total team effort: ecumen wins mhha innovation...

Ecumen INSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDER March 2006 11111

The Innovation dial is turning quickly onthe Ecumen dashboard. Thanks to the workof several hundred innovators throughoutEcumen, the Minnesota Health & HousingAlliance (MHHA) named Ecumen’s“Innovation Station” as its 2005“Innovation of the Year.” The award waspresented at the annual MHHA Institutemeeting last month.

“At Ecumen, true innovation is differentthan taking ‘what is’ and improving itwithin the given confines of the currentsystem of homes and services for olderadults,” said Ecumen vice president ofoperations Kathy Bakkenist. “Trueinnovation, rather, is the creation of anew definition for ‘what ought to be’and delivering it.”

“Team members throughout Ecumen aredemonstrating ingenuity to dream upan idea that can improve a situation,tenacity to do the work required toturn the idea into a reality, and courageto tell others about what they haveaccomplished. The Innovation Stationcreates synergy and excitement around‘changing for the better,’ the fruit of whichdirectly impacts those we serve,” saidKathy.

Ecumen inventors were busy over the lastyear. In fact, in 2005, 90 innovations weresubmitted versus 40 the year before. Thatblew away the 2005 dashboard goal of 39submissions. Top innovations will behonored at the Ecumen LeadershipConference in Brooklyn Center onMay 11, 2006.

Total Team Effort: Ecumen Wins MHHA Innovation of the Year Award

L to R: Debbie Manthey, seniordirector of housing; Kathy Bakkenist,vice president of operations; JessicaDrecktrah, director of special projects;and John Oliver, database administrator,at the MHHA “Innovation of the Year”award ceremony

Kathryn RobertsCEO and president, Ecumen

KathrynKathrynKathrynKathrynKathryn

I want to thank everyonewho sent prayers andgood wishes my way asI recuperated fromsurgery. They workedwonders. It is great to beback at work with you!

MARCH 2006INSIDER

Ecumen

22222 Ecumen INSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDER March 2006

Development Update:Ecumen Breaking New GroundOver the next decade, significant investment is going to occur in existing and new Ecumen communitiesto ensure that we are providing a tremendous product. Following is an overview of current and pendingEcumen construction projects.

Duluth: Phase II of thetransformed Lakeshore willbegin rising shortly. By March2007 Lakeshore will include 100new apartments overlooking LakeSuperior. Phase I of Lakeshore,which opened in November 2005,included assisted living, memorycare and short-term rehab.

Bloomington: Martin LutherManor is moving to all privaterooms by the end of the year andis completely renovating itsrehabilitation and wellness area.Martin Luther Manor isdeveloping a reputation in theBloomington area as a greatplace to go for physical therapyand this repositioning will helpMartin Luther Manor build uponthat reputation.

Chisago City: Parmly isbreaking ground this spring ona new wellness center that willfeature a lap pool and whirlpool,workout rooms and new fitnessequipment. The wellness center,which just received a majorcontribution from the Fred C.and Katherine B. AndersenFoundation, will also be availableto the larger Chisago Citycommunity. The Parmlycommunity also is building a10-unit short-term stay additionfor rehab care; it’s building uponthe success of its Margaret’sHouse memory care suites byadding a 16-unit advancedmemory care assisted livingresidence; and it’s renovatingPoint Pleasant Apartments.

Parmly, Chisago City, MN

Mankato Lutheran Home Therapy Center

Mankato: This summerMankato Lutheran Homeplans to tear down a 70-year-old wing to make way for anexpanded therapy center, 11-unit memory care, expandeddining area and chapel, newoffices and a new communitymeeting room. Contributing tothat effort will be a $1.1 millionfund development campaignspearheaded by the MankatoLutheran community.

Mankato Lutheran Home, Mankato, MN


Rome and Osceola, Wisconsin: These projectsalso are pending subject to approval by Ecumen’strustees. However, because such projects takesignificant time, due diligence and planning isoccurring with Ecumen’s project partners. The firstphase of the Rome project is anticipated to includeassisted living and memory care and has room foradditional independent housing. The Osceolaproject, a collaboration with the Osceola MedicalCenter, is anticipated to include independenthousing, assisted living, memory care, a small carecenter, and a community recreation center.

Alpine Village Senior Housing, Rome, WI

AlpineVillageSeniorHousing,Rome, WI

Maplewood: Ecumen andMaplewood’s Gethsemane LutheranChurch are working on a potentialpartnership for independent livingapartments and memory care apartmentsthat would be adjacent to GethsemaneLutheran Church and its elementaryschool. Located one-half mile fromLakeview Commons, it would createopportunities toshare resources andcreate synergiesbetween the twolocations. Thisproject is subject toapproval byEcumen’s trustees.

Owatonna: Increased demand forhousing with services has led toconstruction beginning on a new Ecumencommunity in Owatonna. CalledCountryside Senior Living, it willopen in November and will have 61units. Countryside complements TheBrooks in Owatonna, which was built in2000.

North Branch: The next generation ofhousing for older adults in NorthBranch is anticipated to break groundthis spring. Replacing Green Acres,which was built in 1959, will be a newcommunity that will include 20 units ofmemory care, 50 units of catered livingand a care center that will have 68 units.The site has room for future expansion.

Countryside Senior Living, Owatonna, MN


EmmanuelEmmanuelEmmanuelEmmanuelEmmanuelCommunityCommunityCommunityCommunityCommunityReceivesReceivesReceivesReceivesReceivesExcellenceExcellenceExcellenceExcellenceExcellencein Practicein Practicein Practicein Practicein PracticeAwardAwardAwardAwardAward

Pictured (L to R)with their awardin Minneapolisare EmmanuelCommunity’sKatie Lundmark,Nancy Lickiss,Angie Blazek,Janet Green,Shelly Vogt,Cheryl Krause,Christine Burnside

ongratulations to Emmanuel Community of DetroitLakes, which received an award for Excellence in Practicefrom MHHA, for its Circle of Care innovation. Thisinnovation creates a “circle of care” with the customer alwaysat the center of that circle. The circle begins at admission andcontinues on the person’s journey at Emmanuel Community tothe time the person either returns to his or her own home orconcludes his or her life on earth.

Developed by Christine Ann Burnside, quality assurancecoordinator, and the members of the Emmanuel nursing homeand community care team, “Circle of Care” is credited withenhancing customer service; enhancing the care of mind, bodyand spirit; increasing intergenerational activities; andstrengthening teamwork.

CCCCC

104In an interview with the NewRichmond (Wisconsin) News,Marion Davidson, a resident ofEcumen’s Boardman Meadows,said that she laughed when hergrandson would predict that she’dlive well into her 100s. Well, stopthe laughing, she just turned 104and she’s living life on her terms.

Living independently at 104 yearsat Boardman Meadows

A native of Hinckley, Minnesota,she was the salutatorian of herForest Lake High School class,which numbered 7. A beauticianfor many years, Marion says shehasn’t changed her lifestyle allthat much and credits her genesfor her longevity. Her mother livedto 100 and her siblings all livedinto their 80s and 90s.

Congratulations Marion!Congratulations Marion!Congratulations Marion!Congratulations Marion!Congratulations Marion!


Registration to beginfirst week of April

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Ecumen is proud to welcome the SaintMarks Community of Austin to theEcumen family of housing and services.Saint Marks, which also is affiliated withthe Evangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica (ELCA), recently signed a three-year contract with Ecumen formanagement services.

“Ecumen is a taking a leading role intransforming housing and services forolder adults,” says Saint Marks LutheranHome administrator Tim Samuelson.“This is a great opportunity for us toaccess Ecumen’s resources and help usbuild on our strong foundation to ensurehigh-quality services in the Austin areafor years to come.”

ecumen Welcomessaint marks of austin

“There is strength in numbers, especially inour changing profession and competitiveenvironment,” says Tim. “By joining withEcumen in this contract, we are gainingaccess to increased resources and expertisethat will help us build upon our strongfoundation and tradition. For example, thispartnership gives us access to Ecumentechnology and their in-house technologyteam, and access to regulatory experts tohelp us stay in front of the many rapidchanges occurring in our profession. We’regreatly looking forward to thiscollaboration.”

Welcome!

Wel

com

e!Welcome!

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2006EcumenLeadershipConferenceSet for May 11thin Twin Cities

The 2006 Ecumen Leadership Conference for Ecumen siteleaders will be held on Thursday, May 11, at the Earle BrownHeritage Center in Brooklyn Center. The conference center isadjacent to the Prairie Lodge assisted living community,which joined the Ecumen family of senior housing andservices in 2005.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Sowing the Seeds ofInnovation.” The Ecumen Leadership Conference will includea number of interesting components tied to our collectivework at Ecumen, including insights from Ecumen leaderKathryn Roberts; a presentation by Minnesota statedemographer Tom Gillaspy on the Upper Midwest’s agewave; and a keynote address by Stephen Shields, leader ofMeadowlark Hills Continuing Care Community in Manhattan,Kansas.

Mr. Shields will share the story of transformation and culturechange at the Meadowlark Hills community where:

Team members have “mad money” to spend on residentsfor play and pleasure, like the time nurses arranged achauffeured outing for residents to a dance bar.

Residents go to bed when they choose and wake up whenthey want.

A resident who desires ice cream at 2 a.m. can get icecream at 2 a.m.

Long hallways and a hospital-style nurse’s station havebeen replaced with separate households. Each house has itsown living room, dining room, and its own kitchen.

Registration information for this year’s Ecumen LeadershipConference will be sent to site leaders the first week of April.


A grant from Midwest Wireless has provided wirelessinternet access to residents of Mankato Lutheran’srehabilitative therapy area. The grant will providewireless access fees and equipment.

“We’re extremely excited to be able to offer this serviceand greatly appreciate this generous contribution fromMidwest Wireless,” said Jennifer Pfeffer, MankatoLutheran Homes’ director of operations. “When people arerehabbing at Mankato Lutheran, we want them to have asmuch comfort and convenience as they would have at theirown home, so this is a great new offering for ourcustomers. E-mail, stock quotes, the latest news and awhole lot more are now just one click away.”

Thank you to Jill Evans who secured the grant and toLeslie Donahue, IS coordinator, and Jim Gatchell,director of environmental services, who installed theequipment.

WI-FI Coming to Mankato Lutheran HomesThanks to Grant from Midwest Wireless

LynnAnn Lloyd, director of information services, and Larry Jorgensen,chief information officer, show Ecumen’s new videoconferencing equipment

Ecumen has introduced videoconferencingat four hubs within Ecumen – Mankato,Duluth, Detroit Lakes and the HomeOffice in Shoreview.

“We did a cost-benefit analysis and it wasclear that this technology would serve uswell in terms of more efficiently usingpeople’s time and the organization’sresources,” said Ecumen chiefinformation officer Larry Jorgensen.

EcumenIntroduces

VideoconferencingThe videoconferencing system allowsEcumen team members to meet longdistance and speak with each other viaa big screen and microphone. Theequipment also allows people atseparate Ecumen videoconferencingcenters to viewhard copydocuments orcomputer-basedpresentationssimultaneously.

Joan Holsen uses thenew wireless systemat Mankato Lutheran

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON USING

ECUMEN VIDEOCONFERENCING,PLEASE CONTACT ECUMEN’SCHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

LARRY JORGENSEN AT

[email protected]


QuietCare NowAvailable to All

Ecumen HousingCommunities

After a successful pilot program atLakeview Commons in Maplewood,Ecumen is making QuietCare availableto all other independent and assistedliving communities within Ecumen. Usingunobtrusive wireless infrared sensors,QuietCare detects a resident’s movementsand alerts a key contact person whenmajor deviations occur from a resident’sbaseline activity.

“What we’re really finding valuable aboutQuietCare is that it opens up the channelsof communications between the resident,team member and the resident’s family,”said Debbie Manthey, senior director ofhousing at Ecumen. “You have hard datathat you can easily share and that makeseveryone much more informed.”

One such example occurred whenQuietCare showed that a resident waswalking around his and his wife’sresidence a great deal at nighttime. Thiswas causing him and his wife to miss outon a great deal of sleep. With the datafrom QuietCare, a nurse was able todiscuss the activity with the residents andimmediately begin working on solutions.

“It gives us much more data, helps us toimprove customer service, and it takesaway the sense that ‘Big Brother’ iswatching,” said Debbie. “It’s a win-win-win!”

“It gives us muchmore data, helpsus to improvecustomer service,and it takes awaythe sense that‘Big Brother’ iswatching. It’s awin-win-win!”

Honor points toan unobtrusiveQuietCare sensorin her residence

Debbie MantheySenior director of housing


Randy Conright (l) andJason Leibel (r) show adata sensor that sendsinformation to EcuTech

Randy Conright, director of environmental services, andJason Leibel, maintenance technician at Martin LutherManor, thought there had to be a better way when it cameto monitoring boilers, generators, fire alarms and other keyequipment at Martin Luther Manor. They found that better waywith the EcuTech Monitoring System, which provides anytime-anywhere notification of system problems via computer.

Developed with commercial software, EcuTech (www.ecutech.org)allows Randy and Jason to get notification via e-mail and cellphone when a system irregularity occurs. The Martin LutherManor environmental services team also has developed anequipment monitoring web site that can be accessed at theoffice or from home.

“Previously we were spending hours doing time-consumingmanual checks of all of our equipment and we weren’t gettingreal-time notifications on problems,” said Randy Conright,

EcuTechMonitoringSystem

director of environmental services at Martin Luther Manor.“This system allows us to be much more proactive in headingoff mechanical problems before they grow larger and it allowsus to use our time more effectively.”

Now that they’ve built the foundation for EcuTech, Jason andRandy see many other applications for it, including monitoringkitchen freezer alarms, motion detectors and receivingnotification when the trash compactor is full.

“When Jason and I developed EcuTech we wanted to tie thename to Ecumen,” said Randy. “Ecumen is about expandingthinking and innovating. Innovation is all about taking a smallidea, a seed of thought, nurturing it and helping it grow. That’swhat we want to do within environmental services – neverstand still, think of ways we can improve the service weprovide to our customers and continue moving forward.”

EcumenSpotlightonInnovation

“Ecumen isabout

expandingthinking andinnovating ...”

Randy Conright


The following list includes:Innovation NameInnovator’s NameFacilityContributors

Thank You to Ecumen Innovators! Thank you to the most recent contributors to the Ecumen Innovation Station:

SHARING AMERICAN HEART - THE FUN WAY

DONNA GOETSCH

LAKESHORE

SUSAN PAPALE

LIFE ENRICHMENT

LIZ ANDERSEN, JULIE KADELBACH AND JUDY HULTERSTRUM

AUGUSTANA APARTMENTS

BRANDON PIETSCH, JUDY HULTERSTRUM, JENNIFER SOMMERFELD,LIZ ANDERSEN, JUDY BARKA, AMY LARSON, MARJIE ANDERSON

AND CHRISTINE JOHNSON

A DAY AT THE MALL AT LAKEVIEW COMMONS

WENDY TRAFFIE

LAKEVIEW COMMONS

KATHY SIEGLING, JEN RASMUSSEN, GLEN GLANCY, JUDY WILTGEN,TRACY MEYERS, MELODYE STAVIG, KIM SINCLAIR, SUE JORGENSON

AND JEAN ANDERSON

ECUWEATHER

RANDY CONRIGHT

MARTIN LUTHER MANOR

RANDY CONRIGHT AND JASON LEIBEL

ECUSENSE MONITORING SYSTEM

RANDY CONRIGHT

MARTIN LUTHER MANOR


ECUSENSE.ORG

RANDY CONRIGHT

MARTIN LUTHER MANOR


RE-DECORATING OF WINONA SHORES APARTMENTS

PATTI CAREY

WINONA SHORES

PATTI CAREY, PLUS ALL THE STAFF OF WINONA SHORES AND BETHEL MANORS

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL BOOK

PASTOR RON GERL

PARMLY

MARKETING AND PR COMMITTEE; SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MEMBERS

EcutechMonitoringSystemHome page of MartinLuther Manor’s innovativeEcutech Monitoring System


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To read the full article, go to the “News Section” at

www.ecumen.org


Nancy Kollmann, RN, began her career at age 16 as a certifiednursing assistant. A mentor recognized her passion and desire tolearn and encouraged her to become a nurse. Thirty-three yearslater her quest for learning, new challenges and teaching onlygrows stronger. In fact, Nancy is just a few months fromcompleting a triple master’s degree.

At Good Shepherd Community in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota,where she has served as director of nursing since 1999, Nancywas the architect of one of the country’s top educationalprograms in aging services. Called Long Term Care Connections,it includes a two-year program to help Good Shepherd nursingassistants become licensed practical nurses (LPNs); partnershipswith the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, St. CloudTechnical College and Saint Cloud State University to helpeducate nursing students; and partnerships with area highschools to help students become certified nursing assistants.Good Shepherd also collaborates with the Mayo Medical Schoolwhere students do a geriatric rotation at Good Shepherd.

As Nancy took on more responsibility at Good Shepherd, herfascination with the business side of her work grew. Two yearsago she began pursuing a triple masters with the University ofPhoenix. Almost all of her degree work is done online. InSeptember she’ll complete master’s degrees in businessadministration, nursing and healthcare management. Afterconcluding her workday, Nancy often teaches an evening class atSt. Cloud Technical College and then does her own course workuntil the early morning hours. Yet when you talk with Nancy, youfeel momentum, not exhaustion.

“This is such a tremendous time to be in this field,” says Nancy.“We are making transformational changes in how people live.I absolutely love it and I’m so thankful to work with a team ofpeople who are taking this profession to a whole new level. Youcan’t help but feel energized.”

nancy kollmann’scommitment to life-long learning

“We are making transformationalchanges in how people live. Iabsolutely love it and I’m sothankful to work with a team ofpeople who are taking thisprofession to a whole new level.You can’t help but feel energized.”

Nancy Kollmann

Ecumen Cyber Storeoffers Spring discount . . .

see next page


Ecumen InsiderPublished bi-monthly, Ecumen Insiderprovides an inside look at the people andplaces that make up Ecumen.

We welcome your comments, stories, ideasand feedback. Please contact Eric Schubert,Ecumen’s director of communications, [email protected] or 651-766-4333.

Editor: Eric SchubertDesign and Production: Linda Oelker

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Ecumen Cyber StoreSpring Special —

Visit the Cyber Storevia webnet or

www.ecumencyberstore.org

15% OFFNow and throughApril 30thTake 15% OffAny Item

You can decorate your a wide variety ofmerchandise with either Ecumen’s logo ora residence logo. (There is a small one-timeset-up fee to download a residence logo forembroidering.)

From golf shirts to fleece pullovers, Ecumen’sCyber Store has it all. To get a 15% discountthrough April 30th, enter this code number:

EC15OFF

total team effort: ecumen wins mhha innovation...

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