Martin County Star Newsmakers
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Martin County Star Newsmakers
Exploring Healthcare Advances from Blue Earth to Fairmont
All right. Well, welcome to. This is season two, episode three already, which kind of blows me away and I'm sitting here today. First of all, the show is Martin County Stars Newsmakers Podcast. I'm Mike Ennis. I'm your host. We're sitting here with Gavin Rumler from UHD Hospital, and this is who's bringing us. The show today is UHD Hospital, United Hospital District. You guys have three locations, right? We do. Yeah, Blue Earth is your hospital. Yes, then you have clinics in Wells and Fairmont.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah. So our main hospital is in Blue Earth and we have our clinic two here, and then yep clinic in Wells, clinic in Fairmont.
Speaker 1:Yeah well, welcome to the show. First of all, thank you. Yeah, good to have you. Yeah, good to be here. We've been sitting here.
Speaker 2:We're at.
Speaker 1:Cabin Coffee in Blue Earth. And, man, if you've never been here, they have great chai tea. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love their chai tea. And then we actually had a sandwich before you got here. Oh yeah, really good also. Yes, anyway, this is not an advertisement for them, but it's good to have you here.
Speaker 2:Gavin Yep, I understand you're a new daddy again right, I am yes, second one, yep, second one.
Speaker 1:Wouldn't we have a boy girl?
Speaker 2:A boy, yep A boy.
Speaker 1:Yep, all right, what's his name?
Speaker 2:His name is Brooks, that's right.
Speaker 1:Yep, I put it in the paper, but I forgot, aren't there? Well, so he's, uh, he's growing, and and was he a couple of months old now?
Speaker 2:He is almost two months, yep.
Speaker 1:Gee, merry Christmas. Yeah, Uh, my son, my, my youngest son, had a little surprise a year ago. Their daughter was 11 and then they found out they were pregnant. Oh, man. And little Layton came along and now he's a year old and and wow, it's, yeah, it's.
Speaker 1:there would be a surprise, yeah yeah, megan was uh late, late 30s, okay, and sean is uh like 40, 41 now and he goes whoo. Dad, keeping up with him is tough, yeah, I can imagine, yeah, you know, but anyway it's a lot of fun, um, so first of all, let's just talk a little bit about uhd. Sure, before we went on the air, I was telling, telling Gavin, uhd is a hospital that Candy and I use for our doctors when we can in our clinic, and love it. We love the people at UHD. I've always had a good experience. I love my doctors and you know they take good care. I love my doctors and you know they take good care. We've even talked about when we do retire.
Speaker 1:I'm going. You know we were going to move closer to the kids. They all live away from here, but then you're going, you get to our age and you kind of want to keep your doctors close by. The thing I like is when I go see my doctors, whoever it is, they remember me, we have a relationship and this was the thing about UHD that I really like. So let me ask you a question. First of all is we were just talking a minute ago about providers. Yeah, you just added a new one.
Speaker 2:Jenna Benson right.
Speaker 1:Yes, okay, tell me a little bit about her.
Speaker 2:Sure so Jenna. She is a physician assistant, so she's practicing full-time in our Fairmont Clinic and she originally is from Annandale, minnesota. She grew up on a farm, so she's kind of excited, after getting her degree, to come back to A little farm. Yeah, farming community, a little farm community, yep. So she's excited to be here and, you know, start getting her patients.
Speaker 1:Does she specialize in anything particular?
Speaker 2:So she has a few different medical interests. She is particularly interested in geriatrics, in women's health and acute care, gotcha, all right. So that's kind of her areas of focus, but she does see patients for anything under family medicine.
Speaker 1:Anything and everything, yeah.
Speaker 2:All right, anything that falls under that. Yeah, do you have anybody else on the hook. So so far, we are planning to add another OB physician in August, I believe, later this year. If it's not August, it's somewhere around there. Would that give you seven? Then that will give us six, six.
Speaker 2:Six then Six, and she will have C-section training as well. Oh yeah, so she's currently doing her training for that and then, once she's finished, she is planning to come here. Wow yeah, that's exciting, and she'll also be full-time in Fairmont. I believe she'll have some call-in in Blue Earth, but that'll be worked out on the clinical side.
Speaker 1:All right, the clinical side, yeah, all right. Well, that's, that's exciting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, okay, and then also I was telling you earlier my mother needed to see a cardiologist. Yes, and you guys have one that comes in. Is it once a month? I believe it's weekly. Is it weekly? Yes, okay, different rotation.
Speaker 1:Um, I'd have to check on the data that's okay, but but my point was to folks who think they have to maybe drive to sioux falls or something and they don't have to Right or even to Mankato or Rochester.
Speaker 2:Right, yes, you guys do have a provider now. We do have cardiologists, yeah, that come.
Speaker 1:That's a big plus.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, for sure it really is, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:You were talking about these lunch and learns.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, I was Okay so there was one scheduled.
Speaker 1:It was postponed until when, did you tell me February 20th.
Speaker 2:February 20th. Yeah, that's going to be our next Lunch and Learn. It'll be focused on our surgical services and we're going to have it in Fairmont Just to let the community over there know that, with certain services going away, that we are able to kind of fill that gap in care.
Speaker 1:And the best part is, there's lunch.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, exactly, it will be catered, there will be food. So, yeah, no registration required Right. No registration you can just show up. You can just show up. It'll be at the Southern Minnesota Educational Campus Building. Some people know it as the SMEC.
Speaker 1:Building yeah.
Speaker 2:It's downtown, across the street from our old clinic location, and First Farmers and Merchants Bank.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, yes, right, right, it's on that, right there. Yeah, that triangle.
Speaker 2:It'll be in the basement lecture hall.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, well, we'll find it. I'll smell the food.
Speaker 2:All right, Follow your nose. Yeah, Exactly right. And then there's another one you said coming, do one for home health and hospice, just to kind of promote our home health hospice services.
Speaker 1:Let the community know what kind of care we have there.
Speaker 2:I tell you that's an important area.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah, you know, we're all getting older and some of us will never need it, and then some of us will bite.
Speaker 2:Yeah, some people do need it, yeah.
Speaker 1:They do, they do. What else is going on? What services do you guys provide in Wells? I've never been to your clinic there, never seen it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so yeah, we do have a clinic in Wells. We actually have a full-time MD there now, Dr Heine. He's been there for about a year and so he brings patients kind of from all over to see him in Wells. We mostly have family medicine. I know we do some labs there. I'd have to check into other service specifics.
Speaker 1:Right, right, yeah, but the folks in Wells though, they can go to see him, dr Heine, yes, yeah, dr Heine, you said Yep, dr Heine, and then we have two advanced practice providers, Kara Ristow and Emily Hipper. Oh, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we got three full-time providers there and yeah, so if you got sniffles or you know anything like that under family medicine, you can go into the clinic there.
Speaker 1:I think everybody's got those sniffles right now.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, yes, a lot of stuff is going around.
Speaker 1:So I graciously gave it back to her.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's nice of you. I know right, I'm a nice guy. Sharing is caring, yeah, that's our own darn fault, right?
Speaker 1:So what new things are going on in Fairmont? Anything new and different. I know you guys. We were in there just yesterday, in fact. Candy had an appointment and I was sitting next to the fireplace, but the fireplace was not on. About halfway through her appointment it came on. The guys were working on it oh yeah, yeah, some heating problems. Anyway, though, anything new going on there. I know that you know that building's been totally redone.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, yeah. So last year we added our expansion onto the building, which added a bunch of new exam rooms, some procedure rooms, just kind of expand our footprint there to, you know, see more patients, yep. So really what we're focused on is just improving, you know, the amount of care we can offer there in Fairmont because it's a, you know, a larger community. It is, yep, there's some gaps in care that are popping up with other facilities. So we're trying to step in to, you know, kind of fill that. So we're looking to, you know, add more providers, add more care and things in Fairmont.
Speaker 1:I noticed my insurance excuse me, my insurance. I had to go to a different provider in Sioux Falls for cardiologists and then I get a letter saying they're not going to accept my insurance in the first of the year anymore. Wow, you need to find a different insurance carrier. Oh geez, so I did you guys probably at UHT you take most all insurances.
Speaker 2:We take a wide range of insurances. Yes, but for specifics you'd have to check the website. Yeah, I don't know the list off the top of my head.
Speaker 1:Well, I imagine everybody can't take everything, but I'm sure you take all the major insurance providers.
Speaker 2:I believe so yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, so folks can make plans that way. Yep, okay, blue Earth. Now this is where the hub is, yes, and this is where you go to Wells or you go to Fairmont and you see the clinic and the doctor says, look, I really need to have you in the hospital for a day. Maybe an outpatient surgery Is Blue Earth where they do all that? Or do you have a surgical area in Fairmont also?
Speaker 2:Yes, so most of our surgeries are done here in Blue Earth. However, a couple of our surgeons do go to Fairmont to do some outpatient procedures. I don't have the list of those procedures, but there's a few things they can do in Fairmont rather than having to bring people to Blue Earth.
Speaker 1:Okay, and the babies? Ob is all in Blue Earth.
Speaker 2:Yes, yep, so labor and delivery is in Blue Earth.
Speaker 1:How many babies a year do you guys deliver?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we've been doing over 100 for the past few years now, really, and this year we're actually set up to again break our record we're looking at by the end of the year, just guessing at least 150. 150? Yeah, something like that. We'll see, of course, how it progresses of the year. Just guessing at least 150. 150? Yeah, something like that.
Speaker 1:We'll see, of course, how it progresses throughout the year and you know all the names, I'm sure I wish I got track of all that.
Speaker 2:There we go, okay, the only other thing that's been happening recently is we recently added direct access lab services.
Speaker 1:Tell me about that.
Speaker 2:Sure, that's only offered here in Blue Earth. To start. It's kind of a trial of a new service. So patients can come in to our lab here in Blue Earth and they can order certain specific tests, like a wellness panel, things like that they can get directly without having to see their health care provider first, and then they can just pay a fee at the time of testing to get the results and they can monitor their own health that way. So, yeah, and then you know, if they see something concerning or they want to follow up with their provider, then they can schedule that follow up appointment with their provider.
Speaker 1:So they're really proactive then yes, yeah, yeah, wow.
Speaker 2:So if somebody just wants you know, I don't know, I want to check my testosterone levels or something you know, then then they can go in and order. Just order that directly.
Speaker 1:So yeah, is that? Is that something that's coming out in the medical industry?
Speaker 2:I believe it's been around I don't know. I don't know how long, but yeah, we're just we're trying something new. So it's been around. I don't know how long, but yeah, we're just trying something new, so it's going well so far.
Speaker 1:So far, so good, huh. Yeah, so far, so good yeah so far and what else you got for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we covered a lot we did yes. Yeah, we did. We covered a lot, and so it's good to have you here, Gavin. Uhg is quite an operation and it's so good for the community. I'm so glad you guys are here. We're happy to be here, yeah.
Speaker 2:We hope to be here quite a long time still, to be kind of a lifeline in this area with these different communities. I did just think of one more thing. Yeah, in February we're doing our free heart health screenings for people. So this will be every Thursday in Wells and Blue Earth clinics and then every Friday in our Fairmont clinics. People can call ahead and schedule a free heart health screening and these happen from 7.30 to 8.15 am in the morning. So you schedule a time to come in, you have to call ahead and then, yeah, you can come in and get your free screening.
Speaker 1:Who is involved in a free screening?
Speaker 2:Sure, so it'll be a few different panels. They run, I believe, cholesterol, glucose, things like that just related to heart health.
Speaker 1:That sounds like a great idea.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's great because it's free and you can then monitor your results. Yep, yep, and then if you need to make a follow-up appointment for something, then you can go ahead and do that. But, yeah, just call ahead to make an appointment, because they don't accept walk-ins for these. Okay, yeah, that'll be happening. What's?
Speaker 1:the number, except Watkins for these. Okay, yeah, that'll be happening. What's the number? You know it.
Speaker 2:That'll be 507-526-7388.
Speaker 1:That was a test, right.
Speaker 2:I had to think for a minute. Yeah, I could hear that going I need a date, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, people will ask me what's your guys' number, and I'm going oh shoot.
Speaker 2:Right, I actually have it written down on my desk. Oh yeah, our number. Yeah, yeah, too many numbers to remember.
Speaker 1:yeah, oh, you know what I hate more than that is passwords.
Speaker 2:Oh for sure, yeah, and you always have to change them. And you have to change them. Yeah, exactly, and remember the new one. Yeah, and my daughter goes, you know she goes, look just take the suggested password that they give you.
Speaker 1:I said I ain't going to remember that. She said, no, you save it. You know I'm still old school.
Speaker 2:Anyway, that's one way to do it. I know it right.
Speaker 1:Well, it's good to have you here. Yeah, it's good to be here.
Speaker 2:Thanks for having me Well you're welcome.
Speaker 1:I appreciate you being on the show and I'll be back after this folks. All right, we are back. It was sure nice having Gavin with us. You probably can tell that a little quieter now. We were at, of course we were at Cabin Coffee in Blue Earth and they had customers and it was great, kind of cool, having that background noise. To be honest, it's interesting, to say the least.
Speaker 1:Back in the studio and looking through the newspaper. A couple of things. First of all, big news, of course everybody's got this President Trump is back in the White House and he's already made a lot of changes. That's on the front page. Plus on the front page, I got an email from Joel Ripple. Joel worked for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis and he's a former native of the area and he sent us a story about. Let me see who is it. I've got her name right here. Why don't I have it on the tip of my tongue? I do not know. Oh, erin Herman.
Speaker 1:She began her basketball. She played for Excuse me, excuse me Too many. She played for Martin County West back a long time ago, back in 1980. Back in the 80s, I guess. Anyway, she's a coach now and she just got her 600th win.
Speaker 1:Wow, congratulations. That is great. That is really great, good story, good article. Thanks, joel. I appreciate you doing that for us. That is really great, good story, good article. Thanks, joel. I appreciate you doing that for us. That was a nice picture with it. Also, pictures are great. You know you love pictures. They add a lot to a story. As I'm thumbing through the paper, I'm looking here, I don't want to drag it out.
Speaker 1:Ann Ivey was kind of funny this week. I don't know if you read it or not. I'm going to read it to you. I just thought it was kind of humorous. I read it to Candy.
Speaker 1:Dear Ann Ivey, I need help. What's the name of that song? You know the one. It was sung back in the 60s. Well, my son wants it at his wedding. It talks about love. It is sung by a band. I wish I could give you more, but I can't remember any more right now. Signed Forgetful.
Speaker 1:Well, dear Forgetful, she writes help. I can't figure out based on what you told me, but here are a couple of answers. Love, love, love by the Beatles. I Got you Babe. By Sonny and Cher how about Can't Help Falling in Love? By Elvis. That's a good one, and who can forget when a man Loves a Woman? By Percy Sledge Do any of these help? Signed Aunt Ivy. He wrote back Dear Aunt Ivy, we finally figured it out. It was Twist and Shout by the Beatles, but never mind, they broke up Twist and Shout by the Beatles Anyway. Aunt Ivy writes back how is Twist and Shout a wedding song? Come on, come on, come on now, baby, now right, work it all out. Not one word about weddings, yikes. She writes Anne Ivey. Anyway, you can always send your questions to Anne Ivey at MC.
Speaker 1:MC Star Anne Ivey at BevComNetcom. All right, Anyway, send your questions to Aunt Ivy she loves to get them.
Speaker 1:Looking through a little bit further, sean, he did movie reviews on Wolfman. I'm not going to read that to you, you can do that yourself, but movie review on Wolfman 2010 and Wolfman 2025. He did a comparison there and that was quite interesting. We changed up a page, we changed up the pets page, we've added to it pets and children's page and we've added a puzzle for kids and even exchange I got a tickle here A kid's maze. Anyway, all kinds of stuff that we've added for kids to take a look at.
Speaker 1:Of course, comic strip pages are always great. Comics are always a lot of fun. One of my favorites, honestly, I like two of them really well. Well, I guess three of them. I like Amber Waves. I really like Grin and Barret Out on a Limb and the Spats. Those are my. I guess I had four of them there, didn't I? I mean, I like them all, but those are my favorites. I guess that's what I look at first. Also, let's see here Sports Lori had a couple of stories here. Maverick girls win two in Valley Division and the Maverick boys edged by the Jaguars. So congratulations there. And then our senior of the week, our very first one for this year, is Layla. Layla Smith is our senior and the headline is Kindness is always the answer. That's nice. I like seeing that Kindness is the answer, isn't it you?
Speaker 2:know it's good.
Speaker 1:And then the Red Bulls. They crowned three at Wabasa Invite, so congratulations to those three. Anyway, lots going on this week. Let me see Today's what Friday.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:So tonight there's oh, it's the end of the first semester. Oh, how about that? Half a year's done, folks, only a half a year of school left to go. Let me see what else Wrestling at Lamberton, girls hockey, gymnastics. This is all today Girls basketball and boys hockey. Tomorrow it's boys hockey at. Let me see Lock Crescent. Oh, lock Crescent. There we go. Monday boys basketball, girls hockey. Tuesday more wrestling gymnastics. A Lock Crescent there we go. Monday boys basketball, girls hockey. Tuesday more wrestling, gymnastics. A lot of sports going on, jiminy, wow, all right. Well, that should keep you busy anyway. And then let me see. That is it for the newspaper this week. And so good to be back in the studio, though, but it was sure nice to talk to Gavin. So that does it for this week's show. We'll get this on and looking forward to see some of you.
Speaker 1:This is interesting. I was doing some research on our podcast and I discovered that we have listeners in Florida, new York, wisconsin, of course, iowa, arizona, texas, north and South Dakota, colorado, kansas, where oh, pennsylvania, no wait, not Pennsylvania, virginia was the one that I found interesting, because I didn't know we had any subscribers in Virginia. So welcome, virginia, welcome. And then I think that was about it. But anyway, a lot of subscribers, a lot of folks listening on the podcast and we're glad to have you and spread the word. You know, tell your friends. So anyway, that does it for us today. Show brought to you today by the UHD United Hospital District. And I'm Mike Ennis with the Martin County Star Newsmakers Podcast. See you next week. All right, bye, adios.
