News in December, 2020

Great River Health Hospitals to Apply for New Classification

Great River Medical Center and Fort Madison Community Hospital will apply to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for Sole Community Hospital (SCH) classification in 2021. The SCH program was created to maintain access to needed health services for Medicare beneficiaries in rural communities by providing greater reimbursement. Hospitals must meet specific criteria for SCH ...

Great River Medical Center Names Atkinson Employee of the Month

Liz Atkinson was named Employee of the Month at Great River Medical Center. She is a registered nurse in the Emergency Department. Liz goes above and beyond with her patients, including throwing a birthday party for a patient who was in the department. She demonstrates respect with every patient no matter the situation. She listens and communicates effectively, and she works well with staff.

Love Tree Ornaments Support Great River Friends

Great River Friends’ Love Tree Program offers an opportunity to recognize friends and family members during the holiday season. For each donation of $25, donors will receive a 2020 keepsake ornament and an attached card with a loved one’s name. Ornaments will be displayed through Sunday, Dec. 13, on Love Trees in the Great River Medical Center lobby, or at the Hospice House or Klein ...

2020 Miles & Memories 5K Run/Walk Benefiting Great River Hospice Goes Virtual

The 13th annual Miles & Memories 5K Run/Walk will take place as a virtual run/walk this year. The event is presented by Two Rivers Financial Group. Proceeds will support Great River Hospice House, 1306 S. Washington Rd., West Burlington. Participants who register for the 5K run/walk or the 1-mile stroll by Tuesday, Oct. 27, will be guaranteed a race packet which includes a long-sleeve T-shirt, ...

SHIIP Counselors Offer Virtual Help with Medicare Questions

The annual Medicare open enrollment period is from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Monday, Dec. 7. During this time, participants have the option of changing to a different prescription plan for 2021. Each year, Medicare prescription drug plans are revised. With these changes: Monthly premiums, deductibles or copay amounts may change. There may be drug restrictions. Medications may no longer be covered ...

Hospital Resumes Limited Visiting

Great River Medical Center has resumed limited visiting in most inpatient areas. In August, inpatient visiting was suspended in response to increasing cases of COVID-19 in the community. Most inpatients may have one visitor per day between noon and 6 p.m. Visitors may not leave and return in the same day. Patients must give the name of their visitor to a member of their health care team before the ...

Great River Medical Center Receives Gold Achievement Award from AHA

Great River Medical Center has received the Mission: Lifeline ® Gold Plus Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks. Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart ...

Health System, Hospital Offer Clinics for Potential COVID-19 Symptoms

Great River Health and Henry County Health Center offer clinics in four cities for people who have respiratory symptoms that may indicate COVID-19. Because these services are provided in locations where other patients may be present, appointments are required. Most patients should call the clinic before entering. Instructions will be provided when making an appointment. Monday through Friday ...

Great River River Friends Donates $18,550 to Hospital

Great River Friends recently donated $18,550 to Great River Medical Center. The money will fund items to be used at the hospital and Great River Klein Center, a long-term and skilled nursing facility on the hospital’s West Burlington campus. All projects will enhance patient and elder experiences. They include: COVID-19 mask-making supplies Plant watering system Repotting plants in waiting ...

Great River Health to Further Restrict Visitors Due to Rise in COVID-19

To protect the health of patients, employees and the community, Great River Health will begin further restricting visitors Monday, Aug. 24, because COVID-19 cases in southeast Iowa are increasing rapidly. Great River Medical Center and Fort Madison Community Hospital, which also is part of Great River Health, are announcing changes separately. At Great River Medical Center, there will be no ...

Dr. McCoy Receives Outstanding Service Award

Great River Health Chief Medical Officer Michael McCoy, MD, received the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s 2020 Outstanding District Service Award. The award recognizes effective leaders and outstanding contributions performed by a Fellow of the organization on behalf of his or her district. Dr. McCoy serves District VI, which comprises Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, ...

50-Year Nursing Career Comes to an End

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go Judy Brueck had been a nurse for 20 years when Dr. Seuss published “Oh, the Places You Will Go.” But she refers to the book as the theme of her 50-year career. The longest-tenured employee in Great River Medical Center’s history ...

Great River Health Allowing More Visitors

Great River Medical Center has begun allowing limited visiting in many inpatient and outpatient areas of the hospital. In March, visiting restrictions were implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most inpatients may have one visitor per day between noon and 5 p.m. Patients must give the name of their visitor to a member of their health care team before the visitor arrives. Visitors must: ...

Great River Health to Open Test Iowa Site for COVID-19

In partnership with the State of Iowa, Great River Health will provide the only Test Iowa drive-thru coronavirus test site in the southeast region of the state. It will open Wednesday, May 27. The Test Iowa Initiative began April 21 in an effort to expand testing capacity to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa. “Having a Test Iowa location in West Burlington will help save lives,” ...

Great River Health Announces More Changes As Services Reopen

Great River Health is making more changes to resume normal operations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. These three things will occur Tuesday, May 26: · The temporary respiratory clinic for people who have respiratory symptoms that may indicate COVID-19 will move to Great River QuickCare, 624 S. Roosevelt St., Suite 102, Burlington. Appointments are required. Call 319-768-1009. · ...

Great River Health-Keokuk Resumes Services, Opens Respiratory Clinic at New Location

Great River Health-Keokuk will expand hours and resume services Monday, May 18. To protect the public and staff, patients who are experiencing respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath or coughing, will be examined at another location. The Keokuk Clinic will reopen temporarily May 18 for examination of patients with respiratory symptoms, which may indicate COVID-19. The address is 1603 ...

Great River Medical Center to Resume Some Services

Great River Medical Center is beginning to lift its temporary restriction on appointments and procedures due to COVID-19 precautions. This includes outpatient occupational, physical and speech therapy, mammography and DEXA bone-density scanning. Some clinics also are resuming appointments. Great River Health Fitness will announce its reopening plan soon in response to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ ...

Great River Friends Awards $12,000 in Scholarships

Great River Friends recently awarded $12,000 in scholarships to students pursuing health care careers. Twelve $1,000 scholarships were given in two categories. Scholarships for high school seniors were awarded to: Elena AbouAssaly, Burlington Community High School, pre-medicine, University of Iowa Kendall Dascher, homeschooled, nursing, Truman State University Allyson Farley, New London High ...

Great River Health-Keokuk Changes Hours, Adds Visitor Restrictions

Great River Health-Keokuk has made changes in its ongoing effort to prevent or reduce transmission of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the community. Patients who have symptoms of the disease – cough, difficulty breathing or fever – will be seen by a health care provider in a designated area of the clinic. Everyone, including staff, is screened before entering the building. Patients with ...

Great River Medical Center: More COVID-19 Changes

Great River Medical Center will add greater visitor restrictions Friday, March 27, in an effort to prevent or contain COVID-19 (coronavirus) transmission in southeast Iowa. Screening for respiratory symptoms, recent travel and body temperature continues. Outpatients at the hospital for clinic, Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory appointments, and Emergency Department care may not be accompanied by a ...

Great River Health Establishes Call Center, Respiratory Center

Great River Health has established a 24-hour public call center to provide answers to questions about COVID-19 and direct callers to health system resources. The telephone numbers are 800-871-3313, toll-free, or 319-768-1009. The call center is staffed by registered nurses who can answer questions about respiratory symptoms and potential exposure to the illness. Callers who have a cough or ...

Great River Medical Center Further Restricts Visitors

West Burlington, Iowa, March 22, 2020 – Great River Health will add greater visitor restrictions Monday, March 23, in an effort to prevent or contain COVID-19 (coronavirus) transmission in southeast Iowa. Great River Medical Center and Fort Madison Community Hospital, which also is part of Great River Health, are announcing changes separately. At Great River Medical Center, visiting is ...

Great River Medical Center Makes Visitation and Other Changes Because of COVID-19

To protect patients, staff and the community from potential coronavirus infection, Great River Medical Center will limit visitors beginning at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 18. As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 – coronavirus – at the hospital. “Our priorities are to protect our patients and employees, and provide accurate information to our ...

Great River Health Announces Changes Related to COVID-19

Great River Health is working with Des Moines County Public Health, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent or contain COVID-19 (coronavirus) in southeast Iowa. “Our top priority is protecting our patients and employees, and providing accurate information to our community,” said Matt Wenzel, president and CEO. The health system ...

Great River Medical Center Begins Offering LASIK Eye Surgery

Great River Medical Center will begin offering LASIK this spring. The outpatient eye surgery improves vision by permanently changing the shape of the cornea, the clear covering on the front of the eye. Many patients who have LASIK end up with 20/20 vision. LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. It can correct near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism, the main reasons ...