Northfield Hospital and Clinics Board Meeting Observer Report from September 26, 2024
l. Executive Summary
ll. Call to Order
lll. Regular and Consent Agenda
lV. Reports
V. Presentations/Discussion/Action Items
- Nursing Services Update, (Lisa Bauer, CNE)
The hospital currently has 152 RNs and 31 Nursing Assistants. There are no open positions. There has been less turnover- 23% turnover in 2022 and 17% in 2023. There are more candidates to choose from now. Many would prefer to work part time– the hospital has had to get creative about staffing to accommodate. There are many nursing applicants very motivated to grow and get early promotions. It has been found that many new employees are lacking in interpersonal communication– possible connection to all the texting and email that young people use instead of direct communication? More training is needed with some new hires in interpersonal communication.
Northfield Hospital has been designated a Stroke Ready Hospital through the Minnesota Department of Health. The goal is to keep the patients in Northfield rather than have to transfer them. This has been going well. There are certain specific targets that have to be met for this designation concerning how fast patients are diagnosed and treated. “Time is tissue” with strokes and it is vital that the stroke is correctly identified because the treatment depends on the type of stroke.
Northfield Hospital is a Level 4 Trauma Center. This designation is renewed every three years (due in 2025). There has been a lot of improvement towards retaining this. Work has been done on improving processes. What could we do better?
The Birth Center has been gaining a great reputation and people are coming to observe.
Same day hip replacements are now happening at the hospital.
There are plans being made for replacing many staff members due to retirements. Fewer new workers are willing to put in the long hours and weeks that many current employees are working. It will be interesting to figure out how to put together creative approaches to staffing.
- Communication/Marketing Update ( Betsy Spethmann, Director of Communication, Julie Nikolai Sullivan, Director of Marketing)
Communications have become complicated as there is no one way to reach everyone anymore. It can involve Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, magazines, TV, newspaper etc. It seems that women are often the ones in the family that deal with health care.
Marketing has been done to attract patients to the Birth Center from New Prague which stopped delivering babies. There has been a 10% increase in births at Northfield Hospital.
There have been education booths at downtown events.
The Cancer Care Center has earned accreditation. They have held screening events, had prevention information available and held a successful Survivor and Patient celebration.
The hospital is working on increasing their community partnerships with local organizations such as Growing Up Healthy, Community Education, and Community Schools. Some programs are offered in Spanish.
New providers at the hospital are being featured on the hospital website including photos and biographies.
The hospital foundation is starting to deliver requested supplies.
A protocol has been developed for delivering bad news, such as when there are closures such as the Long Term Care Center, Hospice programs, etc. Staff will always hear first and then the goal will be that others will hear from the hospital rather than through rumors on social media etc. The context of why it happened and what it will mean going forward is important to communicate.
Urgent Care wait times have been added to the website.
There is now online appointment scheduling for the clinic.
Soon health care reminders will be sent via text.
The hospital website is often the first encounter that many people have with the hospital. There are 700-800 active users every day.
Marketing has been developed for reaching a younger audience– Snapchat ads with video and music with topics of interest.
The board suggested that we need to communicate more about why it is important to have this hospital in town as many rural health providers are consolidating or going away. Also suggestions were made that we need more communication with the colleges– the hospital is a draw to attracting students. More students are coming to college with complicated medical problems (many of which would not have been able to attend college unless there was a hospital in the town).
- Proposed Sale of 2nd Street EMS House
The City of Northfield has submitted a purchase offer of $325,000 which was suggested by a realtor. Administration recommends accepting the offer. The board agreed without opposition. It will be presented to City Council in October.
- Creative Workforce Solutions (Tammy Hayes, COO)
The hospital has been piloting a Clinical Extender Paid Internship that is now in the process of moving from a pilot to an official program. The pilot over the summer involved training a local college student who is interested in going into health care for about 23 hours to help out licensed staff by doing things such as cleaning equipment, stocking supplies, taking vital signs, sitting with patients, doing (not reading) EKGs, helping with patient transfers. It has been working very well for both the students and the staff.
VI. Executive and Committee Reports
- CEO Report (Steve Underdahl, President and CEO)
Patient volumes have been down in the summer.
The hospital has worked out a new contract with BlueCross/Blue Shield.
The hospital has a new contract with Avel Behavioral Health starting in November. They are a Telemedicine service.
Allina Telehealth service will go live in November. This will allow video conferencing with specialists.
The hospital has a good relationship with Allina– generally cardiac transfer location. Mayo tends to be used for cancer care and nephrology. Twin Cities Spine is used for spine and back care and Tareen Dermatology in Farmington for skin issues.
October, November, and December will be key to meeting financial goals. There tends to be more use because people are home from vacations, schools are back in session, and people have used up their deductibles.
There is not much going on with health care policy until after the election.
Mayo and Allina are starting to not get along well as organizations. It has been affecting the Owatonna hospital.
Northfield Hospital was given a quality review by UCare.
- Financial Report (Eric Guth, CFO)
The Blue Cross contract is a big deal because it makes NHC in network to patients. The hospital needs to get more patients who are not on Medicare and Medicaid because of the poor reimbursement.
August had an operating loss of $618,000 due partly to lower volumes. Births and surgery volumes were up. Lots of stress on the 4th quarter to make budget goals.
- Verbal Budget and Finance Committee report (Sarah Carlsen, board chair)
NHC CEO Steve Underdahl was given an Enduring Legacy Award for his service.
At this point, the meeting moved to a closed session.
Respectfully submitted by observer Anne Larson.
