Contact: Jennifer Amundson, 612-672-4165

Fairview Health Services was honored at the 2005 Minnesota Hospital Association awards, recognized for innovation in healthcare, community partnership, medical excellence and strong leadership.

Innovation of the Year in Patient Care

Fairview Southdale Hospital: Hospital Acquired Delirium
An interdisciplinary team of nurses, physicians and caregivers came together to address a long-held health problem in hospitals: elderly patients becoming confused and disoriented during their stay. Use of medications and unfamiliar surroundings have caused confusion in elderly patients, lengthening their stay and causing concern for family members. By going back to basic nursing care, like foot and hand massages, playing crossword puzzles with patients and having patients get up and walk around during their stay, the staff at Fairview Southdale Hospital has reduced the occurrence of this problem and helped ease the minds of family members and patients during their stay.

Stephen Rogness Distinguished Service (Healthcare Executive of the Year)
Gordon Alexander, M.D., president, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview and Central Metro Care System
Dr. Alexander is a leader in mental health and medical education, dedicated to improving patient safety and a champion of medical ethics, including membership on a statewide ethics panel. His focus on the patient is unwavering as he pushes for health care excellence. He consistently looks at health care through a multifaceted lens, realistic about the challenges yet always optimistic about the possibilities, whether it be the needs of the underserved mentally ill, end-of-life care, or illness and injury prevention. Seeking collaborative, innovative solutions is a common thread throughout his work.

Health Care Career Promotion – Partner
Fairview Lakes Health Services: Introduction to Health Care; in conjunction with community partners Forest Lake School District; Chisago Lake School District
For the past five years, the Forest Lake and Chisago Lakes school districts have partnered with Fairview Lakes Health Services to offer "Introduction to Health Care," a semester long health care career exploration course for high school juniors and seniors. This highly sought after program allows interested students to explore a range of careers during health care site visits and gain skills in health care through a 75-hour nursing assistant registered course and clinical experience at Margaret S. Parmley Senior Housing in Chisago City. Students who complete the course are eligible for six post-secondary credits and prepared to take the exam to become certified nursing assistants. To date 271 students have completed the course with 88.6 percent indicating that they will seek a health care career. A recent survey of 46 past participants showed that 32 of them are currently in a health care field; one is in medical school.

Trustee of the Year
Joanell Dyrstad, member of Fairview Health Services board of directors and Fairview Red Wing board of trustees
As mayor, lieutenant governor, healthcare governance leader and hospital board member, Joanell is passionate about creating an environment that promotes safe, exceptional patient care. Her role in hospital governance continues to influence the integrated delivery of health care, locally and nationally. As Red Wing’s mayor, she undertook a comprehensive planning process that developed recommendations to bring that community’s splintered healthcare providers – independent clinic, hospital, nursing home, senior housing, home care and hospice services – into a single, integrated system of care. As lieutenant governor she helped create Minnesota Care, a healthcare insurance program based on individuals’ income and ability to pay. She currently is chair-elect of the American Hospital Association’s Committee on Governance and has served on JACHO’s Leadership Accountabilities Task Force.