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Bismarck adds new technology to help with knee replacement surgeries
Close to 800,000 knee replacement surgeries are done every year in the United States, according to CHI St. Alexius. The hospital is incorporating new technology for faster patient recovery, less pain and improved mobility. The ROSA robot scans the knee to create a virtual image with detailed information for the surgeons. The computer’s virtual image then helps doctors navigate to make more precise cuts of the bone. The precise cuts help ensure the alignment is as close to perfect as they can get.
Doctors are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19 even if you’ve already had the virus. However, experts say, be prepared for more intense side effects. In a study posted by medRxiv (med archive), researchers report many people who had previously been infected with the virus reported flu-like symptoms after their first dose. Although these findings could mean some discomfort, they also provide insight into how future vaccine doses are determined.
North Dakota middle of the pack for health emergency prep
North Dakota is middle of the pack when it comes to being prepared for public health emergencies, according to a new report from the Trust for America's Health. The nonpartisan nonprofit measured states' performance on 10 emergency preparedness indicators ranging from lab capacity to public health funding. It put states in three tiers: high, middle and low level of readiness for health emergencies such as the coronavirus pandemic. The report, Ready or Not 2021: Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism, places North Dakota with 14 other states in the middle tier. Twenty states were higher; 15 were lower.
The effects of COVID-19 on North Dakota one year later
North Dakota is still feeling the effects of COVID-19 a year after the state’s first case was found. It’s been a roller coaster of year throughout the community. It was one year ago that North Dakotans were going about their day to day routines when the first confirmed COVID-19 case hit the state.
“It’s one of those things we didn’t even expect to come to America right? When it first started over in Asia, over in Asia,” said Barry Schneider, a Bismarck Resident.
“I thought it would be gone in six months, maybe seven. I really was not expecting this long,” said Marlette Pittman, a Bismarck Resident.
Garrison Among Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals
CHI St. Alexius Health Garrison has been recognized as a 2021 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, this 11th annual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX®. “This distinction has been a goal of mine since becoming administrator,” said Tod Graeber, Garrison Administrator. “I am very proud of our providers, nurses, and all staff that works hard every day to make our healthcare facility one of the top rural hospitals in the country.”
Tribune seeks nominations of top nurses
The Bismarck Tribune is again partnering with local hospitals to recognize nurses in Bismarck, Mandan and the surrounding area who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate care. The Tribune is seeking nominations from the public of nurses who have made a significant impact in their community and on their patients. CHI St. Alexius Health and Sanford Health are the presenting sponsors of “Nurses: The Heart of Health Care,” which honors nurses who have excelled in unprecedented times.
CHI St. Alexius Health Bismarck among Nation’s 250 Best Hospitals
CHI St. Alexius Health Bismarck was among four CHI facilities in the Midwest Division named to the Healthgrades 2021 list of America’s 250 Best Hospitals. The distinction places these facilities among the top 5% of nearly 4,500 hospitals assessed nationwide for its superior clinical performance as measured by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians, and health systems. CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy and CHI Health Lakeside — both in Omaha, Nebraska and CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska, were also selected.
Thank a Resident Day highlights Rural Track residency program in Williston
CHI St. Alexius Health Williston's Rural Track Residency program has attracted top-notch physicians to our region, and the hospital is showing their appreciation with Thank a Resident Day, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 26. Over the last six years, CHI has integrated family medicine residents into the hospital's clinic, providing patients with more options in terms of care. Family Medicine Residents are licensed doctors who have signed up to take a particular course of study and clinical experiences to become certified in the specialty of Family Medicine. The three-year program gives training in a number of areas to prepare physicians for a variety of patient needs.