Blog – Here for Life

How an innovative new partnership is expanding culturally responsive care for Muslim patients

May 13, 2022

Photo: A year ago, Open Path Resources and Hennepin Healthcare partnered to place qibla stickers in Emergency Department rooms, so Muslim patients would know the direction to face for prayer

A young woman suffering from depression and chemical addiction came to Hennepin Healthcare for care and asked Spiritual Care Provider Shukri Salah for help. The daughter wanted to go back to live with her family, but her mother was saying no—she’d had too many chances.

The daughter told Shukri, “If I don’t get back into my family, I don’t want to live.” The mother told Shukri, “I have to push her away.”

“Culturally our community thinks that when a person goes to a mental hospital or is taking medication for mental illness, that they are done and there will be no recovery,” Shukri says. (more…)

Advanced paramedic training adds second chance at life for retired math teacher

May 6, 2022

Hennepin EMS paramedic skilled in ultrasound use being interviewed by news station. The numbers never get old for a retired math teacher Daniel Bowler from Benilde-St. Margaret’s. That’s why he continues to work at school where he’s the math league coach and helps others figure out problems – and where he ran into a problem of his own March 15, 2022.

“We were having a pizza party event and I went to the office to pick up the pizzas like I always do,” he said. “I suddenly felt short of breath and dizzy – and I fell and hit my head.”

A student saw him fall and told someone to call 911. Hennepin EMS was immediately enroute to care for a patient who had experienced head trauma from a fall.

Paramedics assessed the patient and ended up performing a diagnostic ultrasound of his chest. This indicated the presence of a pulmonary embolism (blood clot) in his lung – something several members of Hennepin EMS paramedics are highly trained to detect as part of a “P3 Program” but certainly not the original reason for the call. (more…)

What is aphasia?

April 29, 2022

Bruce Willis, the 67-year-old actor mostly known for portraying wisecracking action heroes like John McClane from the Die Hard series, announced his retirement from acting, after being diagnosed with aphasia. Those who worked with him had been aware of a cognitive decline over several years, noticing struggle with his memory and an inability to deliver long lines. (more…)

Mobile clinic brings health care to patients’ doors–from a bigger, brighter van

April 19, 2022

A three-year-old patient was behind on her vaccine appointments, and a look at her chart showed other medical needs—a history of seizures and some missed appointments with her specialist. When Nurse Practitioner Katie Brown saw the toddler’s chart, she knew she had to find out what was happening—and she had to help.

Katie learned that it was nearly impossible for the child’s mother to show up for the appointments she was scheduling due to conflicts and caring for her other children– whether it was routine vaccines or other care. (more…)

Voices of Hennepin Healthcare: Angela Hirsh

April 12, 2022

Angie Hirsch, LICSW, an American Indian mental health coordinator, advocates for integrating traditional American Indian and Western models of medicine for culturally affirming care.

“Hennepin Healthcare is in a unique position because they serve everybody,” says Angie Hirsch, LICSW, the American Indian mental health clinical coordinator for the Behavioral Health Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MDHS). Hennepin Healthcare provides care to many of the 500+ tribes located in Minnesota, as well as members of tribes from around the country that reside in Hennepin County. Before the pandemic, Angie traveled twice a month to local tribal communities to develop better mental health policies and practices for American Indian people. (more…)

Gen Z speak: Slang and language through emojis and tech

April 11, 2022

No matter your age, there is a word or words to describe “cool.” Slang words for “cool” often define one generation to the next. In fact, the word “cool” itself has been used by many generations. Depending on your generation, you may remember using words and phrases with your friends, such as “swag,” “gag me with a spoon,” and “tight,” expressions that your parents and other adults did not understand without additional context. (more…)

Kidney donor and grateful transplant recipient join Donate Life ceremonies

April 6, 2022

As we celebrate Donate Life month in April, a promotion to increase awareness about organ, tissue and eye donation and what that can mean to others, we annually raise the Donate Life flag in a celebration on our campus.

This year, the celebration included a kidney donor and the recipient of his kidney, who actually met for the first time last fall. (more…)

Voices of Hennepin Healthcare: Joe Kreisman

March 11, 2022

Joe Kreisman, the social impact manager for the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, recommends a healthcare model founded in hospitality that helps patients to feel at home through a community of care.

“Having a central, compassionate healthcare system that anyone can go to is an essential backbone of a healthy downtown community,” asserts Joe Kreisman, the social impact manager for the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District. Joe works directly with those experiencing homelessness in downtown Minneapolis by facilitating community engagement and supporting programs.

As Hennepin Healthcare continues its innovative planning process to advance health equity, Joe dreams of a community healthcare model that encourages everyone to feel at home in downtown Minneapolis. (more…)

Welcome to Here for Life

Angie Hirsch, LICSW, an American Indian mental health coordinator, advocates for integrating traditional American Indian and Western models of medicine for culturally affirming care.

Joe Kreisman, the social impact manager for the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, recommends a healthcare model founded in hospitality that helps patients to feel at home through a community of care.