May 2020 – Here for Life

National EMS Week: Ready today. Preparing for tomorrow.

May 15, 20204

May 17-23 is National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, which honors the dedication of emergency medical professionals who respond to and take care of our citizens throughout the community.

Hennepin Emergency Medical Services has been serving our community for more than 125 years. Though they may look a little different this year with the addition of personal protective equipment, their mission remains the same: to provide outstanding medical services in times of crisis to the residents and visitors of Hennepin County.

The theme of this year’s observance is “Ready today. Preparing for tomorrow.” and is particularly meaningful as EMS professionals support the health and well-being of our communities while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. (more…)

An Elbow Bump is Not a Hug

May 13, 20202

A poem from Steve Grove, a member of our Spiritual Care team.

An elbow bump is not a hug.

It was kind of fun at first I guess; a novel addition to social grace.

As new restrictions settled in; no handshakes now on elevators or in halls. (more…)

Cardiac rehab in an app

May 8, 2020

Did you know that only 20% – 30% of people who have been referred to cardiac rehabilitation actually make a first appointment? At Hennepin Healthcare it’s a little more, however those statistics are alarming and quite distressing.

Who gets referred to cardiac rehabilitation? Patients that have had a heart attack, heart surgery, heart failure, stents, angioplasty, among other procedures should attend cardiac rehabilitation. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Hennepin Healthcare designs individualized programs for each patient’s needs. (more…)

May is stroke awareness month

May 8, 2020

Although sometimes it seems the world has stopped and everything is focused on the world of COVID-19, strokes don’t care. They still happen.

Take a step back and remember or learn the signs of a stroke – BE FAST! Strokes don’t just happen to the elderly. Increasingly, younger people are experiencing strokes. And more importantly, you need to call 911. (more…)

Nurses Week 2020: Honoring the light of our nurses and frontline staff as we find our “flo”

May 6, 20201

200 years ago, Florence Nightingale – the founder of modern nursing – was born. Florence became known as the “Lady with the Lamp” as she rounded on wounded soldiers at night during the Crimean War. 200 years later during Nurses Week 2020, we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic.

In the spirit of Florence, May 6 through May 12 we’re honoring the light and wisdom of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout history. Although May 12 is now past us, we honor nurses every day. (more…)

Rituals and resilience

May 1, 20202

A ritual plays out in our pediatric clinics. A happy baby lays on an office table. They receive a vaccine, an undoubtedly stressful experience. They cry, but then loving adults comfort and calm them. Baby learns that even though scary things happen, good people help us through.

While we all socially distance from a frightening foe, pediatricians are seeing fewer well-baby checkups and ear infections. In the quiet moments between patients, we now check in with families to determine what ways we can help. Some families are struggling. Some are thriving. In fact, we all are at times struggling and thriving.

(more…)