Wilderness Health news

The Arrowhead region of Minnesota is disproportionately impacted by substance use disorders (SUDs). Wilderness Health data shows higher rates of adults with SUD and mental illness than the state average. For children, our region has higher rates of child protection involvement, as well as parental SUD and mental illness. Pregnant individuals impacted by SUD may face stigma and fear when seeking healthcare. These factors may prevent patients from attending prenatal appointments.

The aim of our surveys and listening sessions was to identify the gaps, barriers, and perspectives related to perinatal substance use from healthcare workers, community members, and individuals with lived experience. Analysis of this information allows us to gain a wholistic view of the landscape and accurately curate education, training, and harm reduction resources for our community and healthcare partners that Wilderness Health serves.

In 2024 Wilderness Health hosted five community listening sessions across Northeastern Minnesota.
These were held in Silver Bay (Lake County); Ely, Virginia, and Hibbing (Northern St. Louis County);
and Cohasset (Itasca County). We believe that inviting community members to have a say in their care is
the best way to create care that works.

People across the Northland are waiting several months for their first therapy appointment. Wilderness Health has worked with its member hospitals and software Adaptive Telehealth to cut wait times and meet the needs of patients. Now, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital has access to a new resource, the Ambulatory Therapy and Diagnostic Assessment program, to support the Ely community.

Healthcare is becoming more complicated and expensive, with longer waits to see a doctor. Minnesota hospitals (and state and county government) are looking for better ways to keep us healthy. Community health workers are an important part of the solution. Creighton University Public Health senior Daylen Kallberg, of Duluth, MN presented research exploring the work of community health workers to healthcare leaders and community partners on August 6, 2024 at a Wilderness Health meeting. Daylen also presented to the Wilderness Board of Directors on August 20.

Cohasset, Minn. – Mental and behavioral health needs remain a challenge throughout the state of Minnesota, and the unique needs of rural Minnesotans require targeted attention. To learn more about the needs of residents of Itasca County, Wilderness Health invited community members to share their stories and help shape the future of mental health care. The listening session was held on Monday, July 29th at the Bass Brook Community Center in Cohasset, MN. This was the fifth event in a series held across Northeastern Minnesota.

Hibbing, Minn. – Mental and behavioral health needs remain a challenge throughout the state of Minnesota, and the unique needs of rural Minnesotans require targeted attention. To learn more about the needs of residents of Northern St. Louis County, Wilderness Health invited community members to share their stories and help shape the future of mental health care. The listening session was held on Tuesday, July 23rd at The Androy by Boomtown in Hibbing. This was the fourth event in a series being held across Northeastern Minnesota.

Virginia, Minn. – Mental and behavioral health needs remain a challenge throughout the state of Minnesota, and the unique needs of rural Minnesotans require targeted attention.  To learn more about the needs of residents of Northern St. Louis County, Wilderness Health invited community members to share their stories and help shape the future of mental health care. The listening session was held on Wednesday, July 10th at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia, MN. This was the third event in a series being held across Northeastern Minnesota.

Ely, Minn. – Mental and behavioral health needs remain a challenge throughout the state of Minnesota, and the unique needs of rural Minnesotans require targeted attention.  To learn more about the needs of residents of Northern St. Louis County, Wilderness Health invited community members to share their stories and help shape the future of mental health care. The listening session was held on Friday, June 28th at the Ely Senior Center in Ely, MN. This was the second event in a series being held across Northeastern Minnesota.

On 21 May 2024. Alexis Sininger, Program Associate at Wilderness Health and Mauro Pratt, AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) at Wilderness Health co-presented at the Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center (gpTRAC) Telehealth Everywhere Splash Session’s annual regional telehealth conference. It is hosted by two federally funded telehealth resource centers that cover six states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and North & South Dakota) and is located at the University of Minnesota.