11.21.23

Hoeven: CommonSpirit Health to Provide Investment Plan for Devils Lake Hospital

Senator Convenes Community Meeting in Devils Lake with CommonSpirit Health Midwest CEO, State, Local, Tribal & Health Care Leaders

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today held a community meeting in Devils Lake to discuss the need for improved access to quality health care in the region. The discussion builds on a series of meetings that Hoeven has held with local leaders and health care professionals to identify and advance community-driven solutions to ensure the best possible care for residents in the area:

  • Hoeven secured an agreement from CommonSpirit Health to provide the community with an investment plan for hospital facilities in the Lake Region.
    • Enhancements to the Devils Lake Hospital will start in December, including a new emergency room.
    • A master plan will be provided for the community to review by February.
  • In addition, representatives from Essentia Health attending the meeting agreed to provide a plan by February of what a new health care facility could look like for the Lake Region.
  • Participants in today’s discussion included:
    • Tim Bricker, President and CEO, CommonSpirit Health Midwest Division.
    • Mariann Doeling, President, CHI St. Alexius Health Devils Lake.
    • Jim Moe, Mayor, City of Devils Lake.
    • Spencer Halvorson, City Administrator, City of Devils Lake.
    • Kevin Dauphinais, Director, Spirit Lake Tribal Health.
    • Dixie Omen, CEO, Spirit Lake Health Center.
    • Sarah Aker, Executive Director, North Dakota Medical Services Division.
    • Maria Neset, Senior Policy Advisory for Governor Burgum.
    • Dr. Mark Thompson, President, Essentia Health–West Market.
    • Todd Forkel, CEO, Altru Health System.
  • Hoeven insisted on holding this community meeting, following a visit he arranged with Bricker to Devils Lake Hospital last month, to ensure local residents can give direct feedback to CommonSpirit Health.
    • Earlier this year, Hoeven also met with CommonSpirit Health CEO Wright Lassiter III in Washington, D.C. to outline the community’s concerns and work towards a solution.
    • During the meeting, Lassiter agreed to send Bricker to Devils Lake to learn about the community’s challenges and see firsthand the current state of the Devils Lake Hospital.
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“We convened today’s meeting today to have an open and honest discussion about the future of health care in the Lake Region,” said Hoeven. “CommonSpirit needs to hear firsthand about these challenges from local residents. Our goal is to secure the resources, tools and facilities that this area’s health care professionals need to effectively serve local residents. Devils Lake Hospital does not have the capacity needed to meet the basic needs of the community, despite the dedicated efforts of local health care workers. Today, CommonSpirit Health agreed to provide the community with a plan for investment in hospital facilities for the Lake Region with specific steps that will start in December, including a new emergency room and a master plan for review by February. Essentia Health has also agreed to provide a plan by February detailing what a new hospital in the community could look like.”

Hoeven continues working to enhance rural health care services in a way that benefits both patients and providers, including in communities such as Grafton, Hazen and Rugby. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has worked to support programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that were essential in making new facilities in these communities a reality.

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