News in December, 2018

Great River Health Employee Donations Top $100,000 in 2018

Four fundraisers benefit people in southeast Iowa, Illinois West Burlington, Iowa, Dec. 31, 2018 – Besides providing great health care, Great River Health employees, medical staff and volunteers donated $114,100 to help the communities it serves. In October, employees and medical staff pledged to donate $83,000 to The Burlington/West Burlington Area United Way in the coming year. ...

Great River Friends Offers Scholarships for 2019-2020 School Year

Two types of awards offered for health career studies West Burlington, Iowa, Dec. 14, 2018 – Applications for Great River Friends scholarships for the 2019-2020 school year are available. Two types of scholarships are offered to students pursuing health care careers. Applicants for high school scholarships must be seniors with minimum 3.0 grade point averages. They must live in or attend ...

Great River Health Offers Diabetes Classes in January

West Burlington, Iowa, Dec. 14, 2018 – Great River Diabetes Education offers four-week group diabetes classes every month. The next afternoon series will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays beginning Jan. 7. Morning classes will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays beginning Jan. 24. Group diabetes classes are for people newly diagnosed, making a change in treatment, or having complications or ...

Great River Health's Kid Zone Earns Top Rating

State awards five stars to employee child care center West Burlington, Iowa, Dec. 13, 2018 – Kid Zone, Great River Health System’s child care center, has earned a five-star rating from the Iowa Department of Human Services’ Quality Rating System (QRS). It is the only center in southeast Iowa to hold the top rating. The Quality Rating System (QRS) was created in 2006 to raise the ...

Nelson Named Great River Health EXCEL Service Hero

West Burlington, Iowa, Dec. 7, 2018 – Heather Nelson, Quality Resources, has been named an EXCEL Service Hero 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 system’s philosophy of care. EXCEL stands for Enthusiastically friendly, ...

Dr. Hoth to Retire After 50 Years in Medicine

An early ‘MacGyver’ of medicine, she’s ready to be ‘Grandma Jo’ full time In the mid-1980s, the television show “MacGyver” introduced an intelligent title character who devised creative solutions to get the job done. Before that, there was JoEllen Hoth, MD. In 1965, the 5-foot, 2-inch new physician was faced with a dilemma early in her internship at ...

Great River Health Offers Free Diabetes Program Dec. 6

West Burlington, Iowa, Nov. 20, 2018 – Great River Diabetes Education’s Coffee Talk quarterly support group will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at Great River Family Medicine, Mercy Plaza, Suite 159, 1225 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington, IA. People with diabetes, and supportive family members and friends will have an opportunity to ask diabetes professionals questions. They are ...

Great River Health Offers Diabetes Classes in December

West Burlington, Iowa, Nov. 20, 2018 – Great River Diabetes Education offers four-week group diabetes classes every month. The next series will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays beginning Dec. 6. Group diabetes classes are for people newly diagnosed, making a change in treatment, or having complications or concerns. A physician referral for diabetes education is required. Class topics ...

Great River Klein Center Receives U.S. News' Top Ratings

‘High performing’ in nursing home and rehabilitation categories West Burlington, Iowa, Nov. 15, 2018 – Great River Klein Center is among the top-rated nursing homes in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. U.S. News gave most facilities two ratings – overall quality of the home and short-stay rehabilitation. Great River Klein Center earned “high ...

Great River Friends' Love Trees Remember, Honor Loved Ones

West Burlington, Iowa, Nov. 13, 2018 – 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. With donations of $25 or more, ornaments accompanied by their names will be placed on donors’ choices of three trees. Love Trees will be in Great River Medical ...

New Keokuk Clinic Plans Open House Nov. 28

West Burlington, Iowa, Nov. 13, 2018 – An open house for Great River Health System’s new clinic in Keokuk will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28. Tours will follow from 5 to 7 p.m. The 19,000-square foot clinic is located at 3285 Main St., Keokuk. It is four times larger than the health system’s existing clinic in the city. “We reached the ...

Great River Health Offers Diabetes Classes in November

West Burlington, Iowa, Oct. 12, 2018 – Great River Diabetes Education offers four-week group diabetes classes every month. The next morning series will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays beginning Nov. 1. Afternoon classes will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays beginning Nov. 5. Group diabetes classes are for people newly diagnosed, making a change in treatment, or having complications or ...

Healthy Eating Topic of Oct. 25 Great River Health Program

West Burlington, Iowa, Oct. 12, 2018 – Healthy eating is the final topic in Great River Health’s 2018 Healthy U series for women and men. The presentation is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25. A registered dietitian will discuss developing a healthy appetite by learning how foods can help and harm the body. The program will be in the Blackhawk Room, Wellness Plaza, 1401 W. ...

Miles & Memories 5K Run/Walk Benefiting Great River Hospice Set for Nov. 3

West Burlington, Iowa, Oct. 2, 2018 – The 11th annual Miles & Memories 5K Run/Walk is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, beginning on Great River Health’s campus, 1221 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. The event is presented by Two Rivers Financial Group. Proceeds will support Great River Hospice House. Participants who register for the 5K run/walk or the one-mile stroll by ...

Great River Health among Iowa's best workplaces for sixth year Ranking based on employee surveys

West Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 18, 2018 – Great River Health is one of the best places to work in Iowa, according the Des Moines Register’s 2018 Top Workplaces survey. The survey ranked 150 employers in small, midsized and large categories. The only hospital or health system named in the large-company category, Great River Health ranked 22 nd. This is the sixth consecutive year that ...

Great River Hospice to host Sept. 21 free workshop for widows and widowers

West Burlington, Iowa, September 12, 2018 – Great River Hospice is sponsoring a workshop to help widows and widowers cope with feelings and experiences associated with the death of a spouse. Participants will learn about legal concerns, coping skills and tips for cooking for one. Table for One: A Workshop for Widows and Widowers is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in the ...

Medical Explorers Open House Set for Sept. 19

High school students take in-depth looks at health careers West Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 13, 2018 – Great River Health’s Medical Explorers program is hosting an open house at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in the Walnut Room on the lower level of Great River Medical Center, 1221 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. Through Medical Explorers, high school students take in-depth looks at health ...

Great River Health Offers Diabetes Classes in October

West Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 13, 2018 – Great River Diabetes Education offers four-week group diabetes classes every month. The next morning series will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays beginning Oct. 4. Afternoon classes will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays beginning Oct. 8. Group diabetes classes are for people newly diagnosed, making a change in treatment, or having complications or ...

Diabetes Topic of Sept. 27 Great River Health Program

West Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 13, 2018 – Great River Health’s educational series for women and men continues at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27. David Carlson, MD, Great River Family Medicine, will present “Diabetes: What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You.” The program will be in the in the Blackhawk Room, Wellness Plaza, 1401 W. Agency Rd., West Burlington. Light snacks will ...

Family Planning Clinic Open House Set for Sept. 20

West Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 11, 2018 –Family Planning of Southeast Iowa will host an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at 801 S. Roosevelt Ave., Suite C, Burlington. It will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Refreshments will be available. Family Planning of Southeast Iowa provides comprehensive, confidential reproductive health care for women and men. Clinic services ...

Balance class begins Oct. 9 at Great River Health

Helps older adults reduce fall risks and increase activity West Burlington, Iowa, Sept. Sept. 17, 2018 – A nationally recognized program that helps older adults reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels begins Tuesday, Oct. 9. Classes in the eight-week session will be from 10 to noon at Great River Health Fitness, 1401 W. Agency Rd., West Burlington. Participants learn to: View ...

Great River Health Offers Free Diabetes Program

West Burlington, Iowa, Aug. 31, 2018 – Learn about diabetes in an entertaining game at Great River Diabetes Education’s Coffee Talk quarterly support group. The program will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at Great River Family Medicine, Mercy Plaza, Suite 159, 1225 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington, IA. DiaBingo winners will receive prizes. Reservations are required. Supportive ...

60-Plus Lifestyle Expo set for Sept. 12

West Burlington, Iowa, Aug. 31, 2018 – A 60-Plus Lifestyle Expo is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 12, at Westland Mall, 550 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. The expo is for people who are 60 years old and greater, and their caregivers. It will provide information on health care, community services, government agencies, leisure activities, senior housing, volunteer opportunities ...

Thyroid Awareness Topic of Aug. 30 Great River Health Program

About 60 percent of people with thyroid disease don’t know they have it. West Burlington, Iowa, Aug. 15, 2018 – Great River Health’s educational series for women and men continues at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30. Family physician Hannah Heckart, MD, will discuss the purpose and function of the thyroid gland, and associated problems. About 60 percent of people who have thyroid ...

Health System and Health Department Seek Responses to Community Survey

West Burlington, Iowa, Aug. 16, 2018 – Great River Health, in collaboration with Des Moines County Public Health, is conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment for Des Moines County. County residents are invited to complete a survey to help identify barriers, opportunities and issues they face when trying to improve their health. The survey is available online at ...