April 2009

Physicians and the public advised to be watchful for disease symptoms

The Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) issued a press release urging Iowans and healthcare providers to be on alert for swine influenza in humans. As of today, two probable cases of swine flu have been identified in Iowa; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 56 cases of the disease in the United States as of noon  on Tuesday, April 28. The confirmed cases are in California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. The U.S. cases appear linked to hundreds of cases reported in Mexico.

Grinnell Regional Public Health and GRMC are coordinating a temporary testing area to limit exposure between infected and noninfected individuals who want testing for the viral disease.

“If you suspect you have symptoms of swine flu, please call you physicians’ or healthcare providers’ office and inform them of the symptoms,” explains Patty Hinrichs, Grinnell Regional Public Health coordinator. “Public Health will work with area physicians’ offices to create temporary testing site that limits exposing suspected individuals. The most important steps for area residents at this time are to wash hands, limit exposure to ill individuals, and stay home (self isolate) if you are ill, as recommended by the CDC.”

Grinnell Regional Public Health has a supply of anti-viral medications to treat individuals who become infected with the swine flu. GRMC will post regular updates on its website, www.grmc.us, for information on prevention, treatment, and action plans if the swine flu appears in Poweshiek County.

Everyone must be alert in this situation," said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. "A public health emergency has been declared across the country. This means local health departments, health care providers and state health investigators in Iowa and across the nation are all watching closely for any signs of the disease."

The swine influenza virus appears to be spread from one person to another. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food, and a person cannot get swine flu from eating pork products. As with seasonal influenza, Iowans are urged to help prevent the spread of swine flu by taking the following precautions:

• When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve (if you do not have a tissue). Throw used tissues in a trash can.

• After you cough or sneeze, wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand gel.

• If you are ill with a respiratory illness (coughing and sneezing), stay home from work or school so you don't make others sick.

• Avoid close contact with others who are coughing or appear to be ill.

• Symptoms of swine influenza include fever (greater than 100 F), along with cough, sore throat, headache and body aches, and extreme tiredness. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider.

If you have recently visited Mexico or areas in the U.S. where swine influenza cases have been confirmed, and develop swine flu symptoms within seven to ten days after your return, it's important to contact your healthcare provider, and remind them to contact local public health officials.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center welcomes Michael G. Kienzle, MD, as a visiting cardiology specialist. Kienzle will practice at the new University of Iowa Health Care Cardiology Outreach Consultation Clinic in Grinnell and Toledo.

The outreach clinic will expand the cardiology coverage and offer new options to GRMC service area residents. The Grinnell clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon every Thursday morning. The clinic is located at GRMC’s Ahrens Medical Arts Building on third floor in the Grinnell Health Alliance office, at 210 4th Avenue. 

The Toledo clinic will be held from 1 to 3 p.m every Thursday at the Deer Creek Health Center, 401 1st Avenue.

“The need for cardiac care continues to grow in our service area, along with the entire nation. GRMC has enjoyed a long relationship with the Iowa Heart Center in Des Moines for providing cardiology services here.  We have also benefited with joint efforts with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, such as our joint venture Deer Creek Health Center. So when they indicated an interest in having Dr. Kienzle open a clinic in Grinnell and Toledo, we supported their offer.  Dr. Kienzle is an excellent physician whom I have known for many years and we’re excited to welcome his cardiac expertise to Grinnell and Toledo. This clinic increases our patients’ options for cardiac care and opens access for our patients to the UI Heart and Vascular Center,” explains Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “One element in our mission is responsiveness to balance community needs with available resources. This new clinic enables our residents to benefit from more cardiac resources.”

Kienzle earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. He completed his medical residency, and cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology fellowships at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In addition to caring for patients in various University of Iowa outreach clinics he also serves as a professor in internal medicine at the medical college and a professor of cardiovascular diseases in the UI Carver College of Medicine. Since his arrival at the University of Iowa in 1984, Kienzle has held a number of positions, including director of cardiac electrophysiology; assistant director for clinical programs, division of cardiovascular diseases; and associate director (Chief Technology Officer), University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Kienzle’s interests include rural wide-area networks, Internet-based health education and service applications, including home health care and direct to patient communications.

Patient referrals will be scheduled through the primary care or family care physician’s office.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center will offer digital mammography beginning this month. An agreement with Iowa Radiology allowed GRMC to install a full field digital unit in the diagnostic imaging/radiology department.

“This partnership allows GRMC to provide digital mammography in an affordable manner with all its benefits to area residents, close to home,” explains Kevin Kincaid, RTR, GRMC director of radiology and diagnostic imaging. “Plus, we have offered the MammoPad cushions for some time to improve the comfort of a mammogram.”

GRMC’s commitment to early detection has driven the medical center to focus on barriers to having regular screenings. The mammography suite features a revamped education room with updated videos and materials to help inform women about the value of early detection.

“Breast cancer can be detected on a mammogram years before it is large enough to be felt. That gives women a big jump on the treatment process and dramatically improves the individual’s survivor rate,” explains Bill Heggen, MD, radiologist with Iowa Radiology.

Digital mammography is different from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and, more importantly, viewed. The radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast, and invert the black and white values while reading the images. These features allow the radiologist greater control to evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern.

“From the patient’s point of view, a digital mammogram is very much like the conventional screen-film exam. Both use compression and x-ray to create a clear image of the tissue inside a breast. Digital can improve the accuracy in an annual screening in many cases. The big advantage is seen by premenopausal woman with dense breasts and women on estrogen therapy. Studies have shown that digital mammography does detect the findings better in that scenario,” Heggan explains. “In addition, as I look at the new digital images and compare to the older film mammograms, I have better detail in the fine tissue structure that can identify cancer earlier.”

Other advantages of digital mammography are that it can:

• Reduce the need for retakes due to over or under exposure; which can save time, worry, and repeat radiation exposure.
• Reduce radiation exposure because it emits a lower average radiation dose than film mammography.
• Be easily stored, copied without any loss of information, and transmitted quickly, improving efficiency and providing rapid access to images.
• Slightly reduce the time in the imaging suite since the image appears on the technologist’s monitor in a matter of seconds.

GRMC will use a computer-assisted detection software program to review the digital mammograms that improves the reliability of the reading. It’s like a second pair of eyes reviewing the image.

The digital mammography technology became available through a partnership agreement between Iowa Radiology and GRMC.

“Iowa Radiology’s commitment to the community, GRMC, and wellbeing of residents influenced our decisions to partner with the medical center,” Heggen says. “We heard people were leaving GRMC to have digital exams elsewhere. We realize how important a local hospital is to a community.  GRMC prides itself on bringing the most up-to-date technology because we are committed to the health of women in the area.”

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites the public to its annual spring luncheon, scheduled for Wednesday, April 22. 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 scholarship recipients as well as share all the great plans we have for the auxiliary this year, including an update on the 2009 Challenge campaign.”

At this year’s luncheon, the 2009 scholarship recipients will be introduced. The auxiliary will also recognize volunteers who have reached milestone anniversaries.  Door prizes will be given away. Tickets, $7, are available at the GRMC Glass Gift Box, Seeland Park, and the Mayflower Homes. For more information, call 641-236-2588.