St. Luke’s is open and ready to see you

By Claire Kiger

OnMarch 27, 2020, life in Minnesota changed drastically to slow the spread of COVID-19. With the announcement of a shelter in place mandate, the normally bustling Northland paused as Minnesotans everywhere stayed home. However, health issues can’t be mandated that easily.

“At first, this was really terrifying for folks,” said Dr. Sandy Popham, nephrologist at St. Luke’s Nephrology Associates. “Our biggest concern was that people would get behind in their health care. If someone waits too long to deal with an issue, they may not have as good of an outcome.”

This is especially true for someone with a chronic health condition like Dr. Popham’s patient Mary Mettner.

For the past year and a half, Mary has been seeing Dr. Popham once a month for an in-person evaluation. While some clinic visits were available after the shelter in place order was announced, Mary decided she wouldn’t be going anywhere.

“I wanted to stay away from doctors’ offices and hospitals as much as possible,” she said. “I have so many health issues that if I were to get the coronavirus, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be good.”

That’s when she heard about the option for a telehealth video visit.

New options for visits

To help keep our community safe, St. Luke’s now offers new ways for patients to get the care they need without having to come into a clinic building. This includes telehealth video visits, curbside telehealth video visits and curbside lab draws. Telehealth video visits in particular have been a crucial part of continuing care during the pandemic.

“While I love seeing my patients in person,” said Dr. Popham, “this is a great option.”

Requiring only a device with a camera (such as an iPad or smartphone) and an internet connection, telehealth video visits allow patients to see their healthcare provider through video chat. This means issues can be addressed without the patient ever having to leave home. This service works especially well for needs like preventative care, minor health concerns and illnesses, chronic care management and urgent care concerns.

While the setup is simple, the technology can pose a challenge for some.

“I’m 71 and I’m not computer savvy at all,” said Mary, “so I was a little intimidated at first. I didn’t know if I’d be able to set it all up correctly.”

For patients who are new to telehealth, St. Luke’s staff members help make the process as easy as possible.

Overcoming obstacles to care

“When someone calls to schedule, we walk them through how everything works, step-by-step,” explained Dr. Addie Vittorio, family practice doctor at St. Luke’s Mount Royal Medical Clinic. “Then, we send them an email with all that information again, just in case they need to reference it.”

On the day of the appointment, the clinic will call to start the check-in process. After a medical assistant runs through a few questions, the patient is sent a link via text or email to start the video portion of their visit with their provider.

If someone doesn’t have the necessary equipment to do a video visit from home, St. Luke’s can loan them the required technology.

“All they have to do is drive to the clinic when it’s time for their appointment and a medical assistant will bring them an iPad they can use,” said Dr. Vittorio. “Then, we do the video visit while they stay in their car.”

If blood work or an immunization is needed, this can be done as the patient remains in their vehicle as well.

After some encouragement and a little help, Mary was able to connect with Dr. Popham and get the care she needed.

“I had to chuckle because it did feel a little odd at first,” she said, “but then it was pretty normal. I really enjoy Dr. Popham and feel comfortable with her. I can ask her anything and telehealth didn’t change that at all.”

Keeping you safe at St. Luke’s

Everyone who wants to be seen in person can rest assured that St. Luke’s is diligently following infection control measures set by the Centers for Disease Control to keep everyone safe. This includes registering patients in their vehicle when possible, having everyone wear masks, practicing good social distancing, being relentless about good hand hygiene, and thoroughly disinfecting patient rooms, door handles, clipboards and pens after every visit.

“Don’t delay in addressing your health issues,” said Dr. Popham. “St. Luke’s is a very safe place to be.”

If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, call your clinic or 218-249-4000. To learn more about telehealth, visit slhduluth.com/ telehealth. D

Claire Kiger is a marketing specialist and writer for St. Luke’s.

Samantha Roffers, a Moose Lake writer, believes it’s important to shop for things you love and feel comfortable in. Everyone’s style is unique and that’s what makes it so special.

By Samantha Roffers

Hellodear readers! I hope your life has resumed some “normalcy” after the crazy year we’ve had so far. I know my life hasn’t changed too much. I think living rural sometimes spares you from the chaos of the world. If you are struggling with your “new normal” I hope I can distract you for a few minutes with this month’s feature.

Due to social distancing, we are still unable to visit the stores, so this left us with the challenge of making the most of what I had at home. Our theme is a Fourth of July party look and a “what I wear to the lake” look.

Thankfully, I love to shop so there were many options! I ordered one item for this month’s look — an adorable sun hat from Kohls. I opted for “contactless” pickup and, I have to say, I love the convenience. Most of the time I am running errands with my children, so the option of staying in the car really makes my life easier.

If I’m able to get you thinking of warm summer days spent at your favorite lake and parties with friends and family, then I have done my job… Stay healthy and happy!

by Sam

This Fourth of July party outfit was so fun for me to put together. The big hat, fringe shoes and flowy fabrics are so summery! When I think of the Fourth of July, of course I think of red, white and blue along with big accessories. These skinny jeans are my absolute favorite. They are LC brand from Kohls, and they are so light and stretchy. They will take you from a warm day to a cool night with ease and offer you protection from the bugs. The boots are from Amazon and add a fun flare to any outfit. The kimono and tank are both from Maurice’s, and the hat is from Kohls. The sunglasses are Quay brand. This look is totally versatile, you can easily lose the accessories for an indoor party and still look festive and adorable.

Now I also wanted to share with you what I bring for a day at the lake. A big beach towel is a must, I also bring sunscreen, an insulated cup, a big comfy chair, sun hat, sunglasses, a light waterproof jacket and a couple snacks. If I know I am going somewhere where replenishing my water or beverage won’t be an option, I will grab a gallon of water to bring along as well. If I know we will be out past dark, I will throw in a can of bug spray, too. My big chair comes with a handy carrying case and I like to throw everything else in an insulated bag to keep things cool.

I wanted to keep it real for the lake look. When I pack for a day on the water, I typically don’t think about fashion. It’s more about functionality (and the million things my kids need). I always gravitate towards a pair of denim cutoffs; they go with absolutely everything. Denim is timeless and effortlessly cute. I love bold swimsuit colors that accentuate a sun-kissed glow and this look can easily be tied together with a solid swimsuit cover up. I love the pop of color this cover up gives. You can leave the cover up full length like a dress or tie it up to go with a pair with shorts. Of course, I had to grab my favorite summer shoe… Once the snow melts, I live in my Birkenstocks. The bottoms of these sandals also provide some grip, so no worries if the dock is a little slippery.

Did it work? Are you longing for summer barbeques and lake days?

I know I am! Although life is different these days, get out, be creative and enjoy your summer.

Ten thousand lakes leaves more than enough room for us all.