How do we get what we need here in Devils Lake?
Senator John Hoeven met with healthcare and community leaders on Aug. 31 to discuss the future of healthcare in Devils Lake.
Represented at a round table discussion were interested parties including CHI St. Alexius Devils Lake Hospital, Altru, Essentia Health and others. From the outset Hoeven encouraged everyone around the table and in the audience to share their concerns and ended his brief opening remarks reminding everyone that this is a continuation of a discussion last held in June of 2022 but started long before that in this community, “it’s time,” he said yielding the floor to Devils Lake Mayor Jim Moe.
Moe kicked off the discussion welcoming Hoeven and all in attendance expressing his dissatisfaction with the current situation pointing out all parties represented by individuals in upper corporate management except CHI. “It would be ideal if all three could come together to help find a solution for this community.”
Hoeven responded by acknowledging “We need good health care in this community in addition to what we already have.” and asked those representing CHI in the room to speak up and help in the process.
Mariann Doeling, president of CHI St. Alexius Health Devils Lake began by addressing what had been recently called or labelled as “negligent patient care” at their facility. She stood up for the staff of the hospital and their work in often difficult circumstances. “We have a tremendously difficult, sometimes violent ER that we serve to the best of our ability.” She talked about the needs lacking in the community for treating mental health issues, alcohol and drug-related addictions and behaviors citing that often the hospital’s ER doubled as a “drunk tank” for Devils Lake and nurses having to deal with unexpected violence and violent situations.
A large portion of the audience was made up of employees from CHI St. Alexius Hospital and one after another stood to defend themselves, their fellow employees and work conditions in spite of often difficult circumstances. The emotion in the room was palpable as one by one employees, doctors, nurses and support staff from several departments stood to speak their truth about working at CHI.
Anger was expressed, tears were shed and in the end Hoeven assured everyone that the issue was not the people at CHI, that they were providing excellent health care to the community. He asked the question at hand, “Wouldn’t it be easier to recruit personnel and to do the good job they’re already doing if they had a new and better facility to do it in?
Hoeven listened to it all and explained the purpose for this meeting which was not to condemn anyone or to point fingers but to find a way to improve the health care provided to all the people of the Lake Region. That was his purpose and intent. If the hospital facility was adequate and already serving the community well, then there was no problem.
In the end it appeared as if most everyone was in agreement, a new and better facility would be a benefit to the community but how that could come about would be the bigger challenge. Hoeven had some ideas and stated that he would be seeking state and federal assistance but that the community needs to come together, “how are we going to get enhanced facilities?”
How do we get what we need here in Devils Lake?
One year ago when consultants from Altru, Essentia, Devils Lake and the Tribe met they determined that a new facility would benefit the community. Representatives from Essentia invested in this plan and went so far as to purchase land, property that could be used to build a new hospital, if they got the local partners to see it through. Now, over a year later they are still looking for those local partners to step up and work together.
Will it be Altru and CHI working together? Will it be a shiny new facility built by Essentia?
One comment from the audience summed it all up, “As long as the community has good care, we don’t care whose name is on the building.”
Hoeven and others issued the challenges: “Help me help this community.” “Invest here or let someone else do it.” “Resolve this for the good of the community.” “Work with each other or get out of the way!” “Take a stand!”
