HEALTHLETTER MARCH 2015
ENT Services
Expanded
F.A. Jones Physical and Occupational Therapy Center
GRMC HEALTHLETTER 2 Photo on cover: Tom•Gallo, PT, and Peyton VanWyk.
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS FOR
Physical and Occupational Therapy The new F.A. Jones Physical and Occupational Therapy Center opened in February on the first floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building, previously home to GRMC’s fitness center. “The new location for the physical therapy department is a huge benefit for patients. The location and the atmosphere are more inviting,” says Carol Hirsch of Montezuma. “My first experience with GRMC was to have physical therapy, and I have to admit, the old PT area was not a welcoming hallway. I didn’t know where to go. I think the new area will be wonderful.” The F.A. Jones Physical and Occupational Therapy Center expands to 3,600 square feet; the previous location was 2,500 square feet The center includes six private therapy rooms, strengthening equipment, expanded floor space, and the therapy pool. Staffing the center are 12 occupational therapists, physical therapists, and physical therapy assistants. The physical therapy department at GRMC had been in the same first floor location of the medical center since the 1980s. Thousands of individuals have experienced the skilled staff who made a positive difference in their health. Now, the staff has moved into a state-of-the-art facility to complement their skills. The F.A. Jones Physical and Occupational Therapy Center has a central reception and waiting area to accommodate both physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) patients. The south side of the center is full of windows that flood the space with natural light. The new space blends OT and PT services for the many patients who need both rehab services. With these services in one unified area, staff can collaborate easier to give patients the best rehab care. Rehabilitation services guide individuals as they overcome physical limitations. The new center has experts to assist individuals after sports injuries, work injuries, illness, and accidents through a carefully planned therapy regimen, designed just for patients’ health goals. Therapists also work with Grinnell Regional Home Care to provide rehabilitation services to home care clients.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy services were previously located on the north side of the fitness center in one large room. “Often lymphedema clients are very private about how they look and being in an open area wasn’t the best atmosphere for them,” explains Janell Sumner, occupational therapist. “Now, the larger private lymphedema treatment rooms will increase patient confidentiality and give our clients privacy when needed to discuss concerns, plus the space will feel more comfortable.” The OT department grew to three staff members in the past two years because of the growing need for these rehab services. Primary occupational therapies target hand therapy, stroke rehabilitation and lymphedema treatment.
Occupational Therapy Services include:
• Hand Therapy (for hand, wrist and arm) > Rehab after fractures > Tendonitis conditions of wrist and elbow–tennis and golfers elbow > Carpal Tunnel rehab–pre/post surgery > Tendon injury rehab > Rehab from work and sport injuries > Splinting for fractures, tendon injuries • Stroke Rehab > Rehab the arm to improve range of motion, coordination, and strength to complete daily tasks more independently. > Cognitive training to improve executive functions of memory, attention span, and following directions > Complete actual tasks to improve function, i.e. kitchen, dressing, carrying tasks. • Lymphedema Treatment > Holistic approach assisting and teaching patients to improve their bodies’ edema management system. > Management of chronic swelling in legs. > Management of upper extremity swelling, most common after breast cancer treatment.
For more information about occupational therapy services, call 641-236-2985. 3 • GRMC HEALTHLETTER
F.A. Jones Physical and Occupational Therapy Staff
Left photo: (back row) Jolene McKeag, physical therapist, Stacey Thorson, physical therapist assistant, Michelle Davies, physical therapist assistant, Tony Gallo, physical therapist. (front row)Jeanne Clayton, physical therapist, Tom Gallo, physical therapist, Michele Zegers, secretary, and Daniel Kruse, physical therapist. (Not pictured: Melanie Wood, physical therapist assistant) Right photo: GRMC occupational therapists Kimberly Dodd, Sharon Burke, and Janell Sumner
Physical Therapy The new space will enhance the staff ’s target services of orthopedics; sports medicine; aquatic therapy; vestibular rehabilitation; women’s health such as incontinence, pelvic pain, and back pain during labor; pain management; light touch craniosacral and visceral therapy to complement conventional care; and other therapies. For Hirsch, physical therapy has played a key role in relieving pain after surgery. “I had back pain for a long time and then I had cervical fusion surgery. Physical therapy at GRMC with Tom Gallo has been extremely helpful,” Hirsch says. “The therapy wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. There were no weights. Tom uses his hands to feel how the body, muscles and nerves are working together. I’m down to minimal pain and sometimes I have no pain. What a benefit! “The refreshing atmosphere will only brighten the outcomes for residents who come to GRMC’s rehab center,” Hirsch says.
Matching the Right Service at the Right Price Physical therapy can be provided in an outpatient setting – the new F.A. Jones Physical and Occupational Therapy Center – and a retail setting at Postels Community Health
GRMC HEALTHLETTER • 4
Park. The only reason to choose one over another is the out-of-pocket cost to the patient. GRMC’s experienced physical therapists provide services in both facilities. The retail option was created to benefit patients. Depending on patient insurance and needs, the GRMC staff will work with the patient to schedule appointments in either location to minimize expense. For example, if a person has a knee replacement, they likely will have met their carrier’s deductible. In that scenario, the patient can come to GRMC’s outpatient physical therapy center at no cost as their deductible has been met. An athlete who needs physical therapy, but has not been hospitalized, likely has not met an insurance carrier’s deductible. In this scenario, the retail facility is a better choice because the athlete will be responsible for a co-payment or clinic visit fee. A physician’s referral is not required to see a physical therapist; however, some insurance companies require a physician’s referral for coverage. GRMC staff will work with individuals to determine the best facility for them and submit insurance claims. Call GRMC’s physical therapy department at 641-236-2364 to learn more.
Commitment from the Community Funding for the new physical and occupational therapy space was raised during the Blueprint for Health campaign. A significant portion came from the Jones family, who own Grinnell State Bank. Two generations of the Jones family – Addison and the late Marion Jones and their children and Fred A. Jones partners, David Jones and Austin and Kim Jones – made a $250,000 donation to renovate and improve the physical and occupational therapy departments. They decided to name the center after their father and grandfather, Fred A. Jones, who purchased Grinnell State Bank in 1954. “We feel that the hospital is important to the quality of life in the Grinnell community. We want to help the
medical center accomplish what needs to be done,” says Addison Jones. The Joneses also contributed $100,000 to the Building on Excellence Campaign in 1998 and have given generously to the hospital’s annual fund drive for years. Grinnell State Bank and the Jones family made an additional $50,000 challenge to the community in 2004 to complete GRMC’s $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign. These donations, along with many more donors, invested in this important healthcare service. We say thank you. For more information on GRMC’s current campaign, Moving at the Speed of Life, contact Denise Lamphier, at 641-236-2589 or email her at dlamphier@grmc.us. Donations are now being accepted for the $2 million emergency department renovation project.
GRMC’s Senior Education Program provides programs designed for adults–of any age–to extend their knowledge on healthcare issues, diseases, nutrition, community resources, current and cultural events, as well as art, biology, history, or religion. • April 6 - Vaccines and You: Why It’s Important to Stay Current at Any Age with Patty Hinrichs, RN, Grinnell Regional Public Health • April 13 - Click and Connect: What is Broadband and Why It’s Important to You with Monique Shore, Drake Community Library • April 20 - Positive Psychology is More than a Slogan with Amanda Johnson, PhD, Grinnell Regional Mental Health and Capstone • April 27 - Atrial Fibrillation: When Your Heart’s Rhythm Is Beating to a Different Drummer with Lauren Graham, MD, MPH, Grinnell Regional Internal Medicine Clinic. Mondays • 10 to 11 a.m. Drake Community Library 930 Park Street, Grinnell If you see a program that interests you, please feel welcome to join our audience. If you have a question, please call GRMC’s Office of Communications and Development at 641-236-2954 or visit our website.
HEADS UP: EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT SPECIALTY CARE FOR YOU
When you need help for allergies, earaches, chronic sinusitis, inflamed tonsils, or other conditions, you can look to an ear, nose, throat (ENT) specialist for relief. In Grinnell, ENT services are provided by Michael Reed, MD, and Jeremy Vos, MD, with ENT Medical Specialists, Iowa City. Each week they host a clinic in the GRMC Visiting Specialty Clinic on the second floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building.
Jeremy Vos, MD
The formal name for ENT is otolaryngology (pronounced oh/toe/lair/in/goll/oh/jee). It is the oldest medical specialty in the United States, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS). Vos has been providing ENT services in Grinnell for the past eight years. Reed joined the Iowa City practice this past year. Both have weekly clinics at GRMC. Nicole Brua-Behrens of Grinnell has experienced a huge benefit from the clinic. “I first saw Dr. Vos about a year ago for sinus and allergies. I’d been to other allergy specialists but Dr. Vos approached this in a different way. I feel like the treatment that Dr. Vos provided was individualized to my needs, and the staff was friendly and accessible,” Brua-Behrens says. “I was tested for 47 allergens and am highly allergic to 41 of those. After nearly a year of two shots each week, I am experiencing a huge difference. I’m feeling a lot better and I’ve had no allergy symptoms. I haven’t been sick this year.” Providing relief for allergy sufferers is a big part of the ENT Medical Services’ clinic in Grinnell. “We see a lot of patients with allergies and provide different treatment options. Each person responds differently with allergies so we work with the patient to create the right treatment, which might be medication, immunotherapy (allergy shots), surgery, and/or avoidance of pollen,
GRMC HEALTHLETTER • 6
dust, mold, food, and other sensitivities in their environment that affect the ear, nose and throat,” says Vos. “I didn’t realize that allergies can cause vertigo (a condition of being dizzy, unsteady and light-headed). I’d been having a lot of vertigo and couldn’t determine what was causing this unsettling issue,” says Bev Postels of Grinnell. “To my surprise, it was caused by allergies to trees and grasses – very common in Iowa. Dr. Vos identified and treated the condition with great success. It was so convenient to run to the medical arts building and get the regular shots to treat the allergies. Plus, the staff was very personable and friendly. I’m glad we have this service available at GRMC.” Another common procedure completed by Vos and Reed in Grinnell is the insertion of tubes in the ears, in particular pediatric ear tubes. This is a common and beneficial procedure for children with repeated or severe ear infections that are not resolved with antibiotics; hearing loss due to fluid in the middle ear; or abnormal ear structure that limits drainage from the ear. “For the child with chronic ear infections, the ear tube can make a huge difference in his or her health and well-being. We see improved outcomes in hearing, and long term, less ear disease later in life due to early intervention,” Reed says. Each year, more than half a million ear tube surgeries are performed on children, making it the most common childhood surgery performed with anesthesia. The average age of ear tube insertion is one to three years old. Inserting ear tubes may: • reduce the risk of future ear infection. • restore hearing loss caused by middle ear fluid. • improve speech problems and balance problems. • improve behavior and sleep problems caused by chronic ear infections. Although tonsillectomies are performed less frequently than in the 1950s, it remains one of the most common surgical procedures in children in the United States.
“Many children still have the tonsils removed because the tissue is obstructing swallowing, breathing, or the child has recurrent infections despite antibiotic therapy and/or difficulty breathing due to enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids,” Vos says. “We perform tonsillectomies and the combined adenoidectomy and tonsillectomies on children and some adults to provide relief and improve their overall well-being.”
You may wonder when to see an ENT specialist versus your family care provider.
Common conditions and procedures completed at GRMC through the ENT Medical Services clinic includes: • Allergy testing and treatment • Ear problems and ear tube insertion • Tonsils and adenoids • Sinuses/sinusitis and surgery • Hoarse throats • Swallowing problems • Skin lesions
The ENT clinic does not require a physician’s order. All insurances carriers cover ENT services, except for a small subset of a Medicaid plan.
• Sleep apnea/obstruction • Plastic surgery for noses, ears, and eyes
“That depends on the condition. If medication management is not resolving the problem, you may want to seek specialty care,” Reed says. “We are easily accessible to area residents, and we can help patients determine their best options for ENT services.”
For more information, call ENT Medical Services in Iowa City at 800-642-6217. 7 • GRMC HEALTHLETTER
Feel Healthy & Alive Renewed Life after Weight-loss Surgery “The transformation is amazing. I went from barely being able to walk from the handicapped parking space into my children’s school. Now I’m volunteering at the school, traveling and doing my own yard work. I work out with friends. I have a life,” says Lynne Henry of Pella, who underwent weight-loss surgery at GRMC in March 2014.
Weight-loss surgery provides an option for individuals who need to lose weight, yet it requires sacrifices and lifestyle changes associated with medical weight-loss management. Those who have gone through this surgery feel the benefits were worth the sacrifices.
Robotic Surgery Now the toolbox of options includes robotically assisted minimally invasive surgery. Surgeons at GRMC now perform selected bariatric/weight-loss surgeries with the daVinci Xi® robotic surgical unit. The surgeon determines which surgical technique will give the patient the best results. David Coster, MD, Surgical Associates surgeon, performed a gastric sleeve procedure on Henry using a daVinci unit. “I came out of the surgery with six little stitched areas from the surgery, rather than a long incision from my chest down my abdomen,” Henry says. The precision of the robotics and the experience of the surgeons give patients a shorter recovery time, less scarring, and quicker return to daily activities. Henry was able to focus her attention on her new approach to life because she didn’t have a long recovery time. “Dr. Coster shared with me that patients have greater success with the gastric sleeve when they have completed regimented training about how to eat and how to approach food. The surgery resets the person’s stomach size and forces the patient to eat differently – smaller bites, less volume, and better food choices,” Henry says. “The training was outstanding. It provided the reasons why a person must approach food differently. Elaine Hammes, GRMC HEALTHLETTER • 8
the dietitian, was wonderful. Success is so dependent on the patient sticking to the guidelines. I had the willpower. My thought process was that if I was willing to undergo the expense, limitations, and risk, then I wanted it to be successful.”
The Grinnell Regional Bariatrics program has a six-month evaluation and preparation plan before an individual has weight-loss surgery. Though it took Henry nearly eight years to “be ready” for this surgery, she can’t say enough positive comments now that she’s met her ideal goal weight. Prior to surgery, she had to stop smoking and stop drinking diet cola. At her heaviest, she weighed 404 pounds and now weighs 186. Her commitment to stick to the guidelines made her a great textbook success story.
In the Family The benefits of the minimally invasive procedure are accentuated when the patient is young. Jacob Vestal was 18 at the time he had robotic-assisted gastric sleeve surgery at GRMC. Jake weighed 480 pounds as a high school senior. Angelia Gilliam, Jacob’s mother, Des Moines, shares the heartbreak she saw in her son during high school. “I just knew we had to do this for my son. I was watching him die,” says Gilliam. “He couldn’t get out of his bed. He did go to school but he’d come home and go to bed. Some days I’d wonder if he’d be breathing in the morning. He’d been on a CPAP unit since age 14. This surgery has been a big thing for him and me. He has his life back again.” As a young man, Vestal appreciated the benefits of the robotically assisted surgery. “I was in the hospital only three days. I have little scars so I’m not embarrassed when I take off my shirt,” Vestal says. “I felt better overall afterwards. Compared to my mother, who had an open incision, I wasn’t as sore because with the robotic unit, the surgeons did less movement of internal organs. It’s like they go in, and then get out.” Originally, Gilliam found GRMC for herself. She’d had a
Before Lynne Henry type of weight-loss surgery 17 years ago at a Des Moines hospital that caused significant problems. “I was always vomiting I couldn’t eat solid food. I’d really become unhealthy because of the surgery. I didn’t find a surgeon in Des Moines who would perform a gastric bypass revision. So when I learned that Surgical Associates in Grinnell does the revisions, I made an appointment. I really liked the staff at Surgical Associates and how they treated me.” Vestal agrees. “We’d checked out other facilities and they didn’t seem interested in the personal side of me. I felt like we were being herded like cattle. But at GRMC, all the staff were great. Stephanie Noun is awesome. I really felt like all the staff listened to me and heard my concerns and goals. I’ve now lost 200 pounds with more to go but I’m so much happier.”
AFTER
Lynne Henry
9 • GRMC HEALTHLETTER
New Relief for Arthritis Pain
RHEUMATOLOGY SUBSPECIALTY WELCOMES PATIENTS The body is a mysterious organism. So many ailments, abnormalities, and problems can occur inside the body and can be difficult to identify. That’s when subspecialties like rheumatology are called in.
Jacob Vestal and his mom, Angelia Gilliam, share a laugh during the taping of a TV commercial about the Grinnell Regional Bariatric program. Gilliam adds, “His prom photos show a big guy, but I saw the funny, great young man with a big heart. Now his friends and everyone sees him as he wants to be seen – funny and kind.”
Before Jacob Vestal
Before Angelia Gilliam
“This surgery has been a catalyst to weight loss but it doesn’t just automatically make the weight come off. Success depends on the individual and the support of people around you. You make big sacrifices and really work at following the guidelines and limitations,” Vestal says. Surgeons have been performing weight-loss surgeries at GRMC for more than 30 years. The surgical technology and procedures have changed significantly but the excellent care and compassion to help people remains at the center for why so many people have chosen GRMC and Grinnell Regional Bariatrics. Gilliam, Henry, and Vestal all agree that the support of staff from GRMC and Surgical Associates has made them successful. For more information about weight-loss surgery, call Surgical Associates at 641-236-4323 or Grinnell Regional Bariatrics Center of Excellence at 641-236-2069.
“When someone has joint pain and body aches, and they have a hard time telling the source or cause, a rheumatologist may be the detective to find the root cause of the problem,” says Eman Boulis, MD, Central Iowa Rheumatology Clinic. “We see individuals who are experiencing a wide spectrum of conditions that are not being resolved through other sources.” Karen Voecks of Grinnell, has suffered from arthritis for many years. When she read about the new specialty service coming to GRMC, she talked to her primary care provider and decided she wanted to explore using a rheumatologist. A physician order is not required for an appointment; however, some insurance carriers require a physician’s referral. “I had swelling in my extremities from the form of arthritis I have. I wanted to see if Dr. Boulis could provide additional relief,” Voecks says. At GRMC, patients will now find a broader scope of services to address arthritis and rheumatic conditions. Medical professionals involved in the treatment of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases may include a rheumatologist, orthopedic specialist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and sometimes even podiatrists. They may work as a team with your primary care provider to give patients the best care options. Patients may need medications, surgeries, and therapies to resolve a condition. GRMC now offers all of these options. “Karen has undifferentiated connective tissue disease. One of the features she presented with is joint pain and inflammation,” Boulis says. “She was taking corticosteroids to help her symptoms, and the corticosteroids then caused her side effects. I started her on a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug to help control her symptoms, and it allowed for tapering the corticosteroids without flaring her symptoms. This reduces use of corticosteroids and the exposure to their side effects.”
“Dr. Boulis ordered several blood tests and reviewed my symptoms,” Voecks says. “We started on one treatment and now we’re shifting to a medication that I can take long-term with fewer side effects. I’m already seeing improvement and have less pain with early treatment. I’m hopeful the treatment plan will provide long-term relief.” The Arthritis Foundation defines arthritis as a complex family of musculoskeletal disorders consisting of more than 100 different diseases or conditions that can affect people of all ages, races, and genders. It is not a disease of old age. In fact, two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65, including 300,000 children.
What does a rheumatologist do?
The role of the rheumatologist is to diagnose, treat, and medically manage patients with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, such as health problems affecting the joints, muscles, bones, other internal organs (e.g., kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, brain), as well as disorders of the immune system. For more information about rheumatology and the Central Iowa Rheumatology Clinic, call 641-236-2338.
Eman Boulis, MD
Eman Boulis, MD, who is certified by the American Boards of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, attended medical school in Cairo, Egypt, where she practiced until 1999. She completed an internal medicine internship at Easton Hospital in Easton, Penn., and a residency at Geisinger Medical Center, in Danville, Penn. Boulis earned her subspecialty fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Mississippi, Jackson, where she was an affiliated staff physician. Most recently, Boulis practiced rheumatology at East Coast Rheumatology, PLLC, in Plainview, N.Y., and served as a physician reviewer for Advanced Medical Reviews. She has published research on lupus and osteoporosis and has experience in the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, bursitis, carpal tunnel, and joint and muscle pain, among other conditions and treatments.
11 • GRMC HEALTHLETTER
COMMUNITY RISES TO MEET DONOR CHALLENGE Campaign Surpasses $3.2 million raised
The end of 2014 brought a flurry of fund-raising activity for GRMC. By the end of December, the $150,000 matching challenge issued by Grinnell State Bank was met. Grinnell State Bank matched dollar-for-dollar all new gifts to GRMC’s Moving at the Speed of Life comprehensive campaign. Meanwhile, an anonymous donor issued a similar challenge to raise funds for remodeling the exterior of Postels Community Health Park. All gifts made to the effort to replace the stucco finish are being matched up to $25,000. With nearly $20,000 raised for this project, this challenge is in full swing. Both of these efforts helped the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign reach the $3.2 million threshold in gifts and pledges. “Year-end gifts to the campaign and these matching donor challenges made a big difference in putting us over the $3.2 million threshold,” says Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development. “Donors in our area respond well to these challenges, and we are grateful to Grinnell State Bank and others who are willing to use their gifts to get the community excited and onboard.” As funds have been donated, projects have been started and completed as possible. The GRMC Auxiliary Chemotherapy and Infusion Center, Manatt Family Urgent Care, and a new 64-slice CT scanner are just a few examples. Most recently, GRMC opened the new Paul W. Ahrens Fitness Center at Postels Community Health Park. This project was fully funded by philanthropy.
What’s Next?
“Our attention now turns to the full renovation of the emergency department,” says Dan Agnew, co-chair of the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign. “We’re still raising funds for some of the other initiatives but our focus is now on the renovation of the emergency department.”
Agnew reports that the campaign needs an additional $1.5 million to begin work on the emergency department. GRMC is seeking funds to completely renovate and upgrade the emergency department. More than 10,000 patient visits occur annually in this certified Level III/Area trauma center. “The emergency department is really the front line for the community in times of crisis – from hazardous material spills and trauma to everyday accidents,” says Doris Rindels, BA, RN, GRMC vice-president and former team lead and trauma coordinator in the emergency department. “Our ER facility is pretty much the same as it has been for the past 30 years. We have extraordinary nursing and medical staff providing outstanding medical care. Our facility needs to be upgraded to meet the level of care provided,” she says. A renovation and upgrade of the emergency department will improve flow, efficiency, and privacy – all with the idea of becoming more patient-friendly. To accommodate this need, a newly designed 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 cabling for increased technology needs.
Plans for the new emergency department design also include:
• Two new trauma bays with sliding walls and doors for patient privacy and increased treatment capacity by providing more room for medical staff and equipment. • Five exam rooms and a triage room, in addition to the two trauma bays. • A centrally located nurses’ station for greater access and monitoring capability along with a new call system. • A new decontamination suite to treat patients exposed to hazardous materials, located outside and adjacent to the emergency department within
a new ambulance bay. This new suite would be able to handle several patients at once. • An exterior canopy added to the entrance for patients and visitors walking into the facility through the emergency department door from the parking area. • New access controls for greater security for staff and patients. Rural hospitals and emergency departments in particular are increasingly at risk for incidents of violence. GRMC must have a fully functioning emergency department at all times so during renovation, a temporary ED will be in place on the second floor, east medical/surgical patient wing. This area is within steps of radiology, surgery, and obstetrics departments. GRMC is the closest Level III/Area trauma center within 35 miles or greater, depending on a patient’s location. There are 19 Level III/Area trauma centers in Iowa with the resources to provide stabilization for all trauma patients. In order for hospitals to be certified with this trauma level, there must be appropriate surgical and/or critical care available, including surgeons and anesthesia providers, to keep patients at our own facility. Higher levels of trauma care than what is available at GRMC are only found in Des Moines, Waterloo, Davenport, Mason City, Sioux City, and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. With urgent care services now available at GRMC, the emergency room renovation project does not require expansion beyond the existing footprint of the department. Because the emergency department is located on the second floor of the hospital, space is a premium. Any expansion of the department would require an addition or a complete relocation of the department, which would dramatically add to the cost of the project. “There is no question that emergency medicine is one of the most important services GRMC offers,” Agnew says. “For everyone who lives in this area, it is absolutely vital. Access to quality emergency healthcare is not a luxury, it is a necessity.” For more information about making a gift to the Moving at the Speed of Life campaign, please contact Denise Lamphier, director of communications and development, at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us. 13 • GRMC HEALTHLETTER
C a l eofnEvents dar Adult Foot Care Clinic 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month 9 a.m. to noon, Light Center for Community Health Call Grinnell Regional Home Care at 641-236-2385 for an appointment. Babies Room Parenting Classes 3rd Tuesday and 3rd Thursday of the month • 4 to 5 p.m., Light Center for Community Health For information on this program, call 641-236-2385 or email mcwp@grmc.us.
Caregivers Support Group 4th Tuesday of the month 10 - 11 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, 1025 5th Ave., Grinnell The Caregiver Support Group is for anyone caring for an adult loved one. The group provides caregivers with the opportunity to gain support, strength, and encouragement from each other. For more information, call 641-236-2418 or email shuls@grmc.us. Diabetes Living Support Group January 12, March 9, May 11, July 13, September 14, and November 9 7 to 8 p.m. East Tomasek Conference Center, GRMC
Breastfeeding Education Evening Sessions: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This comprehensive diabetes support Tomasek Room, GRMC group meets monthly, and includes a April 28, July 28, and October 27 visit with the dietitian and diabetes education nurse. Speakers and topics For more information, call the Kintzinger vary. For more information, call Women’s Health Center at 641-236-2324 641-236-2419. or email sbaarda@grmc.us. Grief Support Group 2nd Wednesday of the month Blood Pressure Clinic 10 - 11 a.m., Drake Community Library, Thursdays • 1 to 2 p.m., Light Center for 930 Park St., Grinnell Community Health Free, no appointment needed. The Grief Support Group is for adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one or friend. The group supports For information, call 641-236-2385. participants through the emotions, reactions, and experiences that follow Cancer Support Group the death of someone close. For more Every Tuesday • 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. information, call 641-236-2418 or email Room 204, GRMC shuls@grmc.us. This group provides an informational time of sharing and support for GRMC Auxiliary anyone with a cancer diagnosis. For Books Are Fun more information, call 641-236-2568 April 17 Tomasek Room, GRMC or email lromero@grmc.us. Spring Luncheon April 29 Mayflower Community
Grinnell Regional Community Care Clinic Clinic for those with no insurance 1st and 3rd Thursday • 2 to 4 p.m., Light Center for Community Health To schedule an appointment or for more information about eligibility, call the clinic at 641-236-2385. Immunization Clinics (By Appointment Only) 1st Tuesday of the month 1 to 4 p.m. 2nd Tuesday of the month 2 to 6:30 p.m. 3rd Tuesday of the month 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 4th Tuesday of the month 2 to 5:30 p.m. 5th Tuesday of the month 1 to 4 p.m. Every Wednesday of the month 2 to 4:15 p.m. 3rd Friday of the month 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Grinnell Regional Public Health office in the Light Center for Community Health. For information, call 641-236-2385. Meet and Eat Bereavement Support 1st Sunday of the month • 5:30 p.m. Tomasek Conference Center, GRMC Cost of meal: $6 This is not your typical bereavement support group. Meet & Eat is a monthly dinner gathering for those who have lost a loved one. It is a time to remember that even though you may have lost a loved one, you can still be social and enjoy a meal out with others who share similar experiences. For more information, call 641-236-2418 or email shuls@grmc.us.
VITAL SIGNS Making Big Advances in Birthing
F.A. Jones Physical and Occupational Therapy Center Open House Tuesday, March 24 5:30 to 7 p.m. First Floor Ahrens Medial Arts Building 210 4th Avenue, Grinnell Tours, refreshments, $100 gift card to Brown’s Shoe Fit door prize Prenatal/Childbirth Classes Evening Sessions • 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tomasek Room, GRMC April 7, 14, 20; July 7, 14, 21; and October 6, 13, 20 - Must attend all three evening sessions during that month. Saturday All-Day Sessions • 8:30 am to 3:00 pm March 14, June 13, September 19, December 12 For more information, call the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center at 641-236-2324 or email sbaarda@grmc. us. WIC Clinics (or Well Child) In Brooklyn - 3rd Monday of the month 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brooklyn United Methodist Church In Grinnell • 3rd Tuesday of the month • 4th Tuesday of the month • Light Center for Community Health For more information, call Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) at 641-752-7162 or 800-390-5293.
GRMC’s Kintzinger Women’s Health Center welcomed 149 babies into the world this past year. The team of obstetric doctors and staff has implemented many changes and protocols in the past five years to improve babies’ health and women’s deliveries. A few noted accomplishments include no inductions prior to 39 weeks unless medically needed and implementing the “Sacred Two Hours” practice of letting baby, mother, and father bond privately in the first two hours after birth. The medical team has dramatically reduced the cesarean birth rate by 15 percent over five years. Cesarean births pose higher risks to the baby and require longer recovery for the mother. The first-time/primary c-section rate dropped to 12 percent of all births at GRMC in 2014. The induction rate also has been lowered to 24 percent, from a high of 40 percent. Physicians do not induce a birth prior to 39 weeks unless the baby or mother exhibits a medical risk. This has had a ripple effect in that the “failed induction to c-section” rate dropped from 46 percent to 27 percent.
Partnering with Mercy for Innovation Award
GRMC will participate in the $10.1 million Health Care Innovations Award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of the Mercy Accountable Care Organization (ACO)/Mercy Health Network. The goal of this grant is to create new models of care and payment for Medicare and Medicaid that can be used by hospitals across the nation. As a participation site for the Mercy
ACO, GRMC will receive funding as it transitions to value-based care and helps create delivery models for the future of healthcare.
Mercy ACO became a recognized Accountable Care Organization under the Medicare Shared Savings Program. With the program’s focus of improved quality of care and increased patient value, the shared savings program was a logical next step in the evolution of Mercy’s healthcare model. The Medicare Shared Savings Program further aligns incentives to providing quality healthcare, increased patient satisfaction and lower cost for this patient population.
Protect Your Home
Grinnell Regional Public Health (GRPH) has free basic radon testing kits available for homeowners who have not tested their home in at least two years. Call GRPH at 641-2362385 or stop by their office at 306 4th Ave., Grinnell, to pick up a free kit. Additional kits are available for purchase at $5 each. Radon can be found anywhere. The colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas is produced from the decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil. Risk occurs when the gas enters buildings and the decay products are inhaled. The radon gas in the air can damage the lungs and cause lung cancer. Once radon is identified in a building, a mitigation process to reduce indoor radon levels can be implemented to ventilate the radon and reduce the risks of damage. For information on radon mitigation, contact the Iowa Radon Hotline at 1-800-383-5992. The kit may also be purchased online at www. IDPH.State.IA.US/Radon.
GRMC Healthletter is published as a service for the residents of the Grinnell Regional Medical Center service area. Chair, Board of Directors Todd Reding President, Medical Staff Ron Collins, MD President and CEO Todd C. Linden Editorial and Design Staff Jeanette Budding Jennifer Hawkins Denise Lamphier Laura Nelson-Lof Contact us 210 Fourth Avenue Grinnell, Iowa 50112 641-236-7511 • www.grmc.us The health information in this newsletter is not intended to provide diagnosis. If you have questions about your health, please consult your physician. 2015 GRMC Event Headline Sponsor
A New Year, a New Website Grinnell Regional Medical Center has completely upgraded its website at www.grmc.us. Stop by and browse all the information located there for you. Important news, events, and quick links to your patient portal, the online nursery, and more are in one easy-to-use location. Finding a clinic or a provider at GRMC has never been easier. Check out all the classes offered for general health, living with diabetes, or prenatal classes. And all wellness community info for the Postels Community Health Park and the Paul W. Ahrens Fitness Center is available at the click of your mouse or on your smartphone.
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Cedar Rapids, IA Permit 174 210 Fourth Avenue • Grinnell, Iowa 50112