•      The Bemidji Region
  •   Education
  •   Healthcare
  •   Recreation
  •   Culture and the Arts
•      Workforce/Talent
  •   Demographics
  •   Skills
  •   Training
  •   Wages
•      Business Assistance
  •   Agencies
  •   Financing
  •   Start Ups
•      Technology
  •   Telecommunications
  •   Center for Advanced & Emerging Technologies
  •   Ingenuity Frontier
  •   Project Lead the Way
•      Airport / Transportation
  •   Bemidji Regional Airport
  •   Land Transportation / MN DOT
•      JEDC
  •   Board of Directors
  •   Programs
  •   Staff
  •   Land & Buildings
•      Links
•      Forestry Affairs Council
  •   Forestry Affairs Council Members
  •   Newsletter
  •   Minutes from last meeting

Growing a Healthy Community

North Country Health Services and MeritCare Bemidji help make this community the regional health care center of Northern Minnesota.  Currently there are over 77 doctors providing healthcare for a service area of over 60,000 people.  There are an additional 1200 support workers in the healthcare industry in Bemidji offering a wide array of specialty skills and services.  From the arrival of a newborn to specialized senior care, Bemidji provides quality medical services to the entire region.

   

Bemidji is one of the few regional centers in Minnesota that has not experienced a shortage of healthcare workers because of its close ties to local and regional education centers. Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College both offer nursing programs that range from certification as a practical nurse to a program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. As a result of the close relationships between the local medical facilities and education institutions, many of the nurses-in-training gain their practical experience while interning at North Country Regional Hospital. As a result, many of the nurses that finish their internships choose to stay in the Bemidji area.  There are also cooperative nurse training programs with Northland College in Thief River Falls.

 

Bemidji State University is in the process of adding new buildings to its campus for the expanding nursing program. A new Allied Health wing opened its doors in the fall of 2007 at Northwest Technical College to house their various medical programs. Bemidji State University just received $9.6 million to expand and remodel Sattgast and Memorial Hall in order to provide space for its expanding nursing program. An additonal $6.9 million was received from the state in 2009 to put a 26,000 square foot addition on Sattgast Hall for new science, healthcare and technology factilites plus laboratory, classroom and office space. 
   

Long term and senior care is provided by a number of agencies and businesses that would include Neilson Place, Havenwood, Gold Pine, Windsong, Trillium and Birchhaven care facilities. Bemidji is also home to a VA Outpatient Clinic to meet the needs of our former veteran personnel.