As we wrap up 2019, I want to share my sincere thanks to you — members of our community. Thank you for trusting us to care for you and your family when you need it most.

I also want to thank our team of health care professionals. I am so proud of all that we accomplished this year and the positive impact we made in our community. These are just a few highlights that I’m most proud of for 2019.

• UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge experienced a $9 million turnaround. This financial stability means UnityPoint Health is in a place where we can reinvest in programs and services, as well as our community, to better serve the members of our community.

• New partnership with Center for Neurosciences, Orthopaedics & Spine, PC (commonly referred to as “CNOS”), based out of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, which is adjacent to Sioux City. CNOS is a long-standing independent physician group that is known for its excellence in the field of orthopedics. And, locally our Fort Dodge Orthopedic team continues to grow.

-Submitted photo
UnityPoint Health donated several boxes of food for the Food Pantry at Fort Dodge Senior High. Stefanie Koenig, at left, Amanda Lyon and Leah Glasgo delivered the boxes of food to the school.

• We received a number of awards including:

Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health for the fourth year in a row. Regarded as one of the industry’s most significant designations of performance excellence, the annual Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals award is based upon the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX® from iVantage Health Analytics. Trinity is one of four Iowa hospitals to receive this distinction in 2019; Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks; American Stroke Association’s Get with The Guidelines® Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award; Center for Excellence for our Wound Healing Center, which has received this recognition for the sixth year in a row; and CDC recognition on the performance of Trinity Healthy Living and Diabetes team’s pre-diabetes program. This cohort group for prediabetes had an average weight loss of 8.1 percent.

• The launch of an innovative hospital medicine telehealth program leveraging technology through a partnership with Eagle Telemedicine to provide general inpatient care overnight.

• Major renovation of our inpatient unit, Highland Herum Center for Acute Care, made possible by the generous donation of Floyd Herum.

• Creation of the Community Education Resource Center to provide mental health training to community stakeholders.

• We welcomed 25 new providers to our team.

• Accomplished many amazing “Do Good Together” initiatives. Through local sponsorships, pay-it-forward events (i.e. handing out towels and chapstick at local pools, and paying for “Frozen 2” movie tickets) to food, clothing and toiletries drives; and hosting community events like Festival of Christmas, there were countless ways UnityPoint Health gave back to our community. In return, we hope we made life a little better for someone else.

We’ve accomplished a lot this year and when 2020 rolls in, I know the UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge team will be ready.

Ready to tackle the health care industry’s toughest challenges. Ready to take on new opportunities. Ready to lead, grow and evolve for our patients and team members. Ready to show each person who walks through our doors just how much they matter.

As we look to 2020, I’m excited about the possibilities and how we will continue to work to meet the needs of our community. Our overarching goal is to be the premiere healthcare provider in the Midwest. We will do that by focusing on four key areas: patient experience, employee engagement, ensuring financial stability and growing our services to meet our community’s needs. Through collaboration with all health care professionals, our patients and their families, and community stake holders, I’m confident, together we will make a difference.

Wishing you, and the ones who matter the most to you, a happy and healthy new year!

Leah Glasgo is the chief executive officer at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center.