One of the more troubling stories of 2023 has been the state of healthcare in this country. Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic when hospitals and clinics were stretched beyond reasonable limits in terms of patient care and workforce hours, those institutions are now having to grapple with an economic crisis that, to a certain extent, is unique to the medical field.
Northfield Hospital + Clinics President and CEO Steve Underdahl said there was a hope that when the pandemic subsisted, there would be a return to what he called “the good old days,” and that things might go back to where they had been in 2019.
That, however, has not happened.
With inflation hitting the healthcare industry especially hard, and an aging workforce that is retiring faster than it can be replenished, healthcare systems continue to struggle. Nurses have been in short supply in Minnesota for more than 20 years, but the problem has only gotten worse in the past four years. Fewer young people are entering the profession, many in the prime of their careers who had to stop during the pandemic are opting to not go back, and more are aging out of the profession in recent years than ever before.
Underdahl said one of the things the medical industry has to start doing immediately is work on its recruiting models to better entice young people into medical professions.
“Again, I think part of the challenge is Healthcare is hard work and and the workforce is aging, so doctors and nurses and pharmacists and administrators are sort of generationally locked. And so, we’re working really hard at trying to encourage this next generation that this is good and noble work and you should consider it.”
Another problem is in the economic foundation of the system. Underdahl said the way things were set up is no longer viable.
“The whole system was really built on a pyramid. Most of us were young. Most of us had jobs. Less of us were old, fewer of us were disabled and fewer of us were in some form of financial distress. The whole system was built on the idea that most of us paid for ourselves and the smaller parts of the pyramid.”
With the largest generation in American history retiring and living longer the system is now top heavy with older people who require more care.
Governmental subsidies through Medicare and Medicaid are no longer covering the basic costs that hospitals incur to take care of a patient, and the longer that problem persists, the worse it gets. The best solution, he said, is deeper governmental assistance and state offered healthcare, just like the systems that have been adopted by every other country in North America and the Western part of Europe.
“I do think there’s probably a moment that happens, I don’t know if it will happen before the next election because I think we’ll have to stabilize politically a little bit first, but I think ultimately, we will probably end up with a healthcare financing system that looks a little bit more like the rest of the Western world.”
Underdahl said Northfield Hospital & Clinics is in better shape than most and could even turn a small profit by the end of 2024, but he remains concerned for the rest of the country.
Northfield School District iPad program working better than expected
The Northfield School district has upgraded the iPads used by its students this year. Over the summer, the district’s technology department completely reset the memories of 3800 6th generation iPads which had been used by the students for the past three years, and the lot was put up for sale.
It’s been more than ten years since the Transformational Technology Project was proposed to the School Board by then Superintendent of Schools Dr. Chris Richardson and then Director of Human Resources and Technology, Dr. Matt Hillmann. The idea at that time was to ensure that Northfield Schools would properly prepare its students for life after they were done with high school by introducing them to technology that would most likely become commonplace in their lives.
The concept might seem a bit quaint now, but at the time there was quite a bit of debate over the need for students to have use of an iPad and if the devices would make any difference at all in their education. However, after three school years that were affected by a global pandemic, where students were spending months in a distance learning situation, iPads are now as vital to a students’ education as #2 pencils were in 1985.
Hillmann, who succeeded Dr. Richardson as the Superintendent of Schools in 2014, said the program is now in its fourth lease. The district, which is always looking to make the best use of its resources, decided years ago on a lease-to-own program for the equipment. When the leases on the devices ran out at the end of the school year this past spring, they became the property of the Northfield School District. After the technology department erased their memories, bids were taken for their purchase. Based on the results, according to Hillmann, the program might be working even better than people might think.
“I I think people ask, ‘Well, is there really a market for sixth generation iPads? Turns out there is. We had 16 bids believe it or not. And the winning bid was from Electronics Deals, Incorporated at what they call a guaranteed price of $363,090.00”
Hillmann said the district has a new lease on 3800 9th generation iPads that were distributed to the students at the beginning of the school year.
No to-go orders, but St. John’s will serve Christmas Dinner
St. John’s Lutheran Church will continue a tradition this year that was established long ago, when the church opens its doors to the community to serve a traditional Christmas Dinner to all that would like to attend on Christmas Day.
Last year, the church was offering meals to go. The Minnesota health Department, however, has stepped in to inform the church that certain licenses and training are required in order to do that properly, so delivery and pickup will not be an option this year. But the church officials said they will have to-go containers for anyone who would like to bring food home with them.
The St. John’s Christmas Dinner is scheduled from 11:30 until 1:30 on Christmas, one week from today. No reservations will be taken. The event is free to anyone who chooses to attend.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
