Working Together To Fill A Need

17 Jun 2020 News

When the Coronavirus hit North Dakota, schools closed, and businesses closed or altered their business model. Daycares were impacted and many in Stanley chose to close. This created a challenge for staff at Mountrail County Medical Center. A cooperative effort between Ragamuffins Ranch Daycare and the Mountrail County Health Foundation worked to fill that need over the last two months.

MCMC Administrator Steph Everett says that the process started on March 23. She began receiving texts from staff expressing their concerns about what they would do as they faced closing schools and daycares. She said that she reached out to Carol Maurer at Ragamuffins Ranch who opened their arms to the staff’s children.

Everett says that each request was met with a “we’ll figure it out” response that was amazing. As they began the conversations, Everett says they had no idea how many staff members would need daycare. Based on the texts from staff, she knew it would be more than just a few.

As they received the guidelines from the state regarding daycares, working together the daycare was ready to start taking students by the weekend of March 27. Working hand in hand, they were ready for the first children on March 30.

Ragamuffins Ranch Daycare owner Carol Maurer says that working on the Bright and Early curriculum and achieving the Step 3 designation made the process easy. The assessments and training she says that by the blessing of God helped them be prepared to take on the challenges.

She says they were already set up to the new standards and guidelines set up by the state for childcare facilities in response to the Coronavirus. That includes the way they use spaces in the daycare, their sanitizing processes and the separations for age groups they already had in place.

They already were separated to eat in smaller groups and play in smaller groups and different areas. The babies, toddlers and older children already interact in their own groups on a regular basis.

Maurer says that the biggest challenge was to bring in children that didn’t know them or their environment. She says they wanted to make sure that each child felt safe and comfortable during this stressful situation. They wanted them to feel at home and happy, knowing this was a safe place to be.

The children coming into the daycare have moms and dads that work on the frontline during this virus fight. Life can be stressful, and children often pick up on that stress.

The staff put their heads together, even knowing it might not be easy, but knew they could do it and come out for the better. Maurer says they really stepped up to the plate and did a great job.

As they got ready to add new children to their groups, Ragamuffins reached out to their parents. For some, they were already planning on keeping their children home with schools and businesses closing or reducing staff. Others offered to keep theirs home to make room, saying that it was important to take care of first responders’ families. She says she gives credit to those families for giving the okay to use their spots.

With some of their kids not coming because of the virus, Maurer said they missed their kids. It was hard emotionally on everyone, but at the end of the day they came back and grew a whole new family with these new children.

As for helping out staff at the medical center, Maurer says that they knew the needed the help and they were ready to do it. It was amazing to watch, she says, and now as the two months come to a close, they will be missing these children that will be going back to their former providers.

Looking back now, Maurer says that everything was a learning curve with stepping stones at the right time with the right help to set up this difference to succeed. She said, “I do it this way and it works. Sometimes you pray and ask God to show you the way. My heart is put into this and we have invested so much of ourselves.”

Everett says that for the two months Ragamuffin met their needs, they were a lifesaver. Eight families with eleven children were helped during this time. Mountrail County Health Foundation, along with grant funds from the NWND Community Foundation helped cover some of the costs.

While many families will be returning to their previous providers this week as daycares resume operations, a few will be staying at Ragamuffins Ranch enjoying the new relationships they have formed.

Steph Everett says that they just knew at the beginning they had to do something to help their staff. All of this was so new to medical facilities. They had heard about the first stories with coronavirus coming from a nursing home in Washington. The focus became on what if it happened here.

“For medical staff, there is no choice but to be at work. The last thing we wanted was for staff to have to make a hard choice. We needed them here, for Health Centers never shut down. Some of our Staff made shifts from their clinic positions to helping at the nursing home, for they were needed there to ensure our nursing home residents were cared for,” said Everett.  “The partnership with Raggamuffin Ranch allowed us to take one huge stressor off our staff. Especially through this, maneuvering through unchartered territories over the last few month,” Everett said.

The two month partnership between the medical center and Ragamuffin Ranch is just another example of small towns pulling together to help each other through these challenging times. It is also an example of meeting critical needs through collaborative effort.

This article is republished by the gracious consent of the Mountrail County Promoter.

Reopening of Services at the Mountrail County Medical Center

6 May 2020 News

May 4th, 2020

As we all work together to reopen “North Dakota Smart”, we here at the Mountrail County Medical Center want to let the public know how we will be reintroducing our services starting the week of May 4th. Due to the encouragement of Governor Burgum, we as a facility did mass testing of our county, our employees and our residents the week of April 20th. Over 450 tests were completed in 48 hours, with only one new positive emerging from this testing. With these results, we feel confident to slowly reopen our clinic, our outpatient services and bringing our specialists back to Stanley.

Details

Inpatient Services: The providers in the clinic will slowly start working at seeing their normal patient load the week of May 4th. Telemedicine will still be utilized, when seen fit. Respiratory issues and COVID-19 symptoms will still be seen through the ER, along with traditional ER patients. We are doing all COVID testing through the ER also.

Outpatient Services: We will start providing mammograms the week of May 4th. Christine and Nile will be rejoining the physical therapy team, with Heidi. MRI’s will begin to be scheduled again starting May 11th.

Specialists: Dr. Joshi and Dr. Amsbury will start seeing patients again on May 14th. Dr. Williams will start again the following Wednesday, May 20th.

Checking in Process: This will look a bit different for everyone. All patients will still be screened per the CDC COVID-19 guidelines. All clinic patients, outpatients and specialists’ patients will check in through the clinic. When you arrive please call 701-628-2505 and you will be given instructions on how to get registered. Please sit in your vehicle until your appointment time, so we can maintain social distancing. Special arrangements will be made if this is not possible for the patient. We also will require each patient to wear a mask, so please bring one to your appointment.

COVID—19 Screening and Cleaning Process: All technicians, specialists and their staff will follow the same screening protocol the rest of the Mountrail County Health Center staff follow. They will come in door 11 and get their temperature, change into MCHC scrubs and go through the basement to get to the clinic, avoiding the Mountrail Bethel Home. Our cleaning process in the clinic will be expanded and door knobs, desk areas, seating areas and clinic rooms will be sanitized between patients. For any questions, please call the Rural Health Clinic at 701-628-2505

Mountrail County Health Center Drive Through Testing Draws A Crowd

30 Apr 2020 Events, News

Mountrail County Health Center in Stanley hosted a Drive Through COVID-19 testing event on Friday, Apr. 24. Testing started at 10:00 a.m. and ran through 2:00 p.m. although the lineup of vehicles of those waiting to be tested started more than an hour before.

Testing was organized through staging using the Stanley High School parking lot. Those looking to be tested were asked to report to the High School where they were assigned a number to their car. Mountrail County Sheriff Corey Bristol and several of the department officers, Mountrail County Emergency Manager Warren Bogert along with the Highway Patrol were at the school to coordinate that portion of the event.

When told by Health Center staff, they would then send a set number of vehicles down 8th Avenue towards the hospital. Along the way, intersections were being controlled by members of the Stanley Public Works and Stanley Police Department to assure smooth movement of not only those who were waiting to be tested, but also those cars that were just trying to go from one area of the city to another.

At the Health Center, they were met by staff with the information forms prior to testing. They then moved along the driveway area on the east side of the complex for testing. Tests were administered by staff and then brought back into the “command center” where they were documented and packaged for transport to the State Lab for testing.

The Health Center was grateful to all that helped make the testing a success, saying they could not have successfully done this test without coordination and manpower from the Stanley Police Department, Mountrail County Sheriff’s office, Stanley Public Works, and the Highway Patrol. They kept everything moving as smoothly as possible, without clogging up city streets with traffic, and that was no small feat. People participating were in awe of the teamwork as they drove from the staging area and down 8th Avenue to MCHC.

Additional thanks went to Marilyn Gaebe, who provided a delicious lunch for staff and kept them energized for the entire day. They appreciated Estvold Oilfield Services, specifically Jake and Kelsey, for allowing them to use their coolers to safely transport tests from Stanley to Bismarck testing labs and the “best COVID-19 courier in the state” Rodney Essler.

They also expressed their thanks to the community saying, “We would not try to offer these testing services if we did not think that people would show up to be tested, and our community SHOWED UP! It was a steady stream of cars the entire four hours.”

Last but not least, they expressed a personal thank you to the staff of the Mountrail County Health Center. From traffic control, to gathering information from each test subject, to registering each test subject, and properly marking each test to the Providers performing the swabs, and then our lab processing each test from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and to everyone inside the building allowing business to proceed as usual. This was pointed out as teamwork at its ultimate finest.

In the span of a little over 4 hours, the Mountrail County Health Center staff were able to test 189 vehicles, totaling 357 tests that included residents from throughout the county and a few out of county residents. “Thank you to everyone who came to get tested so we can gather more data about how this virus is impacting our community and to start working on getting North Dakota open again,” they said.

The drive through testing helped support Governor Doug Burgum’s goal of increasing testing to start the work on smartly reopening the state.

This testing clinic was a group effort between administration and providers.

Additionally, per direction of the state, the facility is also testing all of their residents and employees starting last week and continuing on Monday.

As of Monday morning, tests completed in Mountrail County had increased from 524 on Friday to 892 on Monday. One new positive was recorded on Monday, up from the cumulative 33 since the first tests administered in the county. That new positive is part of the testing done on Friday and is a case from New Town. Of the 892 tests recorded in the county thus far, 858 have returned negative. Not all of Friday’s test results were included in Monday’s numbers.

This article has been republished by the gracious consent of the Mountrail County Promoter.

Mountrail County Health Center COVID-19 Drive Through Testing

20 Apr 2020 Events, News

April 20th, 2020

RE: Mountrail County Health Center COVID-19 Drive Through Testing

Mountrail County Health Center is committed to providing our community the best care possible during the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic. We therefore are offering a complimentary “Drive Through” testing event at our facility on Friday, April 24th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  We are strongly encouraging residents of Mountrail County who have not previously had access to  drive-through testing to be screened.

Details

COVID—19 testing will be conducted at door 13 at the back of our building.  Please see the map for further instruction.

Please bring your Photo ID.  MCHC employees will register patients while they wait in line.  Please remain in your vehicle with your window rolled up unless instructed otherwise by MCHC staff.

Testing will be offered on a first come first serve basis.  Please be advised that once you enter the driveway for testing, there IS NOT an area to turn around.  You will need to wait until it is your turn to be tested in order to exit. 

You will have a limited amount of time with the provider conducting this test.  The drive through testing clinic is NOT the time to discuss symptoms or other medical conditions with a doctor.  If you need 1:1 time with a provider, or are experiencing severe respiratory symptoms, please do not use the drive through clinic.  Call the Rural Health Clinic at 701-628-2505 so our nurses can triage you individually and get you the care you need. 

If you have questions about this process, please call 701-628-2424.

Mountrail Bethel Home Frequently Asked Questions (4/17/2020)

If you have a spouse, sibling, parents, or other loved one in a nursing home, you may be worried about their safety and well-being because of the coronavirus pandemic.  Here are some key questions to ask the nursing home:

Has anyone in the nursing home tested positive for COVID-19?

There have been ZERO residents in Mountrail Bethel Home that have tested positive for COVID-19.  In the event that a resident at MBH tests positive for COVID-19, all POA’s will be notified.  

There have been ZERO staff members at Mountrail Bethel Home that have tested positive for COVID-19.

For the most up to date information about positive COVID-19 cases in our county, you can visit www.health.nd.gov and click on the “Corona Virus” banner at the top of the page, and then click on the square that says “North Dakota Cases” on the left side of the page.

What is the nursing home doing to prevent infections?

Mountrail Bethel Home has implemented multiple new policies to best protect the health of our residents. 

  1. Mountrail Bethel Home is restricted to essential personnel only.  Visitors are restricted from the entire hospital campus.
  2. Staff are screened prior to each shift for symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
  3. Traffic that is normally routed through Mountrail Bethel Home has been re-routed elsewhere through the building.
  4. All staff is wearing face masks 100% of the time while caring for residents in Mountrail Bethel Home.
  5. All staff is required to change into hospital sanitized scrubs each shift.
  6. The nursing home is following CDC and ND State Department of Health’s guidelines regarding communal activities and dining at this time.  Residents are being asked to self-isolate as much as possible.  When not possible, minimum distance guidelines and maximum group sizing guidelines are followed according to NDDOH and the CDC.
  7. We have doubled our cleaning frequency, also focusing on commonly used/touched surfaces. 

Does nursing home staff have the personal protective equipment (PPE) – like masks, face shields, gowns, gloves – that they need to stay safe, and keep their patients safe? Have they been given specific training on how to use this PPE?

Yes.  The Mountrail Bethel Home has adequate PPE and has a plans in place for usage and re-supply.  Staff have had training in appropriate donning and doffing of PPE.

What is the nursing home doing to help residents stay connected with their families or other loved ones during this time?

Mountrail Bethel Home activity and social work departments have been working individually with families to set up times to video chat with their loved ones.  We are also conducting 1:1 activities with residents in their rooms to help residents maintain social interaction.

What is the plan for the nursing home to communicate important information to both residents and families on a regular basis?  

We will continue to contact the resident directly or the resident’s POA to communicate all high priority information.  Other general information will be posted on our Facebook page “Mountrail County Health Foundation” or in the Mountrail County Promoter.

Is the nursing home currently at full staffing levels for nurses, aides, and other workers?

Yes.  Currently we are at full staff.

What is the plan to make sure the needs of nursing home residents are met – like bathing, feeding, medication management, and social engagement – if the nursing home has staffing shortages?

If Mountrail Bethel Home has shortages in staff, staff from other departments will come help in the nursing home.  We also are currently operating under a waiver that allows the nursing home to “re-activate” CNA’s and Nurses who licenses have expired.  This has created a pool of people MBH could call in to work if needed. If you are concerned about the safety and well-being of a spouse, parent, or other loved one who lives in a nursing home, contact the North Dakota Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program by calling toll-free 855-462-5465, select option 3 and ask for the Long –Term Care Ombudsman Program.

MCMC Offering Telemedicine Appointments

17 Apr 2020 News

Mountrail County Medical Center is now offering virtual visits through telemedicine. 

For non-urgent visits such as medication refills, routine follow-up appointments, etc., they are encouraging all patients to consider the telemedicine visits.

Tammie Braaflat, FNP says that from a Primary Care Provider perspective they are able to still offer the same level of care, without requiring unnecessary travel during the pandemic. Patient’s routine healthcare needs have not stopped due to COVID-19 and medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and depression can all be managed through telemedicine. Feedback from the patient perspective has been overwhelmingly positive as most patients needing routine care are also being very cautious with leaving their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Telemedicine is not new, especially in rural areas. Mental health, psychologists and counseling professionals have used this method for quite some time, and most specialty visits through the VA Health System are done by Telehealth.

Braaflat says it is easy for a patient to switch their currently scheduled appointment to telemedicine. They would just need to call the receptionist at the Clinic at the Mountrail County Medical Center and ask them to make the switch.

Patients can also schedule new appointments the same way. Patients that are unsure if they need an appointment can call the clinic. If the receptionist is unsure, they will transfer you to a nurse for more information.

There are many ways to use the technology at the clinic beyond the telemedicine. Patients can email their provider through the patient portal. That allows them to directly message their provider with simple questions like whether they need an appointment. The receptionist should be able to help you set up the patient portal if you have not already done so.

Telemedicine appointments are very easy to navigate with a computer, tablet or smartphone. It uses video and audio allowing patients and their provider can to see each other. Patients without access to a smartphone, computer, tablet etc. can visit with their provider over the phone.

The clinic has been working to set up schedules for all providers as they face the potential challenges with COVID-19. There is a designated provider on-call 24/7 to manage acute emergent and non-emergent patient concerns.  Patients with acute healthcare concerns are urged to contact the clinic directly during normal business hours to speak with a nurse to arrange for the most appropriate visit.

Currently most of our acute visits are being managed through the Emergency Department by the Emergency Provider on-call. Any patient with fever, cough, or any other respiratory symptoms are being treated and screened separately in specially designated area of the hospital. 

A different provider is on staff in the clinic for non-acute/non-urgent clinic services and taking care of the residents in the Bethel Home. Braaflat said she had been working in the clinic for the past two weeks, which has also lowered her exposure risk to potential COVID-19 patients.

This helps to ensure they are taking the best care possible for all patients, and especially those in the nursing home. Braaflat says that a lot of planning has been going on to ensure the care provided within the hospital, clinic, and Bethel Home is done in the safest manner taking into consideration the fragile nature of the nursing home population.

Braaflat says that for the last two weeks most of her clinic visits have been telehealth visits. Anyone that has called has been encouraged to schedule their visits through telehealth if possible. She says that they

have been handling a wide range of visits this way, including those health conditions like diabetes, etc., as well as rashes, prescription refills and more. If during the visit they determine a patient needs to have lab work, or radiology they are ordering the appropriate tests at which time the patient would have to come to the hospital.

With the MCHC campus doors locked, Braaflat says patients might drive by and see an empty parking lot. This is because of the telehealth. A lot of time and energy has gone into planning how to best take care of the community, patients and residents. They are still there wanting to provide the services patients need, especially during this stressful time when more people are facing uncertainty with employment, anxiety and depression. She says it is important that patients can still access their primary care.

Braaflat also says that Medicare and many insurance companies have removed many of the restrictions on telehealth visits, meaning they can bill insurance just like a regular clinic visit.

Connecting to your provider for a telemedicine appointment is very easy. You go to the Mountrail County Health Center webpage at stanleyhealth.org. On the home page there are links to connect to each of the providers. You check in within a few minutes of your appointment time and are connected.

Virtual physical therapy visits are also possible for patients for follow up appointments. The initial appointment would be conducted face-to-face, but follow up appointments may be done virtually.

This article has been republished with the gracious consent of the Mountrail County Promoter.

Press Release Re: Patient Movement

30 Mar 2020 News

March 29th, 2020

RE: Patient Movement

To continue to offer the best care to our patients and nursing home residents, Mountrail County Health Center will be instituting a new policy for all patients arriving at MCHC.  Starting on Monday, March 30th 2020 the following changes will be made:

  • All patients presenting to MCHC with any respiratory symptoms (congestion, cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, etc.) will be triaged and screened through the Emergency Department entrance.
  • Patients being seen in the Rural Health Clinic for unrelated symptoms will continue to be screened for any of the above symptoms, and will be redirected to the ED entrance if screening criteria is met.
  • The Rural Health Clinic will continue to see patients for acute, non-emergent visits only.
  • We have deployed a telemedicine platform to use in the Rural Health Clinic for routine visits, and those patients who do not need to be seen on site.  If you had a scheduled visit and our healthcare team determines this may be an option for you, you will be contacted about this prior to your appointment. For more information, please see our home page at www.stanleyhealth.org.
  • Physical Therapy will remain open on a case by case basis as determined by our Physical Therapist.
  • Routine lab work and radiology services will be on a case by case basis as determined by your Primary Care Provider. 

If you feel you feel need to be seen for a healthcare concern in the near future we are asking that you call MCHC first, so that we may triage your symptoms and direct you to the proper location.

*** (701) 628-2505
***

MCHC will continue to keep our community updated as this situation evolves.  We would like to thank our patients for being understanding during this rapidly changing situation. 

COVID-19 Precautions at MCHC

23 Mar 2020 News

March 19th, 2020

Re: Precautions at MCHC

Mountrail County Health Center is dedicated to providing excellent patient care in a safe environment. With the recent nationwide outbreak of COVID-19, we are implementing several precautions that will protect our residents, patients, and staff.

  • We have implemented an employee screening procedure upon entry to the building.
  • We have discontinued use of the Main Entrance and moved hospital admittance “check in” desks away from the entrance to the nursing home.

For the foreseeable future, patients checking in for:

                Regularly scheduled outpatient appointments should check in at clinic reception

                ER or Walk-in patients should check in at the ER door (south side of building)

                All patients will be screened for symptoms PRIOR to entrance.

  • We have restricted foot traffic through the nursing home to essential personnel only.
  • We are following the CDC and ND State Department of Health’s Recommendations regarding communal dining, minimum spacing rules, and group activities for all nursing home residents.
  • We have increased the number of times that frequently touched surfaces throughout the facility are sanitized.
  • All departments are continuing with regular appointments at this time.

Again – if you feel you need to be seen for COVID-19 at MCHC **YOU MUST CALL THE RURAL HEALTH CLINIC IN ADVANCE** to allow our nurses to triage each case individually.  701-628-2505

Please remember this is a fluid situation.  We will be posting more information as we receive guidance from the CDC and the ND State Department of Health. 

Employers: Guidelines For Ill Employees

18 Mar 2020 News

March 18th, 2020

RE: Information for Local Employers

Mountrail County Medical Center is dedicated to caring for our community.  We are asking our local employers to be extremely flexible with their employees that may fall ill. 

Please DO NOT direct your employees to the Mountrail County Medical Center for a work note/work release.  Mountrail County Medical Center remains committed to following guidelines from the CDC and ND Dept of Health.  We recommend all sick employees quarantine at home for at least 5 days and up to 14 days.  Providers at MCMC will not provide clearance to return to work prior to a 14 day quarantine, again taking into consideration information being filtered through the CDC and ND Department of Health.

Employees that you feel need to be seen at MCMC **MUST CALL THE RURAL HEALTH CLINIC IN ADVANCE** to allow our nurses to triage each case individually.  701-628-2505

At this time, testing for COVID-19 type illness is being offered to those patients with severe symptoms or risk factors for severe disease.  The majority of patients with COVID-19 like symptoms can be managed safely at home, without the need for medical care. 

Employees with severe symptoms, namely trouble breathing, should report to the Emergency Department as usual.

Employees should be symptom free before returning to work.    

Thank you for your attention in this matter,

MCHC Staff

Help and Hope for North Dakota Residents

25 Feb 2020 News

According to the North Dakota Suicide Prevention Plan 2017-2020, approximately 117 Americans die by suicide daily.  For North Dakota residents ages 15-24, suicide is the second leading cause of death.  Do these statistics scare you?  They should.  Especially given the fact that in North Dakota, the suicide rate is 25% higher than the national average, and information gathered during the 2019 CHNA indicates that residents of Stanley are struggling as well.   As part of the Community Health Implementation Plan, a formal response to the Needs Assessment, Mountrail County Medical Center pledges to place a high priority on mental health, and to assist community members get the help they need. 

Stephanie Everett, MCMC CEO and Foundation Director stated, “We can no longer allow the mental health struggles of our community to go unchecked.  We know, that with mental health, each day, each moment actually counts, and Medical Center staff need to get proactive and build resources to be a part of the solution.”  At MCMC, our ultimate goal is to transform the community by encouraging confident communication about mental health so our residents know how, where, and when to ask for help.  We want to reach people before they enter a state of crisis (mentally), and encourage growth of coping skills as well as decrease stigma. 

As part of this effort, the Mountrail County Health Foundation has invited Kora Dockter and Alison Traynor to speak at the annual Women’s Expo.  This event will take place on March 9th, 2020 at Rosen Place on 8th, from 5-7 PM.  The theme for this year is “Healthy Mind for a Healthy You”, and will focus on achieving health from the inside out.  Guest speakers Alison and Kora will be giving the talk “Reaching Zero Suicide: Defining Your Role and Spreading Hope”, and will draw on their years of experience in the field and personal experience to call attendees to action. 

Kora Dockter, BSN, NDSPC Chair

Kora Dockter has served as the ND Suicide Prevention Coalition Chair for the last 4 years and lead a statewide call for healthcare system-wide improvement, working along-side Governor Burgum. Kora has worked as a pediatric nurse for over 20 years, serving and advocating for individual children and youth with special healthcare needs and their families and later, at the healthcare system level in her pioneering work championing ND’s Asthma Action Plans and the Medical Home model. Kora is a popular public speaker and advocate in North Dakota for her public health perspective on the suicide crises impacting North Dakotans of all ages.

In 2014 Kora Dockter lost her adult son, Steven to suicide. After a long battle with depression, Steven was discharged from a local psychiatric hospital without as much as a brochure or a discharge plan. Upon his discharge, Kora was told “the place is doing him more harm than good”. 

“As a pediatric nurse, I trusted the healthcare system to provide a standard of care. After all, my parents had been hospitalized at the very same hospital and received excellent care and discharge planning, but I discovered that my son was on the wrong floor with the wrong diagnosis”. 

Kora Dockter applies her 20+ years if nursing experience with best practice care coordination practices to shed light on how treating suicide like any other disease can save lives. Kora will also share her very personal walk with God who through it all was able to bring hope back into her life. 

Alison Traynor, LSW

Alison has served North Dakotans for the past eleven years as a licensed social worker, primarily in crisis response, training and coordination for behavioral health, including human trafficking, intimate partner violence and suicide. Through this work, Alison found that, in ND crisis situations, suicide risk was often a part of the picture and that most helping professionals are unprepared when it came to suicide. Alison has since dedicated herself to research in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention (supporting communities left behind after a suicide loss).

For the past five years, Alison has worked to mobilize statewide suicide prevention efforts as the Director of Suicide Prevention and founding member of the non-profit, ND Suicide Prevention Coalition.  Alison specializes in suicide and violence prevention, holds a Master of Public Health, Policy and Administration, a social work license and will graduate in 2020 with a master’s in social work. In 2019, Alison was named 40 under 40 in Public Health by the de Beaumont Foundation. If you are interested in hearing Kora and Alison speak at the annual “Women’s Expo” on March 9th please call the clinic at 701-628-2505 to reserve your spot.  Limited seating is available – deadline to RSVP is March 4th, 2020.

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