New Infant Massage Class Offered

Postels Community Health Park will offer an infant massage class to all parents with children under the age of one year. The class will meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. on the second floor of the Postels Community Health Park. Classes will be about one hour in length. There is no charge for the class, but registration is encouraged.

Bring your child, if you are comfortable doing so, or a large stuffed animal or doll to practice on, as well as a blanket or towel. Massage oil will be provided.

Benefits of infant massage include improved weight gain, muscle tone, quality of sleep and digestion for infants.  Many times, massage provides relief from discomfort of teething, colic, constipation, and chest and sinus congestion. Additionally, the interaction that takes place during massage promotes healthy bonding and attachment. Positive loving touch creates many lasting impressions on parent, baby, and the family. Through simple instruction this can become a wonderful part of a daily routine together.

To register for this free class, call: 641-236-2953 or email: postels@grmc.us. 

GRMC Announces New Directors

Grinnell Regional Medical Center recently announced the promotions of Chad Nath to director of wellness services and integrated therapies and Tom Sheets to director of security.

“Both Chad and Tom bring unique skills to their new roles at GRMC,” says Suzanne Cooner, vice president of operations. “GRMC and of course, the community at large, will certainly benefit from their experience and expertise.”

Nath has been a member of GRMC staff since 2003 and has served as the Emergency Preparedness, Safety, and Security Coordinator. He also oversees the GRMC Daycamp program.

A native of Estherville, Iowa, Nath is a graduate of Iowa Lakes Community College and Buena Vista University. Upon his graduation, he served in the Armstrong-Ringsted Community Schools as a special education teacher and in the Estherville Community School district as a kindergarten teacher. Additionally, Nath holds certification as an athletic coach for grades K-12.

“I’m excited about the changes that are underway for wellness services,” Nath says. “Our focus is on the overall health of the community – physical, mental, nutritional, emotional. We are finalizing our plans to remodel the space that GRMC most recently lent to The Galaxy Youth Center to create the new Paul W. Ahrens Wellness Center at Postels Community Health Park. Our group classes are meeting there now and it has been a goal for several years to provide these services under one roof.”

Nath notes that the majority of wellness services will move later this spring from the current location on the first floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building.

“We will have our pool classes in our current location and will also continue to offer a supervised exercise area at GRMC, but on a more limited scale,” says Nath. “The new location will offer many benefits, including upgrades to equipment to include functional exercise, and greater accessibility.”

Tom Sheets brings more than 26 years of law enforcement experience to his role as director of security, safety, and emergency preparedness for GRMC. Most recently, Sheets served 12 years as Poweshiek County Sheriff before coming to GRMC in December 2012.

“Certainly there are similarities between active law enforcement and administration and my new role at GRMC,” Sheets says. “This is particularly true with emergency preparedness. We’ll continue to strengthen the partnership between all our local emergency organizations – sheriff’s department, EMTs, police, and fire. GRMC has an excellent reputation as a role model across the state for being one of the best organizations when it comes to emergency preparedness, and that is thanks in part to the work Chad Nath performed under Suzanne Cooner’s leadership. I’ve worked closely with both of them during my time as Poweshiek County Sheriff.”

Sheets is a graduate of Montezuma High School and Northeast Missouri State University, now known as Truman State University. He holds a degree in law enforcement. He worked with the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s department from 1990 until November 2012.

“While there are similarities, there are differences,” says Sheets. “The focus of my work at GRMC is about creating and maintaining a safe environment in a variety of ways and to keep the organization ready for emergencies that our area might face.” 

Survey for Health Needs Mailed

Grinnell Regional Medical Center and Grinnell Regional Public Health will conduct a county-wide health needs assessment to gauge overall health needs in Poweshiek County.  To ensure valid results, a sample of 1,000 area residents have been selected from a third-party mailing list and mailed a short survey the week of February 28.

Any adult resident of Poweshiek County may participate. Anyone who did not receive a mailed paper survey may complete this health assessment online by entering the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GRMCchna ; or drop by the Grinnell Regional Public Health office, 306 4^th Avenue, Grinnell, to pick up a paper survey.

All assessment surveys must be completed and returned by Tuesday, March 26, 2013.  All survey responses are anonymous and completing the survey takes less than 10 minutes.

In addition, a Town Hall meeting to review results will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2013, from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Elks Lodge, 720 3rd Ave., Grinnell. A meal will be served at 5:30 with discussion on results following. For more information on community health needs project, call 641-236-2385.   

Taste of Home Cooking School Vendors

The Taste of Home Cooking School continues to take shape as Grinnell Regional Medical Center and the Grinnell Regional Auxiliary finalize vendors and sponsors. A few spaces remain available for businesses or individuals who wish to sell their products to the Taste of Home Cooking School audience.

The Taste of Home Cooking School will be Monday, April 15, at the Grinnell High School, from 4:30 to approximately 9 p.m.

Vendors committed include Allspice Culinarium, Beckman Gallery II, Cory Hall Photography, Doty Meats, Fieldstone Farms – Honey, Flower Connection, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Norwex, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Silpada Jewelry, Tastefully Simple, The Glass Gift Box, Thirty-one, Vault Denim, and Visions Hair and Body Spa.

Interested businesses who want a vendor table may contact Sherylea Downes, GRMC office of Communications and Development at 641-236-2691 for information.

The Taste of Home Cooking School is made possible by support from area sponsors. Chef de Cuisine sponsors include GRMC Auxiliary, Grinnell College, Grinnell Herald-Register, Mayflower Community, Poweshiek Mutual Insurance, and Poweshiek Publications.

Sous Chef sponsors include Grinnell Family Care, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, Maytag Laundry and Tanning, Sievers Organic Beef Farm, St. Francis/Seeland Park, and Tama County Publishing

Other sponsors include Grinnell Eye Care and The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation.

Support from area grocery stores and food providers is critical for a food show. Sponsors include Dayton’s Meats, Fareway, Grinnell HyVee, McNally’s Foods, and Montezuma Super Valu. 

Home Furnishing sponsors who help provide equipment for the show include Penrose Lumber/Beck Construction and Starnes TV and Appliance.

Tickets for the Taste of Home Cooking School went on sale March 1. General admission tickets are $20 and include the cooking school, a buffet meal with all recipes from Taste of Home Cookbooks, health exhibits, and shopping at unique vendors. A limited number of VIP tickets are available.  The VIP ticket includes all the items for the general admission tickets plus a special Meet and Greet with Chef Karen Davis, autographed cookbook, tour of the stage and behind the scenes of a cooking show, plus premier seating in the auditorium. For VIP tickets call 641-236-2946.

General Admission tickets may be purchased online at www.grmc.us; or at The Glass Gift Box, Gosselink’s Gifts and Interiors, and Visions Hair and Body Spa. 

Pulmonologist Joins GRMC's Visiting Specialty Clinic

Pulmonologist Joins GRMC’s Visiting Specialty Clinic

Alan B. Moy, MD, pulmonologist, will begin seeing patients in the Grinnell Regional Medical Center Visiting Specialty Clinic in May. Moy’s clinic will be in the Ahrens Medical Arts Building, 201 4^th Ave., Grinnell.

Pulmonologists specialize in pulmonary medicine, a subspecialty of internal medicine that diagnoses and treats diseases, conditions and abnormalities of the lungs and cardio-pulmonary system.

Moy’s primary practice is Pulmonary Associates of Iowa City, PC, a clinic affiliated with Mercy Hospital of Iowa City. He will focus his practice on general pulmonology and sleep medicine including advance diagnostic bronchoscope techniques.

Moy earned his medical degree from Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis. He completed his residency at St. Louis University affiliated hospitals and a fellowship in pulmonary diseases at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in pulmonary medicine.

“GRMC has been recruiting a pulmonologist to supplement our internal medicine clinic,” says Todd Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “We very pleased to bring this specialty care to Grinnell. Dr. Moy will be an excellent addition to our visiting specialty services and clinic.”

As a subspecialty service, patients will be referred to the clinic through their primary care providers as needed. 

Friday’s Weather-related Announcements at GRMC

Grinnell Regional Medical Center announces the following closures due to the weather on February 21 and 22:

·      Deer Creek Family Care – opening at 10 a.m.

·      Lynnville Medical Clinic – opening at 10 a.m.

·      Grinnell Regional Women’s Health Clinic is open on Friday

·      Grinnell Regional Internal Medicine – closed on Friday

·      Victor Health Center – closed on Friday

Announced earlier--

The following clinics are closed on Friday, Feb. 22

·      Grinnell Regional Orthopedics

·      Grinnell Regional Family Practice

·      Grinnell Regional Wound Clinic

·      Grinnell Regional Visiting Physicians

·      Grinnell Regional Pain Clinic