Patient safety and quality of care are our highest priorities.
Awards and Recognition
Quality Management Department
How to Report an Issue or Concern
Regulation
Accreditation
Quality Management Department Staff
Quality Management Department
In order to insure that our patients receive the highest quality care, our Quality Management Department reviews and analyzes the performance and quality of care provided by our doctors, nurses, staff, and by our organization as a whole.
Mille Lacs Health System also voluntarily participates in several major quality assurance programs, including:
Minnesota Hospital Association
STRATIS Health
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
TopHow to Report an Issue or Concern
It is critical that you contact us if you ever have a question about the quality of care you receive at MLHS. All inquiries and submissions are treated with the highest degree of professionalism and respect for your privacy.
Greg Larson, Quality Manager
320-532-2420
Regulation
Mille Lacs Health System is considered a “Critical Access Hospital” and is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Health. Critical Access Hospitals have a comprehensive set of criteria they must meet to ensure that appropriate care is provided. The Minnesota Department of Health surveys Critical Access Hospitals to make sure they meet these requirements. Our performance is also monitored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Accreditation
Accreditation is a certification by an outside agency that a healthcare facility meets that agency’s accreditation requirements and standards. Accreditation is not required to operate a Critical Access Hospital. The most common accreditation agency is the Joint Commission (it used to be called the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations.)
Quality Management Department Board and Staff
Eric Enberg MD, Chief of the Medical Staff
The Chief of the Medical Staff supervises the medical staff and their credentialing (the process of validating the qualifications of licensed health professionals.) Dr. Boettcher also sees patients at the Onamia Clinic, the hospital and our Long Term Care facility.
Roger Boettcher MD, Quality Medical Director
The Director of Medical Staff Quality establishes the quality programs that will involve physicians and physician assistants, and incorporates this into the quality program developed by the Quality Management department. Dr. Enberg sees patients in the Onamia and Isle Clinics, as well as the hospital and Long Term Care facility.
Becky Houle, Chair of the Board Quality Improvement Committee
The Board Quality Improvement Committee is a sub-committee of the Board of Directors. The MLHS Board of Directors holds quality to be such an important function in bringing care to the community, that it decided greater attention could be provided to the subject if an independent committee spent its entire time overseeing this specific area. All quality programs and issues are brought to this committee for review and approval. Any necessary areas are then brought before the full Board of Directors.
The Board Quality Improvement Committee is composed of several members of the Board of Directors (including the Chair of the Board,) the Director of Medical Staff Quality, the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President, Hospital Services, the Vice President, Older Adult Services, and the Director of Quality and Risk Management.
Greg Larson, Quality Manager
Greg’s duties encompass the “patient experience.” He coordinates and reports on our patient satisfaction survey process, and guides the investigation of customer complaints. In addition, Greg reviews performance information in a number of quality monitoring areas. Greg also performs investigations of care situations that may need improvement and brings together all individuals who may have an interest in how a particular process works or is improved.
