North Shore Health leadership discuss future of the hospital

North Shore Health Board of Directors held its monthly meeting on Feb. 20. During the meeting, CEO Kimber Wraalstad talked about a continued expansion of telehealth options and an effort to progress state legislation that could impact the hospital’s finances.

Telehealth and Strategic Vision

During the meeting, Wraalstad presented her 2024 – 2027 strategic plan. The plan featured a continued effort to expand the hospital’s telehealth offerings. North Shore Health has increased its telehealth services in the past to include sexual assault exams, hospitalists, and physical therapy. It recently announced new mental health services through its partnership with Wilderness Health.

“Telehealth is just going to continue to expand, and we want to make sure that we’re a part of that process,” Wraalstad told WTIP.

“I think as telehealth continues to expand, some of the concerns and challenges are probably more around reimbursement,” Wraalstad said. “If the government is going to pay for some of that telehealth piece, and if so, what are they going to pay to make sure that we have that.”

A New Board

This was the third board meeting for Milan Schmidt and Sam Usem, who were elected in 2024. Wraalstad and Board Chair Randy Wiitala told WTIP that the strategic plan was not affected by the board turnover.

“We did hear a lot of feedback in the last year and a half,” Wiitala said. “ And so it doesn’t change how the board views the strategic plan. In fact, it gives us more energy to move forward with these various initiatives.”

When asked about Usem and Schmidt’s concerns regarding a confidentiality agreement they signed in January, Wiitala said, “You know, everybody has some opinions on these documents. We revised the document in concert with our legal counsel in 2024; it’s going to be further discussed in the March meeting. And I would leave it there because we don’t have anything really to talk about today as far as what changes may be made or not, but there will be an open discussion coming up in March.”

Swing Bed Legislation

The last topic of the meeting was the Swing Bed Legislation, an initiative that Wraalstad hopes will improve the hospital’s financial situation. Wraalstad told WTIP that the hospital had lost money as an organization for over twenty years and was concerned that the only solution would be to close the nursing home.

After working with Stroudwater Associates, a consulting firm specializing in rural hospitals, Wraalstad thought there was an opportunity to change how the hospital allocated costs, resulting in an estimated $800,000 difference. Wraalstad said this would not change who stays in the nursing home or takes care of them. It would just change the classification of the hospital beds. “It’s pretty much an administrative piece, and it allows us to continue to take care of patients. It’s a win, win, win.”

Wraalstad talked about the needed legislation at the state level and cited the help of local representatives. “Senator Hauschild is carrying it in the Senate. Representative Skraba is carrying it in the house. And both have been very supportive of it,” Wraalstad said regarding the proposed legislation.

WTIP’s Josh Hinke spoke with North Shore Health CEO Kimber Wraalstad and Board Chair Randy Wiitala after the February board meeting. The audio from the interview is below.

Josh Hinke March 4, 2025