Category: Mercy Health News Releases

CHI MERCY HEALTH Visitor Guidance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2020
Contact: Keith Heuser, President
Phone: 701-845-6486
E-Mail: lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net

CHI MERCY HEALTH
Visitor Guidance

Valley City, ND We understand how much it means to patients to have their loved ones with them during their hospitalization and outpatient visits. We at CHI Mercy Health want to keep the community informed of what our current visitation policies are.

All patients, visitors and support persons presenting to CHI Mercy Health will enter at Main Entrance Door #1 and will be screened at the front desk prior to entering facility. Patients, visitors and support persons will be required to wear a mask or face covering while in to the hospital. All visitors will check in and check out at the front desk and must go directly to hospital department and be in a patient’s room . Visitors may stay as long as they like but if they choose to leave the building they will not be allowed back in. This is designed to keep the numbers of people actually entering the hospital to a minimum.

Social distancing, masking, and hand sanitizing requirements will be maintained in all hospital departments. Any visitor who cannot manage the guidelines will be asked to leave the facility and if accompanying a patient, be asked to wait in his/her vehicle. CHI Mercy Health respects the rights of all community members; because of the services we provide, our first duty is to the safety and care of patients and staff. We will actively defend this duty and are confident that everyone visiting our facility will understand and do the same. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

CHI Mercy Health’s visitation restrictions effective July 27, 2020 are as follows:

  • Visitors are asked to stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms of illness.
  • All visitors are required to wear a face covering and will be screened at the front desk prior to entry.
  • No visitors under the age of 18 (exceptions may be made at the discretion of the care team).
  • All visitors will use the Main Entrance (Door #1) and will check in and check out at the front desk.
  • PCU patients may have one visitor per day. This includes Acute, Observation, and Swingbedpatients.
  • Patient and visitor must remain masked during visitation.
  • An additional visitor will be allowed at the time of discharge.
  • Swingbed patients may have additional visitors outside (must maintain social distancing).
  • Emergency Department, Surgery, Pain, and Ambulatory Care patients may be accompanied by one healthy adult (must remain in patient’s room).
  • Compassionate care visitation – limited to two visitors at a time in the facility.
  • Pediatric patients or adult patients requiring a care giver may have one support person with them atall times.
  • Delivery drivers must be masked.

Please log onto CHI Mercy Health Website for COVID-19 updates

COVID-19 Drive-thru Testing July 8th in Valley City

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – City-County Health District announces a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing event Wednesday, July 8, from 2-6 p.m. This event is open to the public and will be held at the North Dakota Winter Show facility in Valley City. The goal is to test 500 people for the virus.

This public opportunity is a collaborative effort between the North Dakota Department of Health, North Dakota National Guard, CHI Mercy Health, and CCHD staff. There is no cost for the test and health insurance is not processed. Participants will not be asked to provide proof of residency.

Prior to the event, those who wish to participate are strongly encouraged to fill out the online screening form at www.testreg.nd.gov. Please note that at the end of the screening form you will see information about receiving a QR/email after registering. Registrants should disregard this information, said Katie Beyer, CCHD information specialist, and be assured that their information is in the system regardless of no feedback from the system.

The testing process takes approximately 15 minutes (wait time in line may be longer). Testing will be conducted by using an oral swab of the throat. Antibody testing that indicates if an individual has been positively exposed to the virus in the past will not be offered at this event, according to Theresa Will, administrator at CCHD.

Those participants testing positive will be notified by phone within 24-72 hours. Efforts will be made to contact those with a negative result within 3-5 days. It is important to double-check your phone number on the screening form, said Beyer, since this is the way you will receive your testing results.

“We hope many people will take advantage of this free COVID-19 testing opportunity,” said Will. “You don’t need to have qualifying symptoms to be tested at this event.”

CHI Mercy Health Visitor Restrictions

Main Entrance Door #1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2020
Contact: Keith Heuser, President
Phone: 701-845-6486
E-Mail: lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net

Valley City, ND – We understand how much it means to patients to have their loved ones with them during their hospitalization and outpatient visits.   The COVID-19 pandemic has made this nearly impossible.  Starting Tuesday, June 9, 2020 CHI Mercy Health is announcing that with the Governor declaring a green status for our state and testing being completed with no positive COVID results some of our visitor restrictions have been lifted so we can better serve our patients and community. We did not want to loosen some of our visitation rules until we were sure that we did not have any staff with the infection.

No visitor presenting to CHI Mercy Health will be allowed in the building without a mask.   All visitors will be screened at the front desk and verify that they have a mask.  Visitors will not be allowed to roam around the hospital.  Visitors must go directly to hospital department, check in with hospital staff and be in a patient’s room or designated waiting area.   Visitors may stay as long as they like but if they choose to leave the building they will not be allowed back in. Patient’s may have only one visitor per day. This is designed to keep the numbers of people actually entering the hospital to a minimum.  CHI Mercy Health will continue to follow stringent policies and procedures to make sure the hospital remains a safe environment.  Visitors are asked to stay home if they’re feeling ill or experiencing symptoms.

CHI Mercy Health’s new visitation guidelines are as follows:

  • One visitor per day for each acute/observation patient.
  • An additional visitor per patient at the time of discharge.
  • One per surgery or ambulatory care patient.
  • One per ED patient as appropriate.
  • Delivery Drivers may take their deliveries directly to the department that ordered them (outside of direct patient care areas) as long as they are masked and cleared by their company.

Visitor restrictions still apply for:

  • Use Main Entrance Door # 1.
  • South Door (nearest handicapped parking) will be locked.
  • All visitors will be screened upon arrival to the hospital.
  • Compassionate care visitation – Limit of 2 at a time in building.
  • Minor child visitor – No visitors under the age of 18.
  • Swing bed remains the same.

Thank you again for all of your support and for your steadfast commitment to CHI Mercy Health  and to our mission.

Please keep our dedicated caregivers and the patients they serve in your thoughts and prayers.

We’re strongly encouraging anyone who is suspicious of or concerned with COVID-19 exposure to PLEASE CALL 701-845-6400 FIRST prior to coming to the hospital / Emergency Room. Screening questions will be used during the phone call.   These along with additional screening procedures have been implemented to keep our patients and staff safe.

Please log onto CHI Mercy Health Website for COVID-19 updates.

CHI Mercy Health in Valley City continues to receive donations of cloth masks for visitors and out-patients.

CHI Mercy Health in Valley City continues to receive donations of cloth masks for visitors and out-patients. To aid in this effort , we have put together packets of material, elastic & instructions to make 10 masks.

If you’d like to help but don’t have the supplies, please pick up a packet (or even 2!) at the front desk of the hospital (door 1) to help us out!

Don’t forget to wear your mask when you come, as we support “universal masking” in our facility per CDC Guidelines.

Once you’re done sewing the masks, please return them to the front desk as soon as possible. Our goal is to collect 500 masks by the end of summer.

For questions please contact Steph Kruta or Amy Noeske @ 845-6400.

We want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the community for your support during the COVID-19 pandemic!!

 

CHI MERCY HEALTH Community Board Memo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 9, 2020
Contact: Keith Heuser, President
Phone: 701-845-6486
E-Mail: lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net

Valley City, ND  – We hope this finds you and your loved ones well. We want to stay in touch and keep you informed on developments across our ministry at CHI Mercy Health.

The health and safety of our employees, patients, visitors, and communities – are our highest priorities. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we continue to adjust our policies to help maintain everyone’s well-being.

The CDC recently released information that reports that even though one in four patients infected by COVID-19 are asymptomatic, they may still be contagious and might be able to pass on the virus to others.  In light of this new information, we are acting now instead of later across our ministry.

We are moving forward with a universal masking policy for our staff and anyone entering CHI Mercy Health effective April 9, 2020.  This means all of our employees in patient care areas will wear an appropriate mask while performing their duties in our facilities.  Our guidance states that cloth masks are appropriate in certain non-patient areas of our hospital.  Please wear a mask upon entering our facility.

By adopting universal masking, we are working ahead of the curve with the North Dakota Department of Health and CDC guidance.  You can help.  Donations of cloth masks will be accepted.  They can be dropped off at our facility.

Thank you again for all of your support and for your steadfast commitment to CHI Mercy Health  and to our mission.

Please keep our dedicated caregivers and the patients they serve in your thoughts and prayers.

We’re strongly encouraging anyone who is suspicious of or concerned with COVID-19 exposure to PLEASE CALL 701-845-6400 FIRST prior to coming to the hospital / Emergency Room. Screening questions will be used during the phone call.   These along with additional screening procedures have been implemented to keep our patients and staff safe.

Please log onto CHI Mercy Health Website for COVID-19 updates.

CHI Mercy Health Foundation Announces the Acceptance of Scholarship Applications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact Lisa at 701-845-6486

Valley City, ND. The CHI Mercy Health Foundation is excited to announce it is accepting applications for scholarships in the medical field!  Each year, two scholarships are given out to recipients that are enrolled in either a Nursing and Medical related career.  The scholarships are made possible through the fundraising efforts of CHI Mercy Health staff, team members with a deep commitment toward investing in the future of healthcare and area youth.

Eligibility criteria and instructions for the Nursing Advancement and the General Medical Education scholarships are available on the CHI Mercy Health website. http://www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org/scholarships/ or contact the CHI Mercy Health Foundation office at 701-845-6557.

The deadline for application submission is April 10th, 2020.

The CHI Mercy Health Foundation is a 501c-3 charitable organization, our purpose is to support the programs and services of the hospital through enhancing the quality of care given to those in need.  If you would like to learn more about the Foundation and opportunities to support it’s mission, please contact Lisa at 701-845-6486.

CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary Announces Scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13,2020
Contact: Lisa Urbatsch, Executive Assistant
Phone: 701-845-6486
E-Mail: lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net

CHI MERCY HEALTH AUXILIARY ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS

Valley City, ND. The CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary is excited to announce it is accepting applications for scholarship!  Each year, one scholarship is given out to recipients that are enrolled in a Medical or Health Care related career.  The scholarship is provided by funds raised by CHI Mercy Health’s Auxiliary.

To be eligible for Auxiliary scholarships the below criteria is required:

  • These scholarships are intended for students seeking to complete an accredited program in a healthcare related field, including technician programs, certificates, 2- & 4-year degrees.
  • First consideration will be given to current CHI Mercy Health employees, Auxiliary members and their immediate family members living in Barnes County, ND.
  • If there are no applicants that are CHI Mercy Health employees, auxiliary members or immediate family members of an employee or auxiliary member the next eligible applicants will be students in the community that are actively seeking a degree or certification in the healthcare field.

Please contact Lisa Urbatsch in the CHI Mercy Health Administration office (direct #845-6486 or lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net) to get an application or go online to:  http://www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org/scholarships/ .

Deadline for submission is May 22, 2020 at 4 PM to the CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary (CHI MHA), Attn: Auxiliary Scholarship Committee.

The CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary (CHI-MHA) is a volunteer organization devoted to supporting the hospital and the community it serves.   If you would like to become a CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary member, please contact Lisa Urbatsch at 701-845-6486 or email lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net.

Several CHI Mercy Health Employees Recognized for Dedicated Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valley City, ND  It is remarkable and gratifying to have employees who have served CHI Mercy Health for so many years, like the employees recognized on December 5th,  2019 at the Hospital Christmas Potluck.

The following individuals were recognized for their years of service:

45 Years of Service:    Kristi Schneider
25 Years of Service:    Julie Halgrimson, Alana McClellan
20 Years of Service:   Karen Burchill, Lori Hart, Kari Idso
10 Years of Service:   Amanda Chase, Maria Flores
5   Years of Service:    Jessica Coffel, Callie Cruff, Renee Wert

Picture Caption (R to L):  Julie Halgrimson, Maria Flores, Alana McClellan, Kristi Schneider, Amanda Chase

Lori Hart

CHI Mercy Health Welcomes Dr. Brennen Smith, DO

Brennen Smith, DO

Valley City, ND Keith Heuser, President, CHI Mercy Health is pleased to announce the addition of orthopedics to CHI Mercy Health in Valley City.

Dr. Brennen Smith will be providing orthopedic clinic services to patients locally at CHI Mercy Health in Valley City. Dr. Smith will be in Valley City the Third Thursday of the month starting August 15th , 2019.

Depending on procedure that is needed, it may be done at CHI Lisbon Health in Lisbon, ND or CHI St. Frances in Breckenridge, MN.

Services will include:

  • Total knee replacement
  • Total hip replacement
  • Cervical fusions
  • Cervical disc replacements
  • Lumbar fusions
  • Lumbar discectomy
  • Carpal tunnel and trigger finger synovectomy
  • Total shoulder replacement
  • Adult fracture surgery of the upper and lower extremities
  • Knee arthroscopy
  • Shoulder arthroscopy

Please call 218-643-0415 today to schedule an appointment for your orthopedic needs.

Valley City Students Art Show at the Mercy Gallery

Steve Urness NewsDakota.com

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – There are currently 36 works of art by Valley City Public School elementary students on display at the Mercy Gallery located on the first floor of CHI Mercy Health; the works of art will be up for the summer months.

These two works were award winning pieces in the 2018 North Dakota Governor’s Show at the Taube Museum in Minot, ND. The first is a printmaking and crayon piece titled, “The Three Little Pigs” by then third grader, Chesney Thomsen. The piece was created using Styrofoam plates, cardboard, yarn, paint and crayon and was created for the Kindergarten music production of the “Three Piggy Opera”. “The award Chesney won was the People’s Choice Award, meaning there were several chosen as winners but were then placed into a voting competition to see who the real winner was…and it was Chesney’s” states Cheri Anderson, the VCPS elementary art teacher.

The second piece of artwork is a multi-layered colored pencil drawing of the rooster, Heihei, from the Disney movie, Moana, created by then third grader Collin Compson. Collin titled his work, “On Deck” as Heihei is standing on the deck of the ship. This piece took many weeks of drawing and then layering various colors of colored pencil to achieve the beautiful look that this work has. “Keep in mind third graders are only 8-9 years old; it truly is amazing” continues Anderson.

Both Chesney and Collins works were entered when they were in the fourth grade as the Governor’s show had already taken place prior to them creating them in third grade.

Other works of art on display is a Polar Bear done in printmaking style using a marshmallow; there are watercolor works using salt and painted cut paper, large multi-layered sunflower works using crayon resist, a wide variety of Holiday art as well as Valentine art, and a section dedicated to Veteran’s Day.

Students have work in various styles of artists that they learned about as well. You will also have the opportunity to view a copy of the Eagle’s Poster Contest National Second Place Winner’s work, Jace Larson and a copy of Zack Anderson’s Junior Duck Stamp Contest Honorable Mention Winner.

The show is the largest the elementary has had on display at CHI Mercy Hospital.

The K-6 Art Instructor for VCPS is Cheri Anderson of Valley City. Anderson is a former Hi-Liner herself. She taught Art and Technology for 36 years at Maple Valley and this is her third-year teaching in Valley City. She, along with her husband, Rick, VCPS Maintenance Director, have two adult daughters, Lyndi (Shane) Brorson, Gardner, ND; Loni (Luke) Trapp, Valley City and two grandchildren that she has the privilege of teaching; Emma (6) and Simon (8) both attend Jefferson Elementary.

Art Students in Mercy Gallery

 

VCSU Students Art on Display in CHI Mercy Health

By: Sharon Buhr (CHi Mercy Health Art Gallery)

A reception to celebrate the opening of the VCSU Student Art Exhibit at CHI Mercy Health (Mercy Hospital) in the Mercy Art Gallery will be held Thursday, March 7th from 3:30 -4:30 pm. The above pastel entitled ‘Needles”, a work by Zoey Koch is one of the many pieces that will be displayed. The public is invited to attend. Enter by the public entrance to CHI Mercy Health at the main entrance (east side) of the hospital.

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The VCSU Art Department and CHI Mercy Health (Mercy Hospital) in Valley City are excited to announce their collaboration on a student art exhibition displaying the works of VCSU Art Students at the Mercy Hospital Gallery. A reception to celebrate the opening will be held on Thursday, March 7th from 3:30-4:30 pm in the gallery. The public is invited to attend.

The show will be open to the public through the months of March and April. The gallery is located on the first floor of CHI Mercy Health (Mercy Hospital), 570 Chautauqua Boulevard in Valley City.

This exhibition will feature the 2-D works of art by the students of Assistant Professor Brock Drenth who is the VCSU Art Department Chair and Assistant Professor Angela Mircsov.

The exhibit features works of art by both art majors and minors, and include
photographs, paintings, and drawings.

The exhibiting artists are: Brenna Winter from Valley City, Isaac Ingstad from Valley City; Alexa McCulloch from Valley City; Zoey Koch from Valley City; Zander Dale from Navajo, New Mexico; Jennifer Schrader from Langden; Shania Schooler from Jamestown; Kallie Fretheim from Valley City; and Laken Chase from Milnor.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the opening reception or to come to CHI Mercy Health anytime between 7 am and 10 pm during March and April to see the VCSU Art Department Student Show at the Mercy Gallery.

CHI Mercy Health Foundation Receives $1000 From FCCU for Giving Hearts Day!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 25, 2019
Contact: Stephanie Mayfield, CHI Mercy Health Foundation Director
Phone: 701-845-6557
E-Mail:  stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net

Valley City, ND  CHI Mercy Health Foundation received a $1000 donation for Giving Hearts Day from First Community Credit Union of Valley City.  The Foundation is thankful to have received this major gift, which brought our Giving Hearts Day 2019 total to $11,000 raised!

This year, our goal was to raise enough funds to purchase 2 Vital Sign Monitors and 1 infusion recliner for our Outpatient IV Therapy Department.  We are close to having raised enough to purchase the 2 vital sign monitors.

Our Ambulatory Care or Outpatient IV Therapy Department is an important service of the hospital and had 600 visits in 2018.  This service allows the residents of Barnes County to stay “local” for their infusions and to save anywhere between one to twelve hours of travel time for their treatments.  Time matters…CHI Mercy Health…proudly serving the community for over 90 years!

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation office (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net.)

CHI Mercy Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization to serve the needs of CHI Mercy Health. The Foundation is dedicated to providing support for Mercy Hospital with supplemental funding for capital and program needs essential to the hospital’s growth and development. Through this service, the residents of Valley City and the surrounding communities have access to local, modern, quality healthcare that allows our family, friends and neighbors to stay close to home for their health needs.

CHI Mercy Health Foundation Announces Scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 25, 2019
Contact: Stephanie Mayfield, CHI Mercy Health Foundation Director
Phone: 701-845-6557
E-Mail:  stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net

Valley City, ND   CHI Mercy Health Foundation is excited to announce it is accepting applications for four scholarships it is offering! Each year, two Nursing scholarships are given out to recipients that are enrolled in an accredited nursing program. One of the scholarships is provided by funds contributed by CHI Mercy Health’s Nursing Department which is matched by the CHI Mercy Health Foundation.

The second Nursing scholarship comes from a fund set up to honor LaVonne Reidman. The family of LaVonne Reidman established this scholarship in 2005 in memory of Lavonne and her dedication to the nursing profession.  LaVonne was a wonderful, caring nurse for many years at Mercy Hospital in Valley City.  CHI Mercy Health Foundation is managing this scholarship for the Reidman Family.

Finally, there will be two more scholarships offered that are open to anyone pursuing a General Medical career, including technician programs. One of these scholarships is provided by nursing staff fundraisers and the other through the LaVonne Reidman family.  So please share this with your co-workers, friends, family and anyone you can think of that may be able to benefit from these funds.  Please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation office (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net) to get an application or go online to:  www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org under the Scholarships tab. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2019.

CHI Mercy Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization to serve the needs of CHI Mercy Health. The Foundation is dedicated to providing support for Mercy Hospital with supplemental funding for capital and program needs essential to the hospital’s growth and development. Through this service, the residents of Valley City and the surrounding communities have access to local, modern, quality healthcare that allows our family, friends and neighbors to stay close to home for their health care needs.

Frances Yokom Named CHI Mercy Health’s Auxilian of the Year

France Yokom is pictured here with CHI Mercy Health President Keith Heuser. Yokom has been named CHI Mercy Health’s 2018 Auxilian-of-the-Year.

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Frances Yokom has been named CHI Mercy Health’s 2018 Auxilian-of-the-Year.

Yokom has been a very active Auxiliary member since she joined in 2004. She is currently the President of the Auxiliary (2016 to current) and volunteers in the Mercy’s Corner Gift Shop at the hospital and is always willing to help with hospital events and Auxiliary fundraisers.

“Congratulations, Frances, you are very deserving of this honor” a release from the auxiliary says.

Yokom’s name has now been added to the Auxilian-of-the-Year plaque which can be found in the Mercy’s Corner Gift Shop.

CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary Announces Scholarships

Valley City, ND

The CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary is excited to announce it is accepting applications for scholarship! Each year, one scholarship is given out to recipients that are enrolled in a Medical or Health Care related career.  The scholarship is provided by funds raised by CHI Mercy Health’s Auxiliary.

To be eligible for Auxiliary scholarships the below criteria is required:

  • These scholarships are intended for students seeking to complete an accredited program in a healthcare related field, including technician programs, certificates, 2-& 4-year degrees.
  • First consideration will be given to current CHI Mercy Health employees, Auxiliary members and their immediate family members living in Barnes County, ND.
  • If there are no applicants that are CHI Mercy Health employees, auxiliary members or immediate family members of an employee or auxiliary member the next eligible applicants will be students in the community that are actively seeking a degree or certification in the healthcare field.

Please contact Lisa Urbatsch in the CHI Mercy Health Administration office (direct #845-6486 or lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net) to get an application or go online to:  http://www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org/scholarships/ . The deadline to apply is May 24, 2019.

The CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary (CHI-MHA) is a volunteer organization devoted to supporting the hospital and the community it serves.   If you would like to become a CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary member, please contact Lisa Urbatsch at 701-845-6486 or email lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net.

CHI Mercy Health Employees Recognized for Dedicated Service

By: Lisa Urbatsch (CHI Mercy Health)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Every year, CHI Mercy Health shows its appreciation to those employees who have reached certain employment milestones.

It is part of our culture to thank people for a job well done. It is remarkable and gratifying to have employees who have served CHI Mercy Health for so many years, like the employees below who were recognized for their service during the Hospital Christmas Potluck in December of 2018.

The following individuals were recognized for their years of service:

20 Years of Service: Zona Wager

15 Years of Service: Clark Kruta, Stephanie Kruta, Roger Lerud

10 Years of Service: Danielle Arneson, Cindy Moe

5 Years of Service: Angel Casamayor, Linda Hoff, Patty Sather, April Whisler

JRMC Orthopedic Surgeon to See Patients in Valley City

By: Allison Knudtson (Jamestown Regional Medical Center)

JRMC Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Timothy Volk

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (JRMC) – Miles of travel after a sprain or strain is like adding insult to an already painful injury.

The burden of travel can add expense, stress and anxiety to the life of a person who should focus on healing. That’s why JRMC Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Timothy Volk, will see patients in Valley City in addition to his clinic in Jamestown.

“As a rural hospital, we know outcomes improve when people have access state-of-the-art care close to home,” said Trisha Jungels, JRMC Chief Nursing Officer and Interim President & CEO. “Our vision is to be the best rural hospital in the country. Offering specialty services in this area is one way to do that.”

Bismarck native, Dr. Volk joined JRMC in 2016. Dr. Volk completed his training in osteopathic medicine and his orthopedic residency in Pennsylvania. The father of three enjoys hunting, fishing and cheering for the Minnesota Vikings when he is not at work.

“No matter where a person lives, they should have access to high-quality healthcare,” said Dr. Volk. “At JRMC, we strive to be THE difference in healthcare. This is one way we can do that.”

Dr. Volk will see patients on the second Monday of each month at CHI Mercy Health, 570 Chautauqua Blvd. in Valley City beginning Dec. 10. Schedule direct at (701) 952-4878.

CHI Mercy Health Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness

Valley City, ND   CHI Mercy Health is promoting Breast Cancer Awareness during the week of October 8th through the 14th.   Please join the Radiology Department for an Open House on Friday, October 12, 2018 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.  There will be treats, door prizes and tours of the DMS Technologies Mammography Mobile Unit.   All mammography patients that day will receive a rose.    Below is a picture of the display of activities for the week including “Give Cancer the Boot Decorating Contest”.  Proceeds from activities are going to the North Dakota Women’s Way Program.    Breast Cancer Screening saves lives!  Please contact CHI Mercy Health Radiology at 701-845-6441 for any questions or an appointment.

CHI Mercy Health Auxillary Tea for Women & Men

WHEN:
October 4, 2018 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

WHERE:
CHI Mercy Health Cafeteria
Valley City. ND 58072 USA

The CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary will be hosting a Tea for Men & Women on October 4th from 2pm – 4pm.  The Auxiliary was formed in 1952, and invite you to celebrate 66 years! Stop by for coffee, punch and cake.  Tours of the Hospital will be provided at 2:30 by Keith Heuser, President and Francis Yokum, Auxiliary President.  Please join them as they introduce to you what the Auxiliary does  and how you can join them as they find ways to benefit the hospital, and the community it serves!

Taylor Bearinger CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary Scholarship Recipient

L to R Taylor Bearinger and Francis Yokom.

August 21, 2018
By: Steve Urness (NewsDakota.com)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary announced the recipient for 2018-2019 school year.

Taylor Bearinger of Valley City is presented the 2018 scholarship by Frances Yokom, President, CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary. Taylor was awarded a $250 scholarship to use toward Healthcare Education. Taylor is enrolled at Valley City State University.

Each year, one scholarship is given out to recipients that are enrolled in a Medical Health Care related career. The scholarship is provided by funds raised by CHI Mercy Health’s Auxiliary.

CHI Mercy Health Foundation Announces All Employee Rummage Sale Fundraiser August 9-11

Valley City, ND   CHI Mercy Health Foundation is excited to announce it will be holding an All Employee Rummage Sale to raise funds for the Pain Management Department.  The event will be held in the Health Education Center at the Hospital (570 Chautauqua Blvd.) beginning on Thursday, August 9, from 3pm-6pm and continue Friday and Saturday, August 10 and 11, from 8am-noon both days.  The entire rummage sale will be a “Free Will Offering” and only cash will be accepted.  All proceeds will be used to purchase a carbon fiber table top extension for pain management services.  A carbon fiber table allows for better visualization with fluoroscopy/x-ray while decreasing the amount of x-ray radiation exposure to the patient.  The carbon fiber table top will allow us to continue to provide high quality and safe patient care.  If you have any questions about this event please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the Mercy Healthcare Foundation office at (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net.)

CHI Mercy Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization to serve the needs of CHI Mercy Health. The Foundation is dedicated to providing support for Mercy Hospital with supplemental funding for capital and program needs essential to the hospital’s growth and development. Through this service, the residents of Valley City and the surrounding communities have access to local, modern, quality healthcare that allows our family, friends and neighbors to stay close to home for their health care needs.

CHI Mercy Health Requesting Prayer Shawls for Patient Ministry

Sister Dorothy with Prayer Shawl

Valley City, ND   CHI Mercy Health is reaching out to the community to request Prayer Shawl donations that we can provide to our patients to support our ministry of healing.  Prayer Shawls have been used throughout history–our ancient Israeli ancestors used them to pray and to remind them of God’s constant love and presence in their lives.

The symbolism is that the shawl carries the prayer of the person making it and the original design was an over-the-shoulder, decorative cloth that could wrap around the person.  Today, shawls 2 ft. wide and 8-10 ft. long are the most comforting to our patients.  We also give the patient a card, when the shawls are presented, which speaks to the early Jewish tradition of the use of the prayer shawl and how the seamstress prays, with every stitch that is made, for the person who will receive the shawl.

The making of a prayer shawl is a spiritual practice which embodies our thoughts and prayers for the receiver. It is a gift freely given with no strings attached. Made in prayer, the shawls are passed on hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart.

“Shawls, made for centuries, are universal and embracing.

Symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God.

They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace,

mother, hug, shelter and beautify.

Those who have received these shawls have been

uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to

fly above their troubles…”

Written in 1998 by: Janet Severi Bristow

Please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation/Mission office (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net) with any questions you have regarding the prayer shawls.

Oberlander Recognized for his Service on CHI Mercy Health Board

By: Lisa Urbatsch (CHI Mercy Health)

Mark Oberlander and Keith Heuser

Mark Oberlander and Keith Heuser

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Mark Oberlander will retire from the CHI Mercy Hospital Governing Board after 5 years of service as its chairman.

Keith Heuser, President of CHI Mercy Health in Valley City said it is remarkable and gratifying to have a community member like Mark who has served CHI Mercy Health for so many years.

Mark Oberlander

Mark Oberlander

Oberlander was recognized on April 12th at the CHI Mercy Health Governing Board Meeting in Valley City. He served on the board from July 1, 2009, his term will end on June 30, 2018.

Oberlander said, “Serving on the Governing Board has given me greater appreciation of all the staff and providers at Mercy CHI Health.” He added, “Valley City and Barnes County is very fortunate to have these caring professionals taking over of our health care needs in this most challenging time for this industry.”

Hospital Pharmacy Technician Amanda Chase Receives State Award

By: Amy Noeske (CHI Mercy Health)

Amanda Chase

Amanda Chase

FARGO, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The 133rd annual ND Pharmacy Convention was held April 19-22nd in Fargo, where Valley City hospital pharmacy technician Amanda (Mandy) Chase was named the 2018 ND Distinguished Young Pharmacy Technician.

Each year one outstanding technician is given this award for North Dakota, as nominated by his or her peers and chosen by the NAPT (Northland Association of Pharmacy Technicians) Executive Board. The award recognizes one pharmacy technician who has been working for 10 or fewer years, for his/her contributions to the profession.

Mandy’s pharmacist peers were very complimentary of her daily work life, saying “her passion for her profession is evident daily in the interactions we have with her. To me there is not a technician in ND that is more deserving of this award” said Karen Finck of CHI’s Virtual Health tele-pharmacy group.

Her hospital work colleagues also described her as “a very active and positive leader in our facility” and note that she is a strong advocate for patient and employee safety by being one of the hospital’s leading Safety Coaches. In this role she models and promotes our Safety First behaviors and is never afraid to mentor those who need assistance.

Mandy has also done great work in sourcing medications through trying times of drug shortages. “I do not know of a nurse in this building who does not rely on Mandy’s skills, her integrity and her knowledge” says Keith Heuser, CHI Mercy Health’s President.

Mandy Chase has been an employee at CHI Mercy Health since 2009.

CHI Mercy Health Foundation Announces Scholarships

Valley City, ND   CHI Mercy Health Foundation is excited to announce it is accepting applications for four scholarships it is offering! Each year, two Nursing scholarships are given out to recipients that are enrolled in an accredited nursing program. One of the scholarships is provided by funds contributed by CHI Mercy Health’s Nursing Department which is matched by the CHI Mercy Health Foundation.

The second Nursing scholarship comes from a fund set up to honor LaVonne Reidman. The family of LaVonne Reidman established this scholarship in 2005 in memory of Lavonne and her dedication to the nursing profession.  LaVonne was a wonderful, caring nurse for many years at Mercy Hospital in Valley City.  CHI Mercy Health Foundation is managing this scholarship for the Reidman Family.

Finally, there will be two more scholarships offered that are open to anyone pursuing a General Medical career, including technician programs. One of these scholarships is provided by nursing staff fundraisers and the other through the LaVonne Reidman family.  So please share this with your co-workers, friends, family and anyone you can think of that may be able to benefit from these funds.  Please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation office (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net) to get an application or go online to:  www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org under the Scholarships tab. The deadline to apply is April 9, 2018.

CHI Mercy Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization to serve the needs of CHI Mercy Health. The Foundation is dedicated to providing support for Mercy Hospital with supplemental funding for capital and program needs essential to the hospital’s growth and development. Through this service, the residents of Valley City and the surrounding communities have access to local, modern, quality healthcare that allows our family, friends and neighbors to stay close to home for their health care needs.

Announcing the 1st Annual Health and Wellness Fair on March 24

Valley City, ND   CHI Mercy Health, in collaboration with the City-County Health District and the Valley City Cardiac Ready Community Coalition are excited to announce the First Annual Community Health and Wellness Fair, on Saturday, March 24, from 2:00pm-5:00pm at the Valley City Eagles Club.

This is a free event that is open to the public and will include:  education and meet-and-greets with local health and wellness providers, wellness incentives to register for (quantity 4 of the Fitbit Charge 2 and quantity 1 Bong’s Bootery Gift Certificate for $100), healthy snacks, blood pressure checks, learn basic CPR compression techniques, and the event will close with motivational speaker, Teresa Lewis, from 4-5pm.

“Get Inspired with Teresa Lewis”, motivational speaker, 7 Mindsets Coach, and Life 97.9 Morning Radio Co-Host, as she discusses the challenges we face while striving to create a healthy lifestyle.  Teresa will motivate you as you embark on a holistic approach to wellness that includes stress management techniques, the importance of setting goals, and, ultimately, holding yourself accountable on your journey.

This event was made possible through a Grant awarded to CHI Mercy Health by the ND Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program.  This FLEX Grant represents a Collaborative Population Health Improvement Activity between CHI Mercy Health and Valley City-County Health District. Funds are subcontracted through the Center for Rural Health which is designated as the North Dakota State Office of Rural Health, a federal-state partnership that helps rural communities build their healthcare services through collaborations and initiatives with a wide range of partners across the state.

Join us Saturday, March 24, from 2:00pm-5:00pm, for an afternoon filled with community fellowship as you meet our local Health and Wellness providers, enjoy an inspiring speaker, and receive a copy of the new “Valley City Health and Wellness Resource Guide”!

If you are a Health and Wellness provider in our community and did not receive the invitational letter–please contact me to register!  We have invited all of the healthcare and overall wellness providers that we know.  From Clinics, dentists, optometrists, massage therapists—we have extended an invitation for a free booth at the event.   Please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation/Mission office (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net) with any questions you have regarding the event.

Alice Beauchman Exhibit now on Display at the CHI Mercy Health Gallery

Local photographer Alice Beauchman has an exhibit of her work now showing at the Mercy Art Gallery located at the gallery space in CHI Mercy Health leading to Sanford Health. It is open to the public from 7 am to 10 pm. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy her photography. Photo submitted to NewsDakota.com

By: Sharon Buhr (Young People’s Healthy Heart)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Local photographer Alice Beauchman has an exhibit of her work now showing at the Mercy Art Gallery located at the gallery space in CHI Mercy Health leading to Sanford Health. It is open to the public from 7 am to 10 pm.

Alice is an Administrative Assistant at Valley City State University Rhoades Science Center. For many years she taught photography classes at the university. her photography students number over 2,300 during those years.

Alice signed up for a photography class in college, and at that point discovered a passion that would last a lifetime. Most of her shooting is nature related, favorite subjects are landscapes, flowers, and birds. A highlight on the bird photography was a two-week trip to Ecuador and staying at five lodges catering to birders. She also likes shooting and creating (in Adobe Photoshop) slightly dark, eerie images.

Alice lives in Valley City, with her husband, Jan. She has three grown children, and five grandchildren; all who graciously agree to be subjects for her photos. This has at times involved costumes and posing as ghosts, pirates, vampires, dead bodies, space creatures, etc. So far no one runs and hides when she says, “I have a great idea for a photo”.

CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary Announces Scholarships

Valley City, ND – The CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary (CHI-MHA) is excited to announce it is accepting applications for a $250.00 scholarship! Each year, one scholarship is given out to recipients that are enrolled in a Medical Health Care related career.  The scholarship is provided by funds raised by CHI Mercy Health’s Auxiliary.

To be eligible for Auxiliary scholarships the below criteria is required:

  • Employees who have completed 2 years of full-time or part-time employment at MH and have been accepted or are furthering their education in healthcare
  • Or volunteers who have completed 30 hours of volunteer time during the previous year and are seeking a degree in healthcare.
  • Graduating high school seniors who attend school and/or reside in Barnes County, ND, and who are children or grandchildren of current CHI Mercy Health employees or volunteers.

Please contact Lisa Urbatsch in the CHI Mercy Health Administration office (direct #845-6486 or lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net) to get an application or go online to:  http://www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org/scholarships/ . The deadline to apply is May 25, 2018.

The CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary (CHI-MHA) is a volunteer organization devoted to supporting the hospital and the community it serves.   If you would like to become a CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary member, please contact Lisa Urbatsch at 701-845-6486 or email lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net

CHI Mercy Health Employees Recognized for Years of Service in Valley City

L to R: Teresa Garrahy, Melanie Lindgren, Matthew Spraque, Grant Goven, Sheri Lutjens, Susan Kringlie, and Jodi Archer. Photo submitted to NewsDakota.com

By: Steve Urness (NewsDakota.com)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Several CHI Mercy Health employees were recognized for dedicated service in Valley City, ND.

CHI Mercy Health president Keith Heuser said, it is remarkable and gratifying to have employees who have served CHI Mercy Health for so many years.

The employees were recognized for their service during the Hospital Christmas Party on December 15th held at the Valley City Eagles Club.

The following individuals were recognized for their years of service:

30 Years of Service: Jodi Archer, Sheri Lutjens

25 Years of Service: Susan Kringlie

15 Years of Service: Teresa Garrahy, Grant Goven

5 Years of Service: Elizabeth Black, Samantha Carlson, Melanie Lindgren, Andrew Sather, Matthew Spraque, Ryan Strasburg

CHI Mercy Health Donates to Local Santa Cops & Kids Program

L to R: Valley City Police Lt. Dana Rustebakke and CHI Mercy Health President Keith Heuser.

By: Steve Urness (NewsDakota.com)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – CHI Mercy Health’s donation of $281.05 was presented to Valley City Police Lieutenant Dana Rustebakke at the annual employee Holiday Potluck in the month of December of 2017 .

“We are proud to be a part of this community and are happy to be able to give back” said Keith Heuser, President, CHI Mercy Health.

CHI and Dignity Health Agree to Create New Organization

Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives to Combine to Form New Catholic Health System Focused on Creating Healthier Communities

New Organization to Preserve and Expand Access to Quality Care Geographically Complementary Facilities Across 28 States

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – December 7, 2017 – Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health have signed a definitive agreement to combine ministries and create a new, nonprofit Catholic health system. The combination brings together two leading health systems, allowing the organizations to expand their mission of service and create a healthier future for people and communities across 28 states.

The new health system will build a stronger operational and financial foundation to expand access to quality care, build upon complementary resources and capabilities, and reinvest in critical areas to accelerate improvements in care delivery.

“We are joining together to create a new Catholic health system, one that is positioned to accelerate the change from sick-care to well-care across the United States,” said Kevin E. Lofton, chief executive officer of CHI. “Our new organization will have the talent, depth, breadth, and passion to improve the health of every person and community we serve.”

“By combining our ministries and building upon our shared mission, we will expand our commitment to meeting the needs of all people with compassion, regardless of income, ethnicity, or language,” said Lloyd Dean, president and chief executive officer of Dignity Health. “We foresee an incredible opportunity to expand each organization’s best practices to respond to the evolving health care environment and deliver high-quality, cost-effective care.”

Key strategic and reinvestment priorities for the new system will include:

  • The expansion of community-based care, offering access to services in a variety of outpatient and virtual care settings closer to home;
  • Clinical programs focused on special populations and those suffering from chronic illnesses to keep people and communities healthier for longer; and
  • Further advancement of digital technologies and innovations like stroke robots and Google Glass, which create a more personalized and efficient care experience.

The new health system will include more than 700 care sites and 139 hospitals, offering people and communities access to quality care delivered by approximately 159,000 employees and more than 25,000 physicians and other advanced practice clinicians. The organizations are geographically complementary with no overlap across hospital service areas.

The new organization will be led by an office of the CEO. Dean and Lofton will both serve as CEOs, each with specific and independent responsibilities and decision-making authority. Together, the CEOs will jointly oversee strategy and integration planning. Lofton will have authority for mission, advocacy, sponsorship and governance, system partnerships, and information technology. Dean will have authority for all of operations, including clinical, financial, and human resources. They will work side-by-side with the executive team to plan a successful integration.

The governing board for the new organization – the Board of Stewardship Trustees – will include six members from each legacy board and the two CEOs. The new organization plans to establish its corporate headquarters in Chicago and operate under a new name that will be chosen in the second half of 2018. Local facilities will continue operating under their current names.

The organization will continue its commitment to supporting communities through charity care, grants, and loans to ensure a positive impact on creating healthier communities. In fiscal year 2017, the systems collectively provided approximately $4.7 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unpaid cost of government programs. Continuing the traditions of both organizations, the new system will support high-priority strategic programs as well as expand existing efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. The new system will be guided by our shared mission that emphasizes social justice for all people and will work to ensure that those values are part of the local and national health care environment.

This combination brings together two organizations with complementary missions, capabilities, and talent to advance clinical achievements. Dignity Health has a proven operating model that successfully scaled enterprise-wide initiatives to ensure consistent practices across the system, and is well known for its work with innovative, diversified care-delivery partnerships. CHI brings a diverse geographic footprint with proven clinical service lines and home-health capabilities as well as successful partnerships in research and education.

The new organization seeks to become a national platform for innovation and research. This platform would capitalize on existing intellectual property and research capabilities, positioning the new organization as an attractive partner for other entrepreneurial organizations. Dignity Health and CHI have an established track record of successful partnerships and affiliations on initiatives spanning telehealth, micro-hospitals, and precision medicine.

In September 2016, the two systems formed Precision Medicine Alliance LLC (PMA), which will create the largest community-based precision medicine program in the country. A precision oncology program is being implemented in three service areas, and four-to-six more service area launches are planned across the country in the next 12 months. The program’s objective is to be available at nearly 150 CHI and Dignity Health and care centers across the U.S., serving approximately 12 million patients annually.

Dignity Health’s Board of Directors and Sponsorship Council and CHI’s Board of Stewardship Trustees have approved the combination. The deal is anticipated to close in the second half of 2018 and is subject to federal, state, and church approvals.

Further information is available at: www.AdvancingHealthCareTogether.org.

About Catholic Health Initiatives Catholic Health Initiatives, a nonprofit, faith-based health system formed in 1996 through the consolidation of four Catholic health systems, expresses its mission each day by creating and nurturing healthy communities in the hundreds of sites across the nation where it provides care. One of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems, Englewood, Colorado-based CHI operates in 17 states and comprises 100 hospitals, including three academic health centers and major teaching hospitals as well as 30 critical-access facilities; community health-services organizations; accredited nursing colleges; home health agencies; living communities; and other facilities and services. With $15.5 billion in revenue and approximately $21.9 billion in assets in FY17, CHI provided more than $2.1 billion in charity care, community benefit, and the unpaid cost of government programs. For more information, please visit our website at CatholicHealthInitiatives.org. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About Dignity Health Dignity Health, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, is a 22-state network of more than 9,000 physicians and other advanced practice clinicians and 63,000 employees. The organization was formed in 1986 when two congregations of the Sisters of Mercy joined their 10 hospitals together to form Catholic Healthcare West, which now includes over 400 care centers including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics under the name Dignity Health. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to those who are poor and undeserved. In FY17, Dignity Health had $12.9 billion in revenue and $17.4 billion in assets, and provided approximately $2.6 billion in charity care, community benefit, and the unpaid cost of government programs. For more information, please visit our website at DignityHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

ND Health Department receives $97,964 from the American Health Association

Pictured: Kendra Krueger (AHA), Shila Thorson (NDDOH), Dr. Jeff Sather (NDDoH), Mylynn Tufte (NDDoH), Karalee Harper (AHA), Alana McClennan (CHI), and Dan Schaeffer (Metro Ambulance).

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) received a $97,964 from the American Heart Association (AHA) at a news conference on Thursday, Nov. 2. The funds were made possible by donors who contributed to the Impact Foundation during Giving Hearts Day.

The funds will go to support Cardiac Ready Communities across the state by ensuring rural areas are equipped to handle cardiac emergencies.

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American Heart Association Awards Grant Money to Cardiac Ready Communities

By: Warren Abrahamson (NewsDakota.com)

BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) will be awarded a $97,964 check from the American Heart Association (AHA) at a news conference on Thursday, November 2nd, at 10:00 a.m. in the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) building.

Representatives from the AHA and the North Dakota Cardiac Task Forces will emphasize the impact of the timely intervention for heart and stroke events.

The following speakers will participate in the news conference:

Karalee Harper, State Advocacy Committee Chair, AHA
Dr. Jeff Sather, State EMS Medical Director
Dan Schaeffer, Metro Ambulance
Mylynn Tufte, State Health Officer
Alana McClennan, CHI Mercy Health – Valley City

Members of the media may attend the news conference at the Emergency Preparedness and Response building, located at located at 1720 Burlington Drive in Bismarck or connect to the press conference by dialing 855.235.2064.

For more information about the event, contact Jennifer Skjod with the North Dakota Department of Health, at 701.328.1665.

Jamestown is working on becoming a cardiac ready community as well. Click here to read more.

Sarah Lerud Artwork on Display at CHI Mercy Health Gallery

Sarah Lerud stands next to her painting of her great-great-great-great grandmother’s farmhouse in Norway. The exhibit of her pastels and oils are on exhibit at the Mercy Gallery located between CHI Mercy Health and Sanford Health in Valley City. Photo and story submitted to NewsDakota.com

By: Steve Urness (NewsDakota.com)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Area artist, Sarah Lerud’s paintings are on display at the Mercy Art Gallery located at the gallery space in CHI Mercy Health leading to Sanford Health.

Spokeswoman Sharon Buhr said Valley City, Washington, D.C., and Norway are the three main themes expressed through her work. Lerud is fascinated with the memories of places and wants her paintings to express the feelings of these sites. She uses pastels and oils to transform her thoughts and memories into color while representing architectural buildings, monuments and statues.

Included in her Valley City work are the Hi-Line Bridge, the front yard where she grew up, her grandmother’s home near Marion and artwork by her son, Jack.

Buhr said the Washington, D.C. pieces reflect on her time living in Washington, DC and visiting the monuments with her family. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is the monument held dearest to her heart because of the influence her Vietnam Veteran dad has had on her. Her dad lost his sight along with two friends standing on either side of him in combat. The etchings of the names from the Wall in her paintings are those friends’ names.

The Norway artwork echoes her time spent in or near Oslo, Norway with her brother.  The Oslo pieces include the Norwegian Parliament building, The Norwegian National Theater, the Theatercafeen and sculptures from the famous Vigeland Park.  The barn, the front door, and the church are from her great-great-great-great grandmother’s farm and home town.

Lerud is the librarian at the Valley City Junior-Senior High School. The artwork will be on display now through the end of December of 2017.

New Stroke Awards Recognize Top Hospitals for Rapid-Response Treatment

Awards recipients pictured at the North Dakota State Stroke & Cardiac Conference held Sept. 25-26 in Bismarck.

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Stroke System of Care Task Force recently awarded several critical access hospitals for demonstrated quality excellence in stroke care. The task force recognized the awardees through data collected from hospitals by the North Dakota State Stroke Registry.

Rapid-response treatment for stroke offers the most significant chance for recovery. According to Shila Thorson, North Dakota State Stroke Coordinator, “Once a stroke occurs, the goal is to lessen potentially debilitating effects, prevent further damage to the brain, and reduce the medical and physical complications following a stroke.”

The North Dakota Department of Health recognizes the following organizations for supporting the exceptional efforts necessary to foster better outcomes for stroke care in the state of North Dakota:

  • Pre-Notification of Suspected Stroke by EMS Award ─Mercy Hospital, Valley City
  • Dysphagia Screen Award ─Heart of America Medical Center, Rugby
  • National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Documentation Award ─Southwest Healthcare Service, Bowman
  • IV rt-PA Arrive by 2 Hour, Treat by 3 Hour Award ─Tioga Medical Center, Tioga
  • Door to CT in Less Than 25 Minutes Award ─Mercy Medical Center, Williston
  • Time to Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy 60 minutes Award ─West River Regional Medical Center, Hettinger
  • North Dakota Critical Access Hospital Quality Measure Set Award ─Jamestown Regional Medical Center, Jamestown

Also recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for excellence in care were the following Primary Stroke Centers:

  • Get With The Guidelines: Stroke GOLD PLUS Achievement Award
    • Altru Health System, Grand Forks
    • CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck
    • Essentia Health, Fargo
    • Trinity Health, Minot
  • Get With The Guidelines: Stroke SILVER PLUS Achievement Award
    • Sanford Medical Center, Bismarck

For more information, contact Shila Thorson, North Dakota Department of Health, at 701.328.4569.

CHI Mercy Health Holds Open House for New CT Scanner

By: Steve Urness (NewsDakota.com)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) -Patients at CHI Mercy Health have access to the latest computed tomography (CT) diagnostic technology made possible through a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Rural Healthcare Programs.

Helmsley awarded CHI Mercy Health $400,000 for a new 64-slice CT scanner in April 2017. CT scanners provide essential diagnostic images of structures inside the body. The new scanner produces high-quality images, allowing medical staff to quickly determine the health status and course of treatment for patients in this area.

CHI Mercy Health Vice President of Clinical Services Camille Settelmeyer talked about the advantages of having this new CT scanner in this community.

 

Read Full Story at Newsdakota.com

 

October Domestic Violence Awareness Month; APOC Fundraiser Friday

By: Steve Urness (NewsDakota.com)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Valley City mayor Dave Carlsrud declared October domestic violence awareness month during a proclamation made at the city commission meeting on October 3rd.

Show your support for victims and survivors of domestic violence by attending the Abused Persons Outreach Center fundraiser supper on Friday, October 6th from 4:30pm to 7pm at the VFW Club in Valley City.

They’ll be serving roast beef or chicken dinners. Ice cream from Midwest Dairy Association.

Buy $1 tickets for a chance to win a prize basket. $10 for adults, $5 for kids under 12 and preschoolers eat free.

The funds raised from this event will be used to help local victims of domestic violence and survivors.

L to R APOC director Kasey Skalicky, CHI Mercy Health’s Stephanie Mayfield and Valley City Mayor Dave Carlsud.

CHI Mercy Health Employees Help Fill Barnes County Food Pantry Shelves

By: Steve Urness (NewsDakota.com)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – CHI Mercy Health employees are giving back to the community by donating to the Barnes County Food Pantry.

CHI Mercy Health’s “Pay it Forward” Project for the Barnes County Food Pantry was held from August 30th to September 21st and donations were collected in the front lobby of the hospital.

Keith Heuser, President, and CHI Mercy Health said,  “we are proud to be a part of this community and are happy to be able to give back.”

Baskets collected by employees of CHI Mercy Health in the lobby of the hospital. Photos submitted to NewsDakota.com

CHI Mercy Health donations were delivered to Barnes County Food Pantry on September 22. L to R: Stephanie Mayfield, CHI Mercy Health, Joseph Narloch, Barnes County Food Pantry, Debra Hochhalter, CHI Mercy Health, Roman Villarin, Barnes County Food Pantry and JoAnn Korf, Barnes County Food Pantry.

CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary Scholarship Recipient Taylor Bearinger

By: Steve Urness (NewsDakota.com)

VALLEY CITY, ND – CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary announced its recipient for 2017-2018 school year.

Taylor Bearinger of Valley City is presented with the 2017 scholarship by Frances Yokom, President, CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary.

Taylor was awarded a $250 scholarship to use toward Healthcare Education. Taylor is enrolled at Valley City State University.

Each year, one scholarship is given out to recipients that are enrolled in a Medical Health Care related career. The first scholarship is provided by funds raised by CHI Mercy Health’s Auxiliary. The scholarships are available to local students pursuing a healthcare or nursing career.

Taylor Bearinger of Valley City is presented with the 2017 scholarship by Frances Yokom, President, CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary. The story and photo was submitted to NewsDakota.com

Mercy Insights Summer 2017

Are you receiving Mercy Insights?

In September, CHI Mercy Health launched a community newsletter called Mercy Insights which replaces The Communicator and will arrive in your mailbox three times a year. Our goal is to keep you better informed about the services we offer and keep you better connected to your hospital, which is here for you 365 days a year.

Mercy Insights Summer 2017

Young People’s Healthy Heart Moves to City County Health District Office

By: Sharon Buhr (Young People’s Healthy Heart)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Young People’s Healthy Heart Program, previously located at CHI Mercy Health will be fully operational inside the City County Health District office in Valley City starting July 1st.

The program originated in 1980 through a grant that Sharon Buhr, MPH, LRD, and director of the program, wrote to the North Dakota Department of Health related to heart health.

Read more at NewsDakota.com

CHI Mercy Health Announces Free Community Workshops Held at Gaukler Family Wellness Center Continue This Summer

Valley City, ND

CHI Mercy Health is excited to continue holding monthly, free, community health workshops at the Gaukler Family Wellness Center over the summer months.

We have held monthly workshops since January including topics such as:  Organ and Blood Donation, Heart Health and Fitness, Healthy Heart Tips and Tastes, Domestic Violence Awareness, and two Free CPR classes.

Our next workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20, from 7:00pm-8:00pm in the first floor conference room at the Gaukler Family Wellness Center.  The topic will focus on Chronic Pain management.  Our workshop will be led by CHI Mercy Health’s Chief Nurse Anesthetist, Clark J. Kruta, CRNA, APRN, MA, and Operating Room Manager Stephanie Kruta, RN, MSN, to learn about effective treatments for Chronic Pain.   Chronic pain is best managed if the plan of care is individualized to each patient.  It should include at a minimum: physical therapy evaluation and stretching, regular exercise, education on self -care (sleep/nutrition/lifestyle), and behavioral health care. Learn about effective methods to treat chronic pain including pain injections.

It is the mission of CHI Mercy Health to “…create healthier communities.” and we are bringing these monthly, free to the community workshops to help local individual’s lead healthier lives.  Part of these workshops is funded through a Center for Rural Health Flex Collaboration Grant that CHI Mercy Health was awarded.  Please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation/Mission office (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net) with any questions you have regarding any of the workshops.

CHI Mercy Health Receives $400,000 Grant for Cutting-Edge Diagnostic Tool from Helmsley Charitable Trust

Valley City, ND – Patients at CHI Mercy Health will soon benefit from access to the latest computed tomography (CT) diagnostic technology made possible through a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Rural Healthcare Program.

Helmsley has awarded CHI Mercy Health $400,000 for a new 64-slice CT scanner. CT scanners provide essential diagnostic images of structures inside the body. A new CT scanner will allow for faster scans that produce high-quality images, allowing medical staff to quickly determine health status and course of treatment while giving patients access to up-to-date healthcare technology close to home.

“CHI Mercy Health is truly blessed to be awarded a CT Scanner Grant through the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Imaging services are used by every patient care department within our facility—from inpatient to emergency to outpatient diagnostics. Offering the only CT scanner in Barnes County, CHI Mercy Health will be able to continue to provide a local option for diagnosis and monitoring for our community,” said Keith Heuser, President, CHI Mercy Health.

CHI Mercy Health is one of 41 grant recipients across the region to benefit from this round of funding to purchase CT scanners. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program has granted over $30 million to support the purchase of new, 32-slice or higher CT scanners in a seven-state region.

“Our goal is to ensure that people who live in rural America have access to quality healthcare as close to home as possible,” said Walter Panzirer, a trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “To achieve this, rural hospitals need to be viable and they need to have up-to-date equipment, so patients can receive essential healthcare services locally. This initiative is one of many that aims to improve healthcare access and health outcomes across the upper Midwest.”

The funding initiative was the result of a survey of Critical Access Hospitals in the Rural Healthcare Program’s seven-state funding region. Capital equipment, particularly CT scanners, was identified as a top need by many hospitals. In addition, a new Medicare policy went into effect January 1, 2016, that reduced reimbursement for certain studies on CT scanners that do not meet specific radiation dose requirements. Since 2015, the Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded 78 grants totaling over $30 million to outfit hospitals with new, state-of-the-art CT scanners.

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting effective nonprofits in health, select place-based initiatives, education and human services. Since 2008, when Helmsley began its active grantmaking, it has committed more than $1.8 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-theart training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $300 million to organizations and initiatives in the upper Midwest states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa and Montana. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.

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CHI Mercy Health Foundation Announces Scholarships

Valley City, ND   CHI Mercy Health Foundation is excited to announce it is accepting applications for four scholarships it is offering! Each year, two Nursing scholarships are given out to recipients that are enrolled in an accredited nursing program. One of the scholarships is provided by funds contributed by CHI Mercy Health’s Nursing Department which is matched by the foundation.

The second Nursing scholarship comes from a fund set up to honor LaVonne Reidman. The family of LaVonne Reidman established this scholarship in 2005 in memory of Lavonne and her dedication to the nursing profession.  LaVonne was a wonderful, caring nurse for many years at Mercy Hospital in Valley City.  CHI Mercy Health Foundation is managing this scholarship for the Reidman Family.

Finally, there will be two more scholarships offered that are open to anyone pursuing a General Medical career, including technician programs. One of these scholarships is provided by nursing staff fundraisers and the other through the LaVonne Reidman family.  So please share this with your co-workers, friends, family and anyone you can think of that may be able to benefit from these funds.  Please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation office (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net) to get an application or go online to:  www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org under the Scholarships tab. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2017.

CHI Mercy Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization to serve the needs of CHI Mercy Health. The Foundation is dedicated to providing support for Mercy Hospital with supplemental funding for capital and program needs essential to the hospital’s growth and development. Through this service, the residents of Valley City and the surrounding communities have access to local, modern, quality healthcare that allows our family, friends and neighbors to stay close to home for their health care needs.

CHI Mercy Health Named as 2017 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital

Critical Access Top 100 Hospital 2017CHI Mercy Health in Valley City, ND was recently named one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States by iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

This achievement is very gratifying and validates our daily commitment to providing the best health care possible to our community, while maintaining an efficient and effective facility,” said Keith Heuser, Hospital President. “I am extremely pleased that our staff is being recognized for their commitment to outcomes, patient safety and the patient’s experience here”

CHI Mercy Health scored in the top 100 of Critical Access Hospitals on iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX®. The INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive rating of rural providers. It provides the data foundation for the annual Rural Relevance Study and its results are the basis for many of rural healthcare’s most prominent awards, advocacy efforts and legislative initiatives. The list of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and more information about the study can be found at www.iVantageINDEX.com.

The Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals play a key role in providing a safety net to communities across America – and the INDEX measures them across eight pillars of hospital strength: Inpatient Share Ranking, Outpatient Share Ranking, Cost, Charge, Quality, Outcomes, Patient Perspectives, and Financial Stability.

“It’s more important than ever that rural hospitals proactively understand and address performance in the areas of cost, quality, outcomes and patient perspective. iVantage’s INDEX was designed to serve as this industry model,” said Michael Topchik, national leader of the Chartis Center for Rural Health. “Across the spectrum of performance indicators, there are rural providers that are writing the blueprint for success as they transition to value-based healthcare. Our analysis shows that this group of top performers exhibits a focused concern for their community needs.”

About the Chartis Group and iVantage Health Analytics

The Chartis Group (Chartis) is a national advisory services firm dedicated to the healthcare industry. Chartis provides strategic planning, value-based care, advanced performance, informatics and technology consulting services as well as leading-edge decision support tools to the country’s leading healthcare providers. The Chartis Center for Rural Health (CCRH) was formed in 2016 to offer tailored services, performance management solutions, research and education to rural hospitals and facilities. Learn more at Chartisrural.com.

iVantage Health Analytics is a subsidiary of The Chartis Group and a leading provider of healthcare analytic and performance management analytic tools. Health system and hospital leadership teams across the country rely on the company’s software and services to deliver customized insights on clinical and financial performance, strategic planning, market assessment and payment optimization. iVantage’s analytics are the basis of continuing thought leadership and insight in the areas of healthcare policy and research. Learn more at iVantageHealth.com.

Contact:

Amy Weickert
Director of Marketing
iVantage Health Analytics/The Chartis Center for Rural Health
aweickert@ivantagehealth.com
207-245-6769

CHI Mercy Health Announces Free Community Workshops to be held at Gaukler Family Wellness Center

Valley City, ND CHI Mercy Health is excited to announce it will begin holding monthly, free, community health workshops at the Gaukler Family Wellness Center beginning Wednesday, February 15.

The first workshop entitled “Organ and Blood Donation” will be held on February 15 beginning at 7pm in the 1st Floor Conference Room at the Wellness Center. It will feature Lifesource Liason, Barb Nelson-Agnew speaking about the importance and process of organ donation. We will also have on hand, CHI Mercy Health ER manager Alana Wendel and Lab manager Susan Kringlie to talk about the importance of local blood and organ donations. We will also help people sign up to be Organ Donors if they choose to be and have some organ donation awareness gifts for all in attendance.

The second workshop will be held on February 22 in Room 156 at the Wellness Center. It is called “Heart Health and Fitness” as February is Heart Health Month. Join CHI Mercy Health’s Sharon Buhr and VCSU Assistant Professor of Kinesiology & Human Performance, Sarah Milner for a complimentary Body Composition Test ($20 value) and find out what your test results mean to your health and how to create fitness goals to strengthen your heart. This class is limited to the first 20 people who register by calling: 845-6456.

The third workshop will be on March 23 in the Party Room at the Wellness Center. It will be called “Healthy Heart Tips and Tastes” and will feature a live, healthy cooking demonstration and samples! In addition, all registrants will receive a complimentary cookbook ($25 value) called “America’s Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook”. Please register by calling 845-6456.

It is the mission of CHI Mercy Health to “…create healthier communities.” and we are bringing these monthly, free to the community workshops to help local individuals lead healthier lives. Part of these workshops is funded through a Center for Rural Health Flex Collaboration Grant that CHI Mercy Health was awarded. Please contact Stephanie Mayfield in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation/Mission office (direct #845-6557 or stephaniemayfield@catholichealth.net) with any questions you have regarding any of the workshops.