Sartell, MN – June 13, 2012 – HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics was recognized as a Healthiest Employer by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal for 2012.

Companies submitted nominations and filled out extensive surveys for this third-annual project, which recognizes outstanding workplace wellness programs.

The companies were ranked by Indianapolis-based Healthiest Employers LLC based on a variety of criteria, such as health plans with disease-management programs, access to fitness facilities and wellness communications to employees.

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics was the onlySt. Cloudbased company to receive this award.  Among a field of many entrants, the clinic was honored along with two other companies in the 101 to 500 employees category.  

“We’re very proud of this recognition for our efforts in providing a healthy workplace,” said Andy Vinson, Executive Director of HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics, “As a health care organization, we want to model healthy behaviors for our own employees as we continue to provide exceptional care for our patients.”

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics provides several Well@Work programs to area companies in order to help improve the health outcomes for their employees and family members while at the same time reducing their total cost of care.  Additionally, a HealthPartners Health and Wellness Fund has been established in the Central Minnesota Community Foundation to assist with initiatives to improve the community’s health and wellness.  Working in partnership with the Wellness Corp of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, HPCMC is committed to improving community health and wellness which is one of the core values for the entire HealthPartners family of organization.

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics (www.hpcmc.com) is part of the HealthPartners family of care, serving the St. Cloud community since 1979 with family practice, pediatrics, ob-gyn, behavioral health, chiropractic, surgical and dental services.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – July 16, 2012 –Three surgeons have joined HealthPartners Medical Group and will practice at HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics, further expanding the specialty services available to patients in the St. Cloud community.

Manuel Moran, MD, Alan Tims, MD, and Patrick Oakes, MD, formerly of Central Minnesota Surgeons, joined HealthPartners in June 2012 after years of professional collaboration and affiliation. Together, these surgeons bring decades of expertise in colon and rectal surgery, general and laparoscopic surgery, and treatment of vein disorders.

Drs. Moran and Tims are the only board certified colorectal surgeons in central Minnesota and Dr. Oakes participated in some of the first laparoscopic surgeries to take place in central Minnesota. Together, the three surgeons will continue to provide excellent surgical care in St. Cloud as well as outreach services to the Paynesville and Sauk Centre communities.

“We are pleased to add all of these new physicians to our practice,” says Andy Vinson, executive director for HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics, “They will help us continue to do what we do best, which is provide exceptional care for our patients.”

 HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics

HealthPartners family of care includes HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics (www.hpcmc.com ), serving the St. Cloud community since 1979 with family practice, pediatrics, OB-GYN, behavioral health, chiropractic, sports medicine, surgical and dental services. Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) family of health care companies serves 1.4 million medical and dental health plan members nationwide and is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – July 12, 2012 –Two pediatricians have joined HealthPartners Medical Group and will practice at HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics.

With the addition of two pediatricians, HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics hopes to increase access to care for kids in the community.

Dr. Azhar Iqbal comes to HealthPartners with 14 years of experience practicing pediatric and adolescent medicine and with experience in C-sections and high-risk deliveries. He has a special interest in ADHD and other common behavioral disorders and in pediatric dermatological disorders.

Dr. Lisa Guetzko enjoys educating and advocating for children as they progress through the various stages of life and development. In addition to three years in pediatric practice, she has spent time researching and caring for adult and pediatric patients in international settings.

“We are excited to have these two pediatricians join our practice", says Dr Julie Johnson, medical director at HPCMC.  "They will enhance our ability to provide the best care for families in our community."

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT JOINS HEALTHPARTNERS CENTRAL MINNESOTA CLINICS

ST. CLOUD, MN – December 8, 2011– HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is pleased to announce that Ruth Hoffman, Certified Physician’s Assistant, has joined the staff of HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics.  Ruth received her Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Boston University in Boston, MA.  She also has a Masters of Medical Science from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL.  Ruth’s medical interests center around family practice and women’s health. Ruth will be working at our main clinic in Sartell as well as the HealthStation clinic at the main clinic and the Coborn’s Superstore in Sauk Rapids.

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HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics offers a comprehensive range of medical, behavioral and dental healthcare services, and health education in centralMinnesota.  Our staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical professionals provides services for patients all ages.  HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is a subsidiary of HealthPartners, Inc.  Please visit http://www.hpcmc.com for more information.

NURSE PRACTITIONER JOINS HEALTHPARTNERS CENTRAL MINNESOTA CLINICS

ST. CLOUD, MN – December 8, 2011– HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is pleased to announce that Anna Neu, Certified Nurse Practitioner, has joined the staff of HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics.  Anna received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.  She also has a Family Nurse Practitioner Certification from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN and a Masters of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI.  Anna is currently working on becoming certified as a Nurse Midwife and obtaining her doctoral of nursing practice degree from the University of Minnesota.  She worked most recently as a Nurse Practitioner at the Chippewa County Medical Hospital and Clinic, where she provided care to patients of all ages including those needing obstetric care.  Anna will be working at our main clinic in Sartell as well as the HealthStation clinic at the main clinic and the Coborn’s Superstore in Sauk Rapids.

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HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics offers a comprehensive range of medical, behavioral and dental healthcare services, and health education in central Minnesota.  Our staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical professionals provides services for patients all ages.  HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is a subsidiary of HealthPartners, Inc.  Please visit http://www.hpcmc.com for more information.

DENTIST JOINS HEALTHPARTNERS CENTRAL MINNESOTA CLINICS

ST. CLOUD, MN – November 28, 2011– HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is pleased to announce that Kara Engelbrektson, Doctor of Dental Surgery, has joined the staff of HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics.  Kara received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. She also received her doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis, MN. Kara completed her general practice residency at Hennepin County Medical Center. She has clinical interests in Oral Surgery, Endodontics, and Pediatric Dentistry.  Kara will be working at the dental clinic in Sartell.

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HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics offers a comprehensive range of medical, behavioral and dental healthcare services, and health education in centralMinnesota.  Our staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical professionals provides services for patients all ages.  HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is a subsidiary of HealthPartners, Inc.  Please visit http://www.hpcmc.com for more information.

Nicole Marti, RN, CNP

ST. CLOUD, MN – HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is pleased to announce that Nicole Marti, Certified Nurse Practitioner, has joined the staff of HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics.  Nicole received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Minnesota State University in Moorhead, MN.  She also has a Family Nurse Practitioner Certification from Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN.  She worked most recently as a Registered Nurse at the Saint Cloud Hospital in Nephrology, where she provided care for non-pediatric patients with renal failure.  Nicole will be working at our main clinic in Sartell as well as the HealthStation clinic at the main clinic and the Coborn’s Superstore in Sauk Rapids.

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HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics offers a comprehensive range of medical, behavioral and dental healthcare services, and health education in centralMinnesota.  Our staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical professionals provides services for patients all ages.  HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is a subsidiary of HealthPartners, Inc.  Please visit http://www.hpcmc.com for more information.

One fitness resolution you may want to adopt this spring is biking to work.

In fact, National Bike to Work Week is May 16-20. Are you too busy to bike to work? Don’t want to get sweaty? Have kids to drop off at day care?Those can be legitimate excuses. But let me introduce you to a busy professional in our community who has biked to work for more than 30 years.

Meet Dr. Gary Strandemo, a family physician at HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics and a persuasive advocate for biking to work.

“It is a great way to start the day and unwind at the end of the day,” Strandemo said.

Strandemo suggests that people take it easy when they bike to work. They don’t have to make it a hard-charging race and end up sweaty and tired when they get to work and it doesn’t have to be a great distance, he said.

Strandemo, 65, bikes about five miles to work and another five on the way home. He says people can also incorporate walking at work to get even more exercise. For example, take the flights of stairs or park farther away in the parking lot.

The secret is to keep moving, Strandemo said.

He tells the story of going to hear a famous orthopedic surgeon. He expected to hear the expert talk about new drugs or other treatments. Instead the surgeon’s advice was: Keep them moving.

“He said motion is lotion,” Strandemo said.

People wanting to boost their fitness can do it by incorporating motion into the day’s routine. One good way to do it is to bike to work. It can be as little as 20 minutes.

Strandemo says he tries to be a role model for his patients by biking to work as many days as possible.

And to remain safe he suggests: 
»Always wearing a helmet
»Obey all the safety rules, including stopping at intersections
»Make sure you wear clothing rolled up or with a strap to keep clothes from getting caught in the chain.
» Bike defensively.
»Make sure you signal when making turns.
»Keep eye contact with oncoming drivers.
»Ride with traffic, not against it.

Strandemo says he looks forward to his bike ride to work.

“It is a great way to unwind,” he said.

The exercise may also help a person’s overall health and prevent or delay some of the diseases that appear to be influenced by lack of exercise or being overweight, including Type II diabetes and high blood pressure.

But what if you live far away from work or have children you have to transport to day care?

Greg Bockrath, a wellness coach at HealthPartners of Central Minnesota Clinics’ Well@Work program, offered a couple of other helpful suggestions for biking to work.

If you have to take children to day care, park your car at the day care and bike from the facility to work and back. Best to ask permission from the day care before parking there for the day.

If you live a long distance from work, find a park on the outskirts of St. Cloud or a coworker’s house where you can park your vehicle and bike to work.

HealthPartners has established a number of incentives to encourage staffers to bike to work including:

» All staffers have their names entered in a prize drawing for each day they bike to work.
»Partnering with Revolution Cycle and Ski to provide an expert to visit the facility and offer advice on biking to work, including identifying safe routes in the area.
»Providing breakfast when they arrive on Bike To Work Day, which is May 20.

HPCMC provided several other programs and incentives. In short, the medical facility made a commitment to helping staffers get healthier.

HealthPartners has held meetings for local companies to learn more about the Bike to Work campaign and hopes to expand that effort next year to include schools and more companies, Bockrath said.

HealthPartners Customer Service Receives High Scores

ST. CLOUD (May, 26, 2010) - HealthPartners was recently recognized in a healthcare report by J.D. Power and Associates as a leader in high quality customer service. Outperforming other healthcare plans in the Minnesota-Wisconsin area, HealthPartners customers are ranked among the most satisfied with their healthcare services.

The report also noted HealthPartners top regional performance in coverage and benefits. Customers' ability to choose their own provider and positive experiences when making claims, made HealthPartners coverage standout when compared with their competitors. 

HealthPartners high standards of customer service have also increased customer trust. HealthPartners customers consider the company to be customer driven, personal, and innovative. Leading to members who are satisfied and loyal customers.

The report's findings emphasize HealthPartners' priority to serve their customers. In a changing healthcare market, HealthPartners has continued to support customers' needs and the quality of healthcare coverage.

HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics, based in St. Cloud, offers a comprehensive range of medical, behavioral and dental health care services, and health education in central Minnesota. More than 20 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other staff provide services for all ages. HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics is a subsidiary of HealthPartners, Inc. Learn more at www.hpcmc.com

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St. Cloud (May 26, 2010) By the time Hope Tabatt gets in to see a doctor, she's often frazzled,anxious and exhausted. The mother of two lugs her three-month-old in a car seat while carrying a diaper bag, snacks for her 3-year-old, toys for both and a hefty bottle of hand sanitizer. She works to calm the baby while trying to corral her 3-year-old until they get into the exam room.

Hope envisioned trip after trip to the clinic when her infant began having trouble with the formula she was drinking. Instead, she turned to HealthPartners Central Minnesota Clinics (HPCMC) new Online Patient Services system.

Through the system, patients have a direct communication line to their care staff and are able to ask questions and request office visits. Hope sent an e-mail to Dr. Julie Johnson, her family practice physician, and quickly received suggestions back on which formula to try next.....Read More