RAHH receives accreditation from Joint Commission

It’s a status many healthcare facilities strive to achieve, and only the best receive it. Now among these elite is Roseau Area Hospital & Homes.

By demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization’s national standards for health care quality and safety, RAHH has again earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ .

"We have continued to seek accreditation for our organization because we want to demonstrate our commitment to patient and client safety and quality care,” says Keith Okeson, the President/CEO of RAHH. “We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward achieving excellence.”

The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of Roseau Hospital, Home Health Care, and Hospice in March 2006 and the Laboratory in May 2006. The award of accreditation recognizes RAHH’s dedication to complying with the Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public. This is accomplished through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations.

The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services.

The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities.

An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in the field of health care.

RAHH Parish Nurse Coordinator serves as link to local ministries

Colleen Klamar is the new Parish Nurse Coordinator at RAHH.

Roseau Area Hospital & Homes is pleased to announce the creation of a new outreach position, that of Parish Nurse Coordinator.

Longtime RAHH employee Colleen Klamar has accepted the call to serve as coordinator, acting as the link between healthcare and the spiritual ministries of area parishes.

Parish nurses are nurses with additional training in spiritual care. They provide health education, assessments, visitation, prayer, health counseling and more to the people of local congregations.

A nondenominational faith-based role, the parish nurse coordinator provides these services as a way to bring help and healing in the physical and spiritual sense.

“Our goal is to reach out to congregations of the area and to support the health ministries that you’re providing or would like to provide to your parish,” Klamar said to local spiritual leaders during a welcoming speech during church night at the Roseau County Fair.

Oak Crest: Dream is now reality

Over 600 people attended an open house to celebrate the opening of Oak Crest Senior Housing on June 20 in Roseau.

Nearly five years in the making, the 43-unit assisted living facility is now completed and operating independently as it serves the housing needs of area seniors.

“The transition to the new facility has gone great. We’re all moved in and have only a few apartments left,” says Cheryl Gumeringer, Oak Crest’s executive director.

The open house also marks the completion of RAHH’s involvement in the workings of Oak Crest, though it will continue to provide contracted nurses and personal care attendants for Oak Crest residents.

“We are so appreciative of the support we received from the community and its leaders, especially the Board and the administration at Roseau Area Hospital and Homes for making this project a reality—financially and fundamentally from beginning to end.”

Gumeringer says the residents were as excited for the move as she was.

“One of the residents told me that this is like a dream. She told me it feels like living in a four star hotel.”

To inquire about occupancy or availability at Oak Crest Senior Housing, contact Cheryl Gumeringer at (218) 463-4783 or by e-mail at: cheryl@oakcrestseniorhousing.com

RAHH awards student healthcare scholarships

Roseau Area Hospital & Homes has awarded two thousand dollars in scholarship funds to four local high school graduates. Recipients were chosen based on criteria set up by a special scholarship committee. This year, one winner was chosen from each of the four high schools in Roseau County. Each winner received a $500 scholarship to be used for post high school education. Scholarship dollars come from proceeds at the Neighborhood Nook coffee and gift shop at the hospital. Thank you to the volunteers who gave their time to make these scholarships possible. This year’s winners are:

Ashley Peterson
Badger High School
The daughter of Cindy Peterson, Ashley will attend the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, to pursue an RN nursing degree. Ashley currently works at Prairie Community Services with disabled clients, where she is a certified nursing assistant and home health aide. She feels she has found her niche in the health care field and has always enjoyed caring for people especially those who cannot help themselves.

Ashley Gryskiewicz
Greenbush/Middle River High School
Ashley is the daughter of Heidi Sorenson. She will attend Northland Community and Technical College, Thief River Falls, to pursue an RN nursing degree. Ashley is currently employed at Greenbush Community Nursing Home as a Certified Nursing Assistant. After taking her Nursing Assistant courses, Ashley became even more interested in the healthcare field and is very excited to learn more. She loves going to work at the nursing home, admitting that it makes her feel good to help others receive the care they need.

Tyler Potts
Warroad High School
The son of Dave and Debina Potts, Tyler plans to become a physician and will begin his education at a four year university. Tyler’s mother, with over 25 years of experience in the nursing field, has inspired him to go into the medical field. Tyler says helping people is his passion, and entering the medical field will allow him to do just that.

Kim Olson
Roseau High School
Kim is the daughter of Danny and Debie Olson. She will attend the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, to pursue a career in Nursing. Kim currently works at Sheltering Oaks Manor, a job that has taught her many new positive traits. Her experience as a nurses aide will help her strive to succeed in a health care career.