GRMC Limits Visitors to Prevent Widespread Disease

Grinnell Regional Medical Center is asking for help in the effort to protect patients from multiple widespread viruses: If you are sick, please don’t come for a visit.
Effective immediately, GRMC is asking visitors for their help in protecting patients and staff by not coming to the hospital with a sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. This includes those who are visiting inpatient and obstetrical areas.
“These limits on hospital visitors will help us protect our most vulnerable population from exposure to multiple, severe viruses,” says Terri Kelling, RN, GRMC infection prevention coordinator. “This is important for GRMC’s commitment to patient safety. If you feel unwell, please don’t come to the hospital unless you are coming for medical treatment. Help out your family, friends and co-workers by staying home to avoid spreading the virus. Please don’t go to school, work, or any public places if you are sick.”
“Both the influenza and norovirus are prevalent in the GRMC service area. In our area, 94 percent of the influenza is the A strain, H3N2. We anticipate an upswing of influenza in Poweshiek County and the State of Iowa in the next week,” says Patty Hinrichs, Poweshiek County Public Health Coordinator.
In the last reporting week, the Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network indicated 130 influenza-related hospitalizations statewide, mostly among those aged 64 or greater. Several flu outbreaks have been reported in long-term care facilities, especially in central and western Iowa. The most common flu virus circulating is the influenza A(H3N2) strain, although four different strains have been identified. In years when A(H3N2) viruses dominate, the flu season tends to be more severe with more hospitalizations and deaths. Based upon CDC’s national estimates, an average of 300,000 Iowans get the flu every year and together, flu and its complication of pneumonia cause an average of 1,000 deaths yearly in Iowa.
 “We’ve also had a significant number of norovirus-like illnesses reported, with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea,” Hinrichs says. “Individuals with the norovirus can remain contagious for more than a week after symptoms stop. To avoid sharing this illness, please practice good hygiene practices all the time.”
Hand sanitizer is not effective on norovirus, Kelling says. “Only good, old-fashioned soap and water can kill a norovirus.”
Hospital Restrictions
In GRMC’s inpatient rooms and the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center, no more than two visitors 18 years and older (grandparents, other family member, friends, co-worker, etc.) are allowed at a time. Children under 12 will be screened for symptoms before being allowed to visit.
Visitors should refrain from visiting if they have had any of the following symptoms in the past seven days: headaches, nausea, fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, diarrhea, or vomiting. All visitors are required to wash their hands with soap or sanitizing gel when going into a patient’s room. In some cases, individuals will be required to wear masks if coming to the medical center for medical care.
“If you are ill or not feeling well, please stay home. Don’t go to school, work, or public places if you are sick,” Kelling emphasizes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend influenza vaccination for people who have not yet been vaccinated this season. It is not too late, especially for children. Grinnell Regional Public Health is still offering flu vaccines. For an appointment, please call 641-236-2385.
Remember the 3Cs: Cover your coughs and sneezes; Clean your hands frequently; and Contain germs by staying home when ill.

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2014- $15k Gifts

Area Businesses and Individuals Pledge $15,000 to
Support GRMC Campaign

      Grinnell businesses ASI Signage Innovations, Family Dentistry, and Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association have each made gifts of $15,000 to the Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign for Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Additional gifts of $15,000 have also been received from Ron and Sally Lang of Grinnell and an anonymous donor.
      “We are grateful for individuals and business partners for their ongoing support of GRMC,” says Debby Pohlson, co-chair of the GRMC Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign. “It takes all of us working together to affect change. We appreciate their investment in the overall health of our entire area.”
      According to the Iowa Hospital Association, Iowa’s 118 community hospitals are a strong force in any local economy, having as much as a $4.1 billion impact on the state’s economy overall. In Poweshiek County, it is estimated that GRMC and its 440 employees have a $32 million impact on the local economy.
      “There’s no question that the hospital is an anchor of the community,” says Tom Latimer, president and CEO of ASI Signage Innovations. “It plays a very large role in economic development.”
      Tom and Dianne Latimer, owners of ASI Signage Innovations have been ardent supporters of GRMC for many years. Tom has served as a co-chair of a previous capital campaign, Building on Excellence.  Dianne served as chair of the GRMC Board of Directors in 1999 and also on the GRMC Foundation Board.
      “Grinnell has created a great medical community,” says Dianne Latimer. “Our family, our employees, and our friends have all relied on GRMC through the years. It needs our financial support to continue to remain strong.”
      ASI Signage Innovations employs 100 individuals in Chicago, Des Moines, Iowa City, Denver, Omaha, and here at their headquarters in Grinnell. The company manufactures a wide range of signs and graphics for institutions of higher education, healthcare facilities, and financial institutions.
      Ron and Sally Lang of Grinnell have been active supporters of GRMC for many years. Ron is a farmer and entrepreneur and Sally is a retired marketing executive with Deere and Company. Sally is currently the chair of the GRMC Foundation and serves as a special events volunteer.
      “We know that a strong medical center is vital to our local economy,” says Sally Lang. “We support GRMC because it’s good for our community and because our own family has received extraordinary care when we’ve needed it. The hospital is important to us in so many ways.”
      Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association has been in business and serving Grinnell and the surrounding area for almost 140 years.
      “Providing excellent service to our policyholder members is our primary focus, just like Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s primary focus is providing excellent health care to the residents of Grinnell and the surrounding area,” says Mary S. Stepanek, president, Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association.
      Grinnell Regional Medical Center serves portions of several east central Iowa counties and their communities. Approximately 19,000 households in the area rely on GRMC for their medical care.
      “Insurance is a partnership between the company and the policyholder and we realize the value and importance of that partnership, not only in our business, but in all walks of life,” Stepanek says. “Our support, through a financial donation to the GMRC Moving at the Speed of Life campaign is one more way that we can partner with the community and people we serve.”
      Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association and ASI Signage Innovations designated their $15,000 donations toward the GRMC Auxiliary Chemotherapy and Infusion Suite.
      “What’s good for our hospital is good for Grinnell,” says David Smith, DDS of Family Dentistry.
      Family Dentistry, with associated clinics in Montezuma, Sully, and Victor has provided dental care and been a member of the Grinnell community for more than 50 years.  “As a part of the healthcare team for our community and the surrounding area, my partners David Cunningham, DDS, Chris Roudabush, DDS, Matthew Miller, DDS, and Jeff Millet, DDS join me in supporting the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign for GRMC,” Smith says.
      “The financial support we have received keeps the campaign moving forward,” says Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development. “As funds have been donated, we have used them to begin and finish a number of projects. It has been exciting for donors to see their generosity in action. We want to turn our attention now to the renovation of the emergency department and to building our endowment for Grinnell Regional Mental Health. GRMC is very grateful for the support of area businesses, industry, organizations, and individuals who are investing in this effort to improve the medical center for our entire area.”
      Lamphier also reports that the $150,000 dollar-for-dollar challenge grant from Grinnell State Bank for all new gifts to the campaign is going very well and will continue until all $150,000 is matched. This is in addition to a specific challenge from an anonymous donor to match all new gifts to refurbish the exterior of Postels Community Health Park. This challenge will match all gifts to the Postels exterior fund up to $25,000.
      For more information about making a gift to the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign, please contact Lamphier at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.
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Kintzinger Family Gifts $50,000 to GRMC

Grinnell Regional Medical Center reports it received a gift of $50,000 toward its Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign from the Kintzinger family in memory and in honor of their friend, Marion A. Jones.

Jewel Kintzinger Day, Doug Kintzinger, Stuart Kintzinger, Rachel Kintzinger Harpham, and Wendy Kintzinger Lentz and their families, made the gift to GRMC as tribute to Jones as a close family friend and as a community leader.

Quote from Jewel?

 In December, GRMC dedicated the first floor south patient wing as the Marion A. Jones Patient Care Wing. As the first female president of the hospital’s board of directors, Jones ably led the organization through several difficult challenges during her term.  Under her leadership, hospital administrators, medical staff, and the community moved toward increasing the hospital’s outpatient care services.

“I followed in Marion’s footsteps as I also served as the chair of GRMC’s Board of Directors,” says Debby Pohlson, co-chair of GRMC’s Moving at the Speed of Life campaign. “I know how challenging that role is. But, as much as anything else, this gift is certainly a celebration of a strong friendship between two extraordinary women, Marion and Jewel. The work they did together is a wonderful legacy for the entire area.”

In addition to her eight years of service to the Grinnell General Hospital board of directors, Jones and Kintzinger Day were active members of the auxiliary and fund-raisers for the hospital. They are well-known for their work over the years organizing hospital charity balls and transforming the gift shop into a successful venture.

(Quote from Addison? Austin?)

 “This gift from Jewel and the entire Kintzinger family is greatly appreciated,” says Todd Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “This family has always been vital supporters, volunteers, and promoters of the hospital and the entire region. We are very grateful for all they have done.”

Gifts to the Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign are making possible:

§  Extensive renovations to the emergency department to modernize it.

§  The creation of an urgent care 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.

§  The replacement of equipment for obstetrics and radiology departments, patient rooms, and nutrition services.

For more information about making a gift to the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign and to participate in the challenge, please contact Denise Lamphier, director of communications and development, at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.

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GRMC Welcomes Four to the Board of Directors

Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s board of directors added four new trustees in October. The new directors are Jodi Cahalan, PhD, West Des Moines; Sarah Smith, Grinnell; Dave Stoakes, EdD, Grinnell; and Brian Watson, Montezuma.

“The diverse work backgrounds and connections to GRMC expand the perspectives and strength of the board as we make decisions to sustain and grow GRMC,” says Bill Menner, GRMC Board president. “I’m looking forward to working with these individuals who are committed to the future of our local hospital.”

Jodi Cahalan, PhD, currently serves as the Dean of the College of Health Sciences at Des Moines University. She began her role in 2006, overseeing the doctorate degree programs for physical therapy and the Master’s Degree programs for physician assistants, public health, and healthcare administration.

Cahalan received her Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant from Des Moines University where she subsequently also earned a Master of Science in Health Care Administration and a Master of Public Health.  She was awarded a PhD in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Cahalan was named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants in 2012. She is currently serving as President of the Alpha Eta National Honor Society. Cahalan is a member of the Health Cabinet for United Way of Central Iowa and is an Honorary Board Member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Iowa.

She was recruited to the board because of her training as a mid-level provider and her role as a dean at the Des Moines University.

“I have experience as a PA in the clinic; and, as dean at the college, I understand the education and healthcare administration side of the industry,” Cahalan says. “I met with Bill Menner and feel strongly about what he is doing on the board. All the board members are very passionate about quality care at GRMC. Their dedication to GRMC and improvement comes through clearly. I want to be a part of this organization.”

Cahalan and her husband, Don, have two children. They reside in Des Moines.

Sarah Smith joins the GRMC board continuing the family legacy of hospital supporters and board members. Smith is the daughter of past GRMC board president Debbie Pohlson, and granddaughter of Don Howig, also a past hospital board member and president.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Luther College in psycho biology. This blended degree of biology and psychology looks at the mind’s influence on health. Prior to moving to Grinnell she worked at Lincoln Financial Group for five years. She was a full time mom for three years when her children were young.

Smith has served as the executive director for Imagine Grinnell for three years. In this role, she supports the Imagine Grinnell board and keeps ideas moving forward to improve quality of life issues in Grinnell. This role has prepared Smith for her duties on the GRMC board.

She believes serving on the GRMC board is a huge honor.

“I watched my mother on the board and remember my grandfather serving on this board. They taught me the importantimportance and honor of serving on the board,” Smith says. “It requires creative thinking and problem solving. I want to help sustain this medical center so that it’s here for my grandchildren someday.”

Smith and her family have demonstrated their support of the hospital as patients as well as through service, from birth to end of life. Smith delivered one of her children at GRMC. She remembers the experience as being very comfortable and the staff were very loving. She has been admitted for pneumonia as a child and influenza as an adult. She was with her grandmother during an emergency department visit and felt Dr. Knobloch and the staff were doing the best possible for her grandmother. The family recently experienced the hospice care team with her grandfather. She is so appreciative of the care by hospice.

In addition to the GRMC board, Smith has served on the Grinnell Newburg Education Excellence board and the Dollars for Scholars board for the past six years. She’s also well known in Grinnell as a youth swimming co-coach and as the Grinnell high school swim team coach.

She and her husband, Dustin, have two children. She loves the outdoors whether it’s biking, walking, or just being outside. Her other favorite pass time is being a mom and watching her children experience the world.

David Stoakes, EdD, joins the board as a way to give back to the community. He spent 13 years in Grinnell as a principal and superintendent for the Grinnell Newburg School District from 1993 to 2006. He left to become the superintendent from the Cedar Falls school district for six years. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Northern Iowa as the supervisor of the internship program for aspiring superintendents.  For the past three years, he has been semi-retired and works as an education consultant assisting Iowa school districts with issues such as restructuring elementary attendance center boundaries, enrollment projections, and facilities planning.

When he was working fulltime, he didn’t feel it was possible to serve on local boards but now he believes it’s the time in his life to get involved.

Stoakes earned his bachelor’s degree from Central College and a masters and doctorate degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa. In total he has served 22 years as a principal and 9 years as a superintendent.

“The people on the hospital board, administration and staff are highly committed to the medical center. They strive for excellence in all phases,” Stoakes says. “I personally want to be a team member and be positive and productive while supporting the mission. Healthcare faces tremendous changes and more are ahead. I want to have a positive impact on GRMC and its future.”

Stoakes and his wife Jackie live in Grinnell. They have two adult children and now in retirement can enjoy time with their three grandsons.

Montezuma resident Brian Watson also joins the GRMC board of directors. He steps into the trustee position with a goal to help the hospital as it faces many challenges. Watson currently serves as the chief financial officer for Oldcastle Materials, a large supplier of aggregates and paving materials, based in Atlanta, Ga.

Watson works out of offices in Des Moines and Austin, Tex. He recently closed an office in Overland Park, Kan., and moved back to rural Montezuma to the farm where he grew up. His parents are Raymond and Mary Jo Watson. He travels often for his work but loves coming back to the farm. He and his wife Dawn have two adult daughters, a son at Iowa State University, and a son in the Montezuma School district.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Central College and began his working career at Vermeer. After 9 years in Pella, he switched industries to aggregates and asphalts at Oldcastle Materials for the past 12 years.

When approached about serving on the board, he initially felt he was too busy, but realized he could contribute to the board.

“I had skills that could be used at the hospital. We all feel like we’re too busy but having just moved back to Montezuma, I wanted to become plugged into the community again,” Watson says. “So after serious consideration, I felt this could be beneficial to me and the board. I can bring in experience and get involved in local programs that have a big impact on the community.”

Watson’s commitment to GRMC may also stem from the fact he was born at GRMC. As a typical kid, he spent a little time in the emergency department with a broken foot and a few other mishaps of childhood.

Like the other new board members, Watson attended GRMC’s Board Advance day-long strategic planning session in October. He says, “This is a whole new industry and a challenging environment with governmental and industry regulations. It’s going to be interesting, in a good way.”

The GRMC Board of Trustees includes officers: president – Bill Menner, Grinnell, the Iowa State Director for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture; past chair – Ed Hatcher, Grinnell, area farmer;  chair elect – Todd Reding, Grinnell, Listra Company; treasurer – Dan Agnew, Grinnell, retired president of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company; and secretary – Rachelle Johnson, JD, West Liberty, University of Iowa. 

Other members of the board are Karla Erickson, Brooklyn; and Laura Ferguson, MD; Wendy Kadner; Nicholas Kuiper, DO, and Al Maly, all of Grinnell. Ex officio members of the board include Todd Linden, GRMC President and CEO; Ron Collins, MD, medical staff president; Sally Lang, GRMC Foundation Board chair; and Rusty Jones.

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 Insurance Marketplace Open for Enrollment

Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace began Nov. 15, 2014, and runs through Feb. 15, 2015. Consumers should visit HealthCare.gov to review and compare health plan options and find out if they are eligible for financial assistance. Some consumers may qualify for help with monthly premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs for services. All consumers shopping for health insurance coverage for 2015— even those who currently have coverage through the Marketplace — should enroll or re-enroll between November 15 and December 15 in order to have coverage effective on Jan. 1, 2015.

To assist consumers, Grinnell Regional Medical Center has a certified application counselor available to anyone wanting assistance during the enrollment time. Amanda Bergmann, Certified Application Counselor (CAC), Grinnell Regional Public Health, is available for questions. To schedule an appointment with Bergmann about insurance, call 641-236-2567. GRMC does not sell insurance. The application counselor assists individuals as they review and complete the application online. Independent insurance agencies may sell insurance options available on the Marketplace in Iowa.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is working to improve the consumer experience by making the shopping experience easier. Last year, a consumer had to answer nine questions before being able to view their plan options. This year, consumers can start looking at plans after entering just their zip code. Consumers can answer a few simple questions relevant to them to get an estimate on how much financial assistance they may qualify for when shopping for coverage. The window shopping tool can be accessed through a smart phone or tablet. Consumers can also review their options at a more convenient time by emailing or sharing a link to a plan’s information. Premium estimates are more accurate this year due to more robust data in HealthCare.gov, such as rates adjusted for tobacco use, which are being included in the estimates provided by the tool.

For more information, individuals may contact the federally-facilitated Marketplace Call Center at 800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. Translation services are available. The call is free.  

To preview plans in your area, visit: https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/.

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Hospital Wing Dedication Planned

A family legacy will be honored as Grinnell Regional Medical Center hosts a dedication for the Marion A. Jones Patient Care Wing on Thursday, Dec. 18. The public is invited to the celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in GRMC’s Tomasek Conference Center.

            The first floor, south wing in the medical surgical unit at GRMC will become the Marion A. Jones Patient Care Wing. The naming dedication honors Marion Jones posthumously for her life-long support of GRMC.

“All of us at GRMC are grateful for the many wonderful acts of generosity by the Jones family,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “It is also an understatement when I say how thrilled we all are to be naming one of our first floor patient wings after Marion, who has played such a vital role in the medical center’s history.”

As the first female chair of the hospital’s board of directors, Jones led the organization through many tough decisions. She helped hospital administrators move toward increasing the hospital’s outpatient care services.

“There is no question that Marion had a profound and lasting effect on GRMC,” Linden adds. “She served as board chair through a very difficult period. Her excellent leadership during this time with the board, the medical staff, and the community as a whole was pivotal to keeping the hospital open.”

In addition to her eight years of service to the Grinnell General Hospital board of directors, she was a tireless member of the auxiliary and an active fund-raiser for the hospital. She and Jewel Kintzinger Day organized several successful hospital charity balls and together they turned the gift shop into a profitable money maker for the auxiliary.

For four generations, Grinnell State Bank and the Jones family have been dedicated community leaders and supporters of Grinnell Regional Medical Center. The legacy began with F.A. Jones’s service on the Grinnell Community Hospital board as it merged with St. Francis Hospital. Marion A. Jones served on GRMC’s board in the 1980s. F. Austin Jones recently completed a term on the GRMC foundation board. Fitzpatrick A. “Rusty” Jones currently serves on the GRMC’s board of directors.

The first floor, south wing primarily houses surgical patients. Because the wing is an active patient care wing, the dedication and celebration will be in the Tomasek Conference Center. Directly above the Marion A. Jones wing on the second floor is the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center, named in honor of the Kintzinger family and its support of GRMC. The second floor, east wing is named in memory of Lucille “Sid” Potts.

For more information about supporting GRMC philanthropically, please contact Denise Lamphier, director of communications and development, at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.

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Area Business and Individuals Pledge $15,000 to Support GRMC Campaign

Grinnell businesses ASI Signage Innovations, Family Dentistry, and Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association have each made gifts of $15,000 to the Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign for Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Additional gifts of $15,000 have also been received from Ron and Sally Lang of Grinnell and an anonymous donor.

“We are grateful for individuals and business partners for their ongoing support of GRMC,” says Debby Pohlson, co-chair of the GRMC Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign. “It takes all of us working together to affect change. We appreciate their investment in the overall health of our entire area.”

According to the Iowa Hospital Association, Iowa’s 118 community hospitals are a strong force in any local economy, having as much as a $4.1 billion impact on the state’s economy overall. In Poweshiek County, it is estimated that GRMC and its 440 employees have a $32 million impact on the local economy.

“There’s no question that the hospital is an anchor of the community,” says Tom Latimer, president and CEO of ASI Signage Innovations. “It plays a very large role in economic development.”

Tom and Dianne Latimer, owners of ASI Signage Innovations have been ardent supporters of GRMC for many years. Tom has served as a co-chair of a previous capital campaign, Building on Excellence.  Dianne served as chair of the GRMC Board of Directors in 1999 and also on the GRMC Foundation Board.

“Grinnell has created a great medical community,” says Dianne Latimer. “Our family, our employees, and our friends have all relied on GRMC through the years. It needs our financial support to continue to remain strong.”

ASI Signage Innovations employs 100 individuals in Chicago, Des Moines, Iowa City, Denver, Omaha, and here at their headquarters in Grinnell. The company manufactures a wide range of signs and graphics for institutions of higher education, healthcare facilities, and financial institutions.

Ron and Sally Lang of Grinnell have been active supporters of GRMC for many years. Ron is a farmer and entrepreneur and Sally is a retired marketing executive with Deere and Company. Sally is currently the chair of the GRMC Foundation and serves as a special events volunteer.

“We know that a strong medical center is vital to our local economy,” says Sally Lang. “We support GRMC because it’s good for our community and because our own family has received extraordinary care when we’ve needed it. The hospital is important to us in so many ways.”

Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association has been in business and serving Grinnell and the surrounding area for almost 140 years.

“Providing excellent service to our policyholder members is our primary focus, just like Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s primary focus is providing excellent health care to the residents of Grinnell and the surrounding area,” says Mary S. Stepanek, president, Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center serves portions of several east central Iowa counties and their communities. Approximately 19,000 households in the area rely on GRMC for their medical care.

“Insurance is a partnership between the company and the policyholder and we realize the value and importance of that partnership, not only in our business, but in all walks of life,” Stepanek says. “Our support, through a financial donation to the GMRC Moving at the Speed of Life campaign is one more way that we can partner with the community and people we serve.”

Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association and ASI Signage Innovations designated their $15,000 donations toward the GRMC Auxiliary Chemotherapy and Infusion Suite.

“What’s good for our hospital is good for Grinnell,” says David Smith, DDS of Family Dentistry.

Family Dentistry, with associated clinics in Montezuma, Sully, and Victor has provided dental care and been a member of the Grinnell community for more than 50 years.  “As a part of the healthcare team for our community and the surrounding area, my partners David Cunningham, DDS, Chris Roudabush, DDS, Matthew Miller, DDS, and Jeff Millet, DDS join me in supporting the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign for GRMC,” Smith says.

“The financial support we have received keeps the campaign moving forward,” says Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development. “As funds have been donated, we have used them to begin and finish a number of projects. It has been exciting for donors to see their generosity in action. We want to turn our attention now to the renovation of the emergency department and to building our endowment for Grinnell Regional Mental Health. GRMC is very grateful for the support of area businesses, industry, organizations, and individuals who are investing in this effort to improve the medical center for our entire area.”

Lamphier also reports that the $150,000 dollar-for-dollar challenge grant from Grinnell State Bank for all new gifts to the campaign is going very well and will continue until all $150,000 is matched. This is in addition to a specific challenge from an anonymous donor to match all new gifts to refurbish the exterior of Postels Community Health Park. This challenge will match all gifts to the Postels exterior fund up to $25,000.

For more information about making a gift to the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign, please contact Lamphier at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.

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