Park Nicollet

Men are 22% more likely than women to neglect their cholesterol checks, and that’s a key reason why men in their 50s suffer more heart attacks than women. Take a moment today to learn more about what you need to look for in your 20s to 40s and beyond. https://bit.ly/4aSyU5r

We’re staying green and winning gold at Methodist Hospital!

We recently earned our sixth Top 25 Environmental Excellence award from Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental stewardship in health care. This award is Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor, accounting for a range of sustainability programs, including waste, chemicals, energy, water and climate.

And it’s not just us! HealthPartners earned 18 awards organization-wide, including its 10th consecutive Systems for Change award, and all eight hospitals received awards for showing dedication to sustainable practices.

“A clean environment is an important foundation for health and well-being,” says Allison Egan, HealthPartners sustainability program manager. “These awards reflect the dedication, passion and support we have at our organization as we work to keep sustainability at the forefront of our efforts to move the health care industry forward.”

Visit our news release to learn more: https://shorturl.at/rif0M

Suzanne Herberg is a familiar face at our St. Louis Park clinic and specialty center. She has volunteered for 18 years, working as a concierge and helping people find their way.

This year, she received the Park Nicollet Foundation’s Earl Dresser Quality of Volunteer Service Award.

The award is named after Earl Dresser, who spent over 20 years in leadership at Methodist Hospital. He recognized the invaluable contributions volunteers make to the success of the organization and to serving the community.

Congratulations and thank you, Suzanne!

We know that it can be tricky to plan care for more than one child at a time. If you need health checkups or other appointments for multiple kids, find a clinic near you and give us a call. We’ll help you get your kids ready for school and sports in a way that works for your schedule. View locations: https://bit.ly/3KDxl0v

It’s important to know that the development of cataracts in your eyes can cause blur, double vision, glare and difficulty seeing at night. Understand more about what cataracts are, how they develop and what you can do if you think you have one. https://bit.ly/3VwbDla

The fountains at Methodist Hospital flowed purple in May as the Park Nicollet Foundation honored women and kicked off our Women's Health + Be Pink Initiative.

The initiative raises funds year-round to provide exceptional, comprehensive care for women's health. The team from Park Nicollet Women's Center gathered at the fountain to celebrate both the kickoff and the center’s 10th anniversary.

The community was also invited to honor the women in their lives. Check out our "Women of Honor" wall to see the incredible women who were recognized: https://shorturl.at/NgCtW

With 50+ locations offering back-to-school health checkups, including evening and weekend appointments, we make getting your kids ready for the new school year easy and convenient.

Choose an appointment that works best for you: https://bit.ly/3RbkC8N

Sabrina is known for providing exceptional patient care as a nurse at the Frauenshuh Cancer Center at Methodist Hospital.

They also have a knack for making people laugh.

Sabrina’s vibrant personality often surprises people when they open up about their personal struggles.

“I live with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, ADHD, and have a history of self-injurious behavior,” Sabrina shares.

Sabrina's journey with mental health began at 16, leading to years of therapy and self-discovery. Amid these challenges, Sabrina realized they were gay, adding another layer of complexity.

Their passion for helping others led them into health care, but self-care became a priority.

With support from a caring manager, Sabrina took a leave for treatment, a decision they cherish.

Finding balance, Sabrina embraced comedy to share their story, connecting with others through humor. “Fighting mental health stigma starts with openly talking about it,” Sabrina says.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we invite you to join Sabrina by breaking through stigma with a punchline or just a conversation. Get more resources on helping yourself or others with Make It OK.

Dr. Joy Maharaj has been a leader in quality improvement in our Family Birth Center, including implementing two major projects that led to improvements in patient outcomes.

The obstetrics & gynecology physician, who cares for patients at Methodist Hospital and Park Nicollet Women’s Center, was recently named the recipient of our Park Nicollet Foundation’s 2024 Bill Richards, MD Young Physician Leadership Award.

The award recognizes young physicians for innovations that improve clinic or hospital efficiency, patient treatment or outcomes, patient and family experiences, or community health benefits. Named after Dr. Bill Richards, a family medicine physician and leader who died suddenly, the award is given to individuals who have been in practice for less than 10 years and have demonstrated leadership.

Congratulations and thank you, Dr. Maharaj!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. At Park Nicollet, we care about and prioritize both mental and physical health – for you and your kids. Conveniently schedule your child’s annual well-child visit today to start the school year off right. https://shorturl.at/YX7Lt

It’s National Stroke Awareness Month, so don’t forget the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T can help remind you of the signs of a stroke – balance problems, eyesight issues, face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty and terrible headache. If you're experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it's time to call 911.

Inside and outside our hospitals and clinics, our partners for good bring their endless passion for helping others.

Dr. Randy Warren, Dr. Jeff Mandel and Dr. Paul Damrow, retired physicians of our organization, have been leading the charge for the homes we help build. Together, they have brought over 270 volunteers to a building site.

While visible construction progress is rewarding, the most inspiring part for them is the knowledge that "this would be your home where you would raise your children."

We tip our hard hats to everyone who help families in our community finally get to hear those two magic words: Welcome home.

Habitat for Humanity - Twin Cities

Mental illnesses are rare. Truth: 1 in 5 people will develop a mental health issue at some point in their life.

Take 10 minutes during Mental Health Awareness Month to learn about other misconceptions to help eliminate stigmas around mental health. https://shorturl.at/wxMB6

The timing and spacing of immunizations is very important to ensure your child receives maximum protection. Know your child is due for an immunization appointment? We offer convenient appointment options to help make the process as simple as possible.

To schedule your child’s immunization appointment, click here: https://shorturl.at/OOxBQ

One colleague describes Dr. Bruce Burnett as “a teacher and an innovator, always a kind problem solver to any who called upon him for help.”

Dr. Burnett has had an impact on many lives, and he was recently named the recipient of the Park Nicollet Foundation 2024 Earl G. Young, MD Physician of Excellence Award.

This annual award was established in 1989 to honor Dr. Earl Young, a general and vascular surgeon from the early days of Methodist Hospital. To honor Young’s memory, this award is presented annually to a physician who epitomizes his standards of dedication, kindness, compassion, and professional excellence.

Congratulations and thank you, Dr. Burnett!

Today, Roy is cancer-free. But when he first was diagnosed with colon cancer, his neighbor recommended a HealthPartners oncologist at Regions Hospital. Roy was able to get in for an oncology appointment the next day and then start his personalized treatment plan shortly after.

Now, Roy is spreading the word about the importance of getting a colonoscopy to help others.

Here at Park Nicollet, we’re so happy to be a part of HealthPartners Cancer Care.

Read Roy’s full story here: https://bit.ly/4bddsZH

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports month, so now is a great time to schedule your kid’s sports physical or track down the necessary sports’ physical forms. Find all the information you need and schedule your appointment here: https://bit.ly/3QHDTi4

As April showers give way to May flowers, they also bring springtime allergies. And on the heels of a wild winter, some folks may find their allergy symptoms are stronger and last longer.

Dr. Zeke McKinney, who practices occupational and environmental medicine at our St. Louis Park West End clinic, recently shared some insights with WCCO Radio and The WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar.

Here are some highlights:

▪️ Allergy counts are higher when trees bloom.

▪️ Pollen and grass counts will start as the temperature warms.

▪️ It’s possible for people to develop allergies as they age.

▪️ The longer people are exposed to allergies, the worse their immune system responds.

▪️ New buildings can bring on allergies, too. They’re often designed to be tightly sealed for heating and cooling, which can mean less fresh-air intake.

▪️ Several over-the-counter treatments are effective.

Listen to the full interview here: https://bit.ly/3UMWDPr

This Mother’s Day, honor a special woman in your life with a gift to Park Nicollet Foundation in support of women’s health and well-being.

Across our community, Park Nicollet provides exceptional comprehensive care to support women’s health throughout their lives. And your gift to Park Nicollet Foundation ensures that we can provide exceptional care in ways that insurance cannot cover.

During Mother’s Day and every other day, we honor the women in our community for all they do. And you can make a gift donation today in honor of a special woman in your life.

Visit https://bit.ly/3QcXndZ to donate and we will send a special tribute card to your honoree with your contribution of any size. Happy Mother’s Day!

Stephanie Lacey's commitment to serving the community is truly commendable.

Stephanie is the recipient of the 2024 Park Nicollet Foundation Community Service Award, and rightfully so!

As a registered nurse at Park Nicollet, Stephanie specializes in lactation support, going above and beyond to assist new mothers in various ways.

Stephanie was instrumental is expanding access to Park Nicollet’s lactation cafes, support groups where moms can weigh their baby, talk through successes or challenges they’re having and connect with other new parents.

Beyond her work with lactation support, Stephanie has been involved in numerous community programs aimed at providing essential support to mothers in underrepresented populations.

During this National Nurses Week, we salute Stephanie and all our nurses for being a partner for good – and making a difference for families!

Summer is quickly approaching. Before vacation-mode hits and the next school year sneaks up on you, schedule your kids’ annual well child visit, immunizations or sports physicals at the link below. With convenient locations, evening and weekend appointments, and mobile check-in, getting your kids back-to-school ready has never been easier. https://bit.ly/3UotpoJ

Evolve your career with hardworking and passionate people like Christine by your side.

In honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, we want to recognize all of the important women in our lives—our own mothers, our daughters, our friends, our biggest cheerleaders, our teachers, our shoulders to cry on, and those who are just really good at mothering.

Together, we can create positive change by improving the health and well-being of women in our community. Because when they’re healthy, our community’s healthy. That’s why this Mother’s Day is the perfect time to share some exciting news about Park Nicollet Foundation’s new women’s health initiative.

For years, Be Pink has done great work in supporting women’s breast health. And that’s thanks in large part to your compassion and generosity.

Now, we’re building on this momentum by enhancing women’s health beyond breast care. We invite you to support Park Nicollet Foundation’s Women’s Health Initiative, which takes a holistic approach to caring for women – from providing exceptional care for pregnancy and delivery, to offering support and resources for menopause. Plus, we’ll continue to give the highest quality cancer care screening and diagnostics.

And for women lacking insurance or access to care, we’ll keep removing those barriers. So that everyone in our community can receive the quality health care they deserve.

As your foundation for women’s health, we continue to be your partner for good.

You can make a difference! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wftgfd

Do what you love at a place you’ll love even more. https://bit.ly/3zWIIw1

Abraham Westlund, phlebotomist at Methodist Hospital, spends his days drawing blood for patients, performing screenings, preparing and sending specimens to the lab, and most of all, connecting with patients who may be having a tough day.

And when Abraham isn’t in the lab, he can often be found singing and playing piano in our hospital lounge.

His music impacted a patient so much that her family asked Abraham to sing at her memorial service. He sang a song that was meaningful to the patient during her hospital stay.

Whether talking with a patient during a lab appointment or playing a requested song at the piano, Abraham has a knack for making connections to help patients feel seen and known.

“I see it as my job to put a smile on someone’s face,” Abraham says. “Even on hard days, in hard situations, if I can make whatever time they have left better, that’s what I want to do.”

What’s it like to be screened for lung cancer? It’s quick, easy – and improves outcomes in people who have the disease.

Lung cancer screening: How low-dose CT scans improve survival rates Lung cancer screenings help detect cancer early when it’s more treatable. But who should be screened and when? Learn about lung cancer screening guidelines.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include body tremors, stiff muscles and limbs, slow movement, problems with balance, handwriting changes and more. Learn the signs, symptoms and risk factors during Parkinson’s Awareness Month. And know that we offer neurological care at over 20 locations including HealthPartners Neuroscience Center and Struthers Parkinson’s Center.

Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease | HealthPartners Blog Parkinson’s disease affects more than one million people in the U.S. Learn more about what it is, signs and symptoms, and more.

The sweet sound of harmonica music recently filled the lobby of Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital.

The music was thanks to a collaboration from the music therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation teams.

The holiday open rehearsal, featuring patients with underlying lung conditions performing holiday classics and other modern tunes, returned to the hospital for the first time since 2019. Unlike other wind instruments, harmonicas make sound on inhales in addition to exhales, and patients have found playing harmonica is beneficial to their everyday breathing.

The group, which was established in 2017 in partnership with the COPD Foundation’s Harmonicas for Health and supported by a grant from the Park Nicollet Foundation.

It's great to have their music back at our hospital!