North Memorial Health has been honored by the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) for its leadership in enhancing team member experience and driving innovation in patient care. For this recognition, the health system received the Exceptional Minnesota Hospital Workplace and Innovation in Technology awards, which will be presented at the MHA Fall Annual Conference in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Exceptional Minnesota Hospital Workplace award
North Memorial Health’s Learning & Development team received the Exceptional Minnesota Hospital Workplace Award for pioneering an organization-wide refresh of its Team Member Appreciation Program. This multi-tiered, technology-driven initiative was created to foster engagement, retention, and culture by making recognition easier, more engaging, and deeply connected to North’s values.
Key enhancements of the program include tiered recognition, a new systemwide award aligned with North’s values, personalized milestone recognition, values-driven celebrations for service anniversaries and retirements, volunteer and community connection events and the implementation of a new recognition platform.
“This recognition reinforces what we’ve always believed – appreciation is essential to creating a thriving workplace culture,” said Shannon Sloan, Chief Human Resources Officer. “By making recognition timely, visible, and values-driven, we’re helping our teams feel appreciated and better connected to the work they do every single day.”
Innovation in Technology award
North Memorial Health became the first health system in the Twin Cities – and one of the first in the nation – to implement Bioness Integrated Therapy System (BITS®) with Functional Reality, an advanced Virtual Reality (VR) platform that transforms traditional neurorehabilitation for patients recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, and spinal cord injuries.
The immersive system blends VR, mixed reality, and functional reality to mimic everyday tasks, such as navigating a grocery store aisle, while patients engage in therapy. This innovation increases patient engagement and motivation through immersive, real-world simulations, provides objective performance metrics for data-driven care planning and personalizes therapy goals, enhancing clinical outcomes and independence.
“Our investment in VR therapy isn’t just about technology, it’s about redefining what recovery looks like,” said Dr. Carolyn Ogland, President and Chief Medical Officer. “By creating real-world, adaptable environments, we make therapy more meaningful, empowering patients to reclaim their lives faster.”
About North Memorial Health
North Memorial Health delivers unmatched patient experience and empowers its patients to achieve their best health. With specialty and primary care clinics, urgent and emergency care offerings, medical transportation services, and two hospitals in Maple Grove and Robbinsdale, North Memorial Health provides access to high-quality, low-cost care across Minnesota and surrounding states. The system includes 900+ clinicians and 6,000 team members dedicated to delivering a connected, personalized care experience.