Funding to assist primary care providers

Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) was recently awarded a $31,500 grant from the Ardmore Institute in Oklahoma to expand the Lifestyle Medicine programming offered in partnership between LRH primary care providers and Unity Wellness at the Mehl Center in Fergus Falls. 

“We’re very excited to have this additional funding to support the work of furthering the principles of Lifestyle Medicine to help enrich life through health for the people we serve,” said LRH Wellness Director, Natalie Knutson. 

Primary care providers in the LRH clinic have partnered with Unity Wellness for Lifestyle Medicine referrals for several years according to Knutson. She said providers are able to refer patients who are interested in implementing lifestyle changes to prevent, treat and reverse chronic diseases such as obesity, and heart disease. The patients are then connected to personal trainers, nutrition and health coaches, and other resources at Unity Wellness. 

“With this grant, we will be able to expand our reach in three important ways: supporting American College of Lifestyle Medicine certification for two LRH staff and other ACLM continuing education for 10 staff, expanding our tele-health capabilities to reach people who have difficulty getting to a gym or wellness center, and offering pilot programming in the areas of nutrition & food selection and preparation and wellness activity tracking,” Knutson said. 

People interested in the pilot opportunities are encouraged to ask their primary care provider about Lifestyle Medicine referrals, or to call Unity Wellness directly.  

The Ardmore Institute, located in Oklahoma, believes that incorporating the principles of Lifestyle Medicine, results in a healthier, more vibrant life. The Institute promotes and funds initiatives where grantees can add to the body of lifestyle medicine and the whole health knowledge base—providing grants to mission-aligned non-profits to accelerate whole health and lifestyle medicine adoption and learnings.

To learn more about the Ardmore Institute, visit www.ardmoreinstituteofhealth.org. 

About the Lake Region Healthcare Enterprise

The Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) enterprise is an independent, community owned and governed, non-profit healthcare organization headquartered in Fergus Falls. With facilities in nine communities, the midsized rural health system primarily serves five counties in west central Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. The enterprise operates two hospitals (in Fergus Falls and Elbow Lake), 10 clinics, a cancer center, a senior living community (Mill Street Residence) and various other health and wellness related ventures. 

With over 1,100 employees and 120 physicians and advance practice providers, LRH is dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of their communities close to home and delivering specialty and sub-specialty services at its locations in Fergus Falls, Elbow Lake, Ashby, Barnesville, Battle Lake, Evansville, Herman, Hoffman and Morris. 

For more information visit www.lrhc.org and www.millstreet.lrhc.org.