St. Luke's Duluth, MN’s Post

Celebrating over two decades of service, Betsy Stark, RN, reflects on her journey with a sense of amazement. "It's crazy to think it's been 25 years!" she said. Initially working at Aspirus St. Luke’s Birthing Center for 15 years, Betsy now brings her wealth of experience to the Woodland Ave Clinic. "I get to do a little of everything here," she explained. Her daily tasks include reviewing portal messages, conducting Medicare wellness visits, handling prescription refills, performing wound care, and coordinating patient care. This coordination often involves listening to patients’ concerns, as well as helping them find housing, transportation and therapies. Betsy is particularly proud of her team. "The staff here is amazing,” she said. “I love working with all of them because of their hard work through adversity, their unwavering dedication to their patients and colleagues, and their deep sense of teamwork. They truly emulate the meaning of a work family!" Thank you, Betsy, for your dedication and the positive impact you have made over the past 25 years. Do you have a primary care provider? Establish care at any Aspirus St. Luke's clinic by calling 218.249.4000 or requesting an appointment online: bit.ly/3NRpI92

Curious about dry needling? Watch Aspirus St. Luke's Physical Therapists Tyler Kobilarcsik, PT, DPT, and Erin Hansen, PT, DPT, demonstrate its benefits and how it works on ‘The Lift’! See the full demo and learn more about this effective therapy: bit.ly/3W1bYLI #PhysicalTherapy #DryNeedling

“I love helping people,” said Danielle Siem, Cardiology Surgery Scheduler. “Our patients make me want to learn more and come to work every day.” Serving in her role since 2020, Danielle's daily tasks revolve around scheduling new patient appointments for cardiology, as well as coordinating procedures and diagnostic testing. While she enjoys her work, the best part of her job is the camaraderie within her team. "I love how friendly everyone is," she says, emphasizing the supportive environment that enhances their efficiency and patient care. Thank you, Danielle, for your commitment to patient care and your contributions to Aspirus St. Luke's! To learn more about working with people like Danielle, visit slhduluth.com/careers.

“I started working here 2 years ago,” shared Nurse Practitioner Marisa Gehl, APRN, CNP. “I completed my clinical hours at the Superior Clinic. I really enjoyed the staff and atmosphere. I was grateful to accept a position here.” Marisa mainly serves patients through Primary Care Plus, offering same-day appointments and walk-in care for minor issues and preventive care. Common issues she addresses include upper respiratory concerns, sore throats, earaches, eye issues, urinary tract infections, skin infections, rashes, strains, fractures, and minor cuts. “The staff at the Superior Clinic are great,” she shared. “We all work together to make the entire process simple and efficient from the time you register to the time you leave.” Thank you, Marisa, for your dedication to patient care and your positive impact on the community at Aspirus St. Luke’s Superior Clinic! If you need to see a provider today, Primary Care Plus in Superior and Duluth’s Grand Ave Clinic offers walk-in care for minor and preventive care. You don't even need to be an Aspirus St. Luke’s patient! Learn more: bit.ly/3Ko91zz

Care Coordinator Becky Bixby, RN, from our internal medicine team, has received a DAISY Award! She was nominated by a patient who was grateful to have Becky’s support during a challenging time. Becky’s nominator was trying to relate important health care information from another hospital to their local medical team. During this process, the patient was met with many frustrations. However, once Becky joined their medical team, communication became smooth and efficient. “Her kind, caring heart with an abundance of professionalism and a dash of humor has made the world of difference for my family and me,” the patient shared. “I feel extremely blessed to have met such an amazing nurse coordinator to walk with me through my latest life trial. There truly are angels among us!” Becky, thank you for your exceptional care and dedication in improving communication and support for our patients. Your compassion and commitment are deeply appreciated by both our team and the patients you serve. Congratulations on this recognition! 💙 #DaisyAwardWinner

Proper wound care is essential for quick and effective healing. Here are some basics to keep in mind during #WoundCareAwarenessMonth from Maijaliisa Kaarto, RN, BSN, CWOCN, Clinical Supervisor at Aspirus St. Luke’s Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center. “Use mild soap and water to clean minor wounds, then rinse and dry well,” she said. “Saline solutions are great for cleaning out deeper or larger wounds. Also, don’t use hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine as they can be too harsh and slow the healing process.” Essential supplies to have on hand include gauze and tape, hydrogel (saline gel) to maintain moisture balance for healing, and Bacitracin to help prevent and treat minor skin infections. “Typically wounds will heal in one to three weeks with proper care,” said Maijaliisa. “However, if a wound hasn’t healed in 30 days or if you’re experiencing increasing pain, redness, swelling, foul odor, or a change in color, you should seek out additional care.” To schedule an appointment, call our Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center today at 218.249.5203.

Did you know that on average men die five years earlier than women? During this #MensHealthMonth, we think it’s time to change those stats! 💪 Check out our latest blog post from primary care provider Dr. Joel Edwall to learn more about easy, actionable steps any man can take to improve his well-being. Read the full article here: bit.ly/4ca2X9L

Thank you to everyone who attended the rebranding celebration at Aspirus Lake View Hospital in Two Harbors on Tuesday! A special thank you to all the team and community leaders who spoke. As part of this rebranding, we are also changing our clinic and pharmacy names along the North Shore: Aspirus Lake View Two Harbors Clinic, Aspirus Lake View Pharmacy - Two Harbors and Aspirus Lake View Silver Bay Clinic are all proud to serve residents and visitors. While our names have changed, our locations and phone numbers have not, and we continue to accept the same insurance plans. See all updated location names: bit.ly/4c3vzS3 We look forward to this new chapter with Aspirus Health! #AspirusStLukes #AspirusLakeView

Today marks a monumental day for us! 🎉 After affiliating with Aspirus Health on March 1, today we celebrated our official rebranding as Aspirus St. Luke’s and Aspirus Lake View. With this transition, St. Luke’s Hospital and Lake View Hospital are now Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital and Aspirus Lake View Hospital. We are also changing our clinic names. Rest assured, our locations and phone numbers remain unchanged, and we continue to accept the same insurance plans. You’ll still see the same familiar faces and receive the same top-quality care you've come to trust. See All Updated Location Names: bit.ly/4c3vzS3 Thank you to everyone who attended and helped organize these rebranding events Aspirus St. Luke’s and Aspirus Lake View. A special thank you to all the community leaders who spoke, including Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert, Two Harbors Mayor Lew Conner, Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Baumgartner, Downtown Duluth Board Chair Kim Chick and Lake County Commissioner Rich Svee. We look forward to this new chapter and are committed to serving you with excellence as Aspirus St. Luke’s! #AspirusStLukes #AspirusLakeView

During #OncologyNursingMonth, we want to extend a big thank you to our oncology nurses for all the compassionate care they provide patients during some of the toughest treatments. Their dedication and expertise make an immeasurable difference in the lives of those fighting cancer at St. Luke's, now part of Aspirus Health. Thank you for all that you do!