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MRHC Newsletter
July - September 2002 Issue
This is the first newsletter from your friends at the Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative. The Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative was developed in
1995 to strive to make health care both affordable and of high quality for the rural communities in which they serve. MRHC was first developed in Willmar, Minnesota and is now at its new location as of May 1,
2001 in downtown Granite Falls, Minnesota. The Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative consists of three employees Chuck Ness, Executive Director, Mendy Lange, Quality Manager, and Sandy Boehne, Administrative
Assistant.
Chuck Ness has been the Executive Director for the Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative for the past 2 years. Chuck was on the Board of the
Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative when the cooperative started in 1995.
Before working at the MRHC Chuck was working at the Montevideo clinic for 9 years. Deb, a cosmetologist, and Chuck have two children that keep them plenty busy, Shelby, 8, and Riley, 3. Chuck and his family reside on the north shore of Cottonwood Lake. Chuck has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and a Masters in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management in Minneapolis, MN (U of M). He is currently taking courses at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota to get a second undergraduate major in computer science. Chuck enjoys riding his Harley, golfing, and hanging out on the lake with his family when he is not working or studying.
Mendy Lange has been the Quality Manager for the Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative since May of 2001.
A few of Mendy’s responsibilities are performing credentialing site visit for the member clinics, developing the Patient Satisfaction Surveys, and leading Quality Council Meetings and quality projects. Mendy and her husband Terry, an independent insurance adjuster, live in Cottonwood, Minnesota with their three boys, Ryan, out of high school and working, Nathan, a junior in high school, and Tyler, a second grader. Mendy enjoys walking, riding bike, eating out, and shopping.
Sandy Boehne has been the Administrative Assistant for the Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative since August of 2001. Sandy organizes all of
the monthly meetings, assists with patient satisfaction surveys, and just plain keeps the office organized.
Sandy and her husband Ed, a farmer, live on the north shore of Cottonwood Lake. Sandy and Ed have three boys. Todd is environmental engineer and his wife Gail is a pharmacist and they have 3 children. Scott is a farmer and also is an EMT on the North Ambulance crew out of Marshall, Minnesota and his wife Jill works at the Marshall Hospital. Scott and Jill have one little girl. Jeff, a former Marine, is currently working on his degree in computer science from Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. Sandy enjoys being with her family, vacationing in Mexico, shopping, and spending time on the lake.
The Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative also has an intern for the remainder of the summer and her name is Kelly Anderson. Kelly is a senior
at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD majoring in business administration.
Kelly’s has been working on marketing material for non-members, this newsletter, and also the questionnaire for the members. Kelly is originally from Porter, MN and went to high school in Canby, MN. Kelly enjoys hanging out with her college friends, running, and reading.
2002 Board of Directors
Brendon Cullinan, M.D., Montevideo Clinic
Larry Grong, D.O., Lac qui Parle Clinic
C. Leonard Ho, M.D., Marshall Eye Clinic
Mark Huntington, M.D., Northside Medical Center
Fred Knutson, Administrator, Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital
Leroy Meyering, CFO, Rice Memorial Hospital
Lyle Munneke, M.D., Family Practice Medical Center of Willmar
Mark Paulson, Administrator, Appleton Municipal Hospital & Home
Dean Slagter, Administrator, Renville County Hospital
Kirk Stensrud, Administrator, Hendricks Community Hospital & Home
Paul Thompson, M.D., Prairie Family Practice
Do you realize all of the benefits of being a Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative Member?
- Group purchasing to reduce the costs of supplies.
- That saved the 5 members involved last year $50,000.
- Discounted technology support and services.
- Participants in this program saved $50,000 last year.
- Our technology support is Mobile Computer Support Inc. out of Willmar, MN. They have continued training with HIPAA. We pay $50 an hour vs. upwards of
$75.
- Peer support, education and networking opportunities.
- Legal and external consultant.
- Grant Opportunities
- Administrative Support for MRHC health plan contracts
- Preferred specialist and outreach network
All members are welcome and encouraged to attend the meetings that apply to them to learn more about what and how the MRHC can assist you and
your facility.
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