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Successful Hiring at CHI Mercy Hospital Valley City

Successful Hiring at CHI Mercy Hospital Valley City

With the introduction of COVID-19 back in 2020, we saw an overwhelming need for health care workers on a national and global scale. With the significant rise in critical patients we watched staff- burnout plague healthcare organizations. We have also been and continue to experience a nationwide nursing shortage, where the demand for nurses will surpass the supply colleges and universities are able to provide. All of these factors combined have put healthcare systems at risk and patient populations potentially in harm’s way.

One saving grace through this time period was traveling nursing staff. These nurses are able to travel around the country providing nursing care to hospitals in need. They are able to help fill gaps in schedules, which in turn keeps hospital doors open.  Even though this was a great resource to use in our time of need, there were some disadvantages to travel staff as well. We have found it is more cost effective to hire and retain staff than to rely on travelers who are not permanent fixtures in our facilities.

With the hiring of Ryan Fowler, CHI Mercy Hospital of Valley City’s President, there was a major push to reduce traveling staff members in our facility. Ryan spearheaded an initiative to hire our own staff members again in Valley City so we wouldn’t have to depend on traveling agencies to staff our hospital. The organization came together to create a plan on how we were going to make this happen.

We started this process by working with the local Economic Development team consisting of Jennifer Feist and Kara Anderson. They helped us get in contact with the local Job Service pages to promote our open positions, they posted our job listings on their Indeed page, and helped us with key points to touch on for job descriptions. We worked on increasing our posting on our own social media and Indeed pages. With this we have seen a lot of success!

In the past two months we have hired 13 new people to different positions around the facility. This has been a variety of professionals including nurses, certified nursing assistants, cooks, radiology technicians, and a new director of Human Resources. Many of these people have come from other areas looking to work in Valley City. We even have a new international nurse who has come to our community with her family from the Philippines.

The hospital would like to thank our Economic Development team for their efforts in helping us hire this significant amount of people in such a small amount of time. We want to thank our employees who worked together to come up with a plan and executed it well. We also want to thank Job Service ND for posting our open positions on “Barnes County Featured Jobs of the Day”.

We are so happy to have many new faces in the facility but also out in the community! We do still have a few positions available at the hospital. If you or someone you know is interested in a position please apply at the link below.

https://www.commonspirit.careers/search-jobs/Valley%20City%2C%20ND/35300/4/6252001-5690763-5058187-5062292/46×92331/-98×00315/5/2

Fowler Named President of CHI Mercy Health Valley City

VALLEY CITY, ND – CHI Mercy Health Valley City is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Fowler as president of CHI Mercy Health Valley City effective March 21, 2022.

Fowler brings to the position more than twenty years of healthcare experience and an extensive background in quality, safety and risk management. He recently served as chief administrative officer for Lower Umpqua Hospital District of Peace Health in Reedsport, Oregon, where he oversaw the organization improve its patient, quality and engagement scores while completing much needed capital projects. Prior to that, Ryan worked for LifePoint Health as assistant administrator/chief operating officer for Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital and as administrative director of quality for the Wyoming Market.

Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and a master’s degree in Public Administration, both from Idaho State University, Idaho. He is a member of the National Association of Healthcare Quality, the Association of Healthcare Accreditation Professionals, and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

 Several CHI Mercy Health Employees Recognized for Dedicated Service

 Several CHI Mercy Health Employees Recognized for Dedicated Service

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 16th, 2021.

The following individuals were recognized for their years of service:  

  • 15 Years of Service:    Martha King, Annette Nielson
  • 20 Years of Service:    Jody Haugen
  • 25 Years of Service:    Janie Larson, Amy Noeske, Donna Smith, Judy Smith
  • 35  Years of Service:   Lisa Urbatsch

Picture (Left to Right)
Top Row: Annette Nielson, Martha King, Jody Haugen, Janie Larson
Bottom Row: Judy Smith, Amy Noeske, Donna Smith, Lisa Urbatsch

Purchase of a Technogym for CHI Mercy Health Physical Therapy Department

Pictured from Left to Right:
Kyle Gregerson, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist
Grant Goven, PT, ATC, Physical Therapist
Steve Spickenreuther, Director Foundation/Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2021
Contact:  Lisa Urbatsch, Executive Assistant
Phone: 701-845-6486
E-Mail:  lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net

Valley City, ND  CHI Mercy Health Foundation is pleased to announce the purchase of a Technogym for CHI Mercy Health Physical Therapy Department.

Donna Smith, Rehab Manager, states this piece of equipment is very versatile with a wide range of weights along with a pulley system.   The Technogym will enable the Physical Therapists at CHI Mercy Health to expand their treatment options, to address strengthening of both upper and lower extremities, balance training, rehab with patient’s who have had a surgery and with patient’s who have had a stroke.   Please feel free to call the Physical Therapy Department at 701-845-6575 with any questions regarding services available.  The Physical Therapy Department would like to express their sincere thank you to the Foundation Board for purchasing this equipment.

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.

 

 

Cardiac rehab is available at CHI Mercy Health

Cardiac rehab team

Cardiac rehab is available at CHI Mercy Health. Our cardiac rehab program recently purchased a new heart monitoring system which has been a great asset to the department.  It is a state of the art heart monitoring system and we typically monitor your heart throughout an exercise session.

So what is cardiac rehab? According to the American Heart Association, it is a medically supervised program designed to improve your cardiovascular health if you have experienced heart attack, heart failure, or heart surgery. It is proven to improve your heart health. It can reduce mortality after a heart event by over 50%. Cardiac rehab helps by reducing the risk of a future cardiac event by improving heart disease. It involves essentially 3 parts: Exercise counseling and training, education for heart-healthy living and counseling to reduce stress. Cardiac rehab can help you lower your risk of a future cardiac event, eat better, lose weight, return to work, and engage more in daily activities. We also have a wide variety of exercise equipment, including exercise bikes, treadmills, and more.

So who is eligible for cardiac rehab? If you have had a heart attack or heart disease, such as coronary artery disease, angina (chest pain) or heart failure, or have had a heart procedure or surgery, including coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, including angioplasty and stent placement), valve replacement, a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), you would be eligible.

We offer 2 levels of care – phase 2 and phase 3. Phase 2 is ordered by your provider or cardiologist. The exercise program is tailored to your needs and usually lasts around an hour.  You are monitored throughout your session closely and it is usually following a hospital stay or cardiac event. This is covered by insurance. Phase 3 is a supervised maintenance program to continue your therapy following your initial phase. You do not need a provider’s order to join our phase 3 program. We monitor your heart once a month and vital signs every visit. A nurse is always there to monitor your session.

To learn more and to learn more about phase 3, please call Jodi Archer, RN, CHI Mercy Health at 701-845-6561. Our hours are 7:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Thursday. You can also ask your provider if you qualify for cardiac rehab.

 

 

 

CHI MERCY HEALTH FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS

CHI MERCY HEALTH FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2021
Contact:   Steve Spickenreuther, CHI Mercy Foundation Director
Phone: 701-845-6557
E-Mail:  stevespickenreuther@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 $250.00 provided by funds contributed by CHI Mercy Health’s Nursing Department which is matched by the CHI Mercy Health Foundation for a total of $500.00.

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.

The third scholarships offered is open to anyone pursuing a General Medical career, including technician programs. One of these scholarships is provided by nursing staff fundraisers for a total of $500.00.  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 Steve Spickenreuther in the CHI Mercy Health Foundation office (direct #845-6557 or stevespickenreuther@catholichealth.net) to get an application or go online to:  www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org under the Scholarships tab. The deadline to apply is April 9, 2021.

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.

Telephone Service Disruption

Telephone Service Disruption

On Thursday  March 4, 2021 at 5pm CommonSpirit Health network engineers will be applying required updates to our telephone, network and internet system which will affect incoming calls to CHI Mercy Health Valley City.

This disruption will be for approximately 15 to 20 minutes between the hours of 5 to 6pm.

We would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

 

CHI Mercy Health Employees Celebrated Go Red for Women® on Friday, February 5, 2021

CHI Mercy Health Employees Celebrated Go Red for Women® on Friday, February 5, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2021
Contact:  Lisa Urbatsch, Executive Assistant
Phone: 701-845-6486
E-Mail:  lisaurbatsch@catholichealth.net

Go Red for Women® is the American Heart Association’s global initiative to end heart disease and stroke in women. Launched in 2004 to close the gap in awareness, Go Red quickly expanded into a worldwide movement dedicated to removing the barriers women face to achieving good health and wellbeing.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, killing more women than all forms of cancer combined. Learn what it means to Go Red For Women to help women like you fight back:

G:  GET YOUR NUMBERS

Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol.

O:  OWN YOUR LIFESTYLE

Stop smoking, lose weight, exercise, and eat healthy.

It’s up to you. No one can do it for you.

R:  REALIZE YOUR RISK

We think it won’t happen to us, but heart disease kills one of three women.

E:  EDUCATE YOUR FAMILY

Make healthy food choices for you and your family.

Teach your kids the importance of staying active.

D:  DON’T BE SILENT

Tell every woman you know that heart disease is our No. 1 killer.

Essentia Health and CommonSpirit Health sign Letter of Intent

Negotiations move forward regarding opportunity for CHI facilities in North Dakota and Minnesota to join Essentia Health

Essentia Health and CommonSpirit Health have signed a Letter of Intent for CommonSpirit-owned facilities operating under the CHI brand in North Dakota and Minnesota to join Essentia Health.  This includes CHI St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, a full-service tertiary hospital and 13 critical access hospitals, along with associated clinics and living communities currently operated by CommonSpirit and CHI Health at Home home health and hospice agencies.

Leaders from Essentia and CommonSpirit look forward to continuing their strategic discussions, building on their mutually held commitment to the health and vitality of this region.

“This is an exciting opportunity to extend our passion for excellence in rural health care to additional communities,” says Essentia CEO David C. Herman, MD. “We’re grateful that our shared Benedictine heritage and values form a strong foundation for our ongoing discussions. It would be an honor to carry on the rich tradition of high-quality Catholic health care evident today in these CHI facilities.”

“CommonSpirit wants patients in this region to have access to a strong network of rural and tertiary hospitals, primary and specialty care, and telehealth services,” said Cliff Robertson, MD, senior vice president for CommonSpirit’s Midwest division. “Essentia Health is well-positioned to integrate these facilities into a continuum of care, while carrying on the Catholic heritage and mission of these facilities. We look forward to continuing our conversations.”

Both organizations recognize the important role that health care plays in keeping rural communities vibrant. This shared understanding will help ensure the long-term success of these facilities should an agreement move forward. Essentia has a proven track record of providing access to comprehensive, integrated care in rural communities across North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. CommonSpirit, which was formed when Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) combined with Dignity Health in 2019, also operates facilities in Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Signing a Letter of Intent is the first step in the process of reaching a formal agreement to transfer ownership of these facilities. It is the hope of both organizations that the due diligence process moves forward smoothly, and the CHI facilities could join Essentia by summer 2021.

The following facilities will be included in the discussions with Essentia Health

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About Essentia Health

Essentia Health is an integrated health system serving patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota, Essentia Health combines the strengths and talents of 13,800 employees, including more than 2,100 physicians and advanced practitioners, who serve our patients and communities through the mission of being called to make a healthy difference in people’s lives.

Essentia Health, which includes many Catholic facilities, is guided by the values of Quality, Hospitality, Respect, Joy, Justice, Stewardship and Teamwork. The organization lives out its mission by having a patient-centered focus at 14 hospitals, 71 clinics, six long-term care facilities, three assisted living facilities, three independent living facilities, five ambulance services and one research institute. Essentia Health is accredited as an Accountable Care Organization by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

About CommonSpirit Health

CommonSpirit Health is a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. It was created in February 2019 by Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health. With its national office in Chicago and a team of approximately 150,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, CommonSpirit operates 139 hospitals and more than 1000 care sites across 21 states. In FY 2020, CommonSpirit had combined revenues of nearly $29.6 billion and provided $4.6 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed government programs. Learn more at www.commonspirit.org.

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