News in December, 2015

Great River QuickCare closing early Monday

Because of weather conditions, Great River QuickCare will close at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28. The clinic’s normal hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A service of Great River Health System, Great River QuickCare provides affordable treatment of common illnesses. The clinic is intended for people without a family physician or for when an ...

Great River Health Fitness to open at 7 a.m. Tuesday

Great River Health Fitness will delay its opening from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, because of icy and snowy conditions. Great River Health Fitness offers memberships to the community for unlimited use of its wellness gym and therapy pools, and most land and water classes. A member of the Medical Fitness Association, it provides: Expertise in helping clients with health problems to minimize ...

Great River Health Systems' Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program certified

Great River Health System’ Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program recently earned three-year certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The organization also certifies the health system’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs help people with heart-related and lung problems recover faster and ...

Insurance enrollment event set for Dec. 12 at Great River Medical Center

Certified application counselors will help people sign up for insurance through the Healthcare Marketplace from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, in Great River Medical Center’s lobby, 1221 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. The annual open-enrollment period for applying for health insurance or making changes closes Jan. 15. The Health Insurance Marketplace helps consumers find health coverage ...

Great River Medical Center receives $105,250 American Heart Association grant

Great River Medical Center has received a $105,250 American Heart Association grant to support its participation in Mission: Lifeline, the association’s community-based initiative aimed at improving the system of care for heart attack patients throughout rural Iowa. About 30 percent of heart attacks are the most serious type – ST-elevated myocardial infarction, or STEMI, in which blood ...

Great River Friends Love Trees remember, honor loved ones

The holiday season is a time of remembrance, and Great River Friends offers an opportunity to help. Loved ones are remembered and honored each year through its Love Tree program. Their names will be placed on donors’ choice of three trees at Great River Health System. With donations of $25 or more per person, name cards will be accompanied by ornaments. Love Trees are in: Great River Hospice ...

Great River Friends to hold book and gift fair Dec. 10, 11

In keeping with its mission to support Great River Health System, Great River Friends is sponsoring a Books Are Fun book and gift fair from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in the Mercy Plaza lobby, 1225 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. Besides books, hundreds of items will be available at reduced prices. They include educational products, toys, music ...

Great River Home Health and Hospice introduces The Conversation Project

In recognition of National Home Care and Hospice Month, Great River Home Health and Hospice is introducing a new initiative titled The Conversation Project. Its goal is to ensure everyone’s wishes for end-of-life care are expressed and respected. The public-engagement campaign was developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Goodman. According to The ...

New Group Forms to Fulfill Dreams of Hospice Patients

A new Burlington Community High School club is working to fulfill the wishes of Great River Hospice patients. The 40 members of the new DreamCatchers chapter have planned a fundraising rally Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Aldo Leopold Middle School, 3075 Sunnyside, Burlington. The doors will open at 6 p.m. for a silent auction and raffle ticket sales. Caitlin Crommett, founder of the international ...

Great River Hospice Offers Holiday Grief Workshop

Great River Hospice is sponsoring a workshop to help people cope with loss during the holidays. At this time of year, events that once were anticipated with joy may become painful reminders that loved ones are no longer here to celebrate. Turkey, Tinsel and Tears: Coping with Grief at the Holidays is scheduled from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in the gathering room at Great River Klein ...

Great River Health Systems craft fair scheduled Nov. 12

Great River Health Systems’ Employee and Volunteer Craft Fair is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Thursday, Nov. 12, in Mercy Plaza Lobby, 1225 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. More than 35 employees and volunteers will offer handmade items including candles, clothing, home décor, jewelry, needlework, primitives, stained glass and wooden toys.

SHIIP Provides Help With Medicare Enrollment

Reviewing Medicare Part D drug coverage with a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselor can save seniors’ money while helping them get the medicines they need. SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa that provides unbiased information to help Iowans make decisions about Medicare and other health coverage. Medicare’s annual open-enrollment period ...

Great River Health Systems first in Iowa to use new stent

Great River Medical Center is the first hospital in Iowa to use a new stent for treating coronary artery disease. The Food and Drug Administration approved the new everolimus-eluting platinum chromium coronary stent in early October after more than 10 years of research. Stents are tiny metal mesh tubes that hold open clogged arteries, allowing blood to flow freely to the heart. Drug-eluting or ...

Sleep therapy open house set for Nov. 18, 19

Heritage Medical Equipment and Supplies will host a Sleep Therapy Open House from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 and Thursday, Nov. 19, at 624 S. Roosevelt Ave., Burlington. CPAP and BiPAP users should bring their machine only for a free maintenance check. Accessories including masks, foam and paper filters, and tubing will be available. Durable medical equipment and billing specialists ...

Great River Health Systems to collaborate with University of Iowa Health Alliance

Great River Health System announced that it is collaborating with the University of Iowa Health Alliance (UIHA), becoming the organization’s fifth member. The University of Iowa formed UIHA in 2012 to address the rapidly changing health care environment. Through the alliance, hospitals and physicians from across the state can share effective practices, education and research. Alliance ...

Sleep changes at menopause topic of Great River Health Systems program Nov. 17

Sleepless in Menopause City is the title of the last 2015 Red Hot Mamas program presented by Great River Health System. The program is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Capitol Theater, 211 N. Third St., Burlington. Anil Dhuna, M.D., medical director, Great River Sleep Disorders Center, will discuss sleep’s impact on the body, sleep stages, sleep changes at menopause and ...

Family physician joins Burlington Area Family Practice Center

Family physician Maricris Lapinid, M.D., has joined Burlington Area Family Practice Center, and she is accepting new patients. Dr. Lapinid received her medical degree from University of the Philippines. She then completed a residency at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, Pennsylvania. Dr. Lapinid also completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Texas Tech University. She is certified by the ...

Klein Center's Pratt takes top dietary award

Roxane Pratt, Great River Klein Center, received the Excellence in Long-term Supports and Services Award for Dietary Services at the recent Iowa Health Care Association/Iowa Center for Assisted Living annual meeting in Des Moines. Pratt’s efforts began with a simple act that meant so much. When she heard a Klein Center elder talking about a salad she used to make, Pratt added it to the menu. ...

Great River Health Systems Names Excellence Award Winners

Great River Health System presented Excellence in Practice Awards Thursday, May 7, to five employees and one physician who have demonstrated exemplary practice or performed specific deeds that exceed expectations to help patients, patients’ families, coworkers, the community or their professions. The Clinical Excellence Award recognizes outstanding clinical care. The winner was Charlie ...

Skin changes caused by menopause topic of Great River Health Systems program

Healthy, Beautiful Skin is the title of the eighth Red Hot Mamas program presented by Great River Health System. The program is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, in the Blackhawk Room on the lower level of Mercy Plaza, 1225 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. The speaker will be Carol Menke, PA-C, Cleveland Dermatology. She will discuss skin changes caused by aging and declining estrogen ...

Great River Hospice social worker named Hospital Hero

The Iowa Hospital Association recognized Great River Hospice social worker Barbara Miller as one of its 10 Hospital Heroes Wednesday, Oct. 7, during its annual meeting in Des Moines. Hospital Heroes have performed heroic acts or have tirelessly given their time, talent or expertise to better their organizations, patients or communities. They stand out among more than 70,000 hospital employees in ...

Great River Health Systems Offers a Running Clinic

Great River Health System is offering a clinic for athletes who want to improve their running form, efficiency and speed. Running Form and Efficiency: The Secret of Speed is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 10, at Great River Athletic and Performance Center in Great River Wellness Plaza, 1401 W. Agency Road, West Burlington, Iowa. Clinic topics are: Deep water running technique and ...

Great River Friends to hold jewelry fair Oct. 21 to 23

In keeping with its mission to support Great River Health System, Great River Friends is sponsoring its last jewelry fair of the year. It is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Oct. 23, in the Mercy Plaza lobby, 1225 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. Thousands of items from Masquerade jewelry, including scarves, watches and other ...

Great River Hospice Fun Run/Walk Set for Nov. 7

The eighth annual Great River Hospice Fun Run/Walk is scheduled at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, beginning on Great River Medical Center’s campus, 1221 S. Gear Ave., West Burlington. The event is sponsored by a committee of community members who share a passion for running and Great River Hospice. Proceeds will support ongoing operations at Great River Hospice House. The entry fee for the ...

Great River Health Systems among Iowa's top workplaces

Great River Health System has been recognized as one of the best places to work in Iowa, according to a recent Des Moines Register survey. Great River Health Systems ranked 13th in the large-company category. This is the third consecutive year that Great River Health System has been named on the list. Last year, the health system ranked eighth. “Being recognized for three consecutive years ...