Greater Regional named a top healthcare workplace

Celebration and excitement permeated Monday’s meeting of the Greater Regional Health board, where new grants, new capital purchases and an exciting designation as one of the top workplaces in the nation underlined success at the rural hospital.

Additional excitement came from getting to work on using a grant received from the Rural Health Transformation Program. This grant, which awards the hospital slightly over $2.5 million, will be used to acquire a new robotics surgical system.

The Da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system, requested by Michelle King, was approved for purchase during Monday’s meeting. Dr. Hynek McFarland of the hospital’s surgical department attended the meeting to accurately describe the system.

King said the benefits for this robotic surgical system extends to the patient’s health, citing improved clinical outcomes, lower infection rate, shorter length of stay for patients and quicker recovery time. The machine would be used for general surgery, urology and OB-GYN operations.

In rural hospitals across Southwest Iowa, this system isn’t available; Greater Regional would be the premier hospital for operations using the Da Vinci 5.

The surgical system will cost the hospital about $2.87 million, but with the grant the hospital will only use $367,654.06 out of the hospital’s funds. The system is expected to be ready for surgeries by May.

Additionally, another grant which will be used for recruitment from the Rural Healthcare Workforce Recruitment will see GRH hire for two new positions in the oncology department — a registered nurse and an advanced registered nurse practitioner.

The board took a moment to applaud the hospital’s recognition in a widely-respected medical journal. Becker’s Hospital Review named Greater Regional Health in a list of the top 165 hospitals to work for in the United States. GRH was listed alongside UnityPoint Health in West Des Moines and the University of Iowa Hospital, the only three hospitals in Iowa to be recognized.

“Since its founding in 1919, [Greater Regional] has expanded access to care through four rural health clinics, as well as a recently completed lab and clinic expansion designed to support advanced diagnostics, workforce growth and improved patient access,” Anna Falvey wrote in the article.

“As one of the largest employers in the region, Greater Regional Health now employs more than 550 individuals. The organization has experienced steady workforce growth driven by strong community reputation and demand.”

Another award the hospital has received is the Voluntary Protections Programs certification as a star program from OSHA, notable for GRH being one of the two hospitals in the nation with the certification. The award recognizes superior safety standards within the hospital.

In other Greater Regional Health news...

Besides the robotics system, three other capital acquisitions were approved during Monday’s meeting. Matt Buck requested new power units for the service elevator, described by Buck as the hospital’s oldest elevator. Some components on the lift were estimated by Buck to be as old as 1984. The new power units would add a submersible pump and cost about $77,960.

If an outage to the hospital ever occurs, Greater Regional wants to be ready. Jacob Cook requested 20 new uninterrupted power supply replacements for the hospital’s electrical systems which will be used in the event of a power outage. The new UPSs will help standardize equipment and will be connected to a management console. Total cost will be $52,993.80.

Samantha Crantz, representing the recently expanded radiology department, requested new Phillips ultrasound machines which will be used for the department’s new third radiology room. Three new machines will be fitted in the room and can be used for cardiology procedures as well. The three machines will cost $464,583.

Chief Financial Officer Matt McCutchan presented good news for the hospital’s financials in January, with revenue 1% over budget. Expenses were 1% over budget and an operating loss of 2% meets the hospital’s budget for the period.

While year-to-date financials were still under expectations, McCutchan had faith in approved funds from the Medicaid direct payment program making up the deficit, which the hospital will receive in March.