St. Luke's Priorities
The Right Partner for the University of Minnesota?
In January 2022, the University of Minnesota proposed building a new academic healthcare center in the Duluth Medical District. By building near established healthcare giants, University officials hope to create a closer partnership for medical and pharmacy students to learn and ultimately practice in Greater Minnesota.[1] However, a close look at St. Luke’s record raises questions about whether executives’ corporate model of care is worth teaching.
For four years in a row, St. Luke’s has received an abysmal ‘C’ or ‘D’ safety grade from a nonprofit watchdog organization, The Leapfrog Group. On over half of measures used in 2022 where the hospital reported data, St. Luke’s scored average or below average.[2]
| Category | Measure | Score |
| Infections | Sepsis infection after surgery | Below average |
| Infections | Diff infection | Below average |
| Problems with Surgery | Death from treatable complications | Average |
| Problems with Surgery | Blood leakage | Below average |
| Problems with Surgery | Serious breathing problem | Below average |
| Problems with Surgery | Accidental cuts and tears | Below average |
| Safety Problems | Harmful events | Below average |
| Safety Problems | Dangerous bed sores | Below average |
| Safety Problems | Patient falls and injuries | Below average |
| Safety Problems | Falls causing broken hips | Below average |
| Safety Problems | Dangerous blood clot | Below average |
In 2019 the hospital was cited by the Minnesota Department of Health for maltreatment by neglect as the result of inadequate staffing.[3] Additional investigations by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have uncovered violations of patients’ rights.[4] While training tomorrow’s healthcare providers is a necessary goal, Minnesotans should ask whether St. Luke’s is the right partner for the job.
Coming Soon to Duluth's Medical District: Gentrification
Duluth’s Medical District is undergoing an enormous transformation. But with over $1B invested by St. Luke’s and Essentia,[5] who wins and who loses?
While the existing community residing within a mile of St. Luke’s is more than 50 percent low income,[6] some developers apparently emboldened by hospital spending seem to be more interested in higher earning professionals. At least one new development, The Lakeview, will charge around $2,000 a month for rent,[7] making it out of reach for the average Duluthian who currently spends less than half of that on housing.[8]
Moreover, reporting from the Duluth News Tribune has revealed that St. Luke’s expansion has historically come at the expense of affordable housing. Advocates, including government officials, have criticized hospital executives’ practices and urged the hospital to make up for units lost. At the time, then-CEO John Strange responded by saying that “[w]e’re not in that business.”[9] But St. Luke’s has recently shown itself to be capable of investing in housing when it purchased a residence for homeless seniors.[10] Still, this makes up only a fraction of naturally occurring affordable units that were lost.[11]
This is especially concerning because, according to community leader Joel Kilgour, “[Duluth is] moving at a snail’s pace for folks who are needing more affordable housing.”[12] St. Luke’s executives must be held accountable to prevent further displacement from the economic development they are pushing. After all, the responsibility cannot fall exclusively on governments, to whom nonprofit hospitals like St. Luke’s are exempt from paying taxes.
SOURCES
[1] University of Minnesota, “U of M Proposal Advances Partnership with Duluth Community Health Systems to Prepare the Future Health Care Workforce in Greater Minnesota,” News Release, University of Minnesota, January 27, 2022, https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/u-m-proposal-advances-partnership-duluth-community-health-systems-prepare-future-health.
[2] The Leapfrog Group, “St. Luke’s Hospital,” https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/h/st-lukes-hospital-duluth-mn?findBy=city&city=Duluth&state_prov=MN&rPos=300&rSort=distance.
[3] John Lundy, “Maltreatment Finding at St. Luke’s: Was Staffing an Issue?,” Duluth News Tribune, December 27, 2019, sec. Business and Financial News.
[4] Association of Health Care Journalists, “Report No. 19556,” http://www.hospitalinspections.org/report/19556.
[5] Dan Kraker, “Duluth Readies for Massive Medical Investment,” MPR News, June 5, 2019, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/06/05/duluth-readies-for-massive-medical-investment.
[6] Environmental Protection Agency, “Detailed Facility Report,” Echo.epa.gov, https://echo.epa.gov/detailed-facility-report?fid=110003773024.
[7] Laura Butterbrodt, “Duluth High-Rise Announces First Commercial Tenant,” Duluth News Tribune, June 23, 2021, https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/duluth-high-rise-announces-first-commercial-tenant;
Dan Kraker, “Duluth Readies for Massive Medical Investment,” MPR News, June 5, 2019, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/06/05/duluth-readies-for-massive-medical-investment.
[8] United States Census, “QuickFacts: Duluth city, Minnesota,” https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/duluthcityminnesota/PST045221.
[9] John Myers, “Duluth Faces Loss of Low-Cost Housing,” Duluth News Tribune, March 6, 2011;
“St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minn., to Begin Expansion,” Duluth News Tribune, June 8, 1999.
[10] St. Luke’s Hospital of Duluth, “St. Luke’s and CHUM Partner to Provide Additional Housing for Duluth Seniors Who Are Homeless,” St. Luke’s Hospital of Duluth, September 29, 2021, https://www.slhduluth.com/news/2021/september/st-luke-s-and-chum-partner-to-provide-additional/.
[11] John Myers, “Duluth Faces Loss of Low-Cost Housing,” Duluth News Tribune, March 6, 2011;
“St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minn., to Begin Expansion,” Duluth News Tribune, June 8, 1999;
St. Luke’s Hospital of Duluth, “St. Luke’s and CHUM Partner to Provide Additional Housing for Duluth Seniors Who Are Homeless,” St. Luke’s Hospital of Duluth, September 29, 2021, https://www.slhduluth.com/news/2021/september/st-luke-s-and-chum-partner-to-provide-additional/.
[12] Dan Kraker, “Duluth Readies for Massive Medical Investment,” MPR News, June 5, 2019, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/06/05/duluth-readies-for-massive-medical-investment.