(Duluth, Minn.) – A major state grant promises to increase efficiency, enhance quality, and improve employee satisfaction at St. Luke’s, one of the region’s largest health care systems. The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) has awarded a $287,897 grant to Lake Superior College to develop “Lean Healthcare” training for St. Luke’s hospital and clinics.

A grant-signing ceremony will celebrate this collaboration on Thursday, May 15, at 2 p.m. in St. Luke’s 3 East Conference Room with Dr. Kathleen Nelson, Lake Superior College president; St. Luke’s President and Chief Executive Officer John Strange; and Paul Moe, director of Minnesota Job Skills Partnership program, presiding.

“We are excited to partner with Lake Superior College through the MJSP grant to implement Lean Healthcare principles,” said Strange. “It gives us a common approach to improving processes for the care of our patients through the St. Luke’s system.”

Over the course of the three-year grant, 192 St. Luke’s employees will learn the Lean Healthcare principles and share them across the health system. “St. Luke’s is implementing Lean Healthcare in response to the increased industry pressure to serve their clients more efficiently, while improving quality and reducing costs,” said Nelson. By eliminating unnecessary steps and having the right resources at the right time, employees will be more satisfied with their work. Patients will ultimately benefit from a more effective and efficient health care provider.

Health care experts around the country are embracing the Lean Healthcare concept, which was originally based on the Toyota production system for improving manufacturing processes.

The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership acts as a catalyst between business and education in developing cooperative training projects that provide new job training or retraining of existing employees. MJSP grants are given to educational institutions with businesses as partners. The program is part of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the state’s principal economic development agency.

St. Luke’s, a comprehensive regional health care system, has built a reputation on providing quality care and putting the patient first. St. Luke’s hospital, along with 34 primary and specialty care clinics, offers a comprehensive continuum of care that includes trauma, medical, surgical, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehab services in the Twin Ports and the 17-county region of northeastern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

This year’s event will take place in the indoor mall courtyard in front of Barnes and Noble at the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth, Minnesota. Competition starts at noon and continues until a champion is crowned. The competition is free and open to the public.

According to LSC Integrated Manufacturing instructor Mike Koppy, robot competitions have proven to be an excellent way to interest students in manufacturing and engineering programs. “Last year, this event attracted middle school students and high school students as well as college teams,” Koppy reports. “We expect the event to continue to grow.”

The tournament is sponsored by the Midwest Robotics League and the LSC Integrated Manufacturing program.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

Photo caption: LSC students Cheng Vang and Kenny Heehn make adjustments to “Extinguisher,” their entry in the “Battle of the Bots.”

Activities include a car corral, swap meet, tool and parts vendor booths, door prizes, pipe-rapping contests, auto body and auto service demos, a silent auction for parts cars and used equipment, and a “sledge hammer” car. Class trophies and a trophy for the most eco-friendly vehicle will be awarded.

The car show is free and open to the public. Swap meet and car corral spots are $10 each. Vehicle registration is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and awards will be presented at 4:15 p.m.

To reserve a spot or for more information, contact Dennis Godfrey at (218) 733-7602 or d.godfrey@lsc.edu.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

More than 1,000 degrees, diplomas, and certificates will be awarded to members of the class of 2008. Approximately 450 students are scheduled to participate in the LSC commencement exercises.

“Commencement is a momentous day for our students,” said Dr. Kathleen Nelson, LSC’s president. “It recognizes their educational accomplishments and signals the beginning of life’s next adventure. Whether the next step is the start of a career or the pursuit of more education, we know that the time and effort students spent at Lake Superior College will be remembered and valued. We wish the class of 2008 well.”

Dr. Steven D. Crow will serve as guest speaker at commencement. Crow is president of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. He provides leadership to assure the effectiveness of regional institutional accreditation. Before joining the commission in 1982, he served as an administrator and taught at Bowdoin College, Vanderbilt University, Bates College, and Kalamazoo College. Crow has spearheaded collaborative efforts with other organizations to address distance education, student learning assessments, quality assurance for trans-regional organizations, and the on-going relationship with the federal government created through the Higher Education Act. Crow earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in U.S. history at the University of Wisconsin.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

They were also nominated for the Minnesota State and Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees Excellence in Teaching Awards by LSC President Kathy Nelson and Vice President of Academic Affairs Candace Barnack. This statewide award recognizes outstanding faculty for their dedication to student learning throughout the 33 state colleges and universities in the MnSCU system. The awards are granted by the MnSCU Board of Trustees.

Voelkner teaches math and chemistry. He has been a faculty member at LSC for 20 years. “Kent creates a classroom climate where students are at ease and know they can ask questions because of his respect for the students,” noted Candace Barnack. “As a teacher, he believes that making mistakes is okay; it lets the student know you are human and they can concentrate on course content.” Voelkner has a B.S. and a M.S. in chemistry. He also completed 16 graduate credits in math to obtain an assigned field in math. Voelkner has been the Student Senate Advisor since 1990. He believes that advising students is a crucial role as an instructor. He has also served on the Student Life Committee for 13 years.

Rico teaches in the nursing program. She has been a teacher for more than 15 years. “Dorothy is an instructor who is always growing, always changing to ensure she is providing the highest quality of teaching and learning for her students,” said Barnack. “She continuously updates her computer skills and incorporates the latest technologies into the classroom.” Rico has been a leader within the LSC AD Nursing program, serving as a liaison to the Math and Science Departments as well as to local health organizations. She completed both undergraduate and graduate work in nursing; she received a M.S. in nursing 37 years ago. She has more than 20 years of experience working in an Intensive Care Unit and has maintained her Critical Care Nursing certification for more than 20 years.

Both nominees are considered campus leaders by their peers in providing student-centered, active learning environments and are considered invaluable resources for colleagues and co-workers.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

Students will get tours of fire trucks and run fire hoses, work machining equipment, check their breathing power in respiratory care, and figure out mock-patient injuries from x-rays in radiologic technology. From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., students will have a chance to try hands-on math and science activities in more than 25 areas including health care, construction, aviation, manufacturing, public safety, and computer technology.

Students can also talk with college instructors and professionals in various math and science fields, giving them the chance to gain a deeper knowledge and a better understanding of today’s career market.

Area businesses will also participate, presenting information about career opportunities available in the region in the technology, aviation, manufacturing, and health care fields and in emerging industries such as alternative energy.

The expo is a collaborative project sponsored by Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Funding, Carlton County Plus Consortium and Lake Superior College.

For more information, contact Michelle LaPorte, m.laporte@lsc.edu.

Minnesota’s colleges and universities, concerned about the health of campus watersheds and waterways, are taking action to protect nearby streams and lakes by constructing rain gardens.

The 100-acre Lake Superior College campus in Duluth is bisected by Miller Creek, an urban trout stream that cascades down the city’s steep hills to the St. Louis River and then Lake Superior. The college uses the creek as an outdoor teaching laboratory, monitoring water quality and temperature and the species inhabiting the waterway. Faculty observed that rainstorm runoff from the campus’ west parking lot had eroded gullies, allowing warm water carrying fine sediments, car-related pollutants and road salt to enter the spring-fed stream, degrading habitat for brook trout and other stream wildlife.

Through the work of geology instructor Matt Whitehill, the college obtained a $12,000 grant from the Southeast St. Louis County Soil and Conservation District. A rain garden was designed and built to catch and hold runoff from the 2-acre parking lot, greatly reducing pollution entering the creek and slowing water flow following rainstorms.

“This is a step in the right direction for us to practice what we preach,” Whitehill said. “Many of us in the natural sciences cover resource stewardship in our courses. It’s nice to have such an innovative, practical example right outside our door.”

On the Worthington campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College, two similar rain gardens are under construction. The campus community was concerned that water runoff would have a negative impact on the quality of Lake Okabena, adjacent to the campus. The 500-square-foot rain gardens will hold runoff and filter it through sand before it reaches the storm sewer system and ends up in the lake.

“Our students were excited to participate in making the campus more green friendly,” said agriculture instructor Rolf Malberg. The local watershed board, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the local environmental trust partnered to support the students in covering the cost of the rain gardens. Excavation started in fall 2007, with both gardens to be completed this spring.

“The result of this project will benefit the community, lake and water enthusiasts for years to come,” Malberg said.

Metropolitan State University also installed a rain garden along the west side of its new library during construction in 2004 to handle water run-off.

More About Rain Gardens

To learn more about installing and planting rain gardens and how they protect Minnesota’s water quality, visit:

• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/mayjun04/raingardens.html
• The Lake Superior Streams community project: duluthstreams.org/citizen/wet_garden.html
• The Twin Cities Green Guide: www.thegreenguide.org/article/gardening/rain

“¿ Dónde le duele? (Where does it hurt?),” asked the concerned nursing student in Spanish, bending over the life-sized dummy lying in a hospital bed. The dummy moaned in response. “Me duele el estómago y la cabeza. También tengo escalofríos (My head and stomach hurt. I also have chills.),” he answered weakly and then vomited.

Much smarter than a typical dummy, SimMan is a computerized patient simulator primarily used by Lake Superior College’s nursing program. He has taken on a new role as Senõr SimMan, helping to teach health care students and professionals specialized Spanish language skills in a clinical setting. Senõr SimMan not only talks but has measurable vitals including breathing, temperature and blood pressure. He can be programmed to exhibit symptoms of varied illnesses and conditions.

There are 30 million Americans whose first language is Spanish, and by the year 2010, one out of four Americans will be of Hispanic heritage. “Clearly there is a growing need for professionals who work in life-and-death situations to expand or enrich their language and communication skills,” said Michele Keane, a Lake Superior College faculty member and Spanish instructor. “We’ve had health care professionals from all areas take this course. I’ve taught pharmacy students, nursing and EMT/fire rescue students, and even veterinary students,” Keane said.

During the semester-long course, students learn basic conversational Spanish and then move to specific medical terminology. Some students have studied Spanish before; others are new to the language.

“We learn basic anatomy, and then we move into more graphic terms like nauseous, dizzy or anxious,” Keane said. “This type of vocabulary helps health care workers get a better understanding of how a patient is feeling.” Once students have the language basics down, they progress to practice their conversational skills on Senõr SimMan.

Nicole Verdugo, a student training to become an EMT/firefighter, recently completed the course. “I hadn’t heard of SimMan before, so I was interested to see how he worked. I was nervous because now I had a ‘real’ patient, which meant that I had to check his pulse, watch and listen for respirations, and take his blood pressure. It made it more challenging that this patient was going to express his pains and feelings in fluent Spanish. Not only did I have to be an EMT, but I had to be a Spanish-speaking EMT.”

Students go “live” with Senõr SimMan, who is installed in an exam room separated by a viewing window next to a computer control booth. “The students would take turns talking to him. They didn’t know what I was going to have him say or do, so they had to be on their toes,” Keane said. “My students liked being tested on the spot. It really put them through their paces.”

“This hands-on approach worked for me in several ways,” Verdugo said. “It increased my retention of the language while providing me with a safe learning environment. I knew I could make a mistake and not worry about the possible consequences affecting a person’s life. I found this experience invaluable.”

Students enrolled in LSC’s popular art courses will have an opportunity to display their work during the event. For many of the approximately 350 participating students, it will be their first-ever exhibition.

Student artists will present a wide variety of projects, including paintings, watercolors, sculpture, jewelry, digital photography, drawings, two and three-dimensional design projects, and ceramics.

Artwork will be displayed in the upper and lower levels of the concourse in LSC’s main building. The public may view the exhibition during regular campus hours, beginning at noon on Monday, May 5, and continuing through Wednesday, May 7.

For more information, contact faculty member Tonya Borgeson, (218) 279-2669 or t.borgeson@lsc.edu

Lighthouse photo by LSC student Kari Peterson created in Victoria Hutson’s digital photography class.

With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

Matt Hjelden (International Falls), Joe Sebesta (Duluth), and Jake Hustad (Wrenshall) won a gold medal in the Community Service category for their Styrofoam shredder recycling machine. This team will go on to compete in June at the national SkillsUSA event in Kansas City, MO. See the shredder in action on YouTube.

Matt Farchmin (Duluth) won a gold medal in the Job Demonstration category and will attend the national SkillsUSA competition in June.

Matt Hjelden, Mark Johnson (Saginaw), Ryan Troumbly (Grand Rapids), and Joe Sebesta won a silver medal for their Chapter Display which featured a machined replica of Duluth’s Enger Tower.

Elizabeth Sandry (Winter, WI), Joe Sebesta, and Matt Farchmin won a silver medal for a Promotional Bulletin Board.

Pictured left to right in attached photo: Jake Hustad (Wrenshall), Ryan Troumbly(Grand Rapids), Matt Hjelden International Falls), Mark Johnson (Saginaw), Matt Farchmin (Duluth), Joe Sebesta (Duluth), instructor Mike Koppy (Not pictured: Elizabeth Sandry)

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. It helps individual students excel by preparing them for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also a leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.