Within Our Walls: July 18, 2022

If you have been to the emergency room, or hospital this year, you may have noticed some new faces.

In January, CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington initiated an ER/Hospitalist program. The program is designed to have one provider on for one week at a time to not only cover the emergency room, but to also cover the hospital.

Historically, patients with critical conditions, or conditions that require constant monitoring, have needed to be sent to the larger tertiary centers for specialized care. Our hope with this new program, is that some of these patients will be able to be cared for in Carrington. We feel this is achievable as we now have dedicated providers who are able to focus their attention on the hospital patients.

This position also allows for continuity of care for our patients. If you are seen in the emergency room and admitted to the hospital, you will be cared for by the same provider. Continuity of care is also accomplished through collaboration efforts with the providers in the clinic.

The ER/Hospitalist collaborates with the clinic providers so that patients can be assured that their primary provider is being involved in their plan of care. Your primary provider will be notified when you are admitted to the hospital, so that they may stop down and check on you.

Carrington currently has two full-time ER/Hospitalists on staff, and a letter of intent for another to start in 2023. Current negotiations are being done to employ one more ER/Hospitalist to help fill in when staffing issues arise.

Our first ER/Hospitalist is Ryan Keffeler DNP. Ryan joined our team in October. He graduated from the University of Mary's Doctorate of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner program in April 2021. He brings with him 17 years of nursing experience.

Prior to coming to Carrington, Ryan worked as an ER Nurse and Nurse Supervisor for Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Our second ER/Hospitalist is Shawna Dobrzelecki FNP. Shawna joined our team in April. She brings with her over 14 years' experience as a Nurse Practitioner.

Prior to coming to Carrington, Shawna worked Urgent Care at CHI St. Alexius Health Urgent Care in Bismarck. Shawna has also previous worked in the emergency department at Trinity Health in Minot.

We are excited to start this program and to continue to provide excellent care Within Our Walls to our community and the surrounding service area.