From Carrie Michalski, President & CEO

Thank you to everyone who joined Monday evening for the 121st Annual Meeting of RiverView Healthcare Association. It was a wonderful honor to be able to report to the membership the results of this team’s great achievement and share the previews of our new hospital and clinic with the Association’s membership. Congratulations to all of the award winners who were honored and to Dr. Erik Kanten, MD, and Kari Koenig, RN, who were newly elected to the RiverView Board of Directors. Click here to see the building project video that was unveiled during the Annual Meeting.

Giving Hearts Employee Match Challenge In two weeks, on Feb. 14th, I will participate in the Giving Hearts Day as a donor to the RiverView Health Foundation. As an employee of RiverView Health, I would ask you to consider joining me in making an online contribution. This year I will again use my gift to establish an employee challenge match fund. My donation will be used to match the first $10 for every RiverView employee who contributes during the 24-hour Giving Hearts Day campaign. In 2018, 75% of employees included RiverView Foundation in their charitable giving. Can we reach 80% this year? Every gift is meaningful. If you are new to the team or new to Giving Hearts Day, please consider joining us at the $10 level. You give $10, I’ll give $10 and together we can make a meaningful difference for this community hospital that is our workplace home.

There are three important reasons why I make RiverView Foundation a priority in annual charitable giving:

1. 100% of my gifts to RiverView Health are used to support equipment and building improvements that improve the service and care to our patients. All undesignated gifts this year will support construction and equipment needs for our new hospital Inpatient Unit.

2. RiverView Health is where my family and I receive care. We directly benefit from Foundation supported projects.

3. When I give, I place my trust in the Foundation and its board to be faithful stewards of part of my paycheck. Employee giving builds confidence with our community donors. When we give, others in the community follow our lead and the Foundation's success is multiplied.

So let's see how many $10 matches I can make! Every gift, any amount, is valued and appreciated. Give Feb. 14th and see your impact as we open our new space in fall 2020

P.S. An annual lump sum gift on Giving Hearts Day is one of many available options to complete a multi-year commitment to our new building through the Foundation; see Kent Bruun for details!

RiverView Health Employee Newsletter 1.30.19

Exceptional People providing Exceptional Care for Exceptional

Save These Dates Town Hall

Thursday, Feb. 7th 9 AM & Noon

Minnesota Room

Giving Hearts Day Thursday, Feb. 14th

0

2019 Goals Legend

= At or Above Goal

= Just Below Goal

= Below Goal

Goal Weight Target Score YTD

Annualized

People

Maintain employee satisfaction score of 90% or higher. 0% ≥90% 99% Invest an average of 40 hours continuing education per FTE. 10% 40 47.4

Maintain unplanned turnover at 11.9% or less. 10% ≤55% 16.4

Quality

Reduce ED transfers to other acute facilities by 42.3%. 0% 42.3% 39 Complete at least 83% of Minnesota Hospital Association Medication Reconciliation Roadmap safety initiative. 10% 83 68

Attain TJC accreditation for Joint and Spine by September 2019. Meet 50% of accreditation standards this fiscal year.

Scale 5 - Advanced Cert in hand 4 - Basic Cert in hand 3 - On site survey complete, but we have follow-

up requirements 2 - On site survey scheduled, but not complete 1 - Not scheduled

15% 1 1

Reduce patient harms to no more than 25 harms per 1000 discharges. 15% 25 6.69

Service Attain improvement goals for patient experience. 0% 3 2.45

Growth

Increase inpatient primary service area market share to 34% or greater. 7.5% 34% 36.04%

Increase hospital outpatient market share (outpatient surgery) from primary service area to at least 34.5%. 7.5% 29.87% 30.39%

Finance

Maintain a minimum of 100 days cash on hand. 10% 100 108 Build financial stability by achieving a total margin of at least 1.5%. 10% 1.5% -6.2

Maintain a debt to service ratio of 1.5 or greater. 0% 1.5 -.43 Maintain 7.00 or less FTEs per adjusted patient day. 0% 7 6.74

Community Initiate at least 245 community health events. 5% 230 340

Overall 100% 3 2.73

Previous Editions of Current View Stored on R:\driveAs you already know, the latest edition of the Current View can always be found on RiverView’s website. But if you need to go back further, the latest six editions are also stored on the all data R:\drive in the Current View folder or by clicking here.

Anniversaries Employees celebrating 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20...anniversaries will be recognized.

Welcome

Samantha HulstRN

Inpatient Unit5 years

Nicole JohnsonRN

Inpatient Unit5 years

Annie WaldalDirector

Inpatient Unit5 years

Ryan MelsaInformation

Systems AnalystIT

5 years

Wendy OanesTraining

CoordinatorHuman

Resources5 years

Theresa HaglMedical

Laboratory Technician

Lab3 years

Rachel ParkinMedical

TechnologistLab

3 years

Jocelyn RoehlLPN

Inpatient Unit1 year

Wayne Steinbrink

AideEnvironmental

Services1 year

Courtney Anderson

Graphic DesignerMarketing

Caroline Sharp RN

Surgical Services

Carly Safranski RN

Inpatient Unit

Successful 2018 for RiverView Equals Bonuses for EmployeesRiverView Health’s mission is to deliver a healthcare experience that consistently exceeds patients’ expectations through exceptional people providing exceptional care for exceptional outcomes. In February, those exceptional people will be rewarded with incentive compensation bonuses for work well done.

For the fifth consecutive year, bonuses will be given to employees who met or exceeded performance goals that attrib-uted to RiverView’s successful 2018. A total of 296 employees from 26 departments will share in $326,000 in bonuses.

According to RiverView President/CEO Carrie Michalski, RiverView’s 2018 success was driven by the successful recruitment of highly qualified physicians and staff, continued commitment to state-of-the-art technology, and a record level of community give back; all resulting in a total margin of 2 percent.

“RiverView has become the workplace of choice for the brightest and most talented professionals in the region,’’ Michalski stated. “We have a mission to exceed the expectations of our patients and the communities we serve on a daily basis, and this team consistently delivers on our mission.

“In our culture we continually set goals and reward our team when both organizational and service line goals are met. The incentives we are privileged to distribute are well deserved and reflective of the phenomenal results our team achieved over the year.’’

Rae Anne Reinhart is the Employee of the Month for JanuaryRae Anne Reinhart, Home Care, loves to be out in the community. She can often be found cheering at sporting events; her favorites being softball, baseball, hockey and volleyball. She’s also a great cheerleader for RiverView Health and was recently named the January Employee of the Month for her positive spirit and helpful ways.

Reinhart, who attended Northland Community College, has worked at RiverView for 25 years. She started in the Cafeteria at age 16. Once she received her CNA license, she began working at the Care Center where she stayed for seven years. She then transferred to Home Care where she worked at Oak Court Assisted Living for seven years before taking her current position as secretary/CNA. She works full time in the secretary position and is on call as a Home Health aide, Customized Living aide at Oak Court, and she provides activities at oak Court, if needed.

“I have enjoyed working with RiverView for the past 25 years,’’ she shared. “In the positions that I have held I have met so many wonderful families and have gotten to care for so many wonderful people. There are many people throughout RiverView that I have come to know over the years, as well, and I can say I am lucky to work in such a friendly facility. I have been blessed with having such wonderful coworkers and I can say that I call all of them my friends.’’

A Crookston native, Reinhart and husband Paul have three children: Allison, 21; Tanner, 19; and Alexis, 13. In her free time, Reinhart enjoys spending time with family and friends. Along with sports, she enjoys attending plays, choir concerts and music performances, all of which her children have participated over the years. She also likes going to the lake and camping and fishing. She recently developed an interest in planting flowers in the spring and growing different plants.

“I am so grateful to have received the award of the Employee of the Month,’’ Reinhart stated. “Thank you to all that nominated me. It means so very much. Working at RiverView has been so rewarding and there is no other place I would rather be.’’

The following are comments from nominations sent in honor of Rae Anne:

“Rae is a very special employee and overall person...She is highly organized and self motivated. She will take on any and all tasks that are asked of her and with a friendly and willing attitude...Our clients in the community have called sometimes just to hear her voice as she is kind and caring with them. She strives for the best outcomes for our department that are over and beyond expected. Rae Anne carries this same caring and loving attitude towards her family. If you had Rae Anne as your caregiver, you’d know that you are cared for.’’ - Linda Nephew, ADS and Home Care

“Rae Anne is the first person you see when you enter the Home Care office every day and her warm greeting and smile is just what you need to get your day started off right. She keeps the office running smoothly and makes other’s needs and questions a priority. Her caring heart and genuine nature make her such a valuable asset to our Home Care team.’’ - Janae Magana, Home Care

“Rae Anne speaks well of RiverView, especially of the employees, the care they provide, and readily takes pride in working here. During rounding with Home Care staff, Rae Anne’s name is consistently recognized, month after month. She is a core person of our department, not only to our staff but to our clients...She is a true advocate for the services we provide and for the clients we serve.’’ - Gladys Bakken, Home Care

121st Annual Meeting includes Building Project AnnouncementThe Riverview Healthcare Association held its 121st Annual Meeting and Membership Banquet Monday, Jan. 28th at the University of Minnesota-Crookston. The evening was a celebration of a successful 2018, with a total margin of 2 percent reported for the year, and an exciting look at the future Hospital and Clinic Replacement Project, titled “RiverView 2020: Our Vision is Clear’’.

RiverView President/CEO Carrie Michalski presented an outline of the building project. The new, two-story facility will consist of 81,000 square feet. The top floor, with a view of the Red Lake River on the east and Castle Park on the west, will house a patient-centered, family-inclusive Inpatient Unit with 21 patient rooms and four family suites.

The ground level will be home to all three of RiverView’s current Crookston clinics consolidated into one large clinic with one entrance and a registration area just steps from the front door. The new clinic will have 47 patient exam rooms, patient education rooms, and well-equipped spaces for in-clinic procedures.

The facility will also include other amenities, including a meditation chapel, lobby café, relocated gift shop, and an 80 occupant training and conference center.

“RiverView will be returning to its river view,’’ Michalski reported of the plans to have the main entrance once again face the river, as the main building did in 1957. “The Red Lake River is a beautiful amenity for our community and we have worked diligently in the planning to maximize our campus exposure to the river.’’

The process of planning a state-of-the-art facility took several years and included focus groups made up of community members and front-line care staff who work with patients on a daily basis. Surveys were completed, mock-up rooms were built, tours of other facilities were taken, and, of course, financial aspects were scrutinized. Representatives from the accounting firm Clifton, Larson, Allen reported on the conservative approach RiverView took in planning the project.

“This project is a feasible project,’’ stated Matt Borchardt, principal, CPA with Clifton, Larson, Allen. “The RiverView management team was incredibly thoughtful of what they were going to spend money on. They wanted to focus on spending money on the future of healthcare here in Crookston. They focused on items that work, what is needed. Nothing was really extravagant in this project. It was a very, very well defined project.’’

The project is currently in the bidding stage. A ground-breaking will take place this spring, with a completion date in the fall of 2020. Watch for updates as the project progresses.

The RiverView Foundation’s Board of Directors has pledged to raise $2 million or more to go toward the project. If you would like to be a part of RiverView 2020, contact Foundation Director Kent Bruun at ext. 9249.

Celebrating Employees, CommunityMichalski shared some of the highlights of 2018, including:

• A 98 percent employee satisfaction rate• A second year of receiving the Best Places to Work honor from Modern Healthcare

Continued on the next page.

121st Annual Meeting----------------------------------------------------------Continued from the previous page.

• Tremendous dedication from longtime employees who retired in 2018: Bobbie Amiot, 45 years; Laurie Steer, 42 years; Linda Bahls, 41 years; Bev Johnson, 32 years; Mary Hinkley, 31 years; Joyce Peterson, Dr. David Peterson and Dawn Jackson, all 15 years; Dr. Steven Schultz, 11 years; and Lonna Newman, 9 years.

• The Joint Commission’s National Quality approval and the Minnesota Department of Health’s certification of Health Care Home

• The Centers for Disease Control’s recognition of the Prevent Type 2 Diabetes program• A fourth physician joining RiverView through the Physician Recruiting Program; Dr. Mark Ghaida will join River-

View’s Orthopaedics Team in February• The addition of new providers: Dr. Maneesh Kanal, Internal Medicine; Monica Wells, NP in Orthopaedics and Spine;

Dr. Samy Heshmat and Dr. Eric Schommer, both in Urology; Dr. Kari Wessman, OB/GYN, joining RiverView full time; and Dr. Beth Staehnke, Podiatry

• The Fertile Clinic expansion to make room for additional providers and services• Continued commitment to state-of-the-art technologies in the Diagnostic Imaging Department• The fact that RiverView led 305 community events in 2018, including health luncheons, support groups, concussion

testing, free sports physicals, Scrubs Camp, Junior Auxiliary, monthly Food Bank volunteering, etc.

Changes to the Board of DirectorsJenny Amon and Trent Fischer were recognized for their contributions to the Board of Directors as their terms expired. Michelle Cote and Andy Oman were re-elected to the Board, while Kari Koenig and Dr. Erik Kanten were elected to their first terms.

Koenig was employed at RiverView from 1989-2012 as a nurse on the Inpatient Unit. She also began working at Northland Community and Technical College (NCTC) in 1993, where she became program director of the Mobility Nursing Program in 2012. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the College of St. Scholastica and a Master’s in Nursing Education from Minnesota State University, Moorhead.

A Warroad native, Koenig and her husband, Joe, reside in Crookston. They have four children.

“For many years, I was able to maintain a call position at RiverView, while continuing with my primary job at NCTC. With added program director responsibilities in 2012, I was not able to maintain this position and also found it necessary to assign my student clinical groups at RiverView to another faculty member,’’ Koenig shared. “Many people have since heard me say how much I miss patient care and the RiverView community and that I would like to find a way to give back to RiverView in thefuture. The opportunity to serve on the Board will allow me a chance to be a part of an organization I believe in and support. I feel my long-term nursing career, background with RiverView, experience with nursing education and my current leadership role will provide me with the tools needed to contribute to the association.’’

Dr. Erik Kanten has been a member of RiverView’s medical staff since 1988, and recently served as a member of the Board of Directors from 2000-2010.

Originally from Milan, MN, Dr. Kanten received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota and completed his residency in family practice through the University of North Dakota.

Other members of the Board are Tim Brinkman, Michelle Cote, Grant Gunderson, Stephanie Harbott, Dr. Steven Schultz, Michelle Snyder and Shannon Stassen.

Top left: Kari Koenig; Top right: Dr. Kanten; Pictured above: Carrie Michalski, President/CEO (far left) and Board Chair Andy Oman (far right) thank Jenny Amon and Trent Fisher for their years of service on the Board of Directors.

Shelby Knott is RiverView’s 2018 Employee of the YearWhen RiverView Pharmacist Shelby Knott graduated from pharmacy school she set a goal to make a difference in the lives of the patients she was going to serve. Mission accomplished. Knott has been recognized by patients and coworkers for her initiative and great care. Her latest recognition is being named RiverView’s 2018 Employee of the Year!

One of Knott’s favorite quotes is by Theodore Roosevelt: “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.’’ There’s no doubt Knott cares about her patients as she works every day to show each one compassion. Coworkers share that return patients often ask for Knott by name because of the exceptional care she has provided them.

‘‘I firmly believe the amount of time, attention, and care we provide to our patients makes a difference,’’ she shared. “I am humbled and grateful for this recognition but even more thankful to be a part of such a wonderful work environment that provides exceptional patient care.’’

Knott joined the RiverView Pharmacy in May 2016. She received both her BS in Biomedical Sciences and her Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She grew up on a farm south of Red Lake Falls where her family owns the Weiss Asparagus Farm.

Shelby and husband Nolan, also a native of Red Lake Falls, reside in Warren where they keep busy with house projects as they remodel their home.

Go to givingheartsday.org any time Feb. 14th to make your donation.

Pictured above: Carrie Michalski, President/CEO (far left) and Andy Oman, Board chair, (far right) congratulate Shelby Knott on her Employee of the Year honor.

Pictured above: Community Relations Specialist Kari Moe and Judy Luettojohann.

Judy Luettojohann Receives Alta Hermodson Heart & Soul AwardRiverView volunteer Judy Luettojohann was chosen by the RiverView Auxiliary as the recipient of the 2018 Alta Hermodson Heart and Soul Award for her dedication and positive attitude.

The Alta Hermodson Heart and Soul Award is given annually to a RiverView volunteer(s) who exemplifies the RiverView Health Auxiliary’s mission of volunteerism and service to RiverView Health, just as Alta Hermodson did. Hermodson was involved in her church, library, hospital, and museum. She truly gave of herself and volunteered at places in which she believed. This award was created in her honor in 2003.

Luettojohann has been a long-time dedicated volunteer in RiverView’s Limited Addition Gift Shop and has served on the Auxiliary Board as vice-president, president and is currently secretary.

“Judy volunteers many hours in the gift shop and is always willing to come in and help whenever needed,’’ shared Gloria Watro, a member of the Auxiliary Board. “She has excellent rapport with gift shop volunteers, employees and visitors…Her unselfish volunteerism is an asset to RiverView Auxiliary and RiverView Hospital.’’

As a member of the Auxiliary, Luettojohann has helped with many fundraisers to raise money for numerous RiverView projects. She is also an active member in many faith-based and community organizations at the local and state levels.

Watro concluded: “Judy is very deserving of this award and would make Alta very proud to see such a dedicated individual receiving this award in her name.’’

Auxiliary Announces Donations to Foundation, RV ProjectsThe Jan. 28th Riverview Healthcare Association Annual Meeting included a donation announcement of $10,000 from the RiverView Auxiliary to the RiverView Foundation. Each year the Auxiliary gives the Foundation $10,000 from its vending profits to use for a donor match program. This program is used to stretch the donor’s support which allows the donor to take full ownership of a project. The Auxiliary has donated $110,000 to the Foundation in the past eleven years; in turn this has created $371,815 worth of projects for RiverView.

Each year the Auxiliary also funds a variety of projects aimed at enhancing the patient experience at RiverView. Eight projects have been funded for 2018-2019 at a total cost of $12,696. Those projects are:

• Reach Out and Read Program books, Clinic, $2,500• Accuvein, Inpatient Unit, $4,869• Family Waiting Room Refrigerator, ICU, $300• Comfort Pillows, Inpatient Unit, $950• New Mom Care Packages, Inpatient Unit, $2,500• Speech Therapy Patient Treatment Materials, Rehab Services,

$500• Active Hands Gloves for Cardiopulmonary Rehab, Rehab Services, $552• Therapeutic Listening for Occupational Therapy, Rehab Services, $525

The Auxiliary raises funds not only through its vending program at RiverView but also through a variety of events each year, including the Affair of Tables, bedding sales, book and gift fairs, the Valentine Kiss Sale, and Cookie Walk.

Current Auxiliary Board members are: Kathie Barnes, JoElle Boucher, Nancy Capistran, Diane Erickson, Judy Luettojohann, Marlys Mjoen, Ann Riedlinger, Deb Sylvester and Gloria Watro. If you are interested in joining the Auxiliary, contact Community Relations Specialist Kari Moe at ext. 9211.

Reaching Out to Serve Honor goes to Mobile Mental Health TeamFor more than 30 years, RiverView Health has recognized individuals, groups, and programs with the Reaching Out to Serve Award. The award is given to those that symbolize RiverView’s mission of serving the region while demonstrating innovativeness voluntary of self-initiated efforts and works to improve the access, quality, or cost effectiveness of healthcare. This year’s honor was given to the Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Team (MCRT).

MCRT was recognized for its crisis response to the counties of Polk, Norman, Red Lake, Mahnomen, Pennington, Kittson, Roseau and Marshall. The Crookston team covers mental health crisis line calls for all of those counties and responds to needs for in-person assessment and intervention in Polk, Red Lake, Mahnomen, and Norman County.

In 2018, the Crookston team responded to over 1,800 calls and completed 575 in-person assessments; 143 of those assessments were in collaboration with the RiverView Emergency Department.

”Their team responds at all hours of the day and night to meet and speak with our patients to help assess what their needs are and make recommendations for continued care,’’ shared Kristin Pearcy, director of RiverView’s Emergency Department. “They handle themselves with the utmost professionalism and compassion. Their jobs are certainly not easy, and their working days are long, but their dedication to their patients and their families shines through as they assist those in need.”

In addition to supporting the Emergency Department, the crisis team has played a major role in RiverView’s implementation of Zero Suicide, a system-wide organization commitment to safer suicide care. The crisis team has been instrumental in providing education, training and support for employees. Through collaborative effort, similar training has also been extended to individuals throughout the community to empower everyone to help someone in need.

“Our team at RiverView Health feels blessed by the support and partnership with Crookston’s Mobile Mental Health Cri-sis Response Team in providing acute mental health crisis care to our community and patients,’’ stated April Grunhovd, CNO. “Thank you for your service, thank you for your dedication, and thank you for all that you do for the people in our community every day.’’

Mike Anderson, MCRT director, spoke on behalf of the MCRT when the award was presented to the group at RiverView’s Annual Meeting Jan. 28th: “We really have a special relationship with RiverView. I think we were up to the Emergency Department about every other day in 2018. We feel pretty comfortable there. We really are honored and we look forward to continued work in providing mental health services to those in our community along with RiverView’’

Pictured below: Andy Oman, RiverView Board chair (far left) and April Grunhovd, RiverView CNO (far right) with representatives from Northwestern Mental Health/MCRT; including Janet Denison, chief clinical officer; Christie Wisk, mental health practitioner; Mike Anderson,director; Martha Wissmann, mental health practitioner; and Shauna Reitmeier, CEO.

Support RiverView during Feb. 14th Giving Hearts Day EventGiving Hearts Day falls on Valentine’s Day this year, allowing donors the opportunity to show their love and appreciation for RiverView Health and its meaningful programs and services through the annual 24-hour give-a-thon.

With your generous Feb. 14th donation, the RiverView Foundation will work to assure RiverView Health has the facilities, equipment and expertise to care for your community and follow its mission of delivering a healthcare experience that consistently exceeds patients’ expectations.

Giving Hearts Day is one of the Foundation’s most important events. It is a 24-hour give-a-thon for RiverView and other non-profits through the Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF). And while it may only last for one day each year, that one day has proven to make a major impact on high-priority, patient-centered projects at RiverView. Programs and funds have been started with Giving Hearts Day donations given in memory or honor of a loved one, and invaluable equipment has been acquired through funds raised during these one-day events, as well.

This year marks the 12th annual DMF Giving Hearts Day match program. On this day, DMF, Impact Foundation, the Alex Stern Family Foundation and other generous donors will match, dollar for dollar, online contributions to the RiverView Foundation of $10 to $75,000. The match funding is only available on Thursday, Feb. 14th (12:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.). Donations must be made online at givingheartsday.org or through the Foundation office. Links will also be provided on Feb. 14th on the RiverView home page at riverviewhealth.org and the KROX website at kroxam.com.

The RiverView Foundation has been a part of Giving Hearts Day since the beginning. Over the past eleven, day-long events, the Foundation has raised over $1 million through generous donations. Last year’s day-long donations brought in more than $216,000 and marked the Foundation’s most successful day in the program.

According to Foundation Director Kent Bruun, undesignated funds from 2019’s Giving Hearts Day event will be used for RiverView’s most current need, an upgrade of the Inpatient Unit along with a Chapel Meditation area.

“The Inpatient Unit portion of the building has served our community well since the 1950s, but its age and limitations are recognized as a growing concern,’’ Bruun shared. “The time is here for a retirement of the space and for our hospital’s renewed investment in an improved Inpatient Unit that will enhance care and better accommodate the needs of our patients, their families and our clinical care team.

“Together we can accomplish anything we set our hearts out to do. Please consider joining in this growing movement of giving for the benefit of our local hospital and the wellbeing of our community.’’

If you would like to help the Foundation with its mission of assisting with RiverView Health’s most critical needs, please make a personal donation on Giving Hearts Day and let others know the importance RiverView Health has had in your life by asking them to make a contribution, as well.

For more information about the Giving Hearts Day program, contact Bruun at ext. 9249. If you would like assistance with your donation, stop by Bruun’s office, located near the RiverView Cafeteria, and he will take your information in a secure, confidential setting and input the information for you.

Please Share

If you are a Facebook user, please consider sharing the Giving Hearts Day posts that will be placed on RiverView’s page before and during the event. Let your friends know you donated, and ask them to do the same. We’re all in this together!

givingheartsday.org

Wear Your Foundation T-shirt for Employee Photo Feb. 14thAll RiverView employees are encouraged to wear their soon-to-be acquired RiverView Foundation t-shirts on Thursday, Feb. 14th in honor of Giving Hearts Day. Employees are then asked to participate in a Giving Hearts Day photo at 9 AM in front of the Foundation’s Donor Wall in Heritage Hallway. RiverView entities outside of the main campus are encouraged to send photos to Holly Anderson to share in a news release after the Giving Hearts Day event.

Pick Up Your Free RiverView Foundation T-shirt at Town HallJust in time for Giving Hearts Day, Feb. 14th, the Foundation is giving every RiverView employee a t-shirt to be worn on Giving Hearts Day to show support for the exceptional care RiverView provides thanks to generous donors who fund important equipment and programs through the Foundation.

Pick up your t-shirt at the Feb. 7th Town Hall in the Minnesota Room at either 9 AM or noon. You may pick up for others in your department, as well. T-shirts will be sent to locations unable to attend Town Halls. The Foundation also has yard signs available so you can spread the Giving Hearts Day message in your neighborhood. The signs will also be available for pick up at the Town Halls.

Also, the Employee Giving Team will have homemade, mini cupcakes available in the Cafeteria Feb. 15th from 11 AM to 1 PM as a thank you to employees who gave on Giving Hearts Day.

Pictured above: Members of the Employee Giving QIT show off the t-shirts all employees will be given to wear for Giving Hearts Day, as well as the yard signs that will be available at the Town Halls. QIT members are, left to right: Katie Perreault, Samantha Hulst, Alisa Leas, Sherri Kremeier, and Joan Morlan.

Catch the Giving Hearts Day SpiritHats off to Plant Services, EVS and Supply Chain on the Giving Hearts Day decorations in each of their departments! Thanks for showing your RiverView pride! Now, game on, RiverView. Can your department top the awesome efforts shown below? If you listen quietly, you can almost hear EVS Director Jen Tate chanting, “We’ve got spirit. Yes, we do. We’ve got spirit. How ‘bout you?’’ If you think your department has what it takes to outdo all of the others in decor/dress, give Holly Anderson a call at ext. 9745 and she’ll take a picture as proof of your Giving Hearts Day spirit.

Unwind at Destress Fest Feb. 26th, 27th There’s no denying that working in healthcare is stressful. That’s why RiverView’s H.E.A.L.T.H. Committee would like to treat RiverView’s staff to some much-needed down time at its upcoming De-Stress Fest.

All employees are invited to de-stress Tuesday, February 26th and Wednesday, February 27th from 11 AM to 1 PM each day in the Minnesota Room. Below is a list of the free (unless otherwise noted) offerings each day:

• Adult coloring• Bring your lunch to the Minnesota Room for a relaxing break• Hot tea• Make your own trail mix• Massages• Reflexology• Wonderful Life Foods Coconut Oil Blended Coffee, $3.00

Due to popularity, appointments for massage and reflexology will be drawn from a pool of those interested. You may enter into the drawing for one of the services. To sign up for a chance to win a session, contact Diane Erickson at 218-289-7490 by Feb. 20th. Please specify which service you are interested in.

Also, watch your email for Wellness Bingo starting March 1st.

Auxiliary’s Valentine Kiss Sale on NowThe RiverView Auxiliary is once again sponsoring its annual employee Valentine Kiss Sale for Valentine’s Day.

Buy your kisses (a bag of ten Hershey Kisses) Monday, Jan. 28th through Monday, Feb. 11th for $1.00 a bag in the Limited Addition Gift Shop. Fill out your Valentine card at that time and we will deliver your Valentine kisses on Thursday, Feb. 14th.

Show your friends and coworkers how much they are appreciated by buying them this sweet Valentine treat. The Auxiliary thanks you in advance for your support.

Payroll Deduction No Longer Option at RV PharmacyRiverView Pharmacy accepts many forms of payment including cash, check, Health Saving Account (HSA), debit and credit cards (with the exception of American Express). Therefore we will no longer have the option of Payroll deduction in 2019.

Shop Auxiliary’s Blanket, Sheet Sale Feb. 19th, 20th The RiverView Auxiliary will host a Blanket and Sheet Sale Tuesday, Feb. 19th from 7 AM-6 PM and Wednesday, Feb. 20th from 7 AM-3 PM in Heritage Hallway. There will be a variety of sheets, blankets and more. Make sure to come and check out the sale! Proceeds benefit Auxiliary projects for the year.

RiverView Offers New Saturday Childbirth Class OptionRiverView is again offering classes for expecting parents, with the next class scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 9th from 8-3 PM. The Saturday offering is new at RiverView this year.

All RiverView childbirth classes include information on labor support, coping strategies, understanding the labor and delivery process, newborn care, car seat safety, breastfeeding and infant CPR.

Area physicians encourage their obstetrics patients to attend classes, with a support coach, to better understand what to expect during pregnancy and childbirth; and to help ease the fear of the unknown and make for a more enjoyable childbirth experience.

The course instructors for all sessions are labor/delivery nurses at RiverView Health.

In addition to two, full-day sessions scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 9th and Saturday, Sept. 21st, RiverView will continue to offer the classes in a series of four, two-hour classes on four consecutive Tuesdays from 7-9 PM, in Meeting Room 1, RiverView Health, 323 S. Minnesota Street, Crookston. The following class dates are scheduled: *April series: April 2, 9, 16 & 23 *July series: July 2, 9, 16 & 23 *October series: Oct. 1, 8, 15 & 22

The classes are free to anyone delivering at RiverView, with a cost of $25 for those not delivering at RiverView. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to pre-register, call the obstetrics department at ext. 9300.

Thank You to All Who Helped with Chuck Devos BenefitOn Dec. 14th, 2018, a benefit for Chuck Devos, husband of Cheryl Devos who works in Central Sterilizing here at River-View, was held at the Eagles in Crookston.

I had the privilege of setting up the evening with wonderful and generous donations given by many different people, departments, organizations, and area businesses. The night started off around 4:30 PM and the auction/raffle concluded around 7:15 PM. During that time there was a spaghetti dinner and the Eagles’ kitchen staff dished up over 500 servings and over 11 ½ gallons of sauce to the guests. It was an amazing night and experience to have been a part of. Seeing the generosity of friends, family, and some individuals that didn’t know Chuck and/or his family was without words. It’s really heartwarming knowing that when someone within our community needs help there are people willing to lift you up with monetary donations or simply a conversation and a kind word.

I received this thank you from Chuck: ‘My family and I would like to thank all the people of RiverView Healthcare for all the effort and hard work they put into my benefit. We will never forget what you have done for us. Love you all. Chuck’

I also want to send out a huge thank you to all involved in helping make the night what it was. I can’t go through and thank everyone by name but you know who you are, and Chuck, the family, and I are so blessed for all of you. So thank you to everyone involved from given donations, to time setting up the Eagles, to the kitchen staff and their hard work (Eagles), to the flyers made to get the event known, to the people stepping in to man tables for the night to run smoothly, to all those who simply came out to be with Chuck and the family. It exceeded all my expectations. And I am in awe of how great you all were in making that night a great success. So thank you again from the bottom of my heart. God Bless you and your families in this new year. -Tiffany Samuelson, Surgical Services