Uncategorized – Page 6 – Here for Life

CEO update: 7,000 strong against COVID-19 related racism and discrimination

April 8, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Hennepin Healthcare, along with Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota, stands strong against racism and xenophobia. At a time when we are facing the COIVD-19 pandemic, this seems especially important to reiterate and to stand strong alongside our Asian community. Our values of respect and compassion guide us to support our patients and colleagues in the face of virus-related racism and discrimination. We are 7,000 strong and a force of good against COVID-19 related racism and discrimination. (more…)

A message from our CEO

March 20, 20203

To all of our cherished patients, outstanding staff and valued members of the community:

As we navigate through the COVID-19 public health crisis together, your trust is very important to all of us here at Hennepin Healthcare. Your health is our greatest priority. As an organization, we are committed to keeping you informed and vow to do our absolute best to support you as things rapidly evolve. We are all experiencing varying levels of uneasiness and distress, which is why it is so important – now more than ever – to support one another in every way possible. (more…)

World Delirium Awareness Day is March 11, but what exactly is delirium?

March 10, 2020

Delirium is a rapid change in brain function which affects the ability to focus attention. Often confused with dementia, delirium can fluctuate over the course of a day with periods of clarity followed by increased confusion. It is caused by many issues that patients can experience while hospitalized. Those most at risk for developing delirium are:

Critically-ill patients (in the ICU)
Older adults greater than 70 years of age
Patients post-surgery
Those with previous cognitive impairment/dementia, multiple medical conditions, sensory impairment, or immobility while hospitalized

However, more than 60% of patients with delirium are not recognized by health care systems. Hypoactive delirium (appearing to be sedated) is difficult to diagnose, and more consistently care providers think a patient is just sleepy or depressed. Hyperactive delirium (appearing aggressive or restless) is more recognizable but can be misdiagnosed as dementia. But how can delirium be prevented? Read on to learn more about this often misunderstood condition as part of World Delirium Awareness Day. (more…)

Want a healthy heart?

February 26, 2020

We all have heard the things we should be doing to have a healthy heart. Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise.

What we’d like to do is compile some tips that may be more specifically helpful, and debunk some myths about what is good and not good for your heart and overall wellbeing! We hope you find this helpful. (more…)

See snapshots spanning 14 decades of care at Hennepin Healthcare

January 17, 2020

With the start of a new year (and decade!), it’s easy to forget how far Hennepin Healthcare has come since first opening its doors over 130 years ago, then named Minneapolis City Hospital. With that in mind, we put together a timeline to showcase some of the accomplishments, historical events, firsts and changes spanning across the last 14 decades that brought us to where we are today.

Although we couldn’t possibly cover all of the hundreds, if not thousands, of important moments in the history of Hennepin Healthcare, here are a selection of some of the highlights from the past few decades. (more…)

144 nurses and counting: How nurse recognition blossomed at Hennepin thanks to DAISY program

November 11, 2019

“She is wonderful with her patients…her actions are excellent, a true statement of her skills. She…consistently demonstrates excellent nursing care.”

These words described Laraine Steel, a Hennepin Healthcare DAISY Award winner, in her nomination from January 2008. More than 10 years later, Steel continues to provide excellent nursing care at Hennepin Healthcare as a Diabetes Clinical Educator and the AADE Diabetes Program Coordinator. She also sees patients with diabetes at Whittier Clinic.

Laraine Steel, DAISY Award winner for January 2008

The DAISY Award is an international program created by the DAISY Foundation that recognizes nurses like Steel who make a difference in the lives of those they care for and work alongside with their clinical skills and extraordinary compassion. The foundation and program turn 20 this month and within two decades the program has expanded to over 700 healthcare facilities, including Hennepin Healthcare where it started 12 years ago. (more…)

One day at a time…. celebrating 50 years of Knapp Rehabilitation

July 5, 2019

It’s hard to put into words the daily life at Knapp Rehab, Hennepin Healthcare’s inpatient acute rehabilitation unit. To end up in Knapp, something pretty awful sent you there – a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, a chronic disease, an accident. (more…)

The Grizzly Bear in your (neighbor’s) Backyard

June 28, 2019

My three-year old daughter was testing limits like most toddlers while we were visiting family a few weeks ago, and she fell into their swimming pool. She thought it cute to keep moving her chair backwards despite several warnings until the chair toppled over and she went head first into the water! Her grandpa immediately jumped in and got her out in less than 3 seconds. (more…)