Physician – Otolaryngology

Essentia Health-Fosston breaks ground on new emergency department. Thu, 04/09/2026 - 8:26am admin Essentia Health leaders, staff and project partners gathered Wednesday, April 8, to break ground on a new emergency department at Essentia Health-Fosston, marking the start of construction on a $12 million project that will improve the patient experience and strengthen care for the Fosston community. "As a critical access hospital serving a rural region, Essentia Health-Fosston plays an essential role in providing timely, high-quality care close to home," said Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, Essentia Health West Market president. "This new emergency department will help us better meet the needs of patients and families in Fosston and the surrounding area. We are proud to continue investing in this community and the people who depend on us every day." The new emergency department will add more than 5,500 square feet and will be more user-friendly, fostering a confidential and safe environment for patients, staff and visitors. It will feature rooms specially designed for patients needing behavioral health care and also will include a new ambulance bay. This project represents a significant investment in the Essentia Health-Fosston campus. Project leaders from Kraus-Anderson as well as students from Fosston High School joined Essentia Health to celebrate the milestone. "This is an exciting day for our hospital and for Fosston," said Mike Curtis, Essentia Health-Fosston administrator. "Our team cares for patients around the clock, and this project will give them a larger, more efficient space designed to support excellent care. We're grateful for all the work that has brought us to this point and look forward to seeing this project come to life." A Level IV Trauma Hospital, Essentia Health-Fosston offers emergency care 24/7, as well as walk-in care six days a week and same-day access for primary care. The hospital provides more than 20 specialty services that are closely aligned to match the needs of the local community. In recognition of this work, Essentia Health-Fosston was recently named a 2026 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. "Kraus-Anderson is proud to partner with Essentia Health on the Fosston Emergency Department expansion, a project centered on improving patient care, supporting staff, and strengthening access to critical services in the region," said Tracy Pogue, Kraus-Anderson director of business development. "Our team is committed to engaging regional trades while delivering this work with thoughtful planning, clear communication, and a focus on maintaining uninterrupted hospital operations throughout construction." Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

John Galt Solutions congratulates Essentia Health's Carrie Romundstad, a 2026 Pros to Know Award recipient. AUSTIN, TX - March 24, 2026 - John Galt Solutions, the fastest way to achieve more value from the supply chain, proudly congratulates valued customer Carrie Romundstad, Director of Procurement and Planning at Essentia Health, an integrated healthcare system across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, on being named one of 2026's Pros to Know Award recipients by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Carrie is recognized in the Top Procurement Pros category. This annual award recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for other leaders looking to leverage supply chain for competitive advantage. "I'm thrilled to be recognized as one of this year's Pros to Know," said Carrie Romundstad. "This award reflects the collective efforts of the entire Essentia Health team. Our commitment to innovation and excellence is pivotal in enhancing our supply chain operations and ensuring we consistently support patient care across the communities we serve." Over the past year, Carrie spearheaded a transformation initiative at Essentia Health to advance procurement and supply chain planning capabilities. Central to this evolution was the implementation of John Galt Solutions' Atlas Planning Platform. The implementation involved supporting the launch of a new automated distribution center replacing legacy replenishment processes, and the integration of Atlas with a new ERP system, while safeguarding inventory health and ensuring uninterrupted supply to hospitals and clinics. Carrie was instrumental in the introduction of a formal Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process that unified procurement, inventory planning, logistics, and executive leadership around shared data and goals. Leveraging enhanced dashboards and end-to-end visibility within the Atlas Planning Platform, Essentia Health executed a targeted inventory right-sizing initiative that significantly removed excess inventory and improved inventory optimization by nearly 20%, all while maintaining critical service levels. Carrie and her team further strengthened planning by expanding traditional ABC classification to include XYZ demand variability analysis, enabling more accurate safety stock and replenishment decisions. These enhancements improved forecast confidence, reduced unnecessary buffer inventory, and laid a strong foundation for implementing more advanced planning capabilities. "Carrie exemplifies what it means to turn supply chain strategy into measurable impact," said Matt Hoffman, Vice President of Product and Industry Solutions at John Galt Solutions. "Her leadership in leveraging the Atlas Planning Platform to drive visibility, governance, and disciplined execution has delivered significant financial results while protecting patient care. We are honored to partner with her and celebrate this well-deserved recognition." Looking ahead, the team at Essentia Health aims to extend inventory visibility across downstream locations, enhance demand planning through advanced analytics, and expand scenario planning capabilities to proactively manage risk and working capital. John Galt Solutions is proud to empower companies like Essentia Health to improve supply chain performance through innovations in supply chain planning software. The recognition of leaders like Carrie underscores the impact of the Atlas Planning Platform combined with talent and strategic vision to support growth and drive business value. About John Galt Solutions. John Galt Solutions is the fastest way for businesses to get more value from their supply chain. The Atlas Planning Platform helps companies make faster decisions and see real results quickly across the end-to-end supply chain. Atlas configures to even the toughest business requirements and goes live so fast clients see an ROI before their boss even thinks to ask about it. With the highest customer satisfaction rating in the industry, John Galt meets clients where they are, works side-by-side with them to grow, and shows them the fastest path to success. To learn how John Galt Solutions can help you improve supply chain performance, visit johngalt.com. Just for You: Here's a quick look at some of the unique qualities that make John Galt Solutions your perfect partner for optimizing supply chain plans...