The basket in the picture includes gifts from OAHS and the OAHS Auxiliary.
2015 Christmas Baby
THE 2015 OAHS CHRISTMAS BABY is Kipton Weber. Kipton is the son of Tony and Katie Weber of Ortonville, MN. He was born on Dec. 18th at 8:48am, was 20 inches long and weighed 6 lbs., 14 oz. Grandparents are David and Janet Weber and Janet and Kenny Hedge. Kipton has two older siblings Kylie and Tony Jr. (JR).
The basket in the picture includes gifts from OAHS and the OAHS Auxiliary.
Dr. Bob Ross has a special relationship with this family as he has delivered all five of them.
Patient Satisfaction Surveys from Ortonville Area Health Services
Patient Satisfaction Surveys, we have all received them and we have all probably thought the same thing when we open them: “Really…another one?!” Maybe it’s time for us to explain why you receive patient satisfaction surveys and the important role that they have in the care that you receive.
Healthcare organizations are required on both the state and federal level, to survey patients to improve patient satisfaction. OAHS currently partners with a company called Press Ganey to manage our survey & reporting process. Press Ganey is a highly regarded strategic partner to more than 20,000 health care organizations & provides a highly secure and private process for deploying surveys.
Surveys give patients the opportunity and freedom to share about their experiences. No matter what brings you to a healthcare facility, health care can be stressful and overwhelming. With that understanding we are always looking for ways to make your experience as positive as possible and that is where the surveys come in. What you experience matters! Whether you had to park too far away or perhaps the exam room was chilly, we want to know about it. Responses and Survey scores help us to know what we do well and help to identify ways of improving health care for you the patient.
Finding areas that we can improve on will always be one of our most important goals. However we also understand the importance or celebrating things that go well. We share the overall data results with our staff members and use the information to both celebrate successes and target areas that we can improve on.
Following any visit at OAHS you may receive a patient survey in the mail. If you receive a survey in the mail or via email, please take the opportunity to let us know what we did well, and how we can improve. OAHS appreciates the time you take to respond to the survey and we want to partner with you to improve the services we provide. We are interested in your feedback, we are interested in improving quality and just want to do things better. Our focus is you.
Great American Smokeout
Every November the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout is recognized on the third Thursday of the month with the hope of encouraging smokers to quit for the last time. OAHS wants to help you succeed in your fight against smoking. If you are interested in quitting please call 320-839-6157 to set up your free smoking cessation consultation with Dr. Bob Ross.
Our staff will help you quit like a champion.
Northside Medical Clinic Receives 2015 Quality Award
The Minnesota Health Action Group, The Minnesota Bridges to Excellence Champions of Change and the State of Minnesota Quality Incentive Payment System public purchasers, recently recognized Northside Medical Clinic – Ortonville Area Health Services for meeting the improvement goal for the Optimal Vascular Care Quality measure in 2015.
The Minnesota Health Action Group is the only Minnesota organization whose sole purpose is to represent the collective voice of those who pay the bill for health care — employers, public purchasers, and individuals. It organizational goals are to drive innovation, collaboration and engagement in ways that improve health care and ensure the economic vitality of all Minnesota communities.
The Minnesota Bridges to Excellence (MNBTE) program advances both care delivery and outcomes by rewarding clinics for meeting or exceeding a strict set of care standards for patients with diabetes, depression, and vascular disease. These conditions are known to be primary drivers of health care costs.
Six Weeks to Better Health with Community Acupuncture.
What is Community Acupuncture?
Community style acupuncture is performed in a group setting where patients are treated in a relaxed environment. During these times patients are able to rest peacefully in a reclining chair and receive acupuncture for a reduced fee. In this setting, there is no need to undress as treatments are completed using acupuncture points only on the arms, legs, and head. Having multiple chairs available allows you to stay as long or as short as you would like while receiving acupuncture; as little as 15 minutes up to an hour or more. The average time is 20-25 minutes. You’ll learn when you feel “Done” as your body will become more alert and awake, then the needles can be removed at that time. You can also bring friends or family members to experience acupuncture with you.
Sanford Health Network & OAHS Scholarship Recipients.
We are happy to announce that Jamie Gulley and Jenea Schneider are each recipients of a $2,000 scholarship given by Ortonville Area Health Services (OAHS) and Sanford Health Network.
Pictured here with Kevin Benson, CFO for OAHS, the recipients were all smiles.
Congratulations!
Clinic or Emergency Room: Which is right for you?
When an illness or injury occurs, you deserve excellent medical care.
Here is a guideline for when it is best to go to the clinic and when the ER is most appropriate.
Sleep Medicine Program Available at Ortonville Area Health Services
In January, 2014, Ortonville Area Health Services began a partnership with Whitney Sleep Diagnostics & Consultants to provide comprehensive sleep medicine services. Patients can now receive diagnosis and treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Insomnia, Restless Legs Syndrome, or any of the 84 known sleep disorders right in Ortonville.
People who snore excessively or stop breathing during sleep may have OSA. It is estimated that up to 18 million American adults have OSA. Untreated OSA can increase a person’s risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and work or traffic-related accidents due to daytime fatigue. People having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or not waking up refreshed, may suffer from a treatable sleep disorder. A simple screening tool, available at any of the clinics associated with Ortonville Area Health Services, can help determine if a sleep study is the best course of action for your situation.
“Sleep medicine continues to grow as a need among our patients, so we’re excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Whitney and his team to bring his expertise to our patients. Their model goes beyond what was previously available here, and is producing better outcomes for our patients,” commented Richard Ash, CEO at Ortonville Area Health Services
Dr. Courtney Whitney, who oversees all aspects of the sleep program at Ortonville Area Health Services, became a Board Certified Sleep Specialist in 2005. In 2008, he created Whitney Sleep Diagnostics specifically to provide comprehensive sleep medicine to the rural market. His decision to partner with rural hospitals provides people living in less populated areas, access to the benefits of a free standing sleep center typically found in larger cities.
“Sleep issues have such an impact on overall health. Our partnership demonstrates the commitment Ortonville Area Health Services has to the communities it serves,” added Dr. Whitney.
iVantage Names Ortonville Area Health Services Top 100 Critical Access Hospital
Ortonville Area Health Services in Ortonville, MN was recently named one of the iVantage Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the United States.
“Ortonville Area Health Services is proud of the efforts our health care team, who together, has made achieving this designation possible,” said Richard Ash, OAHS CEO. “We were excited earlier this year when OAHS was recognized for performing within the top 10% of all hospitals nationwide, however, being recognized as one of the top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the U.S. takes this excitement to a new level. A national designation like this does not come easily and is a tribute to the commitment of each and every member of our health care team, making a difference each day, to each person we serve. It’s an honor to receive this recognition on behalf of everyone at OAHS.”
Ortonville Area Health Services scored in the top 100 Critical Access Hospitals on the iVantage Hospital Strength INDEX™. The INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive rating of U.S. acute care hospitals, and the only one to include the country’s 1,300 CAHs. The results recognize that the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals provide a safety net to communities across rural America – measuring them across 62 different performance metrics, including quality, outcomes, patient perspective, affordability, population risk and efficiency. The list of the top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and more information about the study can be found at www.iVantageHealth.com.
“Rural healthcare deserves the same performance analysis as all provider performance. It plays a vital role for communities across America, serving nearly 80 million people. The services provided in rural America are similar to those needed in any major metropolitan area, yet the volumes and economic resources provide little economies of scale, making for little benefit from scale. These top 100 Critical Access Hospitals exhibit a focused concern for their community benefits and needs, regardless of scale, reimbursement and people’s ability to pay,” said Michael Topchik, senior vice president of iVantage Health Analytics.
“Our rural hospitals play a crucial role in ensuring Minnesotans have access to high quality care when they need it,” said Lawrence Massa, president and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association. “We are proud of Ortonville Area Health Services for its commitment and dedication to providing high quality care to help keep Minnesotans healthy.”
Ortonville Area Health Services
450 Eastvold Ave.
Ortonville, MN 56278
320-839-6157 www.oahs.us
About iVantage Health Analytics
iVantage is a leading advisory and business analytic services company applying Accelerated Healthcare Transformation™ and the VantagePoints™ platform to drive sustained, evidence-based results. The company’s unique combination of technology, content, and expert advisory services accelerates decision making for the new healthcare.