Jobs in Healthcare Industry Maintain Economic Impact

The healthcare industry supports 1,326 jobs in the county and those positions contribute more than $57.6 million in payroll and income to the county’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association. 

Grinnell Regional Medical Center generates 410 jobs that add $32.5 million to the local economy.  In addition, GRMC employees by themselves spend $6.67 million on retail sales and contribute $400,360 in state sales tax revenue.

            “A strong healthcare industry assures residents of quality care and it’s also very important for the local economy,” says Todd C. Linden, CEO and president. “The contributions by hospitals, nursing facilities, physicians, dentists, pharmacies and medical services make a significant impact on the  local economy, including the number of people they employ, the purchases with local businesses, and employees’ spending. We provide a strong economic impact on schools, businesses, and retail in the entire area.”

Nursing and residential care employs 495 individuals, according to the study based on 2011 data. Physicians, dentists, and other health practitioners and their offices support 341 jobs. An additional 600 jobs are indirectly linked to the healthcare industry. In total, the healthcare industry spends $57,604,960 in payroll income, generating an economic impact of $77,881,091.

“Though GRMC has reduced payroll and number of employees over the past two years, the industry in the county has maintained its level of healthcare jobs and economic impact,” says Linden. “Even in these tough economic times, healthcare remains a very strong economic as well as quality-of-life factor in Poweshiek County and beyond.”

The IHA study examined the jobs, income, retail sales and sales tax produced by hospitals and the rest of the state’s healthcare sector.  The study was compiled from hospital-submitted data on the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey of Hospitals and with software that other industries have used to determine their economic impact.

The study found that Iowa hospitals directly employ 70,363 people and create another 65,783 jobs outside the hospital sector.  As an income source, hospitals provide $3.9 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $2.3 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.
 In all, Iowa’s healthcare sector, which includes employed clinicians, long-term care services and assisted living centers, pharmacies and other medical and health services, directly and indirectly, provides 333,554 Iowa jobs, or more than one-fifth of the state’s total employment.

GRMC Auxiliary Healthcare Scholarship Applications Available

 

Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary is once again offering scholarships to individuals studying for a career in healthcare. The scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors, current students, or adult students pursuing a healthcare career. The scholarship is also open to those currently in the healthcare field seeking advanced healthcare training. Applications are now available from area high school guidance counselors, the admissions desk at GRMC, and online at www.grmc.us (see the link under “News”). Individuals who are interested in pursuing healthcare careers have until Friday, March 16, to submit completed scholarship application forms.

 “We know that this scholarship is important for many individuals,” says Jennifer Cogley, member of the GRMC Auxiliary Board. “The need for healthcare workers continues to increase. We encourage anyone seeking a career in healthcare to apply for this scholarship. Supporting healthcare is a big part of our mission and we believe in providing post high school students as well as adult students the funds to pursuing healthcare careers.”

Selection is based on applicant’s desire to follow a healthcare career, financial need, scholastic ability, and character. Two letters of recommendation that attest to the character and qualifications of the applicant must accompany the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The auxiliary will review applications and notify recipients by early April. Recipients will be introduced at the annual GRMC Auxiliary Spring meeting on Wednesday, April 25.  For additional information about the GRMC Auxiliary scholarships, please call the GRMC volunteer coordinator’s office at 641-236-2588.

The Iowa Hospital Association through the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation also offers scholarships of $3,000 per academic year, with a maximum of $6,000 for two years.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

• Be enrolled in an accredited healthcare education program that leads to licensure or a clinical laboratory degree.

• Be within two years of completing your professional education.

• Be willing to work for an Iowa hospital after graduation (one year per scholarship awarded).

The GRMC Auxiliary gives toward the IHA hospital annually and any healthcare field applicants in the state may take advantage of this scholarship.

Applications are available at www.ihaonline.org, (click Health Careers on the IHA Website). Applications are also available in the GRMC Office of Human Resources. Application deadline is Wednesday, March 14, 2012.

February SE*ED Program Showcases

 Scenes from the GHS Spring Musical

            The Grinnell Regional Medical Center SE*ED program on Monday, Feb. 13, will feature two short programs in one hour. The SE*ED program begins at 10 a.m. in the Caulkins Community Room at the Drake Community Library. The program is free and open to the public.

            Members of the cast of the Grinnell High School spring musical, “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” will perform two of the larger cast numbers, “Paris Original” and “Brotherhood of Man.” Liz Hansen is the show’s director, with music directed by Roger Henderson, and Michael Hunter as technical director. 

            The show has had a very successful revival on Broadway. Abe Burrows and Frank Loesser wrote the show and also created “Guys and Dolls,” the last musical produced at GHS.

            The second half of the program will feature Cory Jackson, manager, Grinnell Regional Wellness and Fitness Services. Jackson is extensively involved in community wellness outreach through the Grinnell Blue Zones Community Project and a recent public health grant on wellness. The community of Grinnell will learn on Friday, Feb. 10, if it has been selected for the next round of the selection process to be officially designated a Blue Zones Community by Healthways and Wellmark. Jackson will talk about the next steps for both community wellness opportunities, also on Monday, Feb. 13. 

            No reservation is needed and there is no charge for the program, although donations are accepted. Refreshments are served and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

            The SE*ED program continues its monthly winter schedule. The next program will be Monday, March 12, with Michelle Rebelsky, MD, FAACP. Rebelsky will present, “Prevention and Wellness with Medicare.” April 2 kicks off the weekly schedule with Ulrike Passe, ISU associate professor of architecture, and her program on solar home design.

Parking is available at the Drake Community Library, along Park Street, on Fifth Avenue, and in the First Presbyterian Church parking lot.

Seniors needing transportation may call GRMC’s Office of Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 the Thursday before the program.

If you are a person with a disability who requires special assistance,

please call 641-236-2593. For more information about upcoming speakers please check GRMC’s website at www.grmc.us or call 641-236-2954.

Wellness Fair for College Students

 

The Grinnell College Wellness Committee and Grinnell Regional Medical Center will sponsor the Grinnell College Wellness Fair for students, faculty, and staff on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 5:30 to 8 p.m., in the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center.

This event brings together GRMC health and wellness experts with various Grinnell College departments and programs along with community services such as Poweshiek County Mental Health Center, Grinnell Police Department, and therapy dogs. This collaboration between the college, medical center, and community is to create an educational evening focused on health and wellbeing.

“This is a holistic look at health for our students,” explains Jen Jacobsen, Grinnell College wellness coordinator. “Health and happiness are unique to each person and this event highlights so many college and community resources to help educate students about healthy living. If we think about the nine elements of the Blue Zone, three focus on nutrition and exercise the other six focus on quality of life and active living.”

 “We have more than 30 exhibitors who talk to students on a spectrum of issues,” she says. “Our exhibits cover yoga, chair massages and integrated health, safety, mental health, meditation, nutrition, dangers of tattoos gone, academic advising, outdoor recreation club, sexual health, wellness on campus, and the Faulconer Gallery. Plus we’ll have the labyrinth to walk and tasting of oriental teas.”

Faculty and staff are welcome to attend. For more information on the event, contact Jen Jacobsen at 641-269-3704.

GRMC Annual Fund Drive Garners New Anesthesia Units

 

Deloris and Eugene Lang, Grinnell, consider the GRMC an important resource to the community. They wanted to show their support for the hospital so they contributed $10,000 to the purchase of anesthesia units.

 

The generosity of area residents and businesses moved Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s 2011 Annual Fund Drive to a record high as well as funded the goal for four new anesthesia units.

GRMC’s annual fund drive raised $378,166, the largest annual drive in the medical center’s history. A significant component of this drive was the request for $140,000 to fund new anesthesia units for the four GRMC surgery suites.

“Because so many people have had surgery or knew someone who has had a surgery, the anesthesia unit campaign appealed to our employees,” says Barb Baker, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company advertising and community relations manager. “A core mission of Grinnell Mutual is to support the community. The medical center is an important entity in our community and we also need a strong hospital for our recruitment efforts. The surgery area is an important focus for a quality hospital and we want to support it.”

The Grinnell Mutual Foundation and Grinnell Mutual employees collaborated to raise more than $26,000 toward the $140,000 needed for the anesthesia units.

“This kind of campaign has a large appeal to many employees so our foundation provided an incentive to our employees to donate. Any one of us may need to use the surgical center and we want it to be there when needed,” Baker says.

For Eugene and Deloris Lang, they also wanted to ensure the medical center keeps improving and maintaining a strong program.

“Dr. Emge spoke at the Kiwanis meeting and explained the need for this equipment. So I went home and talked it over with Deloris. We consider the hospital a key community resource and want to keep it up,” says Eugene Lang.

Eugene Lang has lived and farmed in the area since 1933 and his connections with GRMC are plentiful. He and his wife of 60 years have used the medical center and had all three of their children at GRMC. They designated $10,000 to the anesthesia units.

 “We understand that new technology and new equipment is needed to stay current and offer the best in care so we wanted to support this particular campaign. We were impressed with Dr. Emge and why he came to Grinnell. We’re getting the right people to keep the medical center moving forward,” Lang says.

The medical center reached its goal through generous support, including a $35,000 community challenge offered by Grinnell College, Grinnell State Bank, and Laser Resources; grants from Alliant Energy, Lincoln Savings Bank, Monsanto Iowa Foundation, and Poweshiek County Alliance; the annual golf outing proceeds; and individual supporters.

“As representatives of our community, Foundation Board members were eager to sponsor and contribute to this essential effort to provide state of the art surgical equipment for GRMC,” says George Drake, GRMC Foundation Board chair. “We had excellent participation by our boards and medical staff for the anesthesia units as well as the annual fund.”

Total giving to GRMC in 2011, through memorials, annual fund, and special events, reached $684,536 from 1,687 donors. A reception to thank all donors will be held Feb. 1 at GRMC. Tours and a demonstration of the anesthesia units will be provided.

In addition to fund raising activities, GRMC also supported its operating budget through grants. GRMC received 13 grants bringing in $47,063.

“All these funding sources are important to support GRMC’s mission of providing quality care to all in need. Residents value having excellent healthcare services close to home and they have supported the medical center at a record level, even during the current economic times,” says Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development. “We want to thank the generosity of our donors for standing strong with GRMC to support excellent care.”

For additional information about GRMC’s annual fund or development program, contact Lamphier at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.