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Fairview Lakes Medical Center celebrates a decade of care |
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Wednesday, 06 February 2008 |
Fairview Lakes Medical Center, Wyoming, officially opened its doors to hospital patients on Feb. 14, 1998. Clinic patients began to arrive a littler earlier, on Feb. 5. The new medical center, which combined an inpatient hospital with primary and specialty clinics, represented a landmark change for health care in the region.
Medical care that had been provided at hospitals built in Rush City, Chisago City and Forest Lake in the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s, was consolidated in one new medical facility operating under the umbrella of Fairview Health Services. Fairview committed $34 million to build a new medical center at Wyoming, remodel existing facilities and built a new medical clinic in Lino Lakes.
Almost immediately after it opened, Fairview Lakes Medical Center began to grow.
• In 2000, Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center began to plan for a new $5.4 million building project that would add a fifth surgery suite and expand the emergency department, acute care and obstetrical care. Completed in March 2002, that project added 20 inpatient beds, provided a new urgent care clinic and doubled the size of the birth center and the emergency department (ED).
• The University of Minnesota Physicians Radiation Therapy Center and Meadows on Fairview Assisted Living facilities were added to the campus in 2003.
• In 2005, Fairview Lakes built a new medical clinic in Hugo and doubled the size of Fairview Lino Lakes Clinic.
• A $29 million project, completed this year, has provided a new expanded ED, urgent care and a state-of-the-art surgery center with a sixth operating suite and shell space for a seventh, expanded diagnostic imaging, relocated the intensive care unit to the first floor and expanded and remodeled the Birthplace, the cafeteria and respiratory care and added inpatient beds.
“The past decade has been one of constant change and expansion of services. Through it all, our staff and physicians have played a vital role in continuing to provide exceptional care to our patients,” says Fairview Lakes President Dan Anderson. “We have seen our building and our medical staff grow, the quality of clinical care and use of technology enhanced, and our patient satisfaction improve.”
Fairview Lakes’ compliment of employed physicians has grown from 50 in 1998 to nearly 90 today with hundreds more physicians having privileges to practice in the facility. The number of babies delivered at Fairview Lakes Medical Center grew from 528 in 1998 to 894 in 2007. Today, clinic patients benefit from a completely electronic medical record, and all x-ray images produced at the medical center are filmless and digital.
“Fairview Lakes has a vision of ‘leading community health care to the highest standards,’” says Anderson. “This is not merely wishful thinking on our part, but a goal that we can accomplish.
“In this past decade, through a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication by our staff and physicians, we have chosen to provide not only good care but to continually strive for excellent care.”
He points to Fairview Lakes’ national awards for care of heart attack care, heart failure and pneumonia and for developing processes to ensure the safety of patient medications. Anderson points out that passion for excellence extends to Fairview Lakes’ ambulatory clinics, including those in Rush City, North Branch, Chisago City, Lino Lakes and Hugo, several of which recently have been recently recognized their care of patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease.
“We recognize that the world is ever changing and that countless challenges lie ahead,” says Anderson.
“But I am confident that the expertise, talent and teamwork of our physicians and staff working together will ensure that we will succeed in bringing the best possible health care to this community both in our facilities and through our many community health outreach efforts. We invite the community to join us in February and throughout the year as we celebrate “Fairview Lakes Medical Center – 10 Years and Growing.”
Scheduled festivities
Feb. 14 – Staff at Fairview Lakes Medical Center will gather for a lunchtime celebration in the atrium. Mark Eustis, Fairview CEO, will be on hand to say a few words to physicians and staff. There will be special entertainment by the Forest Lake High School Orchestra, and anniversary cake will be served.
February Special Events and Heart Month Activities at Fairview Lakes Medical Center
Free Blood Pressure Screening & Cardiac Risk Assessment Tool by Fairview Lakes Cardiac Rehabilitation Department and cardiac services, every Tuesday and Thursday during February from 10-11 a.m., at Fairview Lakes Medical Center atrium. Also 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 14 and 1-2 p.m. Feb. 20
Feb. 11 – David Walsh “The Importance of Saying No to Your Children” from 5-6:30 p.m. Parent Resource Fair 6:30 p.m. Dr. Walsh’s presentation, Sunset Café – to reserve your seat call 612-672-7272. A sign language interpreter will be available for his talk.
Feb. 12 – EMS Appreciation Lunch hosted by the Emergency Department.
Feb. 14-May 31 – Online Trivia Quiz. Take our online 10th anniversary trivia quiz at lakes.fairview.org/trivia to enter a prize drawing that will take place on June 1.
Feb. 14-29 – Historical display in atrium and door prizes drawings for public. Bring in the postcard you received in the mail or fill out another entry and receive an anniversary lighted keychain with photo frame. Door prizes will include: 10th anniversary cookbooks, digital blood pressure machine, massages, gift card; and a gift certificate to Auxiliary Gift Shop.
Feb. 15 – Retiree Appreciation Luncheon and Tour 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. All retirees of Fairview Lakes Health Services or its predecessors (Chisago Health Services, District Memorial Hospital or Rush City Area Hospital and Clinic) are invited to attend. Call 651-257-8440 immediately to make your reservation.
Feb. 20 – Today’s Health Topics Special Edition: Medication Management, 2 p.m. The public is invited to bring in all prescription and nonprescription medications and have the opportunity to visit individually with a pharmacist. There will be refreshments and gifts from Fairview Pharmacy. The event is preceded by a free blood pressure check and cardiac risk assessment from 1-2 p.m.
Future events: 10 year Baby Reunion and Birthplace Open House, May 3, and “Men’s Night Out” in the fall.
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