Impacting Lives…Working Together

In 2015, Rice Health Foundation provided $1,193,615 to Rice Memorial Hospital to support a variety of programs and services, as well as continuing education, advancing technology and capital equipment. This support is possible because of your donations to Rice Health Foundation designated funds and endowments. Your generosity supports the vitality and quality of care of Rice Memorial Hospital, while improving the health and well-being of the people in west central Minnesota.

The Rice Health Foundation Endowment was established to provide a stable and consistent source of funds to help meet the changing needs in healthcare. Grants from the Foundation Endowment and other donor-advised and designated-purpose endowments accounted for more than $211,000 in support to the Hospital in 2015. Some of the endowment grants awarded are highlighted here.

Certified Nursing Assistant Program

Rice Memorial Hospital and Rice Health Foundation have partnered with Ridgewater College and Willmar Public Schools, to fund a 3-credit Nursing Assistant course at Willmar High School. Students will meet high school graduation requirements while also receiving three college credits via the Minnesota PostSecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program. Graduates of the class will be eligible to take the State of Minnesota exam to become Certified Nursing Assistants.

Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Certification

Increasingly complex patient care needs are best met when registered nurses, certified in specialty practice, provide nursing care. The Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse credential is the highest standard of practice for nursing professionals, demonstrating a commitment to safe, evidence-based, holistic care which results in desired patient outcomes. Foundation support was granted for eight nurses to achieve Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse credentialing.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

The Department of Health & Human Services continues to encourage healthcare facilities to have a viable Antimicrobial Stewardship Program to combat resistance and infectious diseases appropriately. Funding provided advanced education needed to expand and maintain the knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship in the hospital pharmacy for patients at Rice.

Hemodialysis Monitors

The Rice Dialysis Unit provides onsite hemodialysis to an average of 50 patients per month, with each patient dialyzing three to four times every week. Crit-Line Monitors, purchased with a Foundation grant, provide real-time monitoring of each patient’s status allowing nurses to provide optimal care, which improves patient outcomes and quality of life.

Nurse Preceptor Program

The Preceptor Program is a part of an extensive nursing orientation at Rice Memorial Hospital. Once a new nurse completes basic orientation, he or she is paired with a trained Preceptor Nurse who will walk them through a detailed orientation on the nursing unit. The Preceptor guides the new nurse through the first several weeks of work in a complex and technical environment. Training experienced nurses to become Preceptors is vital to maintaining competent nurses at Rice. Preceptor Nurses voluntarily train for and fulfill this leadership role in the spirit of promoting the nursing profession.

Ambulance Equipment

Every year in the United States, more than 1.25 million people suffer cardiac emergencies that result in death or loss of partial heart function. In 2015, Willmar Ambulance Services responded to 46 calls for people in cardiac arrest. When it comes to heart attacks, speedy treatment is crucial. Defibrillators are lifesaving equipment ambulance crew members use to transmit cardiac patients’ data to emergency physicians for assessment while patients are being transported to the hospital. Grant funds purchased two defibrillators for the Willmar Ambulance Service. This allows physicians to monitor patients in real time and determine the appropriate interventions to save lives. Willmar Ambulance Service covers a 136 mile service area around Willmar, and responds to all cardiac calls throughout Kandiyohi County.

Communication Boards

To increase patient engagement and staff communication, a grant provided new dry-erase boards in 40 Adult Health Care and Intensive Care patient rooms. Caregivers from many departments are actively involved in each patient’s plan of care.  They utilize the communication boards to share information with patients, families and staff. These boards improve communication between all members of the multi-disciplinary care team.

Emergency and Critical Care Service Staff Education

Foundation grant dollars were awarded to provide continuing online education for all Critical Care and Emergency Services staff at Rice. Nurses also attended Emergency Nurses Association and American Association of Critical Care Nurses Conferences. Attendees brought back knowledge to enhance processes related to trauma care for patients of all ages that reflect best practices and latest research.