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February 8, 2024 IN PERSON & ZOOM For Those Attending in Person Lunch Buffet (Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45) (Link Sent Thursday Morning) At Holiday Inn Downtown Creating JOY from Sadness Project Joy is a Duluth nonprofit fighting against child food insecurity in the Northland for the last 12 years. The idea came after Project Joy co-founder Laura Plys lost her husband to brain cancer and wanted to turn her grief into action. Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting By Rob Hofmann What the heck happened to winter? A rather mild day for our first meeting of Club #25 on the first day of February… The Kitch was the place to be last Thursday afternoon for food, fellowship, and a “big dose” of Essentia Health. President Gary Melander led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and reciting the Rotary Four-Way Test. President-Elect Elizabeth Simonson, noting our guest speaker’s topic of access to healthcare with a heart, provided this day’s Reflection on how happiness in connected to our health. The message was clear: To live a healthier, happier life we all should focus on what we think we should do, rather than think about what you should not do to make your life a happier one. A few suggestions: Be less busy; stop holding a negative attitude; stop worrying what others think about you, and the big one – avoiding “needless drama.” The sole self-report came from Past Assistant District Governor Al Makynen who donated $10 to celebrate the 1st of February aand his 10th anniversary of living the retired life. Rob Hofmann asked all out-going January Junior Rotarians (JR) to bring forward and introduce all the incoming February Junior Rotarians. Present this day were JRs from East and Harbor City. We expect others will join us in February. Rob Hofmann encouraged all Rotarians to visit with our newest JRs as they are the future Rotarian Leaders of our community. Our Junior Rotarians from Harbor City and East Chair of the Day Past President Michelle Buria introduced our guest speaker Dr. David C. Herman, MD to the lectern. Dr. Herman is a native of International Falls, MN and currently works as Essentia Health CEO. Dr. Herman shared Essentia Health’s theme for this year is Respect – respect for patients and staff that make Essentia not just a collection of buildings, but rather healing spaces. He remarked about the wonderful new building and the incredible views of Lake Superior that are available to patients and staff alike. Past President Michelle Buria Dr. Herman had a cautionary tale for us: 50% of healthcare organizations are losing money. The Fairview system lost over $1B alone. Why? A combination of factors: Costs to provide care have risen 11% to 13 % while Medicare reimbursements are being cut 3.35%. With the population aging, this gap is troubling. The model for Medicare for the elderly pays only .80 cents on the dollar, while Medicaid for the poor pays only .70 cents on the dollar. “Fewer people paying for more people.” One can understand the challenging economics of a broken system as Dr. Herman shared that 75% of patient care is paid by Medicare/Medicaid, 5% cannot pay anything, while 20% pay via commercial health insurance. Not all is bleak. Dr. Herman made it clear that Essentia is focusing on providing our communities, especially the more rural communities, ready access to quality healthcare. In fact, Essential is a recognized leader in rural care achieving a 5-Star rating nationally and cited as the #1 healthcare provider among Minnesota peers. In addition to rural priorities, Essentia is investing heavily into educating the next generation of Tribal doctors in partnership with the Duluth campus of the University of Minnesota Medical School. Additionally, Essentia established a mezzanine fund of $25M for affordable housing in the Northland with plans to increase the funding to $50M. Dr. David C Herman Dr. Herman had a clarion call about the need to improve the pay for those committed and compassionate professionals working in Skilled Nursing Facilities. With insufficient staff to work in Skilled Nursing Facilities, many facilities are incapable of accepting new patients for longer term care. This situation has a trickle down negative impact on hospitals where patients who would normally be transitioned in to long term nursing facilities, now remain in hospitals, occupying beds that are not available for more urgent care patients. One case Dr. Herman shared was a patient who has occupied a hospital bed for more than 500 days. Rotarians can take action by demanding our state and federal policy makers actively change the pay gap that keeps skilled and talented healthcare professionals in the facilities they are desperately need – instead of higher paying jobs at Kwik Trip. President Gary Melander warmly welcomes our guest speaker Dr. David C Herman President Gary Melander, Past President Michelle Buria, Past President Bob Bennett, Robin Pestalozzi, with guest speaker Dr. Herman and Essentia Health staffers |
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