North Shore Health, Cook County

12/26/2025

Here is the new NSH Call For Artists for our February- May 2026 show. Submissions due by January 26th. See the flyer for details.

Please share with your artist friends, family and associates.

For questions and to submit work, contact Danielle.Hefferan@northshorehealthgm.org

12/23/2025

From your friends at North Shore Health, we wish you all a happy and healthy holiday! Have fun and stay safe!

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org

12/19/2025

Thank you to NSH EMS Director Karla Pankow and the 11 dedicated students from across Cook County for your commitment to Emergency Medical Response. You are critical responders within community and keep everyone safer. Thank you.

An Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course recently concluded at North Shore Health in Grand Marais, with 11 students completing the training under Cook County EMS Director Karla Pankow - Boreal - Dec 19, 2025

12/16/2025

North Shore Health EMS is hosting a FREE Wilderness First Responder Skills Course on Saturday, January 17th from 1pm-5pm.

This hands-on class covers real-world skills like environmental emergencies, wound care, splinting, and stop-the-bleed techniques—designed for when access to care is delayed.

Open to Wilderness Responders, EMS Providers, Fire & Rescue Groups, and Anyone Interested in Learning New Skills.

Limited to 20 participants

Register by Jan 14th by contacting: Karla.Pankow@northshorehealthgm.org

Learn the skills. Build confidence. Be prepared.

See flyer for details.

12/11/2025

North Shore Living December 2025 Activities Calendar

Winter Fun at the Care Center!

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org

12/11/2025

North Shore Living
November 2025 Newsletter
Jean Marie Modl

The whole town of Grand Marais had a great Halloween this year. The streets were alive with Darth Vaders, Spider Mans, Princesses, Dinosaurs, and so many other characters. The weather was cool and damp, but there was no heavy rain or snow.

At the Care Center we had an amazing Medium named Sierra Coy read Tarot Cards and predict futures. Sierra was a big hit. Ruth and I carved a Jack O Lantern, with all hands in to enjoy the fresh pumpkin smell and wonderful slimy feel of pumpkin guts. We had Halloween movies and special treats. Then our music man Tom Novotny put together a special Happy Hour for us, leading with the Monster Mash and other holiday favorites. Tom was dressed as a wizard for his performance. We had savory treats during Halloween Happy Hour: meat and cheese, crackers, hummus, and pickles.

For Veterans Day, five local veterans visited the Care Center. Each veteran introduced themselves and told a little bit about their service experience. This simple ceremony was quite moving. The veterans also listened carefully to concerns expressed by veterans who live at the Care Center. Small American flags were shared with the residents.

Staff, family, friends, and volunteers pitched in to create a very special Thanksgiving Day at the Care Center. We feasted on traditional holiday foods, laughed at each other’s stories, and even played some Thanksgiving Day BINGO in the afternoon. It was a fun day.

Dog and cat visits to the Care Center have become more frequent in the past couple months, more dogs than cats. We are an animal friendly place as long as the animals are quiet and gentle with everyone all the time. We have used robotic cats and dogs with some success but there is nothing like the real thing. The attention and gentle warmth of a real animal is important to our sense of ourselves, it helps define our humanity.

We will be busy now getting ready to celebrate Hannukah and Christmas. We will be decorating, planning meals and treats, choosing and wrapping gifts, plus celebrating with special games and music. We look forward to sharing our holiday stories with you. Happy Holidays!

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org/

12/11/2025

Here is a link to a recent WTIP article and interview with NSH CEO/Administrator Kimber Wraalstad discussing agenda items from the November Board meeting, including:
- Update and next steps on organizational culture work
- Process for ongoing work to keep Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and NSH record systems connected
-Strategic planning for 2026

https://wtip.org/nsh-exploring-second-phase-of-culture-improvement/

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org/

Public concerns about a toxic workplace culture prompted North Shore Health to launch a “Culture Transformation Project” earlier this year. Bill Auxier, president and CEO of the Center for Rural Health Leadership, led the effort and presented an update to the hospital board in November based on ...

12/10/2025

Check out this informative interview and article from WTIP with NSH Rehabilitation Director, Patrick O'Neil. The interview gives an overview of the different types of rehabilitation services offered and celebrates 2025 successes including: growth in pediatric services, the addition of two new therapists, and a handful of new services offered locally. Thanks for all your hard work!

https://wtip.org/increased-housing-fuel-rehab-expansion-at-nsh/

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org

Housing development in Cook County is helping North Shore Health recruit therapists and expand rehabilitation services. The hospital previously employed about seven therapists, but added five more this summer. Housing availability played a key role in staffing, according to Patrick O’Neil, the dir...

10/31/2025

North Shore Living
October 2025 Newsletter
Jean Marie Modl

October has been a month of music and movement at North Shore Living, the Care Center. BINGO and POKENO games give our week structure and routine, but it is the live music and movement that residents really look forward to each day.

Cellist Wilhelmina Smith graced our Care Center with beautiful music early this month. Funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board and the National Endowment for the Arts, Wilhelmina performed music by Victoria Yagling, a Finnish woman of Ukrainian, Russian, and Jewish heritage. Yagling lived from 1946 to 2011 and was recently rediscovered by Finnish publisher Fennica Gehrman. The music was technically advanced and musically sophisticated. Melody was shared in bits and pieces. Wilhelmina encored with Bach. It was a very special performance.

We were treated to a special OKTOBERFEST Happy Hour with Tom Novotny this month. We enjoyed polka music from all over the world. Refreshments were tavern fare: bratwurst, pickles, corn chips, humus, cheese and crackers, plus a good light beer. The dark German beer was not a big hit with the residents last year so we tried Summit’s Extra Pale Ale this year and it was well received. A good time was had by all.
The Portage Band once again entertained us on a Friday evening at the Care Center. Take great music, add important personal connections and history, plus wonderful graceful movement, and you have a very special community event.

Daily Morning Stretches with colorful Styrofoam noodles have felt very good. These are chair exercises that stretch and flex different parts of the body from head to toe. Recently, a resident has been sharing music with the group which has added entertainment, rhythm, and surprise to our movement. On occasion, the nursing staff and dietary staff will surround our exercise circle with their own graceful movements and smiling faces.
We hope you had a great Halloween. We enjoyed treats, games, movies, carving pumpkins, and good company at the care center. We even had a special Happy Hour to celebrate Halloween.

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org

10/22/2025

North Shore Health EMS had the pleasure of working with Tofte Rescue on their EMR refresher certification course.

Emergency Medical Responders are required to renew their certification every two years to stay current with patient assessments, basic life support techniques, medical emergencies, trauma care, CPR, and field operations.

Great work to Tofte Rescue – thank you for your continued dedication to your community!

- Karla, Director of EMS

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org

10/17/2025

Here is a link to a recent WTIP article and interview with NSH Board Chair Randy Wiitala, Consultant Matt Anderson and NSH CEO/Administrator Kimber Wraalstad.

Consultant helps North Shore Health Board navigate first year with new members

https://wtip.org/consultant-helps-north-shore-health-board-navigate-first-year-with-new-members/

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org

During the March 20 North Shore Health Board meeting, Chair Randy Wiitala recommended contracting with Matt Anderson of Atrede Consulting to provide board governance coaching. Anderson, who had presented the previous month on the role of hospital boards, was already familiar to all members. Wiitala....

10/17/2025

GETTING TO KNOW NORTH SHORE HEALTH

Investing in Care: North Shore Health Purchases Bunkhouse to Support Staff Housing

By Meghan Flynn, Facility Education Coordinator

Finding affordable, reliable housing has long been one of the greatest challenges for professionals who want to work in Cook County. North Shore Health (NSH) has faced this barrier for years as it seeks to recruit and retain qualified staff to provide vital services in our community.

North Shore Health employs permanent staff who live in Cook County year-round; some of the permanent and casual employees live far away and need to stay near the hospital when on call, for inclement weather occasions and to fill in when coming to work for a stretch. Likewise, NSH relies on agency and casual employees to fill positions to provide essential services for Cook County residents. Nurses, aides, lab scientists, radiology techs and emergency responders travel long distances to bring their expertise to Cook County. Agency professionals rotate in on 13-week contracts, with some extending their time here for multiple assignments, though agency staff can only stay up to one year before leaving the area. These staff work year-round, ensuring consistent coverage across specialized services and stepping in where permanent staffing alone cannot meet demand.

This summer, NSH took a major step forward by purchasing the property known as the Bunkhouse at 120 W. 2nd Street in Grand Marais. The former Cavallin Funeral Home has been used for seasonal lodging for J-1 visa workers, and most recently served as a rental for international college students working summer jobs in the area and other area workers.

In July 2025, after a thorough inspection by then–NSH Facilities Director Jason Hofker and a detailed financial analysis by NSH CFO Nicole Siegner, the NSH Board of Directors approved the purchase for $380,000. An additional $30,000 was authorized to replace the roof shingles and address other maintenance needs. The expected closing is October 31, 2025.

The lack of affordable housing has made it difficult to attract and keep professionals. Many have struggled to find accommodations, especially during the busy tourist season. The Bunkhouse will directly address this challenge by providing convenient, transitional housing for agency and casual staff, making it easier for them to live and work in Grand Marais. In addition, NSH is actively recruiting family members of current employees from other countries, and the Bunkhouse will offer them a safe and welcoming place to stay as they begin their new lives in the United States. The Bunkhouse provides a stable housing option, reducing barriers to recruitment and helping NSH continue to provide high-quality care to the community.

The purchase was funded from NSH’s “Cash and Cash Equivalents” balance sheet line item — dollars not otherwise committed to capital priorities, ensuring that long-term planning remains intact. Ongoing costs will be built into the annual capital planning process, drawing from prior ownership data for realistic budgeting.

The Bunkhouse comes furnished, requires no zoning changes, and can be maintained with current NSH Facilities Department capacity. It will not be managed as an Airbnb or VRBO property. Instead, Human Resources and department leaders will determine occupancy based on staffing priorities, with a focus on temporary, transitional, and on-call personnel.

Strengthening the community

By investing in housing for health care workers, NSH is investing in the health and stability of the entire community. With improved access to housing, we can recruit and retain the staff necessary to sustain services such as emergency care, swing bed recovery, chemotherapy, colonoscopy clinics, and more.

As CFO Nicole Siegner noted in her financial review, the Bunkhouse purchase is “a cost-effective solution that aligns with NSH’s overall staffing strategy and reduces barriers to care.”

Looking ahead

The Bunkhouse is more than a building — it’s a commitment to ensuring that Cook County continues to have the staff, expertise, and stability needed to deliver quality health care close to home. By supporting our staff with stable housing, NSH can maintain services, keep more residents close to home during recovery, and provide a strong foundation for future recruitment and retention.

For more information, visit: https://www.northshorehealthgm.org. Stay tuned for future informative Getting to Know North Shore Health articles published monthly in the Cook County News Herald.

https://www.northshorehealthgm.org