GRMC Welcomes New Staff

 

Grinnell Regional Medical Center announces Becky Pryor, RN, BS, began serving as the new combined home health and hospice director.  GRMC also welcomes Keith Morrison as the new medical center chaplain, which includes serving as the hospice chaplain.

Pryor brings many years of experience working in home health as well as a leadership position in public health. She earned her nursing degree from Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Ill., and a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College, in Greenville, Ill.

For the past 15 years, Pryor has worked for the Fayette County Health Department in Vandalia, Ill, primarily in Home Health and Public Health. This was a large county health center serving a predominately rural area.

Pryor will provide leadership for the two well-established departments as they work together to provide high quality patient care and grow the number of patients. She will also provide administrative leadership to meet the requirements for state and federal licensing for home health and hospice programs.

“Both Home Health and Hospice already have well established and experienced staff. We will focus on high quality patient care and services,” Pryor says. “Hospice will celebrate its 30^th anniversary this year so we want to gear up to showcase the excellent care we provide our patients.”

“Becky’s strength comes from her background,” says Suzanne Cooner, GRMC Vice-president. “She came in on the ground floor in the business office of a home health department. She worked her way through nursing school and continued with her passion in nursing and administration. She understands the entire process of providing care to individuals in their homes and other care settings. She’ll be an excellent leader with our team as we focus on exceptional patient services.”

Morrison began in mid-January. He graduated from Grinnell High School and earned a bachelor’s in business administration degree from the University of Iowa. After working in manufacturing after college, he decided to become a minister.  He served as a full time minister in Iowa and Indiana before returning to Grinnell. He worked at Montezuma Manufacturing for the past seven years while supporting local church programs.

“Meeting the spiritual needs of our patients is important for GRMC. Keith brings experience and personality to assist all patients of GRMC that includes the medical center and hospice program,” Cooner says. “He has served as a minister in the private sector and has experience that fits well with GRMC’s patient base. We revamped the chaplain position and Keith will be excellent in caring for our patients as well as working with the area faith organizations.”

The chaplain provides spiritual care to patients of GRMC. Chaplain care is available at GRMC 24/7, like other care services. Therefore, Morrison will also support and oversee the on-call chaplains who volunteer to serve patients. GRMC appreciates the on-call chaplains and will provide additional support and training to these individuals. Morrison will also be a liaison to the area ministerial association.

For more information on Grinnell Regional Home Health, call 641-236-2385; for Grinnell Regional Hospice, call 641-236-2418; or for the chaplain, call 641-236-2598.

GRMC Welcomes 2012 Officers and New Members

Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Board of Directors announced its 2012 officers and welcomed two new members during the first meeting of the year.

The 2012 GRMC Board of Director officers remained unchanged from last year with the chair – Ed Hatcher, Grinnell, long-time board member and area farmer; chair-elect – Bill Menner, Grinnell, the Iowa State Director for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture; past chair – Susan Witt, Grinnell, co-owner of Miraco, Corp., vice-president of Ahrens Foundation, and president of Ahrens Park Foundation; treasurer – Frank Brownell, Montezuma, owner of Brownells; and secretary – Stan Greenwald, MD, Grinnell, retired physician.

Dan Agnew becomes the newest member of the GRMC Board of Directors, starting a three-year term in January. Ryan P.  Dahlby Albright, MD, will begin a two-year term on the board in his role as president of the GRMC Medical Staff.  These new members join 14 area residents in providing direction, vision, and strategic planning for GRMC’s future.

New board members

Shifting from GMRC to GRMC, Agnew will offer his leadership experience and insights to the GRMC board as it shapes the future of healthcare in Poweshiek County. He retired from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company in December 2009, after 40 years with the company. Agnew earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa as well as completed several national accreditation programs specific to advanced degrees in the insurance industry.

Agnew brings extensive experience to GRMC’s board. He had served on the GRMC board from 1986 to 1989, to fill a term that was vacated. He provides leadership to the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce as the current board chair.  He has also served locally on the United Way board, as well as been a leader and member with the Lions and Boy Scouts of America. He recently served on the GRMC Foundation Board after he retired. Nationally, Agnew served on the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and, at the state level, the Iowa Insurance Institute Board.

He agreed to serve on the board for two basic reasons. First, his family and extended family have used the emergency department as well as services over the years. So he wants to support the hospital.  Second, he explains, “As a former CEO I understand the importance of a strong hospital in a company’s ability to recruit individuals to Grinnell. For a community this size, we impressed many new recruits and officers with the level of healthcare available, as well as the strong school system and the college. Now that I’m retired, my biggest effort will be working together with other board members and keeping the hospital strong.”

 Agnew will focus his time on the GRMC Board with the vision for the future.  “I think we have a very strong board right now. We can work together to develop the road map for the future and keep our hospital regional in focus and appeal.”

Agnew is married to Nancy and they have two children – Chad, who is married with two children, and Heather, who is married with two children.

Also joining the GRMC board of directors in January is Dahlby Albright, who was elected the GRMC Medical Staff president for 2012 – 2013. He began practicing medicine in Grinnell in 2005 at Family Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Dahlby Albright completed his residency at Mercy Family Medicine, in Mason City, where he was selected as Chief Resident for 2004-2005.

Though this is Dahlby Albright’s first board experience, he has increased his involvement with the medical staff as an activist for healthcare.

Healthcare is changing and healthcare reform makes the future very uncertain. Dahlby Albright’s goal is to help the board and the organization make a smooth transition from the current structure and payment system to the future healthcare, while keeping the physicians’ perspective in mind. 

“Serving on the board will provide a different view of medicine. The administrative side of medicine will be interesting in contrast to the diagnostic and treatment side of medicine,” explains Dahlby Albright.

He and his wife, Sarah, have four children. Though he practices medicine full time, Dahlby Albright and his wife make time to participate in a rock band called That Band. Anyone interested may find them on Facebook.

Board

“As our board fully understands, the healthcare industry is changing constantly and our future depends on strong individuals serving on the GRMC board of trustees,” explains Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “The uncertainty will likely not stabilize for several years. Our ability to remain flexible in a world of heavy regulations and requirements will challenge healthcare administrations across the country. This board will face challenges never experienced before as we balance options for optimal patient care and financial stability.”

GRMC and the residents served by the medical center have benefited from the diverse membership of the board and representation by community members as well as medical professionals. The GRMC Board of Trustees includes the officers and new members listed above as well as Karla Erickson; Laura Ferguson, MD; Wendy Kadner; JoAnn Manatt; Michelle Rebelsky, MD; Todd Reding; and Joanne Yuska. Ex officio members of the board in addition to Dahlby Albright, medical staff president, are Todd Linden, and George Drake, who will serve a second year in his two-year as GRMC Foundation Board chair.

Stepping off the GRMC board after serving since 2000 are Debby Pohlson and Wally Walker.

The board is responsible for overall governance of GRMC, a nonprofit, private medical center. Its primary roles include maintaining the mission and vision; strategic planning; appointing members of the medical and allied health staff; approving the annual budget and providing financial oversight; monitoring overall quality of services; and appointing the chief executive.

Healthcare Day at the State Capitol

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites the public to participate in the annual Iowa Hospital Association’s Legislative Day, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 29. Legislative Day allows area residents to be healthcare advocates about the government’s role in healthcare policy and funding.

This year’s Legislative Day will begin with lunch and program at the new Veterans Memorial Ballroom. The GRMC Auxiliary has reserved a motorcoach to transport area residents to Des Moines. The coach will leave Grinnell at 10 a.m. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has been invited to be the keynote speaker. Greg Boattenhamer, IHA government relations senior vice president, will discuss the 2012 legislative agenda.

Another highlight of the day is meeting with legislators representing the Poweshiek County area. Plans are in the works to meet with State Senator Tom Rielly and State Representative Guy Vander Linden.  

To sign up for this free event, please call the GRMC volunteer office at 641-236-2588, or email at kolson@grmc.us, by Monday, Feb. 6.  

Legislative Day is the largest annual gathering of healthcare advocates during the year, with more than 1,000 in attendance. The event, sponsored by Iowa Hospital Association, is free to all hospital supporters across the state. The purpose of Legislative Day is to give hospital advocates the tools and skills needed to directly address issues facing Iowa hospitals, healthcare providers, and citizens with their legislators at the Iowa Statehouse. Grinnell Regional Medical Center has been a leader in this program with an average of 40 participants attending in recent years.

“Funding for Medicaid to hospitals and healthcare providers is always under scrutiny for Iowa’s budget,” explains Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Preserving Iowa’s Medicaid program – both in terms of services to beneficiaries and payments to healthcare providers – must continue to be an important funding priority for our state government.” 

The IHA provides legislative papers explaining current healthcare topics. Issues under consideration include behavioral health, health benefit exchanges, quality mandates, and oversight of ambulatory surgery centers.

First Baby of 2012

Samantha Rae Payne, daughter of Tiffany and Scott Payne, was the first baby born in 2012 in the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Payne was born at 6:47 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces and measured 19.25 inches in length.

The first baby of the year was delivered by Roy Doorenbos, MD, Grinnell Regional Family Practice, Grinnell. Samantha joins an older brother, Brandon Payne, at home in Grinnell.