featured - Guttenberg Hospital

In celebration of National Donate Life Month this April, GMHC had a flag-raising ceremony on April 10^th. The act symbolizes our collective appreciation for the miracles of organ, eye and tissue donation and recognizes those who have chosen to give the invaluable gift of life. During the event, two donor stories were shared. One from a living donor, Jody Wille, and one from a recipient, Donna Simon.

In 2023, Iowa stood as a beacon of hope and generosity. 123 organ donors provided 350 organs for transplantation, offering a second chance at life for many. Additionally, 1,027 tissue donors from our state brought healing and relief to countless individuals, three of which came from GMHC, each tissue donor impacting 50 to 350 people’s lives. Despite these life-changing acts, over 106,000 people in the U.S. are still waiting for a crucial organ transplant, including more than 600 Iowans.

The Donate Life flag raising ceremony not only highlights the ongoing need for life-saving transplants but also salutes the donors and families for their profound act of giving. Every donor has a story, and each story is a testament to human kindness and resilience.

Jody Wille

Jody Wille’s uncle, Owen Harbaugh, had kidney damage due to hypertension. When his kidneys stopped functioning, he had to go on dialysis for a short period of time. That is, until his niece, Jody Wille, who was a perfect match, stepped up to donate one of her kidneys.

Owen was a veteran and in August, 2002, surgeons from UIHC came to the VA in Iowa City to perform the 3 to 4 hour surgery. Surgery was on a Thursday. Jody was out of the hospital by Saturday while her Uncle Owen stayed a few more days to ensure his body was adjusting to Jody’s kidney. And, it did!

“The surgeons told them that most kidneys sleep a while before working in the new recipient, but mine started working right away in Uncle Owen,” said Jody.

“My uncle was very close to our family and I felt this was the least I could do for him. Uncle Owen was never married or had children, so my siblings and I were like his kids,” said Jody.

“I tell people that being a living donor is giving a gift that keeps giving, not only to the recipient, but to their family and friends who get to spend more time together. Uncle Owen lived with my donated kidney for 18 more years, attending family celebrations like weddings and graduations of his numerous nieces and nephews, and birthday parties of his beloved great nieces and nephews.”

Although Jody was told that the surgery is harder on the person who donates than the person who receives, that was not true for her. She exercised daily prior to surgery by walking 3-5 miles per day and drank plenty of water. Jody was off work for about four weeks for her recovery, and declared, “It was well worth it for our family to have those extra 18 years with Uncle Owen.”

Donna Simon

Donna Simon, a double lung recipient, was present to read a heartfelt letter that was written and sent to her by the mother of Donna’s 21-year-old donor. The letter described how he was a musician, enjoyed football and wrestling, left behind a son, and how he had a big heart. “He was a hero and signed up just in case something ever happened to him,” the letter read. The letter also included photos of the young man and his son. Donna shared the change that this gift has made in her life, allowing her to be more active with her children and grandchildren, and at the ceremony without her oxygen port.

The trend of hope continues to rise in Iowa, with increasing numbers embracing organ and tissue donation. You too can be a part of this journey of hope and healing. Register at IowaDonorNetwork.org to be a registered donor and join GMHC on Friday, April 12^th by wearing blue or green to build awareness for donating life.

GMHC Marketing and Development Director, Amy Speed, and the ER team that provided care for her

Amy’s Story

In my marketing role at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics, I get the privilege of promoting our hospital, our services, our family practice clinics, and our team of caregivers. One of the ways we promote GMHC is by sharing grateful patient stories. I was recently one of those grateful patients!

The last week of February, I was sick at home for several days. With high fever, chills and nausea, I thought I was fighting the stomach flu. And, because my career is not medical, but marketing, I really didn’t know any better!

By day five, feeling worse rather than better, my husband and I made the trip from our home in Cascade to Guttenberg to the GMHC Emergency Department. I was immediately taken into an emergency room where Angie Schmitt, RN, and ED/Hospitalist Bryon Bellinger, ARNP, provided care for me without delay. My IV was started and as Hylari Buensuceso, Medical Lab Scientist, gently drew my blood, I shut my eyes and rested, confident I was in good hands as they worked busily to determine what was ailing me.

After several tests and a CT scan by Samantha Bailey, Radiology Technologist, I was diagnosed with a bilateral kidney infection. Bryon explained the CT scan revealed both of my kidneys were inflamed with infection. When he told me I would be spending the night in the hospital on our Patient Care Unit, I got a little emotional. I didn’t realize just how severely sick I was. He assured me that I would feel much better in the morning after an evening of fluids and additional IV antibiotics. He was right! Thank you, Bryon, for your wisdom, professionalism, and reassurance.

Angie delivered me and my left arm’s new friend, the IV, up to my room to get comfy for the night and shortly after, a nice hot supper arrived. Besides childbirth, this was my first night in the hospital and I was impressed with how clean my room was and how incredibly quiet my stay was. I was well taken care of through the night; my water cup stayed filled and I was helped as needed. I barely remember the 4:30am visit from Altair Labagala, Medical Lab Scientist, to collect more blood.

Around 7am Thursday morning, Angie checked back in on me, giving me one more dose of IV antibiotic, and bringing me a yummy breakfast of a banana, oatmeal and toast, satisfying my recently returned appetite.

By 9am, after a visit with ED/Hospitalist George Osai, ARNP, who confirmed my improved lab results, I was released to go home. Angie walked me through my paperwork, my medication, and made me laugh more than once. Yes, laughter is good medicine! Thank you, Angie, for being my nurse and for the great care you gave me! You made me feel like I was your only patient even though I know I was not.

My husband picked me up and I left GMHC feeling much better, with the sun and a smile on my face! On Friday I received an unexpected, but much appreciated call from health coach Jody Pierce, RN, BSN, from Cornerstone Family Practice. Her warm and friendly demeanor and genuine concern for my health warmed my heart. By Monday, I was well enough to go back to work and looked forward to seeing and thanking my co-workers who took such excellent care of me!

My faith confirms that everything happens for a reason. I know that my patient experience will help me better market the extraordinary gift this hospital is to Guttenberg and its surrounding communities. The experience of walking right into our ED and being cared for immediately…WOW! The behind-the-scenes work in lab and imaging, the clean and comfy room, the hot breakfast, the compassionate care by my kind co-workers, all is greatly appreciated.

There is absolutely no place I would have rather been to receive my care than 45 minutes North at GMHC in Guttenberg!

Thank you, team GMHC, for partnering with me on my health recovery journey. I appreciate you all, the important work you do, and I am honored to work alongside and promote each of you.

Amy Speed

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. To help save a life and prevent a scare, GMHC employee Shannon Bachtell shares her story:

My biological father died from complications of colon cancer at the age of 56. Because of this, routine colonoscopies became a part of my life at 36, a relatively young age.

In July of 2023 I went in for my annual colonoscopy. At that time, a few polyps were removed, including some that were precancerous. The bigger issue was a few polyps that were unable to be safely removed due to their location. It was determined to let things settle down and reattempt in December. In December, I went in for my second colonoscopy and again had polyps removed, including one that was precancerous. However they were still unable to remove the polyps that were previously inaccessible. They remained where they were and were unable to be safely removed.

At that time, given that I had several precancerous polyps removed at this point and that the polyps remained inaccessible, it was determined that the best course of action was to perform a right hemicolectomy with anastomosis. In other words, they removed my right ascending colon and reattached everything. (So no, I don’t have a colostomy). They also removed 13 lymph nodes and as an added bonus, my appendix. The results of this were “multiple precancerous polyps” but because of the aggressive treatment, everything that was causing a problem was now gone.

Prognosis? Excellent.

I will continue to have annual colonoscopies but because they removed a sizable piece of my colon, along with the lymph nodes, my chances of developing colon cancer remain low, especially with annual screenings.

Moral of the story? Get your screenings done! It’s not that bad and it could save your life.

By Caroline Rosacker, Guttenberg Press

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics (GMHC) hired front door screeners to greet patients and guide them through the check-in questions. At that time, hospital staff members recognized what an asset it was to have someone there to greet patients.

Volunteer Greeter Program

“In the fall of 2022, we conceptualized a volunteer program and reached out to other hospitals regarding their programs,” commented Amy Speed, Director of Marketing and Development. “We launched our program in March of 2023, with Becky Shaffer being our first volunteer greeter.”

Becky Shaffer of Guttenberg had previous volunteer greeter experience and was very helpful in guiding the hospital’s program.

“Becky not only greets our patients, but escorts them to different departments if they need guidance, and most importantly, visits with them to pass the time while they are waiting. She also has met with some folks in the chapel” Speed told The Press.

The volunteer program began with mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The hospital added another greeter, retired nurse and former hospital employee, Deb Schlueter, in June. “Our program is very flexible, in fact, Deb is away during the winter and will step back into her position upon her return in the spring” noted Speed.

Positive feedback

GMHC has received positive feedback on patient surveys proving that the program enhances patient experience. In October, one person commented. “Loved visiting with your greeter!”

The healthcare facility hopes to expand their volunteer program to five days a week, and more hours per day. Potential volunteers will go through an interview process and will be trained for their very important role as the first person to greet patients.

Becky Shaffer

Although Deb Schlueter is enjoying time away from her volunteer position, The Press was able to sit down with Becky and visit with her about her involvement in the program.

Mike and Becky Shaffer took advantage of their part-time residence on Esman Island and used it as their full-time home during the Covid-19 pandemic. The couple decided if they had to shelter in place they would rather be on the island watching the Mississippi River flow by, than living in their permanent residence in nearby Cedar Rapids.

The Shaffers purchased their island get-away in 2005 and spent many long weekends enjoying all the amenities Guttenberg has to offer. “We were always on the go and quite busy,” said Becky. “When we were encouraged to shelter-in-place our lives slowed down and we experienced living in Guttenberg through a different lens.”

The couple enjoyed their new lifestyle and decided to make Guttenberg their permanent residence. “Mike is able to work from home, but still drives back and forth to Cedar Rapids when he needs to,” she explained. “To our great surprise our children have relocated to this beautiful community as well! Our son, T.K and his wife, Lisa live in the Estes Point area, and our daughter, Shannon purchased property in the River Ridge Acres subdivision and is set to build in the spring.”

Giving back to her community

Becky sought out volunteer work almost as soon as they were settled in and able to be social. “We have always been so impressed with the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics. It was one of the main reasons we choose to live full-time in Guttenberg,” she said.

Amy Speed approached Becky about volunteering as a greeter in the main lobby of the hospital. “I had done this kind of volunteer work at Mercy hospital in Cedar Rapids, so I was familiar with the protocol. Confidentiality is a must,” she stressed.

Becky’s cheerful, upbeat attitude helps lessen anxiety in the patient waiting area, but she is also very aware that some people would rather be alone. “I have been blessed with wonderful conversation skills. I can talk to just about anyone,” she laughed. ” My goal is for people to leave here with a smile on their face.”

The eager volunteer is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the hospital for all the excellent, professional care she and her husband have received since relocating to Guttenberg. “Volunteering at GMHC gives me a reason to stay active in the community and help others,” Becky commented.

Small town connections

The Shaffers have also experienced many small town connections. “When we met Juanita, and the late Russ Loven I found out that my father was Russ’ coach in high school. I heard so many wonderful stories about my father that I had never heard before,” she shared. “The family that lived in our home following the derecho was Norm Kopecky’s brother. Small town connections are so much fun!”

Becky, who is active in St. Mary’s Church, and is a member of Umbrella Arts, Ingleside Club, and a Stephen Minister leader, is very impressed with the GMHC staff. “They all work together as a team, and help one another,” she proudly shared. “It just makes me happy to be in this environment and they are so appreciative. I love this community and want people to see Guttenberg the way my husband and I see Guttenberg – a great place to live, work, volunteer, and play!”

Would you like to join GMHC as a volunteer greeter? Apply online or contact Amy Speed at amy.speed@guttenberghospital for more information.

GMHC has partnered with MercyOne Above & Beyond Home Health Services to provide Guttenberg and surrounding communities with a much-needed home health solution. Since October 2023, Above & Beyond has provided us with a direct referral source to deliver our patients with nursing care and physical therapy in the home. This partnership offers a turnkey solution to our consumer experience and quality care delivery.

How is Home Health different than Community Paramedicine?

For a patient to qualify for home health they must be “home bound”, meaning they can only leave their residence for appointments. Community Paramedicine offers a community service to a population in need when the patient is not considered “home bound”. Both services provide our patients with an in-home evaluation. In addition, Home Health offers skilled nursing, extensive wound cares treatments, personal cares assistance, and physical therapies.

If your loved one, friend or neighbor has medical needs in their home, please consider discussing these options with their primary care provider.

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.

In April, the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics’ Auxiliary celebrated its 70^th Anniversary at a Volunteer Luncheon at GMHC. For 70 years, the GMHC Auxiliary has supported the hospital in achieving its vision of transforming the health and wellness of the communities we serve with personalized and convenient care. Auxiliary members volunteer in the GMHC Gift Shop and help with fundraising activities. Our auxiliary is invaluable to GMHC, purchasing equipment for GMHC with fundraising funds and supporting the community.

Awarding three $500 scholarships each year to GMHC employees or community members who wish to continue their education or start a new career in health care
Supporting Red Ribbon Week at local schools
Easter Basket sales
Christmas Cookie Walk
Monthly Walking Tacos fundraiser for GMHC staff

In 2023, the Auxiliary supported the hospital and community by donating the following: Wheelchair Scale ($2608), Four Healthcare Scholarships ($2000), PICC / IV Training Arm ($3110), Red Ribbon Week ($400), Shepherd of the Hills ($400), Charge Nurse Leadership Course ($638) and an ECG Simulator ($912), for a total of $10,068.

Membership

The Auxiliary continues to be successful with the help of its members. Membership dues are $10 annually and open to all interested adults who want to volunteer their time and talents as much or as little as their time allows. Whether you are a crafter, a baker, or you just enjoy people and would like to work in the Gift Shop or help in any way possible, the Auxiliary needs you. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in the GMHC Education Center and attendance is optional.

Cookie Walk Dec. 1 & 2

The Auxiliary Cookie Walk is on Fri., Dec. 1, from 10 am–3 pm, and Sat., Dec. 2, from 9 am–11 am. Besides a large variety of cookies, there will be many beautiful and delicious items including pies, cakes, breads, muffins, jams, jellies and candy. The Gift Shop will be open and will feature gifts, decorations and many stocking stuffers. Donations of baked goods can be delivered to the GMHC Education Center on Friday, Dec. 1. If you would like to volunteer to help at the Cookie Walk, call or stop by the Gift Shop to sign up.

As part of National Rural Health Day, Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics today announced it has been recognized with a 2023 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in 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.

“We continue to receive awards for the care our patients experience here at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics. This speaks volumes to the quality of professional staff on our team. We couldn’t be more proud to be here for the communities we serve,” said Tim Ahlers, FACHE, CEO.

The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. INDEX data is relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health around the country to measure and monitor performance across several areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

“Wherever we go in rural America, we witness first-hand the commitment, determination, and compassion with which rural hospitals serve their communities. Rural healthcare truly is mission-driven,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “This National Rural Health Day, let us recognize the efforts of this year’s Performance Leadership Award winners and all those driven to deliver high quality care throughout rural communities.”

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.

“Guttenberg,” Cathy said without hesitation to the paramedics. It was an easy decision. Her doctors were there, and she was already familiar with the quality care she would receive there.

It was a very rainy morning on April 22, 2022, when Cathy Wiskus stopped on the way to work for gas in New Vienna. She was walking to the entrance of the store to pay when an SUV hit her on the right side of her body. She recalled being up in the air for a bit before landing on her left side, and noticing that her leg had flopped over. She couldn’t move it. Several people came to attend to her needs, cover her with a coat and call 911. The ambulance quickly arrived, and she was on her way to her requested hospital, Guttenberg Municipal Hospital.

The accident happened near the end of COVID, when getting a hospital to take on new patients was very difficult. Cathy stayed in the ER at GMHC for most of the day as staff made her as comfortable as possible with a broken femur until they could get her transferred. Finally, she was accepted at the University of Iowa and was transferred there promptly.

Surgery was postponed for four days because the break in her femur was at a difficult angle. The surgeon decided to put in a plate and two screws instead of a rod. Soon after the surgery at UI, physical therapy was started so Cathy could keep active, but not a lot could be done yet with the injured leg.

Shortly after the surgery, she was given the good news that she could return to GMHC, but after testing positive for COVID, the trip would have to wait. What might have been a shorter stay at the U of I turned into a much longer one. Visitors were limited to one per day at that time, so her husband and son had to decide who could see her, and with limited visitors, it was a long and tough stay for Cathy. Her friends helped lift her spirits with frequent calls to check on her progress.

After returning to GMHC as an inpatient for skilled care and seeing her primary care provider, Dr. McCaw, Cathy told him how much she missed the special care that GMHC delivers. “I don’t know where I would be if I couldn’t have received that care here, close to home, from people I know,” she explained, “It was hard being in a big hospital away from family during that time.” He answered Cathy with, “Sometimes a big hospital can do what a little hospital can’t, and other times a little hospital can do what a big hospital can’t.”

On Mother’s Day, Cathy was still in quarantine, and was worried what kind of day she would have. The nurses were still able to make it a special Mother’s Day for her. “And Lynn, the social worker called me every day in my room to see how I was doing. She couldn’t always come in because of visiting restrictions, but she at least always called.” Cathy added.

Physical Therapy was started when Cathy was in skilled care on the patient care unit, and the realization that it would be a long road to walking again sometimes got her down. But the therapists knew how to keep the mood light while still requiring the needed work of rehabilitation. One day when she looked out the window and saw someone walking across the parking lot, Cathy was especially emotional because at the time, that seemed so out of reach for her. Amber, her Physical Therapist Assistant for the day, reminded her that she would get there one day, too, but she would have to go through the small steps to reach that goal. She told Cathy, “Right now, this is part of your journey, and some day you will be able to reflect on it with more understanding.”

A while later, while working with Physical Therapy Assistant, Sydney, Cathy was asked to walk through the parallel bars without holding them, and when she reached the end, Sydney said, “Keep going and walk alone!” Cathy commented, “She gave me confidence and knew how to make me feel good. Really, the people here have hearts of gold.”

Released from skilled care, Cathy returned to her home in Colesburg in June. Occupational Therapist, Karla, and Amber, PT Assistant, went along to make the home as accessible and safe as they could for Cathy. The ramp was a little hard to navigate with her walker, so a friend lent them a wheelchair so she could be at home to recover.

Sometimes, doing her therapy at home was difficult, just like it could be when she was working with the Physical Therapists, but Cathy’s husband helped her stay motivated so she could reach her goals. During this period of rehab, she had one long-distance visit via the computer with her surgeon in Iowa City. In December, she had an in-person visit with him and he said that she wouldn’t need to come back. He was pleasantly surprised at how well and completely the bone had healed.

Cathy has returned to work and other normal activities with only a lifting pound restriction. She tells others about the care she receives at GMHC, adding, “Everyone knows how I feel about GMHC, because I am always talking about it, and recommending it to others. GMHC is my go-to place for local healthcare!”

“I hadn’t really tried anything for the pain,” she replied. “I was just living with it.”

In November 2022, Judi Althoff, Surgery Receptionist at GMHC, had been experiencing pain in her lower back that just seemed to come out of nowhere. It was a very debilitating pain that caused her to have to get ‘psyched up’ just to get out of a chair. “I would then have to get my bearings and I couldn’t walk without pain and limping, so it took me a long time to get anywhere,” Judi added. “I walk for exercise, and it was taking me 25 minutes to walk a mile.”

Judi had never had back pain in her life before this, and since there is a pain clinic right here at GMHC where she works, she decided to see if they could help her. They first started with trigger points by placing a needle with steroids and numbing medicine in the area that hurt.

Judi then had an MRI which showed a bulging disc and arthritis in her back. An epidural steroid injection was given to treat the pain in these areas but would take 10-14 days to take effect. Once that pain was under control, a different pain emerged in another area of her lower back. For a while, it was treated with Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Lumbar X-rays revealed that a facet joint in her spine was pressing on a nerve and causing the pain.

The next step was to test her left side, since there was more pain on that side which also traveled down her leg. A numbing agent was injected that lasted for 3-4 hours. If her pain stayed away, the test would be repeated. After two successful attempts to keep the pain controlled, she was a candidate for radio frequency treatment (RF).

For the RF treatment, needles were inserted into the nerve that was causing pain, the nerve was “burned” and the pain disappeared. After about a week, Judi’s pain was completely gone. That was in March 2023. Now in October 2023, she remains pain-free. If the pain should return within two years of treatment, she can have the RF again without going through all the pre-testing.

“It is so nice to have this treatment available,” Judi commented. “It has helped me significantly because I am no longer living with all that pain and discomfort. I would recommend anyone with unwanted pain to check out the Pain Clinic at GMHC.”

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