As member of Hospital District Board, Catherine Colsrud will help to ensure access to quality rural health care
By Skylar Premo Sr. Mille Lacs Band Member
Catherine Colsrud, a District III Band member, won re-election to her local hospital board on November 3, 2020, with 74.7 percent of the votes. This is her second term on the North Pine Area Hospital District Board of Directors (NPAHD). She represents the Sandstone Township area on the Board.
The rural Hospital Districts were created by the Minnesota Legislature to ensure access to rural health care. Hospital Districts have taxing authority to acquire, improve, and run hospital and nursing home facilities. Those revenues provide funding to build and operate rural health care facilities such as clinics. The NPAHD also works to provide quality services that patients need.
Catherine, as part of the North Pine Area Hospital Board of Directors, is very active in supporting the health and well-being of the area residents. She states, "I'm interested in working with others in our communities who are committed to making the region a better place for all of us. One way to do that is by increasing local access to quality health care. I have an interest in expanding quality health care, increasing access to that health care, and attracting knowledgeable providers who incorporate a holistic approach to wellness that blends traditional healing with selective use of Western medicine techniques."
Of particular interest to Colsrud is the expansion of mental health services that are culturally responsive to area residents, especially in this time of the pandemic. Having a trauma-informed care facility and trauma-informed providers is critical for our community healing efforts, she said.
The following is a partial list of responsibilities the NPAHD undertakes: support new medical services; long-term financial resource management; health education services in the communities; small grants to local programs/providers with a focus on health care and/or wellness; and increasing access to healthcare for all residents.
The North Pine Area Hospital District built the Pine Healthcare Campus, which opened in May 2017. The Hospital District contracts and leases space for hospital services with Essentia Health, and the clinic and pharmacy services are provided by Gateway Family Health Clinic and Thrifty White Pharmacy. Other health care partners are Golden Horizons, providing assisted living and specialty care, and Sandstone Healthcare Center, providing skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. The Hospital District is governed by a Board of Directors composed of 19 appointed/elected individuals for four year terms.
All Board meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of every month. The meetings will be held in person and via Zoom. The in-person option is at the Askov Community Center, or you can participate by Zoom video conference at the following link or telephone number.
Zoom.com meeting ID: 897 318 8160.
One tap mobile: +1-301-715-8592.