Simulation Training for Infant Emergencies

Grinnell Regional Medical Center and Blank Children’s Hospital hosted a state-of-the-art medical simulation to train staff for emergencies in the littlest patients. The mobile simulation program imitates a real-life patient care setting where participants learn and master skills essential for infant and pediatric emergencies.

The simulation uses computerized infant and child size mannequins, along with actual equipment, to reproduce a clinical environment that provides similar physical challenges and mental stressors that would occur in a real emergency.

“This is a new option for our emergency, obstetrical, ICU, and medical staff to train with each other, like a real emergency, yet with the mannequins,” explains Amy Kramer, RN, clinical educator with GRMC’s staff development.

GRMC hosts continuing education courses for clinical staff to ensure they provide excellent care to patients.

“All GRMC clinical employees attend courses to maintain their licensure requirements. We help them learn the latest information and techniques to ensure quality patient care. We’re fortunate to partner with Blank Children’s Hospital for this training,” Kramer says.

Gift to GRMC Commemorates Wendt and JELD-WEN

Jewel Kintzinger Day and Burtwin Day have given a generous $25,000 gift to Grinnell Regional Medical Center. The couple made the gift in memory of Jewel’s brother, Dick Wendt, and in honor of the 50th anniversary of JELD-WEN.

Fifty years ago, in October of 1960, Wendt was one of five founders of the now international door and window manufacturer. For many years, he served as the company’s CEO. Dick, who died in August, served as chairman of JELD-WEN’s board when his son, Rod Wendt, took over as JELD-WEN’s president and CEO. Jewel’s late husband, John Kintzinger, started a window plant in Grinnell in 1969 for JELD-WEN, which at that time was called Wenco.

“Since I have lived in Grinnell, I’ve always appreciated what GRMC has done for our family and the community,” says Kintzinger Day about the decision to support the medical center with a gift in memory of her brother.

GRMC will use the gift to upgrade the hospital’s magnetic resonance imaging unit (MRI) services. The medical center is remodeling an area inside the hospital to accommodate a new, permanent MRI and the specialized construction needed to house the sensitive equipment. With this gift, approximately $245,000 has been raised toward the estimated $300,000 project.

“We are thrilled to add Jewel and Burt to our supporters for this important diagnostic tool,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Jewel and Burt have always been very generous to the medical center. We are deeply grateful to the Kintzinger Day family for making such an exceptional gift in support of this project. The fact that it honors Jewel’s brother and JELD-WEN makes it all the more meaningful.”

GRMC is planning to have the new MRI installed and ready for patient use by early 2011. To help meet this goal, Iowa Radiology and the Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust are offering a challenge to the community for this technology investment. Under the challenge, all new or additional gifts to the MRI campaign will be matched dollar for dollar.

To learn more about the MRI campaign, call Denise Lamphier in the Office of Communications and Development at 641-236-2589 or visit http://tinyurl.com/grmcmri.

Angel Tree Adorns Hospital Lobby

Honor a loved one this holiday season with a glimmering angel ornament. The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary will sell large angel ornaments for the holidays. An “Angel Tree” will be located in the front lobby of the medical center. Angel ornaments in honor of loved ones or in memory of loved ones will cover the tree on display in the hospital until Dec. 17.

This year’s angel is a six-inch mother of pearl ornament that glimmers in the light. Each ornament will have a tag to honor or remember a loved one. These are placed on a Christmas tree in the medical center after Thanksgiving. The angels may be picked up by the person who purchased it anytime after Dec. 17 and taken home or given to the honoree. The tree will remain on display until after Dec. 25.

Funds raised will be divided between the hospital’s magnetic resonance imaging unit (MRI) upgrade and the auxiliary scholarship fund that supports individuals pursuing a healthcare degree. Each year the auxiliary provides $10,000 in scholarships to area residents entering or continuing a healthcare education.

To purchase an angel and support the scholarship program or MRI upgrade, stop by the GRMC Auxiliary’s gift shop, The Glass Gift Box. Ornaments will be sold from Nov. 1 through Dec. 17. Angels are $10. For more information, contact the GRMC volunteer coordinator at 641-236-2588.

GRMC Bariatric Center of Excellence Earns Reaccreditation from American College of Surgeons

Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Bariatric Center of Excellence has been awarded full re-accreditation at a Level 1A by the American College of Surgeons. The bariatric program in Grinnell remains the first and only bariatric surgery program in Iowa to earn the national distinction from ACS. Fewer than 55 hospitals nationwide have achieved this level of excellence, which is the highest level achievable. GRMC is one of the few rural hospitals in the country to achieve this designation.

The ACS developed the accreditation program to foster high-quality surgical care for patients who undergo bariatric surgery. Grinnell Regional’s Bariatric Center of Excellence received the highest level designation originally in 2006 and has again met the essential criteria of an excellent bariatric surgery care program. It also means that Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s institutional performance meets the requirements outlined by the ACS Bariatric Surgery Center Network Accreditation Program.

At the core of the bariatric program is Grinnell Bariatrics, a part of Surgical Associates of Grinnell. Its board certified surgeons, David D. Coster, MD, and Stephen M. Sundberg, MD, perform bariatric surgeries. Stefanie H. Noun, PA-C, serves as the program coordinator.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. Its achievements have placed it at the forefront of American surgery and have made the ACS an important advocate for all surgical patients. The ACS has more than 70,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

For more information about GRMC’s bariatric services, please visit www.grmc.us.

GRMC Auxiliary Member Meeting

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites everyone to the annual fall luncheon scheduled for noon on Wednesday, Oct. 27. The regular gathering will again be held in the dining center at Buckley Hall on Park Street in the Mayflower Community, Grinnell.

“This will be a lovely luncheon for our members to catch up on all the auxiliary activities as well as enjoy a wonderful meal and entertainment,” explains Maralee Kruse, GRMC Auxiliary luncheon chair. “Following the luncheon will be a style show provided by Bon Worth Fashions from Tanger Outlet Mall in Williamsburg. Four models will display this fall’s fashions and two lucky winners will enjoy a $25 gift certificate to the outlet store.”

The agenda for the meeting includes: the election of 2011 officers and board members, updates on projects at the hospital and auxiliary, and door prizes by The Glass Gift Box. Tickets will be $8 and available after October 11 in The Glass Gift Box – the GRMC gift shop, from any GRMC Auxiliary Board member, or call the GRMC volunteer office at 641-236-2588.

Avoid the Flu: Get Vaccinated

Grinnell Regional Public Health encourages individuals age six months and older to get vaccinated against seasonal flu. Grinnell Regional Public Health has scheduled community clinics in Brooklyn, Grinnell, and Montezuma. No appointment is required. Fee is $25.

For schedule updates or other information related to seasonal flu, call the GRMC Update Hotline, 641-236-2918, or go to the GRMC website, www.grmc.us.

Public health will begin administering vaccine in October to ensure individuals have peak immunity in place when the virus is most active, during and after the holidays.

Members of the public may also schedule an appointment to receive seasonal influenza vaccine. Please call 641-236-2385 to schedule an appointment after October 13 at the GRPH office in the Light Center for Community Health, 4th Ave. and Reed St., Grinnell.

Nurse Anesthetist Joins GRMC Surgery Team

Grinnell Regional Medical Center announces the addition of Troy Anderson, CRNA, to the surgical services department. He began in the OR on September 13. Anderson performs all anesthesia services in the surgical suite for all ages and procedures. Areas where he will often be overseeing anesthesia care include obstetrical, surgical, and trauma stabilization.

Prior to joining GRMC, Anderson worked at Skiff Medical Center for four years and Community Hospital in Muster, Ind., for three years. He earned a bachelor’s at Iowa State University, a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Iowa, and a master of science in nursing anesthesia from Rush University in Chicago, Ill.

A motivated individual, Anderson choose to become a nurse anesthetist because of the high degree of autonomy and responsibility demanded on the profession.

He explains, “I’ve always been focused on caring for people. I looked at the nursing profession and wanted the most challenging area of specialty. I wanted to operate at a skill level that was consistent with me. The OR is where I enjoy caring for patients.”

“Troy brings nearly nine years of experience in the OR plus excellent training to GRMC,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “He also brings such a caring and professional approach to his work. Following the addition of Nick Kuiper, DO, surgeon, this summer, we’re expanding the surgery schedule and needed more anesthesia coverage. Troy will be an excellent addition.”

His wife, Alexzandra, has been a contract nurse anesthetist for GRMC for two years. She will continue to work as a locum tenen for GRMC as needed. The couple has two children, William, 3, and Abigail, 1.

Anderson will join anesthesiologists Kevin Emge, DO, and Ken Whipple, DO, and Alexzandra Anderson, CRNA, in GRMC’s Warren H. Bower Surgical Suite.