Fairview Health Services

The American Heart Association’s Lifeline EMS Recognition Program recently awarded M Health Fairview – EMS staff a Bronze Award for dedication and excellence when caring for patients experiencing a heart attack or stroke. Only a handful of groups were recognized across Minnesota. “This award solidifies the hard work our teams put into achieve excellence in patient care and more importantly, in patient outcomes,” said Tom Edminson, chief of emergency medical services with M Health Fairview. “I am proud of the teams and the work they do every day and am excited to see what the future holds.” Join us in congratulating our staff on this accomplishment. 🏆

When Amy Anderson, a Fairview pharmacist, learned her friend Scott DeGroot needed a kidney transplant, she didn’t hesitate to register to be a donor. Turns out, Anderson was the match DeGroot needed. “People would ask if I was nervous, and I wasn’t,” said Anderson. “I had peace, knowing this was what I was supposed to be doing.”     Scott DeGroot, an avid runner and father of two, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic condition often leads to a kidney transplant. To have it come from a friend and fellow running group member made it even more special.    Scott went from total kidney failure to completing a Ragnar race in April and Grandma’s Marathon in June thanks to Anderson’s generosity. Read their story. ➡ https://bit.ly/3zN16JW

Addressing the opioid epidemic. Increasing access to healthy food. Reducing health disparities across Minnesota. Year after year, Fairview’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community continues to deepen. In 2023, our community investments totaled $1.3 billion, including funding for training, research, community services, and healthcare provided without compensation. Examples include: 17,344 free COVID, flu, and Mpox vaccines distributed at nearly 700 community events 8,072 naloxone overdoese prevention kits were packed during Fairview-led training sessions in our ongoing efforts address the opioid epidemic.  100,000 pounds of food, on average, were packaged weekly at the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub food hub for families in need of healthy food. 7 full-time cultural brokers supported nearly 400 new patients, helping them navigate healthcare and other systems to get nutritious food, financial resources, and education. The numbers only tell part of the story. Our 2023 Community Benefit Report dives into how we are making a difference for all Minnesotans. Check it out: https://bit.ly/3zFob1m

Exciting news: Tanja Oquendo, JD, is joining Fairview as our new chief people officer (CPO), effective Aug. 12. Oquendo brings extensive human resources experience to Fairview and has demonstrated success shaping employee engagement and workplace culture. Prior to joining Fairview, Oquendo was chief administrative officer, chief human resources officer, and system senior vice president of transformation and integration at Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit healthcare systems. As CPO, Oquendo will help drive Fairview forward by leading efforts that promote culture, diversity, equity, inclusion, and organizational growth. She champions people-first strategies that help organizations exceed goals related to quality, safety, customer service, and engagement. “I am confident that Tanja’s ability to build high-performance cultures while maintaining a values- and mission-driven focus will help our system continue to tackle the unique workforce challenges facing the healthcare industry,” said James Hereford, Fairview president and CEO. #Leadership | #Healthcare | #HR

John Marshall has a goal: reduce the rate of suicide among military veterans. To do that, Marshall – who is the outgoing leader of our Veterans, Allies and Advocates (VAA) Employee Resource Group – advocated alongside others to have the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number printed on all Fairview Pharmacy retail prescription bags. “Veterans may be impacted to a disproportionate level by suicide, but it really impacts everyone,” said Marshal, who is Fairview pharmacy services director of contracting. “We felt that by printing this message on our prescription bags we’d be able to get the message not only to our target audience but also to many other people.” The simple act of putting the message, a phone number, and QR code on bags could save a life. Read how we are making an impact on MinnPost. ➡ https://bit.ly/3XMD0Jg #Veterans | #MentalHealth | #Healthcare

Year after year, our doctors are recognized as some of the best in their fields. We are proud more than 220 M Health Fairview providers were named “Top Doctors” in 2024 by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine – more than any other single health system in the Twin Cities.  "It’s exciting to see so many of our doctors recognized by their peers for providing exceptional care, as it reaffirms their dedication to the community,” said Jaya Kumar, MD, MBA, chief medical officer with Fairview Health Services. “And we have many more compassionate physicians who share the commitment to providing high-quality, patient-focused care.”  Find out if your doctor made the list. ➡ https://bit.ly/3VVPCLU #TopDocs | #TopDoctors

Our health system – and Minnesota – are at our best when we are welcoming, inclusive, diverse, and caring. That’s why it was such a privilege for us to take part in Twin Cities Pride this weekend to celebrate Minnesota’s vibrant, courageous, and resilient LGBTQIA2S+ community – just like it is an honor and privilege to provide care 365 days a year for all Minnesotans, no matter who they are or who they love. Thank you to the hundreds of employees and representatives from across our health system who turned up to volunteer, celebrate, march, and show their support during #TCPride this weekend! We were proud to be the presenting sponsor of Living Well Park this year, and to take part in such a meaningful and moving event. 🌈 #Pride | #HealthEquity | #MHFVPride

When a rare uterine rupture turned life-threatening for Stephanie Dupont and her son, Levi, care teams from three M Health Fairview hospitals raced to save their lives. After hours of surgery and a day of recovery, Stephanie was reunited with her son in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Now, both mom and baby are getting stronger every day, while the whole family is grateful for the care they’ve received. "I cannot give the doctors and nurses … enough credit,” said Jake, Stephanie’s husband. “They were there when we needed them the most. The level of care, the level of knowledge, compassion, and empathy along the way was something I’ve never experienced before.”  Read their full story. ➡ https://bit.ly/3VQZxlU 

We are thrilled to be back at Twin Cities Pride this year! Teams at M Health Fairview Living Well Park will show our commitment to equitable care for the LGBTQIA+ community 365 days a year and help provide wellness breaks for fesitval goers. Living Well Park is located at the northern corner of Loring Park. Stop by and check out what we have to offer: ☀ Get free sunscreen, Mpox vaccines, blood pressure checks, and healthy snacks from our Community Advancement and Food is Medicine teams! ❤️🏳️🌈 Meet with our Pride Alliance Group for Equality (PAGE) Employee Resource Group for info about employee resource groups with M Health Fairview – and a bonus activity for employees! 🎨 Get creative with an interactive art project led by our Comprehensive Gender Care Program. Giveaways are available from the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual & Gender Health. 🩺 Connect with medical staff who can provide information and vital resources about gender-affirming care. ⬆️ Elevate your career and make a difference in healthcare. Chat with Fairview’s Workforce Development team to learn about job opportunities with our health system. #TwinCitiesPride | #HealthyEquity | #InclusiveCare

51-year-old Stephanie Anderson was struggling to find affordable, healthy food options when she first moved to the Twin Cities. Her search was compounded by chronic health issues that hinder her mobility. Enter Mang Vang. As our health system’s first food resource navigator, Vang helps connect patients like Anderson to essential food resources and programs. These include fresh food prescription programs, food vouchers with Twin Cities Mobile Market, and other programs through our trusted community partnerships. With Vang’s support, Anderson has been able to eat healthier, and cut down on a lot of processed meals she’d been relying on. Gaining access to better nutrition is only one piece of the puzzle. Helping people navigate complicated systems is another huge part of Vang’s role. “I’ve been advocating for them, teaching them and helping them navigate in this really complex healthcare system,” said Vang, who works across five of our East Metro clinics. Check out how Vang is making a difference: https://bit.ly/3VPykks #HealthEquity | #FoodisMedicine