News

By: Amy Noeske (CHI Mercy Health)

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.

Mercy Insights

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.

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.

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”.

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

Rural Americans Count on Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

Celebrate National CRNA Week – January 21-27, 2018

Winter 2018 Mercy Insights Newsletter.

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

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.