Dallas County Hospital News

Dallas County Hospital is working with you and your community to make Dallas County a healthy place to live.  Please click on the following links to see what we have been up to. 
The links will not open into new windows - please click the back button to return to the DCH website. 

Hospital Creates $8.3 Million Impact on Local Economy

One in Five Iowa Jobs Linked to Health Care, Study Shows

DES MOINES – Dallas County Hospital generates 198 jobs that add $8,313,919 to the Dallas County economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association.  In addition, Dallas County Hospital employees by themselves spend $2,965,253 on retail sales and contribute $177,915 in state sales tax revenue.

“Dallas County Hospital has a longstanding tradition of not only providing quality, compassionate healthcare, but of also being a responsible steward of our economic resources,” said Laurie Conner, Dallas County Hospital CEO. “In light of the current economic situation, now more than ever, Dallas County Hospital is dedicated to providing economic support to Dallas County and the communities we serve.”

The IHA study examined the jobs, income, retail sales and sales tax produced by hospitals and the rest of the state’s health care sector.  The study was compiled from hospital-submitted data on the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey of Hospitals and with software that other industries have used to determine their economic impact.

The study found that Iowa hospitals directly employ 74,027 people and create another 73,953 jobs outside the hospital sector.  As an income source, hospitals provide $3.65 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $2.5 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.

IHA data show Iowa hospitals added 4,611 employees and more than $747 million to their payrolls (including benefits) between 2004 and 2008, the year for which the latest hospital data is available.

In all, Iowa’s health care sector, which includes employed clinicians, long-term care services and assisted living centers, pharmacies and other medical and health services, directly and indirectly provides 354,907 Iowa jobs, or more than one-fifth of the state’s total employment.

“Iowa enjoys the economic security that comes with having one of the finest health care systems in the nation,” said Kirk Norris, IHA president/CEO.  “Iowa hospitals are at the foundation of Iowa’s economy and remain major employers and business partners in all parts of the state.  Just as no one provides the services and community benefits found at our hospitals, there is also no substitute for the jobs hospitals provide and create.”

Dallas County Hospital Lifts Flu Season Visitor Guidelines

Dallas County Hospital is pleased to announce that the flu season visitor guidelines implemented in November will be lifted, effective immediately.

Significant vaccination of Iowans for (Novel Type A) H1N1 flu and seasonal flu vaccinations have helped make this possible. The state continues to experience reductions in cases of Novel H1N1 illnesses. Confirmed cases of seasonal flu have yet to be detected. We will continue to work diligently with public health officials to monitor flu activity. We will also continue to recommend vaccinations for both the Novel H1N1 flu and seasonal flu.

The Iowa flu season lasts typically through March. Because of this, the general public will still be asked to observe basic guidelines and health hygiene when visiting our faculties. All visitors need to be in good health. If a staff member sees visitors coughing or sneezing, they may request the visitor to 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.

Dallas County Hospital would like to thank you for patience and understanding during this challenging flu season. Your help has allowed us to successfully provide the appropriate care for all of the people we serve. 

News Archive