Grand Itasca Presented with Quality Improvement Award

The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Stroke Program honored Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital for their commitment to continuous quality improvement across the stroke continuum of care.

Each year, the MDH Stroke Program accepts applications for the Stroke Quality Improvement Awards, which highlight successful, stroke-focused quality improvement projects across Minnesota. Award recipients demonstrate innovative and collaborative approaches that strengthen stroke systems of care statewide.

Organizations are selected by an MDH internal review panel and represent initiatives that advance quality improvement in the categories of Continuous Impact, Operational Excellence, Outstanding Achievement, and Community Champion. These efforts help drive progress in prevention, education, assessment, emergency transport, hospital care and treatment, rehabilitation, follow-up outpatient care, and long-term care.

Grand Itasca received a 2025 Stroke Quality Improvement Award in the Community Champion category, which recognizes initiatives that fill a community need related to quality stroke care. Grand Itasca was honored for their efforts to keep stroke patients close to home when the circumstances allow. By increasing training for employees and partnering closely with telestroke partners, more patients can now continue to receive the care they critically need without having to be transferred away from Grand Itasca. The change has been well received by patients and their families who are able to be more involved in their loved ones’ care and appreciate being able to return home quicker as they recover.

Kelly Handyside, RN, Grand Itasca’s Trauma and Stroke Program Coordinator shared the significance of this recognition: “This award reflects our team’s commitment at Grand Itasca to delivering high-quality stroke care while keeping our patients close to home.”

Shown accepting the 2025 Minnesota Department of Health Stroke Quality Improvement Award are Amy Riching, Grand Itasca Critical Care Charge Nurse, Katie Carlson, Fairview Northeast Region Stroke Program Coordinator and Kelly Handyside, Grand Itasca Trauma and Stroke Program Coordinator.