ESSENTIA HEALTH

Concerned about staff shortages, area hospitals brace for COVID-19 surge

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Area hospitals are bracing for a COVID-19 surge that will likely strain their resources. This comes at the heels of more patients than usual being seen for medical conditions not related to the coronavirus. “We’ve been very busy the last two to three months with non-COVID cases, and so the rise in COVID cases is just…

Essentia Health seeing unseasonably high cases of RSV in children

A local pediatrician says she's seeing more children getting admitted to the hospital for a respiratory-related illness

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Children across the metro are getting infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus, commonly known as RSV, earlier in the year than usual. “I’m definitely admitting children every single day with RSV and classically in years past, we would be admitting these kids in November and December and we’re seeing several a day that are getting admitted with…

United Way reaches 6,000 backpack goal during school supply drive

"They provide students with confidence when they throw them on their shoulders and it gets them excited about going back to school,"

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Essentia Health is helping United Way of Cass-Clay make sure no student is left behind with a big donation. Through generous community support, United Way of Cass-Clay is announcing they have reached their goal in helping students enrolled within Cass-Clay schools. “We met our goal of equipping 6,000 local K-12 students with backpacks. That all came…

Importance of protecting skin from the sun

Importance of Wearing Sunblock

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) –Essentia Health is helping bring awareness to the effects sun damage can have on the skin. As July is UV Safety Awareness Month, medical professionals are stressing the importance of wearing sunblock as well as sun protecting clothing on a daily basis. Medical staff say an ounce of sunscreen is sufficient enough for the whole body, but…

Essentia Health partners with West Fargo Public Schools for student vaccinations

"That partnership with West Fargo Public Schools to try to get kids back to as normal activities as possible."

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Children 12 and older throughout the metro are one step closer to becoming fully vaccinated against COVID-19. West Fargo Public Schools alongside Essentia Health are partnering up for a student vaccination clinic. The vaccines are available inside the former Gorman’s building to anyone throughout the community who meets eligibility requirements. Children 12 and older must be…

Talks Between Essentia Health & CommonSpirit Health End With No Deal

FARGO, N.D. — Negotiations between Essentia Health and CommonSpirit Health about merging come to an end with no agreement. CommonSpirit owns facilities operating under the CHI brand in North Dakota and Minnesota. The deal would have included CHI Saint Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck and thirteen critical access hospitals in addition to clinics and living communities. The organizations had signed…

Essentia Health offers post COVID-19 rehabilitation program

We're not just guessing at what the patient needs help with, we're letting real data drive how we're deciding to help them."

NORTH DAKOTA & MINNESOTA (KVRR) — Essentia Health launches a COVID-19 patient rehabilitation program for those suffering with long term effects from the virus. “I tell people he’s our blueprint. We know how to get somebody better with COVID from about as bad as you can have it and be as worn down from it as you can be,” Essentia…

Entities Welcome Walk-Ins for the COVID-19 Vaccine at Vaccination Center

FARGO, N.D. —  If you are still looking to get the COVID-19 vaccine, walk-ins are being accepted at the vaccination center in the former Gordman’s building in Fargo. Fargo Cass Public Health says walk-ins are welcome during clinic hours and they announced they are moving its vaccine operation to its main location next Monday. Essentia Health will accept walk-ins starting…

Essentia Health & Sanford Health share how J&J vaccine pause impacts ND & MN

"The incidents out of 6.8 million doses only have six reported cases. Again, it's exceedingly rare and how to even know if the two are related."

NORTH DAKOTA & MINNESOTA (KVRR) – As the FDA and CDC pause the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, local health care facilities are following their guidance. “The incidents out of 6.8 million doses only have six reported cases. Again, it’s exceedingly rare and how to even know if the two are related,” Essentia Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Vetter said….