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Welcome to Jaya Kumar, MD, MBA, who will be joining our health system as Fairview’s new chief medical officer (CMO) on May 6. Kumar, a board-certified internist and nephrologist, has a remarkable and extensive track record in healthcare leadership, quality improvement, physician engagement, and establishing effective multidisciplinary teams. She previously served as CMO at Swedish Medical Center in Colorado, a renowned institution known for excellence in patient care and clinical outcomes. She will replace outgoing CMO Mark Welton, MD, who will retire in June. "Fairview has made incredible progress in redefining the standard of healthcare delivery,” said Kumar. “Joining this esteemed team presents an important opportunity to help bolster that work to support our medical providers, and to ensure every patient receives the quality care they deserve." "We are delighted to welcome Dr. Jaya Kumar to the Fairview team," said James Hereford, Fairview president and CEO. "Her exceptional leadership skills, clinical expertise, and passion for advancing healthcare equity make her the ideal candidate to lead our medical team into the future."
We are thrilled to share that the M Health Fairview Clinic – Highland Park building was nationally recognized by Healthcare Real Estate Insights earlier this year as a “Best New Medical Office Building and Other Outpatient Facilities” winner. Our neighborhood clinic re-opened at its new Highland Bridge location in 2023, where it continues to provide high-quality primary care and physical therapy services while expanding local access to women’s health, and mental healthcare. The award honors the collaboration with our partners at Ryan Companies US, Inc. to develop a top-of-the-line medical facility for our patients and community. Congratulations to everyone who made this possible! Learn more about our Highland Park Clinic here. ➡ https://bit.ly/4cRuJZB
Last week, our partners with the 3M Open teed up an incredible event for patients and families at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital. The 3M Open Fund presented a $365,000 gift to support patient care in several areas across M Health Fairview including mental and behavioral health, food access programs, programming and special spaces at our children’s hospital. Afterwards, volunteers hosted special giveaways, fun food, and golf -themed activities to brighten the day for our patients and families. “Partnership takes commitment, and I am just so grateful to the commitment that 3M has made to M Health Fairview and M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital,” said James Hereford, president and CEO of Fairview Health Services. The life-changing care and research we provide would not be possible without the support of our community. Thank you to our partners, volunteers, and staff who made this day special. ⛳
Emergency department visits are increasing. The recently renovated emergency department (ED) at M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital is designed to improve access to patient care and safety with eight new rooms to help address crowding in our ED. “The additional rooms bring our total capacity to 23 beds, which will improve patient flow, but we continue to advocate for policies and partnerships to further improve the crowding we are experiencing.” But new construction is only part of the solution. We continue to raise awareness for the growing demands of emergency departments, calling on community partners, lawmakers, and other segments of our broader health system to support the growing needs of our community. “I hope others will join our collective efforts to ensure the well-being and comfort of every individual who walks through our doors,” said Jennifer Meagher, nurse director at Woodwinds. ➡ https://bit.ly/3v6CZUV hashtag#EmergencyMedicine | hashtag#EmergencyDepartment
Heart care teams at M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital completed their 800th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure in January. For 87-year-old Audrey Olsen, the milestone means getting back to doing what she loves, which includes volunteering at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Before the procedure, aortic stenosis prevented Olsen from walking 10 steps before getting breathless. Just three days after, she felt strong enough to walk 50 feet without getting winded. “It’s a big difference from open-heart surgery, which has much longer recovery times,” said Marat Yanavitski, MD, the cardiologist who led Audrey's TAVR procedure. Though she is still recovering, Olsen expects to be back volunteering at the science museum in the next few weeks. Her doctor agrees. “My expectation is that she will be back there and hopefully feel a lot better soon,” Yanavitski said. Read her story and help us congratulate our teams for this incredible achievement.
Now open: The new M Health Fairview Pediatric Specialty Clinic – Minnetonka provides heart care to children and families in a convenient location in the west metro. Our Minnetonka clinic brings services typically only available in hospitals or specialty centers to the western suburbs. Services include echocardiography and electrocardiogram (EKG) technology. This clinic opening is part of our ongoing commitment to make comprehensive specialty care more accessible by broadening our geographic reach. A similar clinic focused on pediatric heart care opened in Hudson, Wis. in 2023.
Saving 2-week-old Maddy Smith from a rare genetic heart failure didn’t come down to one person or one decision. Swift action from her parents, an emergency department team, and the heart care experts with M Health Fairview Pediatrics put Maddy on the best path forward. Last September, she received a heart transplant at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital. Where is she now? Maddy just celebrated her first birthday with her new heart – and a full life ahead of her. “It requires a village and we have built that village,” said Pranava Sinha, MD, a pediatric heart transplant surgeon with M Health Fairview Pediatrics and division chief of pediatric cardiac surgery with the University of Minnesota Medical School. hashtag#HeartTransplant | hashtag#PediatricHeartSurgery | hashtag#HeartMonth
Crowding and capacity strains at hospital emergency departments are complex challenges we face every day. A new short-stay observation unit opening next week at M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood is one way we’re confronting these issues while improving patient care. Designed for comfort, mobility, and flexibility, the 16-bed unit will reduce emergency department wait times and improve the patient experience. The project itself followed innovative construction standards. It was designed and built to 90% completion offsite by The Boldt Company and HGA, then seamlessly transported and installed on the St. John’s campus. The result? A new patient care unit without major disruptions to hospital services. "In the face of escalating patient visits, our ED and inpatient medicine teams have been proactive and innovative in their response,” said Will Nicholson, MD, vice president of medical affairs for M Health Fairview St. John’s, Woodwinds, and Bethesda Hospitals.
Last week, nurses from our community clinical care team led a naloxone education event at Washington Tech Magnet School. Fairview nurse educators presented to students in their Intro to Healthcare Careers class about what naloxone is and how to use it to reverse opioid overdoses and save lives. The students did interactive exercises and learned how to administer both the nasal and the injectable forms of naloxone. “As the opioid crisis continues in Minnesota, it’s crucial that people of all ages know how to administer naloxone,” said Ingrid Johansen, director of community clinical care at M Health Fairview. “Having this knowledge really can make the difference in saving a life.” Fairview is leading these educational events in partnership with the Steve Rummler HOPE Network. This new education initiative encourages open and honest dialogue among teenagers about substance use, addiction, and mental health, which is essential for breaking down barriers, reducing stigma, and promoting understanding within the community.
Inspiration, community, and partnership. All three were at the heart of a Karen New Year’s celebration at the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub last week. Together with the Karen Organization of Minnesota, our health system welcomed dozens of community members for a traditional Karen meal while speakers celebrated a 15-year partnership that has made us a trusted healthcare resource and community anchor for the Karen community. From free vaccine clinics and COVID-19 outreach to our cultural brokers advocating for the needs of the community, this event represents the deep roots we have in the communities we serve.
