Thursday, September 29, 2016

Cu 29 - Nature at its Best

This past month Grinnell Regional Medical Center and Grinnell College concluded a year and half long study looking into the effectiveness of using copper alloy materials in a hospital setting. The study was administered by Shannon Hinsa-Leasure, Ph.D., associate professor at Grinnell College and a research team of undergraduate students.

“This study is the first to demonstrate that copper alloy surfaces maintain reduced bacterial numbers in unoccupied and occupied patient rooms,” Hinsa-Leasure said. “This is in contrast to control rooms, where bacterial numbers rebound following terminal cleaning to levels comparable to those found in occupied control rooms.”

For the research, half of the patient rooms at GRMC were fitted with CuVerro copper alloys
and its germ-killing properties on high-touch surfaces. During the study, patient rooms were cleaned daily and subjected to a final, or terminal, cleaning upon patient discharge. High-touch areas were swabbed in occupied and unoccupied rooms and aerobic bacterial counts were determined for comparison purposes. GRMC’s size allowed it to be able to devote certain rooms that are rarely occupied to remain unoccupied for the length of study to act as a control. 

GRMC’s move to copper surfaces was initiated in the name of patient safety and reducing risks of healthcare-acquired infections. Studies have found that pathogens can survive for days to months on dry surfaces, making it difficult to maintain the current suggested standard for surface-level cleanliness. However, since the research found significantly fewer bacteria on copper alloy products, more rooms will be outfitted with the same life-saving copper alloys to reduce risk of hospital acquired infections.

Hinsa-Leasure explains that “This [study] is key to protecting newly admitted patients from contracting infections through commonly touched surfaces, even when they are considered clean, and is integral to an effective infection-control strategy.”


Further details about the research can be found at www.grinnell.edu/academics/areas/biology/research/copper.

Written by Noah Segal, GRMC intern

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Are Your Children Safe?

Did you know…
  • Road injuries are the leading cause of unintentional deaths to children in the United States.
  • Of those children ages eight and under, who died in vehicle crashes in 2014, 26 percent were not restrained by an age-appropriate device, such as an infant seat, booster seat, or seat belt.
  • Children should ride in a vehicle back seat until they are at least 13 years old.

Thankfully, GRMC offers car seat safety inspections! Watch for dates of future car safety seat inspections. Here is what you can expect to learn at future inspections:
  • You will learn if you are using the correct car seat style for your child;
  • What car seat to use in the event that you have the wrong kind of car seat;
  • How to properly install the car seat into your vehicle, including the direction the car seat faces;
  • And how to seat your child in the car seat, using the correct placement for straps, clips, etc.

Like GRMC on Facebook and check the GRMC website (www.grmc.us) and be one of the first to know about our 2017 car seat safety inspections!

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Thursday, September 15, 2016

Cancer Care Beyond Compare

Alicia Rohach, RN, and former chemotherapy patient Effie Hall.
Did you know…
  • Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer found in men in the United States?
  • Prostate cancer often has no early symptoms? Or the symptoms can mirror a benign prostate condition?
  • Finding and treating prostate cancer before symptoms occur may not improve health or help you live longer?
  • Grinnell Regional Medical Center can provide quality cancer care close to home?

That’s right, fellas, trying to treat this common cancer before symptoms occur—if the symptoms show up right away—may be wasted effort. However, when the time comes to take care of your cancer needs, consider GRMC!

Advanced diagnostic options allow area residents to undergo testing, medical and surgical treatments, and recovery/rehabilitation while remaining in the community where they feel comfortable. Family practice physicians, surgeons, a visiting oncologist, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory services all partner to provide the best care and treatment options. Even if your oncologist is located elsewhere, GRMC can still provide this service to you with an order form from your doctor.

Should your treatment plan call for chemotherapy or an infusion treatment, we have space dedicated to treat you. Located on the first floor of the medical center, the GRMC Auxiliary Chemotherapy and Infusion Suite is a gorgeous space flooded with natural light and windows. Shadows of plant etching on the glass grace the floor and walls, working to create a soothing environment.

To learn more or to take a virtual tour of the GRMC Auxiliary Chemotherapy and Infusion Suite, please visit http://bit.ly/GRMCTour.

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Thursday, September 8, 2016

Blending May Help Mending

The use of essential oils as a natural alternative or supplement to medication has increased over the past few years. Essential oils are oils derived from plants. They maintain the fragrance of the plants they come from, and are used in perfumes and aromatherapy. Essential oils have proven to be useful tools in accentuating the benefits of massage therapy by using the two together.

The team at Postels Community Health Park is pairing massage therapy and essential oils to the advantage of their patients. For example, lavender is used to melt away stress. Stop the sniffles by using eucalyptus. Feel more alert after diffusing a drop of peppermint oil. Repel mosquitos with the help of Skeeter Away. These essential oils and essential oils blends—along with dozens of others—are available at Postels Community Health Park and The Glass Gift Box at GRMC. You can also learn the ins and outs of essential oils at the upcoming Mix ‘N’ Go party!

Join Casie Olson, LMT, certified aroma therapist, as she gives you the tools to help with arthritis/pain, headaches, sleep, stress management, muscle aches, and colds/flu, all with the help of 100% pure essential oils. She’ll even show you how to make your own custom blend to take home, which can be made in the form of a cream, roll-on, inhaler, or bath salts.


The Mix ‘N’ Go party is Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Postels. For $25 per person, you will receive essential oil education, one essential oil blend, and snacks. Additional blends may be made for $10 each. Childcare is available for $2 per child. Please RSVP to ext. 2953 if you will need childcare.