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Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center receives highest rating for quality and performance

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the 2022 ratings for hospitals as part of its Care Compare program, and Essentia Health’s hospitals in downtown Duluth fared remarkably well. 

Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center received a five-star rating, the best rating a health care facility can receive. Of the more than 3,000 health care facilities scored nationwide, less than 14% received a five-star rating.

Essentia Health-Duluth, also on the downtown campus, received a four-star rating, placing it among the top 29% of CMS-ranked hospitals nationwide. 

The overall rating is based on how well a hospital performs across different areas of quality, like the patient experience, providing timely and effective care, readmission rates, mortality and safety.  

“Patients can be assured when they come to Essentia facilities they are receiving the safest and highest quality of care,” said Dr. Gratia Pitcher, Essentia’s chief quality and patient safety officer. “This rating is one way to show the communities we’re privileged to serve that safety and high-quality patient care are top priorities for Essentia.”

When making health care decisions, patients should use all the tools at their disposal, such as talking with friends and family as well as consulting with doctors, nurses and other trusted health care providers. The Care Compare website is another tool that patients can use to research high-quality care.

► EVENTS

St. Louis County sheriff candidate Gordon Ramsey, an experienced, homegrown law enforcement professional and a former chief of police in Duluth and Kansas City, and his wife, Tracy, campaigned at the annual Spirit Valley parade on Thursday afternoon. 

The annual parade in West Duluth, which drew one the largest crowds in its history, featured a host of floats, dance organizations, police and fire rigs, high school student-athletes, and politicians and their supporters.

Howie Hanson / DuluthTimes.com

► COMMUNITY NOTES

Expect I-35 lane closures in Duluth next week

The Minnesota Department of Transportation maintenance and bridge crews will be closing lanes on I-35 in Duluth next week.

Alternating northbound and southbound lanes of I-35 near Mesaba Avenue in Duluth will be closed Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for bridge inspections.

The southbound lane of I-35 between Hwy 2 and Boundary Avenue on Thompson Hill in Duluth will close Tuesday through Thursday from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. (weather permitting) to repair median guardrail.

► A MESSAGE FROM

URSHAN RETIREMENT GROUP

Urshan Retirement Group, Inc. strives in helping people achieve retirement goals. This is accomplished through education of the financial planning process, analyzing each individual's investment needs, as well as continuously reviewing and monitoring their personalized plan. Jordan Urshan (pictured) and Dan Urshan work as partners to ensure long-term consistency to your investment portfolio. They look forward to earning your business. Please give them a call to schedule your appointment. Call 218.625.7575 or stop by their office located at 5033 Miller Trunk Hwy, Hermantown, MN 55811.

Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Urshan Retirement Group and Securities America are separate entities.