Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics Recognized Two Consecutive Years for Performance Leadership by The Chartis Center for Rural Health
As part of National Rural Health Day, Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics has been recognized with two 2024 Performance Leadership Awards for excellence in Quality and Patient Perspective. Compiled by the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (i.e., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in Quality, Outcomes and/or Patient Perspective.
“At Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics, we’re honored to consistently receive awards recognizing the exceptional care our patients experience. This is a testament to the outstanding professionalism and dedication of our team,” said Tim Ahlers, FACHE, CEO. “We couldn’t be prouder to serve our communities with excellence.”
The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, a comprehensive and objective framework for assessing how rural hospitals are performing. INDEX benchmarks are relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure performance across multiple areas impacting hospital operations and finance.
“The Performance Leadership Awards capture the commitment, diligence, and innovation with which America’s rural hospitals approach the delivery of care within their communities,” said Troy Brown, Network Consultant, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “It’s a tremendous honor to be able to recognize the efforts of this year’s award winners and celebrate their achievement.”
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics (GMHC) has been a committed member of the Guttenberg community since its founding more than 60 years ago. A Critical Access Hospital, licensed to deliver acute, skilled, observation and hospice inpatient care, the 25-bed hospital offers a wide range of services to help the community live healthier. GMHC provides primary medical care for patients of all ages through Cornerstone Family Practice with clinics in Guttenberg, Edgewood and Garnavillo. GMHC operates the community ambulance service and supports area trauma care via a state-certified Level IV Community Trauma Center. The Family Resource Center is an extension of GMHC and offers a variety of services to increase access to health and human services for families in the surrounding areas.
For more details about the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, contact Billy Balfour at wbalfour@chartis.com.
Sheila’s Story
Keeping up with her grandchildren is a priority for Sheila Frink.
The recently retired Director of the Anamosa Ambulance Service moved to North Buena Vista in June 2023 to be closer to her daughter’s family.
“We have three grandchildren, ages 10, 8 and 5, that we love to spend time with. In order to keep up with them and all their activities, I had a total knee replacement in Cedar Rapids on January 17, 2024. I was so grateful that I only had to travel 20 minutes for my follow-up physical therapy at Guttenberg Hospital,” said Sheila.
Immediately after surgery, when they got Sheila up and walking on her new knee, she struggled to lift her ankle of the same leg. Two days later, she began physical therapy and after her initial evaluation with Joel Gourley, DPT, she was diagnosed with foot-drop, most likely caused from overstretching the nerve during her surgery. Joel contacted the surgeon to inform her of Sheila’s condition, creating a new plan of care once proper healing allowed.
“I was very frightened that I would never walk normal again,” reflected Sheila. “I came into physical therapy with not just one problem, but with two. Reassuring me that I would recover, my therapists worked on both areas, mostly concentrating on my knee to start with.”
Sheila’s knee rehab included lots of stretching, straightening and strengthening exercises, with visits three times per week, working down to one visit per week. Because the foot-drop was a huge tripping hazard, the therapists taught Sheila a different way to walk, being mindful to pick up her foot so she would not trip.
While Sheila’s knee therapy was wrapping up, another order was placed for physical therapy to strengthen her ankle. After three total months of physical therapy for both her knee and her ankle, and her diligence to do her exercises at home, Sheila’s ability to lift her ankle returned.
“Once I got strength back in my ankle, every advancement was so great! I still can’t lift my big toe, but I do my exercises daily and know it is improving. It will just take time,” she said.
When asked about her experience at GMHC, Sheila exclaimed, “My therapists were great! They were compassionate but tough! They worked me hard and I appreciated it. Their encouragement helped me keep going when I got discouraged. They celebrated my improvements and made sure that I knew I was making progress.”
She added, “I really like the smaller, home-town feel here at GMHC, where I truly feel like I am treated like family.”
And, speaking of family, Sheila is now back in her athletic flip-flops attending her grandchildren’s numerous summer activities, and keeping up just fine.
Merlin’s Story
“The nurses and therapists have been so good to me and the food is the BEST here!” said Merlin Moser, Skilled Care patient at GMHC.
Merlin is a retired farmer from Colesburg. He and his wife, Judy, have been coming to GMHC for their health care as long as they can remember. After 28 years of wintering in Arizona, a few years ago they decided to buy a home in Guttenberg. “It’s a blessing that our home is now so close to the hospital, not only for Merlin, but for me! I’ve had plenty of health issues myself,” said Judy.
In the spring of 2023, around Easter, Merlin noticed a painful toe on his left foot. At his Annual Wellness Visit, his primary care provider at the time, Dr. Hoffmann, referred Merlin to physical therapist Kimberly Franzen so she could take a closer look. “She got on the phone right away and called my cardiologist, Dr. Ram (Ramabadran),” reflects Merlin. “Kim got me in to see him right away!” Merlin was diagnosed with a serious circulation problem in his left foot from peripheral vascular disease.
A podiatrist determined that Merlin would lose all of his toes, and eventually his foot. The best option was to amputate his leg just below his knee. Following the amputation, in July, Merlin returned to GMHC for Skilled Care for three weeks. “Even on a walker, Merlin got around pretty good,” said Judy, “so we just kept coming back to the gym each day and completed the entire Physical Therapy program!” Merlin got his prosthesis the day before Christmas, and continued with physical therapy, working also with a prosthetist. Although he is going to be 86 years old, Merlin was able to get around well with his new leg.
Merlin’s next admission to GMHC Skilled Care was this past June. He was diagnosed with Endocarditis, a bacterial infection affecting the heart, which requires IV antibiotics several times each day for 8 weeks. Judy walks up daily to spend time with Merlin and play games to pass the time.
“Everyone takes such good care of me here,” said Merlin.
All of my friends say “Judy, you don’t know how lucky you are to have a hospital right here!”
Merlin and Judy couldn’t agree more!
Community Resource Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
On March 26, 2024 the Guttenberg Economic & Industrial Development Committee held the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the much-anticipated Community Resource Center, a pivotal service hub for the region. The event marked the beginning of a transformative initiative aimed at addressing a diverse array of community needs.
The location of the new Community Resource Center is 516 S. 1st Street, Guttenberg, Iowa 52052 in the empty lot between the Guttenberg Brewing Company and the Municipal Building and will serve as a beacon of hope and support for the region, hosting over a dozen agencies dedicated to meeting multifaceted needs, including the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics’ Family Resource Center. A wide range of services to be offered include a food pantry, clothing center, infant items, outerwear, backpack snack program for school age kids, school supplies, medical adaptive equipment, household basics, furniture, health insurance, housing assistance, utility/rent assistance, counseling, domestic/sexual violence advocate, mental health, substance abuse, elderly care, and transportation.
This ambitious project has been made possible through the generous support of the State of Iowa, which awarded the Guttenberg Economic & Industrial Development Committee a significant $2.7 million grant to spearhead the construction of this essential facility. With the project well underway, efforts are in full swing to raise the matching funds required for the three-story facility, anticipated to cost just over $4 million.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony signified a momentous milestone in the journey towards fulfilling the vision of a thriving, supportive community in Guttenberg and its surrounding areas, commemorating this occasion and capturing the spirit of collaboration and progress that defines this initiative. A short presentation followed the Groundbreaking Ceremony at the Guttenberg Brewing Company.
About the Family Resource Center
Throughout life, almost everyone needs help at some point. That help could be judgement free zone, a box of food, a bed after a fire or help navigating a confusing health care choice. All these caring services are available for free through the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics’ Family Resource Center (FRC). The services at FRC are open to anyone, no matter age, income level, or ethnic background.
Let’s examine a typical day at the FRC which begins early in the morning as volunteers travel to Kwik Star and Wal Mart to pick up food donations. The food is delivered to the small, unassuming building, housing the Family Resource Center and an army of volunteers process the food for distribution for people throughout the region.
But the FRC provides much more than needed food. A young couple from northern Clayton County arrive at the FRC in need of shoes and their needs are met. Next through the FRC door is a set of grandparents both employed in slightly above minimum wage jobs. They have recently become custodians of their four young grandchildren. Dashed are their dreams of retiring at 65 and they need to restart their lives raising young children. Their immediate needs include clothing, food and car seats and the FRC can meet their needs.
After the staff assists the grandparents, a domestic abuse victim arrives at the FRC. She needs someone to listen, offer solutions and provide clothing for her daughter. The proper agencies are connected with this victim and a bag of clothing is sent for the daughter. The FRC was again able to meet the need. The next young man who enters the FRC needs to utilize the free fax service offered at FRC. He needs to fax a restraining order to the Sherriff’s Office and needs some guidance on navigating the judicial system.
Again, the young man’s needs were met.
Following the young man, the next to be served at the FRC is a new mother who is unable to purchase baby formula for her newborn, which costs over $20 for a 3-4 day supply. Newborn’s are a blessing, but create an especially financially hard time for young parents. This new mother requested three cans of baby formula because she is almost out and does not get paid until the end of the month. The FRC meets the new mother’s needs.
External service agencies use the FRC space to meet and assist regional residents. The SHIIP counselor (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) and four seniors arrive at the FRC trying to navigate a confusing healthcare system and are assisted in selecting the best option for them. The FRC met the seniors’ needs by connecting them to SHIIP.
A local family comes to the FRC with an unimaginable tragedy and their child becomes hospitalized with a debilitating condition. One parent must care full time for the child and can no longer work. The staff at the Family Resource Center helps them navigate through the options available to help fill the gap that was unexpectedly created. The family’s needs are met.
A nutritionally deficient senior living on social security with no family nearby is instructed by their health care provider to have a diet including more protein and vegetables. However, the limited social security check does not cover their needs. Again, the Family Resource Center steps in and his needs are met.
As outlined, a typical day at the FRC provides support to so many of our neighbors, friends, relatives, and even complete strangers from our region. This is made possible through an army of volunteers and financial supporters to keep the FRC operational five days a week year-round. The current rented FRC building is much too small to meet the needs of our region, lacks privacy and much needed donated items must be turned away due to lack of current storage space.
Thankfully, the FRC team found a way to try and climb out and up and continue to serve the growing demand. The FRC team partnered with the Guttenberg Economic & Industrial Development Committee (GEIDC) and applied for a grant through the State of Iowa. The project was awarded a very generous grant and is well on the way to raising the required matching funds. The current shortfall is nearly $250,000. If you can help, please click the link attached, or contact our volunteer Fund Raising Coordinator Kathy Lansing at lansing@alpinecom.net. Make a donation online.
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics is upgrading its CT system with innovative AI-assisted technologies of the Canon Aquilion Prime SP. Installation of the new CT system will begin the week of December 11. While the CT room is prepped for installation, a mobile CT unit will be placed outside GMHC’s Imaging Department on November 28 and will remain there until installation is complete.
Upon completion of the installation, GMHC Imaging staff will be trained on the Aquilion Prime SP with tentative removal of the mobile CT unit on December 19.
The improved diagnostic capabilities of the Canon Aquilion Prime SP CT system will allow even challenging cases, from pediatric to bariatric and beyond, to benefit from world-class images reconstructed at high speed with the latest Deep Learning innovation.
The Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE) – AiCE is an innovative approach to CT reconstruction that uses Deep Learning technology in the Aquilion Prime SP system that reduces noise, boosts signal to deliver sharp, clear and distinct images across many body regions at the optimized dose for every patient.
The updated CT System will allow the Imaging Department at GMHC to better serve patients, more quickly and quietly, from the youngest to the largest, with confident diagnostic image quality.
We all need care at some point in our lives. For some, the biggest barrier to receiving care is accessing it. Community Paramedicine providers work with your primary care provider to break that barrier and bring care to patients who need it most, where they need it most.
Patients can be evaluated in the comfort of their own homes through a scheduled appointment time. Visits are free and can help avoid a clinic visit, ambulance ride or hospital care.
If you or your loved one could benefit from this service, talk to your Cornerstone Family Practice provider at 563-252-2141.
What do Community Paramedicine providers do?
Community Paramedicine providers can provide the following in-home treatment and assessments:
Monitoring of oxygen levels, blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, oxygen saturation, etc.
Monitoring of weight
Blood collection for home-bound patients
Education of medications and assistance with setting up medication packs
Electrocardiograms (ECGs)
Wound assessments and cares
Immunizations for home-bound patients
In-home safety assessments
In addition to in-home assessments, they:
Will provide personalized in-home care
Act as a care bridge after hospitalization
Can answer your questions about your acute or chronic medical condition
Have secure access to health records
Have the necessary equipment to assist your provider in early illness detection
Can provide appropriate care for emergencies
We at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics look forward to providing this service to you as yet another way we keep YOU at the center of our Patient-Centered Medical Home care model.
It’s that time of year again, Medicare Open Enrollment, the only time that those eligible for Medicare have the opportunity to review and adjust their plans. Open Enrollment takes place from October 15 to December 7, and The Family Resource Center is taking appointments for seniors to meet with SHIIP representatives who offer advice in choosing the best fitting prescription plan and to answer questions. Because drug plans are everchanging, having a guide to help you navigate these changes can be very helpful.
This is Jim Solomon’s fifth year volunteering as a SHIIP counselor. Last year, he met with 176 people, helping them save a total of $156,862. We are pleased to announce that Deb Hogan has completed training and will be joining Jim to serve area seniors in reviewing their plans. Jim will mentor and work directly with Deb and the client when she is first starting. Deb retired from the insurance industry, and wants to give back as a volunteer. “Jim put in long hours last year, and I am happy to partner with him and work together to serve the communities.” Deb replied.
Kari Harbaugh, Family Resource Coordinator, says, “We are very grateful for the dedication and hours of service these volunteers donate to assisting our clients.”
There is no charge for consultation with Jim or Deb. If they don’t have the answer, SHIIP counselors have a direct connection to the state to get the answer. They offer a flexible schedule, and welcome clients from other communities, too.
SHIIP counselors will assist you with these three important things during Medicare Open Enrollmnent:
Review your plan notice. Read any notices from your Medicare plan about changes for next year—especially your “Annual Notice of Change” letter. Review your plan’s information to make sure the prescriptions you use are still covered and your medical providers and pharmacy are still in network.
Think about what matters most to you. Medicare health and drug plans change each year and so can your health needs. Does your current plan best meet your needs?
Shop for the plans that meet your needs and fit your budget. Compare plans even if you’ve been satisfied with your current plan. The coverage and costs for plans can change from year to year.
To make an appointment, call the Family Resource Center at 563-252-3215. SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa. SHIIP counselors review all plans offered and do not promote any particular plan or company. Please bring your Medicare card and your present list of prescription drugs to your appointment.
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics was recently named one of the top 20 critical access hospitals (CAHs) for Best Practice—Patient Satisfaction in the country.
The top 20 CAHs, including GMHC, scored best among CAHs as determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health for Patient Satisfaction. The rankings were recently announced by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). An awards ceremony will be held during NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference in September in Kansas City, MO.
The top 20 CAHs have achieved success in overall performance based on a composite rating from eight indices of strength: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and finance. This group was selected from the Chartis Center for Rural Health’s 2022 top 100 CAH list, which was released earlier this year.
The top 20 CAH best practice recipients have achieved success in one of two key areas of performance:
Quality index: A rating of hospital performance based on the percentile rank across rural-relevant process of care measures.
Patient perspective index: A rating of hospital performance based on the percentile rank across all 10 HCAHPS domains.
“GMHC is proud of the efforts of the physicians and staff who have contributed to our hospital achieving this designation,” says Timothy Ahlers, CEO. “We are incredibly proud of our staff. We are blessed to have a team of professionals with high standards who care deeply about each and every patient and our entire community.”
“Our results as a top Best Practice Recipient in Patient Satisfaction means our community can count on us to deliver the services they need now and in the future,” said Ahlers.
About NRHA
NRHA is a nonprofit organization working to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education and research. NRHA’s membership is made up of diverse individuals and organizations from across the country, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.
About the Chartis Group
The Chartis Group provides comprehensive advisory services and analytics to the health care industry. With unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic planning, performance excellence, health analytics, informatics and technology, digital and emerging technologies, clinical quality and operations, and strategic communications, Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, children’s hospitals, and health care service organizations achieve transformative results and build a healthier world. For more information, visit www.chartis.com.
We congratulate Physical Therapist Kimberly Franzen, PT, DPT, CLT on her recent certification as a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT).
Kim’s certification included 135 hours total with 75 hours of online work and 60 hours of in-person class and hands-on work. Kim was in Minneapolis for the class from October 13th to the 20th for the in-person class, but all online class work was completed prior to attending. Both a written test and hands-on practical was passed for the certification.
What is Lymphedema? Lymphedema is known as an abnormal accumulation of protein rich fluid that can occur gradually over time with increasing complaints of tightness or heaviness. Lymphedema increases one’s risk of infection or cellulitis. Typically lymphedema affects only one arm or leg, but can affect both as more commonly seen in the legs.
The certification consisted of learning the full CDT (Complete Decongestive Therapy) which includes not only performing manual lymph drainage (MLD) to reduce the amount of fluid accumulation, but performing and teaching/educating the patient on application of compression bandages or garments, exercise, nail & skin care, and other self-cares to assist with overall management of their condition.
Kim is now able to treat our patients who have lymphedema, lipidemia, or lymphedema which can occur due to other medial issues such as obesity, chronic venous insufficiency, lipo-lymphedema, or after a trauma or orthopedic surgery.
“Most people have not heard of or know much about lymphedema until they have been diagnosed with it,” said Kim. “I’m pleased to be able to offer this service to our patients who are diagnosed with this condition.”
Stay close to home, and receive your therapy and rehabilitation services with the experts at GMHC. For more information call 563-252-1121.
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics is pleased to announce a collaboration with WELL Health Inc. to implement automated appointment reminders through secure two-way, multilingual messaging in the patient’s preferred communications channel: texting or telephone.
If GMHC has your cell phone or home phone in its system, patients will receive automated appointment reminders seven days, two days and one day before their appointments. Patients have an opportunity to respond or to opt-out of this service.
“It is our hopes that this two-way communication will help improve our patient’s experience throughout their care at GMHC,” said Danelle Krapfl, Lab and Imaging Manager.
