WINTER 2015
CONNECT
Family Medicine
How a suite at Mary Greeley became a vital part of a new dad’s cancer treatment. PAGE 8
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Fecal Transplant: Part II
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Relief for Glaucoma
Construction: Behind the Scenes
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CONNECT On the cover
Steve Peterson with wife, Lindsay, and son, Augustus, in an Oncology family suite at Mary Greeley Medical Center. Photo: Bob Elbert
Contents WINTER 2015
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About this publication Health Connect is published three times a year for residents of central Iowa by Mary Greeley Medical Center. For more information about Health Connect, please contact the Mary Greeley Medical Center Community Relations Department at 515-239-2038. Visit us on the internet Learn more about Mary Greeley Medical Center’s programs and services at www.mgmc.org. Contact us Individuals are encouraged to contact Mary
Ask the Nurse An informative overview of hospice from the new manager of Mary Greeley’s Home Hospice and Israel Family Hospice House. Also: New providers.
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Inside Scoop
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Medicinal Purposes
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Personal Invitations
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Annual Report
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Schedule of Events and Clinics & Classes
What a Relief After years of debilitating pain, a Des Moines woman finds relief through Mary Greeley’s innovative fecal transplant method.
Go behind the scenes of Mary Greeley’s $130 million capital project.
How on-floor pharmacists enhance patient care, safety and education.
Heartfelt letters encourage participation in two highimpact events.
Easy on the Eyes A new surgical procedure puts focus on glaucoma sufferers.
Family Room A special place at Mary Greeley plays a central role in the treatment of a new father diagnosed with cancer.
Greeley Medical Center if they have any concerns about patient care and safety in the hospital that have not been addressed. If the concern continues, individuals may contact The Joint Commission at One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. You may also call 800-994-6610 or e-mail complaint@jointcommission.org. Opportunity for support Your contributions can help us care for those who come to us at every stage of life. Charitable giving to support Marty Greeley Medical Center has played a significant role in shaping your medical center. To learn
A by-the-numbers look at Mary Greeley.
more, contact the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation at 515-239-2147 or visit www.mgmc.org/foundation.
Design Scott Thornton, www.designgrid.com
President and CEO Brian Dieter Director of Marketing and Community Relations Steve Sullivan Editors Steve Sullivan Stephanie Marsau
Medical Advisor Steven Hallberg, MD
Photography Bob Elbert Paul Gates Tim Hoekstra Video Producton Jason Mortvedt
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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Team Cancer
By Brian Dieter, Mary Greeley President and CEO
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That perhaps is what truly makes our cancer team so strong – it is backed up by a group of clinical and nonclinical professionals who are all here for one purpose: To provide the best care of our patients every day. is required to take care of the total patient.” The patient in question was a woman in her early 50s who had detected a lump in her breast. Her care team included Prow and colleagues Dr. Jamie Weydert, a pathologist; Dr. Grant Goldsberry, a radiologist; Dr. Benjamin Schlicher, a general surgeon;
TIM HOEKSTRA
wo recent experiences have been mighty reminders of what an amazing team of cancer professionals we have assembled to meet the needs of our patients. The first came in January at a Grand Rounds on multidisciplinary care for breast cancer patients. (Grand Rounds, sponsored weekly at Mary Greeley and supported by our Foundation, provide continuing medical education for physicians, nurses and other patient care providers.) Dr. Debra Prow, a medical oncologist, used one of her cases to illustrate how “interdisciplinary work
Brian Dieter with Angela Long, cancer care navigator, at the Cancer Resource Center.
and Dr. Shane Hopkins, a radiation oncologist. They walked through each step in the patient’s journey: mammography, ultrasound biopsy, pathology, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Each touched on the major decisions that the patient had to make along the way, including whether or not to remove the breast with the tumor and the healthy breast to avoid potential problems in the future. Mary Ellen Carano, RN, OCN, manager of our Cancer Resource Center, talked about how she and Cancer Care Navigator Angela Long, RN, BSN, guided the patient
through pre-surgical genetic counseling. Genetic testing provided through the Cancer Resource Center revealed the patient carried the BRCA gene, which indicates a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. (Tests also showed that the patient’s daughter was BRCA-positive. She is being monitored by Prow.) While clinical in focus, the presentation shined a bright light on the comprehensive, communication-rich care provided by our cancer team. My second reminder came while reading this issue’s cover story about Steve Peterson, a young man who just a week after becoming a father for the first time, received the devastating news that he had leukemia. He could have gone anywhere for care, but he chose to be at Mary Greeley. Steve knew he could get the treatment he needed here and, thanks to our Burke Family Suites, be close to his wife and their new baby. Steve is receiving care from our Oncology professionals, including Dr. Joseph Merchant. Additionally, our Pediatrics, Dietary and Guest Services units have also played roles in his experience at Mary Greeley. That perhaps is what truly makes our cancer team so strong—it is backed up by a group of clinical and non-clinical professionals who are all here for one purpose: To provide the best care for our patients every day.
Thank you to our sponsors Sustaining Sponsors Ames Tribune McFarland Clinic PC
Caretaker Sponsors Jester Insurance Services Wells Fargo
Lifesaver Sponsors Ames National Corporation and affiliates
Sponsors Adams Funeral Home Alfred’s Carpet & Decorating, Inc. Alpha Copies & Print Centers Ames Ford Lincoln Bankers Trust Bill and Sue Ellen Burke Celebrations Party & Rental Store Patrick Clem Colorfx Dentistry at Somerset, Jason Niegsch, DDS, FAGD Deb & Bill Fennelly
Boone Bank & Trust Co., First National Bank Reliance State Bank, State Bank & Trust Co.
Pacemaker Sponsors Ag Leader Technology Danfoss JE Dunn Construction Kinzler Companies MB Financial Party Time Special Events
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Gateway Insurance Services George White Chevrolet Green Hills Retirement Community Heuss Printing Integrity Construction Services Iowa State University, Division of Student Affairs Knapp Tedesco Insurance Kreg Tool Company Nyemaster Goode, PC Karen & Bob Shirk Sign Pro Storey Kenworthy US Bank VisionBank George & Mary Wandling Wolfe Eye Clinic
Mileage Club Sustaining Sponsor Renewable Energy Group Grand Rounds Lifesaver Sponsors First American Bank Great Western Bank Grand Rounds Pacemaker Sponsors Green Hills Health Care Center, Inc.
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Ask
the Nurse: Hospice Care
Hospice care is a vital component of Mary Greeley Medical Center’s continuum of care. In many ways, hospice care is as much for patients as it is for loved ones and caregivers.
What is hospice?
Dame Cicely Saunders, who founded the first modern hospice in London in 1968, told her patients: “You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die.” That remains the philosophy of hospice, and guides hospice services at Mary Greeley. We provide end-of-life care to patients when the goal of treatments shifts from cure to comfort, often in the last six months of life. Hospice focuses on treating the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient and can take place either in the patient’s home or in a home-like setting, like a nursing home or assisted living facility. It can also take place in our Israel Family Hospice House. Another essential part of hospice is helping a patient’s family members and caregivers.
Q
When should a person or a patient’s family consider hospice care?
When someone is facing a life-limiting illness, there will come a point when it’s apparent that continued treatments are not likely to offer a cure. If a patient has a chronic illness with repeated hospitalizations and is experiencing a decline in health status, it may be time to begin the transition away from curative treatment and emphasize palliative care. Palliative 2
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Q
Mary Greeley Hospice manager Valerie Bohlen, RN, BSN
It’s a tough decision, though, right?
Discussions about end-of-life care are difficult, but necessary, and the earlier the better. Other barriers to getting patients to hospice care sooner include discomfort with death and grief, a sense of failure about inability to cure a person, the perception that hospice is a last resort, and doubts that hospice offers hope to patients and families. But it does offer hope, and comfort to many. I see it every day.
Q TIM HOEKSTRA
Q
Here, Mary Greeley Hospice manager Valerie Bohlen, RN, BSN, answers questions about hospice care at Mary Greeley, including home hospice and the Israel Family Hospice House.
care is defined by the World Health Organization as “the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment.” Unfortunately, too many hospice referrals come later than they should. Many of our hospice patients and families ask us, “Why didn’t we know about hospice sooner?” Statistics show that almost half of our patients that are admitted to hospice care die within two weeks of that initial hospice visit. Some die within hours. Getting a patient into hospice sooner can provide many benefits for the patient and their loved ones.
Do you need a doctor’s referral?
A person does not need a doctor’s referral to consider hospice care as an option. A physician needs to write an order for hospice care and agree to sign a patient’s notice of election for the hospice benefit.
Q
What are the benefits of hospice care for patients and for loved ones?
At Mary Greeley, the benefits are many. We provide medical care with an emphasis on pain management and symptom relief for the patient. The professional staff overseeing care includes physicians, nurses, social workers, personal care aides, chaplains, and bereavement counselors. We have access to physical, massage, and pet therapy. This team of
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NEW Faces
professionals also includes volunteers, pharmacists, registered dietitians, and other behind-the-scene staff to make the hospice program flow smoothly. The Medicare Hospice Benefit, along with most insurance, covers prescribed medications related to the terminal illness, medical equipment and supplies, and visits by the professional staff. The Medicare Hospice Benefit also covers short-term in-patient and respite care.
Q
Dana Hartwigsen, DO Dana Hartwigsen, DO joined the McFarland Clinic Pediatrics Department in January. Dr. Hartwigsen completed her Pediatrics Residency at the Children’s Hospital in Omaha through the University of Nebraska and Creighton University Medical Center. Dr. Hartwigsen completed her doctorate of osteopathic medicine at Des Moines University. For more information, contact the McFarland Clinic Pediatrics Department at 515-239-4404.
How does hospice help survivors?
First, the on-site care team provides skilled care for the patient, and thoughtful support for family and loved ones —shoulders to lean on, if you will. The support continues after the patient’s death. Mary Greeley Hospice offers bereavement services to the patient’s caregivers, supporting them with phone calls, mailings regarding grief/mourning, support groups, and possible visits. We also have an annual memorial service for the families who have lost loved ones in the past year.
Q
What is the difference between home hospice and the Israel Family Hospice House?
The Israel Family Hospice House is an important part of Mary Greeley Hospice. It is an inpatient facility used for respite care and general inpatient care for patients whose symptoms cannot be handled in the patient’s home and who need more intensive care by nursing and medical staff. Respite care is used when the caregiver of the patient needs some time off for various reasons. Home hospice is appropriate when the patient can remain in their own home with a caregiver to assist them. The hospice staff makes scheduled visits according to the patient’s plan of care to
Katrina Smith, MD Katrina Smith, MD joined the McFarland Clinic Dermatology Department in December. Dr. Smith completed her Dermatology Residency at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester New York. Dr. Smith completed her medical degree from the University of Iowa. For more information, contact the McFarland Clinic Dermatology Department at 515-239-4492.
assess, educate, and provide support and equipment for the patient and/or caregiver to make this end-of-life care easier for all involved. There is a nurse available 24/7 for any issues or questions that may come up for the patient/caregiver.
Q
Visit www.mgmc.org/hospice to find out more about Mary Greeley Hospice, as well as a downloadable Living Will and IPOST form which detail a patient’s end-of-life treatment choices.
Most hospice patients are Medicare participants with ready access to a hospice benefit that minimizes out-ofpocket expenses in the last months of life. The Medicare Hospice Benefit also eliminates the burden of paperwork, as families are not required to submit claims or pay bills. Virtually all other medical plans include some level of hospice coverage. Thanks to the generous support of the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation, we can
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Is hospice covered by insurance?
make financial accommodations for patients without hospice insurance.
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What a RELIEF! Mary Greeley’s innovative fecal transplant treatment ends a Des Moines woman’s suffering.
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ichelle Tice was sick. She knew it. Her friends and family knew it. Even her doctor knew it. But what nobody could quite figure out was why–until a friend came across a story about an innovative, highly effective treatment at Mary Greeley Medical Center. While fecal transplant may sound stomach-churning, it provided Michelle with a desperately sought-after solution.
ing severe diarrhea. Michelle’s friend suggested that she might be dealing with C. diff. Initial tests, however, came back negative. A Potential Solution
As it happened, Michelle’s friend saw a TV news story featuring Dr. Ricardo
Over two years, Michelle suffered with serious intestinal issues. She lost 80 pounds and experienced such painful stomach cramps and colon spasms that she slept on her back with weights on her stomach. A diet of only nutritional drinks, vitamins and medications didn’t help. Normally active and outgoing, Michelle became depressed and wouldn’t leave her house except for a doctor’s appointment. She even had to give up her job. “My friends would beg me to go places with them, but I was so scared that I’d get sick and not know where the bathroom was,” recalls Michelle. “I had even been put on an anxiety medication because of how worried I would get. I had honestly resolved myself to the fact that I was going to have to live with a chronic illness.” A friend of Michelle’s who had suffered from clostridium difficile, or C. diff, came to her rescue. C. diff is a bacteria that grows in the gut; normally the body regulates its levels but intestinal issues can cause unregulated C. diff growth, which leads to serious problems, includ4
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PAUL GATES
Years of Pain
“I just feel so honored to have been cared for by Dr. Arbulu and Dr. Johnson. An angel was on my shoulders when I ended up getting those two as doctors.” –– Michelle Tice Arbulu and the fecal transplant process used at Mary Greeley to treat C. diff fecal transplant. The treatment involves introducing healthy bacteria in the C. diff-infested bowel, which replace the
By Stephanie Marsau
troublesome bacteria. The healthy bacteria comes from fecal material collected from a screened donor. It can be a costly and time-consuming process, but Mary Greeley’s approach speeds it up, allowing quicker relief for patients. (See sidebar to learn more.) Her friend, who also had a copy of a Winter 2014 Health Connect magazine story, encouraged Michelle to consider the treatment. “I had seen my GI doctor recently and he had said I didn’t have C. diff and was actually going to release me as a patient,” Michelle remembers. “So I went to my primary care physician and asked about fecal transplant. It ends up that while they do them in Des Moines, the process is quite different, mainly because you have to find your own donor.” Michelle was also concerned because her doctor had performed few fecal transplants. “I told him I couldn’t live like this anymore and that doing it in Des Moines, because of the way they do the transplant, was not an option. That was when he called Dr. Arbulu,” says Michelle. At her first appointment with Arbulu, an infectious disease specialist with McFarland Clinic, Michelle tested positive for C. diff. A few weeks later, Michelle had an appointment with McFarland Clinic gastroenterologist Dr. Tom Johnson, and a fecal transplant was scheduled for late October. Cured
The day after the procedure, Michelle knew she had made the right decision. “Right away I felt stronger,” she says.
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Fecal Transplant Video Watch an eye-opening video about how fecal transplant is used at Mary Greeley Medical Center to treat C. diff. Please visit mgmc.org/gi
Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a bacteria the can cause severe intestinal problems. Fecal transplant can provide quick relief for many patients, including Michelle Tice (opposite page).
Fecal Transplant: How it Works “My stomach didn’t hurt like it used to, I could stand up straighter, and I didn’t have to sleep with the weights anymore.” Michelle is now gradually getting her life back to normal. She no longer takes anxiety medications and she’s hoping to find a new job soon. “I’m going to be back to me again, which I never thought was going to happen,” she says. “I thought I was going to die from this, so I have a whole new outlook on life now.” Adding to her optimism: Fecal transplant can be such an effective treatment that Michelle may never have to deal with C. diff again. “I just feel so honored to have been cared for by Dr. Arbulu and Dr. Johnson,” Michelle says. “They’re both wonderful people and made me feel calm and comfortable. They cared for me the way I felt I needed to be cared for. An angel was on my shoulders when I ended up getting those two as doctors.”
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Mary Greeley takes a specialized approach to specialized treatment Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a bacteria that can cause serious problems in the bowel. It often affects people with compromised immune systems and can lead to severe diarrhea, dehydration and other painful symptoms. A course of intense antibiotics usually treats the condition. When antibiotics fail or if the condition returns, fecal transplant can be an option. Fecal transplant requires fecal matter from a person who is healthy and not a C. diff carrier. Finding a suitable donor can take time, and testing of fecal matter can be expensive. McFarland Clinic and Mary Greeley have identified a healthy person who regularly donates fecal material. The material goes through a clarifying process involving liquefying and
straining. The result is a thin, brownish liquid loaded with healthy bacteria. The material is then frozen, providing Mary Greeley a readily available supply. This innovative approach saves time, which means a lot to someone dealing with the debilitating pain of C. diff. It’s also cost-effective because testing doesn’t have to be done with each fecal transplant procedure. The fecal transplant can be done via an enema or during a colonoscopy. It doesn’t sound pleasant, but for people suffering from C. diff, it works miracles. The benefits of the procedure can be felt almost instantly. The results speak for themselves: Mary Greeley and McFarland Clinic have had a nearly 90 percent success rate with the treatment.
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Dr. Nicolas Hamouche, an ophthalmologist with McFarland Clinic, examines Richard Davis, who received an iStent device to help relieve glaucoma pressure. Thanks to the device, Davis is no longer using prescription eye drops.
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for clinical use. The device belongs to a group of procedures known as MIGS, or Micro Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, all designed to prevent the complications and failure that often occur in more traditional optical surgeries. For instance, a downfall of the trabeculectomy is that the body recognizes the newly created fistula as a “wound,” so it works hard to heal, often scarring that incision and ultimately closing off the needed drain. Another benefit to the iStent is that patients undergo topical anesthesia for the procedure, so it can be performed on an outpatient basis. Most medical insurance plans—and now Medicare—cover the implantation. Under the supervision of the iStent’s manufacturing representative, Hamouche trained for and practiced the product’s insertion prior to becoming certified in its use. By fall 2014 he’d implanted at least 20 of the devices, and was “very pleased” with their results. “The risks in implantation are very minute, with some very minimal bleeding that clears after surgery,” says Hamouche. “It’s fast and simple, and the post-op recovery is very similar to that of the cataract surgery. And if for some reason it doesn’t work, we still have the option of performing the more traditional glaucoma surgeries.” Like Davis, many of Hamouche’s iStent patients are reporting lower ocular pressures and less use of eye drops. And though Davis is thrilled to be done with the medication, he says there’s someone even happier about the turn of events. “I could never get those drops in my eyes myself, so my wife had to take over,” Davis says. “And I’ll tell you what—she is thrilled she doesn’t have to do that anymore.”
PAUL GATES
The iStent, the smallest medical device ever approved by the FDA, currently is approved only for glaucoma patients who are undergoing cataract removal. According to Hamouche, until last year cataract elimination was the most performed surgery in the nation. Macular degeneration injections now claim the No. 1 spot. About 30 percent of cataract surgery patients also have been diagnosed with glaucoma. Glaucoma begins when the eye’s aqueous humor fluid begins to get caught in the trabecular meshwork, a series of microscopic drainage outlets around the iris—think of it “like
ON
• • •
which took at least an hour to perform, the stent added only about five minutes to Davis’s total surgical procedure in May. Because the stent is so small, it fits tightly into the Schlemm’s canal and doesn’t require stitching or gluing to stay in place. Within a few hours, Davis was on his way back home. Six months later, he no longer uses eye drops and has packed away his glasses; his right eye measures an impressive 20/20 vision.
A low-risk procedure
Hamouche was an advocate for the iStent for several years before it was approved
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GIBS
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20/20
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PRESSURE.
t started with his night a clogged sink,” Hamouche explains. driving. Richard Davis Pressure begins to build within the eye, began noticing a hazy which ultimately can damage the optic glow surrounding the nerve and cause blindness. beams emanating from In May, Hamouche removed the catstreet lights. Subsequent tests confirmed aract from Davis’s right eye and inserted the Jefferson man had developed glauthe miniature iStent into the cornea’s coma, a disease that can rob patients of Schlemm’s canal, a circular channel their vision. through which fluid moves from the eye Like many of Dr. Nicolas Hamouche’s into the body. The 1-millimeter-long glaucoma patients, Davis endured several stent (comparable in size to the thickness years of daily eye drops to reduce the of a compact disc) provides a permanent optical fluid pressures glaucoma creates. outlet for the eye’s fluid. By 2008, Davis needed a more intense Unlike the previous trabeculectomy, method of decreasing those pressures, so Hamouche, a McFarland Clinic CE FORCES GL ophthalmologist, performed “the gold EVI AU D CO standard” procedure—known as a NY I M T A trabeculectomy—at Mary Greeley A T W Medical Center. During this surgery, Hamouche created a slit, or fistula, in Davis’s left eye to drain its excessive fluid back into his bloodstream. Flash forward to May 2014. By now the pressure in Davis’ other eye had outpaced the drops, and cataracts had formed over both eyes. Fortunately, Davis received an iStent implant to channel the excess fluid out of his eye, thanks to Hamouche’s interest in new technology and last • BY year’s U.S. Food and Drug DE Administration’s (FDA) approval. B
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“Through those glass doors I have my wife and my child, and that has kept my attitude positive, and keeping a positive attitude is going to be a big part of getting through this.” — STEVE PETERS O N
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orning light peeks through the blinds and a young mother awakes. She gets out of bed and goes to the bassinet that holds her infant son, who is just starting to stir. She gently lifts him up, and then mom and baby quietly peer into the next room to check on daddy. This has been a familiar morning routine for the Peterson family, except for one thing: It doesn’t happen in their home. Instead, it takes place in what has become a second home for them: A family suite on the Oncology unit at Mary Greeley Medical Center. This is where that baby boy has spent much of the first months of his life. This is where baby and dad are building their bond. It’s a bond made all the more significant because less than a week after the little guy arrived, his dad began a battle with leukemia. ››
Family room
A special place at Mary Greeley becomes an unexpected second home for a new dad battling cancer.
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B Y S T E V E S U L L I VA N
BOB ELBERT
Lindsay Peterson tends to her infant son, Augustus, in the family space adjacent to her husband Steve’s hospital room. Mary Greeley has three Burke Family Suites on its Oncology floor.
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Having his family nearby helps Steve get through his intensive treatment. Baby Augustus especially provides a lot of comfort. “If Steve or I am having a bad day, he’s smiling and starting to coo and you just look at him and he makes it better. He lightens the mood,” says Lindsay.
Joy and Sorrow
Steve and Lindsay Peterson were thrilled about becoming parents. Steve, who works for Fareway Stores, has spent the last few years traveling to locations doing training and development. His new job as a meat buyer for the grocery store chain meant less travel, less time away from home. But in the days before the baby’s birth, Steve hadn’t been feeling well. His tired body ached. “I had lost my appetite and then on the morning of October 16, pain shot through my body,” Steve remembers. “I felt like I had aged 20 years and I thought, ‘Well that’s what happens when you take a desk job.’” Lindsay suspected her husband might just be feeling the stress of a new job and the impending arrival of their first child. Steve saw a chiropractor hoping a session would address his bone pain. It didn’t. On October 23, Lindsay went into labor and delivered a beautiful, healthy 10
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boy who was given the name Augustus. Steve and Lindsay picked the name because it sounded strong. “I can’t remember a better feeling in my life than holding my child for the first time,” Steve says. A few days later, Steve experienced a high fever and was “sweating through everything so much that I had to change my clothes more than once.” Lindsay urged her husband to see Dr. David Carlyle, his primary care physician. Tests raised immediate concern about his white blood cells. Diagnosis
A young, healthy guy, used to little sleep and an on-the-go life, Steve hoped it was just a virus. But then Carlyle sent him to the Bliss Center on the second floor of Mary Greeley’s north addition to meet with Dr. Joseph Merchant. At the elevator, Steve realized that the Bliss Center was the Bliss Cancer Center and that he was going to see an oncologist.
“I remember my heart just plummeting, getting into the elevator with my hands shaking,” says Steve. “I hit redial on my phone to call my sister. I told her, ‘I don’t know what to do. I’m at the oncology center.’” At Bliss, Steve learned that the signs pointed toward leukemia and a bone marrow biopsy would be needed immediately. It was time to tell Lindsay. “That was the single hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” he says. “Eight days after we had a baby, I have to tell my wife that I might have leukemia.” Questions raced through Steve’s mind: “Am I going to get to raise my son?”, “Is this going to kill me right now?”, “What are the chances this is curable?” And, of course: “Why me?” Leukemia attacks white blood cells, and there are different forms of the disease. Steve’s form is acute lympho-blastic leukemia (ALL). The diagnosis was “crushing,” says Lindsay. “You just shutdown, that’s the
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best way to describe it. We had just experienced the best thing in our lives, and then went straight into the worst.” Powerful Medicine
PHOTOS: BOB ELBERT
Steve began aggressive treatment at Mary Greeley. He was admitted to a Burke Family Suite on Mary Greeley’s Oncology unit, on the 5th floor of the new patient tower. The unit has three Burke Family Suites, named for the donors that provided funding for them through the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation. A Burke Family Suite features two rooms adjoined by a sliding glass door. One room is the patient’s; the other is for family and other visitors. It has space for a bed, as well as a television, DVD player and a kitchenette. Since oncology patients often have extended stays in the hospital, not to mention repeat stays, a comfortable space for family–where they can go while the patient rests–is important. The structure of a Burke Family Suite also provides the medical care team more space to do their important work for the patient. “The family suites have allowed patients like Steve and many others the ability to be in the hospital yet maintain a bit of normalcy,” says Sarah Heikens,
Amanda Engnell, RN, checks on Steve. Because they often have lengthy hospital stays, Mary Greeley staff can develop strong relationships with cancer patients.
RN, MSN, OCN, director of Oncology Services. “Family members can sleep, shower, and basically live with their loved one while they are receiving their inpatient cancer treatment. When patients are able to have their loved ones with them, their experience is always better. Patients are less anxious and generally feel better.
When they wake up in the middle of the night and know their family is here, it makes those scary times much more tolerable.” Lindsay remembers being in the Burke Family Suite that first night. Steve was in intense pain, but she and Augustus were with him. “Through those glass doors I have my wife and my child, and that has kept my attitude positive, and keeping a positive attitude is going to be a big part of getting through this,” says Steve. Augustus “likes to look at me and he recognizes my voice,” says Steve. “The chance to bond with my son is worth more to me than anything. To get to hold him gives me strength.” He needs that strength. Steve’s ALL treatment involves two alternating regimens of chemotherapy, as well as chemo injected into his spinal fluid. That regimen goes on for eight months, followed by intensive chemotherapy maintenance for three years. Steve is “doing very well, but it’s very demanding treatment for him because it’s exhausting,” says Merchant. The Burke Family Suite plays an important role in his treatment, says Merchant. The chemo is doing the heavy lifting, but having your wife and new baby in the next room is great medicine too. The suites were “designed as if someone knew this kind of thing was coming,” says Merchant. Steve “is doing better because we have this room,” says Merchant. “It’s allowed him to feel like he’s being a dad and doing his responsibility of being a father while also being able to take his treatment on time and on schedule.” Family Matters
“Having patients with us for extended periods of time and for multiple stretches of time allows the oncology staff to become very close to these patients. They and their families begin to feel like our families,” says Amanda Engnell, RN, an oncology nurse who has spent a lot of time with the Petersons. “And it’s great to have a baby around when working. He creates a happy atmosphere, and it’s neat to see a mother and father bond with their newborn.” The “family” aspect to Steve’s care at Mary Greeley goes beyond the room.
Mary Greeley’s Pediatrics unit quickly got a bassinet set up for Augustus, a service provided whenever the Petersons are at the hospital. A massage gift certificate helped Lindsay relieve some stress. Lindsay’s and Steve’s parents frequently visit from out of town and are provided rooms in the Mary Greeley Guest House on the hospital campus. When it looked like Steve was going to be in the hospital over Thanksgiving, Mary Greeley’s Dietary team went into action, providing a holiday buffet spread in the family waiting area of the fifth floor. “We were trying to figure out something to do and asked if Dietary could maybe bring something up,” she says. “Thanksgiving Day came around and they set up the whole lobby—decorations, cloth napkins, the works. It was amazing that we could all sit down together.” Steve’s treatment will continue for several months. This means more stays in the hospital and more rounds of exhausting chemo. There will be good days. There will be hard days. But no matter the day, Steve knows that his family will be right there … never more than a room away.
A Measure of Quality: Commission on Cancer Accreditation The William R. Bliss Cancer Center, a service of Mary Greeley Medical Center and McFarland Clinic, has been recognized by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons as offering the very best in cancer care. It is a recognition of the quality of our comprehensive, multidisciplinary patient care. Accreditation by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain accreditation, facilities with CoCaccredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years. Learn more about programs and services of the William R. Bliss Cancer Center at www.mgmc.org/cancer.
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It’s a busy construction site now, but eventually this space will be home to the hospital Gift Shop and Burgie’s Coffee Shop. The area was formerly used for administrative offices and patient registration.
Inside S PHOTO: TIM HOEKSTRA
Get the
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Last spring, Mary Greeley began treating patients in our new west tower, which provides larger rooms, specialty care rooms, oncology family suites, on-floor procedure rooms for minor surgical procedures, and a beautiful fifth floor rooftop garden. But our $130 million capital project didn’t stop there, as anyone who’s visited or even driven by Mary Greeley knows. Come behind the scenes to learn about the new patient care improvements that are in store. ››
e Scoop on Mary Greeley’s $130 million capital project
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Follow our Progress: See our live construction webcam, time-lapse videos and more behind-the-scenes photos at www.mgmc.org/construction.
(Clockwise from top) Plastic sheeting covering the south side of Mary Greeley Medical Center will likely be there until later this year. Former rooms in the south tower await new windows. New brick façade that matches west tower is installed. Stacks of brick are ready for the north tower exterior wall. A worker slices through reinforced concrete with a water saw.
Behind the Plastic
T
he south tower of Mary Greeley’s main building is covered with scaffolding and plastic sheeting. So what’s going on back there? Workers are stripping the old brick and concrete “fins” off the building. The tower is getting new blue-skin insulation and a new brick facade that will match the west tower. Workers are also installing new windows and doing the kinds of repair work you’d find on any major renovation. The sheeting and scaffolding on the north side of the building came down in February, providing a hint what the entire building will eventually look like. The entire exterior will be done in spring 2016.
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New Cellphone Antennae
A
s anyone who’s been in the hospital knows, cell reception isn’t always great, particularly in the new west tower. We’re addressing that with with a new Verizon antennae installed this winter.
New Coffee, Gift Space
V
isitors love our Gift Shop and Burgie’s Coffee Shop, and both services will soon have new homes. The area where they are currently located will become the new main lobby and admissions area. In April, the Gift Shop and Burgie’s will open in renovated space. The Gift Shop will have about 300 square feet of additional space for its popular merchandise. The new space will also enable Burgie’s to have booths as well as tables for customers.
Ramp Work
A
section of the exterior wall is being removed for construction of a skywalk connecting the second floor of the parking ramp to the second floor of the hospital, at the main entrance atrium. This skywalk will also create a canopied walkway on the ground level. The enhanced main entrance, which will open in late 2015, will feature a multi-story atrium filled with natural light.
T
he final phase of the project involves construction of a new emergency department (ED), which will be 70 percent larger than our current ED. This larger space will allow for a dedicated behavioral health suite, and improved space for eye and ENT emergencies, trauma treatment, patient observation, and family waiting. Our emergency department typically sees about 24,000 patients a year, but is expecting to exceed that by several thousand this year.
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PHOTOS: TIM HOEKSTRA
Emergency Department Expansion
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PHOTOS: PAUL GATES
Pharmacists Lori Frederick (left) and Jill Bode at the Automated Dispensing Cabinets that house medications on Mary Greeley’s oncology floor.
MEDICINAL PURPOSES
New pharmacy efforts enhance inpatient education, care and safety.
By Stephanie Marsau
E
nter a pharmacy and one of the first people you see? The pharmacist, ready to fill your order and answer your questions. Wouldn’t it be great if the same thing happened at the hospital? At Mary Greeley it does. Recently, the medical center started putting large, computerized medicine cabinets on each inpatient hospital floor. Pharmacists are also now stationed on the Oncology floor, readily available to educate cancer patients
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about their often-complicated drug regimens. “Their presence on the Oncology unit represents the most important quality improvement of the last five years at Mary Greeley Medical Center,” says Dr. Joseph Merchant, McFarland Clinic oncologist. On-Floor Pharmacy
In the old hospital system, doctors ordered medication for a patient. Nurses
sent it via a tube system to the pharmacy. The order was added to the pharmacy work flow—and hours could pass before the patient received the medication. Automated Dispending Cabinets (ADC) at Mary Greeley has changed that. The on-floor, computerized units fill drug orders—placed electronically by medical staff and verified by the pharmacist— in less than 10 minutes. The ADC device records what drugs were removed and by whom.
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Pharmacist Jill Bode consults with cancer patient Macy Owen before she is discharged from Mary Greeley. The hospital’s on-floor pharmacist program is improving patient education and safety.
In March 2012, Doug Wetrich, director of the Mary Greeley Medical Center Pharmacy, made another change. “Pharmacy has been a very distribution oriented profession,” says Wetrich. “We dispense drugs, but we have so much more to contribute to quality patient care. We started thinking about how we could dispense not just drugs, but knowledge.” Wetrich decided to take the pharmacists from behind the glass window and put them on the inpatient units. “In a large hospital, this is not uncommon. Nearly all of them have at least one pharmacist for an inpatient unit,” states Wetrich. “It is uncommon to see a hospital of our size be able to do it, simply due to our smaller staff. We knew it would be a challenge, but it was still something we wanted to try for our patients.” On Oncology
After piloting the program on Medical Telemetry, the system was moved to Oncology. “The medications administered on Oncology can be much more complicated than the medications given throughout the rest of the hospital,” Wetrich says. “An extraordinary amount of communication is needed, so it made sense to have pharmacists on that floor.” Today, pharmacists Jill Bode and Lori Frederick are primarily found on the fifth floor on Oncology, Mary Greeley’s
new west patient tower. “I welcomed the opportunity to go to the floor,” says Frederick. “It sounded exciting and interesting, and like it would use the knowledge I gained in pharmacy school to a greater extent than working behind closed doors in the pharmacy.” According to both Frederick and Bode, a large component of what they do now is patient education. “Medications are often a misunderstood part of a patient’s care. Being there gives the patient access to another health care professional who specializes in that,” says Frederick. When a patient is discharged from the hospital, the pharmacists go through a discharge medication teaching session. They double check that the medications are correct and review dosage and other information. “We explain what their medications are for, potential side effects and other tips to help patients comply and get the most from their medications,” Bode states. “It also gives the patient an opportunity to ask questions about any new medications.” For Amanda Engnell, an oncology RN, the on-floor pharmacists are vital patient care resources. “We are able to provide better patient care,” Engnell says. “They’re the experts on medications, and now if I have a question concerning a complicated chemotherapy regimen, I can talk directly to the experts. They’ve made
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the Oncology floor a safer place.” Frederick and Bode also play an important role in the planning and administering of chemotherapy. They check dosing and prepare worksheets that help ensure pre-medications, chemotherapy and labs are correct. They also talk to patients and discuss chemo timing, side effects, and future doses. According to Sarah Heikens, director of Oncology Services, the education resonates with patients. “We place follow up phone calls to our patients after they go home,” she says. “On those calls, patients often comment on the excellent teaching they have received from the pharmacists and speak about how well they understand the medicines they’re taking. This communication between the pharmacists and the patients really is improving patient safety.” Expansion
Due to the Oncology on-floor pharmacy success, the program is expanding. Pharmacists are now available in Medical Telemetry, which originally served as the location for the pilot program. There are also plans to station pharmacists on the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit. “We’re a community hospital doing what’s right for the community, and we’re doing it with the expertise and resources we have,” Wetrich says. “We’re using the current staff we have in place to improve patient safety and enhance the care of our patients. That’s really what all of this is about—the patients we serve.”
Pharmacy Program Receives Patient Safety Award Mary Greeley Medical Center’s inpatient Oncology pharmacy program has received a 2015 Iowa Healthcare Collaborative Patient Safety Award. The program, which involves stationing pharmacists on the oncology floor to help educate cancer patients about their medications, was cited in the category of “achievement in improving culture of safety/safety across the board.” Mary Greeley has plans to expand the award-winning program to other departments in the hospital. 17
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Two enthusiastic supporters encourage people to be part of Mary Greeley’s Annual Benefit and Hope Run for Hospice
personal i A
Brent and Beth Henningsen at the Mary Greeley Medical Center Annual Benefit. This year’s event will be May 2.
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few years ago, a friend invited me to the Mary Greeley Medical Center Annual Benefit. I wasn’t familiar with the event and didn’t really feel like I had a connection to anyone with cancer, the Bliss Cancer Center, or even Mary Greeley for that matter. Not being one to pass up a party, I accepted her invitation and we had a great time! I left thinking two things: • Wow, that was a fun time and an amazing auction—I’ve got to come back next year and try to get a purse! • Yikes, I should really do more volunteer work and this seems like a cause I could really get on board with. I crossed No. 2 off the list and did jump in and volunteer the very next year. Everything was going splendidly until I was diagnosed with cancer. I underwent both radiation and chemotherapy treatments at the Bliss Cancer Center. In the blink of an eye, a service that I’d been supporting just for fun turned out to be critical to my health battle. I got to witness firsthand how the dollars raised at the Annual Benefit are really put to work.
Since then, I’ve been involved with the Annual Benefit in a variety of roles and am excited to serve as an event co-chair this year. I’m amazed by the great work that is done at Bliss and the variety of services that are provided. I can’t think of a time that I’ve been there when I haven’t run into someone I know or recognize, whether it is in the parking lot, elevator or waiting room. It’s absolutely shocking how many people cancer touches. I continue to volunteer because cancer is a cause that is close to my heart. I still utilize Bliss for check-ups, labs and follow-up appointments. Maybe someday I’ll have the privilege of saying: “That’s a place I used to go.” For now, you will still see me in the parking lot, elevator or waiting room. I’ll give you a smile and wave and secretly cross my fingers that we’ll both receive good news that day. As for No. 1 above? You can bet I got a purse. Please consider joining us at this year’s Annual Benefit on Saturday, May 2. Beth Henningsen
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l invitations A crowd of runners at the 2014 Hope Run for Hospice. The 2015 event will be June 20.
M
y connection to hospice began as a professional one and turned personal in 2012 when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. As a nursing home administrator, I have had a lot of experience with hospice. Too often I hear of families who seek hospice care in the final days or even hours of a loved one’s life. It pains me because I know the services that hospice offers can be so much more if sought out earlier. No one wants to have to use hospice care, but when life happens, hospice provides amazing benefits. I lived three hours from home when Mom was diagnosed with cancer. Dad was the primary caregiver at first, but eventually he needed assistance. The
peace of mind that I received knowing that I could leave home, and Dad would have assistance caring for Mom until I was able to come home again, was invaluable. It’s a daunting task caring for a loved one, and for six months, my dad, sisters and I counted on hospice to be there when we needed them. The guilt people may experience when they bring hospice in is normal. It can feel like you’re “giving up,” but you aren’t. By using hospice services to their fullest, I got to see great emotional comfort in my mom. I think she felt peace in having someone else care for her so she didn’t “burden” us. She talked to hospice about her fears and thoughts in ways she couldn’t with us because, even at the end, she was trying to remain strong and
motherly. Hospice provided comfort and relief for all of us and made it possible for us to more fully embrace the time we had left with Mom. My belief in and deep appreciation for hospice is what inspires me to help Mary Greeley Home Hospice and the Israel Family Hospice House. So I invite you to join me in participating in the Mary Greeley Foundation’s annual Hope Run for Hospice on Saturday, June 20. Be a racer (walkers, kids and dogs are welcome too), volunteer to help or make a donation. Together, we can ensure that people who have to face a terminal disease have the ability to find comfort and support through hospice services. Brynn Eitzen
Learn more and register Hats, Horses & Hope, May 2, Mary Greeley Medical Center Annual Benefit supporting the William R. Bliss Cancer Center, featuring the Kentucky Derby and dueling pianos, www.mgmc.org/annual-benefit
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Hope Run for Hospice, June 20, 5K, 2.5K and Hope Run Jr., www.mgmc.org/hoperun
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By the numbers:
Mary Greeley Medical Center FY 2014 (July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014)
In this section, we provide a snapshot of Mary Greeley Medical Center’s financial status, patient satisfaction, quality data and community benefit.
Payment Sources Medicaid – 6.5% Managed Care/ Commercial – 11.8%
Other – 4.3%
Wellmark/Blue Cross – 31.0%
Medicare – 46.4%
Board of Trustees Sarah Buck Chair
Ken McCuskey Louis Banitt, M.D. Secretary/Treasurer
Brad Heemstra
Mary Kitchell
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ANNUAL REPORT
››
Financial Assistance Mary Greeley Medical Center continued to provide financial assistance during fiscal year 2014. At Mary Greeley, all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, receive the same, high-quality care. Each year, the medical center Board of Trustees sets aside a special assistance fund to help those who need assistance in paying their health care bills. Additionally, those who are afflicted by a catastrophic health
event may be eligible for assistance based on the amount of their medical center bills and their income level. The Mary Greeley Medical Center Financial Assistance Program offers financial assistance on a sliding-fee scale for those earning up to 350 percent of poverty guidelines. We care about the communities we serve and do what’s right in regard to providing them with affordable healthcare.
Financial Assistance Provided FY 2011
$5,905,922
FY 2012
$5,958,985
FY 2013 FY 2014
$6,895,933 $6,788,434
Mary Greeley received numerous awards in 2014. Among them: Top Performer by the Joint Commission, Gold recognition from the Iowa Recognition of Performance Excellence and an ‘A’ grade for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group for the sixth consecutive year.
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By the numbers:
Statements of Net Position FY 14*
FY 13*
Current & other assets
259,625
263,579
Capital assets
183,058
144,232
Total assets
442,683
407,811
Long-term debt outstanding, including current
87,511
91,348
Other liabilities
31,351
32,193
Total liabilities
118,862
123,541
Total net assets
323,821
284,270
Total net assets & liabilities
442,683
407,811
FY 14*
FY 13*
*In thousands of dollars
Condensed Statements of Activities Revenues 166,167
166,934
Other operating revenue
8,128
8,115
Total operating revenue
174,295
175,049
Net patient revenue
Expenses Salaries, wages & benefits
82,212
81,404
Supplies & other expenses
63,755
64,152
Depreciation & amortization
14,921
14,039
904
740
Total operating expenses
161,792
160,335
Operating income
12,503
14,714
Non-operating income
25,863
13,004
Excess revenue over expenses before contributions
38,366
27,718
Contributions
1,185
2,490
Changes in net assets
39,551
30,208
Total net assets, beginning of year
284,270
254,062
Total net assets, end of year
323,821
284,270
Interest
Patients enjoyed the benefits of advanced technology at Mary Greeley, which included the arrival of our new MRI. It produces higher resolution images than the previous MRI and due to a larger bore, helps to ease the feeling of claustrophobia.
*In thousands of dollars
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ANNUAL REPORT
››
Patient Satisfaction To learn more about how our patients feel about their experiences with Mary Greeley Medical Center, we use the National Research Corporation (NRC)/Picker rating system –‑ a national benchmarking tool for measuring all aspects of patients’ experiences. Percent of ‘9’ or ‘10’ Ratings
Percentile Rank
Inpatient (adult)
76.8%
71
Emergency
74.1%
83
Outpatient Surgery
88.9%
66
Outpatient Testing
84.2%
72
Vice President Neal Loes, Rachel Haugland, Ambulatory Care, and Ruth Castro Santana, Oncology were all added to the “100 Great Iowa Nurses” list.
HCAHPS Patient Satisfaction Ratings Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Providers (HCAHPS) represents patients’ opinions about the care they received while in the hospital. These opinions were obtained through surveys sent to patients after they left the hospital during 2012. How do patients rate the hospital overall? (Percentage of patients who gave their hospital a rating of 7 or higher on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest). Mary Greeley – 98% Iowa Hospitals – 95% U.S. Hospitals – 92%
Would patients recommend the hospital to friends and family? (Percentage of patients who reported that they would definitely or probably recommend the hospital). Mary Greeley – 99% Iowa Hospitals – 97% U.S. Hospitals – 95%
National Quality Measures At Mary Greeley Medical Center, we stress the importance of quality through the care we deliver every day. Our mission, vision and values guide us to strive for improvement continually. No matter how far we come, or how successful we have been in the past, our dedicated staff are always seeking innovative ways to improve the quality of care and the overall patient experience at Mary Greeley. Mary Greeley participates in the National Quality Initiative developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the collection and reporting of information regarding the quality of care at Mary Greeley. Quality reporting upholds the integrity of our organization by providing the communities and people we serve with the
tools they need to make a wise health care choice. The information about quality measures has been gathered as part of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) project called the Hospital Quality Alliance. As a participating hospital, Mary Greeley volunteers this information to CMS and offers additional quality information for public reporting. A website called Hospital Compare has been developed by CMS to publicly report valid, credible and user-friendly information about the quality of care delivered in the nation’s hospitals. You can find it at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov and www.medicare.gov.
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Many amazing patient stories unfolded at Mary Greeley, including one that involved a National Guardsman stationed in the Middle East who surprised his wife and their newborn daughter on our Birthways unit. The reunion video went viral, generating more than 33,000 views on our Facebook page and 3 million views on YouTube.
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By the numbers:
In fiscal year 2014, Mary Greeley Medical Center compared favorably with U.S. and Iowa hospitals. Following are some of the results: Emergency Department - Timely and effective care in hospital emergency departments is essential for good patient outcomes. Delays before receiving care in the emergency department can reduce the quality of care and increase risks and discomfort for patients with serious illnesses or injuries. Average time patients spent in the emergency department, before they were admitted to the hospital as an inpatient* Mary Greeley – 173 minutes Iowa Hospitals – 202 minutes U.S. Hospitals – 272 minutes
Average time patients spent in the emergency department before they were seen by a healthcare professional* Mary Greeley – 16 minutes Iowa Hospitals – 20 minutes U.S. Hospitals – 24 minutes
*Data collected during a 12 month period from April 2013 to March 2014
Preventive Care - Hospitals and healthcare providers play a crucial role in promoting, providing and educating patients about preventive services and screenings and maintaining the health of their communities. Many diseases are preventable through immunizations, screenings, treatment and lifestyle changes. The information below shows how well the hospitals you selected are providing preventive services. Percentage of patients assessed and given influenza vaccine* Mary Greeley – 97% Iowa Hospitals – 93% U.S. Hospitals – 93%
Percentage of healthcare workers given influenza vaccine* Mary Greeley – 95% Iowa Hospitals – 90%
*Data collected during a 12 month period from October 2013 to March 2014
Our new patient tower opened in April, providing more quiet, spacious rooms for patients, and a beautiful rooftop garden for patients and their families.
People, including the Iowa State University football team, went crazy over the arrival of our Cy statue, called “Anatomy of a Cyclone.” After spending several weeks outside of the hospital, he now resides in our west patient tower lobby.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Mary Greeley Medical Center Statistics 2011
2012
2013
2014
% of Inpatients from Story County
55.9
55.6
56.8
56.5
% of Inpatients from 6 County Primary Market
88.8
88.1
88
88.3
96.5^
95.9
96
97.9
2011
2012
2013
2014
9,782
9,617
8,768
8,289
150,574
163,479
165,418
167,791
Births
1,164
1,030
1,086
1,143
Operating Room Visits
8,678
8,831
9,214
8,967
Emergency Room Visits
24,238
25,313
25,439
25,742
4.2
4.2
4.4
4.5
59.9%
59.1%
57.5%
53.1%
2011
2012
2013
2014
CT Scans
10,516
10,284
9,182
9,015
Mammograms
1,653
1,752
1,669
1,542
Radiation Oncology Procedures
29,133
26,012
20,338
18,220
768
749
685
693
MRIs
1,824
1,941
1,798
1,684
GI Services Visits
5,669
5,632
5,888
6,403
Radiology Procedures
27,676
25,700
25,459
25,224
Additional Information**
2011
2012
2013
2014
Emergency Ambulance Runs
2,920
2,870
3,057
2,918
Patient Meals Served
154,472
158,664
183,285
173,505
Pounds of Laundry Serviced
972,317
1,030,015
1,056,472
990,865
Service Area Origins*
% of Inpatients from 14 County Service Area
Patient Information** Inpatient Admissions (excluding births) Outpatient Visits
Average Length of Stay (Adult & Pediatrics) Average Occupancy Rate
Procedures**
Sleep Lab Procedures
*Calendar Year **Fiscal Year ^Numbers based on 13 county service area – area expanded in 2012 to include Webster County. (Other counties included in 14 county service area are: Story, Marshall, Boone, Hamilton, Hardin, Greene, Polk, Carroll, Jasper, Dallas, Grundy, Tama and Poweshiek). Those in bold comprise the 6 county primary market.
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Schedule of Events Prime Time Alive programs
are designed to help you achieve a vital balance of the physical, financial, emotional and spiritual components in your life. Don’t miss all the fun and learning! You can become a member and register for events online at www.mgmc.org/pta or by calling 515-239-2423 or 800-3039574. Preregistration is required.
are often dismissed as side effects of normal aging. If you or someone you know is experiencing memory loss or behavioral changes, it’s time to learn the facts. Early detection gives you a chance to begin drug therapy, enroll in clinical studies, and plan for the future. Attend this interactive workshop to learn the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. We’ll separate myth from reality and address commonly held fears about Alzheimer’s. Hear from people who have the disease and find out how to recognize the signs in yourself and others.
Welcome to Medicare Wednesday, April 1, 6 p.m. Mary Greeley Medical Center, Bessie Myers Auditorium Presented by Clete Mercier and Joyce Mercier, Senior Health Insurance Information Program counselors. Are you eligible for Medicare in the near future? Have you been on Medicare and want to better understand what it offers? Do you have a family member you help with Medicare issues? This program will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.
AARP Smart Driving Friday, April 24, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mary Greeley Medical Center, North Addition, C Presented by Stuart Huntington, AARP Smart Driving Instructor. This one-day presentation covers driver's safety. Learn about the normal changes of aging and the effects it may have on driving. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for all others (make checks payable to AARP) and may entitle participants to an insurance premium discount.
Day Trip: Swing Into Southwest Iowa Wednesday, April 15 Tour includes stops at the Glenn Miller Birthplace and Museum, Nodaway Valley Historical Museum, Page County Freedom Rock, Carnegie Art Museum, and a mystery stop. Must be a Prime Time Alive member to attend. Please call Prime Time Alive at 515-239-2423 or 800-303-9574 for space availability. Alzheimer's: Know the 10 Signs, Early Detection Matters Thursday, April 23, 2 p.m. Quality Inn & Suites, 2601 E. 13th St., Ames Presented by Susan Callison, Program Specialist, Alzheimer's Association, Greater Iowa Chapter. The warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease
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Osteoporosis: What You Need to Know Tuesday, May 5, 2 p.m. Quality Inn & Suites, 2601 E. 13th St., Ames Presented by Meera Gangam, MD, McFarland Clinic Rheumatology. Osteoporosis causes bones to become brittle and weak, so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses like bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis affects men and women alike. Learn about the symptoms and causes of osteoporosis and what you can do to prevent bone loss.
Overnight Trip: Springtime in Northwest Iowa Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14 Tour includes stops in Ida Grove known as the “The Castle Town” (step on guided tour), Sioux City (step on guided tour with stops at Trinity Heights Gardens, Sargent Floyd River Museum, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center), Le Mars (tour of Blue Bunny), and Orange City for the Tulip Time Festival parade. Watch your mail for a flyer with more details. Must be a Prime Time Alive member to attend. Please call Prime Time Alive at 515-239-2423 or 800-303-9574 for space availability. Prime Time Alive at the Story County Senior Expo Tuesday, May 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Quality Inn & Suites, 2601 E. 13th St., Ames Prime Time Alive will once again have a booth at the Story County Senior Expo. Stop by and receive information on how to join Prime Time Alive or to catch up on upcoming programs and trips. You will also be able to visit with local agencies who serve older adults in Story County and hear speakers on topics relevant to older adults. Health screenings, give-aways, and door prizes throughout the day. Watch your newspaper for further details.
Cancer Resource Center
Mary Greeley Medical Center regularly schedules programs to provide cancer education and support. For more information and to register for events, call 515-956-6440 or 866-972-5477. Preregistration is required. Immunizations Recommendations for Cancer Patients Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. Mary Greeley Medical Center, North Addition, A & B Patients with cancer are at an increased
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risk for infection due to impaired immunity related to oncology treatment. Certain vaccines provide some benefit to the immune-compromised patient. Dr. Ricardo Arbulu, McFarland Clinic infectious disease specialist, will discuss how to protect oncology patients against vaccine-preventable diseases. Clinical Trials Thursday, May 21, 7 p.m. North Addition, A & B Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. They are the final step in a long process that begins with research in a lab. Most treatments we use today are the results of clinical trials. Cancer clinical trials are designed to test new ways to treat cancer, find and diagnose cancer, prevent cancer, and manage symptoms of cancer or side effects from its treatment. Dr. Joseph Merchant, McFarland Clinic oncologist, and Stephanie Greene, RN, BSN, will answer questions about clinical trials. The Who, What and Why of Cancer Genetics Tuesday, June 2, 2 p.m. Quality Inn & Suites 2601 E. 13th St. Ames Genetic testing looks for specific inherited changes (mutations) in a person’s chromosomes, genes or proteins. Genetic mutations can have harmful, beneficial, neutral, or uncertain effects on health. Mutations that are harmful may increase a person’s risk of developing a disease such as cancer Mary Ellen Carano, RN, OCN, will discuss basic risks and screening recommendations for cancer genetic assessment. This is program is co-sponsored by Prime Time Alive.
Auxiliary and Volunteer Services
Proceeds from the Gift Shop support Auxiliary scholarships, programs and services of Mary Greeley Medical Center. For more information call the Gift Shop at 515-239-2190. Gift Shop Spring 20% Off Sale Thursday, March 26, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Gift Shop’s annual Spring 20% off sale features gifts for graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, weddings and other special occasions. Save 20% on home décor, greeting cards, baby gifts, hand and body lotions, scarves, and much, much, more. “Pop-Up” Store Event Friday, March 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Gift Shop Please join us for the “Pop-Up” Store event coming to The Gift Shop! CC Kappos Handbags Des Moines will be here for one day only, offering a large selection of unique handbags. Select from one-of-a-kind designer purses, totes, wallets, wristlets, in a style you want and the price you can afford. HCI Fundraising $6 Sale Wednesday, April 29, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 30, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mary Greeley Medical Center, North Addition, A, B & C Our popular HCI Fundraiser returns to Mary Greeley with great values on name brand, quality products for everyone. You’ll find jewelry, fashion accessories, collegiate items, gadgets, books, gifts and more priced at just $6.
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Mallwalkers Foot Health Tuesday, April 7, 8 a.m. North Grand Mall Presented by Brent Baerenwald, physical therapist, Mary Greeley Outpatient Rehab & Wellness. Brent Baerenwald will discuss foot health and give advice on the best footwear for older adults. Population Health: A New Way to Manage Patient Care Tuesday, May 5, 8 a.m. North Grand Mall Presented by Ellen Owings, RN, Population Health coordinator, McFarland Clinic. In the ever-changing world of health care a new approach called Population Health is emerging. Population Health reflects a shift in our thinking about how health is defined. The idea is that health is a positive concept, signifying more than the absence of disease, and is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Find out how doctors at McFarland Clinic are using Population Health to better treat their patients.
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Clinics & Classes Clinics Childhood Immunization Clinics Mary Greeley Medical Center offers childhood immunization clinics for Story County residents on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Mary Greeley’s Home Health Care office located at 1114 Duff Ave. Upcoming dates include: March 10, March 24, April 14, April 28, May 12, May 26. Parents of children receiving immunizationsare asked to bring previousimmunization records with them. Evenif a child has never received an immunization,he or she may start a programat any time. Call 515-539-6730 formore information. Adult Immunization Clinics Mary Greeley Medical Center offers adult immunization clinics for Story County residents every week at Mary Greeley’s Home Health Care office located at 1114 Duff Ave. The clinics are held Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Blood Pressures at Mall with Prime Time Alive Free blood pressure checks will be provided by Mary Greeley Medical Center from 7 to 9 a.m., on the first Tuesday of every month at North Grand Mall.
Senior Health Clinics
Mary Greeley Medical Center Senior Health Clinics offer foot care, blood pressure screening, blood sugar testing and health education for Story County older adults. Call 515-239-6730 for more information. Mary Greeley will offer clinics at the following locations, dates and times: Ames Bickford Senior Living Thursday, March 19, April 16, May 21 1 to 3:30 p.m.
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Green Hills Health Care Center Tuesday, March 3, April 7, May 5 1 to 3:30 p.m.
The Meadows Apartments Tuesday, March 17, April 21, May 19 1 to 3 p.m.
Heartland Senior Services Thursdays March 5, 12, 19, 26 April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May 7, 14, 21, 28 9:30 a.m. to noon
Story City Story City Community Health Center Wednesday, March 25, April 22, May 27 1 to 4 p.m.
Keystone Apartments Thursday, March 26, April 23, May 28 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Regency V Apartments Tuesday, March 3, April 7, May 5 10 to 11:30 a.m.
The Waterford at Ames (Assisted Living) 1200 Coconino Rd. Wednesday, March 18, April 15, May 20 1 to 3:30 p.m. Windsor Oaks Apartments 1100 Adams St. Wednesday, March 18, April 15, May 20 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Colo Community Center Tuesday, March 17, April 21, May 19 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Huxley Walnut Grove Community Room Thursday, March 5, April 2, May 7 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nevada Senior Center Tuesday, March 10, April 14, May 12 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Support Groups Bereavement Support Groups; Six-Week Group For more information on grief support groups, contact Mary Greeley Hospice Care at 515-956-6038 or 877-469-0079.
Stonehaven Apartments Tuesday, March 24, April 28, May 26 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Collins City Hall Senior Meeting Room Tuesday, March 17, April 21, May 19 9 to 10:00 a.m.
Cedar Place Thursday, March 12, April 9, May 14 1 to 4 p.m.
Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in North Addition C. For more information, call Birthways at 515-239-2444. (Note: Due to room scheduling issues the class will meet the first Thursday of the month: March 5, April 2, May 7) Please check for updates at: www.facebook.com/groups/birthways breastfeeding. Diabetes Support Group This group meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m in classroom 1 of the Diabetes and Nutrition Education Center, Third floor, North Addition. Call 515-956-2880 for more information. Parkinson’s Support Group Call 515-239-2608 and ask for Susan Trevillyan for more information. Stroke Support Group The Stroke Support Group is free and open to the public. It meets the third Tuesday of each month. Call 515-2392323 for more information.
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Art Schedule
MARCH Karen Wolfe Watercolors North Addition hallway
APRIL Karen Wolfe Watercolors North Addition hallway
MAY Kimberly Baxter Packwood Fiber North Addition hallway
JUNE Kimberly Baxter Packwood Fiber North Addition hallway
Lee Husske Oils North Addition hallway
Pat Hykes Oils and watercolors North Addition hallway
Pat Hykes Oils and watercolors North Addition hallway
Deb Ames Watercolors Display case
Jeanne Boydston Jewelry Display case
Suzanne Latour Stevens Jewelry Display case
Suzanne Latour Stevens Jewelry Display case
Pat Schmacker Pottery Display case
BRCA Support Group This group for women dealing with high risk cancer genes meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month in the Cancer Resource Center. For information, call 515-956-6440.
Family Birthing Classes
Register online at www.mgmc.org, or call 515-23 9-2444 or 800-951-9222 for specific information and to register. Preregistration is required. Big Brother, Big Sister Class Classes are offered for ages 2 to 4, mixed ages, and ages 4 and up. Ages 2 to 4: March 3, April 2, May 7. Mixed ages: March 23, April 23, May 21. Ages 4 and up: March 30, April 27, May 28. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Main Lobby Childbirth Classes Birthways offers a one-day and Tuesday series childbirth class to help women in their seventh to eighth month of pregnancy and their support persons prepare for childbirth. Wear comfortable clothes. Bringing two pillows is suggested. A tour is included with the class. $30 donation per class. One-Day Childbirth Class Saturday: March 14, April 11, May 2, May 9. 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. North A&B Childbirth Class Tuesday Eve: March 17 & 24, April 7 & 14, May 12 & 19. 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. North A&B Birthways Tour Birthways offers tours of the hospital and unit for expectant women and their support persons. March 25, April 22, May 27. 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Classroom North C
Breastfeeding Classes March 9, March 19, April 9, April 20, May 4, 14. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. North A&B $10 donation Baby Basics Class Saturday March 28 (North C), April 18 (North C), May 23 (North C) 8 a.m. to noon $5 donation
Fitness Classes
Call for specific dates and times. Call 515-956-2731 for Ames classes or 515-733-4029 for Story City classes. Preregistration is required. Ames Classes Moms in Motion Designed for prenatal women, this aqua class includes gentle stretching, strengthening and mild cardiovascular exercises. Following guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, Moms in Motion prepares women for the physiological changes associated with pregnancy, and develops stamina and strength for labor and delivery. Class participants enjoy a unique bond exercising with other moms-to-be. Joints in Motion This 45-minute aqua class is designed for individuals with arthritis, fibromyalgia and other related conditions. Using a wide variety of gentle exercises, the focus is on improving flexibility and range of motion, plus enhancing cardiovascular and muscular endurance. Story City Classes Yoga Combine traditional yoga postures with modern fitness moves for an excellent mind/body experience – perfect for those seeking strength, flexibility, stress reduction and total relaxation. Bring your own yoga mat.
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Power Hour Pump it up and join us for this total body strength training workout using free weights, bars, tubing and more. This workout is appropriate for all fitness levels. SilverSneakers Have fun and move to the music through a variety of exercises designed to increase muscular strength, range of movement and activity for daily living skills. Weights, elastic tubing with handles and a ball are offered for resistance, and a chair is used for seated or standing support. H.E.A.T. If you want to take your fitness and fat loss to the next level – without spending more time in the gym – then H.E.A.T. could be exactly what you’re looking for. Push yourself to your limit with athleticstyle cardiovascular exercises – both choreographed and drill-based. Get your metabolism fired up before most people are out of bed. Zumba Ditch the workout and join the party! Zumba fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program. Enjoy an exhilarating hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate. Power Pilates Pilates Barre combines ballet, pilates, strength training and yoga to improve balance and core strength while lengthening and strengthening the entire body. It will leave you looking toned and moving with ease. Boot Camp Our boot camps provide you with the latest tools and strategies to take your fitness to the next level. Join us for fun and games as you rev up your metabolismand greet the day energized, ready to burn calories all day long.
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1111 Duff Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50010
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