Touching Lives - Fall 2018

Allen’s WRENCH

Tractor accident puts farmer on track for record number of ER visits

On a beautiful morning this past July, Allen Glessing, 72, left his family farm near Waverly to drive an antique tractor to show it at the Wright County Fair. This was no ordinary tractor. It was his father’s first one: a refurbished, shiny red 1946 Farmall. “I only have red tractors and I only drive Fords,” he notes.

Before setting out, Allen told his wife, Sharon, that he’d call her for a ride home when he reached the fairgrounds. A short time later, just a quarter-mile up the road, the nut that held the Farmall’s steering wheel in place fell off, followed by the steering wheel itself.

Unable to steer, Allen twisted to the left as his tractor lurched to the right and nosed into the ditch. Instead of falling clear, Allen got caught on the rear tire, which flipped him over and dumped him into the ditch while the tractor continued on into the Glessings’ cornfield.

HELP ARRIVES

Allen’s son, Dan, soon drove the same route while hauling manure and stopped to investigate the tracks leading into the corn. He found his father in the

ditch and drove him to the Glencoe Regional Health Services (GRHS) emergency room (ER).

Despite a lifetime of farming, Allen had never had a work-related accident. Nor did he long to be in the spotlight. But when he arrived in the ER that day in July, many of our staff recognized him; some even remembered him by name. That’s because it was his third trip to our ER in just seven months:

DECEMBER 2017

Allen’s first ER visit was diabetes-related. He’d been wearing too-tight shoes for a few months, which caused several large, weeping blisters. He collapsed and was taken to the ER, where staff recorded a 103-degree fever. Allen was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with a blood clot in his left leg.

MARCH 2018

Allen’s second trip to the ER was for a broken bone in his foot. Once again, something more serious was detected. Lab tests revealed blood and bone infections, which landed Allen in the hospital for a seven-week stay.

Allen Glessing, who farms near Waverly, is still recovering from a July 18 tractor accident that cracked several neck vertebrae. He has visited the GRHS ER many times in the last year.

When a seriously ill or injured patient arrives in the ER, our staff is ready to jump into action. Each person has a specific role and knows how to work quickly and in concert with coworkers to stabilize the patient, make a diagnosis and begin treatment.

Emergency medicine is ‘a team sport’ that is practiced well in Glencoe, says our emergency medicine department head, Mitch Palmer, MD “We have a cohesive team that strives to care for ER patients as we would want our own family members cared for. When we have a critical case, the team functions well together under pressure.”

TEAM PLAYERS

Physicians lead the care team but nurses play a vital role. Depending on a patient’s needs, clinical staff from radiology, respiratory therapy or other ancillary services or specialties also may be called in to help with diagnosis or treatment. Other members of the ER team monitor incoming ambulances, assist with triaging patients, arrange transfers to other hospitals

Allen’s Wrench, continued from page 1

JULY 2018

When Allen arrived at the ER after his mishap with the tractor, the staff – surprised to see him yet again – immediately put a stabilizing collar around his neck. Imaging showed Allen had two cracked vertebrae. A spine specialist later performed surgery at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, using cadaver bones to align and hold Allen’s damaged neck vertebrae in place, and a titanium plate to stabilize them.

SEPTEMBER 2018

Allen was placed on a diet of thickened liquids during his recuperation from neck surgery. On his second night home from Abbott Northwestern, he collapsed while getting out of bed. An ambulance took a feverish Allen to the GRHS ER, where he was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. Swallowing problems

when needed and interact with patients’ families.

Besides the required technical knowledge and abilities, GRHS emergency medicine specialist Liban Hired, MD, says ER staff employ soft skills such as a calm demeanor and active listening. “These comforting factors help put patients at ease,” he says, “and make them feel that they are in good hands.”

EXPERTS YOU CAN COUNT ON

Six GRHS-employed physicians work nearly all of our ER shifts. Four of these doctors are dedicated emergency medicine specialists, while two also practice in our family medicine department.

“The ER nurses and other staff are used to working with a consistent group of physicians, and this creates more consistency in patient care,” says emergency medicine specialist Davis Sand, MD “It also allows for more discussion and feedback on cases, so we’re always learning from each other and improving.”

Davis Sand, MD, recently joined our emergency medicine department. He has experience working in large and small hospital ERs. Dr. Sand is passionate about serving rural communities.

“I understand the lifestyles, personalities and priorities,” he says. When he’s not working shifts in the ER, he continues to help on his family’s farm.

had caused some of the liquids to get into his lungs, and the resulting infection was treated during yet another hospital stay.

SUPPORT SYSTEM

Allen credits faith, prayer and family, especially his wife Sharon, for carrying him through each health crisis in this most unlucky year. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Allen says.

Sharon was in the ER with Allen all four times. She rarely missed a day of visiting him at the hospital, either. She joined him for dinner most days, and they talked by phone every night.

“My wife loves me dearly,” he says. “Either that or she doesn’t trust me with the nurses.”

The GRHS ER team is standing by, should Allen ever need to visit us again.

Allen and Sharon Glessing are grateful for each other – and for the excellent care at the GRHS emergency room.

Members of the GRHS ER team include (l to r): Liban Hired, MD; Kiersten Hinze, RN; Davis Sand, MD; and Peggy Wick, RN.

THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND EVERYONE’S HOME

The construction dust at GlenFields Living with Care has begun to settle, and so have the residents.

At the end of August, 72 residents moved from shared rooms in our one-story nursing home building to their new private rooms in a brandnew two-story building that expands the footprint of our campus in Glencoe.

“We’ve been just thrilled to welcome them to their new home,” says Julie Schmidt, GlenFields administrator.

NEW NAME IS FITTING

To coincide with the debut of the new building, the nursing home long known as GRHS Long Term Care was rechristened GlenFields Living with Care.

“Our new name evokes the natural landscape where our organization was built and continues to prosper. It also says we aren’t a traditional nursing home anymore,” says Schmidt.

The new building is an important milestone in our transition from an institutional style of skilled nursing care to a modern, resident-centered approach. It is organized into four living units, with up to 18 residents each, called households. Staff roles have been redesigned so that each household operates like a family home in which residents have flexibility in their daily routines and can make choices about meals and activities.

CONSTRUCTION NEARS END

The resident move-in marked the end of the first phase of a three-part project. The second and third phases of construction will transform the existing nursing home building to meet specialized needs and provide social spaces for all GlenFields residents and visitors, including:

• A bustling town center where residents can enjoy a large-group activities room, salon, gift shop, café, chapel, spiritual room and bedroom suite for overnight guests (opening Spring 2019)

AWARD-WINNING CARE

We’re proud of our long tradition of quality in skilled nursing care, but we don’t ask you to simply take our word for it. The following organizations study nursing homes’ performance against key measures of quality, and they consistently recognize GlenFields Living with Care as being among the very best.

NURSING HOME COMPARE

We’ve consistently earned the highest ratings for overall quality in Medicare’s national Nursing Home Compare program. Our current rating is five stars out of a possible five stars, meaning GlenFields is “much above average” when compared to other nursing homes. For details, visit medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/ and use the search tool to find Glencoe Regional Health Services.

MINNESOTA ONE HEALTH ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP COLLABORATIVE

GRHS was recently named to this statewide initiative’s Gold Honor Roll for our efforts to ensure appropriate antibiotic use in hospitalized patients and nursing home residents. For details, visit health.state.mn.us/onehealthabx/honor/ honorltc.html and scroll down to Glencoe Regional Health Services.

• A memory-care household for up to 18 residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia (opening Spring 2019)

• A transitional care household with a large gym and outdoor courtyard that will serve up to 18 residents who need short-term skilled nursing care and physical, occupational and/or speech therapy before going home after a hospital stay (opening Fall 2019)

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

This national publication recently named us a U.S. News 2018-2019 Best Nursing Home. It’s the second year in a row we’ve earned U.S. News’ top rating of “high-performing” in the overall quality category. This designation puts us in the top 19 percent of all nursing homes nationwide. For details, visit health.usnews.com/best-nursing-homes and use the links under Nursing Homes by State to search for Glencoe Regional Health Services.

Orchard Estates tenant Arlene Gilster helped her husband John decorate his new private room at GlenFields Living with Care. Residents moved into the new nursing home building in late August.

A GRAND TOUR OF GlenFields Living with Care

BUILDING EXTERIOR

NEIGHBORHOODS

There are two households per floor and each floor is called a neighborhood. Doors set between the dining rooms of adjacent households can be opened for neighborhood activities, events and celebrations.

RESIDENT ROOMS

Each resident has a private room with an attached bathroom, personal TV and large window that safely opens to let in fresh air. Residents can also dim or brighten the lights and control their room’s temperature.

SUNROOMS

The sunrooms are bright spots where residents can assess the weather and enjoy the view. One sunroom per household is equipped with a Nu-Step recumbent cross-training machine.

PRIVATE BATHROOMS

Residents’ bathrooms feature an accessible shower and heat lamp. The cabinet has a pass-through door to the hall, so staff can deliver fresh towels and other supplies without disturbing the resident.

GlenFields has a private drive at 2015 Hennepin Ave. N., and a canopied entrance to make coming and going pleasant in any weather.

HOUSEHOLD DINING ROOMS

Each household has a dedicated dining room for its 18 residents, which creates a home-like atmosphere and enables staff to give personal attention during meals. Coffee, tea and water are always available at the self-serve beverage station.

FAMILY DINING ROOMS

The family dining room in each household offers a more private setting for residents who have visitors at mealtimes or want to host small gatherings.

HOUSEHOLD FLOOR PLAN

The new building has four households with similar floor plans. Each household has 18 resident rooms, a spa, two sunrooms, a living room, a laundry room, a household dining room, a family dining room and a kitchen.

LIVING ROOMS

Each household has its own living room with a large TV, computer, puzzle table and patio or deck. The living room also includes a cozy hearth area.

HALLWAYS

Extra-wide hallways with handrails make it easy for residents to share the road, regardless of whether they get around unassisted or use a walker or wheelchair.

Do You Have MEDICARE PART B?

We’ve Got Your Wellness Visit Covered

Staying healthy is important at any age. If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B, you’ll want to take advantage of preventive health services that Part B covers at 100 percent.

At no cost to you, a Medicare wellness visit can help you spot opportunities to prevent illness or disability, based on your current health and risk factors. Two types of appointment are covered:

WELCOME TO MEDICARE VISIT

WHEN: You may schedule this visit any time during your first 12 months of enrollment in Medicare Part B.

WHAT: A one-time visit that includes taking your vital signs, giving you a vision test and a mental health screening, and making a plan for the screening tests and other preventive services you’ll need based on your history.

PURPOSE: To help you take steps to stay healthy.

ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT

WHEN: You can schedule this visit if you enrolled in Part B more than 12 months ago.

WHAT: This once-a-year visit includes: taking your vital signs; reviewing your medical history; developing or updating a list of your current providers and prescriptions; making a list of risk factors and treatment options for you; and making a checklist of screening tests and other preventive services that are appropriate to your needs.

PURPOSE: To help you take steps to stay healthy.

NEW DEPARTMENT

We’ve created a new department – Preventive Health Services – to handle all Medicare wellness visits. Phyllis Phelps, FNP-BC, sees patients in this department, which is located at our Glencoe clinic. She will inform your primary care provider of any issues or concerns that are noted during your wellness appointment.

WELLNESS VISITS = PHYSICALS

It’s important to understand that neither the Welcome to Medicare Visit nor the Annual Wellness Visit are the same as a routine physical, which is any visit to your GRHS primary care provider that isn’t directly related to diagnosing, treating or managing a particular symptom, condition or injury.

During a routine physical, your doctor will examine you head-to-toe, order routine lab tests and talk to you about ways to reduce risk factors. The purpose is to look for potential health problems that merit further investigation or confirm your wellness. NOTE: Medicare Part B does not cover routine physicals.

Our schedulers can help you determine the type of appointment that best meets your needs and explain the cost and coverage implications. Call them at 320-864-7816 or toll free 1-800-869-3116 Visit grhsonline.org/medicare-wellness-visits for more information.

Meet

She may have traded sunny Florida for snow-dusted Minnesota nearly two years ago, but there’s still one item Phyllis Phelps, FNP-BC, would like to check off her bucket list.“I hope to go ice fishing someday,” she says. “It’s amazing that you can walk on frozen water, drill a hole and pull out a fish!”

FOCUSED ON WELLNESS

A certified family nurse practitioner, Phyllis joined GRHS in early November. In her new role, she works with patients who have Medicare coverage to identify issues that may put them at risk for serious medical conditions or injuries.

Phyllis is passionate about helping her patients lead healthier lives. “As we grow older, sometimes our goals and needs change. I invite patients to explore their health goals with me,” she says. “It’s an honor to listen and help them be their best.”

ALWAYS BUSY, OFTEN HELPING

Phyllis’ desire to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law and newborn grandson brought her to Minnesota. Outside of work, you’ll find Phyllis tending to her flower garden, testing new recipes in her kitchen and roaming through flea markets. She volunteers with medical missions and Loaves and Fishes, and enjoys activities at her church.

Why drive? Specialists bring their expertise to GRHS

LYLA VEEN, MD NEUROLOGY & SLEEP MEDICINE

Dr. Veen is a board-certified neurologist who provides care for conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system, such as headaches, epilepsy, stroke and Parkinson’s disease. She also diagnoses and treats sleep apnea, insomnia and other sleep disorders. She sees patients at GRHS two Wednesdays per month.

When you’re facing a difficult diagnosis or need advanced care, traveling to see specialists can be a real pain. That’s why GRHS brings the expertise and skills of physicians in a wide range of medical specialties to you. You can learn more about them at grhsonline.org/medical-staff.

PHYLLIS PHELPS, FNP-BC

Born to Work Here MEET NINA APPLEBY, DO

When Douglas Wagoner, MD, delivered Nina Schiroo more than 30 years ago, little did he know she would one day become his colleague in the GRHS family medicine department.

On Oct. 1, Nina Schiroo Appleby, DO, began her practice at GRHS, where she provides family medicine and obstetrical care. She hopes to have the honor of delivering a future colleague someday, too.

Dr. Appleby graduated from Glencoe-Silver Lake High School and won scholarships from the GRHS Foundation to support her education.

She completed her medical degree at Des Moines University and her residency at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester, Minn.

CARING FOR FAMILIES

Dr. Appleby sees male and female patients of all ages for preventive care and treatment of a variety of medical concerns. During her training, she delivered babies and cared for patients ranging from newborns to age 103.

She appreciates the opportunity to care for whole families, and counsel them about lifestyle changes

that can help everyone. “In many ways, health is a function of the family,” she says. “If you want to eat healthy and exercise, it’s difficult when the rest of your family regularly eats fast food and chooses TV over physical activity. To gain health, doing it as a family is best.”

CLINIC AND HOSPITAL DUTIES

Dr. Appleby sees patients at the Glencoe clinic and works shifts as a hospitalist where she oversees care for patients in the acute care and transitional care units. Having two roles is enjoyable, she says, because her hospital duties require a different set of skills than seeing patients at the clinic.

HAPPY TO BE HOME

When she’s not busy with her patients, Dr. Appleby enjoys making music, sewing, woodworking, cooking and her annual fishing trip to Lake Mille Lacs. She lives in Hutchinson with her husband, Richard, their infant and two-year-old daughters, and a goldendoodle named Charlie.

Dr. Appleby always knew she wanted to work in a small town. Finding the right practice in her small hometown was a bonus. “I love being near family,” she says, “I like the kind of community Glencoe is, and the kind of people Glencoe has.”

MEET PRASUNA DUBAGUNTA, MD Passion for People

Born and raised in India, Prasuna Dubagunta, MD, comes from a family of engineers. But her favorite subjects were life sciences, such as biology. She realized early that her passion was medicine.

“I like the human side of it – connecting with people, getting to know them and helping them,” she says. “We need to create an environment where patients feel comfortable and have confidence we will answer their questions.”

Dr. Dubagunta studied at a medical college in India before moving to the United States and completing her medical degree at Texas Tech University in El Paso. Her specialty is internal medicine. “I like the variety, and the completeness of the picture you don’t have as a specialist,” she says. “You know each organ system, and get to know patients over time, so you can catch abnormalities quickly.”

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE

Before starting at GRHS on Oct. 1, Dr. Dubagunta practiced in two rural communities in Georgia for five years, and in Dallas, Texas, for about 10 years. She also served as an assistant professor of community medicine at the University of North Texas in Fort Worth.

So yes, she is about to experience snow-that-sticks for the first time, but she was sold on her first

impressions of Glencoe’s friendly people and GRHS’ emphasis on primary care.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRACTICE

Dr. Dubagunta sees patients in three settings: adult patients at our clinics in Glencoe and Lester Prairie; residents at GlenFields Living with Care; and patients hospitalized in the acute care and transitional care units. In the hospital, she monitors patients’ status, orders tests and medications, and updates their primary care providers.

She most enjoys managing chronic conditions and

fine-tuning care plans over time, especially for patients with high blood pressure and diabetes.

SMALL-TOWN LIVING

Dr. Dubagunta lives in Cologne with her husband, Kishore. He works from home as a software developer. “We love the small-town environment,” she says, “and appreciate our proximity to both Glencoe and the Twin Cities.”

Away from work, Dr. Dubagunta enjoys reading, gardening, cooking and meditation, as well as spending time with family and friends.

“I feel great when my patients feel understood.”

“When I was four, I told my grandma I wanted to be a doctor.”

Care & Services FOUNDATION

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

Audiology

Cardiology

Emergency Medicine

Family Medicine

General Surgery

Hematology

Hospitalists

Internal Medicine

Midwife Services

Nephrology

Neurology

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Oncology

Orthopedics

Otolaryngology (ENT)

Pediatrics

Podiatry

Pulmonology

Urology

MEDICAL SERVICES

Acute Care Unit

Ambulance

Anticoagulation Clinic

Best Beginnings Birth Center

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Diabetes Education

Emergency Room

Health Care Home Program

Infusion Services

Laboratory

Medical Imaging

Occupational Therapy

Physical Therapy

Preventive Health Services

Respiratory Therapy

Sleep Study Clinic

Speech-Language Therapy

Transitional Care

Urgent Care

Vascular Consultations

Ventilator Care and Liberation

Wound Care

SKILLED NURSING CARE

GlenFields Living with CareSM

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

Orchard Estates

from the

by Jeff Mason, MBA, BSN, RN, FACHE President & CEO

In support of our community’s health

HELPING LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS Give Better CPR

The GRHS Foundation recently donated new CPR-assist devices to local fire departments in Buffalo Lake, Brownton, Glencoe, Green Isle, Lester Prairie, New Auburn, Plato, Silver Lake, Stewart and Winsted.

Allina Health Emergency Medical Services (AHEMS), which runs the ambulance service at GRHS and other hospitals across the region, had taken note of better cardiac arrest outcomes when first responders used the ResQCPR system made by Zoll Medical. AHEMS asked the GRHS Foundation to help equip area fire departments with it.

Scott Waibel, AHEMS ambulance operations supervisor at GRHS, trained local fire crews to use the system. It consists of two pieces of equipment: the ResQPod, which enhances vacuum pressure in the chest to improve cardiac output and blood flow to the brain; and the ResQPump, which delivers compressions.

The ResQCPR pump has a gauge that tells rescuers if they’re correctly performing CPR. It also beeps to help maintain the proper rhythm during chest compressions.

Lori Copler, assistant fire chief in Brownton, says her department responds to around 85 calls a year and 70 percent of them involve some sort of medical emergency. Brownton fire crews perform CPR four or five times a year.

“In the past, when we were first on the scene of a cardiac arrest, we gave manual CPR until an ambulance arrived with automated equipment,” Copler explains. “Now that we have our own CPR-assist device, we can provide more consistent and effective CPR during those critical first minutes, which dramatically increases the patient’s odds of survival.”

I’ve been working at Glencoe Regional Health Services for about five months now and if I had to describe the community here in a single word, it would be “genuine.” The staff is friendly, professional and respectful, the patients are grateful and collaborative, and the culture is one of hard work, determination, and joy. Yes, joy! I see smiles and hear laughter every day.

I’m pleased to find that GRHS has all of the ingredients for success, too. Among them: more than 600 smart, creative and caring employees; a strong financial foundation; a well-equipped, well-maintained facility in Glencoe with sufficient land for expansion; a new and truly outstanding nursing home; and three community clinics that keep care close to home.

Our challenge is to manage all of these assets in a way that brings the most value to the patients and communities we serve. That’s why we invited you to help us achieve our vision of becoming an advanced critical access hospital by participating in our strategic planning process. Many of you submitted answers to our online survey earlier this fall – thank you!

I feel very grateful for the opportunity to join you in making GRHS the best it can be.

Brownton Assistant Fire Chief Lori Copler (right) and crew members Jason Lindeman (left) and Shannon Jerabek (center) show off the ResQCPR system their department received from the GRHS Foundation this year.