The Heart of New Ulm Project is a 10-year initiative designed to reduce, and eventually eliminate, heart attacks in New Ulm, Minnesota. Our goal is to make New Ulm the healthiest city in the country. This means helping residents improve their health risks, such as physical activity, nutrition, obesity, or tobacco use, among others.
Anyone who lives in the 56073 zipcode can participate in the Heart of New Ulm. Those living outside that zipcode are welcome to take part in the screenings and can certainly benefit from the community interventions. However, only those within the 56073 zipcode will be tracked for purposes of the study. More than 5,000 people have been screened.
In its first year, Heart of New Ulm identified thousands of people with heart problems or metabolic conditions that put them at risk for heart attacks. Of the nearly 5,000 people screened, findings show that New Ulm residents were fairly active and less likely to smoke, but that their diets lacked fruits and vegetables. Nearly three in four adults in New Ulm are overweight or obese.
Hearts Beat Back: The Heart of New Ulm Upcoming Events & Classes
The Heart of New Ulm project sponsors cooking classes, dancing classes, health challenges, walking clubs, and more. To see the full listing of events and to register, go to the Hearts Beat Back website.
One-and-a-half years into a 10-year project, the Heart of New Ulm is already showing promising results. The project's director, Jeff Van Wormer, discussed some of those results on WCCO 4 News.
In an effort to improve primary and secondary prevention strategies for heart disease, Allina is partnering with the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, as well as community, government, business and other local stakeholders to conduct a long-term initiative focusing on the City of New Ulm.
The Heart of New Ulm Project services are designed to complement existing medical care. Project related services, including screenings, some advanced diagnostic testing, health education, and community-based lifestyle improvement programs, are being offered to New Ulm residents at no charge because of local and national fundraising efforts that are taking place through the New Ulm Medical Center Foundation, the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and Allina's $5.7 million investment.
Facebook group page
The Heart of New Ulm now has a Facebook Group page to community residents in a conversation about the Heart of New Ulm project. To join the Heart of Ulm Facebook Group, log on to Facebook, search for Heart of New Ulm and join. The group provides an opportunity for community discussion about the project, upcoming public screenings, the Community Challenge and more. It's that easy.
Health Edition
Health Edition is a joint venture between New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC) and The Journal, New Ulm's daily newspaper. It's published quarterly in The Journal to update area residents on health care and New Ulm Medical services and programs.
Virginia Piper Cancer Institute – New Ulm opens
The newly-opened Virginia Piper Cancer Institute – New Ulm is a state-of-the-art Cancer Center that offers high-quality care and facilities. VPCI – New Ulm officially opened on Nov. 7, and the community is ecstatic about it. Bigger is better. “We had outgrown our old facility, and this was becoming a major need for us,” said Lorna Holmberg, the manager of the new Cancer Center. “The new center is much larger and has many more rooms. It’s more than double the size of our old center.”
Online services make health care easier
Joel Boehlke, a New Ulm High School teacher, has come a long way since a spinal injury two and half years ago. But he still appreciates anything that makes his life easier. Allina’s MyChart, with medical messaging and other features, has done just that. He can go online any time of day to make appointments, view parts of his electronic medical record, and ask his doctor questions with medical messaging.
Bring the whole family for this free event Friday, March 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the New Ulm Family Recreation Center, 122 South Garden Street, New Ulm. You can: swim, walk the track, play basketball, use the racquetball courts, enjoy a snack and refreshment. Mark your calendar for future dates: Sunday, Sept. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. This event is sponsored by the New Ulm Medical Center Foundation, the Physician's Group of New Ulm, and New Ulm Park and Recreation.
Breastfeeding support group
The breastfeeding support group provides support for breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women. It meets every 3rd Monday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 2324. Moms are encouraged to bring their breastfeeding children along.
For more information or to sign up for this support group please call 507-217-5333.
Diabetes education
New Ulm Medical Center diabetes education strives to provide patients with the knowledge and tools to become engaged and active in their diabetes management. It is designed to help patients manage diabetes every step of the way.
All classes are taught by registered nurses and/or dietitians who are certified in diabetes education.
The costs of the classes are often covered by insurance plans.
For more information about the program, contact the New Ulm Medical Center Foundation at 507-217-5188.
As Americans, we take for granted that life expectancy will improve with each generation. The CDC reports that for the first time in 100 years, children's life expectancy is projected to decline due to poor lifestyle choices around inactivity, nutrition and overweight. Minnesotans are gaining weight at a faster pace than the rest of the nation with a 132 percent rise in obesity since 1990, while the nation rose 110 percent.
That’s why New Ulm Medical Center brought the DAAN program to New Ulm area schools. Thanks to a $22,000 grant from the New Ulm Optimist Club, the NUMC Foundation was able to purchase three DAAN kits for area schools.
This program, developed by the Buffalo Hospital Foundation, is an initiative to foster a healthy, balanced lifestyle in children by inspiring wise nutrition and activity choices.
DAAN (dâ on) is a Native American term that means to live a healthy, balanced life. DAAN services can be found in area schools, workplaces and the community.
The DAAN™ @ School aims to teach elementary school students in grades second, third and fourth and their families about healthy nutrition and activity choices. It was designed and piloted by health experts from Buffalo Hospital and several schools in Wright County, Minnesota.
The program teaches kids about healthy lifestyle choices such as choosing their meals and snacks wisely and maintaining an active lifestyle. The DAAN “kit” comes with a fully developed curriculum as well as food models, a skeleton, games and a host of other activities. The hands-on approach has been shown to be very effective with this target age group. There is also a newsletter that teachers may choose to send home to parents to keep them in touch with what their child is learning about a healthy lifestyle in school and what they can do to continue that education at home.
