News

Valley City, ND — The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has granted
$331,242 to CHI Mercy Health to purchase diagnostic ultrasound equipment as part of a $27.4 million ultrasound initiative in North Dakota.

The initiative includes more than $21.8 million to help 69 North Dakota hospitals and health centers purchase ultrasound imaging devices and nearly $5.7 million to boost sonography and point of care ultrasound (POCUS) training opportunities across the state.

“The new ultrasound will significantly enhance our diagnostic capabilities, leading to improved patient care and more accurate diagnoses for our community.” says Ryan Fowler, CHI Mercy Hospital’s President.

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures inside the body. This safe, cost-effective tool supports other clinical information to help providers make timely diagnoses and provide appropriate treatment.

Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, said the grants will help improve access to top-notch medical treatment for North Dakotans, whether they live in Fargo, Bismarck, or Grand Forks, or a smaller rural community such as Bottineau, Rugby, or Hettinger.

“These grants will help ensure that hospitals and health centers across North Dakota have the latest in state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment and training,” Panzirer said. “Facilities need to stay current with rapidly advancing technology so they can continue to provide the very best healthcare close to home.”

The majority (134) of the devices purchased through the grants are POCUS machines, which are used by providers at the bed or tableside for immediate assessment of a patient to quickly determine a course of action. The grants will also provide 57 general ultrasound systems and 24 cardiovascular ultrasound systems, which aid in imaging of the heart.

The initiative also includes nearly $1.9 million to North Dakota State University and nearly $3.8 million to High Quality Medical Education (HQMEDED) to expand sonographer expertise and provide comprehensive POCUS training to doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Additionally, more than $64,000 will go to individual facilities to boost sonographer training.

The Helmsley Charitable Trust has committed a total of $72 million to fund ultrasound equipment and training initiatives for rural communities and underserved populations in Nevada, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wyoming.

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.5 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-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $750 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.

CHI Mercy Hospital proudly announces their plans to open its own chemo infusion center, a project made possible by the generous contributions of the Thundering Saints, dedicated to the memory of Debbie Gabel. A dedication ceremony will be held on February 21st at 12:00pm at the hospital to celebrate this significant milestone and honor Debbie’s life.

This new addition will eliminate the hardship previously faced by many cancer patients who had to travel to Fargo or Jamestown for treatment. This vital resource, established through the Debbie Gabel Memorial Cancer Fund, will provide convenient and high-quality care close to home.

“We are deeply grateful to the Thundering Saints for their unwavering support,” said Kayla Beilke, Foundation Coordinator. “To dedicate this space to Debbie’s legacy makes it that much more impactful in the community.” The Debbie Gabel Memorial Cancer Fund, established in memory of Debbie Gabel, a lifelong Valley City resident, will support:

• State-of-the-art equipment- enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of cancer treatments.
• Staff education- ensuring our healthcare professionals remain at the forefront of cancer care advancements.
• Treatment space improvements- creating a more comfortable and supportive environment for patients.
• Expansion of services- exploring opportunities to expand services such as mammography, lymphedema treatment, and colonoscopy scopes, as well as bringing other much-needed programs to our community.

Debbie Gabel, a Valley City High School graduate, was a beloved wife, mother, and community member. She worked for the license and credit bureau before becoming a full-time partner and
bookkeeper for Gabel Masonry. Despite battling ovarian cancer from 2005 until her passing in 2009, Debbie remained remarkably resilient, even taking up motorcycle riding. Her strength and spirit continue to inspire us.

The February 21st dedication ceremony will celebrate Debbie’s life and the positive impact of the new chemo infusion center. All are welcome to attend. To learn more about the Debbie Gabel Memorial Cancer Fund and how you can contribute, please visit mercyhospitalvalleycity.org/donate or contact Kayla Beilke at 701-845-6557.

• CHI General Medical Scholarship
• CHI Nursing Advancement Scholarship
• Reidman Nursing Scholarship
• CHI Mercy Health Auxiliary 2025 Scholarship ($500) Application

CHI Mercy Hospital is proud to announce that its Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) team has received the Platinum Honor Roll Award for its outstanding work in improving antibiotic use and patient safety. This achievement marks an advancement from the Gold Honor Roll Award received last year, placing CHI Mercy Hospital among only three facilities in the state to achieve Platinum status.

The AMS team’s success is a testament to its unwavering commitment to optimizing antibiotic prescribing practices. Key initiatives implemented this year include:

• Updating its Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment Guidelines to reflect the most current recommendations, ensuring best practices are consistently followed.
• Implementing a new “stop light” document in the Emergency Room to streamline UTI assessments, facilitating more efficient and appropriate treatment decisions.
• Introducing a process to provide nursing with a structured evaluation of suspected UTIs before ordering urinalyses, improving the efficiency and accuracy of testing.
• The hospital has created partnerships with a local clinic and long-term care facilities to enhance antibiotic stewardship efforts through the sharing of antibiogram data.

The Platinum Honor Roll Award recognizes exceptional achievements in antimicrobial stewardship. CHI Mercy’s dedication to this crucial area of patient care reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality and safest medical services. The hospital extends its sincere gratitude to the AMS team for their tireless efforts and dedication to improving patient outcomes.

2024 proved to be a year of significant accomplishment for CHI Mercy Hospital, marked by both internal advancements and a strong commitment to serving the Valley City community. Our successes reflect the dedication of our exceptional staff and our unwavering commitment to provide high-quality care for all patients.

CHI Mercy’s commitment to Valley City extended beyond the hospital walls through several impactful initiatives:

• CHI Mercy Hospital and our Auxiliary awarded a total of $1,500 in scholarships to aspiring medical professionals. This is an effort to promote careers in healthcare and benefit our community by investing in the future workforce.
• CHI Mercy Hospital, alongside our parent company CommonSpirit Health, provided $6,000 in grant funding for Valley City Public School’s “Access for All” Program. This ensures access to behavioral health counseling for all students.
• The CHI Mercy Foundation gave a $20,000 donation to Valley City Parks and Recreation Foundation. With these funds, the VCPR Foundation will help pay for activity fees or gym memberships for children in our area.
• Our Foundation’s Casino Night Gala raised an impressive $85,000 to upgrade emergency room tools and life-saving equipment throughout the facility. These investments will improve patient care for the residents of Valley City and surrounding areas. The hospital achieved significant advancements in clinical care and service offerings:
• The hospital received two prestigious American Heart Association awards, recognizing our excellence in Stroke and STEMI (heart attack) care. This demonstrates our commitment to providing timely and effective treatment for these critical conditions.
• We also expanded service lines to better meet the needs of our community, including:
  • Introducing the LSVT BIG Program, a renowned therapy designed to assist individuals with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions.
  • Completing construction on our in-house mammography suite to improve access to vital preventative screenings.
  • Providing cataract surgeries for patients with vision challenges. This means they no longer need to travel far distances for consultations or procedures, ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.
  • Lastly, expanding our Telehealth services to include evening hours for inpatients. This addition provides patients with convenient access to board-certified
    specialists, ensuring seamless and timely care around the clock.

Our commitment to providing state-of-the-art care is reflected in our investments towards facility upgrades and new equipment:

• We upgraded our outdoor signage to reflect the current CHI brand.
• With funds raised at the 2023 Oktoberfest- we purchased new cardiac monitoring defibrillators that not only improved our internal capabilities, but allowed us to donate a Lifepak to Barnes County Ambulance. This further strengthened emergency medical services in the region.
• We recently implemented new Alaris medication pumps, an advancement aimed at enhancing patient safety and improving medication administration.

CHI Mercy actively participated in numerous Valley City Chamber of Commerce and Valley City Parks and Recreation events throughout the year, strengthening our ties with the community and demonstrating our commitment to collaborative partnerships. We provided many community education sessions on crucial life-saving skills, including CPR, first aid, and tourniquet application, empowering residents to respond effectively in emergencies.

In conclusion, 2024 was a year of remarkable growth and achievement for CHI Mercy Hospital. Our dedication to providing exceptional patient care, coupled with our commitment to community engagement and philanthropic initiatives, positions us well for continued success in the years to come. We extend our sincere gratitude to our staff, providers, volunteers, donors, and the entire Valley City community for their unwavering support.

CHI Mercy Hospital Donates Lifepak to Barnes County Ambulance

CHI Mercy Hospital in Valley City is spreading holiday cheer with a life-saving donation to the Barnes County Ambulance. Following a successful Oktoberfest Gala in 2023, which raised $50,000 towards the purchase of cardiac monitoring equipment, CHI Mercy Hospital was able to upgrade their entire defibrillation system!

This left the hospital with some equipment in good condition but no longer compatible with the latest update. With this in mind, the hospital wanted to pay it forward to one of our most utilized community resource: Barnes County Ambulance. The addition of the donated Lifepak machine, a powerful tool for treating cardiac emergencies, significantly enhances the ambulance service’s ability to provide immediate and effective care.

“The Christmas season is a time for generosity and compassion,” said Alana McClellan, ER Supervisor at CHI Mercy Hospital. “We are incredibly grateful for the community’s support in our local fundraising efforts. The donation of our Lifepak is a testament to that and to show commitment to our amazing first responders. We believe this gift will make a real difference in the lives of Barnes County residents!”

The Lifepak machine’s advanced features, including real-time ECG monitoring, automated external defibrillation (AED), and sophisticated data analysis, will allow paramedics to respond more effectively to cardiac arrests and other critical medical events. This donation will enable Barnes County Ambulance to equip more of its ambulances with this essential life-saving technology, improving patient outcomes and strengthening emergency medical services across the county.

The collaborative effort between CHI Mercy Hospital and Barnes County Ambulance exemplifies the spirit of community and the shared dedication to providing exceptional healthcare to the residents of Barnes County.

CHI Mercy Hospital is proud to announce the expansion of its healthcare services, providing enhanced care options for the residents of Valley City and surrounding communities. The new services include specialized cataract procedures, the implementation of the LVT Big program, upgrading our IV pumps to the Alaris system, and the addition of evening Telehealth providers to better serve our inpatients.

“At CHI Mercy Hospital, our commitment to exceptional patient care is at the heart of everything we do,” said Ryan Fowler, CHI President. “These new offerings are a direct response to the needs of our community, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality care close to home.”

New Services Overview:

1. Cataract Services

CHI Mercy is now equipped to provide advanced care for patients experiencing vision challenges due to cataracts. By offering this specialized service locally, patients no longer need to travel far for consultations or surgical procedures, ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment. The program is currently up and running at the hospital, and even saw its first patient complete the procedure in both of her eyes!

2. LVT Big Program

The introduction of the LVT Big program—a renowned therapy designed to assist individuals with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions—displays the hospital’s dedication to improving quality of life. The program focuses on enhancing movement, strength, and coordination through tailored therapy sessions. Our physical therapists Grant Goven and Kyle Gregerson are certified in this treatment program and already seeing patients in Valley City!

3. Alaris Medication Pumps

CHI Mercy Hospital has recently implemented new Alaris medication pumps, a cutting-edge advancement aimed at enhancing patient safety and improving medication administration. These pumps offer technology to reduce medication error while ensuring timely and accurate delivery of treatments. This initiative reflects CHI Mercy’s commitment to leveraging innovative solutions to provide the highest standard of care for our patients.

4. Evening Telehealth Providers for Inpatients

Recognizing the need for accessible, around-the-clock care, CHI Mercy has expanded its Telehealth services to include evening hours for inpatients. This addition provides patients with convenient access to board-certified specialists, ensuring seamless and timely care during critical hours. Patients are still able to see their primary physician during the day, but night time coverage of patients on our Med Surgicall floor will be monitored via telehealth services. Our ER provider and ER/ Med Surg Nurses will still cover our night shifts in person.

With these advancements, CHI Mercy Hospital continues to build on its mission of delivering compassionate, patient-centered care. These expanded services complement the hospital’s existing offerings and aim to promote wellness and accessibility for every patient in Valley City. For more information about CHI Mercy Hospital’s new services or to schedule an appointment, please call 701-845-6400.

By Paul McDonald

Early detection is vital when it comes to cancer. CHI Mercy Hospital of Valley City has made huge strides in helping with this when they announced their new mammography program in Valley City. Construction has been completed and the first patient has been seen at the new mammography suite in the Radiology Department. The space offers its own private waiting room and changing area, a dedicated mammography technician, and easy access on one floor for all patients.

Aaron Wohlenhaus, who is the manager of the Radiology Department explains how this all came about. “About two years ago, the CHI Mercy Foundation said they wanted to invest in a new project for the hospital,” Wohlenhaus said. “The hospital pitched them a few ideas, and this was one they gravitated towards because of the outcome it can have for the women of our community.” Wohlenhaus continues, “We set off designing the space and coming up with as many different ideas and plans to really make this a good environment for our patients.” The prior offerings for mammograms in Valley City required patients to walk up steps into a portable trailer for their screenings. This wasn’t possible for some elderly or disabled patients. The hospital’s new mammography suite is handicapped accessible, which was perfect for their first patient who is in a wheelchair. She previously could not have her exams completed in Valley City when her only option was the mobile unit.

Since early detection is crucial, Wohlenhaus explains that this new mammography machine is important. “The conversation with the CHI Mercy Foundation, hospital leadership, and myself from the very beginning were if we are going to do this we want it to be done right. When we were looking at the different options for a mammography machine, this one stood out because it can find specific nodules or worrisome areas as small as one to two millimeters. The reason that is important is because, to find them under one centimeter the chances for survival for cancer is over 90 percent. With this in mind we feel we are giving the patients in our community the best chance at being treated quickly and giving them the best outcomes.”

There are a couple of key points that Wohlenhaus says are vitally important in this story. One, patients can self-refer. He explains that, “They don’t need to go to their doctor and say I would like to go to CHI Mercy to have a mammography exam. They can call us and schedule their exam themselves.” Wohlenhaus adds, “We work with all providers, so if they have a regular doctor at Sanford or Essentia we can send their images there.” Another thing that Wohlenhaus says is important for people to know is the funding. “This whole room and the machine was funded by our local CHI Mercy Foundation. Donations from the community through different events like the Foundation’s Annual Gala helped give themselves this option, so in a way, they invested in themselves.” The CHI Mercy Hospital wants to provide good quality options for our patients and our community. A public open house for the Mammography suite is planned for November 14th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm.