Healthcare Insurance Marketplace Open for Enrollment

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

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

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

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

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

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Hospital Wing Dedication Planned

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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GRMC and Knoxville Knock it Out of the Park

Grinnell Regional Medical Center and Knoxville Hospital and Clinics have entered a new agreement to share leadership for radiology services. Matthew M. Byrd, CNMT, RT (N)(CT), has joined the staff at both hospitals as the director of radiology/diagnostic imaging. GRMC employs Byrd and then contracts his services to the Knoxville Hospital and Clinics.

Byrd joined the Iowa hospitals after serving 12 years as the director of imaging at National Diagnostic Services, based in Novi, Mich. He also worked at Universal Imaging in Auburn Hills, Mich.; and William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. Prior to following his medical career, Byrd enjoyed playing America’s favorite pastime, baseball. He played minor league baseball for the Danville Braves (Virginia), Durham Bulls (North Carolina), and the Greenville Braves (South Carolina) from 1993 to 1998.

Byrd earned his bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences at Oakland University, Rochester Hills, Mich., and his radiology certification from William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich. Byrd has been married 17 years with four children, ages 2, 7, 10, and 12.

He explains how he arrived in central Iowa, “I’ve been in the mobile medical imaging environment for 12 years and I was looking to shift into a hospital setting. My wife and I wanted a family-focused community with a small-town feeling. Central Iowa was very attractive. I feel I can bring experience to both Grinnell and Knoxville.”

The shared director position saves GRMC and Knoxville money while still meeting the oversight and supervisory needs at each hospital.

“This sharing agreement is a first for GRMC but it is a good business decision for both hospitals,” says David Ness, vice president. “We have a solid radiology team at GRMC and we wanted someone who has experience in oversight and who can help guide us in the future with changes in diagnostic imaging. Sharing costs to be more efficient benefits both of our hospitals.” 

Christine Buttell, FACHE, chief operating officer at Knoxville Hospital and Clinics, adds, “We are looking forward to this collaboration with Matt and GRMC. Due to the workload and needs of each hospital, this opportunity to share resources makes sense financially. He can bring in the leadership skills to support the staff at Knoxville.”

For more information on radiology service at Grinnell Regional Medical Center, call 641-236-2355 or go towww.grmc.us.

For more information on radiology services at Knoxville Hospital and Clinics, call 641- 842-1466 or go to knoxvillehospital.org.

GRMC Turns Attention to Renovating Emergency Department

Grinnell Regional Medical Center is seeking funds to update and upgrade its emergency department. More than 10,000 patient visits happen annually in this certified Level III/Area trauma center. Significant improvements are needed and planned for GRMC’s emergency services to continue to meet the needs of area residents and all who come to the emergency department for medical care.

A hospital’s emergency department is the front line for the community in times of crisis - from hazardous material spills, trauma, and life's everyday accidents.

            “For a medical center of our size, we see a higher than usual number of patients who have serious and involved medical needs in our ER,” says John Bambara, MD, GRMC emergency department medical director. “We’re close to the interstate and we are the only Level III trauma center within 35 miles. To get a higher level of trauma care, you have to go to Des Moines or Iowa City. Minutes matter in these situations.”

The proposed renovation to upgrade the emergency department will improve flow, efficiency, and privacy for patients. Plans include a new entrance and nursing station will be created. Upgrades in the emergency department will include monitors, beds, lighting, HVAC/automated controls, safety features, and upgrades in the cable.

Plans for the new emergency department design also include:

•           Two new trauma bays with sliding partition walls and doors to increase patient privacy. Current trauma bays only have curtains to provide any level of privacy. The sliding walls will allow the trauma bays to open and expand if more space is needed for a particular patient. New trauma bays will increase treatment capacity and flexibility by providing more room for medical staff and equipment.

•           A total of five exam rooms and a triage room, in addition to the two trauma bays. Currently, the GRMC emergency department has two exam rooms, a triage room, and two trauma bays. Two of the new exam rooms will be designated for gynecological care and ENT (ear/nose/throat) treatments, but would be suitable for most any emergency situation. Three general exam rooms are included in the design along with a triage room for basic and preliminary exams.

•           Creating a centrally located nurses’ station for greater access and monitoring capability along with a new call system.  

•           Creating a new decontamination suite to treat patients who have been exposed to hazardous materials. Plans are to locate this outside and adjacent to the emergency department within a new ambulance bay. Currently, GRMC has temporary shower stalls to use in the decontamination process.  This is not an ideal approach, especially during the winter. The proposed decontamination suite will be 270 square feet featuring two rooms with a shower and accessible directly from the ambulance bay. Treating patients outside of the hospital facility in a suite that has its own ventilation and drainage systems greatly reduces the risk of further exposure to others. Patients would be treated immediately in the decontamination suite and then brought into the emergency department when it is safe to do so. This new suite would be able to handle several patients at once. It will create greater patient comfort and a much more efficient manner of treating patients exposed to hazardous materials.

With an estimated 19,000 households relying on the GRMC emergency department, there must be a fully-functioning emergency department during the construction and renovation process. Included in the estimated $2.3 million needed for this project is the cost to create a temporary emergency department during this time.

GRMC leadership evaluated the possibility of continuing to operate emergency services in the existing area during construction and renovation. It was determined that temporarily moving the emergency department during this time would be the better approach and could help keep construction progress moving forward more smoothly. One of our second floor medical/surgical patient wings was decommissioned a few years ago and currently houses our pain clinic, rheumatology clinic,  and sleep lab. It is within steps of the radiology department, surgery, obstetrics, and the existing emergency department. GRMC will continue to use the existing ER ramp and has plans in place for redirecting patients to this temporary area when needed.

This emergency department project is part of a $7,500,000, three-year comprehensive campaign that the medical center is currently conducting. Volunteers and staff have just completed one year of this fund-raising effort. They have raised a total of $845,000 for the emergency department renovation and need to raise another $665,500 for this project.

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

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Donor Issues Challenge for Postels Building

An anonymous donor is challenging community supporters to help renovate the exterior of the building that houses all of Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s wellness programs. Every donation designated for the exterior renovation project at Postels Community Health Park will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000.
Located on the corner of Broad Street and Commercial Avenue, the health park is a popular destination on the south side of the downtown business district. The facility was donated to GRMC by Joanie Heimsoth and Dick Postels and opened for patient care in 2001.
“The exterior of the building needs to be replaced,” says Dan Agnew, co-chair of GRMC’s Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign. “The Postels building is a long-standing landmark in downtown Grinnell and GRMC has done a tremendous job in renovating the entire building for the benefit of the community.”
Plans are to remove and replace the external stucco from the façade of the building, add windows on the Commercial Street side, and replace awnings. GRMC has made many structural and aesthetic improvements to the facility over the years. Most recently, the roof has been replaced, a new heating and cooling system has been installed, and the space previously used by The Galaxy Youth Center has been completely transformed into the new home of the Paul W. Ahrens Fitness Center.
“The outside of the building needs to match the quality of the interior design and the services offered within,” Agnew says. “This helps us tremendously and we hope that many donors will meet this challenge.”
For more information about making a gift to this challenge for the Postels Community Health Park or the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign, please contact Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development, at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.
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Imagine Grinnell Supports GRMC with New Lighting

Imagine Grinnell, a community improvement foundation, has made a grant to Grinnell Regional Medical Center to upgrade GRMC’s lighting to be more energy-efficient. New LED light fixtures in the main first floor east-west hallway in the hospital and in the glass tower of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building were paid for through this $5,000 grant.

“We are truly grateful for this grant from Imagine Grinnell,” says Mark Doll, director of facilities management at GRMC. “Over the years, we have made energy efficiency a priority through many projects. Any cost savings we can achieve overall helps GRMC keep our healthcare costs low.”

It’s a very public showcase of the latest in energy efficient commercial lighting. Imagine Grinnell board members want business owners and members of the public to see the quality of the lighting used at GRMC as a way of encouraging the use of these fixtures in other locations.

“Imagine Grinnell is proud to be a community partner with Grinnell Regional Medical Center,” says Sarah Smith, Imagine Grinnell executive director. “We are pleased with this investment in helping GRMC reach greater energy efficiency while also making it a bit of a showcase for other businesses.”

 Since 1985 Imagine Grinnell has been a catalyst for change in Grinnell. Their mission is to improve the quality of life in Grinnell while complementing economic development efforts and promoting a healthy environment. Imagine Grinnell uses its non-profit status and the strength of the Grinnell community to harness donations, government and private grants, and volunteers for a wide variety of community projects.

For more information about Imagine Grinnell, contact Sarah Smith at 641-236-5518 or info@imaginegrinnell.org.  To learn more about making a gift to the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign, please contact Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.

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