cover story one
Health Care Affordability
A new statewide initiative
By Matthew Anderson, JD, AND Sheila Kiscaden
Health care affordability remains a defining quality of life challenge for many Minnesotans and a perennial policy challenge for our state as a whole. Patients struggle with higher and higher deductibles and prescription drug costs. Employers face year-over-year premium increases that far outpace inflation. Public programs consume an ever-growing share of state and federal budgets, squeezing out resources from other high-priority community needs.
Cover story two
It’s Time to Heal, Minnesota: Dealing with societal trauma
By Marcus Schmit
Minnesota has been through a lot. That is not hyperbole — it is a straightforward description of what this state has experienced over the past six years, and what the people who live and work here have had to absorb, often without fully realizing the toll it was taking.
Pain Medicine
Bridging the Gap: Multidisciplinary Pain Management
By Larry Studt, MD
Consider a typical chronic pain patient. Now in her late 60s, years of lower back pain have narrowed her once vibrant lifestyle full of family events, volunteering, hobbies and outdoor activities into a constant struggle for relief. Her sleep suffers, so on top of hurting, she's tired all the time. Stretching exercises, physical therapy, a litany of medications and even surgery may have helped for a while, but the pain is still nagging.
Interview
The Intersection of Health Care and Public Safety
Dylan Ferguson, Director, Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services
Health Care Architecture Honor Roll
By
Minnesota Physician Publishing
For the past 38 years, Minnesota Physician’s Health Care Architecture Honor Roll has recognized outstanding achievement in new facilities design. Medicaid funding cuts have put unprecedented financial strain on hospitals and clinics, ignoring how this affects many fundamental elements of delivering health care that requires a physical structure. Population growth and larger physical spaces to accommodate modern and constantly evolving technology, coupled with the natural process of buildings aging and becoming obsolete, requires ongoing new construction and remodeling. These considerations can be seen in many of the projects featured this year. Our thanks to all those who participated in the nomination and production process of presenting this year’s Honor Roll.
