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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