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, GRMC director of facilities management. “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 GRMC, please contact Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.

Annual Wellness Screening Offered

Heart disease is the number one health concern. Grinnell Regional Medical Center offers an annual wellness blood screening that provides a snap shot of your heart’s health.

February’s wellness screening will offer individuals a comprehensive metabolic panel that includes the fasting lipid profile for cholesterol levels, complete blood count (CBC), glucose, and other tests to measure liver and kidney function as well as metabolic indicators of early disease status. This comprehensive screening ensures that your physician has the most complete information about your overall body system function. And, the results may give the motivation to change your lifestyle habits to enhance health and well-being.

The comprehensive metabolic panel requires participants to fast prior to the blood draw for 12 hours. That means no food, although water is encouraged, for 12 hours prior to the screening.

GRMC’s Community Wellness Screening will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18, in Grinnell, from 7 to 9 a.m. in the West Tomasek Conference Center. Residents may call 641-236-2300 to schedule your heart health screening.

SE*ED: A Look Inside with Nuclear Medicine

Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s SE*ED program welcomes Stuart Jordan, GRMC’s nuclear medicine technologist for an overview of this diagnostic procedure. Jordan will be the featured speaker on Monday, February 9. The program is free and open to the public at the Drake Community Library. Refreshments are served beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the one-hour program begins at 10 a.m. No reservations are needed. Donations are accepted.

Nuclear medicine, or nuclear imaging, uses a radioactive substance that is injected into the patient and is absorbed into the body’s tissues and organs. Using a special camera, the technologist records the images to be read by a nuclear imaging physician to provide information for a diagnosis. Jordan will discuss what nuclear medicine is, the reason why a physician may order this test, and what patients can expect during the procedure.  

The SE*ED program is in its monthly winter schedule during January, February, and March. The next program will be Monday, March 9, 2015, and presented by Ashley Hagedorn with Relay Iowa. Hagedorn will present various telecommunications options for persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or use assistive hearing devices. Relay Iowa is part of the Iowa Utilities Board.

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 641-236-2954.

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Spring into Health with Better Choices

Grinnell Regional Medical Center Public Health will offer the “Better Choices, Better Health” workshop in March. This six-week program provides individuals who have chronic conditions, as well as their caregivers, the tools to manage their health and symptoms. This session will be held on six Mondays, beginning March 2 at the First Friends Church, 115 S. West St., Grinnell.

“This program provides movement, nutrition and socialization tips and much more for daily living with a chronic disease or pain,” says Patty Hinrichs, Grinnell Regional Public Health director. “We have a lot of fun in the class as people work toward a goal of independent and safe living.”

The program developed by Stanford University focuses on ways to improve self-management of chronic diseases. Examples of chronic conditions include arthritis, breathing problems or lung disease, stroke, depression or anxiety, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, chronic pain, and cancer.

The class meets every Monday, March 2 to April 6. Each session is two and a half hours, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Over the course of these workshops, individuals will learn techniques and practical methods to deal with pain, fatigue, and isolation; decision-making skills; exercise options and established action plans and goals for physical activity; better nutrition planning and eating choices for better health; communication techniques to begin conversations with physicians and family members about health concerns; tools to manage medications and symptoms; and self-management skills to lead a more productive life.

The class is taught by peer leaders who guide participants as they create their own action plans for improved health. The $20 fee covers the cost of the book and materials. Financial scholarships are available. For information and to register call the Grinnell Regional Public Health office at 641-236-2385.

2014 Community Support for GRMC Tops $1.5 Million

Grinnell Regional Medical Center reports that it received more than $1.5 million in 2014 through gifts to the Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign, the annual fund drive, memorials, and special events.

“The level of commitment and support for our community hospital is very strong,” says Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development.  “All of us who rely on GRMC for our healthcare benefits greatly from this generosity of spirit.”

As a way of expressing gratitude, GRMC staff produced a video highlighting the many ways in which the entire community benefitted from giving to the medical center. The video can be found at www.grmc.us. Go to the “news” column and click on “Thank You For Making a Difference.”

While the spotlight has been focused on the Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign, the ongoing community needs underwritten by the annual fund drive continues. In 2014, GRMC donors contributed $106,405 to the annual fund drive for ongoing community projects such as the Grinnell Regional Community Care Clinic, bike helmets for area third graders, the GRMC Babies Room, and other annual operating needs.

More than $1.4 million was raised for capital projects and equipment purchases through the Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign in the past year. The new Paul W. Ahrens Fitness Center at Postels Community Health Park in downtown Grinnell was funded solely through charitable donations.

To date, GRMC has raised nearly $3.2 million in gifts and pledges for the Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign to:

·        Modernize the emergency department and create an urgent care clinic.

·        Enhance the chemotherapy and infusion services.

·        Purchase state-of-the-art robotic surgery equipment and a new CT scanner.

·        Renovate Postels Community Health Park to accommodate a growing wellness program.

·        Establish an endowment for Grinnell Regional Mental Health Center.

·        Replace equipment for obstetrics and radiology departments, patient rooms, and nutrition services.

 For additional information about supporting GRMC, contact Lamphier at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.

Healthcare Day at the State Capitol

The GRMC Auxiliary invites the public to participate in the annual Iowa Hospital Association’s Legislative Day, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25. Legislative Day allows area residents to be healthcare advocates about the government’s role in healthcare policy and funding.

This year’s Legislative Day will begin with lunch and program at the Veterans Memorial Convention Center Ballroom in Des Moines. The GRMC Auxiliary has reserved a motorcoach to transport area residents to Des Moines. The coach will leave Grinnell at 10 a.m. Greg Boattenhamer, IHA government relations senior vice president, will discuss the 2015 legislative agenda.

Another highlight of the day is meeting with legislators representing the Poweshiek County area. Plans are in the works to meet with State Senator Tim Kapucian and State Representative Dave Maxwell.  

To sign up for this free event, please call the GRMC volunteer office at 641-236-2588, or email at kolson@grmc.us, by Monday, February 9. 

Legislative Day is the largest annual gathering of healthcare advocates during the year, with more than 1,000 in attendance. The event, sponsored by Iowa Hospital Association, is free to all hospital supporters across the state. The purpose of Legislative Day is to give hospital advocates the tools and skills needed to directly address issues facing Iowa hospitals, healthcare providers, and citizens with their legislators at the Iowa Statehouse. Grinnell Regional Medical Center has been a leader in this program with an average of 30 participants attending in recent years.

IHA provides legislative papers explaining current healthcare topics. Issues under consideration include behavioral health, Medicare payment, telehealth, and other quality mandates.

Caregiver Support Group Scheduled

Grinnell Regional Hospice is offering a monthly 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.  This group is open to anyone providing care to an adult loved one who may be experiencing an illness, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease.

Group meetings will be held the fourth Tuesday of each month beginning Tuesday, January 27, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Grinnell – 1025 5^th Avenue, Grinnell.

There is no fee to participate, but interested persons are requested to pre-register by calling Grinnell Regional Hospice at 641-236-2418.