Local Health Leader Appointed to IHA Board

Donna Vandehaar, RN, Chief Clinical Officer, Dallas County Hospital, Perry, Iowa was recently appointed to the Iowa Hospital Association’s (IHA) Board. 

Vandehaar, who has been a nurse for 36 years, has been at Dallas County Hospital since 2005 and is a member of the IHA Council on Education and Member Services. She received her nurse’s training at Iowa Lutheran School of Nursing. She also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota. In 1999, Vandehaar was named the Outstanding Nurse Executive by the Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaser (IONL). She served as IONL president that same year.

The Iowa Hospital Association is the organization that represents Iowa Hospitals and supports them in achieving their mission and goals. As Iowa’s most trusted, respected, and influential leader in health policy and advocacy, IHA is committed to Integrity, Leadership, Innovation and Engagement.

For more information regarding IHA, please contact the Iowa Hospital Association at (515) 288-1955, or visit them online of ihaonline.org.

Dallas County Hospital Foundation Receives TV Donation

The Dallas County Hospital Foundation recently received a new 46-inch flat screen television donated by Dave and Kurt Moyer of Archer Home Center in Adel, Iowa and Rob Manning of Manning Ag Service in Granger, Iowa. The television, placed in the Hospital’s South Atrium, will run educational and operational programming about the services offered at Dallas County Hospital.

“The Dallas County Hospital Foundation sincerely appreciates the generous donation of these two Dallas County business leaders," said Ryan Smith, Development Director at Dallas County Hospital. “It is through support like this that the Dallas County Hospital Foundation is able to provide services and opportunities that make a difference in the lives of the people of Dallas County.”

Archer Home Center is a flooring, appliance, electronics and furniture store located in Adel, Iowa. Manning Ag Service is a rural Agricultural Service Company located in Granger, Iowa.

For more information about the Dallas County Hospital Foundation, or to make a donation, please call Ryan Smith at 515.465.7585 or visit us online at dallascohospital.org.

 Dallas County Hospital Tightens Visitor Guidelines

To protect our high-risk patients from the H1N1 flu, Dallas County Hospital is implementing enhanced visitor guidelines this flu season.

Visitor Guidelines
To protect patients, families and healthcare staff, visitors to all areas of the hospital will be limited, effective immediately. These guidelines are temporary and in effect during the flu season, and are subject to change as necessary. The enhanced guidelines are as follows:

• No more than two visitors at a time.
• Visitors need to be 18 years of age and older.
• Exceptions may be made for cases involving critically-ill patients or end-of-life situations.

All visitors need to be in good health. If a staff member sees visitors coughing or sneezing, they may request the visitor wear a mask, or request the visitor to leave the patient care area. Visitors should refrain from visiting if they have had flu-like symptoms during the past seven days. Those symptoms include, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC):

• Fever 100º degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and
• Cough, and/or
• Sore throat

Additionally, to help prevent the spread of illness, all visitors are required to wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand foam/gel upon entering and exiting a patient’s room.

If you are visiting an ill patient, you may be required to wear a mask. Masks are provided for your protection as well as for those around you, to help prevent the spread of flu-like illnesses.

Dallas County Hospital will continue to partner with Dallas County Public Health to monitor the status of the H1N1 influenza and its potential impact on our patients. Additionally, we will continue to review our visitation polices and adjust accordingly as the need changes.

More information about seasonal and H1N1 influenza is available by visiting the Iowa Department of Public Health Web site at: www.idph.state.ia.us. A statewide toll-free hotline is available for public questions about seasonal and H1N1 influenza at 1-800-447-1985. Additional H1N1 links are also available online at www.dallascohospital.org.

Rehab Services Honored as Service Hero of the Month

Rehab Services (which includes physical, occupational, and speech therapies) was voted Dallas County Hospital’s Service Hero of the Month in September. Rehab ranked in the top 1% in patient satisfaction for the first quarter, and all of the surveys returned this quarter gave Rehab a perfect score. Over the past 12 months, 95% of the survey questions returned for Rehab Services have been a 5, or “very good.”

Patient satisfaction results are calculated from surveys that patients fill out based on their experiences at DCH. The surveys are distributed and returned to a third party for confidentiality, and then compared to hospitals in a 100-mile radius of DCH.

“I’ve let everyone know how pleased I am with your facility, and how well I like the staff & care received,” said one patient. “I'm a regular, so I am treated very well as we get to know each other,” said another patient.

“I like to work in this field because 99% of my patients get better.” said Teresa White, physical therapy assistant, “It is such a pleasure to be able to assist someone in returning to their normal life, and sometimes a more improved life. Even the patients that may not return to their normal lifestyle, it is with great joy that while working with them, they are able to achieve successes and to teach them alternative ways of doing normal activities,” White said. “I love my profession. It is more than therapy; it helps people change their lives. I have never left a day of work not feeling rewarded in knowing that I have helped at least one person that day.”

The Rehab department provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Dallas County Hospital works with therapists from 21^st Century Rehab to provide compassionate, quality care close to home.