End of Year Gifts Help GRMC with Renovations

A bequest and an anonymous gift to Grinnell Regional Medical Center will fund renovations in the first floor hallways and the cafeteria as well as complete a sprinkler system upgrade. The $25,000 bequest from Dale and Eylene Brush will be added to a $20,000 anonymous gift to complete the first floor construction and facelift.

“We’re just tickled to be able to make these renovations to what many consider our entrance hallway to patient wings and the cafeteria,” says Kris Gilman, GRMC director of nutrition services. “This area can make an important impression on our guests. We want the facility image to match the excellent care, service, and food at GRMC.”

Excellent care and compassion during end of life and kind words prompted the $25,000 bequest from Dale and Eylene Brush of rural Grinnell/Lynnville. GRMC cared for Dale Brush during his battle with cancer and offered many services to Eylene’s mother in her final years. After the positive experiences and compassion at GRMC, Eylene wanted to give back to the hospital, says Don Davis, who is married to Eylene’s niece, Carol Davis.

The Brushes were long-time farmers north of Lynnville. Dale was an avid horse lover and judged 4-H contests for years. Dale passed away in 2000 and Eylene in 2008.

“I had the honor of knowing Dale and Eylene and we are so thankful for these generous donations,” says Mark Doll, GRMC director of facilities management. “I’m excited about helping implement renovations to the medical center as a tribute to them. This combined donation will allow GRMC to complete the much needed renovations. This is a tremendous blessing as we end 2011.”

The Brush bequest will be combined with an anonymous $20,000 annual fund drive gift designated for hospital renovations. By combining these gifts, GRMC will make an upgrade to the final segment of the sprinkler system in the first floor hallway as well as resurface the entire area from floor to ceiling.

Bequests through a will serve as an important way that residents can express thanks and appreciation for services and staff at GRMC. For more information about this option, residents may work with their financial planners or call Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development.

GRMC is nearing the end of its 2011 annual fund drive campaign. The annual fund drive supports operating costs at the medical center. This year, a special focus of the annual fund is to raise $140,000 toward four new anesthesia units for the surgery department. The medical center has raised about $120,000 toward the $140,000 project to purchase updated and uniform anesthesia machines for the four surgery suites. Each anesthesia machine costs $35,000. Grinnell College, Grinnell State Bank, and Laser Resources have combined funds to offer a matching challenge to the community. By completing the challenge match, GRMC will close the funding gap needed to purchase all four machines.

“We’re so close to meeting the anesthesia goal. Our community is truly showing its support for this need. We need just $15,000 more to complete the match and fund all four units,” Lamphier says.

Donations to the annual fund drive may be given online, by phone, or by mail. For phone donations, call Lamphier in the GRMC Office of Communications and Development at 641-236-2589. Gifts may be made online by visiting www.grmc.us and clicking on “Make a Gift Online” under Quick Links. Or, mail donations to the Office of Communications and Development, Attn: Denise Lamphier, 210 4th Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112. Donations received or postmarked prior to January 1, 2012, are applied toward 2011 taxes.

New Cancer Support Group Meeting at GRMC

A new cancer support group now meets at Grinnell Regional Medical Center every Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in room 204.

“It is an informal time of sharing and support for anyone with a cancer diagnosis,” says Linda Romero, LISW, social worker at GRMC.  “We hope that patients will attend, learn from each other, and gain support.”

To learn more about this new cancer support group, call Linda Romero at 641-236-2568. To learn more about cancer care at GRMC, go to www.grmc.us.

Massage Therapy Services at Deer Creek

Grinnell Regional Medical Center massage therapist, Jamie Hodina, LMT, will begin offering massage therapy services at Deer Creek Health Center on December 5. Hodina will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every other Monday.

“Massage therapy has so many benefits for clients,” explains Hodina. “It can reduce stress; improve circulation; and enhance flexibility and range of motion, as well as other benefits. I’m happy to provide massages to area residents.”

Residents may schedule 30, 60, and 90-minute massages with Hodina in Toledo by calling the Postels Community Health Park office at 641-236-2953. The Deer Creek Health Center is located at 401 First Ave.

Dr. Roy Doorenbos Joins Victor Health Center

The Victor Health Center welcomes Roy A. Doorenbos, MD, as the new medical director at the clinic. Doorenbos began seeing patients in the clinic on December 1.  As the new medical director, he will oversee care at the Victor Health Center and see patients routinely in the clinic. He joins Wendi Beck, PA-C, who currently serves at the clinic.

Doorenbos currently is a primary care provider with Grinnell Regional Family Practice, located in the Ahrens Medical Arts Building. He joined the GRMC medical staff in 1986. He was born in Boyden, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University for his undergraduate degree and the University of Iowa for his medical degree.

Doorenbos accepted the medical director position following the retirement of David Cranston, MD, who had been at the clinic for more than five years.

“I grew up in a small town, like Victor, and I’m looking forward to helping meet the medical needs of area residents. Small town Iowa is a good place to live and I want to help support the Victor community and the quality of life,” says Doorenbos. 

Beginning December 1, the Victor Health Center hours will be Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon; and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The clinic offers the spectrum of primary care services. To schedule an appointment, call the Victor Health Center at 319-647-7511.

Grinnell Clears First Hurdle to Becoming Blue Zones Community

Grinnell has been invited to make a full application to Healthways to become a Blue Zones Community. Grinnell Blue Zones project co-leaders Jennifer Jacobsen, Grinnell College wellness coordinator, and Cory Jackson, director of Grinnell Regional Wellness and Fitness programs, announced the invitation.

“The Blue Zones” is a book written by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic researcher who studied communities all over the world to find those communities where residents lived well into their nineties and even longer. Buettner summarized his findings and created the Power 9™, a pyramid of nine different small changes in individual lifestyle habits that have a big impact on a community. Grinnell’s Drake Community Library has this book in its collection.

“The Blue Zones project in Iowa goes hand-in-hand with Governor Branstad’s Healthiest State Initiative,” says Jackson. “Right now, 58 communities across the state of Iowa have been invited to apply to become one of a few Iowa communities to be named ‘Blue Zones.’ We’re already doing great things in Grinnell. Becoming a Blue Zones community would take us to the next level.”

The next level includes a community-wide survey of needs by Healthways-Gallup, funding for a full-time project coordinator, and creating initiatives that are collaborative, sustainable, and accessible to all members of the community.

More than 80 Iowa communities applied to be invited to make a full application to become a Blue Zones Community. Grinnell is one of 58 communities selected to move on to the next step of the process. 

"We are meeting with several community leaders from organizations that have incredible projects and plans for our quality of life in Grinnell," says Jacobsen. "We're putting our effort into establishing a plan that is sustainable, collaborative, and accessible for all residents. We are already doing some pretty amazing things. Being a Blue Zones Community would help us take it to the next level."

The full application is due in early January. Grinnell still needs residents to register their support at the Blue Zones website www.bluezonesproject.com/citizens/signup.

"Community involvement is really important for this process,” says Jackson. “It’s all about working together to make changes in our community making it easier for residents to live healthier, happier lives. We need residents to register their support and to ‘friend us’ on Facebook to get involved.”

For more information about Grinnell Blue Zones and local efforts, please contact Jacobsen, 641-269-3704 or Jackson, 641-236-2998.