January 2010

Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary announces the availability of scholarship applications to students studying healthcare. Applications may be completed by anyone pursing advanced training in a healthcare field in the GRMC service area.

“Scholarships can be so important during the current economic conditions for many individuals,” says Linda Eichhorn, chair of the auxiliary scholarship committee. “The auxiliary wants to encourage persons seeking healthcare careers to not be held back by finances. We support healthcare and believe in providing new students as well as adult students the funds to pursuing healthcare careers. The need for healthcare workers at all levels will only continue to increase.”

Individuals who are interested in pursuing healthcare careers have until Friday, March 5, to submit completed scholarship application forms to the GRMC auxiliary. Applications have been sent to all area high school guidance counselors. They are also available at the hospital admissions desk, the volunteer coordinator’s office, and online at www.grmc.us.

Selection is based on applicant’s desire to follow a healthcare career, financial need, scholastic ability, and character. Two letters of recommendation that attest to the character and qualifications of the applicant must accompany the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The auxiliary will review applications and notify recipients by early April. Recipients will be introduced at the annual GRMC Auxiliary Spring meeting on April 21. For additional information about the GRMC Auxiliary scholarships, please call the GRMC volunteer coordinators office at 641-236-2588.

The Iowa Hospital Association through the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation also offers scholarships of $3,000 per academic year, with a maximum of $6,000 for two years.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
• Be enrolled in an accredited healthcare education program that leads to licensure or a clinical laboratory degree.
• Be within two years of completing your professional education.
• Be willing to work for an Iowa hospital after graduation (one year per scholarship awarded).

The GRMC Auxiliary gives toward the IHA hospital annually and any healthcare field applicants in the state may take advantage of this scholarship.

Applications are available at www.ihaonline.org. Applications are also available in the GRMC Office of Human Resources. Application deadline is Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

Annual Wellness Screening Offered

Heart disease is the number one health concern. Grinnell Regional Medical Center offers an annual wellness 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.

• Wednesday, Feb. 17, in Grinnell, from 6:30 to 9 a.m. in the West Tomasek Conference Center. The total metabolic panel costs $43. Residents may call, after February 1, 641-236-2975 to schedule your heart health screening.
• Friday, Feb. 19, in New Sharon, from 8 to 10 a.m. in the New Sharon Memorial Clinic, 302 South Park St. Residents may call 641-637-4046 to schedule their heart screening.
• Wednesday, Feb. 17, in Victor, from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Victor Health Center, 709 Second St. Residents may call 319-647-7511 to schedule their heart screening.
• Thursday, Feb. 18, in Lynnville, from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Lynnville Medical Clinic, 303 East St. Residents may call 641-527-2929 to schedule their heart screening.

Latcham Joins Cardiology Specialties at GRMC

Grinnell Regional Medical Center welcomed Allan P. Latcham, MD, to the GRMC visiting specialty clinic with the Iowa Heart Center’s cardiology team.

Latcham is a Grinnell native, the son of Allen and Sheila Latcham. He received his BA from Wartburg College and earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine as well as completed his residency there. He also completed fellowships in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at Ohio State University. Latcham is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology.

Iowa Heart Center expanded coverage in Grinnell in 2009. Latcham requested the opportunity to serve Grinnell after Syed Ahmed, MD, announced his decision to return to school to complete a fellowship

Iowa Heart cardiologists Mark McGaughey, MD, and David McAllister, DO, along with Teresa Sieck, PA-C, will continue to see patients at GRMC on a weekly basis. Latcham works in rotation with the other cardiology providers to meet the heart health needs of area residents.

Perinatologist to Join GRMC Visiting Specialty Physicians

Grinnell Regional Medical Center welcomes Neil Mandsager, MD, FACOG, Perinatal Center of Iowa, as a perinatologist to the visiting specialty clinic. Mandsager will partner with local primary care physicians to provide consultations and recommendations regarding their high-risk obstetric patients.

Mandsager graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed his obstetrical and gynecology residency in Columbia, Mo. Mandsager also completed a maternal-fetal medicine fellowship in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is board certified in obstetrics-gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine.

Mandsager started his practice in Iowa in 1993. Today the practice is an affiliate of Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines. He practices with Joseph Hwang, MD, perinatal mid-level providers, and sonographers.

Perinatology is a subspecialty of obstetrics concerned with the care of the fetus and complicated, high-risk pregnancies. Perinatology is also known as maternal-fetal medicine and focuses on gestational diabetes, multiple fetuses, genetic amniocentesis, and other conditions during pregnancy.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center announced this week that it raised $363,166.75 from 1,032 donors during its annual fund drive. This is the highest amount ever raised in the medical center’s annual fund history.

The total amount raised is almost $50,000 more than what was raised in 2008. This is attributable in large part to several challenge grants made by area individuals, families, and businesses.

“The response for this year’s annual fund drive has been great. This kind of support is extraordinary for a hospital of our size. It really demonstrates the level of commitment people have for our community hospital, especially in a year when most charities are reporting a decline in giving,” says Susan Witt, GRMC board chair. Witt has served on the medical center’s board since 1999. She is co-owner of Miraco, Inc.

The annual fund drive enhances the medical center’s operating budget by making certain programs possible. It also allows GRMC to purchase important equipment and support daily operations.

 “During these challenging financial times, these gifts are even more important to the medical center. They allow us to fund vital programs and purchase needed equipment,” says Mindy Uitermarkt, GRMC director of development. “We are grateful to all who invested in GRMC through our annual fund drive this year, especially those donors who matched gifts through challenge grants. Because of these challenge grants, every gift had a greater impact.”

Challenge fund donors were the Brownell Family Foundation, Grinnell State Bank, the Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust, Isadore Berman, Gerald Bell, Orville Bloethe, John and Marlene Manatt, Merlin and Verna Manatt, Dr. J.R. and Linda Paulson, Ramsey-Weeks, Inc., Searsboro and Lynnville Telephone Companies, and an anonymous donor.

“Since GRMC is a community nonprofit hospital, these donations have a major impact on hospital operations relating to patient care and comfort. We can truly say that the devotion and consistent support of our donors make many of GRMC’s accomplishments possible,” Witt says.

For additional information about GRMC’s annual fund or development program, contact Uitermarkt at 641-236-2961 or muitermarkt@grmc.us.

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites the public to participate in the annual Iowa Hospital Association’s Legislative Day, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24. Legislative Day allows area residents to voice their opinion at the state capitol about the government’s role in healthcare policy and funding.

IHA Legislative Day, now in its 16th year, is the largest annual gathering of hospital advocates. The event, sponsored by Iowa Hospital Association, is free to all hospital supporters across the state. 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 40 individuals attending in recent years.

“The state’s financial challenges have put pressure on legislators to consider a hospital provider assessment,” explains Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Depending on many factors, this legislation could help bring in additional federal dollars to support Medicaid services. Preserving Iowa’s Medicaid program – both in terms of services to beneficiaries and payments to healthcare providers – must be a priority for state government, especially in these current economic times. 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 Steffen Schmidt, “Dr. Politics,” Iowa State University professor of political science, pundit, analyst, and commentator.

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 Rielly and State Representatives Eric Palmer and Betty DeBoef.  

To sign up for this free event, please call the GRMC volunteer office at 641-236-2588, by Tuesday, Feb. 16.