previous desk.

After 18 months of construction that affected

nearly all of the first floor of our hospital in

Glencoe, renovations are finally complete and all

areas are open.

We undertook this project in order to create a

more comfortable and private experience for our

patients and visitors, and to improve the quality,

safety and efficiency of the care we provide. Now

that the dust has settled, we’re proud to give you a

peek at some of our new spaces.

Visit grhsonline.org/hospital-renovation to see more photos.

A new, larger endoscopy suite and surgical procedure room were added during the hospital renovation.

The ER has a new nurses’ station and a new decontamination room for patients who have been exposed to hazardous materials.

GRHSONLINE.ORG 5

A reconfigured nurses’ station in the surgical services department allows for more efficient traffic flow as patients move from pre-op to operating room to recovery.

The new surgery waiting room offers family members a private place to sit while their loved one is in surgery. A refreshment center and children’s activity area make it comfortable, too.

Patients and family members will be more comfortable in much-larger and more private pre-operative care and post-surgical recovery bays in the renovated surgical services department.

We recently applied to renew our designation

as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital. It certifies

that GRHS is equipped to evaluate, stabilize and

provide life-saving emergency care to patients

with stroke symptoms. GRHS has been designated

by the Minnesota Department of Health since the

program began in 2014.

“Our commitment to meeting these standards

ensures that GRHS patients receive the best

stroke care possible,” said Mandy Sturges, RN,

emergency and infusion services manager.

A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the

brain is suddenly reduced or cut off by a blockage

or tear in a blood vessel. Without immediate

treatment, brain cells will die from lack of oxygen

and functions controlled by the affected area of

the brain – such as memory, speech or muscle

control – may be lost.

To achieve the stroke-ready designation, GRHS

developed a protocol, or standardized plan, for

treating stroke patients. It includes a dedicated

team with specialized training that is available to

respond whenever a patient has stroke symptoms,

24 hours a day, seven days per week.

“We can confirm a stroke diagnosis and start

treatment with clot-busting medication in less

than an hour,” said James Jessen, MD, emergency

room physician. “Every minute counts when we’re

trying to preserve brain cells.”

The team receives ongoing education to stay

current with best practices in stroke care. In

addition, the GRHS Stroke Committee meets

every three months to review all stroke cases and

identify opportunities for improvement in our

response or treatment.

GRHSONLINE.ORG | WINTER 20186

Alyssa Nornes, RN, (left) and Michelle Eggers, RN, are the care coordinators who work with patients enrolled in GRHS’ health care home program.

GRHS recently became a certified health care

home. A health care home is not a place, but a new

approach in which the patient and a team of medical

professionals work together to improve the patient’s

results of care and quality of life.

Our certification means the Minnesota Department

of Health has verified that all GRHS clinic patients

receive care that meets certain standards. It also

means we’re able to provide patients who have

chronic or complex conditions with care coordination

services through a health care home program.

“The program takes the health care home concept

up a notch for patients with more significant health

issues,” says Kristin Schultz, RN, clinic nurse

coordinator. “It provides them with an expert who

brings everyone involved in the patient’s care

together, coordinates services, offers education and

support, and lets them know they’re not alone.”

HOW DOES IT WORK?Patients who enroll in the health care home program

are assigned a care coordinator. This person

is a registered nurse whose role is to help with

communication between the patient’s care providers

and coordinate referrals to other medical specialists

or community services that may benefit the patient.

The care coordinator acts as a go-between person

to ensure the patient’s care plan is understood and

supported by each member of the care team, the

patient, and the patient’s family members, too.

GRHS’ care coordinators are Alyssa Nornes, RN, and

Michelle Eggers, RN. Both have special training in

chronic disease management. Their office is on our

Glencoe campus, but they work with patients from all

three GRHS clinic locations.

COORDINATION AND SUPPORTThe health care home program looks at the patient’s

whole being, not just one condition or facet of

health. The care coordinators help patients better

understand and manage all of their health conditions.

They support their patients in setting and reaching

personal goals, too.

“With help from a care coordinator, patients are

better able to advocate for themselves and navigate

the health care system,” says Alyssa.

GRHS offers new program

HEALTH CARE HOME

Mandy Sturges, RN, and James Jessen, MD, are members of GRHS’ rapid response team for patients who present with stroke symptoms.

DESIGNATIONFAST

Facial droopingArm weaknessSlurred speechTime to call 9-1-1

FAST

----

Other symptoms of stroke:• Sudden difficulty seeing• Dizziness or loss of balance• Sudden severe headache with no

known cause• Numbness of the face, arm or leg• Sudden confusion

means we act

When seeing symptoms of

FOR STROKE PATIENTS

To learn more or enroll, visit grhsonline.org/health-care-home

or call (320) 864-3121.

The health care home program is recommended for patients who:

• See more than one health care provider, and

• Have one or more of the following conditions:- Asthma;- Chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease (COPD);- Depression;- Diabetes;- Heart failure; and/or

• Are at high risk for hospitalization or emergency room visits.

Who Should Enroll?

stroke, act FAST

We recently installed new mammography

equipment with digital breast tomosynthesis

(DBT) capabilities.

In the DBT technique, X-rays of the breast are

taken from many angles and then reconstructed

to create a 3-D image. This enables the radiologist

who reads the exam to view very thin sections

of tissue individually and find small cancers that

would have been obscured by normal tissue in

a two-dimensional (2-D) mammogram. The 3-D

imaging technique is particularly effective for

women who have dense breast tissue.

Studies have shown that 3-D mammography

detects 20 to 65 percent more invasive breast

cancers and reduces the number of patients

who are called back for additional breast cancer

screening exams by up to 40 percent when

compared with 2-D mammography alone.

“There is no difference between a 2-D and a 3-D

mammogram in terms of the length of the exam

or the patient’s experience,” said Heather Ott, RT, (R) (M) (CT) (MR), director of medical imaging.

“The difference is in the results.”

Many major insurance plans, including

Medicare, cover 3-D mammograms. However, we

recommend that patients confirm their coverage

before choosing the 3-D mammogram.

Long Term Care

Step into the atrium at GRHS Long Term Care.

Here, you’ll find our residents gathered around

a puzzle or watching colorful birds flit back and

forth in the aviary. You’ll find our staff, always

ready with a helping hand or a friendly smile. Just

steps away, you’ll find our volunteers calling out

numbers during bingo or chatting with residents.

Just outside the atrium, you’ll find a banner with

five yellow stars that represent the rating given

to GRHS Long Term Care by the U.S. Centers for

Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS rates

nursing homes on a scale of one to five stars

based on health inspection results, staffing levels

and performance on quality measures. GRHS Long

Term Care has consistently achieved 5-star ratings.

In addition to its five-star rating from CMS, GRHS

Long Term Care was also recognized recently as

a Top-Performing Nursing Home by U.S. News

and World Report. Only 15 percent of facilities

evaluated by U.S. News achieve Top-Performing

status, which is awarded to nursing homes that

receive a rating of 4.5 or higher. GRHS Long Term

Care scored a 4.9 in U.S. News’ most recent

rating period.

“We strive to ensure that we’re not only providing

our residents with the best care possible, but

making sure this feels like home to them,” says

Julie Schmidt, vice president of long term care

and ancillary services. “Being recognized by CMS

and U.S. News is encouraging and gratifying.”Taking time to chat is just one of the many ways our staff creates a home-like atmosphere in Long Term Care.

MAMMOGRAMS 3-D get better results

G A R N E R S T O P R A T I N G S

Dr. Hauge is a medical oncologist who oversees treatment for all forms of cancer in adults, beginning at the time of diagnosis. He is also a hematologist who diagnoses and treats disorders of the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. He sees patients at GRHS every Thursday.

When you’re facing a difficult diagnosis or need advanced care, traveling to see specialists can be a real pain. That’s why GRHS brings the expertise and skills of physicians in a wide range of medical specialties to you. You can learn more about them at grhsonline.org/medical-staff.

MARK HAUGE, MD Hematology & Oncology

To schedule an appointment, call 320-864-7080 or toll free 1-888-526-4242, ext. 7080.

GRHSONLINE.ORG 7

Why drive? Specialists bring their expertise to GRHS

When compared to 2-D exams, 3-D mammograms detect 20 to 65 percent more

invasive breast cancers. They are especially useful in women with dense breast tissue.

NEW!

Learn more at grhsonline.org/mammograms.

Rehabilitation, renovation, recertification, recognition. The themes in this issue of Touching Lives convey a sense of renewal. I couldn’t pick a better word to describe Glencoe Regional Health Services right now. We’re committed to our community – as always – and will never stop growing and improving as we seek to meet your evolving needs.

For example, we’ve just redone the entire first floor of our hospital to enhance your experience when you come for care or just to visit. (Read about it on page 4 and 5.) We’ve added new services and upgraded our technology so you can get great care and even better results. (See pages 3, 6 and 7.) We’ve recruited new providers to make it easy and convenient for you to get the care you need. (Turn back to pages 3 and 7.)

Now that you’ve reached the back page, perhaps you’ve also noticed that Touching Lives itself has been redesigned. Our community newsletter sports a fresh, modern, streamlined look that complements our new mobile-friendly website, grhsonline.org. I hope you enjoy them both.

Lastly, I have one more re- word to share with you, and it’s a personal one: retirement. You may have heard that I’ve made plans to step down as president and CEO of GRHS in July. There will be plenty of time between now and then to reflect on my 25 years in this position, but I will say that it has been an honor and a privilege to work with our staff and community board members. Efforts to recruit a new CEO are underway, and I will keep you posted on them.

8

MANAGING EDITORNancy Ellefson

PUBLISHERGlencoe Regional Health Services1805 Hennepin Avenue NorthGlencoe, MN 55336

Your ideas and opinions are important to us. Contact Nancy Ellefson at 320-864-7798 or nancy.ellefson@grhsonline.org with suggestions or comments.

TOUCHINGLIVES

by Jon D. Braband, FACHE

GRHSONLINE.ORG

President & CEOfrom the

MEDICAL SPECIALTIESAudiologyCardiologyEmergency MedicineFamily MedicineGeneral SurgeryHematologyHospitalistsInternal MedicineMidwife ServicesNephrologyNeurologyObstetrics and GynecologyOncologyOrthopedicsOtolaryngology (ENT)PediatricsPodiatryPulmonologyUrology

MEDICAL SERVICESAcute Care UnitAmbulanceAnticoagulation ClinicBest Beginnings Birth CenterCardiac RehabilitationDiabetes EducationEmergency RoomFlu VaccinationsInfusion ServicesLaboratoryMedical ImagingOccupational TherapyPhysical TherapyRespiratory TherapySleep Study ClinicSpeech-Language TherapyTransitional CareUrgent CareVascular ConsultationsVentilator Care and LiberationWound Care

SKILLED NURSING CARENursing Home

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVINGOrchard Estates

Care & Services Health TalksMEDICARE ANNUAL WELLNESS VISITSDr. Kristine Knudten, Family Medicine

DATE: Monday, April 30

TIME: 6:30 – 7:30 pm

PLACE: GRHS conference rooms

Please use the hospital entrance at 1805 Hennepin Ave N., Glencoe.

Although there is no charge to attend a health talk event, we ask that you reserve a seat online at grhsonline.org/health-talks or by calling 320-864-7146 or 1-888-526-4242, ext. 7146.

MyChartGET CONNECTED WITH MYCHARTMyChart provides a convenient way for you to view portions of your medical record, receive test results, send messages to your provider and even schedule appointments.

Ask the receptionist or nurse to help you sign up at your next clinic appointment or hospital visit. Or go to grhsonline.org/mychart to download a sign-up form that you can complete and submit by mail or fax.

For assistance, call MyChart Services toll free at 1-855-551-6555 from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday through Friday.

Sanken-Hatz scholarships will be awarded to qualified high-school seniors and post-secondary

students who will be enrolled during the 2018-2019 academic year in approved programs for:

Visit grhsonline.org/scholarships to review eligibility rules and download an application

packet. Complete the documents and mail to the address shown. Applications are not complete

until we receive the applicant’s most recent official transcript and applicant appraisal forms

from two references. All materials must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2018.

Certified Nurse Practitioner

Dentist (and Pre-Dentistry)

Dental Hygienist

Medical, Surgical or Medical Laboratory Technician

Nuclear Medicine Technician

Occupational, Speech or Respiratory Therapist

Paramedic

Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician

Physical Therapist or Physical Therapy Assistant

Physician (and Pre-Medicine)

Physician Assistant

Radiologic or Ultrasound Technologist

Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse

STUDENTS, LEARN THIS:Scholarship applications are due March 31

at grhsonline.org/scholarshipsAPPLY NOW!