Caregiver Support Group Scheduled

Grinnell Regional Hospice is offering a Caregiver Support Group.  This group is designed for adults who are providing care for an adult loved one. The group provides caregivers with the opportunity to gain support, strength and encouragement from each other.  

Group meetings will be held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month beginning Tuesday, Jan. 12, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1025 5^th Avenue, Grinnell.

There is no fee to participate. Please call Andrews with Grinnell Regional Hospice at 641-236-2418 if you have questions.

Grief Support Program Scheduled

Grinnell Regional Hospice is offering a monthly Grief Support Group.  This group is designed for adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one or friend.  It provides a safe place for people to express their emotions and move through the grieving process.

Group meetings will be held the second Wednesday of each month beginning January 13, from 10 to 1 a.m. at the Drake Community Library, 930 Park Street, Grinnell.

This group is open to anyone who has lost a loved one.  It supports participants through the emotions, reactions, and experiences that follow the death of someone close.  The group will provide a place for members to explore their grief and gain support from others who are also in the grieving process. 

This group will be facilitated by Sheree Andrews, social worker with Grinnell Regional Hospice.  There is no fee to participate. Please call Andrews at Grinnell Regional Hospice at 641-236-2418 with questions.

GRMC Names New Lab Director

Grinnell Regional Medical Center has selected Vicky Norrish to lead the laboratory department. Norrish has been the GRMC corporate integrity manager since April 2015. Norrish has 15 years of hospital-based healthcare experience. She earned a bachelor of science degree from South Dakota State University in microbiology and medical technology. She previously worked in the GRMC lab from November 2009 to October 2011, mostly during nights and weekends. She has also worked at Skiff Medical Center, where she began in the laboratory department and then advanced to quality management and infection control specialist. She also served as the risk management specialist at Skiff before shifting to a split position as the corporate compliance manager at GRMC and Knoxville Hospital and Clinics.

“Vicky brings excellent leadership and technology knowledge to this position,” says Dave Ness, GRMC vice-president. “Her experience in infection prevention and corporate compliance, combined with her laboratory experience, fits the rapidly changing work environment in today’s health systems. She has been part of the GRMC culture and also brings experiences from other facilities.”

Norrish has a strong passion for healthcare. “In high school, I was in a near fatal car accident. Afterwards, I just knew I wanted to work in healthcare. I started a microbiology degree in college and then had a year-long internship at a laboratory. This sealed my desire to work in the laboratory.”

“GRMC is a great hospital and I enjoy working here,” Norrish says.

Norrish grew up in Waubay, SD. She currently lives in Kellogg with her husband Rick, and two children, Owen and Olivia. When not working, she enjoys jogging, reading, watching her kids’ activities, and the Minnesota Twins. 

GRMC's Obstetrics Department Receives "Distinguished" Mark

Iowa Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program released its latest report of newborn hearing screening results for the third quarter and graded Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s obstetrics department as “Distinguished.” Infant hearing screening tests are mandated by state law. Infant hearing screening tests given at GRMC exceeded state quality goals in two categories and received zero “red” categories. Red categories are areas that fall below the state goal.

Hearing loss is one of the most common major birth conditions.  It can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language and social skills.  Infant hearing screening is critical in helping detect hearing abnormalities in babies. Other hospitals similar in size and care given in the surrounding areas received benchmark and noncompliant ratings.

Of the 37 babies born in the third quarter at GRMC, 35 passed their hearing screenings and two infants were sent for additional outpatient screening, who later passed their additional screenings.

“This past quarter we received a distinguished rating,” says Sheryl Baarda, RNC, obstetrics nurse manager at GRMC. “Out of 55 level one hospitals—those similar to our size and care provided—only two other hospitals received the honored distinguished rating.”

Music Planned for the Holiday SE*ED Program

The annual holiday gathering for the Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Senior Education Program is set for Monday, Dec. 14. The featured program will be the Too Many String Band performing many songs written by Sandy and Betty Moffett, as well as familiar songs performed by the band. The program includes a discussion about the song writing process as well as stories from band members.

The holiday gathering will be in the Grinnell United Methodist Church, at Park and 5^th Avenue, to accommodate the performance. Refreshments will be served at 9:30 a.m. in the GUMC fellowship center so guests may socialize prior to the program. The band will perform at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary. It is free and open to the public.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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. 

Support for 2015 GRMC Annual Fund Drive Reaches Almost $120,500

Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Annual Fund Drive is an essential part of the patient experience at your medical center. Gifts to the annual fund allow GRMC to provide high quality patient care with the ability to purchase new medical equipment and provide support to ongoing healthcare programs.

So far this year, the annual effort has raised almost $120,500.

“We have had strong support from our community to meet these ongoing needs,” says Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development.

Donations can be given as “unrestricted,” meaning the foundation can determine the greatest need at a given time. Donors can also designate a gift to a specific service, department, or program at GRMC.   

Several projects receive support from donations to the annual fund. Projects include underwriting trainings for clinical staff, the Grinnell Regional Community Care Clinic, and distributing bike helmets to all area third graders. Contributions also go to support local healthcare needs, such as to helping those who are uninsured or underinsured and to fund health services like Grinnell Regional Hospice, Grinnell Regional Home Care, Grinnell Regional Public Health, and Grinnell Regional Mental Health. Donations also offset the costs of programs like the Babies Room, the Loan Closet, and the Seniors Education Program.

Donations may be sent to GRMC Annual Fund, 210 4th Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112. Or, go online to http://www.grmc.us/donate/annual-fund-drive. For additional information about supporting GRMC, contact Denise Lamphier at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.

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GRMC's Communication Department Receives 2015 eHealthcare Leadership Award

Grinnell Regional Medical Center was one of 240 healthcare organizations to receive the eHealthcare Leadership Award for an outstanding website and digital communications. GRMC and the other winning organizations were recognized at the Nineteenth Annual Healthcare Internet Conference held on November 11 in Orlando, FL. Winners of the award were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 entries after being judged by 113 individuals familiar with both healthcare and the Internet.

“This is an incredibly exciting time in healthcare marketing and ehealth, a fact clearly reflected in this year’s award entries,” says Mark Gothberg, eHealthcare Leadership Awards chair.  “Major improvements have occurred in website design, service content, and operational support. In addition, an increasing number of sites are optimized for mobile, in recognition that most people now access the Internet with their phones and tablets.”

Winners of platinum, gold, silver, and distinction awards represented 16 industry classifications, from hospitals and health systems to pharmaceutical firms and online health companies. Awards were given in 15 different categories. Judges looked at how websites and other digital communications compared with others in their organization’s classification. They also reviewed entries based on a proprietary multi-point standard of Internet excellence. GRMC won a distinction award in Best Annual or Special Report for hospitals with under 200 beds.

Bernie Lowe and Associates, Inc., Helps GRMC with Physician Recruitment Efforts

A strong commitment to Grinnell Regional Medical Center is driving Bernie Lowe and Associates, Inc., to make a generous contribution toward the organization’s physician recruitment efforts.

“We really see the value in having a local, community hospital,” says Bernard ‘Skip’ Lowe, III, president and CEO. “GRMC is the number one choice to our community members when they need hospital care. For our company, we see it as the only choice. GRMC is the place to receive the highest quality healthcare services in our area.”

Bernie Lowe and Associates has pledged $25,000 to the medical center to support bringing in a topnotch physician recruit.

“GRMC is here to stay. We want to reward doctors who also feel committed to the hospital and stay here to practice medicine while also enjoying the experience of practicing in one of the best communities in the country,” says Lowe, who owns the business with Linda Lowe, his wife.

A physician who commits to GRMC will receive college loan forgiveness in the amount of $5,000 for each year spent practicing medicine in Grinnell, with the opportunity to receive a total of $25,000 thanks to the donation from Bernie Lowe and Associates.

This gift is important for several reasons, says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Not only will this gift ensure that our patients have access to quality care for years to come, it will also allow us to attract talented physicians to Grinnell—many of whom are facing enormous debt after graduating from medical school.”

Iowa ranks 43^rd nationally in terms of access to direct patient care physicians, according to the American Medical Association. This is a slight improvement from being ranked 44^th the previous year. This gift will help increase patient access to care in the medical center’s service area by adding a new physician to the medical center’s roster.

GRMC currently has 27 physicians, 17 advanced practitioners, and 10 visiting specialists on its medical staff. Specialty areas for these experts include general surgery, rheumatology, radiology, podiatry, pain management, mental health, pathology, internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics, anesthesia, urgent care, emergency medicine, sleep medicine, oncology, physiatry, neurology, ophthalmology, cardiology, otolaryngology, and dermatology.

Linden believes this gift will be influential in helping the medical center recruit physician talent to Grinnell because the opportunity for loan forgiveness will be very attractive to potential candidates.

The average newly-minted physician in 2014 has $180,000 in medical school debt, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

“It’s because of the support and generosity of donors like Bernie Lowe and Associates that we are able to recruit the physicians we need to provide such an extensive variety of healthcare services for the communities we serve,” Linden says. “This donation will help us be competitive against larger hospitals as we encourage physicians to choose practicing medicine in Grinnell.”

Individuals interested in exploring how their generosity and passions can make an immeasurable difference at GRMC are invited to contact Denise Lamphier, director of communications and development, at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us for more information.  

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GRMC Releases Annual Report of Operations

GRMC closed the books on another year with patient-centered progress and advances focused to provide better care to area residents. Ten seems to be the magical number of major accomplishments cited in the 2014 Annual Report. The annual report can be found online at http://www.grmc.us/donate/who-we-are/annual-report/2014-annual-report.

“With the comprehensive campaign underway and the exceptional community support for the hospital, GRMC upgraded equipment, added new services, and expanded departments and spaces to better serve patients. We’ve created a top 10 list of achievements in 2014. I think you’ll agree that our successes advance medical care services to area residents,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO.

Strong community support helped GRMC experience significant successes and achieve new heights in 2014.

1. Opened the Manatt Family Urgent Care
2. Installed a new Computed Tomography Scanner
3. Installed a new daVinci XI robotic surgical unit
4. Added pulmonary rehabilitation services
5. Launched electronic web-based patient record system (patient portals)
6. Recruited a rheumatology specialist, a second ENT specialist, and two new advanced care professionals
7. Earned recognition from Healthcare Collaborative with an award for quality
8. Expanded Mental Health Care
9. Opened the Paul W. Ahrens Fitness Center in the Postels Community Health Park
10. Dedicated the Marion A. Jones Patient Care Wing

The financial picture at GRMC continued the three-year trend of insufficient reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid insurances and contractual agreements with private insurance.  GRMC billed patients and their insurance carriers for $91,341,498 in services; however, due to required allowances and discounts – including Medicare and Medicaid, charity, and bad debts – GRMC did not collect payment for $48,748,655 of services provided.

 Total net revenue and gifts were $45.1 million. GRMC received $1.2 million from unrestricted gifts, donations, and grants to support the medical center’s operations. The total net expenses were $45.2 million. Expenses exceeded revenues by $87,793, ending the year with a negative operating balance sheet.

For the complete financial report, the lists of donors, and successes in 2014, go to www.grmc.us. Click on the “Donate” link, then the “Who We Are” and “Annual Report” link. You will find previous and current annual reports of GRMC’s activities.

For a printed copy of our donors or more information, please contact Jan Veach, GRMC office of communications and development, at jveach@grmc.us or 641-236-2946.

GRMC Welcomes Dr. Pease

Carolyn S. Pease, MD, pathologist with Des Moines-based Pathology Associates of Central Iowa, PLC, began as the new pathologist for Grinnell Regional Medical Center in September. She will provide clinical and anatomical pathology services in Grinnell for patients.

Clinical pathology includes the diagnosis of disease through the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids. Anatomical pathology involves the diagnosis of disease based on the microscopic evaluation of tissue specimens. Hematopathology focuses on blood cellular components.

Pease is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and hematology. She earned her medical degree and master of surgery from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She completed her anatomic and clinical pathology residency as well as fellowships in surgical pathology and hematopathology at the University of Minnesota.

Pease joined Pathology Associates of Central Iowa in January 2008. Her special interests include hematopathology and flow cytometry. She received her advanced diploma of medical sciences from the International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

“We’re pleased to have Dr. Pease as part of our diagnostic team. Our relationship with Mercy connected GRMC with Pathology Associates of Central Iowa many years ago. Our partnership with Pathology Associates assures we have continuity of care and provider accessibity to our medical staff and patients,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO.

Carolyn and her husband, Martin, have four children and live in Clive, Iowa.

GRMC Auxiliary Ready to Help With Holidays

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary will again host its annual wreath raffle and Angel Tree fundraisers. Both activities kick off in November.

This year, the auxiliary will sell tickets for nearly 40 holiday and winter wreaths. Each wreath is 24 inches in diameter and decorated by area businesses and volunteers in a wide variety of themes – traditional, whimsical, and contemporary.

Ticket sales begin Monday, Nov. 23, at the Glass Gift Box at GRMC. Wreaths will be displayed in the hospital hallways by The Glass Gift Box, laboratory waiting, and chemotherapy. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. The drawing for wreaths will be Thursday, Dec. 10, at 1 p.m.

The auxiliary will fill a tree in the medical center with angels for the upcoming holiday season. This project is a way to honor or remember loved ones through the purchase of an angel ornament for the tree. The GRMC Auxiliary will sell a choice of two ornaments, for $10 each, in The Glass Gift Box at GRMC. 

After Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season, angel ornaments remain on display in the admissions department of the hospital until December 17 when the ornaments may be picked up and taken home by the person who purchased the ornament or given to the honoree to decorate their personal tree at home. The tree will remain on display until after December 25. Ornaments will be sold from November 3 through December 16.

Funds raised will go toward the GRMC Auxiliary’s $150,000 pledge to the hospital’s Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign, with $100,000 committed to the GRMC Auxiliary Chemotherapy and Infusion Suite.

To purchase an angel ornament and raffle tickets for the wreaths, stop by the GRMC Auxiliary’s gift shop, The Glass Gift Box. For more information, contact the GRMC Auxiliary Gift Shop at 641-236-2522. 

SE*ED: Renewing Gratitude, Restoring Grace

The annual gratitude program for the Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Senior Education Program is set for Monday, Nov. 16. The featured speaker will be Rob Cabelli, Associate Chaplain and Rabbi at Grinnell College, sharing “Renewing Gratitude, Restoring Grace: Exploring the Deep Spiritual and Moral Connections between Thankfulness, Integrity, and Well-being.”

 Cabelli will prompt reflection and conversation on the nature of well-being. He will explore the role of simple gratitude, as an expression of both intention and habit, in reshaping how we look upon ourselves and others and informing how we relate to the simple fact, and enormous challenge, of our existence and our mortality. He will suggest that infusing gratitude into our lives is a starting point, a necessary corrective to the obsession with material accomplishments and disappointments enforced by our societal conditioning. Cabelli will defend the proposition that we cannot hope to find and sustain harmony and integrity within ourselves, let alone pass a civil and sustainable world on to those who follow us, if we are unable to appreciate and ascribe value to all else with which we share this earth. 

 This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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. 

GRMC Explores Options for the Future

Grinnell Regional Medical Center began discussions this fall with Mercy Health Network of Iowa that focus on the potential development of a different form of alignment between the organizations. No decisions have been made at the time of this publication.

The primary goal of the conversation is to determine if it makes sense to integrate GRMC more fully into the Mercy system.

“Although nothing changes today—and may not—our board believes it is time to investigate whether now is the right time to develop a stronger relationship with Mercy,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC’s CEO and president.

GRMC has been affiliated with Mercy Health Network since July 1, 2009. Under the agreement in place since then, GRMC has contracted services and shared best practices with all of the Mercy network hospitals. During the past six years, MHN has assisted GRMC with physician recruitment efforts; shared expertise on quality, safety, and service initiatives; provided group access to specialized expertise such as legal services; and allowed GRMC to be part of a larger purchasing pool for things like equipment.

A first meeting with the task force assigned to contemplate a different form of alignment was held at the end of September. Members of the GRMC family serving on the task force include Todd Reding, GRMC board chair; Wendy Kadner, chair elect of the GRMC board; Ron Collins, MD, internal medicine physician and current president of the GRMC medical staff; Nicholas Kuiper, DO, general surgeon and a member of the GRMC board of directors; Doris Rindels, vice-president of operations; Kyle Wilcox, vice-president of finance and business development; and Linden.

A stronger affiliation with Mercy has the potential to offer several benefits for area residents as healthcare consumers.

“Healthcare is changing and GRMC is always planning and looking ahead to those changes. To that end, we are exploring the benefits the Mercy network could provide while keeping the needs of our community front and center. At this time, no decisions have been made,” Reding says.

One benefit could include an influx of capital to sustain medical services in Grinnell. GRMC has done well over the years thanks to philanthropic support from the community, but additional capital will be needed eventually to sustain the physical campus and the purchase of expensive clinical and information technologies.

A stronger affiliation will also expand the benefits of scale and purchasing power available to GRMC.

“The discussion is focusing on how the organizations may work closer together to strengthen access to care and enhance quality and clinical efficiency. We are also exploring new delivery system models and payment programs consistent with the incentives in the Affordable Care Act and healthcare reform in general,” Reding says.

“We do not know what the headline will say after the conversations are completed,” he adds. “What we do know is that we are committed to providing quality care consistent with the needs of our community. Our ability to do this successfully is reliant on a progressive system that is viable in our new healthcare environment. We are actively looking at new models so that our medical center can remain the amazing institution it is today.”

The GRMC board of directors is committed to a transparent process about the affiliation talks. Individuals with questions or concerns are invited to contact the medical center at 641-236-2300 to speak with either Reding or Linden.

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SE*ED: Marathon Running Across the United States

“Running Marathons Across the United States: 26.2 Miles at a Time” will be the program on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Senior Education Program. Join Vicki Bentley-Condit, marathon runner, as she shares her passion and process.

Bently-Condit says that it is rather unlikely that anyone will ever tell you running a marathon – all 26.2 miles of it – is easy.  It isn’t.  However, it is more doable than many think; and many people do so these days.  Marathoners come in all ages and sizes – from people in their 20s to people in their 80s and beyond and from the “skinny-minis” that you might expect to those who are classified (officially) as “Athenas” and “Clydesdales”. 

The health benefits of running marathons depend on which studies you find more convincing – they may increase your heart health or they may bring on a heart attack.  They may lengthen or shorten your lifespan.  They may make you stronger or ruin your knees.  For some runners like Bentley-Condit, marathons and other endurance running experiences have become an obsession.  She will share some of her experiences in pursuing her obsession and the ups and downs of attempting to run a marathon in every state.

 This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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.

Blue Jean Ball Gives Big Boost to Emergency Campaign

When the music stopped at the end of Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blue Jean Ball, more than $35,000 had been raised to support renovations to the emergency department. Denim, dancing, food, and fun were enjoyed by about 250 guests during the third GRMC Blue Jean Ball, held this year at Grinnell College’s Harris Center on Saturday, Oct. 17.

One of the many highlights of the evening was the recognition of four individuals chosen to serve as honorary chairs of the GRMC Moving at the Speed of Life campaign. Campaign co-chairs Nicholas Kuiper, MD, Dan Agnew, and Debby Pohlson, recognized Jewel Kintzinger Day, Leila Maring, Waldo Walker, and the late Marion Jones for their years of service and dedication to GRMC.

The GRMC Auxiliary hosted a Wine Pull with 101 bottles of wine at the event, which raised $2,020 toward the auxiliary’s pledge to GRMC’s chemotherapy and infusion suite. To participate, supporters paid a $20 fee to pull a wrapped bottle from a selection of expensive, medium range, and less expensive wines. The bottles were wrapped to hide the bottle and the value.

“We shared a wonderful evening with friends of GRMC,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Everyone had a great time as we bid on excellent auction items to raises funds for the emergency department. We are closing in on all the funds needed to complete the campaign and this was an energy-filled boost to our efforts.”

The evening’s entertainment was provided by The Dweebs, a regional band from Somerset, Wis.

Sponsors for the night were:

Couture – Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company.

Headline Sponsors – Grinnell College and Oakland Acres Golf Club.

Boot Cut Sponsors – Bernie Lowe & Associates, Inc., Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust, Grandma's House Pet Resort - Wendy Kadner, Dr. Nicholas and Stacy Kuiper, and The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation.

Stonewashed Sponsors – ASI Signage Innovations, Casey's General Store, Great Western Bank, Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, and Vander Linden Construction, Inc.

Dark Blue Sponsors – Bikes To You, Denise Lamphier and Charlie Clements, Drs. Michelle and Samuel Rebelsky, Family Medicine, First State Bank, Foot and Ankle of Iowa - Dr. Matthew and Leslie McKnight, Grinnell Family Care, Lincoln Savings Bank, Rev. Dr. Kevin and Mary Emge, Ron and Sally Lang, University of Iowa Community Credit Union, and Wes Finch Auto Plaza.

Gift In-Kind Sponsors – The Grinnell-Herald Register, Julin Printing Co., and RE/MAX Partners Realty.

 “The event made two points very clear. GRMC supporters like to have fun and they want an excellent emergency facility to match our excellent staff,” Linden says.

Individuals interested in supporting efforts toward a new emergency department may contact Denise Lamphier, director of communications and development, at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.

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Photo cutlines:

Photo labeled BJB Group:
Residents filled the Harris Center as they bid on seven auction items for trips to Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Colorado, and Arkansas as well as a hunting package, sailing package, and gourmet dinner. These items raised more than $8,000.

Photo labeled BJB Sally and Dweebs:

Sally Lang, GRMC foundation chair, hams it up with The Dweebs during the Blue Jean Ball.

Photo labeled BJB Stage with Dweebs

Audience participation is a signature characteristic of The Dweebs, who performed for the GRMC Blue Jean Ball. Shown on stage with the Dweebs are Jessica Kite, Terri Nath, and Holly Pettlon.

GRMC Invests in Culture Training

Healthcare is in a perpetual state of change.

With these changes in mind, the Grinnell Regional Medical Center board of directors and leadership team agree that it is more important than ever that high quality healthcare is consistently delivered to every patient in need of health services.

To help achieve this objective, this year the board voted to focus on creating a productive and creative work environment where GRMC employees celebrate each other and the hospital’s mission, says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO.

Over the course of the past six months, everyone who works at GRMC has been involved in a number of values-related activities to foster a positive healthcare culture.

For starters, all staff members were asked to read The Florence Prescription: From Accountability to Ownership, by Joe Tye. The author, who lives near Iowa City, then came to Grinnell to help launch the effort to help GRMC become an even better organization. During a 90-minute session for all staff, Tye shared a message about opportunities for problem solving and building a culture of support. In addition, Tye trained 12 GRMC employees as “certified values coach trainers.”

The summer months brought with it a season of training for all staff members. By September, the certified values coach trainers coached 313 of their GRMC co-workers on how to use 12 different core action values to meet the increasingly tough demands of healthcare.

“These sessions were about giving employees information that will help unlock more of their undiscovered potential,” says Chris Larson, RN, care coordinator. She was one of the 12 trainers who led the values training sessions. “The goal is to get all employees to create a culture of ownership here at the hospital.”  

The two-day training sessions shared guidance on leading a values-based life and the leadership skills needed to achieve personal, professional, financial, and family goals.

Reactions from the training sessions have been positive. Employees appreciated the opportunity to get to know colleagues from outside their own departments and listen to everyone’s feedback about GRMC’s culture of ownership.

“It is a great experience to me as an employee to work for an employer like GRMC that values their employees so much they take the time to help them grow and better themselves as individuals and employees,” says Heidi Ramaeker Pearson, who began working in GRMC’s communications and development office this summer. “I find myself falling back on the teachings from the values trainings to help me see the positive in difficult situations.”

Hospital administrators and the GRMC board are pleased with the results of this collaborative effort so far.

“I am convinced that by taking this effort to heart, we will create a truly fantastic place to work, and, in turn, create the best possible place for those who look to us for health and healing,” Linden says.

 “We have so much to be proud of already at GRMC,” Linden adds. “That said, we still face many challenges in the future. We believe this focus on creating a culture that values ownership, self-empowerment, and positive attitudes will allow us to face the future with energy and determination. It is our belief that if we all pull together, we can create an environment that fosters the joy of caring in our everyday lives. I sincerely believe that all of our employees—as well as our patients, customers, and families—are also the beneficiaries of this effort.”

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GRMC Expands Services at Deer Creek

Deer Creek Health Center welcomes Lauren E. Graham, MD, MPH, Grinnell Regional Internal Medicine physician. Graham hosts regular outpatient clinics for patients every other Friday at the clinic, located at 401 First Ave., Toledo.

Graham joined the GRMC internal medicine team in 2013. Prior to that, she was at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Internal Medicine residency program, Baltimore, Md., where she also earned her medical degree. She also completed a master’s degree in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health while working on her medical degree. Her undergraduate degree is from Earlham College, in Richmond, Ind. Graham grew up in a small Ohio town and is familiar with Midwestern values and communities.

“We are expanding services at Deer Creek Health Center to care for our friends and neighbors in the area,” says Shannon Zoffka, Grinnell Regional Clinics manager who oversees Deer Creek Health Center. “Our shift away from being rural health status allows GRMC to bring additional services to the clinic. This administrative change only affected reimbursement and rules but it didn’t affect our patients’ coverage. We have greater opportunity to bring in specialists. Dr. Graham and the internal medicine services is an excellent example. ”

Internal medicine care focuses on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases. According to the American College of Physicians, internal medicine specialists are specially trained to solve complex diagnostic problems and can handle severe chronic illnesses and situations where several different illnesses may strike at the same time. They also bring to patients an understanding of wellness (disease prevention and the promotion of health), women's health, substance abuse, mental health, as well as effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs. They are an advanced level of specialty care after the primary care providers.

Patients may schedule an appointment with Graham in Toledo by calling Grinnell Regional Internal Medicine services, call 641-236-2382.

SE*ED: Reducing Germs with Copper

A major concern in hospital settings is the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospital-acquired infections occur to approximately one in every twenty-five patients in U.S. hospitals.

At the Monday, Nov. 2, Senior Education Program guests will learn about the research conducted at Grinnell Regional Medical Center by Grinnell College Biology Professor Shannon Hinsa-Leasure on copper as a natural antimicrobial surface to reduce the number of germs on surfaces in the medical center. Join Todd Linden, GRMC president and CEO, and Terri Kelling, GRMC infection prevention coordinator, along with Hinsa-Leasure as they share the preliminary findings from this study.

Hinsa-Leasure led this study that expands on previous work to determine the effectiveness of copper alloy surfaces in medical and surgery suite patient rooms and bathrooms, as well as on three other high-touch surfaces found in a rural hospital setting (GRMC).

 This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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.

SE*ED: Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll

On Monday, Oct. 26, the Grinnell Regional Medical Center Senior Education Program will welcome Ryan Dahlby Albright, MD, for a potpourri of topics relevant to seniors.

As the title “Sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll” implies, the program will address normal sexual function and disorders that are common with aging. Dahlby Albright will also discuss medications that should be used with caution in people over 65. And what better way to focus on hearing loss, than a little music.

Dahlby Albright is a primary care physician with Family Medicine. He has been a provider in Grinnell since 2005.

 This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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.

Ammonia Leak in ER

 “We initiated medical surge protocols that brought multiple staff and physicians to the emergency department. We had a full force of staff ready when the first individuals arrived,” says Clayton Francis, MD, GRMC emergency department physician. “We were also at shift change so we had another physician in addition to the responding physicians and myself, plus the emergency staff and hospital staff who responded to this code.”

Francis explains that when multiple injury trauma codes are called, the EMS team on the scene will triage the victims and transport based on severity.

Cogley Named IHA Hospital Hero

On October 7, Patrick Cogley, MD, Grinnell Regional Medical Center emergency department physician, received the Iowa Hospital Association’s Hospital Heroes Award. Cogley was one of 11 individuals throughout the state of Iowa selected for this honor. The award recognized his excellence during specific critical situations in the GRMC emergency department as well as for his overall commitment to quality healthcare.  

“Dr. Cogley is a longstanding and distinguished provider at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. I have been privileged to know him for 14 years. I find him to be a stalwart emergency physician leader in a department that sees about 10,000 patients every year,” says Todd Linden, president and CEO at GRMC.

GRMC prides itself on employing marvelous people who make a difference through quality care and service excellence every day. This source of pride is realized each time GRMC or one if its employees are recognized for operating under a banner of excellence.

Cogley has devoted 14 years of his career helping those needing medical care in the GRMC service area. Cogley started at GRMC as an emergency room physician in 2001, after completing his medical education at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and his subsequent residency at Cox Medical Center – Family Practice Residency in Nixa, Missouri. After a short stint in the ER, he helped GRMC launch an affiliated family practice clinic in the town of Victor, Iowa—bringing access to care to the rural community. He worked in Victor from 2002 to 2004. At the end of 2004, Cogley began practicing in a private family practice clinic, Medical Associates. After four years in that practice, Cogley came full circle, returning to GRMC’s emergency department in 2008, where he continues to serve today. He is currently the acting director for the emergency department. A rural emergency department is a unique setting where the physician in charge has to be able to do it all.

“Dr. Cogley knows exactly what to do and how to get the job done, even when an emergency situation escalates, and he efficiently utilizes the capable and experienced emergency department staff. His unwavering service to GRMC makes our community safer and healthier,” adds Linden.  

According to the Iowa Hospital Association, any Iowa hospital employee or physician who has performed a heroic deed or tirelessly given of their time, talent, and expertise to improve their organization and the world around them is eligible for the Iowa Hospital Heroes Award. These leaders exemplify honesty, integrity, humility, courage, and commitment.

Photo cutline:

From left: GRMC President and CEO, Todd Linden; 2015 Iowa Hospital Heroes recipient Patrick Cogley, MD, acting director for GRMC’s emergency department; and Ted Townsend, chair of the IHA Board. 

GRMC Auxiliary Fall Luncheon

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites everyone to the annual fall luncheon scheduled for noon on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the Buckley Dining Room in the Mayflower Community, 619 Park Street, Grinnell.

The agenda for the meeting includes Auxiliary officer induction, as well as the recognition of Newburg Church Fellowship sewing group for their years of sewing stuffed animals and neck pillows for patients. The meal will be catered by Mayflower Catering services.

Tickets are $8 and available in The Glass Gift Box or through an auxiliary board member. Please call the GRMC Volunteer Office at 641-236-2588 with questions.

SE*ED: Linden to Address Senior Education Program

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Senior Education Program will welcome Todd Linden, GRMC CEO and president, on Monday, Oct. 19, to discuss updates at the medical center.

Linden, who has been the GRMC CEO for 20 years, will share information on discussions with Mercy Health Network and Mercy Medical Center Des Moines. He will review the principles of affiliation that will guide the taskforce in its deliberations to study further integration. He will also provide an update on medical staff and facilities improvements.

 This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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.

SHIIP Press Release

Released: October 7, 2015

For more information contact:

SHIIP -- Iowa Insurance Division

Grinnell office: 641-236-2588

  

It can cost you money not to review your Medicare Part D coverage. In one hour, a SHIIP counselor can complete a review, let you know if you can save money and make sure you have access to the drugs you need in 2016. SHIIP counselors in Iowa have been saving people money for 25 years. In fact, last year they helped Iowans on Medicare save close to $15 million on Part D drug costs.

Every year Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans announce their changes for the next year and Iowans on Medicare can decide if they want to change plans from October 15 to December 7. Any change you make will be effective January 1, 2016. Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Call 641-236-2588 today to schedule your appointment and let SHIP help you:

·        check your current Part D or Medicare Advantage plan to make sure your drugs are covered at the lowest cost and with the least amount of restrictions

·        review your employer coverage and compare to other Medicare options

·        check to see if you are eligible for Part D “Extra Help”

·        understand your option if you do not currently have a drug plan

Kris Gross from the state of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), says, “We’re asking everyone to remind family, friends and neighbors about these important dates. We don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to make their choice of plans for 2016.” Plans can change their coverage and costs from year to year, so comparing plans during the open enrollment is critical.

The “Annual Notice of Change,” sent out by plans to explain formulary (drugs covered), benefits and cost changes for 2016 should have arrived in mailboxes by September 30. “Notices of Creditable Coverage” were also due September 30. This is a notice from employer/union and other group health plans which tell Medicare eligible enrollees if their drug coverage will be “as good as or better than Medicare’s coverage” in 2016.

The 2016 Medicare drug plans are available on the Medicare website, www.medicare.gov, as of October 1. Plans not renewing their contract with Medicare for 2016 must have notified their members by October 2.

If you have questions about Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans contact the local SHIIP office, a free, confidential service of the state of Iowa. You can call 641-236-2588 (TTY1-800-735-2942), e-mail kolson@grmc.us, or visit the website www.therightcalliowa.gov. 

County Receive Colorectal Cancer Education Grant

Despite great technological advances in medicine, colon cancer rates in Poweshiek County remain above state average. To improve screening rates and potentially reduce the rate of colorectal cancer, Grinnell Regional Public Health received a grant to fund education and distribution of a free testing kit to area residents. 

According to the American Cancer Society, only half of the eligible population receives the tests that they should for colorectal cancer screening. The goal for the grant is to increase knowledge of rural residents in the GRMC service area about colorectal screening as evidenced by pre- and post-program surveys.

The Iowa Cancer Consortium funded this grant to be implemented by Grinnell Regional Public Health, which plans to host educational presentations throughout the county over the next eight months. Funds are available to distribute free screening kits to attendees of the presentations on colorectal cancer awareness. Results of the screening will be returned to the participant as well as their primary care provider. If a participant does not have a primary care provider, the results will be sent to Grinnell Regional Internal Medicine physician Lauren Graham for follow up, if needed.

“Iowa Cancer Consortium is seeking educational models to improve colorectal screening rates in rural populations,” says Patty Hinrichs, director of GRPH and principal coordinator for the grant. “We will measure number of kits distributed and returned to the public health office as well as responses to a survey about screening history. Our work will help Iowa Cancer Consortium create best practices for other rural areas to improve screening and cancer prevention practices. This is exciting to be on the front edge of this public health issue and to have a direct impact on cancer prevention.”

During the educational program, a public health nurse will explain the different annual screening options as well as appropriate timing for colonoscopies.

“Colorectal cancer is one of those cancers that we should not see many cases in our county because with screenings the pre-cancer growth can be removed prior to cancer development. Colorectal screenings can have a profound impact on the health of our residents,” Hinrichs says.

The American Cancer Society states that in many cases, colorectal cancer can be prevented. Still, it’s one of the five most common cancers in men and women in the United States.  

Any Poweshiek County area service club, church group, or community group that wishes to host a program on colorectal cancer education may contact the Grinnell Regional Public Health office at 641-236-2585.

GRMC Approved as Healthcare Option for Veterans

Area veterans may now receive outpatient healthcare services at Grinnell Regional Medical Center through the patient centered community care program of the Veterans Affairs office.

The VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) is a primary care program that allows the Veterans Affairs Medical Center to provide veterans with primary and preventive care in a local setting.

To participate, veterans must enroll in the Health Net services program through the VA. The VA must authorize the veteran to be put into the Veteran’s Choice program. If the veteran is not already in the program, he or she must call 877-222-8387 and let the VA give authorization for the veteran to be in the program.

Health Net expanded its services with VA support when the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act) was signed. This established a new program that better meets the healthcare needs of our nation’s veterans. It allows eligible veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility or are unable to get a VA appointment within 30 days of their preferred date, or are within 30 days of the date determined medically necessary by their physicians, to obtain approved care in their community. GRMC has been approved to provide medical care so veterans receive quality healthcare services in a timely manner.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell Regional Home Health, and Grinnell Regional Hospice are approved providers for the VA CBOC program. Veterans must contact the Veterans Affairs Health Net office to request a referral to GRMC.

“Veterans Affairs Services has faced a national crisis concerning access to quality, timely healthcare services. Our GRMC providers and services are excited to welcome area veterans so they can receive excellent healthcare services locally,” says Kyle Wilcox, GRMC vice-president of finance. “Our Veterans have already sacrificed time away from their homes and loved ones to serve our country. I’m happy we can offer healthcare here closer to their homes.” 

Doll Receives ISHE President's Award

The Iowa Society for Healthcare Engineering (ISHE) awarded Mark Doll, director of Facilities Management at Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC), the ISHE President’s Award.

The President’s Award is given annually at the discretion of the chapter president to an active chapter member based upon excellence of leadership, service, and contributions to Iowa healthcare engineering.

“Mark has been a steadfast and ardent supporter of healthcare engineering in Iowa and the region,” says Phillip Nelson, 2015 ISHE president. “Mark’s leadership style has motivated me personally to be a better healthcare engineer.”

Doll is no stranger to leadership roles both in Iowa and nationally. He was awarded the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) 2012 Region 6 Emerging Leader Award and served as the ISHE president in 2013. Nationally Doll served on the ASHE Chapter Relations Advisory Committee Taskforce in 2013 and was a member of the ASHE Conference Leadership Forum Committee Taskforce in 2014.

“Mark is very deserving of this award. He is a great leader at GRMC and every day sets a positive example for all of us,” says David Ness, GRMC vice-president of operations. “His strong engagement and leadership at a state and national level keeps him abreast of changes and improvements that benefit our medical center and the patients we serve. We certainly applaud this recognition.”

ISHE is affiliated with the Iowa Hospital Association as a personal membership group whose purpose is healthcare engineering education in Iowa. ISHE’s objectives are to promote quality patient care through improved engineering practices. Doll believes his involvement in ISHE and ASHE has enabled him to implement the knowledge and expertise he has gained through those organizations to the benefit of GRMC.

“ISHE and ASHE have been huge assets to my career and have brought tangible benefits to the medical center,” says Doll. “Personally, I have had access to an incredible amount of resources to increase my knowledge in the healthcare setting and leadership abilities. With the knowledge gained changes implemented, the medical center has realized tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of savings per year through energy savings and some of the most successful state surveys in recent years,”

“Code compliance, networking, legislative opportunities, and a respected platform to work from can give small hospitals in Iowa the same voice as the largest hospitals in the country. We are a group of individuals striving to make the safest and most comfortable healing environment possible for our patients,” says Doll.

For more information regarding ISHE, please visit www.ihaonline.org/Members-Groups/Personal-Membership-Groups/ISHE. 

SE*ED: Get the Scoop on Preventing Colorectal Cancer

Despite great technological advances in medicine, colon cancer rates in Poweshiek County remain above state average. Grinnell Regional Public Health nurse manager Patty Hinrichs will present a program on prevention of colon and rectal cancers at the Monday, Oct. 12, Grinnell Regional Medical Center Senior Education Program.

Colorectal cancer should have a smaller rate of incidence since pre-cancer cells can be detected and treated before cancer cells begin to grow in the digestive system. Hinrichs will explain screening options, explain how precancerous cells can be detected and removed, and why all people over 50 should be screened for colorectal cancer. The program will include distribution of a free testing kit to participants.  

This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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.

SE*ED: A Pictorial History of Grinnell

A new pictorial history of Grinnell called “Images of America: Grinnell” will be the subject of Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Senior Education Program on Monday, Oct. 5. 

The authors, Lynn Cavanagh and Mary Schuchmann, will discuss what they learned about Grinnell in putting together the book, which was published in July by Arcadia Publishing Company.

The book contains 209 vintage photographs, starting with the founding of the town and continuing through the 1990s. The photos came from Drake Community Library, Grinnell College Archives, and the Grinnell Historical Museum, as well as through the generosity of local individuals and families.

The program will focus on some of Cavanagh’s and Schuchmann’s favorite photos.  Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase.

This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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.

Ed Hatcher Featured in AHA's Trustee Magazine

Each issue of the American Hospital Association Trustee magazine has several feature articles. The summer issue of AHA Trustee, featured a profile featuring of Ed Hatcher, who is on the board of directors at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

“It’s always a pleasure to be recognized in a positive way, but it is more about GRMC than me,” Hatcher says. “I’m hoping to promote the community we serve and the GRMC service area.”

In the profile, Hatcher addresses the need for continuous learning and education for hospital trustees. This is important, he says, to enable effective communication with the community and to know what changes are occurring in healthcare. Hatcher adds that having ongoing trustee educations gives board members like him the ability to think critically about ways to better help GRMC.

The profile also speaks of concerns at rural hospitals like GRMC. Hatcher currently serves on its Committee on Governance and Committee on Research. His participation on these committees gives GRMC a national platform to tackle rural hospital challenges.

“Being on two committees for the American Hospital Association adds value to GRMC. I am able to share the positives and negatives of a rural hospital in Iowa, then bring the feedback from people located all over the nation for the benefit of GRMC,” Hatcher says. “Knowledge augments what GRMC can do for the communities we serve.”

“That thirst for knowledge is one of Ed’s real hallmarks,” says Todd C. Linden, president and CEO of GRMC.

Hatcher’s personal goals for GRMC mirror GRMC’s own mission and values statements. He finds strength in GRMC’s governance system and aligns his goals with the board’s goals.

“The board has great people serving on it. I am proud to be a part of it. My purpose is to do what I can to further the endeavors of GRMC,” Hatcher says.

Dance the Night Away at the GRMC Blue Jean Ball

Throw on your blue jeans and prepare to dance the night away at the third Grinnell Regional Medical Center Blue Jean Ball. The event will be Saturday, Oct. 17, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight in the Harris Center at Grinnell College.

Advance tickets are $25 per person; $45 for two. Tickets can be purchased at The Glass Gift Box inside GRMC up to the date of the event. You may also call The Glass Gift Box at 641-236-2522. Tickets at the door will cost $30 each.

The evening will feature a silent auction with more than 60 items. Silent auction items include artwork by local artists, a Night in the Museum party, Newton Speedway race ticket package, gourmet dinner at the Ricker House, monthly pizza and wine, quilts, plus gift baskets and gift certificates from local businesses.

Live auction items include a week-long stay at a condominium in Estes Park, Colo., a day of sailing on Lake Red Rock, and a trip for two to the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. for 5 nights/6 days stay with airfare. To see the full list of auction items, go to www.grmc.us.

A raffle will also be held for the chance to win an Apple iWatch and a 50/50 drawing. Raffle tickets are one ticket for $1 or six tickets for $5. Tickets will be sold before the event in The Glass Gift Box, October 12-16, and the evening of the ball.

Grinnell College will be on fall break from October 16-26, so plenty of parking will be available on the college campus for the Blue Jean Ball guests. Spaces outside the Harris Center will be reserved for guests with mobility limitations. The parking lots by the dormitories and across from the Charles Benson Bear ’39 Recreation and Athletic Center will also be available for Blue Jean Ball guest parking. 

The Dweebs, a popular regional band from Wisconsin, are making their return trip to Grinnell and the Blue Jean Ball. They were a huge hit in both 2011 and 2013 with their range of cover tunes from the ‘70s to today. All proceeds from the event will go directly to support GRMC’s efforts through the Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign to renovate and update the GRMC emergency department.

Sponsors for the Blue Jean Ball include: Couture Sponsor – Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. Headline Sponsors – Grinnell College, Oakland Acres Golf Club. Boot Cut Sponsors – Bernie Lowe & Associates, Inc., Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust, The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, Grandma’s House Pet Resort - Wendy Kadner, and Dr. Nicholas and Stacy Kuiper. Stonewashed Sponsors – ASI Signage Innovations, Casey’s General Store, Great Western Bank, and Vander Linden Construction, Inc. Dark Blue Sponsors –Bikes to You, Denise Lamphier and Charlie Clements, Drs. Michelle and Samuel Rebelsky, Family Medicine, First State Bank, Foot and Ankle of Iowa –Dr. Matthew and Leslie McKnight, Grinnell Family Care, Lincoln Savings Bank, Rev. Dr. Kevin and Mary Emge, Ron and Sally Lang, University of Iowa Community Credit Union, and Wes Finch Auto Plaza.

A team of volunteers and GRMC staff have partnered with GRMC’s office of Communications and Development to plan this event. They include Nancy Agnew, Rachel Bly, Jennifer Collins, Kris Gilman, Matt Karjalahti, Rachael Kinnick, Heidi Knobloch, Stacy Kuiper, Sharon Lahn, Sally Lang, Ben Latimer, Teresa McCall, and Dodi Reilly.

For more information about tickets, call Heidi Ramaeker Pearson at 641-236-2961 or email hpearson@grmc.us. 

2015-2016 Seasonal Influenza Prevention

Grinnell Regional Public Health will again offer public vaccination clinics at locations throughout the county for the seasonal influenza vaccine.

The upcoming season's flu vaccine will protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season. This includes an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and two influenza B viruses.

“GRMC has received the majority of vaccine and no shortages or delays are anticipated,” says Patty Hinrichs, director of Grinnell Regional Public Health. “We strongly encourage everyone who can have the vaccine to receive this dose of prevention. Though it is not possible to predict how and when the influenza season will unfold, you can protect yourself by having a vaccination and following good healthy habits to stop the spread of germs. Equally important, you help prevent the spread of influenza to individuals who could become severely ill from the virus but can’t receive the vaccine.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the timing of flu is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the United States in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. More information is available at www.flu.gov.

CDC recommends that people get vaccinated against flu soon after vaccine becomes available. The vaccine takes about two weeks after administration for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.

The high-dose for individuals over 65 will be available again.

Schedule of Public Health Influenza Vaccination Sites

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2 to 5:30 p.m., GARC, 1500 Penrose

Thursday, Oct. 1, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Mayflower Home-Carmen Center        

Monday, Oct. 12, 3:30 to 6 p.m., BGM School       

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 10 to 11 a.m., Seeland Park-Social Center                  

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 3:30 to 6 p.m., Grinnell High School

Monday, Oct. 19, 3:30 to 6 p.m., Montezuma School

Monday, Oct. 26, 3:30 to 6 p.m., Grinnell Middle School

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Brookside South

By appointment only at Grinnell Regional Public Health:

Monday, Nov. 2, 9 to 11 a.m.,

Thursday, Nov. 12, 2 to 4 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 16, 9 to11 a.m.

“Grinnell Regional Public Health has shifted to electronic medical records and will be entering data into the system during the influenza vaccine clinics. This will allow individuals who have been seen at GRMC as a patient to have an electronic record of their vaccination,” Hinrichs says.

CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal influenza vaccine is designed to protect against the top four influenza viruses that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season.

Children aged 6 months through 8 years who need two doses of vaccine should receive the first dose as soon as possible to allow time to get the second dose before the start of flu season. The two doses should be given at least 4 weeks apart.

Prevention Tips

In addition to receiving a vaccination, you can take everyday preventive steps.

1.      Clean your hands with soap and water and alcohol-based cleaner if water is not available.

2.      Avoid close contact. When you are sick, keep your distance from others.

3.      Stay home when you are sick

4.      Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing

5.      Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

6.      Practice other good health habits like clean and disinfect surfaces frequently, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.  

For more information, talk to your primary care provider or call Grinnell Regional Public Health at 641-236-2385.

SE*ED: Sleeping for Good Health

The mystery and magic of a good night sleep will be discussed at the September 28 Grinnell Regional Medical Center Senior Education Program. All are invited to hear Melisa Coaker, MD, Mercy Sleep Center, discuss The Science of a Good Night Sleep.

Coaker sees patient at GRMC in the visiting specialty clinic as well as provides oversight to the GRMC Sleep Lab, operated by Mercy Sleep Lab. Her SE*ED program will focus on why you need a good night sleep, factors affecting your sleep, sleep disorders, and misconceptions about sleep.

Her slide show will also address common sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, insufficient sleep, and restless legs syndrome. She will send participants home with sleep hygiene tips to improve their sleep quality.

This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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.

SE*Ed: The Art of Twisting Balloons

Participants at Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s upcoming Senior Education program will have the opportunity to learn about the history of twisting balloons as well as try their hand at making a balloon toy.

Self-taught balloon artist Charlie Clements will give a presentation on “Inflated Ideas: The Art of Twisting Balloons.” Clements became interested in balloon art after being taught how to make a simple balloon sword at a small fundraiser several years ago.

“I was fascinated by the transformation from a long balloon to a recognizable toy sword. Later, we bought a small balloon making kit at a toy store for my son to play with. It came with a book that showed how to make a few simple figures. We goofed around with that and got reasonably good at making the easy ones,” Clements says. Since then he has expanded his abilities with other books and You Tube videos. He volunteers regularly in the elementary schools and often makes animals and figures for children that achieve various academic goals. He has also performed at GRMC, Drake Community Library, Grinnell College, Relay for Life, and Grinnell’s annual elementary school carnival.

“There’s something magical about handing something you’ve just made to another person, especially a child, and seeing their face light up,” Clements says.

During his presentation, Clements will describe what is needed to become a practicing balloon artist. He will offer some information about the history of balloon art, tell you where you can get supplies, probably tell some bad jokes to annoy his wife, and, of course, demonstrate how to make several balloon sculptures. There will be audience participation, too. His goal is to have everyone in attendance make their own balloon sword.

Clements warns that many balloons will be harmed during the presentation. “If you are allergic to latex or loud noises, this may not be for you,” he says.

This program is free and open to the public. It will be held in the Drake Community Library with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Looking ahead on the schedule, SEED will welcome Melisa Coaker, MD, sleep specialist, who will give a presentation about sleep medicine on Monday, Sept. 28.

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 Communications and Development, 641-236-2593, by 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 641-236-2593

SE*ED: Program to Look at the Past and Future of Eye Care

Kara Collings, OD, will present the History of Eye Care and Evolution of Cataract Surgery, at the Monday, Sept. 14, Grinnell Regional Medical Center Senior Education Program.

The history of eye care dates back to the 13th century when spectacles first appeared.  Collings, an optometrist at Jensen Optometrists, will talk about the evolution of optometry and its progression from the days of using glass and globes filled with water to read text to our modern day spectacles. 

Collings will also discuss the progression of cataract surgery from ancient to modern times and will engage the audience with a real cataract surgery video.  She plans to touch on the future of optometry and eyeglasses as well as how cataract surgery is quickly evolving and where eye surgery is headed.

This program is free and open to the public. It will be held at 10 a.m. in the Drake Community Library, with refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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 Communications and Development at 641-236-2593 by 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.

GRMC Now Offers At-Home Sleep Studies

Grinnell Regional Medical Center can now offer patients a self-administered at-home sleep test, as opposed to the inpatient sleep studies done in the sleep lab on the GRMC campus. Melisa Coaker, MD, a sleep specialist, states that the ability to give at-home sleep studies is all about patient convenience.

“I think that home sleep testing performed on the right patients has much opportunity and potential,” Coaker says. “We can test many more patients, and we can capture much of the same results as an inpatient procedure.”

 The new at-home sleep test will give GRMC the ability to administer more sleep tests, with each test expected to be a fraction of the cost of inpatient sleep tests. The main benefit brought by the new option is the ease and convenience of administering the study at home.

“A lot of patients are scared to come in and sleep in the lab, and this is a good alternative in their own homes,” Coaker says.

The new device is roughly the shape and size of a standard mail envelope with several attachments that each patient will be trained in using. Once at home, the patients simply sleep in their own beds while being monitored by the machine.

To participate in the sleep study, a general physician may refer patients, or patients may opt for self-referral. Some insurance carriers require a referral for coverage.

For more information about sleep disorders, sleep studies, or to schedule a sleep test at home or at GRMC, contact the GRMC Sleep Lab at 515-358-9640. The GRMC Sleep Lab contracts with CIC Associates, P.C., and Mercy Sleep Lab.

GRMC Auxiliary Hosts Bridge and 500 Invitational

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites all bridge and 500 card players to an invitational on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the St. Francis Manor Social Center. Registration begins at noon, with lunch served at 12:30 p.m. and games to follow.

Men and women of all skill levels are welcome to this afternoon of fun, card playing, and socializing. There will be a free-will donation raffle held for a chance to win a fabulous prize. Additionally, there will be prizes for the players for the invitational, and a door prize provided by Vonda’s Flowers and Gifts.

Proceeds from the event will support the GRMC Auxiliary’s $150,000 pledge toward the GRMC Auxiliary Chemotherapy and Infusion Suite.

“This is a great afternoon to enjoy cards and to support the auxiliary and its commitment to the chemotherapy and infusion suite,” says Leila Maring, auxiliary invitational chair.

A $10 fee is charged to cover the luncheon and prizes. Please RSVP by calling Maring at 641-236-3743 or email her at lmaring@mchsi.com, by September 17.