The mission of Mille Lacs Health System is “To assist those residing in and visiting the Mille Lacs area in achieving and maintaining optimal health.” MLHS takes patient safety very seriously. In honor of Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 8^th – 14^th, we’d like to share some of the ways we help to ensure a safe experience for our patients.

Every year MLHS has a flu vaccine campaign to spread the word to the community and staff about the importance of getting a flu shot; to protect both yourself and others. Currently, 95% of MLHS staff have received their flu shot which is offered free to all employees.

A significant campaign that is ongoing is the “Clean Hands are Safe Hands” initiative. It is our practice to wash hands or use a foam sanitizer before entering patient rooms and frequently between tasks. MLHS has a Zero Harm goal and it starts with the simple things like clean hands, and larger practices include visitor restrictions during flu season, lifts to assist in moving patients safely, regular drills and skills fairs to prepare and practice for possible situations, and cross-training between departments.

In addition to Clinic and Acute Care services, MLHS also houses residents in our Long Term Care and Senior Care Units. We strive to protect these residents with private entrances to living quarters, shingles vaccines, and attention to security/privacy matters.

MLHS is an award-winning health system, and one of the recent awards related to patient safety is our Antibiotic Stewardship Bronze Award. The goal of the Antibiotic Stewardship program is to increase the optimal use of antibiotics, minimize unnecessary exposure to antibiotics, decrease the risk of adverse events, and decrease antimicrobial resistance due to improper antibiotic prescribing. This is an example of planning for both the current and long term health of our patients.

MLHS listens to our patients and our community. We are proud to work with our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) a group of community members and staff working together to create an environment where patients can feel they are listened to, cared about, and will have the best possible healthcare experience. We also want to hear from you with any compliments or concerns. You can contact our Quality Department at 320-532-2420 to share your feedback.