Looking forwardto caring for you.Clinic & Hospital
caringforyouWINTER 2011
www.granditasca.org
Healthy Living: Winter Nutrition
Learn More About Healthy Eating » pg. 3
WORKSHOPSFind out more » pg. 8
ORTHOPEDIC SERVICESPartnerships for your benefit » pg. 6
FOUNDATION NEWSSupport for future providers » pg. 5
2 www.granditasca.org
Looking Forward with MIKE YOUSO
On behalf of the dedicated staff and physicians at Grand Itasca
Clinic & Hospital, it is my pleasure to personally welcome you
to our first newsletter of 2011. Like many things throughout
the past year, we’ve improved our newsletter to provide more
relevant and timely information, including healthy eating tips,
the introduction of new staff and upcoming events. We look
forward to using this newsletter as a way to provide helpful and
engaging information for you, your family and our community.
We wish you a happy New Year from Grand Itasca Clinic &
Hospital, and welcome to our newsletter.
HEALTHY LIVINGWinter nutrition
GRAND ITASCA FOUNDATIONProviding support to future health care providers
ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATESForming partnerships for your benefit
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Community workshops and support groups
WHAT'S NEW AT GRAND ITASCAGrand Itasca expands interpretive services
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Find out more about our Lifestyle & Wellness Expo on Facebook » pg. 11
2 www.granditasca.org
Sincerely,
CONTENTS
3WINTER 2011
Healthy Living: Winter Nutrition
Have you noticed your body craves different
foods when the temperature drops and days
are darker? Your appetite may go up for
high-calorie, high-carbohydrate “comfort” foods such
as stews, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and
cheese, and chocolate desserts – dishes that make you
feel warm and cozy.
Some think winter cravings of starches and sugars are
a throwback to the days when our ancestors needed
extra layers of body fat to survive the winter. Others
believe that when outdoor temperatures drop, your
body temperature drops as well, setting up the long-
ing for foods that provide energy to warm you quickly.
Although satisfying your cravings for heavier foods
may be OK in moderation, it doesn’t mean fruits and
vegetables should be left out in the cold.
To help keep your body healthy during the winter, it’s
still important to get five to nine servings of fruits
and vegetables each day. Not only are fruits and
continued on pg. 4
HEALTHY LIVING
Easy meal idea: Add grilled chicken breast to your favorite mixed greens and veggies for a nutritious meal in minutes.
4 www.granditasca.org4 www.granditasca.org
HEALTHY LIVING
vegetables the foundation of a well-
rounded diet, they also provide vi-
tamins and minerals that can help
keep your immune system strong
during cold and flu season.
The winter months are a great
time to get creative with produce
and try new recipes. For example,
consider making more meals that
include root vegetables such as tur-
nips, rutabagas, and parsnips. Also
try squash and Brussels sprouts
in addition to the more familiar
carrots, asparagus, and broccoli.
With the availability of produce
from around the world, regional
favorites such as apples and pump-
kins can be combined with berries,
citrus fruit, dried fruit, and nuts to
create a variety of healthy desserts.
Lighten Up, Learn More
The next time you’re shopping for
heavy comfort foods, take a good
look at the items in your cart.
Remember that light and colorful
produce can help brighten up a
dark winter day – and your health!
For more information about
healthy winter nutrition, ask your
care provider for a referral to a
registered dietitian at Grand Itasca.
Clinic appointments may be made
by calling 218.326.7344.
continued from pg. 3
caringforyou
Bite-Sized TipsFrom Valerie Plackner,
RD, LD, CDE
Valerie Plackner is a registered dieti-
tian and certified diabetes educator at
Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital. She holds
a certificate of training in adult weight
management. She is a clinical dietitian
who provides inpatient and outpatient
medical nutrition therapy. Valerie is also
involved with Get Fit Itasca, a county-
wide initiative to increase the overall
health of county residents. Apples and oranges are a great source of calcium and protein.
The Kelly Scholarship was established
in 1998. Dr. Robert Kelly, a physician
in our community for 39 years, and his
wife, Donna, had a wish to enhance the
future of health care in our commu-
nity. The Kelly Scholarship was created
to help a non-traditional student – a
student who has had a break in their
education – pursue an education in a
health science field.
Two $1,000 scholarships are awarded
annually. For more information, contact
the Foundation at 218.999.1009.
GRAND ITASCA FOUNDATION
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Kelly Scholarship
Providing Support to Future Health Care Providers
Grand Itasca Foundation awards four scholarships annually to
graduating seniors who are pursuing an education in a health
care-related field. In 2010, recipients represented four differ-
ent area high schools, including Bigfork, Deer River, Greenway, and
Grand Rapids. These scholarships are sustained through ongoing gifts
from the Plank Trust to help maintain a thriving health care work-
force in our community.
Monies for the scholarship are also raised through the Foundation’s
Golf Tournament. “Due to the success of our tournament last year, we
will be increasing the amount of our scholarships,” says Sandy Har-
ling, Scholarship Committee Chair. “In 2011, each scholarship will be
increasing from $1,000 to $1,500.”
Area high school seniors interested in applying for this scholarship
should contact Grand Itasca Foundation at 218.999.1009. All applica-
tions are due by March 15, 2011.
2010 Grand Itasca Foundation Kelly Scholarship recipients.
Pictured: Sandy Harling, Committee Chair; Richard
Budney and Derek Flier, scholarship winners; and
Kelly Kirwin, Grand Itasca Foundation.
5WINTER 2011
6 www.granditasca.org
ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES caringforyou
Forming Partnerships for Your Benefit
Orthopedic specialists right
out of residency often pre-
fer to partner with other
specialists rather than strike out on
their own right away. This poses a
challenge for small communities
and organizations like Grand Itasca
Clinic & Hospital. Our goal is to
offer our community and patients
comprehensive care. By adding
orthopedic specialists we achieve
just that.
On Jan. 1, 2011, we launched a
partnership between Grand Itasca
and Orthopaedic Associates of
Duluth. This new partnership
brings the Grand Rapids com-
munity the best of both worlds:
specialty orthopedic care in a full-
service hospital and clinic with the
full and convenient connection to
your primary care physician.
Grand Itasca will be staffed four
days a week by several orthope-
dic surgeons from Orthopaedic
Associates: Drs. Kyle Menzel, Josh
Rother, Peter Goldschmidt, Michael
Momont, and Derek Orton. In
addition, a Physician Assistant,
Lee Potratz, will be available five
Grand Itasca is proud to offer complete, full-service orthopedic surgical care through its partnership with Orthopaedic Associates.
7WINTER 2011
days per week, as well as family
physicians: Drs. Dan Soular, Jeremy
Carlson, Phil Imholte, and Jack
Carlisle for non-operative care.
In addition, we are currently
searching – in partnership with
Orthopaedic Associates – for an
orthopedic surgeon to live and
work in Grand Rapids full-time.
Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital has
a long history with Orthopaedic
Associates. “We’ve been working
with them for a long time,” explains
Dr. Jack Carlisle, Chief Medical
Officer at Grand Itasca. “They are
responsive, well-respected, and
have an excellent standard of qual-
ity and care. To be able to now refer
our patients to Orthopaedic Associ-
ates without them even having to
leave the building is just great.”
With the partnership in place,
Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital
offers complete, full-service ortho-
pedic surgical care in Grand Rap-
ids. From simple sprains to total
joint replacement, Grand Itasca is
looking forward to caring for you.
Our goal is to offer our community and patients comprehensive care.
Peter G. Goldschmidt, MD Kyle A. Menzel, MD Joshua J. Rother, MD
Derek J. Orton, MDMichael C. Momont, MD Lee Potratz, PA
8 www.granditasca.org
COMMUNITY CALENDAR caringforyou
To register or for more information on monthly events, please call 218.999.1444 or visit the Grand Events Calendar at www.granditasca.org.
WorkshopsBIRTH PROCESS CLASSESThis weekend class is designed to
help prepare parents for childbirth,
and includes a tour of the labor,
delivery, and nursery area of
the hospital.
Cost: $45 for mom and coach. Fee includes all class materials and refreshments.Dates: April 2 and June 4 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
INFANT CARE/ BREASTFEEDING CLASSThis class is designed to help pre-
pare you for some of the changes
that occur once your baby enters
the world. Breastfeeding tech-
niques and benefits are also cov-
ered, and the breastfeeding portion
of class is highly recommended
prior to childbirth.
Cost: FREEDates: April 9 and June 11 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Support GroupsALS SUPPORT GROUPThis group provides mutual peer
support, allows members to learn
firsthand from others who are
dealing with ALS, and gives care-
givers the opportunity to share
their experiences with each other.
Second Tuesday of the month, 1 p.m., Meeting Room C
CARDIAC SUPPORT GROUPMonthly speakers cover topics
related to cardiovascular condi-
tioning, diet and exercise, and
other areas of interest for persons
recovering from a heart attack,
bypass surgery, valve replacement
surgery, or cardiac ballooning.
Third Monday of the month, 7 p.m.Meeting Room ABC
PROSTATE SUPPORT GROUPJoin other men who have been
recently diagnosed or have had
prostate cancer. Family members
are also welcome.
Second Tuesday of the month, 5:30 p.m.Grand Oak Meeting Room
9WINTER 2011
To register or for more information on monthly events, please call 218.999.1444 or visit the Grand Events Calendar at www.granditasca.org.
Workshop Teacher Credentials
Lisa Vekich, RN, CLC, ANLS
Lisa is a registered nurse with more than 13 years experience as a labor and delivery nurse. Lisa has been a childbirth, infant care, and breastfeeding instructor at Grand Itasca for the past 4 years and holds spe-cial certification in advanced lactation consulting.
Partners are encouraged to attend all birth classes with soon-to-be mothers.
DIABETIC SUPPORT GROUPThis is an opportunity to meet
other members of our community
who have diabetes and share suc-
cesses and experiences regarding
diabetic care.
Third Thursday of the month, 7 p.m.Grand Oak Meeting Room
RANGE AREA CELIAC SUPPORT GROUPJoin others who are living with
celiac disease to meet and discuss
topics pertaining to celiac disease,
including gluten-free diets. Family
members welcome.
Third Monday of the month, 7 p.m.Grand Oak Meeting Room
10 www.granditasca.org
WHAT'S NEW AT GRAND ITASCA caringforyou
LifeLinks Interpretive Services employs state-of-the-art software that
allows interpreters to be seen on the screen in real time with amazing
clarity. Lifelinks operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, over high-speed
broadband, which effectively turns the computer screen into a videophone.
VIDEO INTERPRETING SERVICES“Bridging the Language Gap”
Quality health care is in the details
Grand Itasca Expands Interpretive Services
Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital recently part-
nered with LifeLinks Interpretive Services to
better serve the hearing impaired community
of Grand Rapids and surrounding communities. “We
wanted to make sure that if patients had special
needs, they are accommodated,” says Deb Keller,
Registration Admissions Manager at Grand Itasca
Clinic & Hospital. In the past, deaf and hard-of-
hearing patients had to wait until a live interpreter
could come and assist them. There were only so many
interpreters available, and often weather could delay
their arrival. “We had a strong need for interpreters
to be available right when we need them.”
LifeLinks Interpretive Services provide an efficient
and accessible video-relay service to deaf and hard-
of-hearing patients. The video-relay service employs
state-of-the-art software that allows interpreters to be
seen on the screen in real time with amazing clarity.
Lifelinks operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, over
high-speed broadband, which effectively turns the
computer screen into a videophone. The interpreters
are highly trained with an average of 11 years
experience, and the service contacts an interpreter
within about a minute.
Patients can have access to an interpreter almost instantly upon arriving at the Emergency Room, or coming in for a clinic visit.
LifeLinks Interpretive Services has been available
since December. “It’s a tremendous relief for the
staff and patients,” Keller says. Now patients can
have access to an interpreter almost instantly
upon arriving at the Emergency Room, or coming
in for a clinic visit. “We’re very excited to have the
accessibility for patients right when they need it.”
11WINTER 2011
GRAND RAPIDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Itasca Women’s Wellness & Lifestyle ExpoSaturday, Feb. 26, 20118:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Itasca Community College
The Women and Girls Wellness
and Lifestyle Expo began in 2006.
A group of dedicated women from
various organizations felt that
there needed to be a day dedicated
to women and girls. A day that
provided a fun event that would
be educational and inspirational
… and free so that all women and
girls could attend. The first event
was held in February of 2006 at the
Itasca County Family YMCA. The
first expo consisted of six breakout
sessions with vendors in the Y’s
gymnasium and was attended by
approximately 100 people.
Based on results of event evalu-
ations, changes have been made
to the event every year. In 2007 a
women’s style show featuring local
women was added. In 2008, many
more changes were made. The
Expo Committee decided to move
the event to a larger venue with
an auditorium; Itasca Community
College came on board as our host
and new location. The Women’s
Wellness and Lifestyle Expo logo
was developed to embrace the
balancing act that is a part of each
and every woman’s life. Other
changes included: adding two
keynote speakers, upgrading and
naming the style show the “Show
of Strength” style show, expanding
the vendor marketplace and giving
away reusable goodie bags with
useful information and fun items.
Paul Bunyan Telephone, Grand
Itasca Clinic & Hospital, and Grand
Itasca Foundation were brought on
as Stage Sponsors in order to bring
in high-quality keynote speakers.
In addition to the keynote speak-
ers, nine breakout sessions were
offered on various topics under
the guidelines of health/wellness,
physical activity, financial well-
being, and spiritual well-being.
Today, the event continues to build
on the previous year and has grown
due to the commitment of many of
the same dedicated women, along
with new additions to the com-
mittee. The Show of Strength style
show has become a favorite among
attendees, so be sure to be in the
audience to hear the stories of local
women doing amazing things.
This year you will be treated to two
keynote speakers, Renee Rongen
and Mary Knowles, and 12 break-
out sessions on a variety of topics.
12 www.granditasca.org
Looking forwardto caring for you.Clinic & Hospital
Grand Itasca Clinic & HospitalMain Line: 218.326.7344
Email: [email protected]: www.granditasca.org
Clinic Hours:Monday through Thursday 8-6Friday 8-4:30Saturday 9-noon
Emergency Room:Open 24 hours a day
Professional Building111 SE Third StreetGrand Rapids, MN 55744218.326.3401
Professional Building Hours:Monday through Thursday 7-6Friday 8-5
New Spirit Women's Clinic409 SE 13th StreetGrand Rapids, MN 55744218.326.9100
Web: www.newspiritwc.com
Clinic Hours:Monday through Friday 8-5
This publication does not constitute professional medical advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. If you have a medical question, consult your medical professional. Images may be from one or more of these sources: Thinkstock, iStock, Fotolia, Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital.