Hatcher to Serve on American Hospital Association Committee on Governance

Grinnell resident Ed Hatcher began serving on the American Hospital Association Committee on Governance on Jan. 1, 2014.

The committee meets three times a year in locations across the United States. It consists of 28 members that includes nine regional members and up to 16 at-large members. Hatcher is serving as a regional member and will represent members in the upper central states of the Midwest.

Hatcher was nominated by the AHA Board of Trustees to serve on its Committee on Governance. This committee is a specialty committee of the board of trustees and is responsible for providing input into AHA policy development, leading effective involvement of hospital trustees in grassroots advocacy, providing advice on AHA’s trustee initiatives, and enhancing communication with and involvement of trustees in the AHA.

Hatcher has been involved in heathcare governance at Grinnell Regional Medical Center since 1990 when he joined the board of directors. Hatcher served on the board of directors from 1990 to 1999, and was board president 1997 and 1998. He joined the GRMC Foundation Board in 1999 and served until 2011, chairing the board in 2008. He rejoined the GRMC board of directors in 2007, and again served as president in 2011-2012.

On the state level, Hatcher served as an IHA member of the Iowa Congress of Trustees.  Since 2001 he has been serving on the IHA Council on Education and Member Services.

The American Hospital Association is a not-for-profit association of healthcare provider organizations and individuals committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations, and 42,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for healthcare leaders and is a source of information on healthcare issues and trends.

Nominate an Exceptional Nurse for The DAISY Award

Grinnell Regional Medical Center invites members of the public to nominate an outstanding nurse for The DAISY Award. GRMC will honor all nursing staff during National Hospital Week with The DAISY Award. Nominations are due Friday, April 4.

The award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of an auto-immune disease. DAISY stands for “diseases attacking the immune system.” The DAISY Award recognizes outstanding nurses for their compassion and care.

“At GRMC and our affiliated clinics, we have many DAISY nurses,” says Doris Rindels, GRMC vice-president. “They are the kind of nurse that other nurses want taking care of their mom. They are the nurses that go above-and-beyond for their patients. Their coworkers feel that working with them is a real gift because they care about all aspects of their job and teammates.”

GRMC is participating in this award program with Mercy Health Network of Central Iowa to honor outstanding nurses. All nurses (LPN, RN, and Advance Practice Nurses) who provide direct patient care in any GRMC department or clinic are eligible to be nominated for a DAISY Award.

Nomination forms are available at GRMC nurse’s stations, the nursing administration office, human resources, The Light Center for Public Health, and GRMC clinics in Lynnville, Victor, and Deer Creek Health Center in Toledo.

The Mercy Health Network of Central Iowa will also recognize a DAISY Award registered nurse in June. Those selected from Mercy Health Network of Central Iowa affiliate hospitals, such as GRMC, will be considered to be the DAISY Award recipient at the network level. They will attend a special presentation ceremony in Des Moines and one registered nurse will be chosen to be the DAISY Award recipient for the entire Mercy Health Network of Central Iowa.

GRMC Offers Class to Minimize Falls

A “Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls” class will be offered in April through Grinnell Regional Public Health. This program is designed to reduce concerns about falling and increase the activity levels of older adults who have concerns about falls.

This program offers ways to improve balance, flexibility, and strength. After the six weekly sessions, participants will learn a combination of techniques to build their strength and confidence. The class will be offered on Wednesdays, from April 2 to May 21, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Mayflower Community, Montgomery Lounge, 616 Broad St, Grinnell. The program was developed through Boston University with support from the National Institute of Aging.  

“We will teach exercises to participants to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance,” says Patty Hinrichs, RN, director of public health and one of the instructors. “It also focuses on reducing the fear of falling. Participants will learn techniques for what to do if they do happen to fall. They will learn to set realistic goals, make changes to reduce fall risks, and how to view falls as controllable.”

After a fall, many older adults fear going out. This program identifies ways that adults can continue to get out socially and for physical activity in a safe manner.

“We want people safe without having to change their lifestyle or activity level,” Hinrichs says. “What we know about falls is that 30 percent of community dwelling adults fall each year and 20 percent of falls cause physical injury. A large portion of falls are preventable.”

For more information or to register call Grinnell Regional Public Health at 641-236-2385. A $15 fee is assessed.

Twins Delivered at GRMC

Weather conditions changed plans for the Graham family and GRMC’s obstetrical team delivered a set of twins. Lauren Graham, MD, and Andrew Graham, PhD, stayed in Grinnell and had their twins delivered by the GRMC medical team of Monica Brito, MD; Alex Anderson, CRNA; Laura Ferguson, MD; Ryan Dahlby Albright, MD; and the obstetrical staff of Kintzinger Women’s Health Center.

Though GRMC does not typically deliver twins due to higher risks for the babies and often a need for neonatal intensive care, the weather changed plans. Brito has delivered many sets of twins in her previous positions. Family care physicians Dahlby Albright and Ferguson, who both have delivered many babies at GRMC, provided care for the twins as they arrived. This team successfully welcomed Noah James and Benjamin Daniel Graham.

“It was truly amazing and I am so thankful for the care I received,” says Lauren Graham, MD, Grinnell Regional Internal Medicine physician. “Andrew and I had an excellent experience.”

Pre-diabetes and Diabetes Education Classes Offered

Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Nutrition Therapy department will offer two different educational classes on diabetes and eating. These are free and open the public.

Area residents are invited to join a GRMC registered dietitian for a two-hour general program to learn more about eating when you have pre-diabetes or diabetes. The group education class will cover the food and blood sugar connection, how to use carbohydrates to control the blood sugar, meal planning with carbohydrate choices and how to read food labels.

Classes to be offered are:

“Diabetes and Your Diet” – Monday, March 17, and April 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m., East Tomasek. Reservations required by noon on March 14 for the March 17 class, and April 18 for the April 21 class.

“Pre-Diabetes and Your Diet” – Monday, April 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. East Tomasek. Reservations required by noon on Friday, April 25.

“This is an interactive class that’s open to anyone, not just people who are new to diabetes or pre-diabetes,” explains Elaine Hammes, MS, RDN, LD, GRMC dietitian. “We invite individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes, people who have family members with diabetes, and anyone who wants to learn more about how to live well with pre-diabetes and diabetes. Individuals who just want a review of using the diet to better control their blood glucose level are welcome as well.”

Reservations are required so the instructor brings enough materials. Please call GRMC at 641-236-2412, and leave your name and phone number if voice mail is received.

Janet Lacey Appointed to Iowa Lean Consortium

Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s director of patient experience and quality has been tapped to serve a three-year term on the Iowa Lean Consortium. Janet Lacey, a 36-year veteran of GRMC, plans to support the mission of the consortium as well as garner Lean practices for the medical center.

Lean is a collection of principles and tools designed to reduce waste in any process, resulting in improvements to time, cost, and quality.

“I felt the Iowa Lean Consortium’s educational programs were fantastic and have taken advantage of many of their offerings. Lean processes are universal and the members of the consortium come from all arenas including manufacturing, business, government, and education as well as healthcare. I feel honored to have been asked to serve on the ILC board,” Lacey says. “Integrating Lean practices into healthcare is essential to increasing safety for our patients and efficiency in our processes. Lean is all about eliminating the waste that currently is so prevalent in healthcare allowing caregivers to spend time focusing on what is most important­ – caring for our patients.”