May 2009

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites all Bridge and 500 card players to its annual Invitational on Thursday, June 25, at the Seeland Park Social Center, 2021 4th Ave., Grinnell. The event begins at 11:30 with registration and a sandwich buffet begins at noon and games to follow.

Men and women of all skill levels are welcome to this afternoon of fun, card playing, and socializing. A $10 fee is charged and covers the sandwich buffet and prizes.

“This annual event brings together friends and newcomers for a wonderful afternoon of Bridge and 500 cards,” says Karen Voecks, GRMC auxiliary committee chair. “Participants do not need to find foursome to play. We will match up tables during registration. Individuals will be given a tally and table information upon registration. ”

Proceeds from the event will support the GRMC Auxiliary’s goals to purchase equipment for the hospital, fund scholarships, and host the Women’s Health Focus, among other projects.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center has received a silver award in the 2009 Aster Awards advertising excellence competition.
 
The Aster Awards, one of the largest competitions of its kind, is hosted by Marketing Healthcare Today and Creative Images, Inc. This national program recognizes outstanding healthcare professionals for excellence in their advertising/marketing efforts. GRMC’s winning entry was a direct mail piece entitled “The Doctor is in @ GRMC.” The piece highlights the medical center’s physicians and quality care.
 
The 2009 Aster Awards consisted of approximately 3,000 entries from across America. Participant’s entries competed against similar-sized organizations in their category. Entries must score at least in the top 85 percent to receive an award. Judging criteria includes creativity, layout and design, functionality, message effectiveness, production quality and overall appeal.
 
“GRMC is among the top in the nation for healthcare advertising expertise, specifically scoring in the top 12 percent.  It was an honor to have GRMC participate in the 2009 Aster Awards,” said Melinda R. Lucas, Aster Awards program coordinator. “They exceeded the judges’ expectations.”
 
Entries in the Aster Awards were judged by a diverse panel of healthcare marketing experts. All winners are posted on the Aster Awards’ website, as well as published in Marketing Healthcare Today, a national healthcare marketing magazine.

The governing body for Grinnell Regional Medical Center elected its 2009 officers, selecting Susan Witt of Grinnell as the president. Completing the slate of 2009 officers are Ed Hatcher, chair elect; Debby Pohlson, past chair; Jack Arendt, secretary; and Frank Brownell, treasurer. In addition, Bill Menner has joined the 15-member volunteer board of trustees.

Menner moves into the board role seamlessly because he has worked with GRMC for the past eight years in his roles as executive director of Poweshiek Iowa Development and Grinnell Renaissance. He previously worked at KUNI public radio as the statehouse bureau chief in Des Moines.

“Bill’s political science and journalism background makes him an excellent addition to the board of directors,” says Todd C. Linden, CEO and president of GRMC. “He brings a deep understanding of politics, relationships with our government officials, and strong understanding of the community needs to this position. We are extremely pleased to welcome Bill to the board.”

Menner explains that supporting the hospital is as much an economic development issue as it is health and wellbeing for the community.

“As one of the largest employers in the county, the medical center has a large impact on our economy through jobs, payroll, and quality of life,” Menner says. “On a personal side, I’ve been a big user of wellness services. I enjoy Fly High Fitness Studio and am happy to be an example of the wellness approach to health that the hospital emphasizes.”

Menner, a resident of Grinnell since 1990, joined the board with sights on a goal of helping the medical center with state and federal policy changes.

“Through the relationships I’ve gained in Des Moines as well as Washington, D.C., I hope to help get the hospital in the financial position of not just surviving but thriving. In 2004, when we started Poweshiek Iowa Development and our treks to Washington, D.C., our goal was to make elected officials aware of the key policy concerns. The medical center as been our number one priority each year,” Menner explains.

GRMC and the residents served have benefited by the diverse membership of the board and representation by community members as well as medical professionals. The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees includes the officers listed above and Sig Barber; Laura Ferguson,  MD; Stanley Greenwald, MD; Ed Hatcher; Leila Maring; Michelle Rebelsky, MD; Wally Walker; Joanne Yuska; and ex-officio members Todd Linden, president and CEO of GRMC, and Clayton Francis, MD, serving a two-year term that coincides with his elected position of medical staff president

The board is responsible for overall governance of GRMC, a nonprofit, private medical center. Its primary roles include establishing the mission and vision; strategically planning for the future; appointing members of the medical and allied health staff; approving the annual budget and providing financial oversight; monitoring overall quality of services; and appointing the chief executive.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center will offer a new six-week support group designed for women experiencing the grief of widowhood.

“This group will explore some of the challenges of loss and sadness unique to living without one’s life partner,” explains Connee Harnden, LMSW, GRMC bereavement counselor. “In a confidential setting, we will share our pain and loss with each other; and hear what others in the group are doing to cope effectively. This will be a time to support others as you seek to find comfort for yourself.”

 This service is designed for individuals who have experienced the loss of a husband. It provides a safe place for women to accept and move through the grieving process.

Gatherings will be held on Mondays, beginning June 8 to July 13, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the GRMC small conference room, on the first floor of GRMC.

This class will discuss effective ways to cope with issues that frequently arise as a widow goes through this difficult journey. Areas to be addressed include emotional challenges, physical health, social support, and if time allows, the group will explore practical issues like housing, finances, and cooking.

This group will be facilitated by Connee Harnden, LMSW, bereavement counselor with Grinnell Regional Hospice. There is no fee to participate, but interested persons must pre-register by calling Grinnell Regional Hospice at 641-236-2418.

Heeding patient feedback, Grinnell Regional Medical Center has decided to change its external billing company. Effective immediately, MDX/MedAssets will no longer serve as GRMC’s agent for billing and payment processing.

“We are working diligently to improve our financial situation, which includes accounts receivable management. We hired MDX to help in that process but, unfortunately, our business philosophy and approach did not match theirs.” says Jack Fritts, GRMC CFO and vice-president of finance. “GRMC is committed to patient satisfaction, so when we experienced a large number of concerns about the billing company, we took a step back to re-evaluate our business partner.”

GRMC will contract with a new accounts receivable management supplier that better fits the medical center’s values and philosophy.

“We have narrowed our search to three companies and hope to begin using the new service by August,” Fritts says. “For our patients, this means that our internal patient accounting department will handle the hospital bills and accounts receivable recovery until the new vendor is secured.”

For questions about hospital bills, please contact the medical center’s patient accounting department at 641-236-2304.