National Hospital Week – celebrating 130 years of caring for Winona

As we recognize National Hospital Week, May 12-18, we have another important milestone to celebrate: Winona Health’s 130th anniversary.

Since 1894, the Winona community has had its own, home-grown, healthcare organization.

In celebrating that, I appreciate this opportunity to offer a brief update on the current state of healthcare, local, state and national (in a word: challenging), and to share how grateful and inspired I am to be part of our organization’s community of caregivers in the face of these challenges.

If you are a friend, family member or patient of any one of our caregivers here at Winona Health, you may already know about some of the challenges in healthcare today, and you undoubtedly know how dedicated they are and how much they care about this community.

Those of you who follow the news have probably noticed at least a few articles and stories about the ongoing challenges healthcare organizations – and patients needing access to care – are facing in our state and nationally.

We’ve seen communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and across the United States experience the loss of services, and in some cases, entire hospitals or long-term care facilities, and the distress this causes everyone in those communities. The generosity of our community and the stewardship of the Winona Health board has seen us through tough times, including recently, when, if not for the generosity of anonymous donors, we would have had to close our dialysis program in Winona. Our organization and our community are deeply grateful for every gift that supports keeping services here at Winona Health.

All healthcare systems – large, small, rural and urban – are faced with these challenges and continue to adjust to an ever more turbulent post-pandemic world. Not all of the challenges are related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but some issues, such as those related to workforce, were amplified because of it.

In addition to the challenges all organizations face, such as workforce shortages and supply costs, healthcare is confronting cost pressures from pharmaceutical companies (medications), information technology and cybersecurity, medical technology, insurance, and more. Of particular concern is the low reimbursement rates from public payors (Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid), which cover less than 70% of the cost of providing care (not what is charged). Bottom line: healthcare financing is deeply flawed and costs and reimbursements don’t balance. The math no longer works because the demographics have shifted.

At Winona Health, we saw this trend coming and have been actively involved in redesigning our care delivery to help people reduce the cost of care, while we simultaneously reduce operating costs. If we step back and understand the many forces in play right now, they all add up to the opportunity to find new ways forward. That is what Winona Health has successfully done many times during its 130-year history. It’s in the DNA of this organization.

To paraphrase our manifesto (which you can find on our website): In a world that sometimes celebrates big, at Winona Health we are reminded of the beauty and power of being small. We continue to honor the spirit of the rebels and dreamers who came before us, the ones who had the courage to think and act differently. We stand on their shoulders and carry on their legacy – so the next generation has strong shoulders to stand on, too.

While the challenges remain, we stay grounded in our purpose and our values: Everyone matters. We take care of people, one person at a time. Everything matters. Our many voices and ideas generate innovation as we take care of our community. Every moment matters. We are here for each other in the moments that matter.

All of us who choose to do our life’s work at Winona Health are dedicated to this community. We appreciate being able to care for you and everyone in your family, and we appreciate your support of local care.

As we celebrate 130 years of caring for Winona, we are fortunate and grateful for the careful stewardship of our board of directors and the Winona Health Foundation. Winona Health belongs to this community, and we never take for granted your generosity and support. It is more important than ever. Thank you.

Rachelle Schultz, EdD President/CEO

Through this digital column, I hope to shine a light on what we’re working on both internally and beyond our walls in collaboration with other community-focused organizations.