GRMC Launches Comprehensive Campaign

Grinnell Regional Medical Center is launching a comprehensive campaign to raise between $5 million and $8 million by the year 2017, when the medical center will celebrate its 50^th anniversary of service.

The campaign, entitled “Moving at the Speed of Life,” will enhance services, facilities, and technology at GRMC to meet the healthcare needs of the community today and in the future while also supporting annual needs of the medical center.

“Life happens when you are not looking,” says Denise Lamphier, director of communications and development for GRMC. “The staff at GRMC literally move at the speed of life to help our patients on a daily basis, no matter how slow or fast it moves—because every second counts, every moment matters.”

Four noted individuals are leading the fund-raising efforts as co-chairs of the campaign. They are:

§  Dan Agnew, a member of the GRMC board of directors and retired CEO of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company.

§  Debby Pohlson, a past chair of the GRMC board of directors who currently sits on the GRMC Foundation Board. She works at Jensen Optometrists in Grinnell.

§  Nick Kuiper, DO, a general surgeon with Surgical Associates of Grinnell and a member of the GRMC board of directors.

§  John Bambara, MD, GRMC director of emergency services and occupational health.

The campaign will raise funds for seven important projects, including:

§  Extensive renovations to the emergency department to modernize it.

§  The creation of an after-hours walk-in clinic.

§  The creation of a new chemotherapy and infusion department.

§  The purchase of a state-of-the-art daVinci^® surgical robotic system and new CT scanner.

§  Renovations to Postels Community Health Park to accommodate GRMC’s growing wellness program.

§  An endowment for the new Grinnell Regional Mental Health Center.

“I was born here at the hospital in Grinnell when it was called Community Hospital. In the course of my lifetime I have used the emergency room multiple times for myself, my children, and my grandchildren,” Agnew says. “I’m proud to be part of the campaign that will help ensure residents in the GRMC service area have access to the best care for many years to come.”

The campaign is being called a comprehensive campaign because it focuses on three types of giving that help underwrite three areas of programming at the medical center. In addition to the large projects listed above, the campaign also seeks annual support for the ongoing expenses of the medical center and also asks donors to support the long-term needs of the medical center by considering a planned gift, such as a bequest or estate gift.

“We think it is important to boldly invite people to invest in this cause,” Pohlson says. “We simply believe this comprehensive effort is important to keep increasing GRMC’s performance, sustainability, and relevancy.”

“Many of us in the community don’t fully appreciate that GRMC is a nonprofit hospital,” Agnew adds. “As such, we are best able to serve the greater Grinnell community structured this way. But that means when upgrades are necessary, we are dependent on our community to make them a reality. We are blessed to have a hospital of the highest caliber. This campaign will make certain that GRMC will stay that way for future generations.”

The Projects

Emergency Room & Walk-In Clinic: “The ER renovation is a project that has been talked about for a very long time,” Pohlson says. “In the previous capital campaign we raised $450,000 toward the emergency department, but this was not enough to complete the renovation. Our goal now is to raise the additional funding needed and move this important upgrade forward.”

GRMC handles about 10,000 emergency patient visits annually and is a Level III certified trauma center.

“This is a much-needed renovation and upgrade of our emergency department,” says John Bambara, MD, GRMC director of emergency services. “The new design will expand our space and increase treatment capacity, flexibility, and patient privacy.”

Additionally, an after-hours walk-in clinic is being developed for the first floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building. Patients would use this for conditions that require medical attention but not emergency care.

Computed Tomography Scanner:  A CT scanner uses x-rays to image the body’s internal organs. Radiologists use this technology to diagnose acute strokes as well as abnormalities in the body such as abscesses, kidney stones, and cancer. It can also detect spinal fractures and determine the amount of damage to bone and soft tissue in trauma patients. GRMC’s current 16-slice scanner was purchased in 2004. Today, scanners can provide upwards of 64 slices for greater detail, faster scan times for patients, and increased capability for interpretation by the radiologist.

Postels Community Health Park: For more than 10 years, Postels Community Health Park has provided area residents with integrated medicine services. Joanie and Arnie Heimsoth and Dick Postels donated the building that was formerly used by Grinnell Beverage to GRMC in 1999. Beginning this year, the goal of having all wellness and fitness services under one roof will become a reality.

The Postels building currently houses acupuncture, chiropractic care, therapeutic massage, outpatient physical therapy, and is home to GRMC’s fitness classes such as Spinning^®, yoga, Pilates, and Bootcamp. Renovations to the space will accommodate the move of the Paul W. Ahrens Wellness and Fitness Center to the facility. The space will include a new entrance to the building on Commercial Street, an indoor walking path, a dedicated Spinning^® room, individual weight training and cardio equipment, lighting, showers, and changing facilities. Improvements are also needed to the exterior of the building.

Grinnell Regional Mental Health Center: Funding raised toward an endowment for the new Grinnell Regional Mental Health Center will ensure that mental health services are available in the area for years to come. In March 2013, GRMC created this clinic in response to the closing of the more than 40-year-old Poweshiek County Mental Health Center. An endowment will help cover the annual operating costs of the new service at GRMC.

“Health and mental health are inextricably intertwined,” says Suzanne Cooner, GRMC vice-president of operations and executive director of the clinic. “Our goal with this clinic is to make sure that services for people with mental health needs are integrated with primary care. This service allows people to receive the counseling and medical management they need right here, close to home.”

Chemotherapy and Infusion Services: GRMC is creating a new chemotherapy area on the first floor of the medical center. This new location will be easily accessible for patients from the main entrance, admissions, and the lab. Features of the new chemotherapy department include greater patient comforts, state-of-the-art design, and a unique art installation by Lee Emma Running, associate professor of art at Grinnell College. 

daVinci Surgical System: The daVinci system is a sophisticated robotic platform designed to expand a surgeon’s capabilities and offer a minimally invasive option for major surgery. In January 2013, GRMC had the opportunity to begin leasing a daVinci. The manufacturer offered GRMC substantial discounts to take possession of the equipment immediately. However, in June 2013, GRMC would like to purchase the system, which is less expensive than leasing over the long term.

“The daVinci is already making a difference in the lives of our patients,” Kuiper says. “Since we began using the robot to assist us with surgeries, we have seen wonderful patient outcomes, including shorter hospital stays and faster recovery.”

The Volunteers

The co-chairs of the committee have recruited a team of volunteers to direct the fund-raising effort throughout the GRMC service area.

Jewel Kintzinger-Day, Leila Maring, Waldo Walker, and the late Marion Jones are all honorary co-chairs of campaign.

“These four individuals have been steadfast supporters of GRMC and have always demonstrated that true success is in helping others,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “We felt it important to recognize each of them for their vital and extraordinary volunteer work on behalf of the organization over the years.”

Additional committee members include:

Lead Gifts: Sig Barber and Linda Lowe, co-chairs, with Ed Hatcher.

General Gifts: Wendy Kadner, Sally Lang, and Dave VanderLinden, co-chairs. Also serving are Jennifer Cogley, Patrick Cogley, MD, George Drake, Ashley Grundler, Rachelle Johnson, Paul Pohlson, Rick Ramsey, Todd Reding, and Pat Supple.

Internal Gifts: Ron Collins, MD, Ryan Dahlby Albright, MD, and Chad Nath, co-chairs. Also serving are Ray Baker, Kathy Clark, Patty Hinrichs, Brooke Uhlmann, and Lesa Peters.

Special Events/Marketing: Sharon Lahn, Ben Latimer, and Bill Menner.

Corporate/Business Gifts: Larry Jansen, Barb Baker, and John Smith, co-chairs. Also serving are Scott Collings, OD, Dennis Day, Jeff Finch, Peggy German, Scott Gilbert, Rich Gogg, Joanie Heimsoth, Mike Hotchkin, Al Knaack, Mark Kolpin, Dr. Ramona Mitchell, Jim Ramsey, Mike Thorndike, Nancy Van Tomme, Lori Vos, and Susan Witt.

GRMC Auxiliary: Deb Collum-Calderwood, Sheila Latcham, Kerri Olson, and Shannon Reding.

The Process

The Moving at the Speed of Life fund-raising campaign is in the very early stages, and funding is being pursued from various private and public sources.

“GRMC’s financial situation has had its ups and downs over the past five years due primarily to the poor Medicare payment system,” Lamphier says. “We continue to rely heavily on financial donations for projects such as these. All of us at GRMC are honored to have such extraordinary community support. It is certainly one of the many things that makes us one of the best community hospitals in the country.”

“The ultimate goal for this campaign is to raise $5 million to $8 million over the next three to five years for projects totaling about $8 million. When the medical center celebrates its 50^th anniversary in 2017 we will be able to celebrate a half century of forward thinking to benefit the health and wellbeing of the people in the greater Poweshiek County area. Seeing all these projects completed over that time span will reaffirm our commitment to innovative and quality patient care for the next 50 years,” Lamphier says. 

For more information about Moving at the Speed of Life: A Comprehensive Campaign for GRMC, please contact Lamphier at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us, or contact a volunteer on the steering committee.