Category Archives: Advocacy
Help Us Raise Awareness for Epilepsy!
Visit Gillette today and you’ll likely notice an overabundance of one particular color – PURPLE! On Purple Day, the Global Day of Epilepsy Awareness, organizations in the U.S. and beyond come together to raise awareness about the condition. From employees and patient families dressed in purple to purple-colored desserts in our St. Paul coffee shop, we’re excited to join the cause. As the Twin Cities’ only nationally ranked neurology and neurosurgery program, according to U.S. News & World Report, Gillette treats thousands of children with epilepsy each year. We offer the comprehensive services and full range of specialists to treat even the most complex cases. Help us spread the word by sharing this image on Pinterest. You can also post a purple-themed photo to our Facebook page. We’ll select one lucky winner to receive an “I love Gillette” T-shirt.
A Sneak Peek Inside Gillette’s Surgery Suite
Last week, we introduced you to Gillette’s spacious new surgical suite in St. Paul. And this week, we couldn’t resist sharing a sneak-peek inside the beautiful new facility. We are pleased to report that our new facility is already up-and-running for our physicians, nurses, and patient families.
Here is the pre-anesthesia area, where clinical staff prepare patients for their surgeries. The soothing, nature-themed imagery provides a calming environment for families.
A ceiling of sky and clouds greets patients as they make their way from pre-anesthesia to our operating rooms.
The corridor leading to our operating room mimics the nature theme seen earlier in the pre-anesthesia area.
And finally, one of our seven new state-of-the-art operating rooms. The rooms are spacious enough to accommodate the complex procedures – often involving more than one surgeon – that children with disabilities often need.
Thanks again to the Gillette staff, supporters, and families who helped us welcome the new space last week.
Introducing Gillette’s New Surgical Suite!
Yesterday marked an exciting milestone for everyone here at Gillette: the completion of our expanded surgical suite in our St. Paul hospital. Physicians, nurses, and other surgical staff will begin using the space as early as next week! Employees, supporters, and patient families received a guided tour of the state-of-the-art facility, which includes seven operating rooms, a surgical observation area for training residents and fellows, and spacious areas for both pre- and post-anesthesia care.
We were honored that several current and former members of the Minnesota State Legislature were able to attend our open house and tour. We’re especially grateful to members of our Legislature — without the $10 million that Gillette was granted in the state’s bonding bill last year, this much-needed facility wouldn’t exist.
Why was it so crucial that we expand our surgical space? Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen steady increases in demand for surgical services. In fact, the number of surgeries we perform each year has more than doubled since 1999. Advances in technology, and the growth of multi-team, multi-intervention surgeries, have made additional space not just a want, but a true need. With the opening of our new space, we’re equipped to provide growing volumes of kids the best possible surgical care for years to come.
Former State Senator Roger Moe and State Representative Lyndon Carlson toured a pre-anesthesia patient room.
State Representative Lyndon Carlson and State Senator Keith Langseth discuss features of the new space with Gillette staff members.
Join us at the Capitol on April 20th
Calling all Gillette patients and families! You’re invited to join us on Tuesday, April 20th, to meet your district’s legislator and share your personal story of how Gillette has impacted you or your child’s life. You’ll be helping legislators understand the importance of disability services — and you’ll learn how to become an advocate for yourself and the disabilities community.
We’ll offer talking points on disability services, give you tips on how to tell your story, and provide background materials on legislation. Later, we’ll join you for a lunchtime Q&A session.
AGENDA
10:00 AM: Welcome and introduction with Gillette Advocates in the State Office Building
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Meet with your legislators and share your personal story
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch in the Department of Transportation Cafeteria
1:00 PM: Opportunity to attend hearings or meet with your legislator if you were unable to do so in the morning
If you’d like to participate, email Nikki at selfadvocacy2010@gmail.com to sign up for Tuesdays at the Capitol. Nikki can also set up a meeting with your legislator in advance — just let her know if you’d like her help. If you can’t make it April 20th, we’ve scheduled two more Tuesdays at the Capitol days for April 27th and May 11th.
Thanks for your support. We hope to see you at the Capitol!
Thank You, Gillette Supporters!
We have exciting news to share. Earlier this week, we received word that Governor Pawlenty had finished his review of the Capital Investment Bill. As he had promised, he did exercise the line item veto to remove nearly $320 million in projects from the original $999 million bill.
However, the $10 million that was included for Gillette’s surgical expansion was not cut and was included in the final law.
This news will allow us to move forward with our much-needed surgery expansion later this year. We know many of you took the time to write or call your state senators and representatives over the past few months urging their support. And in just the past two weeks, hundreds of you wrote or called Governor Pawlenty to ask for his support.
Our expanded surgical suites will be large enough to accommodate the complex surgeries so many of our patients need. They’ll also feature state-of-the art equipment and the latest advancements in surgical technology.
Thanks to our patient families, staff, and community advocates for all you have done, and continue to do, to support Gillette. We’ll post news and updates on our surgical expansion here, so check back often.
One Final Push to Support Gillette
Please ask Governor Pawlenty to support Gillette today!
Gillette friends, families and supporters, we need your help. It’s easy and will take 30 seconds of your time.
But your support and the outcome has the potential to help thousands of Gillette’s patients for years to come.
All we are hoping is that you will take a moment to contact Governor Pawlenty’s office and let him know:
1. That you support Gillette.
2. And that you hope he will support Gillette’s inclusion in the Minnesota bonding bill.
Click here to e-mail Governor Pawlenty. Or simply pick up the phone. His office can be reached by calling 651-296-3391. Feel free to relay your message to the person taking calls there or even leave a voice mail.
To sign up to receive advocacy alerts via email, visit our Advocacy Center.
Thank you for your support!
Gillette Supporters, We Need Your Help!
Tell Your Minnesota State Representative That You Support Gillette—And Urge Them To Do The Same.
In early February, Minnesota legislators unveiled bonding bills that would support various state programs and services. Funding to support a much-needed expansion of Gillette’s surgical facilities was originally slated to be part of this bill. Unfortunately, while this funding was included in the Senate bonding bill, our project is currently not included in the House version of the bill.
Will you help us by contacting your Minnesota State Representative? Tell them how important Gillette is to you and your family—and that you hope to see Gillette included in a revised version of the bill.
Don’t wait. They need to hear from you in the next week. Please contact your Minnesota House and Senate Representative today! Click here to find your local representatives.
A Unique Service in High Demand
Did you know that, currently, Gillette has only two surgical suites that are able to accommodate the complex, multi-specialty surgeries that so many of our patients need? And that we’ve seen a 135 percent increase in demand for surgery in recent years, performing more than 3,300 surgeries in 2009?
Just think how many more children we could serve if all of our operating rooms were able to accommodate the specialized surgeries our patients need. Show your support for Gillette — contact your local representative and urge them to support this project!
