A recent donation has been the catalyst for a new $1.7 million capital campaign for renovations at Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC). CEO, Linn Block, says the project includes expansion of the Senior Life Solutions program space, an upgrade to the hospital pharmacy and the addition of a negative-pressure isolation room. Even though this has been in the works for the past 12 to 18 months, the gift of nearly $300,000 from the late Leana and Donald Kalkhoff jump started the campaign. “Although the hospital is only seven years old, we must continue to evolve to meet the needs of current and future patients,” Block says. “This renovation project will allow us to serve numerous residents each year in west central Iowa and meet regulatory requirements.” In the past year, the award-winning Senior Life Solutions program, an intensive outpatient group therapy program for seniors living with symptoms of age-related depression or anxiety, has seen 188 referrals and served 64 are
Six area nurses have been honored as members of the 2021 100 Great Iowa Nurses. This annual award recognizes those nurses who have made meaningful and lasting contributions, not only to their patients, but to their families, their colleagues and the nursing profession as a whole. These individuals are also viewed as mentors by other nursing professionals. Three of these six work at St. Anthony Regional Hospital: Nicole Schwering of Glidden who is the Director of Carroll County Public Health; Kari Hammer of Carroll, Employee Health nurse; and Sara Roth of Lake View who is Emergency Department Director. Two from the Guthrie County Hospital receiving awards are Stephany Brondum of Stuart and Kassie Cline of Casey. Jill Arp of Manning, Infection Prevention and Employee Health nurse at Manning Regional Healthcare Center rounds out the list of honorees.
As Manning Regional Healthcare Center continues to contact patients in phase 1B for the first round of Moderna vaccinations, they report they have already administered more than 200 doses. They began contacting those patients who are classified in this phase by phone in early February and began the public vaccinations on Monday, Feb. 8. They continue to administer these as additional doses become available. “This is a two-shot series given 28 days apart,” explains Jen Morris, ParmD. “This vaccine was approved under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in December of 2020.” And because it is such a new vaccine and because of the expedited process, MRHC CEO, Linn Block, says it is natural for patients to have questions and concerns. “Our staff felt it was important to make sure patients who receive the vaccine are educated about the vaccine and receive the same information we do as healthcare professionals.” To that end, the MRHC team is sharing details, such as who sho
It is a new year and Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) recently announced a long-time employee will be their new director for the Manning Recovery Center. Taya Vonnahme, has taken the helm and will graduate with an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) degree in February. They have also announced a new Information Technology (IT) Director, B.J. Schreck. As a lifelong resident of Carroll County, Schreck says he is excited for this chance to get back to working with a local, small-town Iowa organization. “I realize how big of a footprint MRHC leaves, not only in the local area, but across many levels of the medical industry, and I know that as the organization continues to grow and expand that footprint, I’ll also have the chance to grow personally and professionally, right along with them,” Schreck says. Schreck comes to MRHC from American Home Shield, where he held various roles over the past 15 years, and has served in the Iowa National Guard.
As many Iowa seniors await notification that they will be receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, a special program at Manning Regional Healthcare Center is staying busy, helping them through the added difficulties of COVID-19 restrictions. CEO, Linn Block, says their Senior Life Solutions program, for seniors who are suffering from age-related stress and anxiety, has seen growth in utilization over the past couple of years, and even more so since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.