CAREER
Purcell joins Essentia Health rheumatology
Nurse Practitioner Adam Purcell joined the Rheumatology Department at the Essentia Health St. Joseph's-Brainerd Clinic in Brainerd.
He will be working with rheumatologist Dr. Frank Vasey to care for both adults and children who suffer from rheumatology conditions and arthritis.
Purcell grew up in Brainerd and graduated from the local high school before moving away for college and his clinical training.
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"I'm very familiar with this area and still have family here," he said in a news release. "I look forward to starting my practice and caring for patients in my hometown."
Purcell earned a master's degree in nursing from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. He is certified as an adult/gerontology nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Although Purcell's background is in primary care, he's excited to be specializing in rheumatology.
"After meeting Dr. Vasey, I was very encouraged and convinced that this would be a great fit for me," Purcell said.
Adam
Purcell
Klimek gains promotion
Panache Salon and Day Spa is celebrating Paige Klimek's promotion into designer stylist. Paige achieved this through Higher Education and technical expertise, she specializes in creating customized haircuts and colors for her guests.
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Paige
Klimek
Philstrom gains appointment
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center rehabilitation aide Russ Philstrom of Emily this week was appointed to three-year terms on the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance and Minnesota Stroke Association board of directors.
Philstrom, a brain injury survivor, volunteers as the facilitator of CRMC's Brain Injury Support Group. A CRMC employee the past eight years, he will work other board members to improve public awareness of the organizations' services.
The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance is the only statewide nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Minnesotans affected by brain injury. The Alliance's mission is to raise awareness and enhance the quality of life for all people affected by brain injury. Their goal is to work towards a world where all avoidable brain injuries are prevented, all non-preventable brain injuries are minimized, and all individuals who have experienced brain injury can maximize their quality of life.
The mission of the Minnesota Stroke Association is to raise awareness about stroke and to enhance the quality of life for all people coping with its sudden and long-term effects. The Minnesota Stroke Association offers services and support in a variety of categories.
For more information about CRMC's support group, contact Philstrom at 651-329-1373.
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Russ
Philstrom
Lakewood Welcomes Kreller as paramedic
STAPLES - Caleb Kreller, certified community paramedic, has joined the medical staff as Lakewood Health System's new community paramedic.
The goal of adding a community paramedic to the Lakewood medical team is to increase patient access to care and help reduce healthcare costs. By working specifically with patients who frequent the hospital and emergency room, Kreller will go to patients' homes and provide non-emergency care and services at their convenience. This will help to provide even better continuity of care to Lakewood patients.
Originally from Pine River, Kreller completed the paramedic program at Inver Hills Community College, and attended the community paramedic program at Hennepin County Technical College in Eden Prairie, and earned his community paramedic certification.
Kreller lives in Brainerd with his family.
Caleb
Kreller
Sazama gains distinguished service award
Seth Sazama, doctor of chiropractic, recently received the 2015 Young Practitioner Distinguished Service Award at the Minnesota Chiropractic Association's annual convention. The award is given for continuous MCA membership, outstanding contributions to the profession and civic accomplishments. He has owned Sazama Family Chiropractic & Wellness, PA with his wife Danielle Sazama, doctor of chiropractic, since July 2011.
Seth
Sazama
Hudalla, Sharpe-Stirewalt win bronze
A fish dish prepared by Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Culinary Director Alan Hudalla and Chef Noah Sharpe-Stirewalt won a bronze medal on June 3 at the Association for Healthcare Foodservice's national competition in Salt Lake City.
They won third place for preparing Lime-Coconut Water Poached Crispy-Skinned Barramundi with Edamame-Wasabi whipped potatoes, carrot ginger reduction and arugula greens at the Association's annual conference. In April, their fish dish was named as one of five national finalists.
The chefs adhered to strict contest requirements in collaborating their idea. They had to prepare a tasty dish at less than $8 per serving, under 700 calories with less than 750 milligrams salt and 23 grams fat. Their dish cost $7.66 per serving and contained 641 calories, 724 milligrams of salt and 22 grams of fat.
Alan
Hudalla
Noah
Sharpe-Stirewalt
Lakewood Health System Receives Minnesota Hospital Association Awards
Lakewood Health System's Choose Health program, along with Mary Theurer, Lakewood Board member, were honored by the Minnesota Hospital Association at its 31st annual awards ceremony on April 24.
Receiving the Community Benefit award, the Choose Health program was started on April 28, 2014, thanks to funding from Hunger-Free Minnesota, and in partnership with Todd County Human Services, Region 5 Development Commission, SPROUT, the University of Minnesota - Extension, Central Lakes College, Prairie Bay, EnSearch Inc., and the city of Staples. The pilot program provided a community-supported agriculture share that included locally grown produce every other week during the growing season, an opportunity to participate in food demos, cooking classes and other education, as well as recipes to participants. Families were referred into the program based on a need identified by their Lakewood provider.
Throughout the six-month study, participants completed pre- and post-program surveys, as well as pre, mid and post health evaluations, which enabled the collection of necessary data for program facilitators. Things like patient's body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, height and weight were taken before, during and after the study, to help study the benefits of the program.
Receiving the Trustee of the Year award was Mary Theurer, chair of Lakewood's District Board, and secretary of the system board. Theurer represents the board on numerous committees and councils, and is a certified trustee. Lakewood reported Theurer's direction and leadership helped sustain Lakewood as a strong regional health care leader to ensure it can continue to serve and respond to the needs of its patients and community.
"Each day, all across the state, hospitals are working to strengthen the health of our communities," said MHA President and CEO Lawrence Massa, in a news release. "The women and men of these innovative, high-performing hospitals have set the bar high for patient care and for meeting the needs of their communities. Thanks to their innovation, diligence and commitment, Minnesota hospitals continue to be among the best in the nation."
Becky Misegades, director of Program and Operations Management; Katie Polman, project manager; and Brad Anderson, vice president of Strategy and Development accepted the Community Benefit award on behalf of Lakewood's Choose Health program.
Mary
Theurer
Becky
Misegades
Katie
Polman
Brad
Anderson
Roach graduates with honors
Dan Roach of Brainerd Lakes And Homes/Edina Realty, recently graduated with honors from Central Lakes College with an AAS in Business Management.
Some included classes are marketing, entrepreneurship, business communications and customers relations. Roach currently works with buyers and sellers in the entire Brainerd lakes area.
Dan
Roach
Peterson completes course
Dr. Bradley Peterson, a family physician at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center's Baxter Clinic, on May 2 completed the Foundations of Occupation Medicine Course in Baltimore.
The three-day course was presented by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the lead organization of Occupational Medicine Physicians in the United States. Both international and American Occupation Medicine Physicians gave lectures on workplace musculoskeletal injuries, industrial lung diseases, toxicology and occupational safety.
Peterson is available to take care of occupational health-related concerns for businesses in the Brainerd lakes area including pre-employment physicals, workers' compensation injury management, DOT/Bus driver physicals, FAA flight physicals, and executive health.
Richardson joins MIMIS
Cory Richardson, M.D., will begin his post graduate advanced surgical training at the Minnesota Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIMIS) located at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby and Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin on Aug. 1.
Richardson is the ninth surgeon to be accepted for the one-year Fellowship training program at MIMIS. He succeeds Dr. Kurt Stewart, who completes the MIMIS Fellowship July 31 and will begin practicing at the Puget Sound Surgical Center in Seattle. Dr. Stewart will be joining a group of five bariatric surgeons who will begin to focus on expanding treatment of gastroesophageal reflux.
The new fellow is moving to Crosby from Las Vegas, with his wife, Carissa, a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, and their Pomeranian, Bear. The couple enjoys the outdoors, especially skiing, hiking, camping, waterskiing and wakeboarding.
He earned his doctor of medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine where he also served as chief resident in General Surgery and completed a residency and internship. The surgeon earned a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction at the University of Nevada in Reno and Emergency Medical Technician certification at Truckee Meadows Community College in California.
Dr. Cory
Richardson
Comfort Keepers partners with the Living Legacy Project
Comfort Keepers aims to make a difference by participating in the Living Legacy Project.
The project's mission is to record, preserve and share the legacy stories of the 20th century, arguably the greatest body of wisdom in history, before it is lost forever.
Living Legacy Project, is a movement to empower families with an engaging way to record, archive and share their legacy stories, or those of a loved one, for the benefit of future generations.
The "Legacy Stories Program" is delivered in weekly emails and includes step-by-step mini-tutorials for using the award-winning IOS and Android app to record stories and upload them to the LegacyStories.org living history library. Also included are story prompts, interview methods, recording techniques and legacy-building strategies.
By partnering with Legacy Stories, Comfort Keepers said it helps clients with the opportunity to tell their "story" in a unique and easy way through Living Legacy. Legacy Stories Program was developed by a team of experts in multiple disciplines such as genealogy, estate planning, senior care, personal historians. Research was conducted over a decade and included training over 5,000 hospice volunteers to record life reviews of patients.
"The challenge of recording life stories when time is of the essence, has helped us develop the Legacy Stories Program" says Co-founder, Dennis Stack, in a news release. "We found that reminiscing with family photos makes it easy to recall important life events, since most of our defining moments and special memories have been captured in photographs."
Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center achieves AAAHC Accreditation
Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center LLC of Baxter has achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) for the fourth consecutive time. Accreditation distinguishes this surgical center from many other outpatient facilities by providing the highest quality of care to its patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation.
Status as an accredited organization means Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center LLC has met nationally recognized standards, including Conditions of Coverage by Medicare, for the provision of quality health care set by AAAHC and Medicare. More than 5,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted accreditation.
"We believe our patients deserve the best," stated Pam Carter of Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center in a news release. "When you see our certificate of accreditation, you will know that AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our facility and procedures. It means we as an organization care enough about our patients to strive for the highest level of care possible."
Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by AAAHC expert surveyors - physicians, nurses, and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.
The Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center is a joint venture between physicians and Essentia-St. Joseph's Medical Center, consisting of 44 dedicated employees, that provides ambulatory surgical services to patients who do not require overnight hospitalization. The Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center opened its doors in 2005 and to date has safely performed surgical services on over 44,386 patients. The patient returns home the "same day" of surgery from the surgery center. Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center is committed to providing a comfortable setting with a cost reduction benefit to the patient. We are further committed to providing the best surgical care available in the area.
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, founded in 1979, is the leader in
ambulatory health care accreditation with more than 5,000 organizations accredited nationwide. AAAHC accredits a variety of organizations including, ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers, endoscopy centers, student health centers, military health care clinics, and large medical and dental practices. AAAHC serves as an advocate for the provision of high-quality health care through the development of nationally recognized standards and through its survey and accreditation programs.
AAAHC accreditation is recognized as a symbol of quality by third-party payers, medical organizations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies and the public.
EVENTS
Januschka Family Farm to host Friday Morning Coffee
LITTLE FALLS - The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce invites all chamber members, employees and guests to Januschka Family Farm, from 7:30-9 a.m. Friday, 16539 183rd St, Little Falls, for Friday Morning Coffee. Announcements are 8 a.m. Sponsoring this month is Januschka Family Farm.
NCEDA named Finalist for $3 Million grant from ArtPlace America
In May, ArtPlace America announced North Central Economic Development Association (NCEDA) as one of 21 finalist organizations that were selected from a pool of 261 applications throughout the nation to participate in the ArtPlace America Community Development Investments program. NCEDA is the 501c3 affiliate of the Region Five Development Commission (R5DC).
On June 4-5, a team of ArtPlace America staff visited the region to conduct interviews with NCEDA staff, board members, and community partners. NCEDA competes with only two other Minnesota organizations for the grant award. Award notifications will be made after Aug. 1.
ArtPlace America (ArtPlace) is a 10-year collaboration of foundations, banks and federal agencies that exists to position art and culture as a core sector of comprehensive community planning and development in order to help strengthen the social, physical, and economic fabric of communities. Visit www.artplaceamerica.org for more information.
WORKSHOPS
How will you know when?
PIERZ - Horizon Health's Faith in Action and F & M State Bank want to invite you to the next Dine and Discover from 11:30 am. to 2 p.m., June 24 at Horizon Center in Pierz.
When it comes to our health and independence, sometimes it seems we would rather hold on to what is making our lives difficult and unsafe instead of putting things in place to make life easier and safer. Lunch is included, but reservations are required for this free event.
Call Horizon Health before Friday June 19 at 320-468-6451 to register or for more information. Horizon Health homecare provides free blood pressure screenings before and after the event.
The Dispatch welcomes business notes submissions via email to
renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com
, or fax to 218-829-0211, mail to Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401 or use the drop-off box in the alley next to the Dispatch building on James Street. Questions are welcome to Renee Richardson at 855-5852.
More business notes may be part of the Business Extra section in Monday's edition.
