Archives for 2013

Welcome 2013 Christmas Baby!

OAHS welcomes our 2013 Christmas Baby: Izieli Ramona

I2013 Christmas Babysieli was born on December 26, 2103 at 10:36 p.m. weighing 6 lbs., 12 ounces and was 21 inches long. She was welcomed home by her parents and 4 siblings.

 

We Grew by 38 Feet!

In just two short months, our OAHS family welcomed 19 new babies – 16 of those babies were present for this photo shoot. IMG_6650-Edit

OAHS Receives Press Ganey 2013 Guardian of Excellence Award

Press Ganey Award PictureOrtonville Area Health Services Receives Press Ganey 2013 Guardian of Excellence AwardSM for

Achieving 95th Percentile in Patient Satisfaction

 

November 27, 2013: Ortonville Area Health Services is proud to announce it has been named a 2013 Guardian of Excellence Award winner by Press Ganey Associates, Inc. The Guardian of Excellence Award recognizes top-performing facilities that consistently achieved the 95th percentile of performance in Patient Satisfaction.

 

The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award is a health care industry symbol of achievement. Fewer than 5% of all Press Ganey clients reach this threshold and consistently maintain it for the one year reporting period. Press Ganey partners with more than 10,000 health care facilities, including more than half of all U.S. hospitals, to measure and improve the patient experience.

 

“We are proud to partner with Ortonville Area Health Services,” said Patrick T. Ryan, CEO of Press Ganey. “Achieving this level of excellence reflects the organization’s commitment to delivering outstanding service and quality. OAHS’s efforts benefit patients in the Ortonville area and will lead to improved patient experiences.”

 

“We are honored to be recognized with this award, “said Richard Ash, CEO.  Providing the best possible care for our patients is our mission and this award is a direct reflection of the commitment and dedication of everyone at OAHS toward achieving that mission.  It’s important to recognize that this award is the result of the combined teamwork of everyone. Excellent patient care is the culmination of teamwork of everyone at OAHS; every department, every person, every patient, every day. This award confirms that.

 

 

OAHS has committed to provide patient centered care to each patient and their family.  Ways the OAHS Inpatient Unit provides such care is by providing hourly rounding, bedside report and whiteboards for communication for each patient and their family benefits.  Each patient’s care is individualized to meet their needs when they require a hospital stay.  The dedicated caring professionals are committed to doing all they can to make the stay as comfortable as possible.  “It is truly an honor to know our patients reported the care they received exceeded their expectations.  It is our faithful patients that awarded OAHS and we thank each of you for committing to receiving your healthcare at OAHS.” Jennifer Wiik, MA, RN, Director of Nursing comments.

 

 

Press Ganey Associates, Inc.
Recognized as a leader in performance improvement for nearly 30 years, Press Ganey partners with more than 10,000 health care organizations worldwide to create and sustain high-performing organizations, and, ultimately, improve the overall health care experience. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to help clients operate efficiently, improve quality, increase market share and optimize reimbursement. Press Ganey works with clients from across the continuum of care – hospitals, medical practices, home care agencies and other providers – including 50 percent of all U.S. hospitals. For more information, visit www.pressganey.com.

Welcome….Dr. Susan Andersen!

smaller Susan Andersen

King Merv Redfield & Queen Karon Giese

Congratulations King Merv & Queen Karon

Congratulations King Merv & Queen Karon

Northridge Residence’s royalty participate in the grand parade for Corn Fest on Sunday, August 18. King Merv Redfield & Queen Karon Giese are chauffered by Merv’s son, Bruce Redfield.

Newest Medical Doctor to Commit to OAHS Mission..Sarah Ristvedt, MD

Sarah Ristvedt, MD update 2

OAHS Announces Winners at Big Stone County Fair Booth

Diane Dwyer (OAHS employee) and Bob Ward, winner of the KindleFIre HD

Bean Bag Toss was a popular event at the Big Stone County Fair and there were many qualifiers for both the KindleFire HD (over 12 years of age) and the Kindle (ages 12 and below).  The winner of the KindleFire HD is pictured at right, Bob Ward of Graceville, receiving his prize from OAHS employee, DIane Dwyer.

KindleReader Winner

The Kindle winner is Duke McTighe receiving his prize from OAHS employee, Beth Swanson.

 

Thanks to all who visited our booth and played the game!

OAHS Recognized for Excellence in Patient Safety

Patient Safety Award smaller 

Ortonville Area Health Services recognized for excellence in patient safety

 

Ortonville Area Health Services has been recognized by the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) for superior performance in patient safety as part of its Hospital Engagement Network. The MHA Hospital Engagement Network is focused on improving 10 hospital acquired conditions with the goals of reducing hospital acquired conditions by 40 percent and readmissions by 20 percent.

Ortonville Area Health Services has shown positive scores on 9 of the focus areas (1 area is not applicable for OAHS), including adverse drug events; catheter-associated urinary tract infections; central-line-associated blood stream infections; injuries from falls and immobility; obstetrical adverse events; pressure ulcers; preventable readmissions; surgical site infections; and venous thromboembolism. It was among 30 hospitals recognized by MHA for demonstrating high performance on three or more hospital acquired conditions.

Ortonville Area Health Services is helping to further strengthen patient safety in Minnesota and contributing to the state’s well -deserved reputation for high quality health care,” said Lawrence Massa, MHA president and CEO.

Ortonville Area Health Services strives to provide the best possible care to each and every patient.  The medical surgical team partnered with MHA in multiple areas to learn of best practices from other facilities and have initiated multiple best practice practices in the facility.

Decreasing readmissions is a hot topic in the health care world.  OAHS has implemented several interventions to prevent readmissions:  education to providers and nursing staff, post follow up phone calls and pharmacy one on one visit to patients who have multiple medical issues, on new medications or have a new diagnosis.  Home Health has also gotten involved with providing home monitoring equipment in patients’ homes for patients with congestive heart failure.  Multidisciplinary approaches to patient care make a positive difference in the overall care of patients.

Ortonville Area Health Services’ Mission  is to “Provide personalized, high quality and compassionate care through  caring professionals in a healing environment”. Inherent in that mission is to provide safe, effective, patient-centered care to those we serve. Our partnership with the Minnesota Hospital Association provides increased support and resources for the work of our quality and safety teams.  This award is evidence of our staff’s commitment to continually improving the safety, quality and reliability of their work. On behalf of the employees, physicians, and volunteers at OAHS, we are honored to receive this recognition.

For more information about Minnesota hospitals’ patient safety initiatives, go to http://http://www.mnhospitals.org/patient-safety

 

OAHS Mammography Earns ACR Accreditation

mammography acreditationOrtonville Area Health Services Radiology Earns ACR Accreditation

 

Ortonville, MN —Ortonville Area Health Services has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in mammography as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Mammography is a specific type of imaging test that uses a low-dose x-ray system to examine breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women.

 

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

 

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 36,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

 

Congratulations to the Radiology/Mammography Department of Ortonville Area Health Services on the award!

 

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Students Interning at Ortonville Area Health Services

Ortonville Area Health Services offers opportunities for students to fulfill their internship and/or earn credits towards their degrees. Five students are currently completing an internship with the Organization including:
Courtney Dawald – Marketing Intern – Graduated from MSUM with Business Administration with Marketing Emphasis;

Student Interns May 2013

Theresa Craig, Kyrsten Karsky, Courtney Dawald, Kayla Findlay and Chelsie Parady

Kayla Findlay – enrolled in Physical Therapy program at the College of St. Scholastica;

Kyrsten Karsky – Pharmacy Student at NDSU;

Chelsie Parady, LPN at Southeast Technical Institute; and

 Theresa Craig, Medical Lab Student, Lake Area Tech

“Wonderful Experience at Northridge” by Muriel Geier

 Muriel Geier

“Just had a wonderful experience at Northridge nursing home. Having my shoulder operation in February, I needed exercise to get my left arm moving good again. Now today 2 months later it is on the mend with help of many women. Everyone very kind and helpful. So today I can go home, happy and ready to lead my life back on Lundell Avenue.

I liked my life at Northridge very much and know I will like it there in a few years but for now know I can go there to get help and come home again.

Thank you all for your kindness.”

SANFORD HEALTH NETWORK SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Scholarship Sorenson3Ortonville Area Health Services and Sanford Health Network Scholarship Program announces that 2013 Ortonville High School graduate, Cassandra Sorenson, is one of the 18 recipients of the Sanford Health Network Scholarship Program.  The Sanford Health Network partners with local health care systems such as Ortonville Area Health Services to award various scholarships.  Cassandra was awarded a $2000 scholarship based on health care career choice, grade point average, application and essay.    Cassandra has been accepted into the Swenson College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth campus and will be majoring in Pre-Medicine.

 

Cassandra is the daughter of Patrick & Liz Sorenson of rural Louisburg.  During high school, Cassandra has been active in basketball, Key Club, Student council, concert band, jazz band, pep band, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, drama, church choir and church youth group and honor roll member. She was also the Key Club treasurer, winter carnival senior attendant and Youth Group President.

 

OAHS and Sanford Health Network Scholarship Program congratulate Cassandra.

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