News in December, 2017

Southeast Iowa Hospitals to Evaluate Merger

Great River Health and Fort Madison Community Hospital look to turn competition into collaboration Great River Health and Fort Madison Community Hospital (FMCH) have entered into an agreement to evaluate a merger of the two health care facilities. The due diligence phase, which helps determine viability of a merger, is expected to last three to six months. A merger would help ensure continuation ...

Patient Visiting Restricted at Great River Medical Center; Increasing Flu Cases in Southeast Iowa Reason for Temporary Change

To protect patients, Great River Medical Center is limiting visitors until flu season ends. General visiting People who are 14 or younger are not allowed to visit. Emergency Department Visiting is limited to one adult. Patients who have flu-like symptoms will be asked to wear masks to protect others in treatment and waiting areas. Obstetrics Unit Only spouses or partners, grandparents and healthy ...

Great River Health System Names to EXCEL Service Heroes

Teresa Krueger, Diabetes Education, and Cheryl Robben, Integrated Services, have been named EXCEL Service Heroes at Great River Health. The health system recognizes employees who demonstrate actions that extend beyond routine, expected employee behavior. Criteria for the service hero award are based on the health systems’ philosophy of care. EXCEL stands for Enthusiastically friendly, ...

Great River Medical Center Receives Joint Commission Recognition

The Joint Commission has recognized Great River Medical Center as a 2017 Pioneers in Quality hospital for its contribution to electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) data for quality improvement in health care. The Joint Commission is an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies health care organizations and programs in the U.S. It established the Pioneers in Quality ...

Community Invited to Open House for Great River Health System's Richardson

The public is invited to an open house celebrating the career and retirement of Great River Health President and CEO Mark Richardson. It will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, at Pzazz! Convention and Event Center, 3001 Winegard Dr., Burlington. He will retire Jan. 2. Read about Mark Richardson's career HERE.

Holiday Grief Workshop Scheduled for Dec. 1

Great River Health-Hospice is sponsoring a workshop to help people cope with loss during the holidays. At this time of year, events that once were anticipated with joy may become painful reminders that loved ones are no longer here to celebrate. Turkey, Tinsel and Tears: Coping with Grief at the Holidays is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Great River Hospice House, 1306 S. ...

Great River Friends to Hold Book Fair Dec. 6, 7, 8

In keeping with its mission to support Great River Health Systems, Great River Friends is sponsoring a Collective Goods book and gift fair in the Mercy Plaza lobby, 1225 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. The times and dates are: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 Besides books, hundreds of items will be available at reduced prices. ...

Great River Cancer Center Receives Donation

Great River Cancer Center has received a donation of $2,431.70 from Hearth and Home Technologies. Employees of the Mount Pleasant, Iowa, business raised $1,215.85, and the employer matched the contribution. Fundraisers included T-shirt and bake sales. The donation will support the cancer center’s Hair, Hats & More program. All patients who have lost their hair because of cancer treatment ...

Great River Friends Love Trees Remember, Honor Loved Ones

The holiday season is a time of remembrance, and Great River Friends offers an opportunity to help. Loved ones are remembered and honored each year through its Love Tree program. Their names will be placed on donors’ choice of three trees at Great River Health Systems. With donations of $25 or more per person, name cards will be accompanied by ornaments. Love Trees are in: Great River ...

Great River Health Systems Names New CEO

Great River Health Systems today announced Matthew Wenzel will become president and chief executive officer Tuesday, Jan. 2. He will succeed Mark Richardson, who has held the position since 1997. Wenzel worked at Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City from 2006 to 2017. Most recently, he was president and CEO of Saint Luke’s North Hospital, a two-campus hospital with a combined 159 ...

Great River Health Systems Offers Diabetes Classes in November

Great River Diabetes Education Program offers four-week group diabetes classes every month. The next morning series will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays beginning Nov. 16. Afternoon classes are from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays beginning Nov. 27. Group diabetes classes are for people newly diagnosed, making a change in treatment, or having complications or concerns. A physician referral for ...

Great River Health Systems Plans Groundbreaking Ceremony Nov. 21 for Keokuk Clinic

A public groundbreaking ceremony for Great River Health Systems’ new clinic in Keokuk is scheduled at noon Tuesday, Nov. 21. The 19,000-square-foot facility will be built in the 3200 block of Main Street, between Hampton Inn and Sonic. Estimated to cost $6.85 million, the clinic is expected to open in late 2018. The health system purchased The Keokuk Clinic Jan. 1, 2012. It has grown from a ...

Great River Health Systems to Host Blood Drive Nov. 21

Someone in the U.S. needs blood every other second. Although nearly 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, less than 10 percent do. There is a greater need for blood during the holidays because traumatic accidents increase while donations decrease. Great River Health Systems is hosting a blood drive from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, in the Mercy Plaza lobby, 1225 S. ...

Great River Friends Sponsors Luxury Linen Sale Nov. 16-17

Great River Friends is sponsoring a luxury linen sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, in Great River Medical Center’s lobby, 1221 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. Items include sheet sets in sizes from extra-long twin to California king, Sherpa throws and blankets, ultra-plush blankets, quilt and ...

Sleep Therapy Open House Nov. 15, 16

Great River Health-Heritage Medical Equipment and Supplies will host a Sleep Therapy Open House from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 and Thursday, Nov. 16, at 624 S. Roosevelt Ave., Burlington. Staff will provide free maintenance checks on CPAP and BiPAP machines, and a variety of mask styles will be on display. Durable medical equipment and billing specialists will be available to ...

Great River Diabetes Education Earns Quality Recognition

Great River Diabetes Education has received four-year renewal of its American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate. The voluntary award confirms the program meets the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. “The process gives our diabetes professionals a national standard for measuring the quality of our services,” said Marcia Carlson, RN, ...

Great River Health Systems employee is Hospital Hero

Great River Health housekeeper Jon Cowles was one of 11 Hospital Heroes recognized by the Iowa Hospital Association Wednesday, Oct. 11, during its annual meeting in Des Moines. Hospital Heroes have performed heroic acts or have tirelessly given their time, talent or expertise to better their organizations, patients or communities. They stand out among more than 72,000 hospital employees in ...

Great River Health Systems offers diabetes classes in October

Great River Diabetes Education Program offers four-week group diabetes classes every month. The next morning series will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays beginning Oct. 19. Afternoon classes are from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays beginning Oct. 30. Group diabetes classes are for people newly diagnosed, making a change in treatment, or having complications or concerns. A physician referral for ...

Breast Cancer Topic of Last 2017 Red Hot Mamas Program

Breast cancer is the topic of the last 2017 Red Hot Mamas program presented by Great River Health. The program is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Blackhawk Room on the lower level of Wellness Plaza, 1401 W. Agency Road, West Burlington. The speaker will be Cara Sawyer, DO, Great River Surgeons. She will discuss signs, symptoms, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. ...

Great River Health Systems Offers Athletic Program for 8- to 14-year-olds

Great River Athletic and Performance Center offers an eight-week program for 8- to 14-year-old athletes. FAST – Fitness, Agility, Strength and Training – will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Oct. 24, in Great River Wellness Plaza, 1401 W. Gear Ave., West Burlington, IA. Workouts will include cardiovascular endurance, speed drills, lifting form and plyometric ...

Vandiver Receives State Award for Long-term Care Activities

Amy Vandiver has received the Excellence in Long-term Services and Supports Activity Services Award from the Iowa Health Care Association. She is the Life Enhancement supervisor at Great River Klein Center. The Iowa Health Care Association represents more than 730 nursing homes, assisted-living programs, residential care facilities and home health agencies in Iowa. In her 16 years at the Klein ...

Great River Health Systems Offers Men's Health Fair Oct. 21

Great River Health is bringing information about men’s top health issues to one location. A Men’s Health Fair is scheduled from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in Great River Wellness Plaza’s Blackhawk Room, 1401 W. Agency Road, West Burlington. A light breakfast and door prizes will be available. Topics and speakers will be: 8:30 a.m. – Prostate Enlargement, Brandy Parker, ...

Balance Class Begins Oct. 17 at Great River Health Fitness

Great River Health Fitness offers A Matter of Balance, an eight-week program that helps older adults reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels. A new session will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17. A Matter of Balance is a nationally recognized program developed at Boston University. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to ...

Great River Friends to Hold Jewelry Sale Oct. 18 to 20

In keeping with its mission to support Great River Health, Great River Friends is sponsoring its last jewelry fair of the year. It is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 and Friday, Oct. 20, in the Mercy Plaza lobby, 1225 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. Thousands of items from Masquerade jewelry, including scarves, watches and other ...

Health System Communication Network to Shut Down for Four Hours

Great River Health’ communication network will shut down from 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 to 2 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, for maintenance. During this time, two cellphones will be dedicated for incoming calls to Great River Medical Center. The numbers are (319) 759-0912 and 319-759-1017. Two-way radios and cellphones will be used for communication in the hospital during the downtime.