Inspiring kids to read
Happi House, 12/31/15
Delivering books to kids at Hennepin County Medical Center in collaboration with Capstone Publishing. “When a child comes in to the hospital, there are a lot of reasons why we would give them a book,” explains Lynne Burke, Literacy Liaison at HCMC.
Growing career cuts medical costs, increases access to health care
Fox 9, 12/31/15
Community health workers are becoming more widely used. HCMC started with 4 back in 2010, and today they have 24, all with the goal of lowering costs.
Minnesotans offer two takes on the concussion debate
Star Tribune, 12/25/15
Should youth contact sports get a timeout amid growing concerns about concussions? Local doctors weigh in on the debate.
Minnesota-developed strain could lower prices of medical pot meds
WCCO 4, 12/16/15
Dr. Charles Reznikoff specializes in internal medicine and addiction at Hennepin County Medical Center.
“I think it really is a big deal,” he said of the announcement, noting that the preliminary findings of some studies show that medical marijuana is helping patients.
But he says most doctors still want more scientific evidence medical marijuana is safe.
Good Question: How much sleep do we need?
WCCO 4, 12/15/15
“Ever since Edison came up with the lightbulb, we haven’t been able to sleep very well at night,” says Dr. Imran Khawaja, medical
director at the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Poison hazards for the holidays
KARE 11, 12/15/15
Kirk Hughes, education director with the Minnesota Poison Control System, shared a list of some of the most common types of poisonings this time of year.
Former MN doctor lands back on Earth after 5 months in space
Bring Me the News, 12/11/15
Kjell Lindgren, the former Minneapolis doctor turned astronaut, is back on solid ground after returning from his five-month stint at the International Space Station.
Former HCMC doctor safely returns from space after mission
KSTP 5, 12/11/15
The U.S. space agency’s Kjell Lindgren, Russia’s Oleg Kononenko and Kimiya Yui of Japan returned to Earth in their Soyuz TMA-17M capsule after 141 days in space.
Firefighters bring music, presents to patients at HCMC
KSTP 5, 12/10/15
Holiday cheer was in the air Thursday at Hennepin County Medical Center. ‘Firefighters for Healing’ brought music, joy and presents to patients recovering from burns.
HCMC Burn Center patients receive holiday cheer from firefighters
WCCO 4, 12/10/15
A group of patients inside Hennepin County Medical Center got a dose of holiday cheer this morning — Minneapolis firefighters and a former Minnesota Vikings player paid a visit to the burn center, and brought lots of gifts.
Minneapolis firefighters deliver gifts to burn patients
FOX 9, 12/10/15
A group calling themselves Firefighters for Healing dropped off holiday gifts and food for burn patients and their families at the Hennepin County Medical Center.
HCMC breaks ground
The Northerner (North Central University) 12/9/15
Hennepin County Medical Center broke ground on their new clinic and specialty building Nov. 12 on the 700 block of South Eighth St. The 377,000 square feet, $220.8 million project is expected to receive its first patient in January 2018.
How to calm a crying baby instantly
Star Tribune, 12/9/15
Dr. Linda Thompson, a pediatrician at Hennepin County Medical Center, has seen the video and broke down the meaning behind the magic.
“Anytime you hold a baby upright in that position and wiggle them gently in a soothing way, they will quiet down,” she said. “It’s nothing new. It’s something that I’ve done for years.”
FDA-approved cap prevents hair loss from chemotherapy
Fox 9, 12/9/15
The FDA approved a new tool that fights hair loss during chemotherapy for breast cancer patients, called the DigniCap, and it’s very promising.
“Less chemotherapy drug will be delivered to those hair follicles and therefore the hair loss will diminish,” Dr. Andres Wiernik, an oncologist at Hennepin County Medical Center, said.
Fire deaths trend higher during holidays
Minnesota Daily, 12/3/15
Last year, 44 people died in fires in Minnesota, with 20 of those occurring during colder months, according to a Minnesota Department of Public Safety press release. So far this year, 46 people have died from fires in the state.
Call to ban football collides with the facts
Star Tribune, 12/3/15
“Football is on the riskier end of the spectrum of sports, but still is less risky than skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, equestrian sports or bicycling,” explains Dr. Uzma Samadani in this counterpoint.
More than half of U.S. doctors experience burnout
Reuter’s, 12/2/15
Dr. Mark Linzer, of Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, said his research shows that healthcare systems with higher burnout rates also provide less quality care to their patients.
He told Reuters Health that patients can help address doctor burnout by encouraging healthcare systems to assess their work environments. This can include measuring time pressures, chaos, lack of control and alignment of values between doctors and leaders.
1 in 3 men who played youth contact sports develop CTE
Fox 9, 12/1/15
HCMC neurosurgeon Dr. Uzma Samadani says the results shouldn’t have you turning in your kids’ team gear anytime soon.
Coloring books for stress relief
KARE 11, 11/30/15
“The blood pressure comes down, stress level comes down — so there is a medical impact for coloring,” says Wenda Ballinger who works with the Inspire Arts Program at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Doctors, hospitals now have expanded roster of codes to depict your maladies
Star Tribune, 11/25/15
The new codes should be helpful in understanding how to best provide health care for a large population of patients, said Dr. Andrew Laudenbach, a physician at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Tactile Medical braces for new Medicare rules that will tighten access to its pneumatic compression pump
Star Tribune, 11/24/15
“My priority for what Medicare should be covering would be compression bandaging materials and compression garments,” said certified lymphedema therapist DeCourcy Squire, who works at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
American hunger-related healthcare costs exceeded $160 billion in 2014, according to new study
In These Times, 11/23/15
While the official end of the Great Recession is a full five years behind us, there are now nearly 12 million more Americans who lack enough resources to access adequate food than there were in 2007, a number that has only improved slightly since United States food insecurity peaked at over 21 percent in 2009.
This “dietary deprivation shows up in subtle ways,” said assistant chief of pediatrics at Hennepin County Medical Center and University of Minnesota assistant professor of pediatrics Diana Cutts. It shows up “[in] developmental delays, more frequent illness, illnesses that last longer and iron deficiency anemia,” Cutts explained. “It’s very insidious,” she said.
Hennepin County breaks ground on Medical Center expansion
Healthcare Design, 11/23/15
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) has started construction on an ambulatory clinic building in Minneapolis, the biggest expansion in the history of the teaching hospital.
Reagan takes flight
Alexandria Echo-Press, 11/20/15
On Thursday, November 12, Reagan and her mom drove to the Blaine airport. From there, they took flight in a Life Link III helicopter, riding with the very people who had transported Reagan after her accident.
Minnesota’s Mental Health System
KSTP 5, 11/19/15
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS sat down with the people who have devoted their lives to helping mentally ill Minnesotans in crisis.
“In an ideal world, we would want people’s symptoms to be under complete control before we transition them out, though that is not reality,” said Dr. Ian Heath, senior physician director for psychiatry services at Hennepin County Medical Center.
HCMC breaks ground on $220 million clinic
KSTP 5, 11/12/15
Hennepin County Medical Center is looking forward to a much bigger presence downtown Minneapolis. HCMC broke ground Thursday on a new 377,000 square foot building.
HCMC breaks ground on $220M expansion
WCCO 4, 11/12/15
Hennepin County Medical Center has broken ground on its largest expansion in history.
HCMC to break ground on biggest expansion in its history
MPR, 11/12/15
Hennepin County Medical Center says the biggest expansion in its history will make doctor visits and same-day surgeries faster and easier.
Hennepin County Medical Center opens new helispot
Star Tribune, 11/12/15
Bill Heegaard, chief clinical officer and emergency department physician, said the new stop will “expedite movement of the patient when seconds matter.”
Health Check: Debunking flu myths
NW Cable 12, 11/10/15
Experts say that more than 40 percent of U.S. adults believe “the flu vaccine can give you the flu.” Dr. Stacene Maroushek of Hennepin County Medical Center said it’s a myth that exists for a number of reasons.
New eye tracking technology used to detect concussions
Fox 9, 11/10/15
New eye tracking technology used as a research tool at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) could lead to a more exact means of diagnosing a traumatic brain injury. It may even represent the first truly useful clinical lab test that would even help monitor recovery from a concussion
Vikings QB Bridgewater passes first concussion test
KARE 11, 11/9/15
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said quarterback Teddy Bridgewater passed his first concussion test.
HCMC working on advancements in measuring concussion
KARE 11, 11/8/15
At HCMC, Dr. Uzma Samadani and her colleagues are studying the eye tracking of people with brain injuries such as concussion.
HCMC child reading program awaits 40,000 book donation
Pioneer Press, 11/5/15
Lynne Burke has a storage challenge: She’s trying to figure out where to put the 40,000 children’s books she expects to receive in the next few weeks as a donation from Capstone Publishing in Mankato.
Hyperkalemia increases death risk in hemodialysis patients
Renal & Urology News, 11/5/15
“Hyperkalemia appears to be associated with mortality in hemodialysis patients,” lead investigator James B. Wetmore, MD, of Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn., told Renal & Urology News. “A threshold of 5.7 appears to be an important threshold at which the risk of death appears to increase significantly. Risk of death appears to steadily increase as potassium level increases.”
HCMC will build $220 million outpatient clinic
KSTP 5, 11/4/15
Following the bond approval of Hennepin County’s Board of Commissioners, Hennepin County Medical Center will break ground on its new outpatient center next week.
Hennepin County Board approves 192$ million in bonds for new HCMC outpatient clinic
Star Tribune, 11/4/15
By the time the 2018 Super Bowl arrives at the new stadium in downtown Minneapolis, nearby Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) will be boasting a shiny new building of its own — an outpatient center that aims to consolidate 40 specialty clinics, improve patient care and enhance the hospital’s image.
Shortage of state psychiatric beds leaves local hospitals jammed
Star Tribune, 11/1/15
Twin Cities hospitals have reached a breaking point under a deluge of patients with severe mental illness, who are jamming emergency rooms — sometimes for days — and being warehoused for months in psychiatric wards because doctors have nowhere to send them.
Good Question: What does stress do to our bodies?
WCCO 4, 10/28/15
Like many jobs, coaching can be high pressure and high stress. So what does stress do to our bodies?
“I think of stress in terms of how it can affect your body, your mood and behaviors,” Hennepin County Medical Center’s Dr. Martin Stillman said.
Astronaut with MN ties completes spacewalk
KARE 11, 10/28/15
In 2005, Kjell Lindgren completed his medical residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Wednesday, he was one of two astronauts 250 miles above earth.
At HCMC, healthy doesn’t mean more costly
MPR, 10/26/15
At a time when the phrase “reducing health care costs” typically means “slowing the growth of health costs,” Hennepin County Medical Center has done something significant: It has actually lowered the cost of caring for its patients.
What is Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
KARE 11, 10/25/15
New glasses end years of struggle for MN woman with brain injury
KSTP 5, 10/23/15
Liz Renner struggled for years until she met Hennepin County Medical Center Developmental Optometrist Doctor, Amy Chang.
Owning our health: Women need equity, solutions discussion
InsightNews.com, 10/20/15
On Oct. 10 on a bright, sunny Saturday morning, more than 300 Black women gathered for the 4th Annual Baraza – A Black Woman’s Health Gathering.
Rx for Violence
Risk & Insurance, 10/15/15
“We had to get staff to understand that behaviors that would be criminal in other settings are not OK just because they happen in a hospital.” — Dr. Jeffrey Ho, Hennepin County Medical Center
Backlash stalls state HIV prevention proposal
MPR, 10/9/15
San Francisco also has a widespread campaign to get uninfected gay men to take a preventative drug regime called PrEP.
Dr. Keith Henry, an HIV specialist at the Positive Care Center at Hennepin County Medical Center, said San Francisco is way ahead of Minnesota on deploying PrEP.
Keenan: Stop encouraging technology
Iowa State Daily, 10/5/15
Marjorie Hogan, a pediatrician at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn., told NPR that technology, when used appropriately, is wonderful. She also states, “… we have to teach children how to make good choices around it, how to limit it and how to make sure it’s not going to take the place of all the other good stuff out there.”
Carver County teen’s death puts spotlight on ease of purchasing synthetic drugs online
Star Tribune, 10/1/15
The number of synthetic-drug overdoses reported in Minnesota reflects a growing problem. So far this year, 184 overdoses have been reported, up from 173 overdoses in all of 2014. And it is likely that those numbers are vastly underreported, said Jon Cole, the Minnesota Poison Control System’s medical director.
Unpaid care costs fall at hospitals in Minnesota, state Health Department says
Star Tribune, 9/29/15
The costs of unpaid care at Minnesota hospitals fell 6 percent last year as medical centers in the state reported a significant decline in charity care costs.
Hospitals brace for a new way to ID what’s wrong with you
Fox 9, 9/28/15
There are codes for accidents at the opera, getting struck by an orca whale, and even problems with the in-laws. And there are precise codes dealing with complex surgeries and injuries.
“The real key to this is learning how to be more specific about a disease so we’re really teaching people about what it means to be more specific in term of right versus left,” Dr. Brita Hansen, in charge of the transition at the Hennepin County Medical Center, told Fox 9, “It’s going to be a lot of work. Just sifting through a list of diagnoses that much longer is going to be felt by your doctor or other clinicians taking care of you.”
Minnesota astronaut greets St. Paul with photo from space
Star Tribune, 9/26/15
U.S. astronaut Kjell Lindgren took a little grief from St. Paul residents after sharing an epic photo of Minneapolis that was captured from the International Space Station during it’s flight Tuesday. So on Saturday, Lindgren responded in kind with a way-up-high snap of greater St. Paul from his perch in space. Lindgren, who completed his medical residency at Hennepin County Medical Center, lit up Twitter and Internet traffice Tuesday when he shared the photo of Minneapolis with the note: “Looking great Minneapolis! And a warm hello to my friends and colleagues @HennepinMedical!”
Health care innovation shifts to IT, not devices
Star Tribune, 9/26/15
Health information technology is gaining ground fast on medical device innovation, and if all goes well in a few years we won’t even much notice the inevitable falloff in medical device start-ups.
HCMC’s new ‘helistop’ to improve efficiency
Finance and Commerce, 9/25/15
Hennepin County Medical Center won’t formally break ground on its $224.6 million campus expansion until later this fall, but a related project is already under the long arm of a Mortenson Construction tower crane.
Astronaut shares epic shot of Minneapolis from hundreds of miles in the sky
Star Tribune, 9/23/15
Astronaut Kjell Lindgren shared an epic photo of Minneapolis that was captured from the International Space Station during its flight Tuesday.
Lindgren, who completed his medical residency at Hennepin County Medical Center, shared the photo of Minneapolis with the note: “Looking great Minneapolis! And a warm hello to my friends and colleages @HennepinMedical!”
Photo of Minneapolis from space, from astronaut with HCMC roots
Fox 9, 9/22/15
NASA astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren took to Twitter and Instagram to say a special hello to the city of Minneapolis. Lindgren was born in Taipei, Taiwan and raised in England, but completed a 3-year residency in emergency medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Astronaut tweets photo of Minneapolis, gives shout-out to HCMC
KSTP 5, 9/22/15
An astronaut who was trained as a doctor in Minnesota gave a shout-out to both Minneapolis and the Hennepin County Medical Center from space
NASA Astronaut tweets picture of Minneapolis from space
WCCO 4, 9/22/15
On Tuesday morning, NASA astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren tweeted the photo of Minneapolis from the International Space Station.
Organizing systems to demand IT interoperability
Modern Healthcare, 9/19/15
Besides having devices that can feed data directly into a patient’s electronic record, a more immediate CMI goal is to have different vendors’ EHR systems communicate with each other, said CMI board member Dr. Jon Pryor, CEO of Hennepin Healthcare System. “People bounce around between systems,” Pryor said. “There’s a greater potential of losing information if it’s not all in one spot.”
Minnesota’s Medical costs rose in 2014 but varied widely clinic to clinic
Star Tribune, 9/17/15
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) saw spending on its privately insured primary-care patients decline 4 percent. Leaders there cited a variety of efforts to divert patients, when appropriate, to lower levels of care — such as urgent care instead of the emergency room — and to investments in care coordinators and social workers who help patients stay healthy at home. HCMC clinics even have a food bank and provide needy patients with fresh groceries. As a result, primary-care costs for HCMC rose slightly, but inpatient hospital costs dropped, said Nancy Garrett, HCMC’s chief analytics officer. “That’s exactly what we’re trying to do, is get patients into lower-cost settings.”
Henna tattoo reaction leaves woman swollen, blistered
Fox 9, 9/15/15
Henna, temporary tattoo applied for ceremonial rituals for thousands of years, is used all over the world. Popular in Northern Africa and the Middle East, is is often applied before weddings.
The Minnesota Poison Control System has gotten just over 100 calls from those who’ve suffered allergic reactions to the ink over the past 5 years.
Many car seats don’t fit properly
KARE 11, 9/4/15
A new study shows that 42 percent of the time, car seats and the cars they are placed are a bad fit.
Medical experts meet in Twin Cities to discuss treatment of rare respiratory disease
KSTP 5, 8/28/15
Experts from all over the world are in the Twin Cities talking about a rare disease few people realize they have.
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, or PCD, affects the lining of the airway and makes it hard to breathe. Doctors at the PCD Move for a Cure conference are exchanging ideas on diagnosing and treating it. It’s estimated that 25,000 people in the United States have PCD, but only 400 know it.
Backlog at state-run treatment facilities means long waits for Minnesotans suffering from severe addictions
MinnPost, 8/28/15
So far this year, the majority of patients admitted to the CARE programs have come from hospitals, like Hennepin County Medical Center. Megen Cullen, senior director of psychiatry at HCMC, said they commonly languish in beds for months designated for general medical care, not chemical dependency treatment.
Alexandria girl makes remarkable recovery from traumatic facial injuries
Star Tribune, 8/26/15
In a decade of repairing facial bones displaced and fractured by all manner of trauma, Lance Svoboda had never seen anything quite like this. Broken lower jaw. Broken upper jaw. Broken cheek bone. Broken eye socket.
All in a 5-year-old girl who had been airlifted from her hometown of Alexandria, Minn., where her head had been crushed in a stairway elevator system.
Ratings reveal Minnesota clinics with best communication, access
Star Tribune, 8/26/15
Doctors might not be able to turn on the charm overnight, but new Minnesota patient survey data show it is entirely possible for them to become better at seeing and talking with patients.
Hennepin County Medical Center’s Positive Care Center in Minneapolis received a top rating — 97 percent of patients gave high marks to its doctors — while serving a chronically ill HIV-positive population.
Get those ‘bye-bye’ documents ready to go
Pioneer Press, 8/21/15
As Dr. Jeffrey Ho, medical director for Hennepin County Medical Center’s EMS division, told me, a spouse or relative’s request at the scene may later conflict with the patient’s true wishes as outlined in a directive.
Time in the bank: A Stanford plan to save doctors from burnout
The Washington Post, 8/20/15
Mark Linzer, who has studied physician burnout for 20 years, said that when burnout rates hit 50 percent a few years ago, medical institutions began paying attention to work-home conflict.
Paramedics under investigation after not resuscitating 71-year-old woman
WCCO 4, 8/19/15
“It is a doctor’s order, because the emergency medical responders, without a doctor’s orders, they cannot stop using the protocol that they must follow. Unfortunately, if they don’t follow that protocol, then the case is under scrutiny and review,” said Dr. Jeffery Rubins, the director of Palliative Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Maplewood death investigation highlights rules on medics, resuscitation
Pioneer Press, 8/19/15
“If a family member doesn’t want us to resuscitate … it needs to be pretty clear that’s what the patient’s wishes were,” Dr. Jeffrey Ho, an emergency-room physician at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and the medical director for Hennepin Emergency Medical Services, said of HCMC’s protocol for do-not-resuscitate requests.
Maplewood death shows critical need for end-of-life directive
Star Tribune, 8/19/15
Advance directives and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders can provide clear guidance for such high-stress decisions. But absent those documents, medics are often asked to trust relatives who are distraught and may not know the wishes of their dying loved ones, said Dr. Jeffrey Ho, medical director for Hennepin County Medical Center’s emergency management services (EMS).
Health notes: music videos and concussions
Duluth News Tribune, 8/18/15
A medical researcher who recently joined the faculty of the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in Minneapolis took part in developing new technology to evaluate concussions — and it uses music videos.
Allergy season arrives right on schedule
WCCO Radio, 8/11/15
Hennepin County Medical Center Allergy Specialist Dr. John Sweet says allergy season is right on time.
“We usually peak at the State Fair,” Sweet said.
HCMC Neurosurgeon develops new test for concussions
KSTP 5, 8/10/15
Dr. Samadani has developed a test to rapidly assess an individual without having to administer a blood test or imaging study to determine whether the individual has suffered a concussion.
Minnesota health care providers urge universal screening for HIV
Star Tribune, 8/10/15
Hennepin County Medical Center, which has clinics spread throughout the county, is one organization that will be implementing universal HIV screening.
“If you have an opportunity to diagnose someone with HIV earlier, treatment is wildly successful when people are engaged with their care,” said Dr. Nicholas Vogenthaler, an infectious disease physician at HCMC in Minneapolis.
Minnesota’s largest hospital systems saw big jump in 2014 income
Star Tribune, 8/9/15
Among the hospital systems in the Star Tribune analysis, two of the largest chunks of income growth came at Sanford Health, which generates nearly 90 percent of its net patient revenue from outside Minnesota, and HCMC, which swung from an operating loss of $28 million in 2013, to income of $6.3 million last year.
Eye motion test shows promise for concussion detection
Star Tribune, 8/7/15
An 88 percent accuracy rate is superior to many commonly used screening tests, said Dr. Uzma Samadani, lead author of the research, who was recently recruited as a neurosurgeon and traumatic brain injury specialist from New York to Hennepin County Medical Center.
Meningitis case sparks Minnesota immunization effort
MPR, 8/3/15
The outbreak among men who have sex with men follows a somewhat different path than the usual meningitis transmission. The victims came in contact with one another in a more public setting, such as a bar or party, said Nick Vogenthaler, medical director of Hennepin County’s Red Door Clinic and the Positive Care Center at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Doctor heads into orbit on NASA mission
Modern Healthcare, 7/25/15
Colleagues of Dr. Kjell Lindgren say his medical skills are out of this world. And they’re right—literally.
Lindgren, board certified in emergency and aerospace medicine, was one of three astronauts who flew into space last week. The NASA crew reached the International Space Station after blasting off from Kazakhstan.
Lindgren received his emergency medicine training at Hennepin County Medical Center, a public hospital in Minneapolis. Those who worked with him at the hospital said he was a star doctor long before reaching the outer orbit of Earth.
“That was awesome”: former Mpls doctor arrives at International Space Station
Bring Me The News, 7/23/15
A former Minneapolis doctor is enjoying the view 250 miles above the earth after he successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) Wednesday.
Dr. Kjell Lindgren was one of three astronauts who made the journey in a Soyuz spacecraft to join the ISS crew as part of a NASA Expedition that launched from Kazakhstan.
Launch to International Space Station was “absolutely beautiful” says MN doctor
MPR, 7/23/15
Dr. Kjell Lindgren, who was a medical resident at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, was one of three astronauts who docked at the International Space Station (ISS) Wednesday.
Lindgren invited his former teacher Dr. Douglas Brunette, senior medical director of emergency and trauma service at HCMC, to see the launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Brunette has been posting his observations of the launch on the HCMC’s website.
Astronaut with MN ties on the International Space Station
KTIS, 7/22/15
The Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft launched at 4:02pm CDT Wednesday from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for its trip to the International Space Station. One of the astronauts on board is Kjell Lindgren, who has a strong aerospace medicine background, and has Minnesota ties.
Astronaut-doctor trained at HCMC docks at International Space Station
Star Tribune, 7/22/15
Dr. Kjell Lindgren, who was a medical resident at Hennepin County Medical Center, was one of three crewmates to blast off into space.
HCMC helped launch astronaut Kjell Lindgren into space
KSTP 5, 7/22/15
Dr. Kjell Lindgren is blazing a trail through space, but part of his path started at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Astronaut with Minnesota ties heads to the International Space Station
KTTC, Rochester 7/22/15
The Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft launched at 4:02pm CDT Wednesday from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for its trip to the International Space Station. One of the astronauts on board is Kjell Lindgren, who has a strong aerospace medicine background, and has Minnesota ties.
Lindgren did a chief resident year at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis in 2005 and completed a National Library of Medicine Post-Doctoral Fellowship and Master of Health Informatics at the University of Minnesota in 2008.
All-civilian Soyuz crew ready for Wednesday launch
America Space, 7/21/15
Dr. Kjell Lindgren completed a three-year residency in emergency medicine, including a chief resident year at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn., followed by a National Library of Medicine Post-Doctoral Fellowship and Master of Health Informatics at the University of Minnesota in 2006.
Astronaut trained as doctor at HCMC to launch to International Space Station next week
Star Tribune, 7/15/15
Dr. Kjell Lindgren will be part of NASA’s Expedition 44/45 launch on July 22. The Soyuz spacecraft will carry a crew including Lindgren to the International Space Station.
Minnesota-trained doctor to launch to International Space Station
WCCO 4, 7/15/15
An astronaut trained as a doctor in Minnesota is set to go into space next week.
Dr. Kjell Lindgren will be part of NASA’s Expedition 44/45 launch on July 22. The Soyuz spacecraft will carry a crew including Lindgren to the International Space Station.
Minnesota-trained doctor to launch to International Space Station
KSTP5, 7/15/15
An astronaut trained as a doctor in Minnesota is set to go into space next week.
Dr. Kjell Lindgren will be part of NASA’s Expedition 44/45 launch on July 22. The Soyuz spacecraft will carry a crew including Lindgren to the International Space Station.
2015 Outstanding Nurses Awards
Mpls/St.Paul Magazine, 7/15/15
During a party celebrating Twin Cities nurses last night, several of the cities’ top nurses were honored with the distinction of being an “Outstanding Nurse.”
As with other years, only one Lifetime Achievement Award was given—to Mary Jo Peck, a nurse manager and program manager at Hennepin County Medical Center’s Knapp Rehabilitation Unit. She’s been a nurse at HCMC for 46 years.
Transitions July 14: Dr. Kjell Lindgren
Twin Cities Business Journal, 7/14/15
Kjell Lindgren, former chief resident of the Emergency Department at Hennepin County Medical Center will climb aboard NASA’s Expedition 44/45, set to launch on Wednesday, July 22.
Canada forest fires cause poor air quality, smoke across Minnesota
Fox 9, 7/6/15
“Make sure you listen to your body, and if you do feel short of breath and if you notice wheezing or coughing, it’s definitely time to slow down, ” said Dr. Matthew Prekker with HCMC.
New device for heart patients
KARE 11, 6/30/15
It is estimated that the costs associated with heart failure in the United States are more than $30 billion a year. But now there’s a new device from St. Jude Medical that may help reduce some of those costs.
Internationally recognized neurosurgeon Dr. Uzma Samadani joins HCMC
Mpls/St.Paul Business Journal, 6/29/15
Dr. Uzma Samadani, whose research on concussion recently made headlines around the world, is joining the Department of Neurosurgery at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), a nationally recognized Level I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota that specializes in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries. She will serve as the Rockswold Kaplan Chair for Traumatic Brain Injury Research, and also be appointed an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota.
Tough Jobs: Emergency Medical Technician
Twin Cities Business Journal, 6/29/15
From defibrillating heart attack victims to administering morphine to those with extreme burns, the day-to-day encounters of a paramedic run the gamut. Hours of training and several certifications come standard in the emergency medical services field, but one aspect of the job is crystal-clear: “Caffeine is something of a ritual.”
Or so it is according to Jordan Wardell, a paramedic for Hennepin County Medical Center for seven years.
Health Check: Swim Safety
NW Cable 12, 6/23/15
“Now that it’s summer time and the weather’s warm, this is something we see on a weekly or bi-weekly basis,” said Dr. Matthew Prekker, an emergency medicine physician at HCMC.
HCMC CEO talks new downtown facility
The Journal, 6/23/15
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) CEO Jon Pryor discussed the hospital’s $224 million ambulatory outpatient building development at a community meeting Monday.
Minnesota task force tackles tough rescue jobs
Star Tribune, 6/22/15
The clock is just one of many obstacles faced by members of the elite force trained to perform “technical rescues.” The term refers to lifesaving efforts that use skills and tools beyond the scope of normal firefighting and medical emergency situations. Conditions are difficult and often treacherous.
HCMC Interpreters Key to a Diverse Patient Population
KSTP 5, 6/18/15
Communication is a vital part of everyday life, but one department at the Hennepin County Medical Center takes it to the next level.
KARE 11, 6/17/15
It doesn’t take long for life to change forever. That’s the reality William Vener’s parents are facing.Three Qs: Joggin for the Noggin on June 20 at Chan High School
Chanhassen Villager, 6/16/15
Concussion awareness became personal for a group of Chanhassen High School teens more than two years ago when their youth pastor and assistant high school football coach fell on ice and suffered a debilitating concussion.Gophers pay young wrestler burned in accident a visit
WCCO 4, 6/16/15
A hospital is hardly a fun place for a little boy, especially one from South Dakota having to be that far from home.But when he needed care, he came to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. And when he needed a little cheering up, he got quite a surprise from some special people there.
For Minnesota rescue doctor, danger comes with the job
MPR, 6/12/15
“Whenever you’re dealing with a rescue, the mantra is risk a little to save a lot,” said Dr. John Hick, one of six doctors who work with Minnesota Task Force 1, the state’s emergency rescue team. “There’s going to be risks, but you have to make that a calculated risk, and when we’re trying to save a life, we’re going to try to minimize those risks.”
62 Minnesota kids poisoned by e-cig juice last year
Fox 9, 6/10/15
The Minnesota Poison Control System reports 62 children ages 5 and younger were poisoned by e-cigarettes and e-cig juice in 2014. That’s a 35 percent jump over 2013 and the second year of significant increases in nicotine poisonings related to e-cigarettes, which can contain deadly levels of nicotine for children.
HCMC warns about E-Cig poisonings
NW Cable 12, 6/10/15
“Nicotine is itself a deadly poison,” said Dr. Jon Cole, Medical Director of the Hennepin Regional Poison Center and Minnesota Poison Control. “Nicotine causes nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, weakness, and in severe poisoning, causes both severe paralysis and seizures ultimately leading to death.”
HCMC, local nonprofit team up to help diabetics in need
KSTP 5, 6/9/15
Matter is teaming up with the Hennepin County Medical Center to help patients with diabetes.
Herbal opiod Kratom raises concerns of doctors
Fox 9, 6/8/15
Use of an herbal and nutritional supplement called Kratom is raising the concern of doctors and appears to be on the rise in the Twin Cities. Hennepin County Medical Center’s Poison Control Center has had about 20 calls so far this year, double the number as usual. Some of the callers with symptoms of withdrawal and addiction.
1 in 100,000 odds, Minnesota wife gives husband her kidney
Fox 9, 6/4/15
When they got married 26 years ago, Janet Tracy had already given her heart to her husband, John. Now she’s added another important organ to that list.
As Minnesota insurers limit access to hepatitis C drugs, patients chafe
Star Tribune, 6/2/15
Critics note there is something particularly frustrating about denying coverage for hepatitis C patients until they show complications; the viral infection can leave patients symptom-free for years but eventually cause failure or cancer of the liver.
Volunteers packing survivor kits for sex assault victims
WCCO 4, 5/29/15
The effort to provide clothing to victims after a sexual assault is the main focus of the non-profit volunteer organization, which has an all-female membership.
Hot Property: Ambulatory Outpatient Specialty Center at Hennepin County Medical Center
Star Tribune, 5/28/15
The Hennepin County Medical Center and architects BWBR have revealed more design, landscaping and site plan details of the new Ambulatory Outpatient Specialty Center across S. 8th Street from HCMC’s emergency department as the project begins its navigation through the city approval process.
At some MN Clinics, the doctor and lawyer will see you now
MPR, 5/26/15
Some health care clinics are adding on-site attorneys to their teams of doctors and nurses to provide convenient, free legal advice to low-income patients.
Doctor burnout is a rising problem in Minnesota
Star Tribune, 5/24/15
Dr. Mark Linzer at Hennepin County Medical Center found that doctors insulate patients from their personal stress, but concluded in research over the past decade that many retire early because of the pressure.
Dairy Queen removing sodas from kids’ menus
WCCO 4, 5/15/15
“We’ve built a world for ourselves where sometimes those unhealthy decisions are actually easier to make than healthy decisions,” Dr. John Anderson, a Hennepin County Medical Center pediatrician, said. He says the real enemy in soda is the high-sugar levels.
Minn. man survives motocycle crash; advocates helmet use
KSTP, 5/12/15
One Minnesota man’s family said he’s lucky to be alive after a recent crash.
Study: cheap and expensive bike helmets perform the same
KARE 11, 5/12/15
Doctor Andrew Kiragu with Hennepin County Medical Center says what is most important when it comes to safety is a good fitting helmet.
Don’t need a bike helmet? Think again!
KARE 11, 4/30/15
Does your family need a refresher course on safe bike riding? Check out this video from Hennepin County Medical Center.
HCMC receives $2.5 million grant from United Health Group
Business Wire, 4/29/15 (press release)
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) has been awarded a $2.5 million grant over three years by United Health Foundation to support HCMC’s innovative programs that provide services for patients with complex socioeconomic and health issues.
New mobile mammography screening
NBC Right Now, 4/27/15 (press release)
Reducing the barriers to healthcare is a priority for us, says Dr. Truwit, Professor and Chief, Department of Radiology, HCMC. Having mammography mobile units in less accessible areas of the county helps ensure that we provide women with the same level of care as they would receive in our breast center. We want to bring the best technologies to women in communities across Minnesota.
Morris area EMT students train at HCMC
Morris Sun Tribune, 4/20/15
tudents from the Morris Area High School Emergency Medical Technician class had an opportunity to visit Hennepin County Medical Center to participate in high fidelity simulated training scenarios in the HCMC “Sim-Center.”
Two more papers support Medtronic clot-removal therapy for strokes
Star Tribune, 4/17/15
Dr. Bharathi Jagadeesan, who treated stroke patients at Hennepin County Medical Center as part of the Swift Prime trial, said Medtronic’s device puts another tool in doctors’ hands for fighting the effects of ischemic stroke.
Brain Injury Alliance
Fox 9, 4/12/14
More than 100,000 people in Minnesota are living with a brain injury according to Dr. Andrew Kiragu, who recently spoke at the MN Brain Injury Alliance conference in Brooklyn Center.
On the east side of downtown Minneapolis, new wave of development begins
Star Tribune, 4/11/15
HCMC will soon begin work on a new $191 million ambulatory center, which will consolidate several of its clinics currently scattered throughout its sprawling campus. It will then turn its attention to reimagining the use of space on the entire campus, becoming a catalyst for development in its own right.
“We are always thinking about how to improve efficiency and reduce waste. The only way to do that is to remodel space,” CEO Jon Pryor said. “We will wrestle with what we do with a lot of vacated space.”
Klobuchar calls for regulation of laundry pods
Star Tribune, 4/10/15
The Minnesota Poison Control System reported 49 detergent-packet-related cases in 2012 — when the products began gaining popularity — compared with 352 in 2014.
Dr. Jon Cole, medical director of the Poison Control System, said Friday that the packets are one of three major emerging poisoning trends in the state, the other two being e-cigarette juice and synthetic drugs.
Klobuchar calls for regulation of laundry pods
Star Tribune, 4/10/15
Speaking at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Klobuchar said the bill would authorize the Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop rules requiring childproof packaging, warning labels, and changes to packet designs and colors to make them less appealing to kids, and adjustments to their composition that would make the consequences of exposure less severe.
Former pro snowboarder shares message of hope at HCMC
WCCO Radio, 4/9/15
Kevin Pearce competed for years as a professional snowboarder and dreamed of the Olympics before an accident in 2009 left him with traumatic brain injury.
Today at Hennepin County Medical Center, Pearce met with patients suffering from traumatic brain trauma and offering his support and encouragement.
Sheriff’s Office creates full-time patrol unit to patrol HCMC
Star Tribune, 4/5/15
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has started regular patrols at the Hennepin County Medical Center following a series of violent incidents at the state’s largest public hospital.
Getting the biggest bang for your buck
Sun Post, 3/29/15
Good providers actively listen to you, care about you as a person and want to make your experience the best. By knowing how to navigate the system and get the most out of your visit will benefit in more ways than one. After all, the end goal is to help you achieve optimal physical, social and mental health.
Natalie Ikeman is a physician assistant at Hennepin County Medical Center’s Golden Valley Clinic in the Family Medicine Department.
Health Care Systems Try to Cut Costs by Aiding the Poor and Troubled
New York Times, 3/22/15
Jerome Pate, a homeless alcoholic, went to the emergency room when he was cold. He went when he needed a safe place to sleep. He went when he was hungry, or drunk, or suicidal.
He made 17 emergency room visits in just four months last year, a costly spree that landed him in the middle of an experiment to reinvent health care for the hardest-to-help patients here in Hennepin County.
Health Check: Allergy Season Comes Early
NW Cable 12 TV, 3/17/15
“It’s tree pollen season,” says Dr. John Sweet of HCMC’s Parkside Allergy Clinic. “It’s starting, and people are already starting to have symptoms: the itchy, watery eyes. Some people’s asthma is starting to get more reactive.”
Funding cuts threaten Poison Center’s future
MPR, 3/16/15
The center is part of the Minnesota Poison Control System, which evolved from a few hospital-based poison centers in the 1970s and ’80s to one emergency call center located at Hennepin County Medical Center. The Poison Center’s toxicology specialists take an average of 132 calls a day, handling everything from household poisonings to drug overdoses and snake bites.
Outdoor winter yoga
Star Tribune, 3/14/15
To raise awareness of healthy bodies, hearts and minds — and to raise money for Hennepin County Medical Center — dozens of yogis braved windchills of minus-25 last month to practice Snoga on the Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis.
HCMC unveils rendering of $191M expansion
MSP Business Journal, 3/13/15
Hennepin County Medical Center has unveiled renderings of the 322,000-square-foot ambulatory outpatient specialty center that it plans to build near its downtown campus.
CardioMEMS a life-changer for chronic heart failure patients
Fox 9, 3/5/15
Doctors say the CardioMEMS device is about to change a lot of lives. So far, at Hennepin County Medical Center, doctors have implanted the device in three patients. The fourth patient says she’s ready to be “much better” and stop taking so many hospital visits.
How to beat burnout: 7 signs physicians should know
AMA Wire, 3/4/15
Mark Linzer, MD, Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, has studied physician burnout since 1996. He said he understands why many physicians eventually feel exhausted practicing medicine, but this problem is avoidable.
St. Jude device gives early warning on heart failure
Star Tribune, 2/27/15
Dr. Fouad Bachour showed St. Jude Medical’s CardioMEMS device to Joe Jones before implanting it into him on Thursday at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. HCMC is the first hospital in the Twin Cities to offer this therapy for heart failure patients.
KARE 11 Investigates: Drowsy driving
KARE 11, 2/23/15
Drowsy driving is often compared to drunken driving because the impairments are similar.
That’s what KARE 11 discovered after putting four sleep-deprived volunteers to the test recently on a closed course. Doctors at the Hennepin County Medical Center helped organize the experiment. The night before, sleep specialists at HCMC hooked up the volunteers with wires so doctors can monitor their brain waves while they drive.
8 things you need to know about sleep
Minnesota Public Radio, 2/23/15
Sleep experts — Dr. Imran Khawaja of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at HCMC and Lauren Hale of the National Sleep Foundation journal Sleep Health — joined MPR News to talk about the latest research and tips for getting a better night’s rest.
The healing power of acupuncture
NW Cable 12 News, 2/17/15
Once a week, Lisa Schmidt visits the HCMC clinic in Golden Valley to seek treatment for chronic pain.
“I’m a runner, and I’ve been having hip problems,” Schmidt said.
But HCMC Acupuncturist Lena Beste doesn’t give Schmidt traditional painkillers. Instead, she inserts thin acupuncture needles into Schmidt’s skin at strategic points in her body, and that’s where they’ll stay for the next 25 minutes.
Study says teens growing more sleep deprived
WCCO Radio, 2/16/15
Dr. Louis Kazaglis is a sleep medicine physician at Hennepin County Medical Center. He says teens who are sleep deprived are more likely to get in car accidents, and are prone to depression, academic problems, substance abuse and weight gain.
Twin Cities hospitals are front line in treating Bakken burn victims
Star Tribune, 2/15/15
About a dozen Bakken burn victims have been treated at the Hennepin County Medical Center in the last three or so years, according to its burn unit director, Ryan Fey.
The health benefits of being bilingual
Northwest Cable 12, 2/3/15
“There have been a couple of studies that have shown that bilingualism may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years,” said Anne Murray, MD, a geriatrician, internist, and epidemiologist specializing in dementia at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Dr. David Hilden talks about measles
WCCO Radio, 2/2/15
“There’s a major need to educate the public on how safe the measles vaccine is,” said Dr. David Hilden.
“It can save lives,” he said. “We’re almost inviting diseases from the past back into our life through our maybe well-intentioned but misinformed behaviors. There’s really no reason not to get your child vaccinated.”
30 years later, Minn. doctor still opening doors in fight against AIDS
MPR, 1/29/15
Dr. Keith Henry still remembers the first patient he lost to AIDS. It was late spring 1984 and a young college instructor came to Henry’s hospital with an aggressive AIDS-related pneumonia. The man’s intelligent banter impressed Henry. But before long, his patient was silenced by a ventilator. Within weeks, he was dead. It hit Henry hard. He was 31 years old, nearly the same age as the patient.
Ice fishermen reminded to be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning
Waseca County News, 1/28/15
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs more often during the heating months. In 2014, the Minnesota Poison Control System received 514 calls regarding carbon monoxide poisoning with the highest number of calls coming in January and February.
Man beats the odds after ATV crash leaves serious brain injuries
WCCO 4, 1/26/15
“There’s a scale people get scored on when they come in the emergency department and he was just clearly on all measures all the way down on the severe end of the scale,” Brionn Tonkin with HCMC’s Traumatic Brain Injury Center said.
Daughter donates kidney to mother
KARE 11, 1/24/15
Some people have suffered more than their share of hard times and heartbreak in life. Carolina Grice may finally have that happy ending she so deserves.
Widowed mother warns of blood clot risk
WCCO 4, 1/24/14
Dr. Michael Hu, a vascular surgeon at Hennepin County Medical Center, says pulmonary embolisms happen when blood clots in major veins break off and travel — then block off the lungs.
As TJ McCorkle’s house burned, he faced a choice: jump or die
Fox 9, 1/19/15
TJ landed on the concrete. He didn’t break any bones, but he’s going to need surgery for the 2nd and 3rd degree burn injuries he suffered. He’s currently in satisfactory condition at HCMC’s burn unit.
Tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
KSTP 5, 1/13/15
Dr. Bjorn Westgard from Hennepin County Medical Center stopped by KSTP to talk about carbon monoxide poisoning.
Dangerously cold weather across the U.S.
MyFox NY, 1/8/15
With wind chills plunging into the minus-30s to the minus-50s across Minnesota on Wednesday, Dr. Ryan Fey of the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis warned that serious frostbite injuries can happen in 10 minutes or less.
How to keep your home free from radon
WCCO 4, 1/7/15
You can’t see, smell or taste radon in your home. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t there, according to Dr. Jon Cole of the Minnesota Poison Control System.
Protecting yourself against frostbite this winter
KARE 11, 1/7/15
Being outside when it’s 25 to 30 below wind chill range can be dangerous to your body, especially if you aren’t prepared for the bitter cold.
Hennepin County Medical Center Burn Surgeon Dr. Jon Gayken visited KARE Sunrise with some important tips on how you can protect yourself from frostbite and prevent a trip to the hospital.
Man’s brush with frostbite serves as warning to others
WCCO 4, 1/6/15
Dr. Ryan Fey at Hennepin County Medical Center said they see about 25 cases of frostbite on average in a year. However, last year’s brutal winter brought a record 200 severe cases into HCMC.
Volunteer Opportunity of the Month: HCMC Food Shelf
KARE 11, 1/6/15
This month KARE 11 is featuring the Food Shelf at Hennepin County Medical Cente. HCMC’s Food Shelf serves patients and families in need at HCMC clinics.
Quick treatment key to minimizing frostbite injury
MPR, 1/5/15
During sub-zero weather exposed fingers, noses and ears can suffer frostbite within 10 minutes.
Dr. Ryan Fey, medical director of HCMC’s Burn Center, urges anyone who suspects they have a frostbite injury to seek immediate medical care to minimize their chances of suffering permanent tissue damage.
Minnesota flu outbreak shows no sign of letting up
Star Tribune, 1/1/15
“We are seeing a lot of upper respiratory illness,” said Mary Ellen Bennett, director of infection prevention at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Hennepin Healthcare News 