The movie Pay it Forward has many wonderful messages about embracing life and giving to those you love—and even those you do not know. When individuals complete an advance directive or living will, you are in fact giving a gift to those you love. You are providing direction on how you want healthcare decisions to be made even when you cannot articulate those decisions.
In general, families can rarely weigh potential outcomes and make decisions from the same perspective as in the time of crisis and stress. We all judge differently what quality of life means. The time to discuss wishes for healthcare is when it can be discussed from a broader view. You can provide a wonderful gift to your family members should they face having to make difficult health decisions for you. You pay it forward when you have an advance directive, durable power of attorney for healthcare decisions, and living wills in place.
Though many of us do not want to think about being unconscious and unable to make decisions, these documents can be critical when facing that crisis. We never know when that may be.
The time to discuss these concerns is long before the crisis that calls families together outside of emergency departments or ICUs, a time when emotions are high and logical decisions seem to be difficult to determine. It truly is easier when you are planning toward a future event, not when that event is thrust upon you.
When you complete these legal documents, the hospital can retain a copy of your wishes in your medical record so it is available in an emergency – another way to remove some stresses in a crisis.
GRMC will host a program called, “Put Your Wishes in Writing,” that will address advance directives, living wills, and durable power of attorney for healthcare decisions. It will be Tuesday, July 27, at 7 p.m. in the Tomasek Conference Center. Call 641-236-2418 to reserve a seat. Even though the program is free, it is very valuable to those you love.
We hope you will never need to use these documents but should the crisis arise, you are better prepared. I have my advanced directives and I urge each of you to consider getting your wishes in writing. It is easy to do and will help if the time ever comes when you are not in a position to speak for yourself.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Postels Community Health Park Celebrates a Decade
Wow! For 10 years now, Postels Community Health Park has been helping to meet the needs of the East Central Iowa. At every major advancement of GRMC, you can see philanthropy at work. Postels Community Health Park is no exception.
About 11 years ago, the Postels and Heimsoth families donated their building in the center of Grinnell to the hospital. The large building has an interesting history. Prior to its life as a health park, the Postels and Heimsoths used it to operate their very successful Budweiser distributing company. The facility began life at the turn of the century (the last century that is) as a hotel across the street from Central Park and a block away from the train depot. The two-story building really has been an important fixture in Grinnell’s history.
Today, 10 years after the Postels and Heimsoths turned this special building over to GRMC, the health park is a centerpiece of our outreach program. The three fundamental functions at the facility are: a hemodialysis center (provided by the University of Iowa), the Galaxy Youth Center, and GRMC’s integrated health center.
The dialysis center has been vitally important to meeting the needs of our diabetic patients closer to home. The Galaxy continues to grow and maintain a place for our youth to enjoy structured social and learning time. The integrated health center offers our community access to state-of-the-art massage therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, and other holistic therapies.
GRMC has been a recognized leader in integrated health. We offer other community hospitals a model for blending the best in modern and complementary therapies for optimal healing.
We owe many thanks to the Postels and Heimsoth families for their generosity and kindness in the donation of their building so we could expand our mission in such an innovative and necessary way. I can only imagine what the next 10 years will bring as we continue to find creative ways to use this building for health improvement!
About 11 years ago, the Postels and Heimsoth families donated their building in the center of Grinnell to the hospital. The large building has an interesting history. Prior to its life as a health park, the Postels and Heimsoths used it to operate their very successful Budweiser distributing company. The facility began life at the turn of the century (the last century that is) as a hotel across the street from Central Park and a block away from the train depot. The two-story building really has been an important fixture in Grinnell’s history.
Today, 10 years after the Postels and Heimsoths turned this special building over to GRMC, the health park is a centerpiece of our outreach program. The three fundamental functions at the facility are: a hemodialysis center (provided by the University of Iowa), the Galaxy Youth Center, and GRMC’s integrated health center.
The dialysis center has been vitally important to meeting the needs of our diabetic patients closer to home. The Galaxy continues to grow and maintain a place for our youth to enjoy structured social and learning time. The integrated health center offers our community access to state-of-the-art massage therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, and other holistic therapies.
GRMC has been a recognized leader in integrated health. We offer other community hospitals a model for blending the best in modern and complementary therapies for optimal healing.
We owe many thanks to the Postels and Heimsoth families for their generosity and kindness in the donation of their building so we could expand our mission in such an innovative and necessary way. I can only imagine what the next 10 years will bring as we continue to find creative ways to use this building for health improvement!
Best Shot for Better Care
Last week, GRMC held its 21st annual golf outing at the Grinnell Golf and Country Club.
In 1989, Chris (our PR and development director at the time) generated the plan to hold our first “friendraiser” on the links. The idea, of course, was to find an excuse to play some golf and raise some money for GRMC’s mission while enjoying the friendships that often occur on the green. It was a huge success. All these years later, it is still going strong.
I have had the privilege to play in 16 of the outings. In all those years, we have amazingly only experienced one rain delay and never a rain out! This past Friday, Mother Nature blessed us with a gorgeous June day in Iowa. It was a fabulous tournament.
For the past nine years, Leslie has coordinated our annual event. Once again, with the help of GRMC’s development staff and PR team, she pulled off another flawless outing. Leslie is moving on to other things, so this was her last golf outing with us. I want to thank her for all her efforts over the years! This year in addition to having a great event, we raised more than $12,000 for the medical center. This would not be possible without the support of both participants and sponsors. For the 2010 event, our lead sponsors were Bernie Lowe and Associates, Grinnell State Bank, JELD-WEN and Windstream (Iowatelecom). I sure appreciate their continued support of this event and, more importantly, our mission of service to the community.
This year we played a four person best shot, with two teams on each hole. It is quite the spectacle to see eight players tee off on each hole and make their way to the best shot for each team. Although my team did not win (or for that matter even place in the top half), we had a lot of fun! My son, Grant, played with me this year. It was great having him join in on the fun. At my first GRMC golf outing, he was a toddling 1-year-old. Now he is taller than me and out-driving me by 20 yards!
Grant takes his turn at teeing off.
GRMC’s donors come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes they create a bequest or reply to our annual fund drive solicitation. Other times they make a planned gift or memorial to mark the significance of a special person. Big or small, each gift to GRMC makes a difference in the lives of those we serve.
While the GRMC golf outing is a fundraiser, I think Chris had it right 21 years ago when he tagged it a “friendraiser.” At its core, this particular event brings friends and neighbors together in the name of curing and healing. Whether it’s “closest to the bed pan” or putting with lead lined radiology gloves, we have lots of fun and support our patients on every hole. FORE!
In 1989, Chris (our PR and development director at the time) generated the plan to hold our first “friendraiser” on the links. The idea, of course, was to find an excuse to play some golf and raise some money for GRMC’s mission while enjoying the friendships that often occur on the green. It was a huge success. All these years later, it is still going strong.
I have had the privilege to play in 16 of the outings. In all those years, we have amazingly only experienced one rain delay and never a rain out! This past Friday, Mother Nature blessed us with a gorgeous June day in Iowa. It was a fabulous tournament.
For the past nine years, Leslie has coordinated our annual event. Once again, with the help of GRMC’s development staff and PR team, she pulled off another flawless outing. Leslie is moving on to other things, so this was her last golf outing with us. I want to thank her for all her efforts over the years! This year in addition to having a great event, we raised more than $12,000 for the medical center. This would not be possible without the support of both participants and sponsors. For the 2010 event, our lead sponsors were Bernie Lowe and Associates, Grinnell State Bank, JELD-WEN and Windstream (Iowatelecom). I sure appreciate their continued support of this event and, more importantly, our mission of service to the community.
This year we played a four person best shot, with two teams on each hole. It is quite the spectacle to see eight players tee off on each hole and make their way to the best shot for each team. Although my team did not win (or for that matter even place in the top half), we had a lot of fun! My son, Grant, played with me this year. It was great having him join in on the fun. At my first GRMC golf outing, he was a toddling 1-year-old. Now he is taller than me and out-driving me by 20 yards!
Grant takes his turn at teeing off.GRMC’s donors come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes they create a bequest or reply to our annual fund drive solicitation. Other times they make a planned gift or memorial to mark the significance of a special person. Big or small, each gift to GRMC makes a difference in the lives of those we serve.
While the GRMC golf outing is a fundraiser, I think Chris had it right 21 years ago when he tagged it a “friendraiser.” At its core, this particular event brings friends and neighbors together in the name of curing and healing. Whether it’s “closest to the bed pan” or putting with lead lined radiology gloves, we have lots of fun and support our patients on every hole. FORE!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Line Up the Inspectors
Inspections are a way of life for hospital administrators. Truly, administrators see a line of inspectors coming through our institutions on a continual basis. From food inspectors to elevator inspectors, and fire marshal’s to lab inspectors, you name it and we probably have an inspector waiting their turn for a chance to take a thorough look into our policies, procedures, and practices.
At GRMC, the “queen” of inspections is Suzanne. Of course, she gets plenty of help throughout our hospital, but you can be sure she is in charge when it comes to inspections. I am so grateful for her care and dedication to this responsibility because she is the best. I never worry about GRMC not being prepared for any and all inspections. She is knowledgeable, diligent, and thorough.
Case in point, last week I sat in on the exit conference from the state “nuclear” inspector. No, we don’t get our power from a little nuclear reactor in our boiler plant, but rather we have a license for our nuclear medicine program and we are inspected every four years. Nuclear medicine involves the use of very small amounts of nuclear tracers or isotopes, injected into the patient and then visualized using a special gamma camera. The inspector had truly glowing things to say about our program. Now in this case, the imaging director Gina and the nuclear medicine technologist Jake take a lead role with Suzanne’s support in managing our program.
Nuclear medicine technologist Jake Crawford carefully monitors a patient.
This is Jake’s passion. The inspector said with a smile several times, there are “no violations” and added with emphasis how proud we should be of Jake and his attention to every detail with this program. Well, Jake is indeed just another example of the hundreds of GRMC team members who take their jobs seriously and excel for the benefit of our patients. I am proud of Jake, Gina, and Suzanne for a job very well done. Although I don’t know which inspector will come through our doors next, I am confident we are ready to show off the talents and skills of our team. Because when it comes to being prepared every day for meeting the needs of the people who depend on us, we care deeply; and it shows when the many inspectors do their job of making sure we’re doing it by the book!
The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent GRMC’s positions, strategies, or opinions.
At GRMC, the “queen” of inspections is Suzanne. Of course, she gets plenty of help throughout our hospital, but you can be sure she is in charge when it comes to inspections. I am so grateful for her care and dedication to this responsibility because she is the best. I never worry about GRMC not being prepared for any and all inspections. She is knowledgeable, diligent, and thorough.
Case in point, last week I sat in on the exit conference from the state “nuclear” inspector. No, we don’t get our power from a little nuclear reactor in our boiler plant, but rather we have a license for our nuclear medicine program and we are inspected every four years. Nuclear medicine involves the use of very small amounts of nuclear tracers or isotopes, injected into the patient and then visualized using a special gamma camera. The inspector had truly glowing things to say about our program. Now in this case, the imaging director Gina and the nuclear medicine technologist Jake take a lead role with Suzanne’s support in managing our program.
Nuclear medicine technologist Jake Crawford carefully monitors a patient.This is Jake’s passion. The inspector said with a smile several times, there are “no violations” and added with emphasis how proud we should be of Jake and his attention to every detail with this program. Well, Jake is indeed just another example of the hundreds of GRMC team members who take their jobs seriously and excel for the benefit of our patients. I am proud of Jake, Gina, and Suzanne for a job very well done. Although I don’t know which inspector will come through our doors next, I am confident we are ready to show off the talents and skills of our team. Because when it comes to being prepared every day for meeting the needs of the people who depend on us, we care deeply; and it shows when the many inspectors do their job of making sure we’re doing it by the book!
The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent GRMC’s positions, strategies, or opinions.
On Electrical Wires and Being Wired
Stop and consider for a moment the diversity of jobs we have in a hospital. Every single job is needed to provide excellent healthcare and a quality experience for each patient.
At GRMC we have about 420 team members and more than 160 different job descriptions…and I am not exaggerating! It takes a lot of people doing a lot of different things to make a hospital operate.
I go on a “workround” with employees as frequently as I can. This entails job shadowing a different employee or whole department of employees learning how they do their work.
Recently, I spent some time with Chris, an electrician in our facilities management department. Together, we rewired the electrical service box in one of the houses we own and use as a short-term rooming house for on call staff, students and/or new associates working to find a new home or apartment. We added the ability to use a generator in the case of a power outage because we use this house during winter storms for staff members stranded or sleeping between shifts.
Chris taught me a couple of useful tips, including turning the wire stripper to a 45 degree angle for an easier wire strip!
Then I was off to the information systems department where our computer geeks hang out. I spent a few hours following around four of the five team members in the nerve center of the hospital. They manage our cell phones, pagers, land-line phone switch, and of course, our computer system that includes hundreds of personal computers. I helped run reports, loaded more RAM into several computers, and replaced some backup tapes. I also got a quick lesson in our new “virtual” servers. I have some sense of computers and IS technology. 2 b sure, I cn txt w my kids & understand most of it. But don’t ask me how a virtual server works other than it’s faster and less expensive! Heidi, Mark, Ruth, and Linda, all gave me an overview of what’s new. I didn’t get to a chance to hang with Matt that day so I will need to pop back in and see what he’s up to. We are immersed in “meaningful use” and preparing for implementing an electronic health record in the next 12-24 months. It’s going to be a very busy time!
Hospitals are indeed made up of a diverse group of people doing all kinds of things all in the name of creating a healing environment for the people who depend on us. I am blessed to work with so many talented and dedicated people.
At GRMC we have about 420 team members and more than 160 different job descriptions…and I am not exaggerating! It takes a lot of people doing a lot of different things to make a hospital operate.
I go on a “workround” with employees as frequently as I can. This entails job shadowing a different employee or whole department of employees learning how they do their work.
Recently, I spent some time with Chris, an electrician in our facilities management department. Together, we rewired the electrical service box in one of the houses we own and use as a short-term rooming house for on call staff, students and/or new associates working to find a new home or apartment. We added the ability to use a generator in the case of a power outage because we use this house during winter storms for staff members stranded or sleeping between shifts.
Chris taught me a couple of useful tips, including turning the wire stripper to a 45 degree angle for an easier wire strip!
Then I was off to the information systems department where our computer geeks hang out. I spent a few hours following around four of the five team members in the nerve center of the hospital. They manage our cell phones, pagers, land-line phone switch, and of course, our computer system that includes hundreds of personal computers. I helped run reports, loaded more RAM into several computers, and replaced some backup tapes. I also got a quick lesson in our new “virtual” servers. I have some sense of computers and IS technology. 2 b sure, I cn txt w my kids & understand most of it. But don’t ask me how a virtual server works other than it’s faster and less expensive! Heidi, Mark, Ruth, and Linda, all gave me an overview of what’s new. I didn’t get to a chance to hang with Matt that day so I will need to pop back in and see what he’s up to. We are immersed in “meaningful use” and preparing for implementing an electronic health record in the next 12-24 months. It’s going to be a very busy time!
Hospitals are indeed made up of a diverse group of people doing all kinds of things all in the name of creating a healing environment for the people who depend on us. I am blessed to work with so many talented and dedicated people.
Ever Tried Yoga?
Yoga became another new exercise experience for me recently. First, I tried Zumba. So, the only logical next thing to try was yoga.
Although the two words start with letters next to each other in the alphabet, they couldn’t be further apart on the exercise scale. Zumba pairs up great Latin music with jazzed up dance moves for a great cardio workout. Yoga on the other hand, I found to be contemplative, almost spiritual. In my case, I tried a “Gentle Yoga” class. For me, it turned out to be the best way to first experience yoga.
Since flexibility is not one of my strengths to be sure, I found “Gentle Yoga” did not include any difficult balance and stretching moves that I couldn’t handle. However, I don’t want to suggest my one-hour yoga session did not make for an excellent workout. Working the core and using one’s muscles to maintain balance certainly created plenty of burn. It also seemed more meditative. I left feeling refreshed.
We currently have three yoga instructors: two Jennifers and a Jackie. Borrowing a technique from Dr. Seuss, I will refer to the Jennifers as Jenn One and Jen Two. Jenn One taught my first class. I am glad I was able to take a class from Jenn One because she is leaving us after almost a half-dozen years of wonderful care and devotion in building our yoga program. You can tell yoga is her passion. We truly are blessed with so many awesome fitness instructors at the Fly High Fitness Studio. It was clear from the many comments from her faithful students that Jenn One will be missed. Of course, we wish her all the best with her move.
Jen Two (exercising right next to me) will jump in and add Jenn One’s classes to her schedule. I am looking forward to taking a class from Jen Two. Probably a couple more “Gentle Yoga” classes for me before I try one of the more advanced classes.
If you have not tried a yoga class, I highly recommend it for both your mind and body. There’s one other great thing about yoga I want to share with you. I had no trouble putting my gym pants on the right way. I neglected to mention in my Zumba blog how embarrassed I was when I came out of the changing room with my Zumba pants on backwards!
Although the two words start with letters next to each other in the alphabet, they couldn’t be further apart on the exercise scale. Zumba pairs up great Latin music with jazzed up dance moves for a great cardio workout. Yoga on the other hand, I found to be contemplative, almost spiritual. In my case, I tried a “Gentle Yoga” class. For me, it turned out to be the best way to first experience yoga.
Since flexibility is not one of my strengths to be sure, I found “Gentle Yoga” did not include any difficult balance and stretching moves that I couldn’t handle. However, I don’t want to suggest my one-hour yoga session did not make for an excellent workout. Working the core and using one’s muscles to maintain balance certainly created plenty of burn. It also seemed more meditative. I left feeling refreshed.
We currently have three yoga instructors: two Jennifers and a Jackie. Borrowing a technique from Dr. Seuss, I will refer to the Jennifers as Jenn One and Jen Two. Jenn One taught my first class. I am glad I was able to take a class from Jenn One because she is leaving us after almost a half-dozen years of wonderful care and devotion in building our yoga program. You can tell yoga is her passion. We truly are blessed with so many awesome fitness instructors at the Fly High Fitness Studio. It was clear from the many comments from her faithful students that Jenn One will be missed. Of course, we wish her all the best with her move.
Jen Two (exercising right next to me) will jump in and add Jenn One’s classes to her schedule. I am looking forward to taking a class from Jen Two. Probably a couple more “Gentle Yoga” classes for me before I try one of the more advanced classes.
If you have not tried a yoga class, I highly recommend it for both your mind and body. There’s one other great thing about yoga I want to share with you. I had no trouble putting my gym pants on the right way. I neglected to mention in my Zumba blog how embarrassed I was when I came out of the changing room with my Zumba pants on backwards!
Friday, May 28, 2010
What the Heck is Zumba?
The newest fitness craze is an “aerobics” like class called Zumba, fired up with Latin music! And we have it at GRMC at Fly High Fitness Studio. I decided to check it out. You can see the results on this short video here. But I better warn you, I am not much of a dancer!
Although you can be the judge, I did start to get the hang of it as the class progressed. Much like the insecure guys in the movie “The Full Monty,” my confidence improved as I started to loosen up and enjoy the music. Of course, unlike those guys in “The Full Monty,” I kept my clothes on. In fact, I even borrowed a pair of special Zumba pants from the class instructor, Tiffany, just to get the total experience. Speaking of Tiffany, she is a great instructor. I appreciate her letting me crash her class so I could see firsthand what fun a fitness class can be.
You will also note in the photo and video clip a rather large, bearded man next to me. (And yes, Dr. Levy, he still has his beard!) That is Kyle, my University of Iowa College of Public Health graduate student intern for the summer. You might recall seeing him in my Washington, DC, post from a few weeks ago! What a good sport to join me in checking out Zumba.
Tiffany asked me on my way out the door after class: “Am I going to see you now each week for a dance lesson?” Although I did not commit on the spot, I do see why folks love Zumba. It is a 45-minute workout that goes by very quickly, and I have to admit it was a lot of fun. I don’t suspect the video of me dancing is going to be the next YouTube craze, but if we could get those babies selling stock services in those cute commercials to try Zumba, we might just have something! I also suspect I am going to get some ribbing and a lot of snickering from many of my colleagues at GRMC.
Join the party!
The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent GRMC’s positions, strategies, or opinions.
Although you can be the judge, I did start to get the hang of it as the class progressed. Much like the insecure guys in the movie “The Full Monty,” my confidence improved as I started to loosen up and enjoy the music. Of course, unlike those guys in “The Full Monty,” I kept my clothes on. In fact, I even borrowed a pair of special Zumba pants from the class instructor, Tiffany, just to get the total experience. Speaking of Tiffany, she is a great instructor. I appreciate her letting me crash her class so I could see firsthand what fun a fitness class can be.
You will also note in the photo and video clip a rather large, bearded man next to me. (And yes, Dr. Levy, he still has his beard!) That is Kyle, my University of Iowa College of Public Health graduate student intern for the summer. You might recall seeing him in my Washington, DC, post from a few weeks ago! What a good sport to join me in checking out Zumba.
Tiffany asked me on my way out the door after class: “Am I going to see you now each week for a dance lesson?” Although I did not commit on the spot, I do see why folks love Zumba. It is a 45-minute workout that goes by very quickly, and I have to admit it was a lot of fun. I don’t suspect the video of me dancing is going to be the next YouTube craze, but if we could get those babies selling stock services in those cute commercials to try Zumba, we might just have something! I also suspect I am going to get some ribbing and a lot of snickering from many of my colleagues at GRMC.
Join the party!
The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent GRMC’s positions, strategies, or opinions.
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