IVER HEALTH SYSTEMS

Sept. 6, 2017

Health system ranks high in new awards Results from The Hawk Eye’s new Best of Southeast Iowa Burlington poll are in: Great River Health Sys-tems had 11 first-place finishes and five top-three finishes.

Voted the best• Audiology – Great River Audiology• Hearing aids – Great River Audiology• Home health care – Great River Home Health

and Hospice• Medical equipment – Heritage Medical Equipment and Supplies• Medical service – Great River Medical Center• Nursing home/assisted living – Great River Klein

Center• Personal trainer/gym – Great River Athletic and

Performance Center• Physical therapy – Great River Health Systems• Physician – Michael AbouAssaly, M.D.• Senior living – Great River Klein Center• Workout/exercise – Great River Health Fitness

One of the favorites• Child care/day care – Kid Zone• Drugstore/pharmacy – Heritage Family Pharmacy• Medical services – Burlington Area Family Prac-

tice Center and Heritage Medical Equipment and Supplies

• Physician – Great River Orthopaedic Specialists

Great River Health Systems has purchased Home-town Medical Care, a primary-care clinic in West Point, Iowa. On Oct. 1, the clinic will become Great River Physicians and Clinics, West Point.

Located at 706 Avenue C, Suite A, the clinic is one of several units in the West Point building. Great River Health Systems will continue leasing the space from the building’s owners.

In 2010, advanced regis-tered nurse practitioner Peggy Hirte opened Hometown Medical Care. She treats chil-dren, adolescents and adults. Advanced registered nurse practitioners diagnose ill-nesses, order tests, prescribe medicine, treat minor illness-

es and injuries, and provide patient education and counseling. They refer patients to physicians when necessary.

Hirte earned her nursing diploma from South-eastern Community College and completed nurse practitioner education from the University of Pennsylvania College of Nursing in 1999. She is a certified women’s health care nurse practitioner by the National Certification Corporation.

Hirte will join Great River Health Systems’ medical staff. She will have access to its Cerner electronic medical records system, which helps improve the

Great River Health Systems purchases West Point clinic

efficiency and safety of care by condensing patient records to one source, preventing unnecessary tests and providing an online portal for patients to view their medical records.

“I’m looking forward to joining Great River Health Systems,” Hirte said. “The electronic system will benefit patients and me, especially because its dictation system will give me additional time to help more patients. That’s what I love the most.”

Great River Health Systems has focused on pro-viding community-based health services through-out the region since the early 1980s. Besides West Point, Great River Health Systems provides clinics in:• Fairfield, Iowa – Gastroenterology• Fort Madison, Iowa – Cardiology and urology• Keokuk, Iowa – Primary care, cardiology, gyne-

cology and obstetrics• Mediapolis, Iowa – Primary care• Mount Pleasant, Iowa – Cardiology• Wapello, Iowa – Primary care and physical therapy

Great River Physicians and Clinics, West Point will

be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number is 319-837-6115.

Annual rehab dinner reunites patients, families and staffGreat River Health Systems’ 21st annual Reha-bilitation Celebration brings current and former rehabilitation patients together for a dinner that celebrates life.

This year’s party is set to begin with social time at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, in Great River Medical Center’s Cafeteria. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m., followed by a program at 5:30 p.m. Each patient may bring one guest. Reservations are required by Thursday, Sept. 14. Call 319-768-4200.

Invitations are sent to current Rehabilitation Unit patients and those who have been patients in the last two years. But all former patients are invited.

The health system’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Program has two components. Patients sleep in private rooms in the Rehabilitation Unit and spend several hours a day in Snake Alley Rehabilitation. This unique center includes a car, mock grocery store, variety of walking surfaces, homelike kitchen and bedroom.

After being in an acute-care unit, patients par-ticipate in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Program for an average of two weeks. To qualify, patients must demonstrate a need for at least two of these therapies:• Occupational therapy• Physical therapy• Speech therapy

Patients have three hours of therapy every day, which includes practicing activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, bathing and toileting.

Family members and close friends are important to successful rehabilitation. Patients are asked to designate at least one care partner to participate in some therapy sessions and learn details about patients’ care.

Greiner named EXCEL Service HeroJo Greiner, Great River Cancer Center, will receive an EXCEL Service Hero award at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, in Great River Medical Center’s Cafeteria. Refreshments will be available.

Great River Health Systems recognizes employ-ees who demonstrate actions that extend beyond routine, expected employee behavior. Criteria for the service hero award are based on the health system’s philosophy of care. EXCEL stands for Enthusiastically friendly, X-ceeding expectations, Caring and compassionate, Energetic teamwork, and Leadership and professionalism.

Greiner’s nomination:Jo created and maintains a wonderful serenity garden for patients and their families. The garden has a bench, pergola, plants, bird feeders and bird houses. She also enhanced Great River Cancer Center’s entrance. Both projects help patients and their family as they go through their healing journeys.

60+ Lifestyle Expo 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 14Westland Mall550 S. Gear Ave.West Burlington

The expo for people who are 60 years old and greater, and their caregivers will provide informa-tion on health care, community services, govern-ment agencies, leisure activities, senior housing, volunteer opportunities and more. It is sponsored by Great River Health Systems and Milestones Area Agency on Aging.

The Des Moines County Public Health Depart-ment will offer flu and pneumonia shots. There is a fee, which is billable to Medicare and other insurance providers.

Door prize registration and refreshments will be near the mall’s west entrances.

These Great River Health Systems departments and clinics will be at the expo:• Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation• Chronic Care Management Program • Corporate Education• Diabetes Education• Diagnostic Imaging – bone density screening • Emergency Department

• Great River Healthy Living Clinic• Great River Medicine Specialists• Great River Pulmonology – blood oxygen and

lung-function screenings• Great River Surgeons• Great River Urology• Great River Women’s Health• Great River Wound and Hyperbaric Clinic – diabetic

foot screening• Health Fitness – body mass index (BMI) and

body fat percentage screenings• Heart and Vascular Center/Great River Cardiology• Heritage Medical Equipment and Supplies• Home Health and Hospice – blood pressure

screening• Inpatient Rehabilitation Program• Patient Financial Services-Patient Billing • Primary Stroke Center • Rehabilitation Services – balance screening• Senior Health Insurance Information Program• Sleep Disorders Center

Advance directives program6 to 7 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 14Art Center of Burlington301 Jefferson St.Burlington

Participants will receive help completing advance directives. The presentation is part of Great River Hospice’s Life Is Your Art: Create Peace in Your Masterpiece series. It will include a short walk to the “Before I Die...” mural, light refreshments and time for questions.

The goal of this series is to give people the tools they need to start making end-of-life plans, creating peace of mind for themselves and their families.

For more information, please call 319-768-3350.

Red Hot Mamas5:30 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 28Blackhawk Room, lower levelGreat River Wellness Plaza1401 W. Agency RoadWest Burlington

Brandy Parker, ARNP, will discuss female inconti-nence, and nonsurgical and surgical treatments at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. Parker is a nurse practitioner at Great River Urology and Great River Medicine Specialists.

A light supper and door prizes will be available at this free program. Register HERE.

Red Hot Mamas is a program that educates women about physical and psychological changes as they age, and helps them make informed health care decisions. For more information, please visit www.redhotmamas.org.

Casual daysEmployees purchase $2 stickers for the opportuni-ty to wear jeans to work on designated Fridays. The next casual days and organizations they benefit are:

Sept. 8 Employee Food DriveSept. 22 United Way

Fall Trunk Show9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 21Great River Gift Shop

Hospital lobby

Save 20 percent storewide*

(only a few exclusions)

Save 20 percent storewide*

Join us in celebrating local food & farmers at the Great River Medical Center Cafeteria in West Burlington on September 7, from 11 AM to 1 PM.

Enjoy a delicious farm-fresh meal & meet the farmers who raised the food!

Grilled Burgers & Brats

Roasted Vegetable Salad

Tomato/Cucumber Salad

Aronia Berry Muffins Contributing Farms & Partners:

KJM Berries & Nut Farm

Homestead 1839

Milo’s Market

Local Foods Lunch at Great River Medical Center

Questions? Contact Morgan Hoenig—Local Foods Coordinator at Des Moines County Extension & Outreach mhoenig@iastate.edu

Thursday, September

7th

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran. Direct inquiries to Ross Wilburn, 515-294-1482, wilburn@iastate.edu. EOADV.16.04N Nov. 2016

11 AM to 1 PM

Cost:

$5

EatFreshSEI.org

EMPLOYEEPROFILE

April CookCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)Surgical Services

Start date:July 3

What a typical day looks like for me:I arrive at the hospital around 6:30 a.m. I work until I’m done. In the evenings, I usually relax in my apartment.

What I wanted to be when I grew up:I wanted to be a lawyer because I liked to argue when I was young.

Where I live:I live in Nashua, Iowa, which is a small town be-tween Mason City and Waterloo. I have an apart-ment in Burlington where I stay during the week and when I’m on call.

Family:I have a husband, three kids of my own, four step-kids, six cats and one dog.

Things I enjoy:Hiking, jogging, exploring nature, learning new things, putting puzzles together and traveling

If I could choose anyone, my mentor would be:Right now, my mentor is anesthesiologist Jose Calderon, M.D.

People would be surprised to know:I lived on Guam for nine years.

My motto or personal mantra:What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Who I root for:Green Bay Packers (because my husband loves them)

My biggest achievement:Becoming a CRNA