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Susan Ness

New Healthcare Campus Built with Friends & Family in Mind

Ever since F.W. Woolworth added a “motor stairs” to its downtown Minot store in 1953, escalators have rarely appeared in Magic City structures. But that will change next spring when Trinity Health’s new hospital campus will join a tiny subgroup of other Minot buildings in featuring, among other amenities, an ultramodern escalator just inside the main entrance.

No need to wait for an elevator, the escalator will serve as a perpetual conduit optimizing people flow from the main entrance to the procedural platform. For people who aren’t a fan of escalators, elevators will be available.

“(The escalator) will come in very handy as a mobility option for patients and visitors who want to access the second floor where most of the outpatient services are located as well as the large hospital waiting area,” said Dave Kohlman, vice president of Facilities Management.

Hospitals can be stressful places, especially when a loved one is sick or injured. To ease such anxieties, Trinity’s new campus has incorporated several family- and visitor-friendly amenities designed to help the edgiest visitor experience a sense of calm.

Naturally lit spaces and open-air design evoke a sense of comfort and reassurance. Add to that warm, natural materials that suggest an overall mood of serenity. The facility will incorporate a variety of colors, depending on location. Some of the floors will have colors considered to be healing colors. Other areas, such as Pediatrics, will have colors more appealing to children.

“Every floor has a waiting area tied to the service line,” Kohlman said. “Pediatrics has a waiting room; OB has a waiting room. Same Day Surgery and Radiology Services will have their own waiting areas. Plus, every connector between the medical office building and the acute care tower will have waiting space as well, which is beautiful with a nice view in both directions. Then we’ll have the large common waiting area right above the cafeteria and kitchen. All of these spaces will have furniture equipped with USB ports where visitors can plug in their phones.”

The cafeteria, a major amenity for families and visitors, will offer a cornucopia of food choices, according to Desiree Steinberger-Blevins, director of Nutrition Services. “We’ll have tried-and-true items as well as some new fun flavors for guests to experience; for example, on certain days we’ll offer different stations for submarine sandwiches or pizza, or a world cuisine station for Mexican, Asian or other international fare. We’ll also incorporate different cooking techniques to provide healthy food options for staff, guests and patients,” she said.

The cafeteria will be roomy and well organized with increased capacity, including a few high-top seating areas for people to enjoy their food. A special vending and seating area will be provided for after-hours service.

Even food prep will see an upgrade. “We’ll have a kitchen that is made for room service style food production,” Steinberger explained. “Cooks will have their own prep areas and be able to serve patients faster because they won’t have to share their area. The same will be true for café cooks – they won’t have to share their area, allowing for cooking that is truly focused on the café.”

To further ensure visitor convenience, amenities such as a coffee shop, gift shop and drive-through pharmacy will be available. Add to that a beautiful interfaith chapel and bereavement suite that will be centrally located near the entry pavilion, yet sufficiently tucked away to serve as a quiet, tranquil space for patients, staff, visitors and families.

Not all the amenities will be indoors. Tied in to the sidewalk system will be a rest area and park complete with trees, park benches and playground equipment – a nice alternative for families as well as an opportunity for visitors and staff who wish to take a walk or enjoy lunch outdoors.

Sometimes It’s OK to Quit

Perseverance is an attribute that is woven into our DNA. Since the beginning of time, man’s survival depended on battling harsh climates, volcanoes, drought, famine, disease and war. To give up or quit might have meant certain death. Closer to home, our personal histories include precious stories of ancestors emigrating from Northern Europe to new lands offering freedom and opportunity. Imagine their struggles of survival getting here, then dwelling in sod homes during North Dakota’s cold, harsh winters and dry summer months. Nationally, Americans universally root for the underdog, supporting the underlying belief that to persevere against all odds, good, bad, dangerous, irrational – or not, makes them the hero in our stories.

When facing difficulties, people often think that giving up is not an option. We all have heard stories about successful people overcoming obstacles to achieve great success: Thomas Edison’s 10,000 failed attempts before perfecting the light bulb; Steve Jobs, fired from Apple, a company he founded, only to return 12 years later to create iTunes, iPod, iPhone and the iPad; Oprah Winfrey, born into poverty and abused as a child, rising from her circumstances to become one of the wealthiest and most influential people of our generation.

When a Door Closes…

The truth is, successful people give up a lot. They understand there is an art of quitting if goals become an obstacle in their path to success. Sometimes you have to close one door to open another. For example, in the mid 1990s, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer developed sildenafil, a compound for hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina pectoris (a form of cardiovascular disease). It failed in clinical trials, and Pfizer considered abandoning the project. However, although chemists found that the drug had little effect on dilating blood vessels in the heart, its effect on blood vessels in the penis were noticeable. Thus, Viagra was born. Pfizer patented the compound in 1996 and conducted clinical trials to determine safety in a mere two years, while most drugs take around 10. The result was that the FDA approved Viagra to treat a “disease” (erectile dysfunction) that wasn’t recognized as a medical condition at the time. Viagra enjoyed immediate success, becoming the fastest drug to surpass $1 billion in sales. The moral here is to learn to recognize when strategies and goals no longer work, then give yourself permission to quit and explore other avenues of opportunity.

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Quit?

Jason Andersen, Trinity Addiction Services, has been a licensed addiction counselor for over two decades, which is to say he’s helped a lot people set goals. If persevering could be dangerous, it makes sense that quitting the drug of choice, or a dangerous situation, is the righteous path toward a balanced and productive life. However, Andersen believes that unless people have an honest understanding of their “WHY,” setting goals can be futile.

“Before you make goals, you need to figure out your ‘why.’ We see this with addiction, as well as with a healthy population. You have to get honest and realize that your motivation and desire to change a behavior must be stronger than the rewards it provides,” he says.

Andersen suggests defining what you are willing or not willing to do to reach your goal. “Define your limits, which might require you to dig in to determine what pleasures you are willing to let go of, and what your Plan B might look like. Prepare to create habits over the long-term,” he added.

The beauty of setting goals is that when you start something, you will discover new information. This information could be about whether you’re happy, if the goal is a good fit, or your own changing values. Perhaps you discover that something you thought you wanted is no longer as important. Andersen advises that the time to quit is when the cons outweigh the pros.

“This is tough to judge, because it’s not a measurable sum, but rather about the depth of severity, based on what does and does not work,” Andersen said. “It’s not as simple as listing four pros and six cons to determine whether or not to quit. The measure is determined more by individual limits.”

Measure your pain threshold and learn to get comfortable with your limits, he advises. But avoid falling into the Sunk Cost Fallacy, which is the idea that you need to continue on a certain path because you have already invested time, energy and resources into that pursuit.

The book “Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away,” written by professional poker player and decision scientist Annie Duke, argues that in many cases sticking to your goals – whether they are career objectives, personal aspirations or home projects – hold you back. She suggests that you ask yourself: “what are the signals I could see in the future that would tell me it’s time to quit?” Then think about: “what are the signals that would tell me that things are good?” Duke adds that every goal needs a really good ‘unless.’ As in, I will do this unless…

Planning for a New Year

Letting go of an unattainable goal frees you up to pursue other goals. Every day, we are presented with infinite opportunities, but not every opportunity leads toward the goals we have for ourselves. Quitting such opportunities opens a new world of chances. We might be afraid to quit, fearing the regret of missing out on possible success. But if you want to progress, take the first step and quit something that obstructs you from moving forward.

To quit you must honor your instincts and the desire for something else, but it also demands that you take a leap of faith. It requires you to trust yourself and the world enough to believe you will be ok without the membership, credential, activity, situation or person you are walking away from. Quitting is not an impediment to progress. It is a redirection of your efforts toward something that will assist you in growing.

Avoid Emergency Room Visits During the Holidays

Landing at the emergency room can be difficult any time of the year. But it’s especially fraught during the holidays when you may be far from home or entertaining out-of-town guests.

Susann Krueger, MS, nurse manager, says that Trinity’s ER treats an average of 90 patients a day most days of the year. However, there are traffic spikes during the holidays and community events that contribute to larger numbers of patients showing up for treatment.

“The holidays are definitely a busy time of year and it always seems we see an increase in volume the day after a holiday,” she said.

Prevent Emergencies
The holidays tend to be about excessive consumption: more alcohol, more salt, more sugar, more food in general. So, it’s no surprise that many holiday ER trips are because of overindulgence. It is important to remember that the rules of healthy living and consequences of poor choices are not suspended for the  season.

Holiday mishaps at home also contribute to an increase in ER visits. Be careful when hanging decorations in hard to reach areas and look out for things in your home that could prove hazardous such as open fireplaces, poisonous plants like mistletoe and electrical issues.

Know When to Go the ER
Many health issues that arise during the holidays are not necessarily medical emergencies. Those that should be treated immediately include chest pain, stroke symptoms, excessive uncontrolled, bleeding or difficulty breathing. Severe stomach pain that is accompanied by other symptoms such as coughing  up or vomiting blood, dizziness or fainting should also be treated immediately in the ER.

Stick with urgent care for sprained muscles, broken bones and cuts that need stitching up. Trinity Health FirstCare Walk- in Clinic offers convenient and immediate care for individuals experiencing a nonemergent illness or injury. Located at 408 Burdick Expressway East, FirstCare’s hours are 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.–5 p.m. weekends and holidays.

ER Etiquette
If you do end up at the hospital, be prepared to wait. ER staff treat patients in order of severity or illness, so your sprained ankle might get trumped by another person’s heart attack.

“We try to see everyone as quickly as possible, but we do need to prioritize patients by severity of illness. Our goal is to give the best medical care and customer service to all our patients,” Krueger said.

To make things easier for the ER staff, arrive with your i.d., a list of medications you use regularly, and an insurance card if you have one.

Enjoy the spirit of the season and be safe. If you do end up in the ER, remember the doctors and nurses are people too, and it’s their holiday season as well.  A little holiday cheer, even in the emergency room, can go a long way.

‘Tis the Season for Overindulgence. How to Find Balance.

The inaugural Thanksgiving gathering generally kicks off our overcommitment to holiday festivities. The one-day event unfolds after weeks of fastidious attention paid to planning, organizing, cooking, eating and cleaning. Our family ritual is engrained through decades of practice: eat too much, lay around watching football or take a nap, eat too much again.

Black Friday shopping requires focused premeditation: the mall route is mapped out based on large discounts of desirable merchandise in key locations. Strategic planning maximizes merchandise coups amongst heavily discounted treasure. Retail sales are even more tantalizing if they require waiting in the dark morning hours and promise savings to only a select few, those first in the door.

Segue to December, rife with unspoken expectations of additional obligations such as parties, programs, travel, eating out, shopping, baking, wrapping, decorating, visitors and little sleep. Too much of a good thing adds to holiday stress. But here’s the conundrum: how does one maintain nutritional, physical and mental balance without having to add more “to dos” to an already overextended agenda?

Goal: Have a plan and stick to it.
Plan your meals in advance. Life runs smoother if you have a set meal plan with approximate times to eat. Skipping or going too long between meals usually backfires and contributes to overeating, says Michelle Fundingsland, RDN, LRD, at Trinity Health outpatient services.

Goal: Set a timer to avoid overeating.
Slow down. Nerve receptors in our stomach are activated 15-20 minutes after we begin eating,  sending signals to our brain telling us we are getting full. To slow yourself down, Fundingsland suggests eating with your opposite hand, using chopsticks or watching yourself eat using the video camera on your phone. “Aim to be halfway done eating 10 minutes into your meal,” she adds.

Goal: Limit sugar intake to 6 teaspoons (or 25 grams) a day.
Eat more whole vegetables and whole fruits. If vegetables are part of the main entre, serve a pile of greens on the side. If you think fruit is only good for an occasional snack, then serve it at the end of each meal for dessert, such as a nice pear or cooked apple with cinnamon.

Goal: 10 minutes, twice a day will get you closer to your goal.
Stay Active. Exercise usually takes a back burner during the holidays. The goal is 150 minutes each week, or 30 minutes five days a week, says Tanya Gillen, exercise physiologist. “If you are tight for time,  break it down even further. Take a 10-minute walk around the mall before you start shopping. Move  during commercials. Set a timer and leave your desk to move around the office.”

Goal: Redefine what counts as exercise.
Try a new activity with your family. “Do something with the kids,” advises Gillen. “Go snowshoeing,  sledding, ice skating or choose games that incorporate movement.” Maybe it’s time to dust off the Twister game.

Goal: As the Nike commercials suggest: Just Do It.
Begin your New Year’s Resolution early. Gillen stresses that it is not necessary to wait until January to get fit. She suggests setting small goals during the week, even if that means parking further away from the door at work, or dancing to Christmas music while you clean.

Goal: Get at least 7 hours of sleep at night.
Sleep well. Most Americans are sleep deprived. Not getting enough sleep is associated with increased hunger, high blood sugar, poor concentration, impaired problem solving and more illness. Sleeping at least 7 hours per night protects you from fatigue and illness.

Goal: Take note of special moments.
Count your blessings. Make time for reflection every day and focus on things that brought you joy and happiness. Special times and memories are the most treasured gifts and will linger in our hearts and memory.

Medical Building Chic but Welcoming

Construction continues in the new hospital as empty galaxies of space transform into identifiable rooms and work stations for patients, guests and employees. But in its shadow to the north, Trinity Health’s Medical Office Building is nearly complete and awaits move-in day, much like its new residents.

With roughly 200,000 sq. ft. of space, the Medical Office Building (MOB) is one-third the size of the hospital and has five floors of offices that house approximately 20 departments. All floors are directly linked to the hospital via “connectors,” and like the hospital, the sixth floor of the MOB remains unfinished and available for future expansion.

Shortly after breaking ground in 2018, an Aesthetics Committee was formed and tasked to collaborate with the architect of record and lead designer in creating a healing environment in both properties that exuded calm and tranquility.

“The first decision was to decide the theme, which influenced everything else moving forward,” said committee member, Alison Frye. “Once that was decided, the design team presented color schemes that included walls, accents, trim and all textures – such as fabrics, flooring, window coverings and furniture.”

In May 2020, a few committee members visited The Merchandise Mart in Chicago, where they spent two dizzying days trekking through 4 million sq. ft. of showrooms looking at sleeper sofas, patient recliners, office chairs, and waiting room, cafeteria and office furniture. Sights were set on narrowing their selections to several manufacturers.

That September, the selected vendors came to Minot and set up displays in a Trinity Health warehouse. Directors and assistant directors were invited to attend the showcase and asked to rate the furniture in order of preference. After the votes were tallied, over 100 desks and nearly 1,500 chairs were purchased for the MOB, based on staff recommendations.

To keep items in their intended place, the fabric patterns picked for each floor are similar, but in different colors, based on the floor’s theme. Themes for floors one through five are: water, earth, living things, air and fire. Artwork also will correspond to each floor’s theme and will be reminiscent of local scenery.

“Each floor has a unique i.d. The desks and task (office) chairs are the same throughout the building, but waiting room chairs will have different colors, so if one is moved to another location, we know where it belongs,” Frye said.

Trinity’s recognizable green will be featured in spaces like the ER corridor and cafeteria at the hospital.

For a sneak peek, below is a list of the departments relocating to the MOB in spring 2023:

Floor 1:
• Patient Registration
• Pre-Admission Testing
• Community Resource Center (Library)
• New Retail Pharmacy with drive up window
• New KeyCare Medical
• Outpatient Lab
• Kidney Dialysis Unit

Floor 2:
• Cardiac Rehab
• Urology
• Cardiology
• Infectious Disease
• Pulmonology
• Ultrasound

Floor 3:
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Nephrology
• OB/GYN

Floor 4:
• Hand Surgery/Hand Therapy
• Rheumatology
• Podiatry Foot & Ankle Clinic
• Orthopedics/Sports Medicine

Floor 5:
• Gastroenterology
• General Surgery
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Ear, Nose, & Throat
• Audiology
• Clinic Operations

Special attention was paid to patient-centered elements to create positive reactions for all populations within the hospital and MOB. As Trinity Health’s healthcare campus and medical district nears completion, patients and staff will notice many wonderful changes. However, the commitment to comfortable visits, faster healing and improved outcomes remains steadfast.

Efficiency, Privacy Define ER Care at New Campus

Trinity Health has vowed to transform healthcare delivery at its new healthcare campus and medical district. A key component of that endeavor will surely be taking emergency care to a whole new level.

Trinity’s leadership and planners have designed an acute care platform that places emergency and transport services away from all congestion in a layout that is most conducive to patient comfort and privacy. Services needed for an efficient diagnosis will be mere steps away.

“The flow in this facility will be truly phenomenal,” said Facilities Vice President Dave Kohlman. “A patient will come into the ER on their own or by helicopter or ground ambulance. The cath lab, surgery and all imaging and diagnostic services will be right there. Everything is very close together.”

One of the most exciting features of the new emergency/trauma center is the expanded emergency department. Three years after operating at overload capacity during successive waves of COVID-19, emergency staff will have 27 treatment rooms to welcome patients, up from the present 13. Treatment rooms will be private – a departure from the curtained bays in the existing ER. “Our new emergency department will allow us to treat the emergency medical needs of our community while maximizing privacy and minimizing wait times,” said nurse manager Susann Krueger.

Another major improvement will be smooth and efficient access for emergency transport – both ground and air. A dedicated ramp will guide ground ambulance vehicles into the enclosed ambulance bay entrance equipped with electronic doors. Patients will be unloaded away from traffic bottlenecks and inclement weather.

“It’ll be a game changer,” said Amy Thomas, director of Trinity Health First Response. “The ambulance bay holds four large ambulance vehicles, and we won’t have to compete with other vehicles for parking as we do now. The helicopter will be able to land on the same level as the ER, so we won’t have to land on the roof and make our way down the elevator. That alone will cut transfer time down to a minute or less.”

And it won’t be just emergency vehicles that have easy access. Dropping off friends or loved ones will be a breeze, according to Kohlman. “If you’re taking your husband or wife to the ER, you’ll drive up the ramp and pull up to the entrance underneath a canopy out of the weather. The door is on the south side so the prevailing northwest winds won’t affect you. You can then park along the outside perimeter or drive back down to park and take a special elevator that goes directly up to the emergency department.”

Family members who want to wait for their loved ones will be able to stroll down a naturally lit walkway to the main public entrance where cafeteria, gift shop and other amenities are located.

When you have a medical emergency, your life can depend on getting to the best emergency center as quickly as possible. Trinity Health’s new healthcare campus will be a win for healthcare quality and accessibility that will better serve the needs of Minot and the region at large.

 

 

Serving Unmet Needs, Here and Abroad

Jewel Sandy, MD, is a woman on a mission. Literally.

Sandy, an ophthalmologist at Trinity Health Western Dakota, Williston, traveled to Sierra Leone in March and led a team of ophthalmologists through a global ophthalmology program to address eyecare needs in an underserved area. During their time in country, the team completed over 200 cataract and oculoplastic surgeries for eyelid tumors, restoring sight to the blind.

Sandy, originally from Sierra Leone, came to the United States at age 12 with her family. Her mother, an employee at a non-governmental organization, had obtained a fellowship for further studies in Public Health. When the fellowship ended, Sierra Leone was mired in an 11-year civil war, so the family never returned. But Sandy never forgot her home.

“Growing up in a poor country and seeing lots of suffering from sickness and lack of access to care, fueled my desire to become a physician,” she said. “I always knew mission work and serving the underserved would become a passion of mine, a desire that grew from my childhood experiences.”

Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa, with a population of 8.6 million and a land mass slightly smaller than South Carolina. It is an agrarian country with rich soil and plentiful rainfall, making agriculture, fisheries and forestry critical to its economy. However, the country is not self-sufficient in food production and life expectancy is less than 59 years. While resource rich (diamonds, bauxite, rutile) and geographically beautiful (imagine hills and mountains meet mangrove-fringed beaches), Sierra Leone is one of the poorest sub-Saharan African countries with a lacking healthcare system and a high prevalence of blindness.

In 2019, the World Health Organization launched the first World Report on Vision (WHO 2019) to draw attention to the increasing need for eye care globally. The report highlighted the role of eye care in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and called for coordinated global action toward strengthening eye care in health systems. Globally, at least 2.2 billion have near or distance vision impairment and at least half of these cases could have been prevented or have yet to be addressed. The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are uncorrected refractive errors (needing glasses) and cataracts, both of which are treatable. Interventions such as corrective lenses and cataract surgery are among the most cost-effective and feasible of all heathcare interventions.

The World Report on Vision also highlights that the prevalence of blindness in low and middle-income regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, is estimated to be four times higher than high-income regions, such as the United States. In 2020, the WHO established eye care as an integral part of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in order to address the inequities in access to eye care services across the world with a targeted completion date of 2030.

Sandy was originally drawn to neurosurgery in medical school but changed course to ophthalmology when she realized eye care and surgical treatments to cure blindness required fewer resources and provided easier access for sustainable options to more people worldwide.

“The WHO resolution positioned blindness on the world stage to be recognized as a primary care issue that is preventable and treatable. Ophthalmology lends itself to do meaningful work in a short period of time and make a lasting impact,” she said.

Sandy came to Western Dakota in late 2021 to allow her the opportunity to serve unmet needs in both western North Dakota and other areas of the world.

“I trained and lived in all parts of the country, but was ready for a change of pace, so here I am,” she said. “Practicing in a smaller community will allow me to grow professionally and serve in an area where there is a need. Trinity Health has been very supportive of my global ambitions, and I am excited to see how I can contribute on a local scale.”

Sandy is a board-certified and fellowship-trained Oculoplastics Specialist. Oculoplastic surgeons are ophthalmologists who specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the periorbital and facial tissues including the eyelids, eyebrows, forehead, cheeks, orbit (bony cavity around the eye) and lacrimal (tear) system. She is trained to do a variety of eyelid and facial surgery for adults and children. Sandy is located at Trinity Health Western Dakota, 1321 W Dakota Pkwy. To make an appointment, call 701-572-7641.

Creating a Healing Hospital Environment

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. What’s remarkable about this definition is that it does not include “curing” disease but encompasses well-being in body, mind and spirit.

While healthcare has primarily focused on fixing the body, there is growing recognition that our healthcare system could do more by promoting overall wellness, which requires expanding the focus. Evidence-based design research (EBD) has demonstrated the power of environmental design to support improved patient, family and staff outcomes and to avoid harm in healthcare settings. This concept piqued the interest of Trinity Health leaders, so they visited other hospitals across the country to learn more about how new designs could be implemented in the new campus to achieve better outcomes.

Healing is a very personal process that is heavily influenced by individual characteristics. The environment cannot cause healing to occur but can facilitate behaviors and emotions that support health, such as happiness, joy and relaxation. A healing environment is one that has a nurturing and therapeutic effect. Studies show that, through EBD, well designed healing environments make hospitals less stressful and promote faster healing for patients and improve well-being for their families, as well as create a pleasant, comfortable and safe work environment for staff.

What constitutes a healing environment?

Research shows one of the main concerns of patients is avoiding being subjected to human errors by staff and medical professionals in a hospital. Some of these can be addressed by providing identical rooms and adequate lighting.

Trinity’s new hospital will feature 148 private patient rooms, all same-sided, which means that every room is entered on the righthand side of the patient. Rooms are comfortably sized and have a private, ADA accessible bathroom; all equipment is identically located for ease and efficiency. The standardization of patient rooms and equipment makes routine tasks simpler and decreases errors by staff. When the facility has identical rooms, the nursing staff and care team encounters the same distribution, layout and lighting in every room.

“We built mock-up patient rooms then brought in staff to provide input on placement and location of key items so changes could be made before final construction. There were several suggestions that improved the functionality of the rooms, such as moving medical gas hookups for better patient access and relocating medical equipment booms from the head of the bed to the foot of the bed,” said Dave Kohlman, vice president of Facilities. “The result of our efforts is a room that’s well thought out and reflects a strategy centered around patient care,” he added.

Another feature in patient rooms that improves safety is a two-toned floor. One color indicates the “caregiver zone,” the second color: the “family zone.” Establishing distinct patient access zones allows for easier provider access, enhanced safety—especially in critical moments—and better patient care.

Additional healing design elements include soothing colors, natural light, exposure to nature, such as outside views, or art with a nature theme. The paint color in the patient rooms was chosen specifically for its subdued and soothing effect; angled walls direct one’s visual attention across to the window, which invites sunlight in and provides natural light and exposure to North Dakota’s kaleidoscope of seasonal colors and (sometimes) unpredictable weather. Scientific literature shows that patients with a view of nature had shorter postoperative stays, took fewer potent pain drugs and received more favorable comments about their condition in nurses’ notes than patients in similar rooms with a window facing a brick building.

Angled walls also provide wider corners, which are less difficult to clean than tight corners. Studies show single bed rooms with good air quality (from cleanliness and wider space) reduce infection incidence and reduce mortality.

Social needs in a hospital setting reflect patient behavior in relation to the support they receive from relationships. COVID-19 taught us many things, one of which was the unbearable loneliness and mental strife of experiencing illness without the support of loved ones nearby. The lack of social support negatively affected all actors in the drama: patients, family and staff. Dozens of studies have shown that people who have social support from family, friends and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer. To address social support in healing, patient rooms will include seating that can be arranged for visits from family or friends.

In its simplest form, the definition of a trinity is a set of three. An example could be a holy trinity –Father, Son and Holy Spirit – or one that reflects current opinions of health and well-being: body, mind and spirit. In addition to new technology and innovative healthcare, the new Trinity Hospital is designed to include elements to create surround- ings that help calm patients and strengthen their ability to cope and recover.

Amen to that.

Trinity Holds Decon Training for Area Providers

Trinity Health recently hosted a Hospital Hazmat Awareness and First Receiver Course (Decon) for hospital staff and first responders in the region. The one-day event drew over two dozen attendees from Trinity Health and facilities in Harvey, Bottineau and Tioga, some of whom were repeat customers.

“The material follows OSHA regulations, so it doesn’t change much from year to year, but it’s a lot,” said Tim Vangerude, trainer from Heartland Consulting, Bismarck. “Those who attend more than once are able to go a bit deeper and remember more each time.”

The course reviewed information on hazardous materials identification, containment and clean up requirements, and hands on practice of donning and doffing required personal protective equipment. Participants represented a diverse group in healthcare that included nurses, business offices, dietary aides, plant services, first responders, and nursing home personnel.

“It’s important that we have employees from several departments across the organization trained on what to do in a situation such as this,” said Kris Weber, Emergency Preparedness coordinator for Trinity Health. “If a disaster on a large scale were to occur, we wouldn’t have to drain one area of our labor pool to have all hands on deck to safely handle the emergency.” Currently, Trinity Health has 30 trained staff.

Funding for the event was provided by a federal grant through the North Dakota Hospital Association. It is free to attendees.

For more information contact Kris Weber at [email protected]

Hypertension in Men

We have heard the phrase “High blood pressure is a silent killer” so often that it’s become cliché. But did you know hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular disease? 

Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries as it’s pumped through your body by your heart. High blood pressure, known in medical terms as hypertension, is when blood flows through your arteries with excessive force or pressure. Think of driving your five-speed car to Bismarck in third gear the entire way. Overdrive is not good for your engine, or your heart. 

Your blood pressure reading has two numbers, which together are an indication of whether your blood pressure is within a healthy range. The top number is your systolic pressure, the pressure in your arteries when your heart contracts. The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, the pressure in your arteries when your heart relaxes between beats. 

In all ethnic groups, men have higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with women, and through middle age hypertension is more prevalent in men compared with women. “There is a culture of men avoiding seeing a doctor on a regular and timely basis,” explains Garrett Rhule, MD, internist at Trinity Health Western Dakota Clinic. “This helps explain why men are less aware and receive less treatment for hypertension compared with women.” 

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (2018) documented that only 1 in 5 men had their blood pressure controlled. Death rates are higher in hypertensive men compared with women, and men are at greater risk for stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure and renal failure. 

Most of us know that 120/80 is considered “normal blood pressure” but what is considered high? In 2017, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association published new guidelines for hypertension management and defined high hypertension as a blood pressure at or above 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Stage 2 hypertension is defined as a blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmHg. Studies show men with normal pressure could expect to live 5.1 years longer than those with hypertension; women could plan on another 4.9 years of life. 

Because high blood pressure typically doesn’t have any symptoms, the only way to know for sure if you have hypertension is to get your blood pressure measured. “The benefits of keeping blood pressure under control extend beyond mitigating risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke,” Rhule added. “It also prevents end-organ damage to the brain, heart and kidneys.” 

Hypertension has many risk factors, including:

Age: The risk of hypertension increases as you age. Until about age 64, hypertension is more common in men. In women, hypertension tends to be milder and less common before menopause. 

Family history: Hypertension tends to run in families. 

Being overweight or obese: The more you weigh, the more blood you need to supply oxygen to your tissues. As the amount of blood flow through your blood vessels increases, so does the pressure to your artery walls. 

Sedentary lifestyle: People who are sedentary tend to have higher heart rates. Regular exercise (aerobic) leads to the release of endorphins—natural dilators of blood vessels—that lead to reduction in blood pressure. 

Using tobacco: Smoking or chewing immediately raises your blood pressure temporarily, and chemicals in tobacco damage the lining of your artery walls, causing them to narrow. 

Too much salt or too little potassium in your diet: Too much sodium can cause your body to retain water. Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in your cells. 

Chronic conditions: Certain chronic conditions such as kidney disease, alcoholism, diabetes and sleep apnea may increase your risk of hypertension. 

You are in the driver’s seat: 

It’s up to you to manage and control your hypertension. Small, manageable steps are the easiest way to create a long-term plan that leads to better health. Rhule recommends reducing alcohol and sodium intake and increasing dietary potassium intake by eating more fruits and vegetables. He also suggests regular aerobic exercise, 30-45 minutes, at least three days per week, which can lead to weight loss and better sleep. 

Here are some tips to help:

Create a healthcare team: Enlarge your circle of influence beyond your primary care provider to include all your healthcare professionals— pharmacists, nurses, and other specialists. 

Set a goal: Create a list of questions you might want to ask such as: What is my blood pressure? What are the best ways to reach my goals? Mention what you are already doing to control your hypertension, including diet changes, medi- cations and exercise, then pick one realistic goal and start working toward it. 

Manage your medications: Medication is an important ally to control and maintain your blood pressure. Make a schedule or create a system to remind you to take your medications regularly. Discuss with your doctor any side effects you experience, if necessary. Never stop treatment on your own. 

Take charge of your health and schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. Targeted management of chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, puts you in the driver’s seat on the road to wellness.