National Rural Health Day 2024: MCHC Staff on the Power of Rural Healthcare

22 Nov 2024 Events, Rural Healthcare, Uncategorized , , , ,

Created in 2011 by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH), National Rural Health Day is an annual celebration of rural healthcare providers and other organizations dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of rural communities. 

With dozens of webinars and other events highlighting various aspects of rural healthcare, National Rural Health Day helps healthcare providers, community partners, and individuals celebrate the healthcare wins and address the struggles of their communities.

This year’s National Rural Health Day was on Thursday, November 21st. To celebrate at MCHC, we asked some of our long-term staff what they think is the power of rural healthcare. Here’s what they had to say.

An Interview With MCHC Staff: The Power of Rural Healthcare

Jim Clark—Director of Plant & Maintenance, 37 Years of Experience

What do you love about working in rural healthcare?

I love working in rural healthcare because I love providing for a community that I have been part of for most of my life. 

What would you say to a college graduate about why they should consider working in rural instead of urban healthcare?

I would ask them if they like living in a small community and getting to know the people they work with. There is more of a personal touch in the small communities. 

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing rural healthcare today?

The biggest challenge facing rural healthcare is staffing shortages, as well as finding quality employees. 

What traits does someone need to have to work in rural healthcare?

You have to be willing to step up and be able to work in many different departments and wear many different hats.

Pat Aho—Dietary Services, 34 Years of Service

What do you love about working in rural healthcare?

It gives me the chance to help people when they are in the most vulnerable time of their life. 

What would you say to a college graduate about why they should consider working in rural instead of urban healthcare?

You have a chance to get to know the people you work with versus in urban healthcare you see so many people, you don’t get the same closeness. 

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing rural healthcare today?

I think smaller communities have a harder time keeping up with the benefits they can offer compared to urban areas. Urban areas have more resources and can offer employees more pay and better benefits.

What traits does someone need to have to work in rural healthcare?

I think someone in rural healthcare needs to be compassionate and understanding of people’s wants and needs.

LaDonna Kinnoin—Purchasing/CSR, 35 Years of Experience

What do you love about working in rural healthcare?

I love taking care of people and being able to provide what they need so they do not have to travel so far to get the care they need. 

What would you say to a college graduate about why they should consider working in rural instead of urban healthcare?

I would tell them that it is very rewarding.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing rural healthcare today?

In my job, it’s the cost of supplies. Because we are a smaller facility, we do not get some of the discounts offered when you buy in bulk.

What traits does someone need to have to work in rural healthcare?

Someone working in rural healthcare needs to be friendly, kind, and want to help others.

Janel Borud, RN—Clinic Director, 27 Years of Experience 

What do you love about working in rural healthcare?

I love working in rural healthcare because I get to know our patients more intimately due to our smaller population. I have assisted in caring for the same patients from birth to adulthood and cared for their parents and grandparents. It is a sense of community. 

What would you say to a college graduate about why they should consider working in rural instead of urban healthcare?

There are plenty of loan repayment/forgiveness options when working in a rural area. Also, due to the deficit of healthcare workers in rural areas, facilities work hard to incentivize those open positions. Help in relocating may also be part of the incentive package. Being rural also means specialists are few and far between, giving you the opportunity to see a wider scope of patients and gaining a great deal of experience. 

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing rural healthcare today?

Lack of healthcare workers, increased cost of delivering care, insurance companies not paying enough for the cost of care for patients, and the inability of the patients to pay their share of the high treatment cost. I don’t think this is only an issue within rural healthcare, as healthcare facilities in urban areas are seeing this as well.

What traits does someone need to have to work in rural healthcare?

They need to enjoy a slower pace of life, be adaptable and versatile, enjoy community, and have a team player mentality.

Taina Karow, RN — 39 years of experience

What do you love about working in rural healthcare?

I love rural healthcare because it is extremely rewarding to me to do what I love in such a wonderful community of people who I have come to know and love, with genuine concern for their wellbeing. 

What would you say to a college graduate about why they should consider working in rural instead of urban healthcare?

It is the heartfelt care I want to give our patients, always knowing that I am caring for someone’s loved one as I would my own. This comes easily because of the interpersonal relationships that develop in a rural community. 

I am also thankful and honored to work in a rural hospital, as a team player who cares about others and works together for the common good of our patients. Each day we have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. That is the beauty of community and rural health. For the small things I do, it comes back to me tenfold. 

Please join us in thanking the entire MCHC team for their dedicated work throughout the year to ensure our community has the quality healthcare they need to thrive. Together, we’ll continue to build a healthy community for many years to come.

Looking for a career in rural healthcare? MCHC is hiring! Check out our careers page for open positions.

Groundbreaking Starts MCHC Project

30 Jul 2024 Uncategorized , , , ,

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in the courtyard at Mountrail Bethel Home on Wednesday, July 17 to mark the start of a four-year project on the Mountrail County Health Center’s campus.

The event featured comments from many involved in the project. MCHC CEO/Administrator Steph Everett highlighted the significance of the project as it creates a new home for the Mountrail Bethel Home residents. With 31 on the waiting list at Rosen place, the project will also add more units for the assisted living. Everett expressed gratitude to the Mountrail County Commissioners, saying they could not have started on the project yet without their support in pledging $25 million toward the $29 million cost of the nursing home phase of the project.

Dr. Mark Longmuir spoke about how long this project has been on the list of projects. He said he started as a CNA in 1997 and they were already discussing the need. The projects already completed include a new chapel at MBH, upgrades to the ER and the clinic expansion, but this project will update the remaining facilities. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who has donated to the various projects, saying he is looking forward to the final completion.

Mike Bratton of McGough Construction, the CMAR for the project, spoke about the project. As a Stanley High School graduate, he is excited to be part of this project and to work with the team at MCHC and EAPC, the architects for the project.

Ryan Gjellstad, president of the board, also expressed how it is nice to have not only McGough with their experience in the field, but also someone local as part of this project. He said that Stanley deserves this new, updated facility. The growth will be great for everyone. He expressed his appreciation to the former board members and board chairpersons, doctors, employees and county for all of the time put it to taking this project from planning to today.

Representative Don Longmuir spoke about how this project is a beautiful example of cooperation and a shining example of what can be done when entities work together. He also commended the tenacity of the various boards in never giving up on this goal.

Former board chairman Heath Hetzel said that the courtyard where the event was held was a special place, just outside the new chapel at Bethel Home. When the nursing home wing comes down, the chapel will be a focal point to the newly completed project. He asked that residents bear with them during the construction. He said that it was amazing to see the county partner with them in such a big way and he is excited to see the project begin. Lord willing, he said, the project will be complete in 42 months.

Pastor Erin Tormanen offered the invocation and blessing for the project, pointing towards scripture and the commandment to love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. The facility will be one of those ways as the doors will open and residents will receive the care and assistance they need including the emotional and spiritual care and help. He encouraged everyone to never lose sight of the rare and beautiful treasure of souls that will fill the rooms in the new nursing home.

The residents at Mountrail Bethel Home were given the shovels for the ceremonial groundbreaking. Lunch was served in the Rosen Place parking lot with Bravera Bank on hand to do the cooking.

Construction will get underway this week with the demolition of the former Centennial Court. The first phase of the construction will follow on that site with a new 36 bed nursing home, including ten basic care rooms, the same number of beds as the current nursing home. This Nursing Home phase is expected to take roughly two years and once completed will come up to where the current north wing is located.

On the hospital side, renovations will start with a new entrance near the existing sunroom at Mountrail Bethel Home (MBH). There will be a gift shop and a new waiting room. Construction down the current south wing of the nursing home will include adding an out-patient infusion suite, pharmacy suite and an MRI suite.

Purchasing will be moving from the basement to the upper level. The downstairs area will be renovated to accommodate a new specialty clinic that will allow the facility to bring in more specialists. It will also include a minor procedure room.

The ambulance bay by the emergency room will be extended to accommodate the larger sizes of the newer ambulances.

They will also be adding seven new apartments to Rosen Place. The assisted living facility currently has a waiting list of 31, showing the need for the new apartments. These will all be single apartments based on the footprint space available. These apartments will be located along the rest of the current south wing of the nursing home. The Rosen Place addition is the final part of construction.

The entire project cost is estimated at $47 million, with $29 million of that for the new nursing home. The Mountrail County Commissioners have stepped up and have pledged $25 million over two years for the nursing home portion of the project. A grant for $15 million is guaranteed and an additional $10 million is pending the outcome of the property tax elimination bill.

MCHC has set a goal to fundraise an additional $15 million dollars for this project. Everett says they have additional funding sources set aside for the project. That includes funds available from Mountrail Bethel Home, Mountrail County Medical Center, Rosen Place, Mountrail County Health Foundation, kitchen funds set aside in a donation, and 340B money. They will also continue to look at grant opportunities along with the fundraising campaign. The Foundation continues to accept donations from the public including the ability to donate on their website: www.mountrailcountyhealthfoundation.org/how-you-canhelp.

A Farewell To Centennial Court

19 Jun 2024 News, Uncategorized , , , ,

With work slated to begin on the new MCMC project this summer, a farewell to Centennial Court was held on Wednesday, May 29. The public was invited to the event that included a short program and a time to share memories of Centennial Court.

Pastor Erin Tormanen opened the program by quoting Psalm 71:9, which reads “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone,” (New International Version). He said that people are often troubled by the past, present, and future, perplexed by the challenges, but that can be alleviated by placing faith in God’s faithfulness and covenants.

As you look across cultures, all too often those can feel cast off. In his five years in Stanley, he said, he has had the opportunity to share both at the chapel at Bethel Home and Centennial Court and is thankful and give praise for this place that does not cast off, but rather provides a place to come and have a rich life. He also pointed out, it was not the building, but rather the residents and staff that provided the legacy. As the work at Centennial Court comes to an end, God is not done but rather following his plan and what replaces Centennial Court will build a new legacy. Indeed, he said, it is time to yield to the changes, glorify what is to come and rejoice in what has been, as he offered a prayer of blessing.

Ardis Loock, who was the director at Centennial Court for 21 years, shared her memories of what a wonderful place this was to work. While she shared that she hates to see it go, she knows that what will come will be just as nice.

MBH Activities Director Chuck Repnow shared his thankfulness for the location and opportunities it has given for the residents over the years, saying that the community has shown its desire to take care of its loved ones here, providing a quality of life and more. He praised the foresight to provide the connection between assisted living, the nursing home, hospital and aquatic center.

MBH Social Worker Kelly Wilhelmi spoke about the use of the building during COVID, to provide a unit with the staff to take care of them allowing them to stay at home. She said they were able to have their own employees provide care during the worst possible times while also allowing families to be able to visit their loved ones, often times through the windows, but also in the comfort of their own community.

Melissa Peterson, who has worked at Centennial Court since its opening, says that the importance of the facility was the people she got to meet, who she says enriched her life even more than she gave them.

Others attending shared memories of the gathering space, which was used for birthdays, family gatherings and more. Those memories will always be there as the facility moves forward with the new construction.

It has been more than a year since the Mountrail County Health Foundation began the Partnering for the Future Campaign to add new services to the hospital, expand residences at Rosen Place and build a brand new, state-of-the-art nursing home facility. The first phase of the construction will be a new 36 bed nursing home, which will start with the demolition of Centennial Court in July. Once that phase is complete work can begin to remove the old nursing home and begin hospital renovations and finally the addition of new apartments to Rosen Place.

Postponed – MBH/MCMC Nov. 19, 2020 Board Meeting

16 Nov 2020 Uncategorized

New Date/Time – December 17th, 2020 7:30 a.m.

MOUNTRAIL BETHEL HOME/MOUNTRAIL COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER AGENDA
Executive Conference Room
Thursday, November 19, 2020 7:00 a.m.

  1. Call to Order – 7:00 a.m.
  2. Changes to Agenda
  3. Approval of October 22, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes
  4. Visitors/Guests
  5. Financials
  6. Administrator’s Report
  7. Medical Staff – Chief of Staff comments
  8. Foundation Report
  9. Old Business
    • MBH —  Phase III status
    • MBH/MCMC – Strategic Planning
    • MCMC – OR Expansion
  10. New Business
    • MBH/MCMC – Approve Policy and Procedures Manuals:  none
    • MBH/MCMC – Board Members with Terms ending Nov./Dec.:
      MBH – Elda Titus – First Term ends Nov. 2020
      MBH – John Anderson – Second Term ends Nov. 2020
      MCMC – Heath Hetzel – Term ends Dec. 2020
      MCMC – Mike Sorenson – Term ends Dec. 2020

We’re closed to the Public.  To call into the meeting please follow:
Call 1-605-472-5291
Access Code:  889325#

MBH Annual Meeting:  Thursday, November 19, 2020, 6:30 pm               American Lutheran Church, Stanley

Next Board Meeting Date:   Thursday, December 17, 2020, 7:00 am

Upcoming MCMC/MBH Board Meetings
(All dates are tentative, unless marked as confirmed)

December 17, 2020 (confirmed)
January 28, 2021
February 25, 2021
March 25, 2021
April 22, 2021
May 27, 2021
June 24, 2021
July 22, 2021
August 26, 2021
September 23, 2021

October 22nd, 2020 MBH/MCMC Board Meeting Agenda Now Available

16 Oct 2020 Uncategorized

MOUNTRAIL BETHEL HOME/MOUNTRAIL COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER AGENDA
Executive Conference Room
Thursday, October 22, 2020
7:00 a.m.

  1. Call to Order – 7:00 1.m.
  2. Changes to Agenda
  3. Approval of September 17, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes
  4. Visitors/Guests
  5. Financials
  6. Administrator’s Report
  7. Medical Staff
    – Chief of Staff comments
  8. Foundation Report
  9. Old Business
    MBH – Phase III status
    MBH/MCMC – Strategic Planning
    MCMC – OR Expansion
  10. New Business
    MBH – Approve Policy and Procedures Manuals: Facility Assessment, Corporate Compliance, Antibiotic Stewardship, Safety
    MCMC – Approve Policy and Procedures Manuals: Clinic, Lab, X-ray/Mammo, CSR, Antibiotic Stewardship, Emergency Preparedness, Corporate Compliance, Safety
    MBH/MCMC – Presentation: Brad DeJong, Eide Bailly

We’re closed to the Public. To call into the meeting, please follow:
Call 1-605-472-5291
Access Code: 889325#

Next Board Meeting Date: Thursday, November 19, 2020, 7:00 a.m.
MBH Annual Meeting: Thursday, November 19, 2020, 6:30 p.m. American Lutheran Church, Stanley

Upcoming MCMC/MBH Board Meetings
(All dates are tentative, unless marked as confirmed)

November 19, 2020 (confirmed)
December 17, 2020
January 28, 2021
February 25, 2021
March 25, 2021
April 22, 2021
May 27, 2021
June 24, 2021
July 22, 2021
August 26, 2021
September 23, 2021

September 17th, 2020 Board Agenda is now available

16 Sep 2020 Uncategorized

MOUNTRAIL BETHEL HOME/MOUNTRAIL COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER AGENDA
Executive Conference Room
Thursday, September 17, 2020
7:00 a.m.

Call to Order – 7:00 a.m.

Changes to Agenda – Add approval of MCMC Budget for FY 2021 to Old Business

Approval of August 27, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes

Visitors/Guests

Financials – will be sent separately

Administrator’s Report

Medical Staff
– Chief of Staff Comments

Foundation Report

Old Business
-MBH – Phase III status
-MBH/MCMC – Strategic Planning
-MCMC – OR Expansion

New Business
-MBH/MCMC – Approve Policy and Procedures Manuals: None
-MBH – Converstaion with Brad DeJong, Eide Bailey, in regards to bringing back beds out of layaway

We’re closed to the Public. To call into the meeting, please follow:

Call 1-605-472-5291
Access Code: 889325#

Next Board Meeting Date: Thursday, October 22, 2020, 7:00 a.m.

Upcoming MCMC/MBH Board Meetings
(All dates are tentative, unless marked as confirmed)

October 22, 2020 (confirmed)
November 19, 2020
December 17, 2020
January 28, 2021
February 25, 2021
March 25, 2021
April 22, 2021
May 27, 2021
June 24, 2021
July 22, 2021
August 26, 2021
September 23, 2021

August 27th, 2020 MCMC/MBH Board Agenda Now Available

25 Aug 2020 Uncategorized

MOUNTRAIL BETHEL HOME/MOUNTRAIL COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER

AGENDA

Executive Conference Room

Thursday, August 27, 2020

7:00 a.m.

  1. Call to Order – 7:00 a.m.
  • Changes to Agenda
  • Approval of July 23, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes

4.   Visitors/Guests

5.    Financials – attached

6.   Administrator’s Report

7.   Medical Staff

  • Chief of Staff comments

8.   Foundation Report

       9.   Old Business

  • MBH —  Phase III status
  • MBH/MCMC – Strategic Planning
  • MCMC – OR Expansion

      10.   New Business

  • MBH/MCMC – Approve Policy and Procedures Manuals:  None
  • MBH/MCMC – Approve FY 2021 Budget (to be sent out next week)

We’re closed to the Public.  To call into the meeting please follow:

Call 1-605-472-5291
Access Code:  889325#

Next Board Meeting Date:   Thursday, September 24, 2020, 7:00 am

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