The Hennepin Healthcare Film Series “Here” is back with a new episode, available to everyone on Tuesday, January 18. The latest episode titled “Here: A Residents’ Story”, is a bit of departure from the previous three, though is equally as heart-warming and compelling as its predecessors. (more…)
Adolescence is an important time of development. Young people are developing physically, emotionally, and socially. Their brains are developing rapidly. While early childhood involves rapid brain growth, adolescent brain development is focused on a process called “pruning,” in which the existing neural pathways are refined and trimmed over time, especially in the main decision-making areas of the brain. This process goes on well into a person’s twenties. As a result, in adolescence, many neurons, including those in the reward pathways, are firing rapidly. This creates an environment for rapid socioemotional development, learning and sometimes behaviors that involve risk-taking and high rewards. The adolescent years is a period of opportunity and vulnerability for health and development. (more…)
Recently, the Federal Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control approved and recommended the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years, taking us one step closer to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Too many children have been infected with COVID-19 and serious cases can occur even in healthy children. Cases have increased dramatically since the arrival of the Delta variant. Nationally, over 1.9 million 5-11 year-olds have been infected and more than 8,300 hospitalized with COVID-19. Some children can also have long-term health effects, and COVID-19 is now a leading cause of death for this age group. (more…)
After the devastating destruction of the original East Lake Clinic last summer, we welcome the new re-opened clinic located in the Hennepin County Service Center on East Lake Street. The new clinic is beautiful with stunning views of downtown Minneapolis and the East Lake neighborhood, lovely colors, and lots of natural light. Clinic staff are excited to re-welcome their patients to the new location, even though they were temporarily seeing them at the Whittier Clinic. (more…)
When Jerry Martin got on his bike for his usual morning ride from Victoria to Shorewood this past June, it seemed like another routine bike ride to the South Shore Senior Center for a morning filled with coffee and laughter with his friends. But it soon became clear to the retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel and Vietnam Veteran that something was very wrong. (more…)
In the late 60’s, Dr. Donald Freeman, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at then Minneapolis General Hospital, and a nurse named Margaret Hewitt conducted forums asking women what they wanted their birth experience to look like.
In 1971, Margaret used what she learned at these forums and her knowledge as a Certified Nurse Midwife to develop the first hospital nurse midwife practice in Minnesota at HCMC. This new and innovative model directly involved women in decisions about their care and birth experience and was remarkably successful.
Now 50 years later and 14 midwives strong, our Hennepin Healthcare nurse midwives continue to nurture the philosophy of care that Margaret instilled, ensuring all expectant mothers have the right to care that meets their spiritual and cultural beliefs, values and traditions. Join us in celebrating 50 years of caring for women and welcoming babies on Saturday, September 25 from 1-4 pm in the Blue Building Courtyard. There you can connect with our team and enjoy photos and memorabilia from the past five decades.
Read on to learn more about the history of our Nurse Midwife Service and the important milestones we’ve made along the way. (more…)
It’s early September and that means it’s time for back to school and also back to extracurricular activities. Many parents often wonder – which activities are the best for my child? How many activities are enough? Or too many? This year, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is the added concern of how to stay safe both at school and at after-school activities. After so much social isolation and disruption of routines during this past school year, we may be eager to return to “normal” busy schedules. Our forced downtime of the past year offers an opportunity to be thoughtful about how to incorporate activities for our children and teenagers. (more…)
When the COVID pandemic began, volunteers began making masks. And more masks. And more masks. They were in high demand and gratefully accepted. They were used by staff, patients, and visitors in all areas as the system began to adjust to pandemic rules and restrictions. But, as vaccines rolled out and mask mandates lifted (outside of healthcare facilities), there was no longer a need for more masks. Our mask makers, who love to sew and love to help others, were approached with a new idea for their creativity outlets – worry monsters.
What is a worry monster? (more…)
