Ortonville Area Health Services has been announced as one of America’s 100 Best Hospital for Patient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. This evidence based designation is the only award that identifies the country’s best healthcare institutions based on Medicare data weighed according to the preference of women in a 2016 national survey of 1,000+ female respondents.

“Women are the Chief Medical Officer for the household, making upwards of 90% of all healthcare decisions. Considering she bears the responsibility of making these incredibly important decisions, the Women’s Choice Award offers a trusted solution by identifying the hospitals that have proven superior patient experience. Finally, a source that shares her values and priorities is available,” said Delia Passi, CEO and Founder of the Women’s Choice Award.

The list of award winners, including Ortonville Area Health Services represents hospitals that create an extraordinary patient experience for women and their families by providing exceptional care.

“Being recognized as one of the top 100 hospitals for patient experience speaks volumes to the work our Providers and Staff do here at Ortonville Area Health Services” Said OAHS CEO David Rogers. “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to provide exceptional, patient-centered care to each and every person we care for.”

The America’s 100 Best Hospitals scoring process is unique in that it is the only national list that focuses on what matters most to women when choosing a hospital. For 2016, the most important considerations were patient’s willingness to recommend, doctor and nurse communications, staff help, pain management, cleanliness and explanation of medications, in that order.

The qualification process begins with scores derived by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for each hospital in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) database. Our national survey of women determines which questions in the HCAHPS survey, completed by patients after discharge, are most important to them in determining their satisfaction with their hospital stay. A weight is given to each of the most important questions.

The responses to those questions, weighted accordingly, results in a numeric score for each hospital reporting valid HCAHPS data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  The scoring is totally objective and uniform. The best 100 scores in each of the four hospital bed size categories (less than 100 beds, 101-250 beds, 251-400 beds, and over 400 beds) determine the recipients of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Outstanding Patient Experience award.

For more information on the 2016 America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/awarded/best-hospitals/100s-best/

Jennifer Weber, pictured here with Dr. Al Ross and OAHS CEO David Rogers, was recently awarded a $2000 Sanford Health Network Scholarship through Ortonville Area Health Services. Jennifer is the daughter of Steve Weber and Christi Boyle and  lives in Odessa, MN. In high school she was involved in band, jazz band,  pep band, drama, stage crew, church events, mission trips, 4 H, local EMT class and blood drive.  Jennifer works as a dietary aide and CNA at Northridge Residence and plans to attend South Dakota State University this fall for pre-nursing. After graduation she would like to return to Ortonville.

May 12th and 13th 
9:30am – 3:30pm

The Heart Screen™: For ages 40-75.
The Vascular Screen: For those 40 or older.
Type 1 diabetics should be screened at age 30 or older.

Only $25 for each screen!

For more information, or to schedule a screen
Please call April at 320-839-4005

Ortonville Area Health Services
450 Eastvold Ave.
Ortonville, MN 56278

Ortonville Area Health Services is offering a diabetes prevention program. I Can Prevent Diabetes is a CDC Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program. This community-based, lifestyle change program offers diabetes prevention education for people with pre-diabetes or who are at risk for diabetes.

The next class will be offered on Tuesdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., beginning May 3rd. We meet 16 times throughout a 6 month period and then will continue to meet once per month to complete a full year long course.

The cost for the I Can Prevent Diabetes program is $75,
which is fully refunded if 15 of the 16 classes are attended.
Attendance incentives will also be given at each class meeting.

Groups will meet with a trained OAHS lifestyle coach once a week to help participants lose weight, eat healthier and increase physical activity. After the initial 16-week program is complete, support and additional learning
session will be offered on a monthly basis for 6 months.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE I CAN PREVENT DIABETES PROGRAM?

Risk Factors for Type 2 diabetes include:
• High blood pressure
• Elevated lipids (cholesterol triglycerides, LDL)
• Obesity (BMI >30)
• Family history of Type 2 diabetes
• History of gestational diabetes

We are looking for participants to take part in a group program that uses a community-based, lifestyle change program designed for people with prediabetes or at risk for diabetes. This program may be for you if you are:
• 18 years or older
• At risk for but NOT currently diagnosed with diabetes
• Overweight
• Not pregnant

“We have offered the I Can Prevent Diabetes class once in the past year with great feedback from participants,” says Brittany Swigerd, RN, Lifestyle Coach & staff nurse at Northside Medical Clinic. “Making simple lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and getting more physically active has proven effective for prevention of diabetes. A 5 to 7 percent weight loss can really make a difference.”

Space is limited to about a dozen participants. To register for this program or if you have questions, contact Brittany Swigerd, RN or Natasha Hynnek, LPN, Northside Medical Clinic at (320) 839-6157.

2016 New Years Baby

The FIRST BABY BORN IN 2016 at the Ortonville Hospital was Dexter Pinkert-Wellnitz. Dexter is the son of Kayla Pinkert and Jacob Wellnitz of Milbank, SD. He entered this world on Monday, Jan. 4th at 11:51am, weighing 8 lbs 2 oz. and measuring 21-1/2″ in length. Grandparents are Kim & Ron Bjerke, Paul & Alicia Pinkert and Chad & Lynn Wientjes, Dr. Susan Andersen delivered Dexter.

The basket in the picture includes gifts from OAHS and the OAHS Auxiliary.

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, 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.

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.