Digital Mammography at HMH Moves Forward!

As a result of community fundraising efforts, Horn Memorial is pleased to announce that the HMH Board of Directors approved the purchase of a Digital Mammography Unit at the March 26^th Board Meeting.  After reviewing the pros and cons of three different units, Horn chose to go with the Siemens “MAMMOMAT Inspiration”.   “We were very pleased with the features and pricing of the MAMMOMAT Inspiration and anticipate a smooth transition.  I know that the community is anxious to receive digital mammography services at Horn and if all goes as planned, this should be a reality by late spring/early summer,” comments Marc Augsburger, President and CEO.

Happy Doctors' Day!

HPC and HMH Donate Back to OA-BCIG

Marc Augsburger, Horn Memorial Hospital President and CEO, presented a check for $390 to Dani Trimble, OA-BCIG Superintendent, for funds received from the 2011 sports physicals performed at Horn Physicians Clinic-Ida Grove and Odebolt. Horn Memorial Hospital and Horn Physicians Clinic donated back $10 from each sports physical performed this past fall.

Horn Memorial Hospital Recognizes Judy Andresen

2012 Auxiliary Donation

Present in photo from left: Robin Thornhill, Marc Augsburger, Jane O’Tool, and Susan Miller

Ten Horn Memorial Hospital departments received $10,703 for new equipment from the Horn Auxiliary’s annual contribution. Staff always appreciates the Auxiliary’s generosity as it gives them an opportunity to get needed supplies and equipment that aren’t in the operating budget.

Safe Haven Act

Horn Memorial Hospital is a Safe Haven location in Ida County. After the recent tragedy in Nevada, Iowa, there is concern that people aren’t well educated on the Safe Haven Act and what this means. In an effort to prevent unnecessary danger to infants in the future, Horn is taking this opportunity to re-educate the community on this important, life-saving law.

The Safe Haven Act, an Iowa law implemented in 2001, allows parents or another person who has the parent’s authorization to leave an infant up to 14 days old at a hospital or health care facility. A hospital or health care facility may be made aware that an infant is being placed in its custody when a parent or another individual authorized to relinquish physical custody of an infant comes to the facility or calls informing the facility of the location where an infant has been left. A parent or authorized person who leaves an infant at a Safe Haven cannot be charged with abandonment of the infant and does not need to go to court.

When an infant is left at a Safe Haven, custody of the infant is given to the Iowa Department of Human Services. Any identifying information given by the parent or authorized individual when leaving the infant is kept confidential. A hearing to terminate the rights of both parents will be held within 30 days, and the infant will be placed for adoption. When an infant is relinquished, the hospital or health care facility is not required to, but may ask the parent or authorized individual for the name of the parent or parents, the medical history of the infant, and the medical history of the infant’s parents.

For more information on Safe Havens and the requirements for both parents and Safe Haven facilities, please visit the Horn Memorial Hospital website at http://www.hornmemorialhospital.org/.

Hospital Purchases Equipment with 2011 Jillian Grace Duck Race Funds



Standing from left: Rebecca Burns, Michelle Walsh, Angie Frank, Gala Endrulat
Seated: Becky Willer

 Horn Staff display items purchased with funds received from the 2011 Jillian Grace Duck Race. Adam and Jodi Lansink donated $8,378 towards pediatrics, and with these funds the hospital purchased the following equipment: 1 hand-held Pulse Oximeter, 4 Rocker-Recliners, 6 Neonatal Resuscitation Textbooks, 12 ACLS/PALS/NRP Handbooks, and 1 Neonatal Intubation Mannequin. The Lansink family will be holding the 2nd Annual Jillian Grace Duck Race again this year in conjunction with Heritage Days.

Ida County Community Alliance

Front Row: Patti Andrews (HMH), Sherry Reiling (HMH), Connie Werner (Sac & Ida County Case Management), Barbara Connor (Siouxland Aging Services), Middle Row: Roxanne Smith (Jackson Recovery), Beth Ortner (Ida County Board of Health), Angie Kastner (OABCIG), Diana Ossman (ISI), Back Row: Cindy Harpenau (Mid-Sioux Opportunity), Lin Jensen (Willow Dale Wellness Village), Kristi Neumann (CAASA), Tabitha Leidholt (Willow Dale Wellness Village), Pastor Rich Salcido (Ida County Ministerial Association), Maggie Johnson (ISI)

The Ida County Community Alliance (ICCA) formed in 2010 meets bi-monthly to address community health needs.  The health and human resource agencies represented within ICCA share information, strategies and goals to maximize resources to improve the quality of life for Ida County.

One of the latest projects from ICCA was the Ida County Community Resource Directory.  After the completion of a needs assessment in 2011 under the direction of the Ida County Board of Health, it was determined that Ida County would benefit from a directory that contained health and human services information.  The Resource Directory was recently distributed through The Reminder and can also be viewed online at http://www.hornmemorialhospital.org/.

Ida County Community Resource Directory

Horn Memorial Hospital and the Ida County Board of Health have come together to create the “Ida County Community Resource Directory”.  This directory was developed in an effort to supply Ida County residents with a comprehensive resource for health care and human services.  It will provide easy access to contact information for a variety of programs and services available in Ida County.  Patti Andrews, Nurse Manager for Public Health and Project Coordinator, commented, “We are excited to offer this directory and hope the community finds it helpful in obtaining resources for various services available in Ida County.”

The Resource Directory was made possible thanks to funding from the Ida County Board of Health, Horn Memorial Hospital, and a grant from the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation.  Ida County community members will receive this booklet in The Reminder the week of February 20th and a more comprehensive version will also be available on the Horn Memorial Hospital website:  http://www.hornmemorialhospital.org/.

Horn Memorial Hospital Generate $19.9 Million Impact on Local Economy

Horn Memorial Hospital (HMH) generates 234 jobs that add $19.9 million to Ida County’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association. In addition, HMH employees by themselves spend $1.2 million on retail sales and contribute $74,000 in state sales tax revenue.

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 70,363 people and create another 65,783 jobs outside the hospital sector. As an income source, hospitals provide $3.9 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $2.3 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.

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 333,554 Iowa jobs, or more than one-fifth of the state’s total employment.

“People are often unaware of the contributions that hospitals make to their local economies, including the number of people they employ, the significance of hospital purchases with local businesses and the impact of their employees’ spending for the entire region,” said Kirk Norris, IHA president/CEO. “Just as no one provides the services and community benefits found at our hospitals, there is also no substitute for the jobs and business hospitals provide and create.”

Horn Memorial Hospital Welcomed its Newest Provider, Michelle Siebrecht

Horn Memorial Hospital welcomed its newest provider, Michelle Siebrecht, Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) with an open house on Wednesday, January 25. The open house gave the community as well as Horn employees the opportunity to introduce themselves and visit with her. Michelle began seeing patients on Monday, January 9, and will be practicing three days a week at the HPC-Ida Grove clinic.
In a recent interview with Michelle, we learned about her passion and excitement for healthcare as she spoke about her experiences in PA school at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. She commented that during her schooling she especially enjoyed relating to her patients, working in area Emergency Rooms, and learning about wound care during an intense surgical rotation. Being easy to talk to and accessible is important to Michelle. “I try to adapt to my patients needs and who they are to make them feel comfortable,” says Michelle about relating to her patients.

The Bronson native’s healthcare career began right after high school when she became an EMT-B, volunteering for the Bronson ambulance. She attended Western Iowa Tech to become an LPN and an EMT-I, and Wayne State College for pre-med. While working toward her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Morningside College she was accepted into USD medical school for her Physician Assistant degree.

Michelle’s healthcare background allows her to combine the critical thinking skills of an EMT, the nurturing skills of a nurse and the medical model of the physician.

Michelle’s passion extends beyond her work and into her family life. She and her husband, Grant, live in Lake View where they enjoy the outdoors. The couple has settled into the community with their daughter, Ellie. Michelle looks forward to establishing her practice at Horn Physicians Clinic and serving the community for years to come.

Our community is fortunate to have such a dedicated and passionate healthcare provider.