
Pictured from CHI St. Joseph’s Health (left to right) – Jen Skaro, RN Nurse Champion, Susan Ross, Stroke Program Director, Caleb Roiko, Stroke Program Coordinator, Laura Gonska RN, ED ICU Director/Stroke Program Manager, Melissa Sitz, RN Nurse Champion
PARK RAPIDS, MN (January 2, 2024) – Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Stroke Program honored CHI St. Joseph’s Health as one of seven hospitals for their commitment to providing quality stroke care at the Minnesota Statewide Stroke Conference.
Every year the MDH Stroke Program accepts applications from hospitals and health systems for the Stroke Quality Improvement Awards. The awards recognize and showcase successful quality improvement (QI) initiatives being done in hospitals that participate in the Minnesota Stroke System. Currently there are 119 designated stroke hospitals in Minnesota.
Recipients of awards are selected by an MDH internal review panel and represent stroke programs that implement the best quality improvement initiatives in the following categories: continuous impact, operational excellence, outstanding achievement, and community champion. A successful and effective hospital stroke program requires a commitment to continuous quality improvement. These efforts drive the quality of care delivered to stroke patients, which leads to better outcomes.
This year, CHI St. Joseph’s Health received the Community Champion Award, which is an award for implementing an initiative that creates a meaningful and long-term improvement in quality of stroke care. CHI St. Joseph’s Health was recognized for the utilization of RN nurse champions in addition to their collaborative stroke team. RN nurse champions strengthen the process through providing ongoing staff education, conducting stroke case reviews, contributing to performance improvement projects, and implementing new processes within the organization.
MDH Stroke Program Supervisor Nicky Anderson commended the honorees for their commitment to serving Minnesota communities. “It’s a great honor to present these awards to some of Minnesota Stroke System’s most dedicated stroke programs,” Anderson said. “These awards recognize hospitals who have used their skills, talents, and creativity to make a significant contribution to stroke care in Minnesota.”