Hennepin Healthcare in the News
View recent medical stories from local and national media featuring experts from Hennepin Healthcare.
Hennepin Healthcare’s Adventurama 2024 set for June 8
Mill City Times, 3/11/24
After a successful launch in 2023, Hennepin Healthcare Foundation returns with Adventurama 2024, an urban experience in downtown Minneapolis.
Dr. Behnam Sabayan talks strokes, from atrial fibrillation to TIA’s and more
WCCO Radio, 3/10/24
Dr. Behnam Sabayan of Hennepin Healthcare joins Susie Jones to talk about strokes. He answers listener question about things like atrial fibrillation risks to TIA’s and talks about Hennepin Healthcare’s new technologies to help in stroke treatment.
Hennepin EMS sets standard with ambulance patient weighing system
FOX 9, 3/6/24
Hennepin EMS will become the first ambulance service in the country to equip its entire fleet with a weighing system, according to Charlie Sloan, the deputy chief of operations.
WCCO 4, 2/29/24
Dr. Grant Larson, a radiologist at Hennepin Healthcare, said the health system’s four MRI machines rely on helium to operate.
Minneapolis man learns importance of getting care after pancreatitis scare
WCCO 4, 2/25/24
“With pancreatitis sometimes you get this really aggressive inflammatory response, so his heart was racing and he was spiking fevers on and off during his hospital stay,” Dr. Dave Kahat said.
Are Hennepin Healthcare and the medical examiner prepared for large-scale emergencies?
WCCO 4, 2/15/24
“We like to talk about space, staff, and stuff — or supplies,” explains Seth Jones, Emergency Program Manager. “So if we get we get inundated to the point where it overwhelms our capacities and our capabilities, that would result in a mass casualty incident.”
State of Emergency: How agencies in Hennepin Co. joined forces to train for threats
WCCO 4, 2/14/24
“All of us play a piece in that. And when one of those pieces falls out of line or doesn’t do their part, that’s when things start to break down. We all have to be on the same team,” Battalion Chief Tyler Lupkes with Hennepin EMS said.
State of emergency: how Minnesota hospitals, state officials prepare for cyber attacks
WCCO 4, 2/13/24
Yan Kravchenko, director of core technology and information security at Hennepin Healthcare, said his team manages more than 50,000 devices.
“Quite literally every aspect of health care at this point has some technology component to it, which is to say nothing of all the medical devices that we rely on every single day,” he added. “An attacker has to be right once, but someone responsible for defending our systems we have to be right 100% of the time. We have to always be prepared. It never stops.”
What pharmacists suggest for patients struggling to find Adderall amid shortage
WCCO 4, 2/7/24
“What we would want with the patient, if they decided to make that change, that would be a provider-patient decision for sure,” explained Mark Holtan, Specialty Pharmacy Manager at Hennepin Healthcare. “They may expect an adjustment period of going off one med and on another. You will always have that period of time where you’re sort of washing out of one medicine and adding a new one on.”
Ellison announces low-cost insulin for all Minnesotans
KSTP 5, 2/7/24
“People who have insulin deficiency or type one diabetes simply cannot live without this medication,” said Dr. Laura LaFave, a physician with Hennepin Healthcare.
Hennepin Healthcare’s East Lake Clinic expands trauma-informed care
Spokesman-Recorder, 1/26/24
East Lake Clinic’s stated vision is to “transform the clinic into a place for trauma healing for staff and patients—transforming the health of our community by transforming the health of our clinic.”
“At times it can be a heady exercise, trying to wrap my head around the sheer number of individuals from all walks of life and ethnicities who come to East Lake Clinic with current and past traumas poorly affecting their mental and physical health,” says Dr. Ndidiamaka Koka in a reflection she wrote about the clinic’s transformation.
Good Question: Why do we get hangry?
WCCO 4, 1/23/24
For Dr. Ann Kearns, it’s a lived experience and a scientific one. The longtime Mayo Clinic physician is now an endocrinologist at the Hennepin County Medical Center.
Who’s calling the Minnesota Poison Control Hotline?
Mpls/StPaul Magazine, 1/22/24
“Poison Control,” answers Renee Petroski, a poison information provider of 24 years.
“That’s the rewarding part about the job,” says Minnesota Poison Control System director Samantha Lee, “caring that moms thank you so much. For us, it’s like a daily thing, hearing about babies eating butt paste and stuff. But for the moms who call, it’s their first time.”
When people call with a poisoning problem from home, adds Dr. Jon Cole, Minnesota Poison Control System medical director, “the vast majority of the time, we can safely keep you at home and avoid an emergency department visit.”
Good Question: Why do our noses run in cold weather?
WCCO 4, 1/16/24
“When the cold wind blows, the sense of nose will flow,” Dr. John Sweet, medical director for the allergy clinic at Hennepin Healthcare, said. “The purpose of the nose is to warm and humidify the air before it enters down into our lungs to prevent irritation.”
Metro hospitals see longer than normal ER wait times amid surge in COVID, RSV, flu
KSTP 5, 1/12/24
Hennepin Healthcare is telling patients it’s experiencing high demand and longer wait times in its clinics and emergency departments. Allina Health has put out similar advisories for its hospitals citing a surge in flu, SRC and other seasonal illness cases.
Minnesota companies capitalize on America’s sleep problems
Star Tribune, 1/11/24
A large percentage of Americans are not getting a good night’s sleep, in many cases because of a sleep disorder — and a growing number of Twin Cities companies are developing new technology to treat the issues.
Take sleep apnea. It is the top issue for U.S. sleep clinics, said Dr. Ranji Varghese, medical director for the Hennepin Healthcare’s Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center.
“It can be so disruptive to someone’s life,” Varghese said. Untreated sleep apnea can also increase risks for stroke, heart attack and hypertension.
Another COVID wave hits U.S. as JN.1 becomes dominant variant
The Washington Post, 1/4/24
“Every hospital that does pediatric care is saturated,” said John Hick, an emergency physician at Hennepin Healthcare, in downtown Minneapolis, which has 25 pediatric beds.
Suspect arrested in New Year’s Day shooting that injured 11-year-old Minneapolis girl
Star Tribune, 1/4/23
La’neria Wilson, 11, waited to be taken into surgery at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. La’neria was struck by gunfire beneath her right eye inside her bedroom minutes into the New Year.
Girl shot by bullet from outside while in north Minneapolis bedroom, police say
WCCO 4, 1/1/2024
Police and paramedics arrived to take the child to Hennepin Healthcare to be treated for her injuries.
Maple Grove hospital once again delivers first baby of year in metro
KARE 11, 1/1/2024
Happy Birthday to Hennepin Healthcare’s first baby, Leslie. She came into Ingrid and Walter’s arms at 3:42 a.m.
Minnesota hospitals welcome their first babies of 2024
KSTP 5, 1/1/2024
In Minneapolis, Hennepin Healthcare welcomed Leslie as its first baby of the new year. The health system says her parents, Ingrid and Walter, welcomed her to the world at 3:42 a.m.
The Silent Toll of Gunshot Injuries
Star Tribune, 12/29/23
When a person is shot, trauma surgeons like Dr. Derek Lumbard and his teammates at HCMC often have about 5 minutes’ notice that a patient is coming their way.
“Survival from the injuries is only the beginning,” he said. “If someone is still living, are you helping them thrive and actually live? Or is it good enough for them just to be alive?”
So Lumbard is also studying the longer-term effects of firearm injuries, and he participates in the Next Step program, the state’s only hospital-based violence intervention program.
Any of the 900 people so far served by Next Step can remain with the program indefinitely, said Kentral Galloway, the program’s director. They’re matched with job training, education or help finding suitable housing for a fresh start.
“It’s like a lifelong journey because we don’t really have a discharge,” said Galloway, who lost a cousin in a still-unsolved shooting in 2009.
“Perfect Storm” is brewing in downtown Minneapolis with Vikings and Packers squaring off on New Year’s Eve
KARE 11, 12/29/23
Charles Sloan at Hennepin EMS says first responders are also preparing for a busy night. “We are expecting a pretty heavy call volume,” Sloan says. Hennepin EMS provides on-field medical services during home Vikings games. The organization will also provide medical services to fans, both inside the stadium and outside on the plaza.
“That’s on top of the normal calls we typically see on a Sunday night,” Sloan explained. “Pretty much every paramedic and EMT who is able to work is working Sunday night.”
Firefighters deliver gifts to burn victims at Hennepin Healthcare
FOX 9, 12/23/23
“It just shows not just the patient but the family members of patients that there are people here for you,” said Jon Gayken, a burn surgeon at Hennepin Healthcare.
Putting Narcan in reach can save lives
Star Tribune, 12/22/23
Part of that educational process is recognizing that “if one puts aside their bias or stigma toward people with addiction and just look at the facts dispassionately, I think people will see there is an epidemic and we have the opportunity to save lives,” Dr. Charles Reznikoff, an addiction specialist at Hennepin Healthcare, told an editorial writer. “There are many ways to save lives, but making naloxone universally available is clearly one way to do this.”
Deadly attacks draw attention to inadequacies in Minnesota’s mental health system
Star Tribune, 12/22/23
Such upstream efforts attempt to stave off bottlenecks have become common at hospitals like Hennepin Healthcare, where people are stuck in emergency rooms because mental health treatment programs don’t have room for them, said Dr. Eduardo Colón Navarro, chief of the Department of Psychiatry.
Premature baby born at 6 months going home in time for Christmas
KSTP 5, 12/22/23
“Being able to take her home period is awesome because so many people were afraid she wasn’t going to make it because of how tiny she is. But she’s here now and it’s just awesome to be able to take her home,” said Demaria Witkliffe, Star’s mother.
COVID, flu and other viruses are rising. Here’s how to stay healthy over the holidays.
Star Tribune, 12/22/23
“The main risk is in exposing either people who are unvaccinated or who are otherwise at higher risk, so babies, pregnant people and older folks,” said Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn, an internist and pediatrician at Hennepin Healthcare’s downtown campus.
COVID virus levels rise 120% in St. Cloud, Fergus Falls wastewater treatment plants
KARE 11, 12/21/23
“But it’s truly been in the past few weeks that we’ve seen it take off in the U.S.,” said Hennepin Healthcare’s Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn. “That’s also when we’ve been seeing cases in general go up locally.”
See the best Star Tribune photos and videos that made 2023 a year to remember
Star Tribune, 12/20/2023
“As I was working the HCMC story, I was really hoping that folks would get a really deep look at what healthcare looks like. These are people that are giving, sacrificing so much to take care of you. And I wanted them to see that sacrifice, and i wanted them to see that there are people outside of that, too.” – Alex Kormann, Star Tribune photographer
MDH commissioner announces appointments to Equitable Health Care Task Force
Red Lake Nation News, 12/20/23
Nneka Sederstrom, chief health equity officer, Hennepin Healthcare – and Tyler Winkelman, MD, co-director health, homelessness, and criminal justice lab, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute; past-president, Minnesota EHR Consortium – General member.
Police investigating after 3 women fall ill with similar alcohol-related symptoms
KARE 11, 12/19/23
Hennepin Healthcare’s forensic nurse manager Breanna Heisterkamp said the hospital system does see quite a few of drugging cases.
“I do think it does happen more frequently than any of us are probably comfortable with,” Heisterkamp said. “I know I’m not comfortable with it happening at all, but we do see a fair amount.”
Woman who drank at Dinkytown bar sickened; 2 others report similar symptoms
FOX 9, 12/18/23
Breanna Heisterkamp with Hennepin Healthcare’s HART program interviewed.
Good Question: What does the appendix do and why are we fine without it?
WCCO 4, 12/4/23
“For many, many years, surgeons thought it was a way to stay in business,” joked Dr. Richard Zera, a surgical oncologist at Hennepin Healthcare.
Vaping in local schools: How E-cigs add up to multiple problems
CCX Media, 12/1/23
Dr. Gavin Bart, division director of addiction medicine at Hennepin Healthcare, says e-cigarettes can also more easily deliver nicotine than traditional cigarettes.
“Kids in a disposable vape can carry around the equivalent of half a carton of cigarettes in their hand in a vape pen. To have one thing in their hand that’s containing that amount of nicotine that they can basically smoke in an unrestricted manner becomes really dangerous in terms of the amount of nicotine they are being exposed and the level of nicotine addiction they can develop.”
More parents are giving their children melatonin to sleep, but is it safe?
KARE 11, 11/28/23
“Melatonin is a little bit of a gray area,” Hennepin Healthcare pediatrician Dr. Krishnan Subrahmanian said. Subrahmanian said some studies show children on the autism spectrum, with ADHD, and/or diagnosed with sleep disorders may benefit from using melatonin.
2 deaths in Minnesota linked to cantaloupe salmonella outbreak
FOX 9, 11/26/23
“If we’ve heard of a couple of cases, there’s probably going to be a lot more,” said Kirk Hughes with Minnesota Poison Control.
RSV hospitalizations in MN on the rise before the holidays
KARE 11, 11/17/23
Dr. Krishnan Subrahmanian is a pediatrician for Hennepin Healthcare and said his clinics reflect the trend the Minnesota Department of Health is reporting.
How to avoid disasters and injuries over the holiday season
WCCO Radio, 11/13/23
“You know, we’ll see a lot of burn injuries, and we’ll also see a lot of house fires,” says Charlie Sloane who is Deputy Chief of Operations at Hennepin EMS. “Especially around Thanksgiving, people trying to deep fry a turkey in their garage and didn’t prepare it properly. We’ll definitely see that stuff around the holidays.”
He says they also respond to a number of falls.
“We’ll see people slipping and falling and they might have a broken ankle, a broken hip, a broken wrist,” says Sloane. “We see a lot of orthopedic injuries.”
Workplace injuries from hospital violence increase in Minnesota
Star Tribune, 11/12/23
Hennepin Healthcare responded to incidents this year at its emergency department intake unit in downtown Minneapolis with a security guard, but the solution is problematic, said Josh Gramling, the health system’s director of occupational health and wellness. The presence subdued some people but agitated others, he said.
Black Youth with Stethoscopes Summit inspires future healthcare professionals
FOX 9, 11/4/23
“We want to make sure these young people see themselves in any of the spaces that are at Hennepin Healthcare, and we want them to know that we believe they can become what they see,” Hennepin Healthcare Chief Health Equity Officer Dr. Nneka Sederstrom said.
Hennepin Healthcare fosters shift toward more representative future workforce
KSTP 5, 11/4/23
Hennepin Healthcare has been holding related summits to foster interest in the industry among kids of color for a couple of years, according to Dr. Nneka Sederstrom, Hennepin Healthcare’s Chief Health Equity Officer. Saturday marked the “first iteration of joining men and women together,” she said, adding, “And I think this is our eighth version of the youth summits.”
Alexander Mattison Surprises Local Paramedic Battling Stage 4 Breast Cancer
Minnesota Vikings, 10/31/23
“There is someone that we want to make sure we bring up and acknowledge. Ali, if you’d like to join me up here,” Mattison said. “For all that you do, we want to make sure we acknowledge you and surprise you with two tickets to [an upcoming game].”
Ceremony completes St. Anthony firefighter’s COVID comeback
Star Tribune, 10/27/23
Once near death at HCMC in Minneapolis, firefighter is now bringing patients to the hospital.
New RSV shot for babies approved months ago, is now in short supply
WCCO 4, 10/26/23
“If available, it can reduce the risk of severity of RSV disease for children,” said Stacene Maroushek, Hennepin Healthcare Pediatric Infectious Disease expert. “Right now, we do have a limited supply.”
With diabetes on the rise, tech becomes crucial part of disease management
Star Tribune, 10/26/23
At the Hennepin Healthcare Center of Diabetes and Endocrinology in downtown Minneapolis, 66-year-old Mark Harris tries to recall his medication intake and sleep schedule from the past week.
Laura LaFave, an endocrinologist at the center, listens attentively while seated at a computer desk, looking at metrics of Harris’ blood sugar levels extracted from the Bluetooth-connected continuous glucose monitor (CGM) he wears daily. Harris’ glucose levels are low, which leads LaFave to pry deeper into how his insulin pump is functioning.
Tips for staying healthy at work this sick season
WCCO 4, 10/25/23
“All those viruses’ flu, RSV and COVID can lead to runny nose, nasal congestion and a cough,” said Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn, a Hennepin Healthcare physician.
Alexander Mattison hosts crucial catch event at Hennepin Healthcare
KSTP 5, 10/24/23
Vikings running back speaks on importance of cancer screening.
Minnesota losing obesity battle: One in three adults fits the bill
Star Tribune, 10/15/23
It’s not surprising that such approaches work even while obesity increases, said Dr. Iesha Galloway-Gilliam, a weight-management specialist with Hennepin Healthcare. Today’s eating habits get passed along through genetic expression to the next generation and influence its habits, she said, which is why a recent forecast of a 46% adult obesity rate in Minnesota by 2030 is probable.
Isanti County explosion survivor describes her escape and her recovery
KSTP 5, 10/11/12
“It makes everything more difficult when there’s an explosion involved in a fire,” said Dr. Jon Gayken with the Hennepin Healthcare Burn Center. Hennepin Healthcare is hosting the Midwest Burn Conference this week to share information about complex cases like Zdenek’s.
Dr. Gayken says cases like this can often involve injuries beyond the skin.
“Any time there is an explosion, you can have injury to your lungs and internal organs which goes with normal trauma,” he said.
HCMC offering culturally appropriate hair and skin care for patients
KSTP 5, 10/10/23
“The product is giving us a chance to take better care of our patients,” said HCMC nurse Tshilanda Nyembwe.
HCMC, other hospitals use new app aimed at improving the experiences of Black birthing families
MinnPost, 10/5/23
“There’s nothing unique about Hennepin (Healthcare) when it comes to outcomes related to Black and brown birthing people. We are a hospital in America that’s functioning with the same systemic racism issues that every hospital in America is functioning with,” Nneka Sederstrom said. “Just like everywhere, our patients have had the opportunity to not feel heard, not really be seen to not have their care.”
“We don’t think that that’s acceptable,” she said.
Looking to get a COVID booster? You might have to wait, doctors say
WCCO 4, 9/26/23
“We were using what we were calling the bivalent booster, it was something designed to improve upon the original COVID-19 vaccines that we received. When this new vaccine was approved. It took the place of that bivalent booster and so we stopped using it because the approval with the new one kind of takes away the old approval,” Dr. Kate Hust explained.
Minnesotans wait for new COVID vaccine
KSTP 5, 9/25/23
Dr. Tyler Winkelman with Hennepin Healthcare says they hope to get their supply of the new vaccine next week.
“This is something people are really tuned into. It feels a little bit like the early days of COVID with how much interest we are seeing in this year’s vaccine,” he said.
More Minnesotans, including children, succumbing to fentanyl-related deaths
WCCO 4, 9/19/23
Every year, calls of kids exposed to fentanyl to Minnesota Poison Center climbs. Dr. Travis Olives is an ER doctor at Hennepin Healthcare. He’s also the associate medical director of the Minnesota Poison Control System.
Pandemic still suppressing blood donations in Minnesota
Star Tribune, 9/18/23
Emergency declarations usually drive donors and prevent hospitals from reaching such crisis points, but that isn’t ideal, said Dr. Jed Gorlin, medical director for Memorial and chief medical officer for America’s Blood Centers, a national advocacy group. “We don’t want to train the public to only come in when there are these blood emergencies. What we want is to maintain people being regular blood donors.”
Updated COVID vaccines rolling out across Minnesota
WCCO 4, 9/17/23
Dr. Lichtsinn works in internal medicine and pediatrics at Hennepin Healthcare. She encourages everyone to get the vaccine, which is effective against the new variant, as soon as possible.
Some Minnesota hospitals now offer culturally appropriate hair-and skin-care products
Star Tribune, 9/16/23
“They love the products,” said Tshilanda Nyembwe, a nurse in HCMC’s internal medicine department. “They are begging us not to stop because we are giving them what they use at home, and they’re happy. … We were taking care of their diagnosis with medication and physical therapy and occupational therapy, but we just missed the little thing that made the difference.”
Inside Minnesota’s busiest ER, the trauma of dealing with trauma never stops
Star Tribune, 9/15/23
Dr. Jim Miner, HCMC’s chief of emergency medicine, ducked into the tiny physicians’ break room. Here, away from scenes of chaos and desperation, he could take a breath. This was the height of summer, known here as “trauma season.”
A New Covid Booster Is Here. Will Those at Greatest Risk Get It?
Kaiser Health News, 9/15/23
Tyler Winkelman, a health services researcher at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, said outreach of the intensity of 2021 is needed again. Back then, throngs of people were hired to tailor communication and education to various communities, and to administer vaccines in churches, homeless encampments, and stadiums. “We can still save lives if we are thoughtful about how we roll out the vaccines.”
Running on empty: Minnesota’s ongoing battle with the ADHD medication shortage
Mpls/StPaul Magazine, 9/13/23
“When prominent manufacturers can’t keep up, then there is a cascade effect through the other manufacturers who aren’t initially equipped with the material or mechanical resources for manufacturing more product to make up the difference,” says Matt Hammer, community clinics pharmacy manager at Hennepin Healthcare. “Oftentimes manufacturers would have to choose between producing one drug or another.”
Mark Holtan, a pharmacist at Hennepin Healthcare, notes that people who take these medications without ADHD may experience adverse reactions, including anxiety, agitation, headaches, and jitteriness.
Red Cross declares national blood shortage, seeks donors
KSTP-5, 9/13/23
Hennepin Healthcare also has yet to make any changes to patient care, but Dr. Jed Gorlin said they are “concerned” by the recent shortfall.
“Blood centers like to see at least three to five days of inventory on our refrigerator shelves and we’re down to around two days of inventory,” Gorlin said. “At Hennepin, we are the largest of the three Level One trauma centers in the Twin Cities, so we need to have a fair inventory on the shelves for immediate transfusion. More donors would give me a lot more sleeping comfort because I would like to know we are prepared for any emergency.”
Americans can now get an updated COVID-19 vaccine
KARE 11, 9/12/23
“I think of it as part of our cold and flu season now – we need to be thinking of COVID as part of that,” said Hennepin Healthcare internist Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn.
MDH brings back free at-home COVID tests
KARE 11, 9-6-23
Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn interviewed.
Bracing for fall viruses and “vaccine fatigue”
MPR, 9/6/23
Sheyanga Beecher, CNP, MSN, MPH participated in a conversation with MPR’s Angela Davis about vaccines. Sheyanga is medical director of our Pediatric Mobile Health program – an innovative model that brings healthcare to the community by offering exams and providing essential immunizations.
Hair care is part of health care: Minnesota hospitals change how they welcome Black and brown patients
Sahan Journal, 9/1/23
“They love the products,” said Tshilanda Nyembwe, a nurse in HCMC’s internal medicine department. “They are begging us not to stop because we are giving them what they use at home, and they’re happy…. We were taking care of their diagnosis with medication and physical therapy and occupational therapy, but we just missed the little thing that made the difference.”
“Hospitals are uncomfortable places,” said Dr. Nneka Sederstrom, chief health equity officer at Hennepin Healthcare, which runs HCMC. “You don’t feel like yourself; you feel scared and nervous and vulnerable. And it’s the little things that make you feel safe and whole. We have not been allowing that sense of normalcy to be part of the experience for Black and brown patients.”
Meanwhile, Susan Walters, a supply chain manager at Hennepin Healthcare, had been looking into a hospital-wide switch of products since 2019, when she heard that Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania was planning to do so.
Pilot program at Minnesota hospitals works to bridge language gaps starting at infancy
FOX 9, 8/27/23
“NICU babies are already starting off on a language deficit because they are missing those months of language from when they are inside,” said Kolleen Amon, a NICU nurse practitioner. “Anything we can do to bridge that gap is only going to improve their outcomes.”
Woman unites with paramedics who saved her life
KARE 11, 8/26/23
The reunion was part of the “Ride for Rachel” fundraiser.
Minnesota Mom meets paramedics who helped save her life
WCCO 4, 8/26/23
A Buffalo woman got a second chance at life after doctors said she had just a 1% chance of survival. Just three months ago, WCCO shared the story of her miraculous recovery.
In March, Rachel Sands was helping her dad move some cows when a steer got spooked and stepped on her chest, which stopped her heart. She was airlifted to HCMC in Minneapolis, suffering four strokes along the way.
“He wasn’t Tommy”
FOX 9, 8/24/23
“I think the average person who engages in this, I would wager, doesn’t know that is a risk,” said Dr. Jon Cole, an emergency room doctor at Hennepin Healthcare and medical director of the Minnesota Poison Control System.
Tips for staying safe in excessive heat
KARE 11, 8/22/23
Dr. Andie Rowland-Fisher said heat stroke is less common than heat exhaustion, but it’s more dangerous.
Immersed in health care internships, teens discover their passions and talents for medical careers
Sahan Journal, 8/18/23
Hennepin Healthcare’s Talent Garden program aims to nurture young health care providers of color.
Building vaccine trust in communities of color
El Minnesota de Hoy, 8/15/23
Three years ago, Hennepin Healthcare developed the Pediatric Mobile Health (PMH) community program to address these challenges. The goal of the program is to lower barriers to care, improve immunization rates, and help restore trust within the community. Lead Nurse Practitioner Amy Green notes: “There has been a decline in the rate of childhood immunizations during the pandemic. When our patients are not protected, our community is not protected.”
Inexpensive add-on spawns a new era of machine guns
New York Times, 8/12/23
Dr. James Miner, the chair of emergency medicine at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, which has the largest trauma center in Minnesota, said he first heard about switches in 2020 when he was trying to make sense of why gunshot victims were arriving at the hospital with numerous wounds and why more people seemed to be reporting being shot by stray bullets.
“It’s more common now for someone to say: ‘I was walking down the street and I heard the sound and all of a sudden my leg hurt, my chest hurt,’” he said. “Rather than: ‘I was held up or I was involved in a drug deal gone wrong.’”
Program at HCMC helps young people gain experience in health care field
WCCO 4, 8/11/23
“I have been interested in healthcare since I was a little girl,” explained Makenzie Manuel, an HCMC Talent Garden Intern.
Neemah Kiarie from Albertville is deep in the Emergency Department.
“I even got to go to the stabe room and I have never seen blood or bones sticking out. Being exposed to so many people who need attention,” Kahira said.
Musab Mohamed, who’s about to be pre-med at Madison, is learning the ins and out of critical cardiac care. Musab got inspired by watching his mother get diabetes care; his interest is now full-on.
“It just really solidified my interest more,” he said.
Talking Points: A tick that can take a major bite out of your diet
WCCO 4, 8/9/23
Esme Murphy spoke with Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn about the timeline between a lone star bite and when you’ll first see symptoms.
“We don’t have a good sense of the timeline from a tick bite until development of the Alpha-gal syndrome. What I can say, is when people do develop Alpha gal syndrome, that it generally comes like two to four hours after eating meat, so it’s not an immediate response to the meat. You think about a bee sting or someone who has a bee allergy, that allergic reaction happens right away. With Alpha-gal, it’s delayed a few hours.”
High school students get hands-on medical training at HCMC
CCX Media, 8/7/23
Maple Grove High School senior Jewel Figueroa is one of dozens of high school students that took part in Hennepin County Medical Center’s Talent Garden internship program. The students spent Monday learning from paramedics, an experience that will help certify them as emergency medical responders and possibly assist at large public events.
Medical experts call on Minnesota lawmakers to address youth “boarding” crisis in hospitals
KSTP 5, 7/28/23
“Due to elopement and safety risks, the adolescents are boarded in a highly restricted setting,” explained Dr. Sandeep Patel, a Hennepin Healthcare pediatrician. “Deprived of normal activities such as the ability to go outside, to access school, to have peer interactions.”
The pandemic exacerbated Minnesota’s health care crisis – especially among kids
Star Tribune, 7/28/23
Even before COVID-19, more kids were coming to primary care with mental health issues, but the frequency and severity of problems since 2020 has intensified, said Dr. Eileen Crespo, president of the Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“We have just never had the volume of patients, who are all symptomatic at the same time, like we are seeing right now,” said Crespo, who practices at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis.
Summer surge in opioid overdoses uncovered by Hennepin County tracking
Star Tribune, 7/28/23
“Up until now we have been reliant on data that is often two to three years old to make decisions about funding and interventions and to understand where we are at in this crisis,” said Hennepin Healthcare physician Dr. Tyler Winkelman, who leads the Minnesota EHR Consortium.
It’s going to be sizzling hot in Minnesota all week — but probably not record-setting
Star Tribune, 7/24/23
Still, the heat and humidity can take its toll on anybody exerting themselves outdoors or living in places without air conditioning, said Dr. Tom Wyatt, a physician in the Hennepin County Medical Center Emergency Department. Heat-related illnesses — from dehydration to heatstroke — can strike quickly for people all ages.
“It’s insidious,” Wyatt said. “Stay hydrated. A lot of people won’t drink unless they feel thirsty. By then it is too late.”
As poor air quality and extreme heat collide, here’s how to stay safe and safe money
WCCO 4, 7/24/23
“Whether you have pre-existing conditions or not, I think it’s really important to pay attention to how you feel,” said Dr. Nick Simpson.
Our View: Add “alarming” to Minnesota’s “horrific” fentanyl crisis
Duluth News Tribune, 7/24/23
From the editorial: “As the Minnesota Poison Control System pointed out, ‘No one wants a child to be exposed to a life-threatening substance.'” But they are at an alarming rate.
“Since 2022, (we have) been contacted about 66 children under the age of 3, including those just learning to cruise or that put their hands in their mouths, who have presented to Minnesota hospitals due to exposure to opioids,” Dr. Travis Olives, associate medical director for the poison control system, said in a statement Thursday. “All required medical care, and a wide range of symptoms and severity of illness were reported to us. But there are likely many more that were not reported.”
Poison Control chat: A conversation on fentanyl, windshield wiper fluid and more
WCCO Radio, 7/23/23
Director of the Minnesota Poison Control System, Samantha Lee and Dr. Jon Cole, Medical Director for the Minnesota Poison Control System join Susie to talk about the uptick in child fentanyl overdoses as well as a general chat on all things poison control.
More Minnesota kids hospitalized due to opioid exposure
MPR, 7/20/23
The number of children exposed is probably underreported, said Dr. Travis Olives, associate medical director for the Minnesota Poison Control System.
Talking Points: Are Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy the same?
WCCO 4, 7/15/23
New interactive dashboard reports on opioid, substance use cases in Hennepin County
WCCO 4, 7/11/23
As the opioid and substance use crisis continues to mount, the Minnesota Electronic Health Record Consortium and Hennepin County have revealed their new, real-time substance use disorder dashboard.
Minnesota legislature passes law opening door to creation of safe injection spaces
KSTP 5, 7/6/23
“It’s been used in other parts of the world to some great effect,” said Hennepin Healthcare Director of Addiction Medicine Dr. Gavin Bart, who has toured facilities in Zurich and Vancouver. “No one should think of these like bars. This is not going to a bar and having recreation and listening to music and entertainment with your friends. This is really much more of a health facility, social service.”
Hennepin Healthcare makes its case for more equity, inclusion training
MPR, 7/5/23
“If we live in fear of what may happen, then we’re already telling the groups that are constantly dealing with issues that the worry of someone who may be offended is more important than my personal safety, well-being and mental health,” Chief Equity Officer Nneka Sederstrom told a crowd during a presentation of the program in February.
“We’re teaching the providers of tomorrow,” Vice President of Health Equity Talee Vang said. “And because of that, we have this unique position to make a real change, and to make a really, really bold statement.”
Taste of Minnesota wraps up Minneapolis reboot, drawing tens of thousands downtown
WCCO 4, 7/3/23
Organizers say a few people needed medical attention. Others checked in just to cool off a bit. Dr. Andie Rowland-Fisher, an emergency physician at Hennepin Healthcare, says that’s the right thing to do if you’re feeling faint, or just too hot.
Emergency room doctors prepare for busy 4th of July
KARE 11, 7/3/23
“Things you might start to notice are just feeling exhausted and feeling like you can’t go on outside — that is a sign of heat exhaustion and definitely a sign that you should get inside,” Hennepin Healthcare emergency physician Dr. Andie Rowland-Fisher said.
The Patient Revolution aims to expose healthcare flaws and pave the way for improvement
PBS NewsHour, 6/28/23
Recent studies report that two-thirds of American physicians report feeling burned out, something only aggravated by the pandemic. Dr. Mark Linzer, an internal medicine physician at Hennepin Healthcare, is a nationally recognized expert who has studied the causes and effects of provider burnout.
Air quality alert issued as wildfire smoke lingers
KARE 11, 6/27/23
“We’re getting a lot more triage calls — a lot more messages to call patients back. Sometimes I’m not able to get the call because I’m already on the phone call with another triage patient,” said Erik Lee, RN with Hennepin Healthcare’s pulmonary clinic.
More successful first attempt intubations with video laryngoscopy
Healio, 6/26/23
“The average clinician caring for critically ill or injured adults in the U.S. probably performs intubation with the frequency and experience represented in this trial,” Matthew E. Prekker, MD, MPH, associate professor of emergency medicine and internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, told Healio.
Many Twin Cities employees suffer from burnout. Here’s how to cope.
Star Tribune, 6/25/23
Dr. Mark Linzer, an internal medicine physician with Hennepin Healthcare who is the director of its Institute for Professional Worklife, started studying burnout among medical professionals in 1990. More than three decades later, he doesn’t see much improving.
Hennepin EMS paramedics add new tool to save lives as opioid overdoses increase
Sahan Journal, 6/23/23
At Hennepin, the idea was hatched about a year ago during a meeting with addiction specialists, when one specialist mentioned how helpful it would be to see patients within 30 minutes of receiving naloxone. Ryan Mayfield, Nick Simpson, MD, Aaron Robinson, MD and Marty Scheerer interviewed.
Hennepin EMS protocols now include treatment for opioid withdrawal
Sun-Sailor, 6/21/23
“One of the biggest changes is offering Suboxone to patients who are experiencing acute naloxone-induced opioid withdrawal,” said Dr. Nicholas Simpson, who is an emergency and Hennepin EMS physician at Hennepin Healthcare.
Nurses, police, prosecutors, attend strangulation prevention training
KARE 11, 6/20/23
“Some people don’t realize what’s happening to them,” Hennepin Healthcare forensic nurse examiner Breanna Heisterkamp said, “and how close they are potentially to death.”
Hennepin EMS incorporating video into 911 calls
Hometown Source, 6/15/23
Dr. Nick Simpson scans a 911 call log from his office at Hennepin County Medical Center in downtown Minneapolis. Poring over the data, he finds what he’s looking for, and punches in a phone number. After two rings, someone picks up.
“Hi, this is Dr. Simpson from Hennepin EMS,” he says. “Did you call 911?”
Paralyzed patient moves legs again after 23 years, MN trial shows promising results
KARE 11, 6/7/23
Dr. David Darrow is the principal investigator for Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute’s E-STAND clinical trial.
“Over time what we have found is sure enough in 20 out of 20 patients we see significant effects across the board,” Dr. Darrow explains.
Paralyzed patients can move again with nerve stimulation, HCMC clinical trial confirms
Star Tribune, 6/2/23
While results have varied among about 20 trial participants, the takeaway so far is that people can regain function after spinal cord injuries and not merely maintain whatever limited mobility they have, said Dr. David Darrow, the lead investigator.
Doctors see rise in ear infections, strep throat in kids
KARE 11, 5/30/23
Dr. Stacene Maroushek is a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Hennepin Healthcare. She says pediatricians are seeing a lot of viruses right now and viral infections can often cause an ear infection in young kids.
Major changes made to improve emergency response times on Lake Minnetonka
WCCO 4, 5/24/23
On Lake Minnetonka in the west metro, this year will be the first with two major changes that first responders with Hennepin Healthcare say are targeted at keeping people safe – all while improving response times.
“I think the water rescue team being with the paramedics on the boat is going to make a really, really big difference,” said Hennepin EMS Chief Marty Scheerer. “Now, we’ll be right on scene. We’ll have a really quick response. We’ll have our defibrillator there, we’ll have our airway equipment, we’ll have all of our equipment there. It’s going to be fun.”
Structural racism and resilience in Psychiatry training with Frank Clark, MD and Dionne Hart, MD
APA TV, WebsEdgeMedicine, 5/21/23
Though medical schools and residency training programs are actively recruiting medical students from underrepresented minorities, acceptance on to these programs is just the beginning. To talk about the challenges minority physicians face throughout their training and the structural changes that might be needed to address these, we caught up with Dr Frank Clark and Dr Dionne Hart at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.
How local health giants are championing inclusivity
Mpls/StPaul Magazine, 5/17/23
“We have a massive amount of educators and thought, Beyond an educational experience, we have to provide real-time bedside interventions, so we created a DEI clinician role, where mental health–trained, PhD-level professionals are positioned to help ‘in the moment’ discussions around racism,” said Dr. Nneka Sederstrom.
A Hennepin EMS doctor is testing out a new video platform to link 911 callers with emergency physicians
KSTP 5, 5/13/23
For emergency medical responders, seconds count in saving lives.
“It’s really about accessibility,” says Nicholas Simpson, the Chief Medical Director with Hennepin EMS. “Because nobody plans to have an emergency.”
Good Question: What are the benefits of a “sleep divorce”?
WCCO 4, 5/2/23
Snoring or worse often leads couples to visit Dr. Ranji Varghese. He’s the director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorder Center at Hennepin Healthcare.
“People like to call me a marriage counselor because sometimes when I fix one person’s sleep, the relationship gets a whole lot better,” Dr. Varghese joked.
Minnesota mom overcomes 1% chance of survival after being trampled by steer
WCCO 4, 5/1/23
“The goal for us is to get patients back to their families. And to know that she’s able to go back home to her kids and her husband, that feels really good. That feels like a big win,” said Dr. Alex Coward.
New weight loss drug could be a game changer
WCCO Radio, 5/1/23
PA Natalie Ikeman from Hennepin Healthcare tells us about an exciting new drug that could change the weight loss world.
Hennepin Healthcare hosts event to get Indigenous youth interested in health care careers
KSTP 5, 4/15/23
“There’s a really significant thing that happens when you are a patient in your most vulnerable stage and you see someone like you walk into the room,” said Aida Strom of Hennepin Healthcare.
Doctor’s quick thinking helps save some vision for man who woke up blind in one eye
Star Tribune, 4/14/23
“We see a little bit of recovery sometimes. We’d certainly never expect any recovery,” Dr. Laurence Ducker said. “It’s always just hoping that it doesn’t get worse. I think it’s a wonderful little miracle.”
2023 Top Doctors: Rising Stars Edition
Mpls/StPaul Magazine, 4/9/23
Amanda Jean Noska, MD, MPH, Infectious disease specialist, Hennepin Healthcare
Why did you choose your field? I thought I wanted to be a family doctor. As I went through training, I felt that the knowledge base required to be a family physician wasn’t my strongest skill set, and I wanted to be able to follow things down the rabbit hole. I also ended up really loving every infectious disease doctor I ever worked with.
Welcome access for Narcan, a tool to thwart overdose deaths
Star Tribune, 4/7/23
Medical experts reacted favorably. Dr. Charles Reznikoff, an addiction doctor and internist with Hennepin Healthcare, said the FDA’s move is safe and appropriate. In an interview, he cited research showing that for every 11 Narcan doses distributed to people with opioid addiction, one life will be saved.
Minn. health systems are dropping mask requirements for patients, staff
MPR, 4/6/23
Officials at Hennepin Healthcare said they also plan to make changes to their masking policies. Starting April 11, masking by staff will continue in patient-facing areas, like exam rooms, therapy areas and front desks, but are no longer required in other places, like elevators, cafeterias and conference rooms.
Minneapolis entrepreneur gets life-changing call
FOX 9, 4/2/23
When FOX 9 first met Kamesha Davenport five years ago, she was working to get her life back together after a car slammed into her home. Since then, she has started a new business and is now on the path toward success after a life-changing call. “We want to really make an impact with our local community,” said David Grounds, Supply Chain Manager at Hennepin Healthcare. “We’ve had some suffering in downtown Minneapolis — I think everybody’s aware what we’ve had to go through. Part of our strategic vision is to try to build up and create business relationships with the patients we serve and the community that we’re in.”
FDA approves first over-the-counter version of Narcan to combat opioid overdose epidemic
WCCO 4, 3/29/23
Dr. Charles Reznikoff specializes in addiction medicine at Hennepin Healthcare. He says they’ve seen a 30% rise in overdose deaths and it’s affecting all ages and races. He hopes over the counter sales will help lower those statistics.
“There’s no reason every household shouldn’t have one of these. Everyone can have one in their backpack and people’s lives will be saved,” Reznikoff said.
DEA warning on growing use of fentanyl with ‘tranq’
KARE 11, 3/23/23
Hennepin Healthcare’s Addictive Medicine Director, Gavin Bart says the xylazine can interfere with the overdose-saving drug naloxone which prompts extra concern from health officials.
Grant provides new ultrasounds to rural Minnesota hospitals
Northern News Now, 3/21/23
“It’s about sixty things we can look at with high degrees of efficiency, and all of them require immediate diagnosis and immediate intervention to improve outcome. We didn’t expect that,” said Dr. David Plummer, an Emergency Medicine Physician with Hennepin Healthcare.
Northland health systems get $1.7 million for ultrasound equipment
Duluth News Tribune, 3/21/23
Point-of-care ultrasound machines are used at the bedside of a patient for immediate assessment, and can diagnose conditions including internal bleeding, collapsed lungs, ruptured aortic aneurysms and about 60 other life-threatening problems that require immediate diagnosis and intervention, according to David Plummer, a Hennepin Healthcare doctor of emergency medicine who was among the first in the country to study the efficacy of ultrasound systems in emergency care.
$26.4 million grant helps Minnesota hospitals find life-threatening conditions
Star Tribune, 3/21/23
The grant announcement took place at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, which pioneered ER use of ultrasound technology. Rising violence in the mid-1980s resulted in more patients at HCMC with stab wounds to the heart that were difficult to detect unless patients went into cardiac arrest, said Dr. Dave Plummer, an HCMC emergency medicine specialist.
Hennepin Healthcare provided one- or two-day training seminars in the past, but found doctors and other providers still didn’t feel comfortable making diagnostic decisions with the technology back at their hospitals, said Dr. Robert Reardon, an HCMC emergency medicine physician.
Good Question: Do frozen foods have as much nutritional value as fresh foods?
WCCO 4, 3/13/23
Physician assistant Natalie Ikeman with Hennepin Healthcare says there’s actually very similar nutritional value between frozen and fresh produce.
“But the longer it is out from the harvesting, that nutrient count really decreases quickly, so it really depends on when you eat that food,” she said.
Hyperbaric chamber at HCMC helps 2-year-old recover from dog attack injuries
KSTP 5, 3/8/23
“Certain wounds will have oxygen delivery issues, and if we’re able to increase the oxygen that they’re getting just globally, we can help make things heal appropriately,” explained Dr. Thomas Masters with Hennepin Healthcare’s Center for Hyperbaric Medicine.
Quick thinking, new treatment at HCMC help save toddler’s ear after dog bite
Star Tribune, 3/8/23
“She was a dream in the chamber — bonded with all of our nurses,” said Dr. Tom Masters, the hyperbaric medicine specialist who oversaw Kenzie’s treatment. “She did really well. We were concerned about it, but it turned out to be something she could handle.”
Gift of life keeps Little Falls man going after 45 years
Morrison County Record, 3/7/23
“The transplant offered DuWayne the gift of raising his family, living his life, working and sharing his journey, so others have hope,” said Ellen Bernardson, who works as a nurse practitioner in the surgery department at Hennepin Healthcare and specializes in the care of kidney transplant patients.
Dive team tours hyperbaric chamber
Lonsdale Area News-Review, 3/6/23
The team learned about the origin and history of hyperbaric medicine at HCMC from Dr. Christopher Logue and staff.
Why and how I donated a kidney to a stranger
Star Tribune, 2/26/23
A handful of bewildered friends questioned my decision to donate a kidney to someone I didn’t know.
The simple answer: Why not? A healthy person can get by with just one kidney, and the other one can be of greater use to someone whose health and general wellbeing have eroded as their kidneys failed. I’m happy to share the wealth. – Kelly Maynard, RN
Hennepin Healthcare expands health equity department, releases first annual report
Star Tribune, 2/20/23
“I fully believe that transparency is the only way to make this work,” said Nneka O. Sederstrom, Hennepin Healthcare’s chief health equity officer. “I want a little bit of a blueprint of our successes and failures. … No one knows how to do it the right way, but we’re going to do our best to show what we’re doing.”
Hennepin EMS responds to 52 slips and falls Monday, the beginning of a busy and snowy week
KARE 11, 2/20/23
“We’re expecting some long days with our crews,” Hennepin EMS Battalion Chief Mike Trullinger says. Monday morning crews were already seeing an increased number of calls. “We had 10 fall calls on the board at one time this morning,” Trullinger says.
Heart disease: Recognizing symptoms for women
WCCO 4, 2/19/23
“It’s also true that heart disease is the number one cause of death in women,” said Dr. David Hilden.
Black Women with Stethoscopes Youth Summit at Hennepin Healthcare
FOX 9, 2/19/23
Hennepin Healthcare held a summit to to encourage young Black women to learn more about a career in healthcare.
To address health disparities, Hennepin Healthcare turns to local youth
MPR, 2/18/23
“We all understand and know the health disparities that we are facing, especially our black and brown communities. The inequities are real and they’re very prominent in Minnesota,” said Nneka Sederstrom, PhD, chief health equity officer at Hennepin Healthcare. “We also know from the data that one of the best, easiest, and quickest ways to decrease disparities within our black and brown communities is to have clinicians of the same race and ethnicity take care of those patients.”
Hennepin Healthcare event celebrates Black women in healthcare
KSTP 5, 2/18/23
“We know that there are very few black and brown physicians in our area — let alone our country — and we know that the impact of having a person of color taking care of people of color is one of the only ways to minimize health disparities and inequities,” said Dr. Nneka Sederstrom.”
Event lets Black women explore careers in healthcare
WCCO 4, 2/18/23
“When you have physicians who look like you, come from your community, there’s an instant trust factor — that we know is one of the main reasons patients do better,” said Dr. Nneka Sederstrom.
Report: Homeless Minnesotans die at three times the rate of general population
MPR, 2/16/23
MPR News host Tom Crann spoke about the findings with one of the lead researchers of the report, Dr. Kate Diaz Vickery who is a physician and the co-director of the Health, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Lab at the Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute.
HCMC launches program to help patients get online
Star Tribune, 2/14/23
Making an appointment online takes 30 to 60 seconds, compared to calling and waiting up to 10 to 20 minutes, said Dr. Ryan Jelinek, a physician who is certified in clinical informatics, the application of technology to health care-related problems. More significantly, internet access is a social determinant of health, Jelinek said.
Good Question: Can love improve your health? It may depend on the type of love you’re experiencing
WCCO 4, 2/14/23
How does the feeling of love impact the heart? It depends on what type of love you’re experiencing, said Dr. Michelle Carlson, a cardiologist with Hennepin Healthcare.
“If it’s new love, it’s exciting. We’re going to have hormones released in our body, hormones like epinephrine, norepinephrine,” said Dr. Carlson.
Major new study highlights the deadly toll of being homeless in Minnesota
Star Tribune, 2/12/23
“What this study shows … is that there are tremendous and incredibly detrimental health effects to be a person experiencing homelessness in our state,” said Dr. Kate Diaz Vickery, a primary care physician and co-director of a research lab on health, homelessness and criminal justice at the Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, which prepared the report.
Hennepin Healthcare celebrates 60 years of its Kidney Transplant Program
WCCO Radio, 2/11/23
“What an incredible day to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our transplant center,” said Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer DeCubellis. “And just this morning, hearing stories and hearing lives impacted has just been incredibly impactful.”
As Minnesota considers legalizing marijuana, what does research say about the risks?
Star Tribune, 2/4/23
Dr. Charles Reznikoff, an addiction medicine expert with Hennepin Healthcare, said persistent marijuana use has hurt some patients’ health, jobs and families.
Invasive strep spreading, antibiotic treatment supply inconsistent
FOX 9, 2/3/23
“This year it seems like it came a little early and we’ve had some warnings put out for being on the lookout for more invasive strep,” said Dr. Stacene Maroushek, a Hennepin Healthcare pediatrician and pediatric infectious disease specialist.
Talking Points: Testing strips legalized in effort to combat fentanyl overdoses
2/1/23
A new federal law now allows anyone with a license to prescribe a lifesaving drug — buprenorphine, also know as suboxone. Murphy spoke with addiction specialist Dr. Charles Reznikoff, with Hennepin Healthcare, about suboxone and whether the testing strips in any way encourage drug use.
Minnesota closing its state-run COVID testing sites
KARE 11, 1/27/23
“We haven’t had phenomenal vaccination rates in Minnesota with the newest booster, the bivalent booster,” said Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn with Hennepin Healthcare.
In fact, only 15% of eligible Americans have received the latest version of the shot.
“It’s really frustrating because we know that being fully vaccinated is the best protection that people can have against severe illness, hospitalization and death,” said Lichtsinn.
A horse tranquilizer is making Minnesota’s fentanyl crisis even more dangerous
KSTP 5, 1/26/23
“There’s been several people, especially out in Philly and in New York, where this has been a bigger issue,” said Brit Culp, an addiction treatment specialist with Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis.
ER docs: Medical “paradigm shift” makes opioid use disorder meds more accessible, saves lives
MINNPost, 1/23/23
Eliminating the X-waiver requirement represents a significant “paradigm shift,” said Dr. Jon Cole, an ER physician at Hennepin County Medical Center and medical director of the Minnesota Poison Control System: “Patients will have substantially greater access to treatment now, all over Minnesota, as long as their local physicians are willing to prescribe the medication.” Dr. Tim Kummer and Dr. Nick Simpson were also interviewed for this article.
Hospitals are already overcrowded – and now they’re dealing with injuries from ice
KARE 11, 1/18/23
HCMC in downtown Minneapolis is among the many facilities seeing their usual increase in slip-and-fall injuries, due to the snowy and icy winter conditions. Dr. Stephen Smith, an emergency physician with Hennepin Healthcare, said these patients have flooded into the Emergency Department for roughly the past month.
Pharmacists offer tips for unprecedented children’s medication shortage
CCX Media, 1/18/23
“So we had COVID, flu and RSV hit earlier than typically, and it’s been with us for quite a while,” said Tara Tindall, a pharmacy supervisor with Hennepin Healthcare. “So the manufacturers couldn’t keep up with demand. That’s what we hear from them is increased demand. However, typically they pre-plan for the season, but I think with the three viruses it’s been really difficult for them to keep up.”
Next Step violence prevention program working, Minneapolis officials say
Star Tribune, 1/17/23
The federal funds will go toward mental health and anger management services, according to Next Step Director Kentral Galloway. Officials are also considering the possibility of expanding into Children’s Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis.
Opinion Exchange: On the health care front lines, we are not OK
Star Tribune, 1/16/23
“Thousands of open positions in hospital and post-acute settings are currently unfilled in Minnesota, and the situation does not show signs of improvement,” Tom Klemond writes. While health care teams are indeed grateful for the decline in numbers of influenza patients recently reported in this paper, our challenges with “limited bed space and overcrowded emergency departments” nevertheless persist and continue to severely hamper our ability to provide needed care. (“Decline in flu cases frees up hospital beds,” Dec. 30.)
CDC report shows child vaccination rates are dropping and the numbers are even lower in Minnesota
KARE 11 1/13/23
“We are getting to the point, for example with measles, where the vaccination rate needs to be 95% or higher to have herd immunity that will protect the community and we have dropped below 90% in the state of Minnesota,” Hennepin Healthcare pediatrician Dr. Leslie King-Schultz says.
Parents, it’s time to safely put away the gummies
Star Tribune, 1/13/23
“Kids just put things in their mouths,” said Dr. Jon Cole, medical director of the Minnesota Poison Control System and a father of four. “They put things in their mouth to explore the world.”
More kids becoming sickened by edibles at home
KSTP 5, 1/10/23
Dr. Jon Cole is the medical director of the Minnesota Poison Control Center. It was one of 55 poison centers that contributed to the national study. “We have a new public health problem,” he said.
Spotlight On: Jennifer DeCubellis, CEO, Hennepin Healthcare
Capital Analytics Associates, 1/10/23
Walking like a penguin may not look cool, but it may prevent a life-changing fall
WCCO 4, 1/8/23
“We’re seeing a lot of head injuries from slip and falls, some neck injuries where people have broken their neck, injured their spine. And then most commonly what we’re seeing is a lot of ankle injuries,” said Hennepin Healthcare Emergency Physician Dr. Ashley Strobel.
Doctors urge importance of CPR training in wake of Damar Hamlin incident
KARE 11, 1/3/23
“Cardiac arrest in general is referred to when the heart suddenly stops, usually due to an electrical abnormality of the heart,” said Dr. Rehan Karim, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Hennepin County Medical Center.
Hennepin Healthcare News 