In the News
Reversing Minnesota’s declining birthrate is costly — and controversial
Kalesha Williams holds her baby K’Anthony
Williams during a visit to the NICU at HCMC in Minneapolis on Thursday.
(Photo on left by Hennepin Healthcare)
Mohamed Omar named one of first Somali American hospital board chairs
In the announcement, HHS Chief Executive Officer Jennifer DeCubellis said the appointment is in recognition for the years of leadership Omar already dedicated to the Board on the finance, investment, audit, and compliance committees.
WATCH: Mohamed Omar becomes first Somali American to lead Minnesota hospital board
Less than a week ago, the Board of Hennepin Health Care appointed Mohammad Omar as its new chair, marking a significant step as he becomes the first Somali American to lead a hospital board in Minnesota.
Mohamed Omar becomes first Somali American to lead Minnesota hospital board
Mohamed Omar says he sees himself in many of Hennepin Healthcare’s patients, most of which are people of color.
Less than a week ago, Hennepin Healthcare’s board appointed Omar to be its new leader.
He is also the first Somali American hospital board chair in the state. And while Omar says he certainly feels proud and honored, there’s part of him that has some mixed feelings.
“I also recognize that being a first comes with its own challenges, because you would have liked to the focus to be on you because you’ve done something, not because you’re the first,” he said.
The JEMS Report: Hennepin (MN) EMS Paramedic Program Addresses Staffing Issues
JEMS Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ted Lee speaks with Kerry Degen and Jill McCafferty of Hennepin EMS. Through it’s paramedic program, Hennepin EMS has grown its system.
Mohamed Omar Becomes First Somali American to Lead a Minnesota Hospital Board
In a groundbreaking move, Mohamed Omar has been appointed as the chair of the board for Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS), the organization overseeing Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). Omar’s appointment makes him the first Somali American to lead a hospital board in Minnesota.
Mohamed Omar becomes first Somali-American chair of Hennepin Healthcare
Mohamed Omar has become the first Somali-American to chair the board of Hennepin Healthcare, a major milestone for Minnesota’s largest public safety-net hospital.
HCMC’s new leader is the first Somali American to lead a Minnesota hospital board
Mohamed Omar is the new board chair of Hennepin Healthcare System, the organization that runs HCMC, making him Minnesota’s first Somali American hospital board leader.
Hennepin Healthcare System appoints first Somali American chairman of its Board of Directors
Hennepin Healthcare System has appointed Mohamed Omar as its first Somali Board of Directors chairman since the system began operating as Minneapolis City Hospital in 1887.
Mr. Omar is the chief administrative officer for the 141-year-old Minneapolis-based Washburn Center for Children, and was previously the controller and chief accountant at the Metropolitan Council.
Why do we jerk while falling asleep?
Dr. Ranji Varghese, head of one of the original sleep centers in the country at Hennepin Healthcare, explains what happens in the transition from being awake to being asleep.
Mother, 2 daughters recover from deadly crash in Aitkin County
Jeremy Melberg was waiting for his family at the cabin when he got an alert from the Life 360 app that a “crash had been detected.” His daughters have the app on their phones for safety reasons. Jeremy says he knew about the crash before the police and drove to the scene right away.
“By the time I got there, three had already been airlifted to HCMC,” Jeremy said. “The car looked like it was hit by a train. It’s not recognizable.”
“We’re still alive, we’re still together, and God is still taking care of us,” said Lisa Melberg.
Still together and very grateful to be at the same hospital together.
Surgery delays continue as Minnesota hospitals grapple with IV solution shortage
Hennepin Healthcare on Friday installed a reminder in its electronic medical record system to encourage clinicians when appropriate to switch to oral rather than IV solutions when patients need hydration. IV usage immediately declined through the weekend.
While IV solutions are the go-to option for many clinicians, “there are others times when oral rehydration is perfectly reasonable,” said Dr. Ryan Jelinek, Hennepin Healthcare’s chief health information officer. “Our bodies do a great job of absorbing fluids when they are needed.”
Provider burnout has become a critical issue, driven in part by these kinds of administrative tasks and the way they detract from the patient-provider connection. Health systems are exploring how AI can help reduce the burden of documentation that’s weighing on physicians, helping to fuel a shortage of primary care doctors.
Hennepin Healthcare has deployed an AI tool that creates clinical notes on patient visits, allowing providers to focus more on meaningful, face-to-face communication. Embedded in the provider’s smartphone, the tool records patient-provider interactions, extracts the most relevant information, then generates a clinical note—something providers previously had to do manually.
Currently used in Hennepin Healthcare clinics, the tool is expected to expand into emergency and inpatient settings later this year. “Around 70% of providers are using it routinely,” says Dr. Ryan Jelinek. “Some have found it life-changing in terms of the amount of time they’re having to spend on the electronic health record after work or during non-clinical hours. They’re reporting a better ability to just focus on their patients during the short, precious time they have together, so it’s a more quality experience for both of them.”
The orthopedic department with 5 female leaders
While orthopedic surgery remains one of the most male-dominated medical specialties, a team of leaders at Minneapolis-based Hennepin Healthcare is trying to change that, according to a Sept. 29 report from Fox 9 Minneapolis.
Meet the women surgeons leading HCMC’s Orthopedic Department
Dr. Mirick is one of five orthopedic surgeons at Hennepin Healthcare who happen to be female. Several are quick to admit that working with power tools was an early part of their attraction to medicine.
Interim Chair Dr. Jackie Geissler grew up on a farm in Wisconsin, Dr. Jessica Downs is the daughter of an electrical contractor, Dr. Nancy Luger’s family owned a lumber company, and Dr. Emily Wagstrom was busy operating at the time of this interview. Together, they make up roughly half of the practicing orthopedic surgeons on staff at Hennepin County Medical Center. Compare that to the latest numbers from the Association of American Medical Colleges, which show that just 6.2% of all practicing orthopedic surgeons across the entire country are women.
“For many women, it’s a great fit as a career because we can have a really exciting job and a good work-life balance,” says Robin Hoenisch, a physician assistant at Hennepin Healthcare.
New Brighton woman fights for federal funding for stillbirth prevention
Dr. Elizabeth Alabi, an OB-GYN with Hennepin Healthcare, said people of color, especially Black women, are at an increased risk for stillbirth. Other factors like obesity, diabetes and other health conditions heighten risk, too.
Alabi advises people thinking about pregnancy to get preconception counseling to assess health issues that could affect pregnancy to optimize maternal health. Prenatal care and visits to a physician are also essential.
But at home, expectant parents should monitor fetal movements, she added. Duffy works with “Count the Kicks,” a nonprofit educating parents about this that provides a free app that helps keep track of the frequency.
“Your baby has a pattern, and so if you’re not feeling that, if that pattern isn’t happening or like a red flag is going off, those are things that you need to talk to your provider about,” Alabi said.
With cold and flu season here, it’s time to start thinking about getting an updated COVID vaccine
“It still gets people sick and some people die,” said Dr. David Hilden with Hennepin Healthcare. “But it is true that it’s a much different illness than we were used to three to four years ago.”
“There really isn’t an endpoint, and the lack of endpoint keeps the wheels just churning and churning,” said Dr. Mark Rosenblum, a sleep psychologist with Hennepin Healthcare. “For many people at nighttime, that’s the first time they’re not really distracted by anything.”
Man dies following Duluth inline skating marathon, organizers say
Cardiologist Louis Kohl was interviewed by Marielle Mohs:
“It’s not unreasonable to check in with your general practitioner, your internist, your family medicine provider, and say, ‘hey I’m thinking about doing these things, can I have a basic check-over?’ And they’re going to ask you a lot of stuff that seems silly but it’s really important like, do you smoke, or do you have diabetes or does anyone in your family have heart disease or did anyone in your family die suddenly? I think those are things that really change how we think abut a patient.”
UNC quarterback Max Johnson releases statement on injury
“These last eight days have been a serious grind and it has taken a lot to get to the other side and start the recovery process. I want to thank Dr Templeman and his team, the nurses and support staff at Hennepin County Medical Center who took amazing care of me,” Johnson continued.
