Greater Regional approves bid for new Greenfield clinic

Greater Regional Health board Monday approved a construction bid to build a clinic on the west side of the Greenfield square with work beginning this summer.

Greater Regional Health officials have noted the number of its patients from Adair County and strive to make health care more efficient by offering services in Greenfield rather than having to travel to Creston. Construction is expected to begin in late June with a completion date of late January 2024.

“I know that fits your timeline well to get your rural health certification,” said Major Ennen, a project manager for Murray Company, which is overseeing the construction.

Ennen said 11 of 12 subcontractors for the project are within 75 miles of Greenfield. “A lot of partners we have worked with in the past,” he said.

Board member Tom Lesan asked about the access to materials knowing supply chain issues in construction still exist.

“That’s a pretty quick timeline,” Lesan said about the schedule.

“Managing a project post-COVID is definitely different than pre-COVID,” Ennen said.

There were multiple bidders for much of the project and Murray acquired additional information from bidders to insure delays will be minimal, if any at all.

“We put them through their paces,” said Greater Regional Health CEO Monte Neitzel.

Construction costs were $2.4 million. Netizel said additional fees, contingencies, furnishings and costs make the project not to exceed $3.3 million. There were additional costs with GRH’s clinics in Mount Ayr and Lenox.

In other board news...

Carly Parker informed the board of her work with weight management, “a busy service” she said.

Obesity is only defined as additional body weight that contributes to other health issues. Her research shows 1 in 3 adults in America are considered obese and Iowa is the seventh obese state in the country. Parker said she sees at least 30 patients a week in weight management.

Parker said obesity’s perception is not accurate.

“It is not always a matter of personal choice or moral deficiency,” she said. Nutrition, hormones, medications, environment, sleep habits and mental health are other factors.

“We set goals to customize each patient,” she said. There are insurance plans that cover such treatments under certain criteria.

Parker said there are also patients who are underweight.

The obesity was noted in a community health survey in Union County two years ago.

Board member Julie Lanning was not in attendance.