News Release
June 29, 2010
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Rural health awards presented at Minnesota Rural Health Conference

Colleen Spike, St. Peter, and Northern Dental Access Center, Bemidji, receive awards


Colleen Spike of St. Peter and the Northern Dental Access Center in Bemidji were recognized June 29 at the Minnesota Rural Health Conference in Duluth for their outstanding contributions to rural health care.

Spike received the Minnesota Rural Health Hero award for her role as a champion of small rural hospitals. Under Spike's guidance as chief executive officer, River's Edge Hospital & Clinic grew from a 38-bed facility to a 30-acre health care campus providing care for St. Peter, all of Le Sueur and Nicollet counties and portions of Blue Earth and Sibley counties.

Spike's nursing background, her compassion and her holistic approach to care are evident in the value she places on collaboration. With her encouragement for alliances, Benedictine Health System opened an 80-room long-term care facility on the River's Edge campus and the Immanuel St. Joseph Mayo Hospital of Mankato opened the St. Peter Clinic. Also on campus are the Live Well Fitness Center and the Mankato Chiropractic Clinic, which provides massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic services. Spike's assistance also was instrumental in River's Edge receiving its Level 4 trauma hospital designation.

As a result of Spike's strong fiscal stewardship and guidance, River's Edge received the Gold Standard Performing Critical Access Hospital award from the financial firm Larsen Allen. River's Edge is one of only 35 of the nation's Critical Access Hospitals to achieve this distinction. River's Edge also was recognized as a mentor hospital by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, which helps accelerate change and improvement in health care by seeking data from participating hospitals that improve patient care and turning the statistics into action.

In nominating Spike, Chester Yanik of Yanik Companies said, "Colleen is a true rural health care hero who has worked collaboratively to change the health care landscape in St. Peter and the surrounding area."

St. Peter City Administrator Todd Prafke also lauded Spike's contributions. "Colleen is not only passionate, she is tenacious in pursuit of the vision that River's Edge Hospital can lead the way in provision of care," he said. "River's Edge Hospital is now the ‘go to' location for health care within our community because of advanced health care and an environment that allows for innovation—but mostly through the compassionate service to patients."

The Northern Dental Access Center received the Rural Health Team Award for its work with families in rural, northwestern Minnesota who have low incomes. "The community dental clinic was the result of a groundswell of passion and commitment from local agencies, employers, dentists and educators, Executive Director Jeanne Edevold Larson said. "All were frustrated with the lack of dental access for vulnerable citizens and its impact on community health."

Northern Dental Access Center opened in January 2009 after seven years of detailed, community-wide planning designed to address the needs of each individual. Its waiting room is welcoming for children and adults, from its child-sized furniture and family-fun activities to patient-created artwork, reflecting the American Indian culture of the region, which decorates the walls. This setting helps to ease long days families spend in town when they combine a trip to the dentist with shopping and visiting the government services building in Bemidji.

Northern Dental Access Center's staff is trained in understanding poverty and in recognizing the symptoms of sexual assault, neglect, mental health vulnerabilities and more. A patient advocate works to address all concerns to ensure patients receive the care they need in the most pain-free way possible.

Northern Dental Access Center also has developed multiple partnerships. Beltrami county public health nurses provide onsite child/teen exams and immunizations and mental health screenings for young children. Community Resource Connections staff provide insurance counseling from a satellite office at the dental center. Central Minnesota Pediatric Dentists staff provide on-site quarterly pre- and post-operative visits to save families two of the three required trips to St. Cloud.

Northern Dental Access Center is also a resource for the dental community, providing a high quality facility for volunteering, teaching and workforce training. Fifteen dentists from around the state provide care. As a result, 4,000 people now have a local dental home and another 5,000 are anticipated this year.

The Minnesota Rural Health Conference presents hero and team awards each year. This year's conference, "Leading Change for Rural Health," was hosted by the Minnesota Department of Health's Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, the Minnesota Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Resource Center. More information is available at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/conf/index.html.

-MDH-

For more information, contact:

John Stieger
MDH Communications
651-201-4998

Mark Schoenbaum
Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
651-201-3859