Tri County Hospital
By Jay Yoo
Tri County Hospital
Robin Klemek
Phone: (218) 631-7497
http://www.tricountyhospital.org
Email: Robin.Klemek@tricountyhospital.org
Tri-County Hospital (TCH) is a private, not-for-profit health care corporation committed to providing personalized services that improves the health of the communities. Tri-County Hospital, formally known as Wesley Hospital, began operation in 1925. In 1971, construction began on a new and modern health care facility directly west of the existing structure. When completed, construction began on an attached medical clinic, known as the Wadena Medical Center. The hospital and clinic expanded again in 1987, 1990 and 1992. A hospital wide interior image project was completed in 1999. That same year a healing art program was initiated which involves the talent of artists and crafts people from area schools and communities. In 2000, the TCH expanded with the addition of a third labor and delivery suite creating a birthing center
For more than 77 years, Tri-County Hospital has been the center for medical care in this region. The goal is to provide complete family healthcare to the people of Wadena, northern Todd and eastern Ottertail counties. Since the beginning of existence, TCH has grown in many areas: technology, medical personnel, equipment, programs, services and most importantly, quality patient care. This growth is a part of doing our healthcare business in rural communities. As a healthcare provider, we need to grow to maintain the necessary services and programs that will help us improve the health of the communities we serve. Family members, businesses and associates of donors may also be honored or memorialized with gifts.
Tri-County Hospital owns and operates three rural health clinics. These clinics are located in the neighboring communities of Bertha, Sebeka and Henning. They exemplify the rich history of caring for patients in the area. Master facility plans currently under development to expand the campus will also renovate and relocate some departments currently providing outpatient services. Strategic plans continue to be developed to assess physical plant and site needs to determine the direction that will allow us to continue to assure high quality medical care to the communities well into the future.
Because Tri-County Hospital is a privately funded organization, TCH does not receive a general tax subsidy or any special tax levies from local taxpayers, nor are there any stockholders receiving dividends or profits from the facility. Any balance of revenue over expense is reinvested in the organization to meet operating needs, or into a capital reserve fund to meet future facility and equipment needs. TCH achieves its charitable mission by providing uncompensated care for patients unable to pay. This amount annually exceeds $125,000. We also provide community service programs such as the Festival of Health, Foundation programs (Men's Nite Out, Women's Nite Out, Senior College), student internships and numerous other programs. TCH is also required to complete an annual independent audit and received an unqualified (clean) opinion for the year 2001.
Outpatient departments continue to see increases in the number of patients seen. During 2002, 16,596 patients were seen as outpatients. Staff made 39,980 home care visits and 13,696 patients received care at satellite clinics in Bertha, Henning and Sebeka. Total outpatients seen exceeded 70,000 members of our communities.
Tri-County Hospital Home Page (www.tricountyhospital.org)
The interview was conducted with Robin Klemek. Robin is a telehealth-video pioneer. She successfully garnered an Office of Automation and Technology Grant to provide telehealth consultations and referrals to specialty centers in Minneapolis for burn victims, childhood cranial and facial plastic surgery consultations. Robin was an early adopter of converged Internet services. Thanks to her work, patients who would otherwise have to travel for days of consultative care can now stay close to their families and community and receive the best quality consultations available without loss of work making it a very affordable win for the patient/provider relationships. She is a manager of the telemedicine outreach. She is also part of national discussion group with other telemedicine providers.
Robin uses the Internet at work everyday. Since 1998, she has been using the Internet at work. The Internet has been used as an important communication tool, which includes communication with customers, vendors, suppliers and organizations. Robin spends about one or two hours online everyday on the Internet. The Internet is used for communication in a variety ways. Robin said, “I use email for communication with my service and sales people and with physicians.” She mentions that she uses a lot of email.
Internet is used in a lot of ways for her work. Not only has the Internet been used as a communication tool, it is also being used as a business too which includes a research tool (information search, market analysis, competition analysis, newsletter), a selling and buying tool for your business (own website, virtual mall, affiliation), a communication tool (e.g., use of chat room, discussion groups) and a tool for marketing, advertising, promotion, and customer service. Robin stated, “We have a program called telemedicine that links us with other hospitals. Using a scheduling calendar that is posted on the website, Robin can enter her daily schedule. When someone wants to use the system, they can look to see if Robin is available. The scheduling calendar on the Internet is a great idea and it improves communication within the organization. Robin also uses the electronic systems for medical evaluation.
Using the Internet has changed the way our business is being done. Robin mentions, “We get less phone calls. We check for email which allows us to respond in a timely manner. It has improved communication and setting things up.”
Our website is designed and maintained by professionals at the University of Minnesota. Staff at the University of Minnesota developed the website for medical consultation and another staff person at the University of Minnesota developed the schedule calendar that Robin uses. Websites are usually designed and maintained by an individual within an organization. Having a website provides the business advantages such as customer service, advertising and relationships with vendors.
Although the website is well maintained, Robin also faces the challenges and difficulties as a result of having a website. Maintaining the website requires extra care in keeping information up to date and doing updates making sure items on the website are current.
The website and using the Internet has brought great success for Robin. Some of her success using the website is buying equipment through the Internet at a much lower cost. In the last five years I have been ordering equipment that is used for work from the same company which has definitely lowered the cost.” Robin also mentioned that that she uses Internet shopping for products for her business. In addition, she said, “I am able to improve the connections with other telemedicine systems, We may not know what is going on in Montana, but through the internet, I can talk to the person, and find out by asking questions.” Communication and networking with other companies plays an important role in assisting customers.
Robin strongly expressed the need for having a business website. She recommended considering using the website for any business. She said, “Just do it.” Although starting doing it for the first time needs some extra effort and training, it is almost a business requirement now. Robin had to be trained to learn how to operate their website and adds no one should be afraid of it. Robin strongly suggests using an educational program which teaches hands on skills and also suggests business owners need to learn how to create and maintain the website.