Winter
didn’t stop Hennepin Health’s outreach team from being out and about in the
community! 2018 started off strong with the team participating in 42 outreach
and tabling events from January through March. Two events that were very well
attended included North Hennepin Community College’s 2018 Spring Community
Connections Resource Fair on March 28 and House of Charity’s food center
tabling event on March 30.
The
goal of attending North Hennepin Community College’s resource fair was to bring
awareness about Hennepin Health to a younger population. Students showed a
genuine interest in learning more about Hennepin Health and asked many
questions. While the majority of those who utilize House of Charity’s services
are already Hennepin Health members, tabling there provides an opportunity for
the outreach team to share information and answer questions in person. At this
most recent event, some members received assistance with getting connected to
Delta Dental, along with incentive vouchers that can be redeemed following
dental care.
A
couple of upcoming events to note that Hennepin Health’s outreach team will be
at are the Cinco de Mayo Festival on May 13 and NorthPoint Health &
Wellness Center’s outdoor market that will be held every other Friday starting
May 18 from 9 a.m. until noon in Northpoint’s parking lot. The outdoor market
ends in September.
Hennepin
Health member services representatives assist members day in and day out with a
variety of needs, but it’s not often that staff receive in-person recognition
from the members they help. In early March, Hennepin Health’s member services
supervisor, Amy Kalal (left), answered a call from a member who was having trouble
understanding Hennepin Health’s transportation policy. While the member used a
bus pass for most of his transportation needs, he needed a taxi that day because
the bus didn’t run to his outpatient treatment in Plymouth.
Within
minutes, it became clear to Amy that he was in crisis. The member had a lot
going on in his personal life and the added stress made it difficult for him to
understand the transportation policy and express his needs on that day. Amy
explained the policy as clearly as she could, making sure he truly
understood. Throughout the course of their conversation, the member shared
more about his struggles, including that he was very worried about being
discharged from treatment if he didn’t make it to his session. He was trying to
regain custody of his youngest children and being sober is a requirement for
him to do so. He also shared that his older child had just been admitted to the
Hennepin County Medical Center psychiatric unit and broke down sobbing. Amy
offered words of comfort and once the member gained his composure, she finished
setting up the transportation he needed. At the end of the call, the member
apologized for breaking down, but Amy told him there was no need to apologize
and that she was happy to help.
Fast-forward
to a month or so later when the member came into Hennepin Health’s walk-in
service center. He was waiting outside the doors with luggage before the
service center was open for the day, telling a couple of member services
representatives who passed by that he was here to see “Amy.” He needed to
reload his bus pass, but also wanted to give Amy a hug and thank her for being
so caring. He said he really needed someone to be kind in that moment and
went on to explain that he had luggage with him because he just got back from visiting
his two younger children in Illinois who he sees every other weekend. The
member also shared that his hospitalized son was doing better, and his own
outpatient treatment was continuing to go well. He gave Amy a second hug and
away he went.
Reflecting on this
experience, Amy says, “Hennepin Health’s member services team provides great
service every day. The nature of our work with members is often very
transactional – setting up transportation, for example. When we get
feedback like this from a member, it’s very heartwarming. It reminds us of the
big difference we can make in our members’ lives. I enjoy leaving here
each day knowing that even the smallest gesture by me can have a positive
impact on another human being.”
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In
March 2018, Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) introduced a new brand –
Hennepin Healthcare – to better identify its full system of care. The new brand
reflects the growth from a downtown medical center and clinics into an
integrated care system that includes HCMC; the Hennepin Healthcare Clinic and Specialty
Center; neighborhood clinics and pharmacies in Minneapolis and across the west
metro area; home nursing care and hospice; population health; the Advantage and
Horizon care networks; an innovation center; a philanthropic foundation; a
research foundation and more.
The
Hennepin Healthcare brand conveys a clear, cohesive identity within the
community that will help patients see the multiple ways they can get care
across the system. A new tagline – We’re
here for life. – expresses Hennepin Healthcare’s commitment to providing a
breadth of quality health care services that meet patients’ needs throughout
their life.
Hennepin
Healthcare Clinic & Specialty Center
The
Hennepin Healthcare Clinic & Specialty Center, located at 715 S. 8th
Street, brings together an array of outstanding primary and specialty care
clinics and services in a contemporary and convenient downtown Minneapolis
location. The Clinic & Specialty Center is home to 26 primary care and
specialty clinics.
Hennepin
Healthcare providers are recognized for clinical care and research, and committed
to serving patients with compassion and expertise. Because convenient access is
important, the Clinic & Specialty Center brings Hennepin Healthcare’s
providers and services together in one building, making it easy for patients
with multiple health concerns or those who want to see more than one provider
during a visit. It also enhances the ability of providers to collaborate on
patient care, resulting in better medical outcomes.
In
addition to primary and specialty care clinics, the Clinic & Specialty
Center offers a same-day surgery and procedure floor; a comprehensive cancer center;
diagnostic and imaging services; a pharmacy; the Delta Dental Oral Health
Center; an optical shop; laboratory services and much more.
Check out the new logo and learn
more about Hennepin Healthcare's story!
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