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New Medical Group Staffs Horn Memorial's ER

Dr. Ash Gerges, one of several physicians providing ER Coverage from the Wapiti Medical Group

Ash Gerges, M.D. of Scottsdale, AZ is one of several doctors from the Wapiti Medical Group of Milbank, SD, who staff the emergency room at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove.  The Wapiti Medical Group, which was started by a physician more than 17 years ago, has expanded to cover several hospitals and urgent cares in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota.

"We made the change with our ER provider group effective September 1st. The new group, based out of South Dakota, is called Wapiti. They are also involved in other area hospitals providing ER coverage. The decision to go with Wapiti was based on their ability to provide more consistent, predictable coverage for our ER. They have a small, core group of physicians who cycle through our hospital and therefore provide better continuity of care to our patients and familiarity to our staff," said HMH CEO Chris Nichols.

"Patients and staff have been pleased with the change and note that the new doctors have a vested interest in our hospital and our patients. I have heard very positive comments both from staff and from patients on how they are treated by the new physicians. We have asked them to do additional work from a documentation and regulatory standpoint and they have cooperated fully. It feels like a true partnership, a much better relationship with us than our previous ER provider group," Nichols said.

"We recently acquired Horn Memorial Hospital and started staffing their ER. We rotate as a group of physicians from different parts of different states to cover the emergency room," said Dr. Gerges. "We fly in and spend several days here. We stay in the hospital so we are available 24/seven in-house to provide the best care to the community, together of course, with the dedicated and committed staff here. The administration has been quite helpful since we took over. "We get to know the staff and they get to know us and that makes for stability. The staff is very knowledgeable about the patients and about the community, and that definitely helps quite a bit in providing care for the patients as they know them on a personal level and a family level."

"They have five physicians that they routinely staff us with, so we get to know our physicians pretty well," said Jill Webb, HMH Outpatient Director.  "I think, in general, practicing in a rural facility is challenging, so this makes a nice collaboration between staff and physicians."

Gerges said, "The difference between the big hospital and here is, if you don't deliver the quality of care the patient expects, you see them in the grocery store, at the gas station, and the restaurant. And, really, that makes a difference; they become a family to you, and that's why the staff goes out of its' way to deliver the best care, because their patients are part of the big family, and that's how we look at it as well.  Big cities where I used to practice, you didn't see that very often.  There's not that personal touch or that personal level of communication."

"I am excited that Horn Memorial Hospital has signed on with Wapiti to provide physicians for our emergency department coverage," said Webb.  "There has been a noticeable change in the quality of care, professionalism, and commitment to our facility that these physicians have brought to our hospital."

Dr. Gerges was born in Egypt, where he received his formal education.  He finished at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, where he did his training.  He received his first board in family practice and his second in emergency medicine.

~ article and photo provided by Deb Loger, Ida County Courier

Horn Memorial Participates in National Pilot Project to Improve Care

Horn Memorial Hospital (HMH) is participating in a national pilot project focusing on transfers from the emergency department.  The project is supported by Telligen (the Iowa Quality Improvement Organization) and funded through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  Iowa is one of eight states participating in this pilot project.

While emergency care is important in all hospitals, it is particularly critical in rural hospitals where effective stabilization and transfer of patients is essential.  For example, providing the necessary and appropriate information can be of life or death importance when transferring a patient to another facility from a rural hospitals' emergency department.

Data indicating how well a rural hospital completes this important care transition role is currently not widely available.  This new pilot project will provide Horn Memorial and other rural hospitals with the training and support to collect information on emergency department transfer communication.  This data will be used to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients transferred from our emergency department.

Jill Webb, HMH Outpatient Director comments, "Communication is an essential tool healthcare workers need to utilize to ensure our patients are receiving the best quality of care.  By participating in this pilot project, the emergency department staff at Horn Memorial is dedicated to making sure all pertinent information is being communicated to the receiving facility when we transfer a patient, thus improving outcomes."

Horn Memorial Hospital Foundation Donates $30,000 for Surgical Equipment

Chris Nichols, CEO; Kathy Wilke, HMH Foundation Chair; and Charlie Delaney, CRNA and Surgical Services Director

Horn Memorial Hospital (HMH) recently received $30,000 from the HMH Foundation for the purchase of new orthopedic equipment for the Surgery Center. The Foundation's decision to support this particular department came about this fall when the Surgery Center increased their scope of cases to include orthopedic surgeries provided by Dr. Benjamin Bissell, Board Certified Sports Medicine Medical Doctor from CNOS. With the addition of Dr. Bissell's clinic, several pieces of equipment were needed to accommodate the orthopedic procedures, specifically arthroscopic shoulder surgeries. Chris Nichols, CEO, comments, "We are so appreciative of the support that the HMH Foundation continues to provide. This donation allows us to advance our surgical services, specifically sports medicine and our partnership with Dr. Benjamin Bissell."

With the Foundation's donation the hospital purchased a set of orthopedic instruments as well as a Trimano support arm, which acts as a surgeon's "third hand". Traditionally shoulder surgery was performed with a large open incision; however, with this new equipment and Dr. Bissell's expertise, shoulder surgeries can now be done with a camera while using very small incisions. This arthroscopic alternative offers many benefits to the patients including less pain, a quicker recovery, and less risk of infection.

"I am extremely thankful for the generosity of the HMH Foundation as well as the reception I have received from Horn Memorial and the community. This equipment allows us to perform state-of-the-art shoulder surgery right here in Ida Grove," comments Dr. Bissell.  Dr. Bissell and the HMH surgical team have performed several arthroscopic shoulder cases since he began his clinic this past November and plan to increase the number of orthopedic cases exponentially in the next year.

"Dr. Bissell's sports medicine clinic has been a great addition to our outpatient clinic roster. We are proud to have the regions only Board Certified Sports Medicine Medical Doctor serving Horn Memorial Hospital. Partnering with Dr. Bissell allows us to lead the region in sports medicine surgical care," comments Charlie Delaney, Nurse Anesthetist and Surgical Services Director.

Dr. Benjamin Bissell sees patients for all types of sports injuries and orthopedic problems every Monday in Ida Grove. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bissell contact CNOS at 605.217.2667.