St. Joseph's asks community to support drive

Park Rapids Enterprise - 09/04/2007
BY LIZ SHAW FOR THE ENTERPRISE

Every so often Sister Margaret Smith heads to a south window at St. Joseph's Area Health Services. She checks on progress of the new building construction playing out daily beneath her.

So far, all she can really see is a big hole, cranes and footings and foundation being poured. That will change soon as the new medical center structure begins to take shape.

Sr. Margaret, a living encyclopedia of St. Joseph's history, has seen her share of change as she enters her 61st year on the job at the hospital. This $26 million new and renovated building project with Dakota Clinic that will combine the two entities under one roof is by far the biggest undertaking she's seen since her arrival to open St. Joseph's doors in 1946.

"Everything will be in one place," says Sister in regard to welcoming the clinic as immediate neighbors. The facility will allow patient and physician flow from one entity to the next. "It will be nice to have the new building attached, and I think the community is looking forward to it," she said.

As the community portion of the campaign gets underway to raise more than $2.5 million, Sr. Margaret stands behind the cause. After all, she has devoted her life to the healing mission.

"That's what we're here for, the patients and the community," she says. "In order to keep an institution like this going, you really have to work for it."

St. Joseph's Foundation Board is currently inviting the community to become involved in the campaign. They are asking individuals throughout the service region to invest in healthcare so St. Joseph's remains a vital resource for all.

Healing mission

St. Joseph's opened in 1946 and accommodated 25-30 hospital beds.

Today it is a critical care hospital that provides services including inpatient, outpatient, surgery, obstetrics, home care, hospice, community health, rehabilitation, home medical equipment, dental care, weight management treatment, imaging, support groups, parish nursing, youth programs, support groups and much more.

Last year, more than 11,000 patients visited the Emergency Department alone. St. Joseph's has 24 active physicians, 69 consulting specialists, 11 emergency physicians, and a multitude of allied health professionals on staff, not to mention 390 employees who together as a team put Park Rapids on the map as providing the best patient satisfaction in the country for a hospital its size.

Meeting the challenge

Sister Margaret witnessed and grew with these changes as St. Joseph's adapted to meet new challenges. She started by helping to set up the hospital when the hospital opened its doors. She received education so she could work in x-ray and the lab. She scrubbed for surgery where she worked as a technician and even sat in the position as administrator.

Technological advancements, government regulations, patient census growth, remodeling projects (of which today's is the largest) have been challenges to which St. Joseph's has responded.

Throughout it all "we still provided quality care," Sister says. She said she feels blessed and grateful to everyone for their "concerns and encouragement" to this ministry.

The work continues to keep the ministry strong as St. Joseph's looks to the future to keep healthcare strong. Sr. Margaret leads by example of the dedication it takes to carry out this mission.

Anyone looking to give their support can contact Cynthia Rooney, development manager for St. Joseph's Area Health Services, at 237-5711 or fill out support pledges mailed to your residence in the coming days.