March 25, 2008

John Arndt RN PHN
New Millennium Health Care
7931 - 6th St. NE
Spring Lake Park , MN 55432

Dear John,

I am writing to express my thanks to you and the nurses and staff at New Millennium for the excellent care that Donna Jackson has received. She was discharged from the Fairview University of Minnesota hospital in early October, 2007. Even though she was diagnosed with ALS in 2006 and was hospitalized due to a respiratory failure and subsequent brain injury, you were optimistic and positive in your approach to her ongoing care. There are several aspects to this care that are worth mentioning.

• Treat with care. The general condition of her skin and hair demonstrate the meticulous attention that has been given her Daily bathing, changing of bed linens, and washing hair is evident. I'm sure that she is as comfortable as she can be.
• Strive for improvement. It is obvious that you are not satisfied with being "good enough". The suggestions and consultations we have had with other staff, outside experts, physicians, and others have resulted in a marked improvement in Donna's mental and physical wellbeing. She has progressed from a near "vegetative state" to being alert and somewhat communicative. I believe that your staff's dedicated adherence to a thoughtful plan of care has been the principal reason for her improved state.
• Stimulation through experiences. Bringing a daily routine into the picture has been a remarkable contribution. The daily rigor of getting dressed and out of bed is a wonderful way of bringing structure into her life. I am certain that this aspect has contributed to the general state of wellbeing I mentioned. I look forward to the days of spring, summer, and fall when we can expand the set of experiences by being outside the house.
• Make the best of the situation. As in every walk of life, "progress" does not go in a straight line. Your flexibility in dealing with setbacks is remarkable. When we first met, Donna's room was your office. You quickly adapted and made the room suitable for her. There have been several instances of adaptations that you were required to make. All of them have been successfully implemented with little disruption to Donna's care.

I am grateful to you and your staff for the excellent level of care that you have provided.

Yours,
David L. Jackson

April 30, 2003

Dear John,

Now that a couple of weeks have passed since my sister Kathy's death. I have had some time to reflect on her life and in particular the care she received while she resided at the New Millennium home in Spring Lake Park. Kathy was paralyzed and could only breath though a ventilator. Your staff provided excellent care for my sister. The staff always that assisted Kathy was always well trained and knowledgeable about her medical needs. As you know, Kathy took pride in her appearance. Whenever we visited Kathy she was always dressed just so, her outfits always matched and the staff always made sure that the clothes were straight and neat. Her hair was always combed and her nails done up. Your staff treated Kathy like she was family. We could not have asked for a any better care than Kathy received. In addition whenever we visited Kathy we were always welcomed by staff and made to feel like we were in a home like situation. I will always be grateful for the way you and your staff cared for my sister.

Sincerely,
Dan Klint

March 19,2002

To Whom It May Concern:

We are writing to recommend the staff from New Millennium Health Care. During a very difficult time the staff: John, Elisa, Lori, and Ron, provided outstanding care for our father. My father suffered from an accident in surgery that left him paralyzed and on a ventilator. Their commitment to their patients is unmistakable. They bring an uncommon passion to the care of their patients.

Specifically, we never felt ill at ease about leaving our father in their care. He was always made to feel like a valuable human being and was treated with dignity. They were kind, patient and most importantly made him laugh. The staff was easy to communicate with and it was obvious that the best interest of the patient guided them.

They were proactive in checking without father and his tracheotomy and ventilator. This was important as he lost the ability to talk. He was happy with all of his caregivers from New Millennium Health Care. This was important to us because that was not always the case with other facilities.

We would not hesitate to recommend the staff of New Millennium Health Care to anyone facing this difficult decision. The quality of care is top level. They are an amazing group of people.

Sincerely,
Brian Tisdle Barbara Tisdle

New Millennium or Not?

By: Lee Swenson

I am a 60 year old male who, now in early 2000, has lived (and died) with the diagnosis of progressive, terminal, ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) since September, 1980. (We can trace some symptoms back to early 1978.) I am completely quadriplegic, have lived in a nursing home for six years, and independently with home care for 9 years. I am ventilator dependent, eat blended thickened food, and haven't seen my dear wife in over nine years. In my worse nightmares, after ALS diagnosis, I couldn't picture being in this condition and for this long!

But now I am very much alive and, I'm told, making a positive difference in other lives. After I was diagnosed with ALS, like most people who are given such news I suppose, I went through many phases of disbelief, why me, how, etc. Mostly, I really knew little about it accept that it was also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease".

The important point in living beyond the normal life expectancy is accepting what has to be changed in life and finding good people to help you, like New Millennium Health Care. Not to try and maintain the same lifestyle but find a new lifestyle that can be equally or nearly as satisfying as before, in some way or form. Never forgetting though, what has been lost yet relishing in once having had it.

In the late summer and fall of 1990, when I began to experience increasing shortness of breath, I was already enjoying new life. In October I took delivery on a modified recline system for my wheelchair ,that gave me more comfort and independence. This was not the time to be only in bed because I couldn't breathe well sitting upright.

We tried various things to no avail to help me breathe easier on my own. The tracheostomy tubes in my neck (since January 1987 when pneumonia and a collapsed lung brought respiratory arrest) helped, but I was accustomed to having this helping me all along so I needed more.

I then tried my first ventilator in bed on a part-time basis. Which only served to show me how very good it was to breathe easily again. Within two months I had another ventilator mounted on my wonderful electric wheelchair so when warm weather came I was out and about town again with even a better feeling of renewed life.

Sure, I can call myself ventilator dependent, but it's all in how you look at it. I use an electric wheelchair, not confined to it. I lived in a nursing home until I can work my way out of it, which I will! Now I live in my own apartment being cared for by the staff of New Millennium Health Care.

I've learned rather late, that life is what one chooses to make of it. And I choose to live actively a lot longer! I hope that you choose New Millennium, maybe we can be neighbors.

NOTE, LEE DIED IN THE SPRING OF 2001, AFTER HAVING A FAMILY REUNION IN HIS HOME FIVE MONTHS EARLIER. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS SISTER CAROL, WIFE CHIES, AND DAUGHTER AMY. HE WAS ABLE TO SEE HIS GRAND CHILD. HE PASSED AWAY IN ST JOES HOSPITAL OF COMPLICATIONS FROM SURGERY.

Dear John,

Please accept this letter of thanks for the exceptional care provided to my client. Your kindness and concern for Steve and his family was evident from the initial call made to New Millennium until the day of discharge five months later. Your knowledge, professionalism and approachability made me confident that although Steve was over one hundred miles away from home, his health care needs were monitored and interventions employed in a timely manner. I especially appreciate your ongoing communication and philosophy that we are all partners with a common goal: supporting our clients in the pursuit of a rich and meaningful life despite the challenges they may face.

Thank you for your honesty and integrity, throughout my seventeen years as a case manager I have encountered numerous providers whose practices were of a concern; at no time in our working relationship did I doubt your motives and business practices. Thank you for your patience in working though a very complicated reimbursement system. I know that some other providers would not have been as patient and diligent in resolving such an issue. This again demonstrates your commitment to the clients you serve. Thank you for taking the time to support and educate Steve about the ways to help him maintain his independence as his abilities allow, and thank you to your staff for treating Steve with dignity and sharing there positive outlook and great sense of humor.

I am sorry that Brown County is such a distance from Spring Lake Park, because I would not hesitate for a moment to regularly refer clients, and other case managers to you. I will spread the word in this area and if another situation occurs with a client needing services in the Metro area I will look forward to working with you again. Thank you for the wonderful care provided to Steve by you and your staff.

Sincerely
Chris Olson
Case Manager
Brown County Family Services

6264 SUNRISE TERRACE,
BROOKLYN PARK, MN, 55428
Phone #: (763) 780-9933
Fax #: (763) 795-8878

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