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UNITYPOINT HEALTH — FORT DODGE: FACING FORWARD

Area’s largest health care provider will gain new leader

-Messenger file photo
The exterior of Trinity Regional Medical Center is shown.

The year 2019 is rolling out new needs in the medical treatment realm, as well as some more familiar patterns. We asked leaders at UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge some pointed questions about issues facing the area’s largest health care provider, which is also one of the area’s biggest employers.

Here are the questions we asked, and their answers.

Recruitment: Are the current conditions favorable for UnityPoint’s local recruitment? In asking this, I factor in local industrial/economic growth and the overall jobless rate. Knowing that recruitment is particularly at issue with the most highly trained of your personnel, talk about the climate of establishing the best possible staff for a medical center rooted in the midst of a rural area. Good? Not good? What kinds of trends are you seeing?

“Our recruitment efforts for the Fort Dodge region have been very favorable. We have seen a decrease in openings for positions in our region in 2018. There are several factors that have we attribute this success to, including our new recruitment process and system, our collaboration with Iowa Central and a focus on retention of top talent within our system. Fort Dodge and the surrounding areas have many qualified candidates that we connect with daily.”

–Amanda Lyon, Human Resource

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
UnityPoint Health Trinity Regional Medical Center microbiologist Becky Rose checks a sample panel through a sophisticated test machine that tests the DNA of microbes to aid in prescribing the correct antibiotic, antifungal or antiviral medication.

Manager, UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge

“Despite the national shortage of physicians, physician recruitment is going well for our region. We had 27 providers join UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge and have signed an additional six providers who will start in 2019 and one who will start in 2020. We continue to build relationships with medical students and residents in hopes of partnering with them in the future. In addition, we are still offering $5,000 to any community member who refers a qualified physician who is then hired to practice at UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge.”

–Amy Coleman, Physician/Provider Recruiter, UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge

New construction: UnityPoint Trinity has done some beautiful work on its campus in recent years. What’s on the horizon in terms of improvements/changes? Are there illustrations/photos/footprints available for any newly planned construction/changes? Discuss the impact that you’ve seen as a result of your most recent completed construction. What has it allowed you to improve upon?

“We are in the process of a major refresh of 3North which will become the main inpatient floor this April. Through a generous donor, a gift of $250,000 was given to Trinity Foundation to fund the renovation, which will include new flooring, painting, lighting, ceiling tiles and a few patient bathrooms at the top of the list, along several other items that will bring new life to the unit. Moving the unit from 2North to 3North will also provide two more patient rooms to accommodate more patients. We anxiously await this update as it will bring a welcoming and healing environment for both our patients and their families, as well as improve the work experience for our team members.

“Endoscopy also moved early this winter to the surgical services located at the main entrance of the hospital. This too will provide a newer space enhancing the patient and family experience.

“There are no other plans for significant building additions or changes in the near future.”

–Troy Martens, COO UnityPoint Health —

Fort Dodge

Financial condition: Times are tough for some of the smaller hospitals out there. How is UnityPoint doing locally and what would you like readers to know?

“Healthcare organizations across the country have been faced with a changing and uncertain financial and regulatory environment in the most recent years. Reduced reimbursement rates, increased charity care, and increased cost to deliver care has been some of the challenges organizations have faced. UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge has experienced these same challenges yet continues to remain financially strong. Overall, UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge has been able to navigate these challenges while continuing to provide best in class care. UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge’s balance sheet remains strong with key ratios such as: cash to debt, debt to revenue, and debt to capitalization; performing better than targets. Having a strong balance sheet allows the organization to continue to provide the best quality care.”

–AJ Mason, Interim CFO UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge

Charity cases: The economy is so variable between our expectations of local growth versus what is happening in the state and nation. What are you seeing as a medical provider locally? Include statistics if you can. Are you expecting the situation to improve in 2019 or are you seeing markers that urge caution?

“Healthcare organizations have seen an increase in uncompensated care in recent years and this trend is expected to continue. In 2000 the American Hospital Associated report total uncompensated care of approximately $21.6 billion. That figure grew to $38.3 billion in 2016. Trinity Regional Medical Center (TRMC) has provided approximately 2.1 percent of total gross revenue in uncompensated care in 2018. TRMC recognizes that patients have been faced with larger health care costs through changing health insurance plans and greater out of pocket responsibilities. As such, TRMC has financial policies that help to reduce this burden. Additionally, TRMC can assist patients who are not able to pay through our financial assistance policy.”

–AJ Mason, Interim CFO UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge

New office building: We have heard a new physician office building was discussed at one time. Is there a plan for?

“No, there are no plans at this time.”

–Troy Martens, COO UnityPoint Health

— Fort Dodge

Telemedicine: Is this growing in use? Is it helpful? Easy? What are the pitfalls? And how does this fit with, perhaps, recruitment shortages/issues. How do you see telemedicine’s future, overall?

“UnityPoint Health — Berryhill Center utilizes telehealth technology in order to provide patients in our rural environment access to competent, Iowa-licensed psychiatrists. Telehealth incorporates technology to allow a medical professional to meet with a patient using video conferencing equipment. Our technology provides a seamless and secure connection between our psychiatrists and patients. We employ both face-to-face and telehealth services in our service area. We also utilize telehealth technology to assess patients with mental health needs in hospital emergency rooms in Fort Dodge, Humboldt, Pocahontas, and Storm Lake. Last year we provided 4,286 patient visits using telehealth technology.

“While this technology has primarily been adopted by psychiatry in Iowa, many other medical specialties are incorporating this technology. UnityPoint Health also offers Virtual Care which allows patients to be seen in their homes or offices for common acute symptoms such as the cold and flu. These services can be accessed from one’s personal computer or smartphone.”

–Aaron McHone, Executive Director of UnityPoint Health — Berryhill Center

Orthopedics: With the closure of the clinic this year, can you discuss this change a bit for the readers?

“Despite our extensive recruitment efforts, the orthopedic clinic was a single provider clinic for nearly a year. With only one orthopedic surgeon on staff we were unable to provide full orthopedic care to our patients and community, which led to the decision of closing the service line.”

–Troy Martens, COO UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge

Neurology: Can you discuss the state of this specialty at UnityPoint?

“We acknowledge the need for neurology in our community and continue to recruit for neurology.”

–Troy Martens, COO UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge

Glasgo will take the helm at UnityPoint

Leah Glasgo started her career at UnityPoint Health in 2013 as the vice president of rural development for the Fort Dodge and Sioux City Regions. She then became the vice president of clinical operations for UnityPoint Health – Sioux City. She was promoted to the role of chief operating officer and has held that position for the last three years. Prior to joining UnityPoint Health, Glasgo served as president and chief executive officer of Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City.

During her time in Sioux City, Glasgo has been instrumental in developing and launching the UnityPoint Health system wide patient experience team and creation of standards of behavior. In addition, she was involved in establishing the system wide Clinical Leadership Group resulting in standardization in practice across our system for sepsis and Coronary Artery Disease. Glasgo’s experience will be invaluable in her next role as CEO of the Fort Dodge Region.

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