Iowa Hospital Association

IHA honors the dedication and hard work of all of Iowa's rural hospitals and their employees. Your commitment to serving rural communities is truly commendable. Thank you for all that you do to ensure access to quality health care for everyone. #NationalRuralHealthDay #HealthcareHeroes

Dallas County Hospital Earns 2024 Performance Leadership Award?? from The Chartis Center for Rural Health! As part of National Rural Health Day, Dallas County Hospital today announced it has earned a 2024 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in?Patient Perspective. Compiled by?The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards recognize top quartile performance (i.e., 75th?percentile or above) among rural hospitals in Quality, Outcomes and/or Patient Perspective.? The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX?, a comprehensive and objective framework for assessing how rural hospitals are performing. INDEX benchmarks are relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure performance across multiple areas impacting hospital operations and finance. We wish all fellow rural hospitals a Happy National Rural Health Day!

IHA’s Hospital Heroes celebrates employees who have acted courageously or selflessly served their hospitals and communities throughout their careers. Spencer Hospital's Dr. David Keith redefines what it means to care for patients: https://bit.ly/3Oi6VDj

IHA’s Hospital Heroes program celebrates employees who have acted courageously in a moment’s crisis or selflessly served their hospitals and communities throughout their careers. IHA presented 11 Hospital Heroes Awards at its annual meeting last month. Sara Beth Jones is the director of nursing supervision and sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator at Cass Health in Atlantic. One night, Jones encountered a frequent emergency room visitor with a history of substance abuse. Although others may have overlooked the patient’s plea for help, Jones saw beyond the surface, recognizing her as a victim of human trafficking. Through her specialized training and empathetic approach, Jones provided her with the care and support she desperately needed. She ensured the patient’s safety and personally facilitated her journey to freedom. Jones' actions didn’t just save her life – they transformed it. https://bit.ly/3Cqfidi

IHA’s Hospital Heroes program celebrates employees who have acted courageously in a moment’s crisis or selflessly served their hospitals and communities throughout their careers. IHA presented 11 Hospital Heroes Awards at its annual meeting last month. Dr. Scot Christiansen has dedicated over 30 years to compassionate care in northeast Iowa. Known affectionately as Dr. C., he excels for his patients, whether making house calls, delivering babies or stabilizing trauma cases. His tireless commitment extends to all aspects of care, from inpatient and nursing home services to wound clinics, often working nights and weekends to ensure his patients are well cared for. Dr. C. is a trusted figure in his community, providing personalized care and even offering his cell phone number for emergencies. His deep respect for the Amish community and his willingness to meet patients where they are, both physically and spiritually, set him apart. Dr. C. is not just a physician but a neighbor, friend and silent donor who has positively affected countless lives. https://bit.ly/4fBw0EJ

IHA’s Hospital Heroes program celebrates employees who have acted courageously in a moment’s crisis or selflessly served their hospitals and communities throughout their careers. IHA presented 11 Hospital Heroes Awards at its annual meeting last month. Hammel is the heart and soul of Iowa Specialty Hospital, Clarion, where his dedication and kindness have made an indelible mark. After years as a full-time cook, Hammel retired, only to return part-time, bringing back his wealth of knowledge and a spirit that uplifts everyone around him. Whether guiding new employees or helping seasoned staff, Hammel’s presence is a source of comfort and inspiration. His homemade desserts are legendary, and his quiet generosity genuinely defines him. Hammel regularly takes leftover food from the hospital, transforms it into meals and delivers it to a homeless shelter in Des Moines without fanfare or recognition. His humility and compassion exemplify what it means to be a Hospital Hero. The entire hospital was excited when Hammel decided to return. His kindness, compassion and giving spirit make him a cherished Iowa Specialty Hospital family member. https://bit.ly/4fBP5H5

At today’s HPCAI Fall Conference in West Des Moines, hospice volunteers from throughout the state were recognized. Attending the event were (back row) Rockey Roberts, Hospice of Washington County, Ainsworth; Ann Wagoner, UnityPoint Health Hospice, Urbandale; Sue Bakkar, Cherokee Regional Medical Center Hospice, Cherokee; Gordon Hyke, UnityPoint Health Hospice, Urbandale, and (front row) JoDee Hewitt, Horn Hospice, Ida Grove; Connie Doudy, EveryStep, Mount Ayr; Donna Arthur, Hospice of Washington County, Ainsworth.

At the HPCAI Fall Conference in West Des Moines, members heard updates about the association’s activities and a preview of what to expect in 2025. The new board was also approved. Angie Meyer, Gundersen Health System Home Health and Hospice, was?appointed board president. In addition, Katrina Altenhofen, Hospice of Washington County, provided the governance report.

Sign up for IHA's Leadership Development Program today! The program is for health care professionals in new organizational management or leadership responsibilities. Experienced staff looking to refresh their skills and knowledge will also benefit. The program cultivates critical leadership skills and competencies to increase retention of committed, quality staff in Iowa hospitals. https://bit.ly/48mTpHT

Sign up for IHA's Leadership Development Program today! The program is for health care professionals in new organizational management or leadership responsibilities. Experienced staff looking to refresh their skills and knowledge will also benefit. The program cultivates critical leadership skills and competencies to increase retention of committed, quality staff in Iowa hospitals. https://bit.ly/48mTpHT