More than 250 people from the community gathered for the CentraCare annual benefit breakfast at River City Extreme in Monticello.

 

This year’s theme was called “We are better together,” and a number of guest speakers talked about how CentraCare has partnered with other organizations, businesses, the city and county and individuals to make it a true community.

 

“Communion means we work together in mind body, and spirit as we address our issues,” said CentraCare Health President and CEO, Ken Holmen. “The work we do together describes our spirit, it describes our community, describes our culture. It helps us understand why we invest in healthcare resources in traditional ways  - in hospitals and emergency rooms, but also in non traditional ways - Bounce Back, school programs, senior citizens programs. In other words, we are better together.”

 

CentraCare - Monticello Co-Administrator Brian Bauck told a story about being a seven-year old and deciding to no longer take part in Meals on Wheels.

 

“My parents sat me down and told me it’s important that communities to work together; it’s important to provide a hot meal to somebody who doesn’t have access to it; it’s important that we support kids getting a great education in our community,” he said. “And it’s important that we make sure people have access to quality healthcare.”

 

He said those words have stayed with him all these years, and now he thanked everyone for their support in building the community.

 

He said he has hopes for even bigger things in the future. 

 

“I envision a future with care closer to home. People have said they dont want to drive 50, 60, 70 or 100 miles to receive care,” he said. “I envision a day when we expand our partnerships - virtual health, tele-health and partnerships on campus to assure you can get the care you need as close to home as possible.”

 

He said he is proud of what CentraCare has accomplished and is now in the process of doing. And he was proud of the community.

 

“I’m proud to be with a group of people who are passionate about making the community you live in, work in and raise your kids in, better,” he said.

 

There were video presentations about how CentraCare in Monticello touches the lives of people in the community, like expanding the Bounce Back Book Read program to inmates.

 

There was a story about Jack, a man who was experiencing kidney failure and had a bad infection in his leg. He was helped by hyperbaric oxygen treatments in Monticello that allowed him to be put on the kidney donor list.

 

There was the story of Bruce Hanson who had a stroke at work and was taken to the Monticello emergency room. He was saved by the quick response by hospital personnel and telecommunications with a stroke neurologist in St. Cloud.

 

“It’s a blessing to have such a caring, highly qualified and knowledgeable hospital in our community,” said his wife, Ellen.

 

Pat O’Donnell, a board member on the hospital operations committee, said he had his leg put back together at Monticello CentraCareafter a soccer injury. He said his daughter, who lives in Crystal, came back to CentraCare in Monticello to have her child.

 

“After doing research, the birthing center here was the best option,” he said.

 

O’Donnell said as a member of the operating committee, he learned a lot about the hospital and how it works.

 

“The hospital operates on a low margin,” he said. It’s efficient. It truly is a non-profit entity.”

 

He said that’s why it’s so important to continue to support the hospital as another vital member of the community.

 

“There’s not a lot of money being collected off Monticello patients that’s going to some big corporation  somewhere else. It’s being used here to operate as best and efficiently as possible to give everybody the best care,” he said. “Your financial investment will support our mission of saving lives and making lives better here in our local communities.”