Yoga Class Offered through GRMC

Get Up & Go Yoga is currently being offered at Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Fly High Fitness Studio, 808 Commercial St. Starting your day with yoga will help you to feel vibrant, energized, and centered. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:45 to 6:45 a.m.

Increased flexibility and strength, improved posture, and improved concentration are just some of the benefits achieved through yoga. Whether you are new to yoga or a seasoned veteran, this class will help you reach your goals.

Certified instructor, Jackie Hutchinson says participants “will leave feeling blissful and aren’t always sure how that feeling got there at 6 in the morning. After a while they come to yoga for the way their days, their view of circumstances, and their life is changing as they tune in, tap in, and turn on to their own body’s wisdom.”

Other classes offered at Fly High Fitness Studio include Spinning, kickboxing, Zumba, and toning. To view a class schedule visit the GRMC website, www.grmc.us. For information on the latest fitness options, trends, and services, call the GRMC Wellness Services department at 641-236-2999.

GRMC Auxiliary to Host Spring Luncheon

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites the public to its annual spring luncheon, scheduled for Wednesday, April 21. The gathering will begin at noon in the Buckley Dining Hall, Mayflower Homes, in Grinnell.

“The Auxiliary’s spring luncheon brings together our members to celebrate spring and all the wonderful activities of our organization,” explains Maralee Kruse, GRMC Auxiliary spring luncheon committee chair. “We’ll recognize the 2010 scholarship recipients as well as our milestone anniversary service awards to volunteers.”

Door prizes will be given away. The menu features a chicken salad, roll, fruit, dessert, and drink. Tickets, $8, are available at the GRMC Glass Gift Box. For more information, call 641-236-2588.

Hancher Auditorium Brings Performance to Grinnell

Grinnell and Grinnell Regional Medical Center proudly welcome Robert and Rebecca Bluestone in their Woven Harmony performance to Grinnell. This three-day artist in residency program features performances at GRMC, Grinnell Newburg High School, Grinnell College, and two performances for community audiences. The events are part of the “Iowa Arts and Healthcare Project—A Journey through Iowa,” a collaborative effort of The University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, and College of Public Health. Grinnell businesses and individuals are also partnering to make the project possible.

All residents are invited to this inspirational production by the Bluestones. Robert’s music, images of Rebecca’s woven tapestries, and beautiful images of their New Mexico home and studio set the landscape for a powerful performance on connecting art, creativity, health, and healing.

“Grinnell and GRMC were selected for this art residency program with the Bluestones because of their leadership in optimal healing initiatives and healthcare for the whole body,” explains Charles Swanson, executive director of Hancher Auditorium.

“The Bluestones have worked in hospitals and healthcare settings across the country giving audiences their message of hope in difficult times. Robert and Rebecca share a profound story and inspiration of how they faced Rebecca’s ovarian cancer. Creativity and the arts helped the couple through this difficult time. They gained strength and the desire to share their talents to help others.”

Todd Linden, GRMC CEO and president, “We’re honored and thrilled to have such brilliant performers come to Grinnell and share their talents. Robert and Rebecca articulate their personal message to the wide spectrum of guests, from cancer survivors, to high school students, to corporate CEOs. The universal message is using creativity and art to face the future, whether that’s a life-threatening condition like cancer or a life-altering condition such as unemployment, job pressures, or an uncertain future in a new job market. The Bluestones have the unique ability to connect with all. We’re excited to bring their message in Grinnell.”

The art residency program includes:

Thursday, April 29

“Caring for the Caretaker”

For GRMC Employees, Physicians and Volunteers

10 a.m. to noon – GRMC Tomasek Conference Center



“Creativity is the Currency of the 21st Century”

Open to all businesses and their workforce

4:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Grinnell College, Roberts Theater

Any business or individual may receive tickets for this program by calling 641-236-2593.



Friday, April 30

“Creativity is a 21st Century Skill”

For Grinnell Newburg High School art and music students

10:15 to 11 a.m. – Grinnell High School



“Creativity is a 21st Century Skill”

For Grinnell College students

5 p.m. – Grinnell College



Saturday, May 1

“A Celebration of Community: Getting Back to Life”

Finale performance

Open to the community.

6:30 to 8 p.m. – Grinnell Community Center, Voertman Theater, 927 4th Ave.



All events are free, thanks to our local sponsors. Grinnell Regional Medical Center Art Fund; Todd Linden; Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company; Fine Arts Council – Grinnell High School; Grinnell College; Iowa Telecom; and Mayflower Community.

The Bluestones will present in six communities during their “Journey through Iowa.” Those communities include: Spencer – April 19, 20, and 21; Algona – April 22, 23, and 24; Des Moines – April 26, 27, and 28; Grinnell – April 29, 30, and May 1; Davenport – May 3, 4, and 5; and Iowa City – May 8.

For more information call 641-236-2593.

Living After the Death of a Loved One

Grinnell Regional Medical Center will offer a five-week support group designed for all who have lost a loved one and face the grief after a death.

“This group will explore some of the challenges of loss and sadness and the process of grieving,” says Connee Harnden, LMSW, GRMC bereavement counselor. “This program explores techniques for coping with life after someone dear to the heart is gone. Our class is open to anyone in the community, not just hospice patients. In a confidential setting, we will share our pain and loss with our group. This will be a time to support others as you seek to find comfort for yourself.”

Gatherings will be held on Mondays, beginning April 12 to May 10, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Mini-conference room at GRMC, 210 4th Ave., Grinnell.

This group will be facilitated by Harnden, social worker at GRMC and bereavement counselor with Grinnell Regional Hospice. There is no fee to participate, but interested persons must pre-register by calling Grinnell Regional Hospice at 641-236-2418.

Orthopedic Care Expands at GRMC

Grinnell Regional Medical Center and Iowa Ortho announce the latest addition in orthopedic care. D. Scott Peery, PA-C, began seeing patients in February to complement the services of Daniel Vande Lune, MD, orthopedic surgeon.

Peery joins the Iowa Ortho team in Grinnell providing comprehensive orthopedic care including joint replacement, sports and work related injuries, sprains, fractures, pediatric orthopedics, conditions and injuries of the hand, wrist, shoulder, back, neck, hip, knee, foot and ankle.

Peery and Vande Lune work as a team in surgery and with all follow-up care for procedures and therapy. Peery’s scope of practice includes assistance with on-call care for the emergency department in traumas. Peery may be the first orthopedic provider to see the patient in the emergency department to create a plan of care.

“Scott has already been actively assisting with Grinnell orthopedic patients. It has been most beneficial and he is readily available,” says John Bambara, MD, GRMC Emergency Department medical director. “This relationship has bridged a gap in orthopedic care to our patients. Many patients have commented on how nice it is to get this care locally and so quickly. His availability and interactions with the ED patients has been outstanding so far. His services are a great addition for our facility and the patients in our area.”

Peery earned a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Des Moines University and his bachelor of sciences degree in athletic training from the University of West Alabama. He worked for two years after earning his BS degree as the outreach coordinator/athletic trainer for a physical therapy clinic in Utah. He then joined Peru State College in Peru, Neb., as a head athletic trainer. Peery also served as athletic trainer at Jennie Edmundson hospital for two years before going to Des Moines University.

“Athletic training was absolutely wonderful. I am so passionate about it,” Peery says. “I love working with student athletes but wanted the opportunity to work with patients of all ages.”

Peery decided to pursue a career path that also allowed flexibility and great time for family life. He and his wife wanted a community that was work and family friendly and Grinnell was the perfect fit.

“Grinnell has the feel of big city life and small town values. Grinnell has a lot of family friendly activities as well as a standard of life that we were looking for in a community,” Peery says.

For more than 53 years, Iowa Orthopaedic Center, P.C., has been providing comprehensive orthopedic care. The physicians are fellowship trained and board certified in their fields, assuring patients that they will be receiving care from the highest qualified physicians and surgeons. The primary office is located in downtown Des Moines with additional practice locations in Pella, Clive, and Ankeny.

If you have concerns on an orthopedic condition, discuss with your primary care physician. Referrals are scheduled through primary care physicians.

Healthcare Is a Strong Factor in Local Economy

According to a recent study by the Iowa Hospital Association, more than 1,300 jobs in Poweshiek County are directly linked to healthcare services. Grinnell Regional Medical Center remains the largest healthcare employer in the county.

Specifically, GRMC generates 454 jobs that add $25,954,802 to the Poweshiek County’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association. In addition, GRMC employees by themselves spend $7,302,236 on retail sales and contribute $438,134 in state sales tax revenue. The research also reports an additional 256 jobs indirectly related to the hospital. This contributes more than $34 million in payroll and proprietor income related to health and wellness through GRMC.

“The income generated from healthcare jobs impacts several communities and counties,” says Todd C. Linden, CEO and president. “More than 60 percent of GRMC employees live in Poweshiek County with the remaining 40 percent living in nearby counties. We provide a strong economic impact on schools, businesses, and retail in the entire area.”

The IHA report focuses on the direct economic impact and total economic impact of the five healthcare sectors in the county and on the state level. The five segments include hospitals; practitioners such as physicians, dentists, and other health providers; nursing and residential care facilities; pharmacies; and other medical and health services.

Of these, 474 jobs are with nursing and residential care facilities, 332 at physicians, dentists, and other health practitioners, 55 at other medical/health services, and 16 at pharmacies, in addition to those reported at GRMC in 2009. Based on 2009 Bureau of Labor statistics, Poweshiek County has 9,410 employed residents, making more than one-fifth of the county’s total employment linked to healthcare.

“Our personal health and wellbeing directly impacts our quality of life. Employers looking to relocate their business consider the strength and quality of the healthcare available in the same way they look at the labor pool, real estate, and schools,” says Linden. “Even in these tough economic times, healthcare remains a very strong economic as well as quality-of-life factor in Poweshiek County and beyond.”

The study found that Iowa hospitals directly employ 74,027 people and create another 73,953 jobs outside the hospital sector. As an income source, hospitals provide $3.65 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $2.5 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.

“The downturn in the economy has impacted activity at GRMC like most other organizations,” added Linden. “We have really focused on maintaining our workforce because our people are our most precious resource. It would have been easy to just do a layoff; instead we reduced hours, did not fill vacated positions and reduced some benefits. It was a shared sacrifice to save jobs.”

In all, Iowa’s healthcare sector, which includes employed clinicians, long-term care services and assisted living centers, pharmacies and other medical and health services, directly and indirectly provides 354,907 Iowa jobs, or more than one-fifth of the state’s total employment.

GRMC Auxiliary Launches Challenge Drive

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary launched its fundraising Challenge Drive on March 1, inviting anyone in the GRMC service area to take part. The auxiliary and its Challenge Drive support the medical center through volunteer, financial, and educational initiatives.

“Our ambition is to renew the community’s support and awareness of all the services the GRMC Auxiliary provides to hospital patients and staff as well as our financial support for healthcare scholarships and aid for specific hospital goals,” says Char Ewan, 2010 Auxiliary Challenge Drive chair. “Your involvement helps us provide this support that enhances quality healthcare. The auxiliary plans to donate $15,000 toward the hospital for equipment and renovations. Plus, the auxiliary will again provide major scholarship funds to students in healthcare fields and co-sponsor the Women’s Health Focus and Baby Fair, set for October 6, 2010.”

Beginning in 2010, the auxiliary members can celebrate their birthday with a 40 percent off coupon at The Glass Gift Box to use during their birthday month. The auxiliary is also offering a new incentive to encourage members to recruit new members.

“We encourage members to recommend the name of a friend or family member who would value the benefits of being an auxiliary member. In return, the member making the recommendation will receive a $5 gift certificate at The Glass Gift Box for each new member recruited,” Ewan says.

As part of its mission, the auxiliary has two meetings each year. The public is welcome and anyone who makes a donation to the Challenge Drive will receive an invitation to these special gatherings. The auxiliary hosts activities such as coordinating an annual trip to Legislative Day at the state capitol; fund-raising activities that financially support the medical center; supplying gifts to all newborns at GRMC; and providing car seats to needy families.

The Challenge Drive has five giving levels: Bronze - $5; Silver - $15; Gold - $25; Platinum - $50; and Lifetime - $150. To accept the Auxiliary Challenge, stop by the Glass Gift Box, inside GRMC, and complete a Challenge card. Or mail your Challenge donation to the GRMC Auxiliary, 210 4th Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112

For more information on the GRMC Auxiliary, please call 641-236-2588.