SANFORD BEMIDJI MEDICAL CENTER

Sanford Health Column: What is an Advanced Practice Provider?

Brad Smith, Sanford Bemidji — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:50:00 GMT

Back in the early 1990s, in what I like to refer to as my first life, I was a paramedic in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

It was a challenging, exciting and often hair-raising job for a 20-year-old kid from a small-town in northern Minnesota. At that time, we worked 24-hour shifts.

Let me just say that a lot can happen in 24 hours. Each shift threw us into a wide range of unpredictable and dynamic situations, demanding quick thinking, adaptability and a steady hand.

That experience continues to influence how I approach health care to this day. It taught me the importance of staying calm under pressure, adapting to whatever comes next and relying on the strength of a dependable team.

One moment, you may be extracting a trauma patient from a vehicle after a collision. The next, a frantic mother is placing a struggling infant in your arms. Soon after, you’re offering a steady hand and calm reassurance to a confused, hurting elderly patient.

Providing health care in such a diverse and unpredictable environment demands adaptability, compassion and a willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure patients receive the care they need.

When someone sustains major trauma injuries, it sets off a large, coordinated response within the hospital. Care teams from multiple specialties and departments mobilize to be ready the moment that patient arrives in the ER.

I will never forget one shift early in my career, when we brought in a trauma patient into the trauma center. Among the many providers in the room, one person stood out to me. He wasn’t a physician or a nurse, but he played a significant role in the patient’s care.

I later came to learn that he was a PA, a Physician Assistant. That was my first introduction to what we now refer to as APPs, Advanced Practice Providers.

At Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota, nearly half of our clinical team is made up of APPs, working alongside our physician colleagues, and they are a vital part of our care delivery team.

Our APP staff includes nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), audiologists (AuD) and geneticists (CGC).

This group of talented individuals brings to the table a broad variety of educational backgrounds, clinical training and work and life experience, as the varying array of titles may suggest.

Many of these professionals have a prior career in another area of health care before settling into their spot as an APP. It is not unusual for patients to assume we are still in training. While further education could be an option, many already hold a master’s or doctoral degree.

On the flip side, we are also often mistaken for physicians, which we are not. We deeply value our partnership with physicians, whose training includes medical school, residency and often specialty training beyond our own six to ten years of training that APPs typically complete.

One of the unique strengths of APPs is our versatility. Many of us can work across multiple specialties or transition into new clinical areas as needs arise. We prescribe medications, diagnose and treat a broad range of acute and chronic conditions and provide both primary and specialty care.

In some cases, APPs are the only clinician serving in a rural ER, primary care clinic or specialty session. Some APPs function with a high degree of independence, while others work closely within a physician-led team.

If you have accessed health care anywhere across the U.S., you have most certainly received care from an APP.

Whether you visited a walk-in clinic, were hospitalized, had surgery, received a hearing aid or sleep apnea diagnosis, underwent genetic counseling or got a refill for your high blood pressure medication, it’s likely an APP helped you.

Just like paramedics must adapt to the unpredictability of every call, APPs must respond to the evolving needs of our patient populations and organization’s staffing needs.

At Sanford Health, we've relied on APPs to help maintain services through staffing transitions and to help launch new offerings across our region. Today, nearly 100 APPs serve patients throughout Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota, providing critical roles in the delivery of health care.

As our population grows and ages, the demand for providers will continue to increase. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. population is estimated to increase by 8.4% by 2036, but the 65+ age group is projected to increase by a staggering 34%.

At the same time, one in five physicians today is at or near retirement age. These trends point a clear need for both physicians and APPs to meet our increasing demand for care.

We are fortunate to have such a dedicated, skilled and compassionate group of APPs serving our communities and playing such an integral role in our health care system.

Every day, I am inspired by the knowledge, skill and work ethic our APPs and physicians bring to their work. As health care continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: the commitment, expertise and heart our clinicians bring to every patient interaction. It’s an honor to work beside them.

Brad Smith, PA-C, is a physician assistant in general surgery at Sanford Bemidji Main Clinic and an outgoing chair of Sanford Bemidji’s regional Advanced Practice Provider Council and an outgoing council member of Sanford Bemidji’s regional Physician Executive Council.]]>

Sanford Bemidji offers meals to frontline workers following storm

Daltyn Lofstrom — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:58:59 GMT

BEMIDJI — Tuesday, June 24 was the initial date for the grand opening of the new Sanford Bemidji Peak Center located at 2017 Net Way Drive, the former site of Delta Dental.

However, the early morning events of Saturday, June 21 took precedence given that Category 3 hurricane-grade winds tore through the Bemidji area, leaving long term power outages and considerable damage in its wake.

As work crews and residents slowly but surely picked up the pieces — and continue to do so — Sanford Bemidji transformed its initial celebration into an opportunity to celebrate the work of everyone on the frontlines of storm recovery.

“We had the grand opening for the Peak Center all planned out,” President and CEO of Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota Karla Eischens said. “Obviously, we decided that we couldn’t do the grand opening (as of Monday). This just isn’t the time to celebrate our new space.”

The Black Hat BBQ food truck would’ve served as caterer for the Peak Center’s grand opening and with plenty of food already prepared, Sanford Bemidji decided to pivot.

Giving away free meals to law enforcement, firefighters and electricians among others, Black Hat set up shop outside the Beltrami County Administration Building alongside a Sanford Bemidji tent giving away bags, sanitizer and treats to those who strolled by.

Cookies in the shape of barbells, tennis shoes and water bottles represented what the Peak Center will offer in terms of physical, occupational and speech therapy for all ages.

It’s anticipated that the grand opening will be held later this summer, though no specific date has been set.

Visiting with passersby throughout Tuesday evening, Eischens and other Sanford Bemidji staff reflected on the weekend’s events that led to several event cancellations and postponements among general damage to the area, professional and personal alike.

“It was the first time where we had a disaster where everybody at the table (Sanford leadership) also had a disaster at home,” Eischens added. “We really can identify with people who had to be out there, fixing things while also having to deal with things personally.”

Sanford was not spared from the storm, either. While having emergency backup when electricity was out, it didn’t provide power completely.

“Some of our clinics on Saturday had no power, so we had to relocate patients to the medical center,” Eischens said. “We were making sure that everybody was safe, getting the care they needed and then expecting a lot of people to come through our doors.”

Coming with the territory of the storm, surgery scheduling and appointments have had to adjust and certain office spaces are currently closed for repairs.

As recovery progresses, Eischens emphasized the power of community and sites of goodwill in the days after the storm. Notably, several community facilities, organizations and establishments have offered support and aid in the form of food, water, supplies and shelter.

One such effort saw Mychal Stittsworth and Jason Rylander grilling burgers for Sanford staff and patients on Saturday. The pair have ties to the United Way of the Bemidji Area, who Sanford called when power went down.

“When there’s something like this that is so devastating, we’re all just doing our work and putting our heads down, thinking about how we impact our community,” Eischens left off. “It’s just a great feeling and we want to recognize them.”

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Have spatula, will help: United Way connection helps feed hospital staff and patients after storm

Dennis Doeden — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:28:06 GMT

BEMIDJI — When the last major storm hit Bemidji on July 2, 2012, Mychal Stittsworth was on the receiving end of help.

His Stittworth’s Nymore Food Mart was damaged so badly that it had to be shut down. Friends, family, neighbors and strangers showed up to offer help.

“We were kind of lucky this time, but we got crushed by that 2012 storm,” he recalled. “So we were on the other end of things.”

It was a different story this past weekend after an even more devastating storm hit the Bemidji area. Stittsworth’s home north of town, his meat market on Paul Bunyan Drive, and his processing plant in Turtle River all escaped damage.

So he found himself grilling hamburgers on Saturday.

It all started when Denae Alamano, United Way of the Bemidji Area’s executive director, received a phone call from Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. The hospital did not have power, and asked if Alamano could mobilize some people to grill food for staff and patients.

She thought of Stittsworth right away. He’s a former United Way board member. Then she thought of Jason Rylander, a current board member.

“Stittsworth’s is an easy place to think about,” Alamano said. “And knowing Jason’s capacity, I thought he would be a good person to call.”

A couple of hours later, Stittsworth and Rylander had spatulas in hand, and lunch was served.

“The (hospital’s) food service person just kept bringing us burgers and we just kept frying them,” said Rylander, whose day job is general manager at Bernick’s of Bemidji, a beer distribution and beverage supplier. “Everybody was very thankful to get a quick lunch. It just seems like there were so many things like this, with people helping others.

"As bad as the situation was, it was pretty dang awesome to see the community just come together and help each other out. I've never seen anything like this in any community.”

Stittworth was helping a relative in town when he got the call from Alamano. He had done all he could do at that home, so he headed for the hospital.

“I thought I could be of better use there,” he said. “They were appreciative of us cooking for them, but the thing that was eye-opening for everyone is how quickly the whole town kind of came together.”

Dr. Daniel Hoody, chief medical officer and chief physician at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, noted his gratitude.

“We are very appreciative of any support we get from the community when our care teams rise to the challenge of these crises such as the weather event this past weekend,” he said.

When the pair was finished at Sanford Bemidji, Stittsworth went to his meat market and started making hamburger patties for the workers at Beltrami Electric Cooperative, who were busy trying to restore power to their members. He donated burgers and bratwurst for them to cook for their workers.

Rylander did not stop after the grill was turned off, either. His company donated water to Evergreen Youth and Family Services, where a family made meals through a United Way connection.

Meanwhile, United Way has added a disaster recovery page to its website, available at unitedwaybemidji.org/disaster-recovery, where people can donate or find opportunities to volunteer.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation got things started with a $15,000 donation to the site and contributed another $15,000 to NMF’s own Northwest Minnesota Emergency Disaster Recovery Fund, which will support response and recovery in communities throughout the region.

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating storm in Bemidji. In moments like these, the strength of our community shines through,” NMF President and CEO Karen White said in a release. “We are deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of emergency responders, volunteers, and local leaders who have stepped up to help their neighbors. We’re proud to stand alongside the United Way and support its vital work as we begin the journey of recovery together.”

Alamano said 100% of the funds raised for the United Way's disaster recovery efforts will stay in the Bemidji community.

“We're talking to our partner agencies and assessing what the needs are to fully define what those funds are all going to go toward,” she said. “Wherever the gap is, we're trying to help fill it.”

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Karla Eischens Column: Investing in the future of rural nursing

Karla Eischens, Sanford Bemidji — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:50:00 GMT

One of the biggest challenges facing health care is nursing. Across the country, there simply aren’t enough nurses to meet the growing needs of our communities.

This shortage isn’t due to a lack of interest in the profession. We meet bright, compassionate, service-minded people every day who are called to nursing. The challenge lies in helping them see a path forward. One they can afford; one they can manage alongside family and one that leads to a fulfilling career close to home.

Rural nurses are the backbone of our health system. They are caregivers, educators, neighbors and leaders. They care for us at every stage of life, often going above and beyond, not because it’s expected, but because that’s who they are.

The federal government projects that more than 203,000 new registered nurse positions will be created annually from 2021 to 2031. Demand is being driven in large part by the growing needs of our aging population. In most counties within our footprint, adults 65 and older already make up more than 25% of the population — and that group is expected to grow by another 20% within just five years.

If we want to secure the future of rural health care, we need to create meaningful opportunities for people to become nurses, grow their skills and stay rooted in the communities they care about.

We regularly visit colleges and universities across the state, from Bemidji and Thief River Falls to Duluth and the Twin Cities to recruit students into nursing and other health careers. And every year, our facilities host thousands of clinical and non-clinical learners from across the region.

Through our Aspire K12 program, we engage kindergarten through 12th-grade students in career exploration, hands-on learning and mentorship. Last year, we had 965 student interactions through the program. Each interaction has the potential to spark a lifelong interest in health care.

For high school students, we offer immersive programs, like MedX, which allows them to tour our facilities and connect with professionals across multiple specialties, including several areas of nursing.

In fall 2023, we partnered with Bemidji High ��, Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College to open an on-site training lab at the high school. This lab is already being used for certified nursing assistant (CNA) training, giving students a head start on a promising career.

We’ve trained and supported employees from across the region, including Blackduck and International Falls. Over the past 12 months, 27 staff members at our WoodsEdge Senior Living Campus completed CNA training.

This past year alone, we also awarded over $30,000 in scholarships to area students pursuing careers in health care. We offer CNA paid training and LPN sponsorships that help cover training, testing and/or tuition costs and provide them the opportunity to become employed with us after graduation. With the help of these programs, we were able to hire 71 RNs, 17 LPNs and 43 CNAs this past year.

Starting a career in nursing is one thing. Staying in it is another. That’s why we invest in skill-building as well as mental, emotional and peer support.

We offer free, timely services for nurses experiencing work-related stressors like adverse patient outcomes or emotionally difficult cases. These confidential services are not recorded in medical charts, allowing our staff to speak freely and receive the support they need — virtually, over the phone or in person at a location that works best for them.

Our employee assistance program provides free, 24/7 counseling for all employees and their families. In addition, our nurse peer coaching program connects nurses with trained educators who understand the pressures of the profession. These coaches offer a judgment-free space to talk about burnout, grief, family responsibilities, staffing challenges and more. It’s a place to find clarity, confidence and community.

We want our nurses to see their careers as a journey, not a job. That’s why we offer continuing education and professional development at every level.

Through our Summer Student Nurse Intern Program, students who have completed their junior year in a nursing program get real-world experience in a supportive environment. This summer, we will be welcoming 16 interns into the program.

In addition to several employee scholarship programs, every part-time and full-time Sanford employee is eligible to apply for our Educational Assistance Program, which reimburses employees to help cover costs associated with their post-secondary education.

We also provide courses for certifications, leadership training, classes on becoming a formal preceptor and skills fairs. We host American Heart Association and Emergency Nurse Association courses, EKG classes and workshops on aggressive behavior management and effective communication during emotionally charged interactions. All these efforts help our nurses feel prepared, empowered and connected.

Over the past year, nine of our nurses earned new certifications in areas like critical care, perioperative nursing, health care quality, case management, electronic fetal monitoring and medical-surgical nursing.

Nurses who build their careers with us can move between specialties and explore new interests in inpatient and outpatient care, surgery and non-clinical roles in quality, case management, education and more. They also have the opportunity to shape care within our broader community.

Earlier this spring, we hosted our annual Sanford Improvement Symposium which featured 40 innovative projects from throughout our region, many of which are being led and initiated by nurses. We also support a shared governance structure that includes unit-based nursing councils and region-wide committees made up of nurses and employees from other disciplines that focus on key areas, such as workplace violence and infection prevention.

The need for nurses will only grow in the coming years, and so will our commitment to building a pipeline of professionals who are trained, supported and proud to care for their neighbors.

Because at the end of the day, this work isn’t just about staffing shifts. It’s about building long-term support and professional development for our teams. It’s about showing the next generation that nursing is more than a job; it’s a career. It’s about ensuring that our communities can continue to count on excellent, compassionate care close to home.

Thank you to the more than 700 nurses who help make this care possible. We couldn’t care for northern Minnesota without you.

Karla Eischens, RPh, is the President and CEO of Sanford Health’s Bemidji region located in northern Minnesota. She can be reached at (218) 333-5264 or karla.eischens@sanfordhealth.org.]]>

Sanford Health of Bemidji recognized by American College of Cardiology

Pioneer Staff Report — Sun, 25 May 2025 15:00:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — Five Sanford Health hospitals, including Sanford Health of Bemidji, were recognized for their dedication to heart patients by the American College of Cardiology in the ACC advertising insert in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report "Best Hospitals" Guidebook.

Along with Sanford Bemidji, Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls and Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center were honored in South Dakota, and Sanford Medical Center Fargo and Sanford Medical Center Bismarck were honored in North Dakota.

All five hospital locations are committed to providing top-level care, a release said. Through participation in the ACC’s proven quality programs, these hospitals inform their robust quality improvement processes using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart patients.

"Sanford Health continues to be a leader in providing world-class care to our cardiovascular patients," Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, said in the release. "With five of our hospitals across three states recognized by the American College of Cardiology, it reflects our commitment and dedication to deliver consistent and quality care across our footprint."

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Sanford Bemidji to host Doc Talk on joint pain

Pioneer Staff Report — Mon, 12 May 2025 19:29:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — Sanford Health will host an informational Doc Talk titled "Understanding Your Joint Pain" at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, at the Sanford Center, 1111 Event Center Drive NE.

Attendees can take the first step toward understanding hip, shoulder or knee pain by attending this free session with orthopedic surgeons Dr. Cody Sessions and Dr. Corey Wells. They will discuss nonsurgical and surgical treatment options.

Refreshments will be available at 5:30 p.m. The one-hour presentation will begin at 6 p.m. and include time for questions.

Attendees should enter through the convention center entrance doors of the Sanford Center. The event is free but registration is required.

Doc Talk is a free education series where Sanford physicians present and answer questions on a wide variety of topics. To register or learn more, call (218) 333-5862 or visit sanfordhealth.org/classes-and-events/doc-talk-bemidji.

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Karla Eischens Column: Improving access to care through outreach services

Karla Eischens, Sanford Bemidji — Wed, 07 May 2025 11:50:00 GMT

Nearly 70% of rural counties in the U.S. are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas, and one in 10 counties has no physicians at all. Rural communities also have roughly 88% fewer specialists than urban areas. Due to fewer patients needing frequent, specialized care, the cost per patient to provide specialized services is also higher for rural hospitals.

In the face of these challenges, it is important that we are determined, resilient and seek creative solutions for improving access to care. One of the many tools we use is outreach services, which bring needed specialists here to Bemidji or send needed specialists to communities inside and outside of our footprint.

There are many reasons we might implement outreach services. For example, if a community needs a certain type of care but there aren’t enough patients to support a full-time specialist and their team, we can bring that expertise to the area through outreach services.

Outreach helps bridge many gaps in access to care. A specialist could visit once or twice a week or once or twice a month, depending on staffing availability and the local demand for the service. We continually reevaluate the outreach services needed and provided. Do we need to add a service? Do we have the staff to support it? Do we need to adjust the frequency of visits?

Outreach services that we offer fall into two groups: 1) Specialists that come to Bemidji from another Sanford region, and 2) Bemidji-based specialists that go to other clinics and hospitals throughout Beltrami, Clearwater, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Cass, Itasca, Hubbard, Roseau and Pennington Counties.

Currently, over nine specialists frequently travel from Fargo to provide specialty services in Bemidji. These include neurosurgery, oncology, allergy and maternal fetal medicine. As one of two remaining hospitals that offer labor and delivery services in Beltrami, Lake of the Woods, Koochiching, Itasca, Cass, Hubbard and Clearwater Counties, having local access to a maternal fetal medicine specialist is a game-changer for managing high-risk pregnancies and potential complications that could impact the mother, baby or both.

Many specialists from Fargo provide a wide range of pediatric specialties in Bemidji, including cardiology, endocrinology, infectious disease, oncology, surgery and rheumatology. With their help, we can provide most pediatric specialties locally, significantly reducing travel time for families.

We are excited to work with our partners at Marshfield Clinic Health System and are in the process of coordinating new outreach services that Marshfield clinicians will help support.

As part of the Bemidji medical center and clinic locations, we support a critical access hospital and ambulance service in Bagley and nine clinic locations that provide primary care, eye services and/or behavioral health services in Bagley, Walker, Clearbrook, Cass Lake, Kelliher, Blackduck, Park Rapids and International Falls.

Bemidji-based specialists provide outreach services to these Sanford locations and non-Sanford-owned locations throughout northern Minnesota.

Most of these specialties would not be available without outreach services and the clinicians and teams who help make them possible. Thank you to the more than 40 Sanford clinicians who are currently providing outreach services in Bemidji and throughout northern Minnesota. Specialty care close to home would not be possible without you.

Outreach can also include virtual visits, where patients at one of the sites listed above connect with clinicians through video. Virtual care doesn’t replace in-person visits — it supports them and plays a key role in expanding access.

We know consistency matters to provide good care. That’s why we make sure these services are as reliable as possible, even when staffing changes happen behind the scenes. It is challenging, but through careful planning and partnerships, we’re making sure our outreach programs remain strong, knowing that we must continue to adapt with changing demands.

In addition to speaking with clinicians and regularly evaluating the services offered, community feedback plays a key role. The Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted every three years, gives us a broad picture of our community’s evolving needs. The Native American Patient and Family Advisory Council and the new Patient and Family Advisory Council, which begins meeting in June, will provide additional feedback in real time about how we can improve access to care.

Rural health care will continue to evolve with changing needs and fluctuating resources. Through it all, our commitment to you stays the same. Sanford will continue to adapt, innovate and keep your health care needs at the heart of what we do.

Karla Eischens, RPh, is the President and CEO of Sanford Health’s Bemidji region located in northern Minnesota. She can be reached at

(218) 333-5264

karla.eischens@sanfordhealth.org.

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Sanford Health Column: Your vision is our mission

Ashley Lundin, Sanford Bemidji — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:50:00 GMT

Sight is such a precious gift! It allows us to perceive the world around us, providing a rich tapestry of visual information that enables interaction, navigation and appreciation of beauty, thus enriching our understanding and experience of life. Whether enjoying a sporting event or seeing your grandchild for the very first time, sight is an invaluable sense that must be treasured and preserved.

The importance of regular eye exams cannot be overstated. The first eye exam should occur around six months of age, followed by an exam between ages three and five, before first grade and then every one to two years thereafter, depending on one’s ocular needs. Eye exams allow for screening and treatment of vision problems in order to improve and maintain good vision.

Several common eye problems like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are asymptomatic initially and don’t present with any warning signs. With an eye exam and early detection of these problems, many eye problems are treatable and even curable! Eye exams can also allow for the detection of other systemic illnesses, including hypertension, diabetes and even cancer.

The team of eye care professionals here at Sanford Health in Bemidji makes your vision our mission! We serve our local communities with over 40,000 patient encounters and more than 5,000 vision-saving procedures each year. Comprehensive eye care, including complete eye exams for the whole family, contact lenses, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye care are just a few of the areas that we specialize in.

Outreach care is also a priority of ours. In addition to two Bemidji locations, we also provide care at six outreach locations throughout northern Minnesota. These include Bagley, International Falls, Park Rapids, Roseau, Thief River Falls and Bigfork.

Technology is a huge component of eye care. We are on the cutting edge of technology here in Bemidji. Our surgeons offer the newest technology in many areas, including cataract surgery. Light adjustable and other premium intraocular lens options can meet the increasing expectations of our patients to achieve total spectacle independence.

Life without glasses has been an exciting game changer for many patients, allowing total spectacle independence for golfing, driving, reading, sewing, pickle ball, etc., thereby improving one’s quality of life, happiness and even safety. Good vision is a huge component of safe ambulation, mobility and functional independence. Glaucoma laser and surgical therapies, intravitreal injections and specialty contact lenses are also cutting-edge technology services we offer.

As an ophthalmologist, I feel blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate new and improved vision with my patients each and every day. Sometimes my patients smile when they benefit from a new pair of glasses and sometimes, they smile because they don’t need glasses anymore after cataract surgery.

As clinicians, many patients leave lasting imprints on our hearts. I would like to share a story about a particular patient who has left a lasting impact on me. This patient is a kind and talented artist who reported declining vision from macular degeneration and cataracts when I first met her. She enjoyed painting outdoor landscapes and floral designs, but she was really struggling to paint in detail and see colors. In addition, she stated she was having more difficulty identifying friends and family members as they approached her because she couldn’t make out their facial features.

Previous eye care providers had told her there was nothing they could do for her. I saw an opportunity to try and help this patient by removing her cataracts. Following her cataract surgeries, she recounted how she saw her grandchild’s face for the first time, and we shared a hug and tears of joy. In addition, she was delighted to be painting again and was enjoying brighter and more vivid colors.

My heart swells with joy each time I am able to share this happiness with my patients. At the Sanford Eye Center, our team works hard to provide high-quality, cost-effective care for you and your family.

As members of the Bemidji community, we take our responsibility seriously and strive to provide not only excellent eye care but also an exceptional patient experience. Same-day appointments, help with lining up transportation, assistance in finding affordable options for eye medications and our SAFE

Transfer teams are just a few of the ways in which we provide personalized eye care. Our eye care team is genuinely excited to get to know each of our patients and learn what is important to them so that we can work together to achieve the best vision possible. We hope that each patient we encounter feels heard, respected and well cared for.

On behalf of myself and our eye care team at the Sanford Health Eye Center, we thank you for trusting us with your vision, and we look forward to the future of excellent vision in northern Minnesota.

Ashley Lundin, MD, is an ophthalmologist at Sanford Bemidji Eye Center and Optical and Department Chair of Ophthalmology and Optometry services throughout Sanford Health’s Bemidji region.]]>

Sanford Health of Bemidji receives Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace designation

Pioneer Staff Report — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 16:48:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — Sanford Health in Bemidji was recently named a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace by the Minnesota Department of Health for its contributions to the health of parents and their babies.

MDH recognizes workplaces and county health departments that have demonstrated their commitment to supporting breastfeeding families by creating a workplace lactation support program.

"Employers who support new parents choosing to breastfeed not only nurture the well-being of families, but also foster a culture of care, balance, and productivity — empowering parents to thrive both at home and in the workplace," Erin Echternach, Sanford Health human resources advisor, said in a release. "To better support our breastfeeding employees, we have worked diligently to identify multiple lactation spaces that meet state and federal regulations within our hospital and clinic locations."

Sanford Health leaders also have resources available to actively support staff and families, such as family building benefits, because "supporting parents in the workplace is not just an investment in individuals, but in the future of the entire organization," the release said.

Studies show that infants who are breastfed have better health outcomes as they grow, the release noted. MDH recognizes organizations that have taken a leadership role to improve breastfeeding rates and meet their "Healthy 2030" goals.

The designation is achieved by adopting a written policy and educating staff about it; ensuring adequate break time for breastfeeding employees; providing a clean, private place to pump breast milk; and demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting breastfeeding in the workplace.

The Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace designation was created and is supported by the state Women, Infants and Children program and the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership.

To learn how to apply for recognition, visit health.state.mn.us/breastfeedingfriendly.

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Todd Moudry's health discovery highlights importance of heart screenings

Daltyn Lofstrom — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 12:30:00 GMT

BEMIDJI — Bob Lowth Ford General Manager Todd Moudry had long been in good health, so when he was diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm in 2018, he could hardly believe it was true.

The discovery traces back to 2017 when a member of Bob Lowth Ford’s sales staff informed Moudry of a heart drive that Sanford Health was hosting. With a $35 price tag, a cardiovascular screening checks for several risk factors for cardiovascular disease using a myriad of ultrasounds and tests.

“(The sales staff) said, ‘You should go,’” Moudry recalled, “and I said we should all go, so I rallied the troops and I called to make the appointment.”

Despite the attempt, open slots were no longer available for the heart drive that year. However, the following year would prove different.

“Sanford saved my name and number and they called me saying they were doing (the heart drive) again (in 2018),” Moudry said. “I was about to go on an elk hunting trip, so I thought, ‘Why not get my heart checked out?’”

Moudry’s initial screening showed he had less than a 4% chance of attaining heart disease, his blood pressure was within range and his vitals were normal.

New to the screening process that year was a CT scan for an additional $50, which Moudry took advantage of. The scan checked for calcification of his arteries, after which Sanford staff informed Moudry that his CT results would be mailed to him — instead of staff calling Moudry directly.

The very next morning, Moudry received a call.

“It was eight o’clock in the morning, I’m on the show floor (at Bob Lowth) and my phone rings. They say, ‘Todd, this is Sanford,’” Moudry said. “We have your test results. You have a thoracic ascending aortic aneurysm and you need to get back in here, like today.”

Aortic aneurysm

An ascending aortic aneurysm is an enlargement of the major blood vessel that exits the heart, delivering blood flow to the entire body.

“When we see an enlargement of a certain size, it poses a risk to someone's life out of concern for a possible dissection or rupture, which can be life-threatening and/or life-ending within seconds to minutes,” said James Dewar, chair of Sanford Bemidji’s cardiology department.

Dewar explained that the size of the aneurysm can predict the potential risk of mortality. With particular attention on aneurysms that have grown to at least five centimeters, follow-up tests showed that Moudry’s measured at 5.9 centimeters — roughly the width of a pop can.

“Just sitting in my chest that I never felt and never knew was there,” Moudry added. “It can burst at any time and you’re dead within seconds.”

Moudry underwent surgery at Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, after which the recovery process began. Dewar noted a variety of recovery timelines depending on the patient.

“Some people bounce back quickly — maybe three, four days,” Dewar said. “Some people have a longer progression going on for weeks. Most people who have had open heart surgery will tell you that it’s typically at the six-month mark when you’re really starting to feel like you’ve got the wind back in your sails.”

Moudry’s work ethic led him back to Bob Lowth nine days after his surgery — albeit in a limited capacity.

“I don’t think people fully realize what all happens in open heart surgery. They cut you in half. That’s just plain and simple,” Moudry said. “They collapse your lungs, move them out of the way. So there’s a lot to recover from. In my case, I was lucky. I walked into work after surgery and worked for a couple hours behind a desk, but it took quite some time to actually feel normal again.”

Underscoring his love for his profession, a moment of serendipity occurred during his one-month check-up.

“I ended up selling my surgeon at Mayo a brand new Explorer,” Moudry said lightheartedly.

Bouncing back

Moudry noted that the rest of his recovery went smoothly besides the pain from the first post-surgery sneeze. He has grown accustomed to his prosthetic heart valve, adding that he was born with a bicuspid heart valve instead of a tricuspid heart valve that led to increased pressure in his heart.

“My heart valve has a loud tick. Some people can hear it,” Moudry added. “A couple of my kids can hear it across the room and it sounds like a really loud watch. I can’t hear it because my body’s become used to it.”

Given Moudry’s story, Dewar emphasized the importance of heart and vascular screenings for everyone, particularly for those who smoke, have family history of cardiac events at an early age, have diabetes or high cholesterol.

“One could make an argument that everybody should be gifting these to each other as Christmas presents or birthday presents,” Dewar said, “to really try to protect what matters most.”

Dewar also noted certain preventative measures that can drastically reduce someone’s chance of developing heart or vascular conditions.

“There’s an old saying that the best medicine lies on the end of a fork,” Dewar said. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

While he couldn’t make his elk hunting trip in 2018, Moudry quickly bounced back to what he enjoys most due to the support he received from all those around him during his recovery.

“I believe there was a divine intervention that I didn’t get to go (to the heart drive) that first year. I would have never had the CT scan because Sanford wasn’t offering it (in 2017) and they would have never held my name and called me,” Moudry left off. “There’s no question God’s hand was in it, and He used Sanford to reveal it to me. That’s an important part of my story.”

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