January 2009

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center 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 voice their opinion at the state capitol about the government’s role in healthcare policy.

IHA Legislative Day, now in its 15th year, is the largest annual gathering of hospital advocates. The mission is to give hospital advocates the tools and skills needed to directly address issues facing Iowa hospitals with legislators at the Iowa Statehouse. Grinnell Regional Medical Center has been a leader in this program with an average of 50 individuals attending in recent years.

“The state’s anticipated financial challenges in the next fiscal year may put pressure on legislators to reduce Medicaid reimbursement. However, Medicaid reimbursement is currently about 30 to 35 percent below costs for our hospital,” explains Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “GRMC and the other healthcare providers already pick up unreimbursed cost caring for these patients. Shifting responsibility to take care of its citizens on to the backs of hospitals and providers will further weaken the system. In a time when more citizens are losing employment and insurance, it is in the state’s best interest to not limit access to healthcare services.” 

The GRMC Auxiliary has reserved a bus to transport area residents to Legislative Day that will leave Grinnell at 10 a.m. The event begins with lunch at the Polk County Convention Complex. The keynote speaker will be Joel Blackwell, The Grassroots Guy. Blackwell was an award-winning editor at the Miami Herald and Charlotte Observer for 10 years before starting Issues Management Co., a media relations and grass roots lobbying firm. He’s also the author of the book, “Keep on Voting After the Election,” and the grassroots manual,” Keep on Voting: How Ordinary People Get What They Want From Government.”

The agenda also includes a presentation on key health-related legislative issues following the lunch. At 1:15 p.m., the GRMC group plans to meet with State Senator Tom Reilly and State Representative Eric Palmer.  

Deer Creek Family Care welcomes Emil J. Pecholt, DO, as a primary care physician. Pecholt will begin in early February, providing family care to area residents, along with Scott Piper, MD, and Sherry Parks, PA-C. Family practice includes preventive, pediatrics, geriatrics, and adult medicine.

Deer Creek Health Center is a partnership between Grinnell Regional Medical Center and University of Iowa Community Medical Services, and part of the UI Family Care network of community providers.

Pecholt joins the Deer Creek staff after serving in a temporary position at the UI Family Care – Sigourney, another practice within the UI Family Care network. For the past 18 years he worked at various medical centers and clinics in Minnesota, including Albert Lea Medical Center, Albert Lea; United Hospital District and United Clinics in Faribault, in Blue Earth, Minn., and Murray County Memorial Hospital and Clinic in Slayton.  He is board certified in family medicine.

 “We are really thrilled to add Dr. Pecholt to our team because he shares our values of personalized medical care for the whole family,” says Todd C. Linden, CEO and president of GRMC. “He will take the time to get to know his patients and marry that with his extensive experience and education to provide high quality care with a personal touch.”

Pecholt spent time in Iowa during his residency at Des Moines General Hospital, now known as Mercy Capital Hospital, where he served as chief resident his final year of residency. He earned a medical degree from A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Mo. 

“Dr. Pecholt is a down-to-earth physician with a warm personality and ability to make people feel welcomed,” says Michael Hayden, Regional Manager, UICMS. “He brings great depth of skill to the clinic from his experience in Minnesota and now in Iowa working at one of our clinics. I think he’ll do very well serving patients in the Tama and Toledo area.”

When not practicing medicine, Pecholt spends time with family and special interests in electronics, computers, gadgets, and philosophy.  He enjoys the outdoors by boating, camping, and fishing. He and his wife, Patricia, have five children.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center announces Christine M. Lindgren, DO, PhD, will become the GRMC hospitalist and provide inpatient internal medicine care, beginning in January. A hospitalist is a physician who provides care to individuals upon admission to the hospital, including the intensive care unit.

Lindgren earned a medical degree from Des Moines University and completed an internal medicine residency through The University of Iowa Internal Medicine Residency Program at Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Des Moines. She comes to GRMC after working for more than 10 years as an internist and staff physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center facilities and medical clinics in the Marshalltown area. She was a member of the medical staff at Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center.

Prior to becoming a physician, Lindgren earned a PhD in biochemical genetics from West Virginia University in Morgantown. She taught at Allegheny College in the biology department for 10 years.

“Medical school and providing care are personal interactions similar to teaching.  I always wanted to work with and teach people,” Lindgren explains. “Genetics is about connecting people. Teaching and now being a physician allow me to connect with people. I was attracted to the osteopathic training for medical school because it’s more holistic. It’s a primary care approach and focuses on the whole being.”   

“Dr. Lindgren will be an excellent addition to the medical staff. We’re all very excited to have her on board. She’s easy to talk with and comes with excellent recommendations,” says Clayton Francis, MD, GRMC medical staff president. “She will initially work with inpatients and as a consultant with the family practice physicians. This will be a central point for igniting our internal medicine program.”    

“The medical staff and hospital wanted to bring in a quality internist but at the same time we didn’t want to overwork or burn out the physician. GRMC launched the hospitalist model of care for inpatients with Lindgren heading the program. This expands capabilities and decreases the number of patients referred to other hospitals for advanced care,” Francis explains.

Lindgren’s practice will be based in GRMC as a hospitalist caring for inpatients. As additional internists are recruited, the internal medicine program will expand.

The daughter of a New York dairy farmer, Lindgren was attracted to Grinnell’s rural environment and the right opportunities for her husband, Clark. He accepted a position as professor of biology at Grinnell College while she attended osteopathic medical school in Des Moines. The Lindgren family plans to move to Grinnell in the next year. The couple has four children, Jason, 26, Josh, 23, James, 15, and Hannah, 11. When not practicing medicine, Lindgren spends her time with her children. She reads and collects books and makes wool hooked rugs.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center announced the winner of the 2008 Pontiac Solstice and two cash prizes of $2,500 and $1,000. More than 950 tickets were in the drawing for the car and the cash.

Pictured behind the wheel of the car is Andrea Martin, Montezuma. With her in the car is her husband, David. They purchased their tickets at The Glass Gift Box at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Also pictured from left to right is Wes Finch, the Martin’s son, Norman, Todd Linden, GRMC president and CEO, and Jeff Finch.

Other winners were Marna Supple, Montezuma, winning $2,500, and Emily Schultz of Grinnell, winning $1,000.