Lakewood plans to expand into more community health programs

Not only is Lakewood Health System (LHS) planning to expand their clinic building, they are also attempting to expand their reach into the health of the surrounding community.

At a community update event held Jan. 19, Lakewood officials tied the past and present with the future of healthcare. One of the themes talked about was helping community members stay healthy so they don’t have to visit the hospital as often. Lakewood is working on that goal through several programs, including Choose Health to get fresh foods to patients, and programs with more home health visits.

“We are working towards greater partnerships with the community,” said Lakewood CEO Tim Rice.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Halfen said Lakewood intends to remain independent, which gives them many advantages. “We have become known for innovation, we are able to try things a big corporation can’t, we have established a reputation as a leader in change, even to the extent of how much the hospital board is active in the system.”

80 years in Staples

Rice said the Staples City Hospital began in 1936, so we are celebrating 80 years of service, the last 10 in our current location east of Staples.

Dr. Ted Lelwica spoke about how far LHS has come since he started in 1965, in a small downtown office clinic. He said we had basic equipment, no supplies, one RN for the entire hospital and the ambulance was also a hearse.

As LHS grew, one of their greatest accomplishments was keeping their mission of placing the patient first, said Lelwica. He said they have kept up with the latest technologies and skills and have brought specialists in-house, saving time and money for patients. He said the new facility has retained that friendly atmosphere that’s been created.

Latest updates

Dr. Sarah Israelson and Dr. Christine Albrecht spoke about some of the recent changes at LHS.

Israelson said some of the new equipment coming in March includes 3-D mammograms and an in-house MRI machine,replacing the trailer MRI. Albrecht spoke about tele-medicine, which allows patients to talk with specialists from other hospitals.

Albrecht said LHS surveys have indicated that patients want more access to providers. She said the building project will allow them to add more providers. She said care coordination will help people navigate the system and the addition of dietary and physical therapy help will keep patients out of the hospital.

Albrecht said they are looking at adding home-based services such as a community paramedic who would travel to patients’ homes to make sure they are taking medications and helping them stay healthy.

Israelson spoke about the new electronic medical records service and the new leadership model at LHS. She said they appreciate the Rural Physician Associate Program which allows medical students to intern at Lakewood.

Future

Lakewood Chief Operating Officer Teresa Fisher and Dr. Halfen talked about where they see LHS going in the future.

Halfen said the community health initiatives are driven by changes in the way the insurance companies compensate hospitals. “The healthier the population is, the more physicians will benefit from it,” said Halfen. “The old way, the sicker the population was, the more money we would make.”

Fisher talked about how the Choose Health program allows patients to access locally grown produce through farmers markets. She said they received a Bush Award grant for Choose Health. “We are working on the next phase, to grow the program and bring more locally grown foods to area families,” said Fisher.

Fisher said they will continue partnerships with many local, regional and state-wide organizations. She announced their latest partnership with Big Stone Therapies.

She said with the coming clinic additions in Staples and Pillager, they have developed a new marketing tag line: “Your choice. For a lifetime of care.”

Politics in healthcare

Halfen said LHS has to try and predict what will happen politically so they can stay on top of health care laws. He said the upcoming presidential election might change some of the specifics of healthcare reform, but it won’t revert back to the old system.

“Change is going to have to happen,” said Halfen. “We know it is a very inefficient system ... We have the most expensive health care in the world and not the most effective.”

He said Obamacare is a version of a former Republican plan and the proposal of exchanges won’t change it a lot.

Halfen was in favor of reforms that allow more people to access health care. “We have quality care here but we don’t necessarily give it to everyone,” he said.

Fisher said LHS has analyzed costs and are finding ways to lower costs while maintaining high quality of care. She said they have lowered lab and imaging costs because people are shopping around for the best deals in health care.