The practice will initially be located in leased space in the center of the commercial district. Long-range plans call for building a new clinic on four acres north of Elko Speedway off County Road 2.

This will be the fifth FamilyHealth Medical Clinic in the Northfield Hospital & Clinics network. The others are in Northfield, Lonsdale, Lakeville and Farmington.

The new center features two sleep suites that promise a hotel-like experience. Each is tastefully decorated and equipped with comfortable Sleep Number double beds. The suites have private baths and business workstations. They are climate controlled and soundproof with special lighting that can replicate patients’ sleeping conditions at home. All of the testing equipment is discreetly stored behind cabinets and walls. 

“The sleep center, with all of these enhancements, allows for more precise testing,” said Stacey Zell, a respiratory therapist at Northfield Hospital.  “The new center is more secluded and insulated from the general hum of the hospital. It will produce a more nuanced test, tailored to the patient’s condition.”

Research is just beginning to unravel the mysterious association between sleep patterns and overall health. Sleep disorders have been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. It is also known to play a critical role in mental health.

Bryan Hoff, MD, medical director of the Sleep Center, said sleep is a core building block for good health. We don’t yet know what it does for us specifically, but we know we need it.

“It’s like eating the right food – the body does better with the right fuel,” he said. “It’s oil for the engine. Sleep seems to keep everything humming.  Without the right amount of quality sleep, the body starts to experience problems such as increased appetite, difficulty focusing, and, for some, irritability.”

The Centers for Disease Control estimates between 50 and 70 million Americans suffer from some kind of sleep disorder, anything from obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia to teeth clenching and sleep related eating disorders.

Northfield Hospital’s Sleep Center uses state-of the-art equipment and best practices to monitor sleep patterns in real time. The testing is done over an eight to nine hour period. Typically, patients arrive at the Sleep Center around eight or nine at night. A sleep study technician arranges the sensors to monitor heart rate, oxygen levels and eye movement while the patient sleeps. The technician monitors them from a workstation outside the sleep suite.

Patients are usually able to leave by 5 or 6 a.m. A breakfast bar is available for quick start to the day. The new center also accommodates daytime testing, something Northfield Hospital was not able to do before.

A referral from a healthcare provider is required for a sleep study Most health plans cover the study.

For more information about the Sleep Center, contact Zell at 507-646-1194.

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She announced her plans at the October meeting of the Northfield Hospital & Clinics’ board of directors.

“I have been blessed to help lead one of the most impressive, competent, committed and hard working group of leaders that any organization could hope for,” Quinn Crow said. “Looking back, I am grateful to have had this amazing experience. It leaves me both humbled and a little breathless.”  

Mark Henke, President and CEO, said while Quinn Crow’s retirement was anticipated, it is difficult to imagine life at the hospital without her guiding hand.

“Mary has been a pillar of this organization, and she has been a role model of our values and our philosophy of patient-centered care,” he said. “Her nursing and leadership skills and her team approach have benefitted our patients, organization, and community for more than three decades. “

Quinn Crow began her career at Northfield Hospital in 1980 when she worked nights in the obstetrics department, providing care to mothers and newborns. She worked as a staff nurse for several years and then served as director of the department for 10 years as it evolved into First Touch Birth Center.

She moved into hospital administration in 1994, serving along side former CEO Ken Bank and former CFO Roger Stapek for 16 years. During their joint tenure, plans for a new hospital and clinic network became a reality.

“Our goal was to create an environment where patients could be healed through its state-of-the-art technology, its calming atmosphere and its connection to nature,” she said. “Healing as happened here in so many ways.”

Quinn Crow praised the hospital’s leadership team and staff for their competence and commitment, community physicians for their commitment to quality and for their collaborative spirit, and board members for their dedication and perseverance.

“I am so proud to have been part of this team,” she said.

Quinn Crow’s retirement will coincide with the completion of the clinic expansion project for Infusion Services/Chemotherapy and the Sleep Center. She has been leading that project.

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Beginning in January, she will assume management responsibility for the organization’s primary and specialty clinics. Meier will be in charge of FamilyHealth Medical Clinics in Northfield, Lonsdale, Lakeville and Farmington; Women’s Health Center; Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic; and Northfield Eye Physicians & Surgeons, as well as oversight of the Center for Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation in both Northfield and Lakeville

Since 2007 Meier has served Northfield Hospital & Clinics as Division Administrator for Ancillary Services. Her previous experience includes a number of clinical and administrative roles at Owatonna Hospital, including Ambulatory Services Director and Patient Care Services Director. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Winona State University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.

“We are delighted to find someone within our organization who has the skills to develop our clinic practices in all of the communities we serve,” said Mark Henke, President and CEO of Northfield Hospital & Clinics. “Kathleen has the experience and expertise to guide our clinics through the next stage of their development.”

Kaleidoscope is located near the main entrance of Northfield Hospital and is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The fun of shopping at Kaleidoscope is not just for hospital visitors and employees – it’s for everyone! Students are welcome.

For more information, call Kaleidoscope  at 507-646-1083.

Classes offered throughout the year include:

• Pregnancy Plus – a new class option for couples in early to mid-pregnancy
• Prepared Childbirth
• Breastfeeding Basics
• Baby Basics

Classes specially designed for teen and Latino parents are also available.

To download the flyer, click here.

To register for classes or for more information, call 507-646-1035. Queries can also be sent by email.

• Northfield
• Lonsdale
• Farmington
• Lakeville

Annual flu shots are recommended for everyone six months of age and older. If you have an appointment with a provider, you can get your flu shot during your regular appointment.

Flu shots will cost $25 ($30 for flu mist), or can be processed via your insurance.

FamilyHealth Medical Clinic is a service of Northfield Hospital & Clinics.

     Nutrition therapists Kristi Von Ruden, L.D., R.D., and Courtney Eby, L.D., R.D., will discuss key nutrition topics, such as Portion Sizes and Label Reading, The Skinny on Fat, Fiber and Sugar; and Emotional Eating.

    Von Ruden says that understanding our bodies’ needs and the consequences of taking nutritional shortcuts are important to maintaining good health and weight, as well as avoiding chronic disease.

   “We live in a culture that tries to persuade us that bigger is better, but we need to be in charge of the food choices we make,” she said.

   The fee for the series is $40; employees and family members will receive a 50 percent discount. One and a half CEU credits will be available for each session at no additional charge.

   Space is limited. To register, call Nancy at 1035 or e-mail to: moen@northfieldhospital.org..

Those scheduling mammograms October 3 & 4, 11 & 12, 18–20, or 26–28 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. will be treated to a mini-massage, complimentary specialty beverages and treats, and a parting gift. Evening appointments are available on Thursday, Oct. 27, but the massage will not be available.

Sandy Mulford, director of Diagnostic Imaging at Northfield Hospital, said the “spa event” is an effort to encourage women to have an annual exam. Early detection can save lives and increase treatment options, she said.

The Breast Care Center features a direct-digital mammogram unit with a mammo pad for extra comfort. The direct digital system provides a clearer image and more detail. This leads to more accurate diagnoses and the ability to detect cancers at an earlier stage.

“The goal of screening exams is to find cancer before symptoms are expressed,” Mulford said. “Early detection saves many thousands of lives each year. Following the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for screenings improves the chances that breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully.”

The American Cancer Society guidelines recommend annual screening beginning at age 40, or earlier for women with certain risk factors. More information on screening guidelines is available here.

To make your appointment, call 507-646-1143.