Page 4 – Here for Life

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…)

ECMO: Improving chances for survival when heart, lungs fail

January 13, 2020

A knock on his neighbor’s door may have saved Ahmed Warfa’s life. On November 11, the 49-year-old was experiencing chest pain when he went to his neighbor for help.

“That’s the last thing I remember,” he said. “Until I woke up in the hospital.”

Warfa doesn’t recall making the initial 911 call before he passed out, but thankfully his neighbor picked up the phone and called 911 again to make sure help was on the way.

When Hennepin EMS paramedics arrived, they found him with a weak pulse and a shallow breathing pattern. As Warfa was being placed in the ambulance he went into full cardiac arrest. Paramedics gave him several shocks to restart his heart but those were unsuccessful. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed throughout the entire trip to HCMC, but when he arrived at the emergency department he still had no pulse and his heart was quivering, a life-threatening cardiac arrest rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. Warfa’s best chance for survival was Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation life support – otherwise known as ECMO. (more…)

Hospice care is palliative care, but not all palliative care is hospice care

January 10, 2020

Confused? The terms “palliative care” and “hospice care” are often used interchangeably when, in fact, they are not the same thing. Each has a different focus but they both share the same goal: bring comfort and relief to the patient and family.

Palliative care: comfort care for illness

This type of care uses an interdisciplinary team approach in order to improve the quality of life for the patient and family. The approach is holistic, caring for the physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, legal and advance care planning needs of the patient. This team is specially trained in palliative care and consist of doctors, nurses, social workers and other specialists. They will work with the patient’s primary doctors to provide this “extra layer of support” as the patient faces serious or life-threatening diseases. Everyone will work to manage the symptoms of the illness to keep the patient comfortable. (more…)

TBI and heart attack survivor: “I’m blessed”

January 8, 2020

Back in 2013 when he was asked to build a giant heart for a Cassadee Pope music video, Ricky Price never imagined that six years later his own heart would require a bit of reconstruction.

“I had a heart attack and four stents placed in November,” the Nashville native explained during a recent visit to Hennepin Healthcare’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, where a brief anatomy class is part of each patient’s rehab. (more…)

Gratitude is good for you!

December 31, 2019

Holidays and changing seasons can be difficult times of year for some. There is often pressure around expectations, additional stress and feelings of loss or loneliness. One tool that can help lift your spirit and provide grounding is practicing gratitude.

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1 in 10 Women: Endometriosis

December 13, 2019

If you have actually heard about endometriosis then you are already more informed than most about this devastating condition that effects roughly 10% of reproductive age females. This means approximately 200 hundred million women’s lives around the world are impacted by this potentially disabling condition. According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, “Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) migrates outside of the womb, where tissue should not be.” This results in inflammation, which produces pain and sometimes infertility.

I want to focus more on what endometriosis is not, as opposed to what it is. This approach brings about a more interesting discussion by revealing the immense opportunity we have as health practitioners (and as a society) to intervene early, potentially effecting the trajectory of a young person’s life. (more…)

Dr. Cutts, Safety Net Champion, advocates for needs of underserved children

November 19, 2019

Congratulations to Diana Cutts, MD, who was recently recognized with the 2019 Safety Net Champion Award at the Many Faces of Community Health Conference for advancing research, policy, and programming for children and families served by the safety net at Hennepin Healthcare. Dr. Cutts is a general pediatrician with special expertise in the area of pediatric nutrition. For more than 25 years, she has been a positive force for change at Hennepin Healthcare and a dynamic, committed advocate for the needs of underserved kids and their families. (more…)

NICU babies befriend crochet octopi – and how you can help!

November 19, 2019

In 2018, Hennepin Healthcare’s NICU celebrated 50 years of caring for our tiniest patients. That’s 50+ years of putting our preemie patients first; we’re always looking for ways to promote their safety and comfort, whether it’s a new innovation or something tried and true. This year, the crochet octopus entered the scene. A crochet octopus? Misty Easton from our NICU tells all and invites crafters to use their talents to support preemies: (more…)

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