Lacie the golden retriever visits a patient at Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa.

There are many things that hospitals do within their physical environments to promote healing.  Large, private patient rooms with big windows and plenty of room for visitors.  Comfortable, airy waiting areas with access to Wi-Fi.  Inviting outdoor spaces (or outdoor-like spaces that are actually indoors).

People are also important; visitors bring encouragement, socialization and a connection to home.  But sometimes people can be overwhelming.  That’s when special visitors like Lacie are needed.

Lacie is a beautiful, unassuming golden retriever who makes weekly visits to Mahaska Health Partnership (MHP) in Oskaloosa.  On other days, her friends Lincoln and Yeager, also golden retrievers, are at the hospital.

While all volunteers are important members of the hospital health care team, the three golden retrievers and their trainers, Oskaloosa residents Vicki Koger and Victoria Laird, play a special role in providing comfort in a way that increases emotional well-being and promotes healing.

The MHP dogs are graduates of Therapy Dog International (TDI), a volunteer group organized in 1976 to provide qualified handlers and their therapy dogs for visits to institutions, facilities and any other place where therapy dogs are needed. Canine membership includes both purebred and mixed breed dogs. All dogs are tested and evaluated for Therapy Dog work by Certified TDI evaluators. While many dogs provide love and companionship in the home, not all dogs are qualified or have the temperament suited to be a therapy dog.

Each dog is also required to have an annual health record form that is completed and signed by a licensed veterinarian. According to MHP policy, patients must also agree ahead of time that they would like a visit. Hand hygiene is strictly enforced and the handlers must be present for each visit.

Therapy dogs, or animal-assisted therapy, are also popular in large hospitals, like University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC).  The Furry Friends program started at UIHC as a joint

Looby is one of several very popular therapy dogs at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital.

effort between the recreational therapy and volunteer programs in 2003; seven certified dogs are members of the service, ranging from Sophie, an eight-pound Pomeranian, to Yuki, a 70-pound labradoodle.  The animals visit adult and children patients in all areas of the hospital, but they are particularly popular in the children’s hospital.

Research shows that in addition to all of the positive emotional feelings associated with therapy dogs, having a relationship with an animal can reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, decrease loneliness, and create feelings of overall well-being, said UIHC child life program manager Gwen Senio.

MHP’s pet therapy program is currently utilized on the inpatient unit and at Vision Quest, MHP’s geriatric psychiatry unit designed to diagnose and treat the complex problems of senior adults. The dogs are also spending time at the MHP Hospice Serenity House, the new residential hospice facility on MHP’s campus.

“I truly didn’t realize it would be so special for everyone involved,” Laird said. “I’m learning to listen to Lincoln, because he seems to sense who needs him. I know how relaxing and what a stress relief being with a dog is, and since Vicki and I both had such affectionate, loving dogs, we thought this would be a great way to share them.”

Koger agreed and said she was surprised by the positive reactions not only from the patients but also staff. “I even get hugs from the staff. They know each dog’s name and they are very happy to see us when we come to visit. I truly believe we are doing God’s work, and my husband and I often pray over our dogs. We all see the emotional and physical healing people can get from this experience.”

According to Vision Quest Nursing Director Lisa Cox, MHP’s pet therapy program has been a welcomed addition since it was re-established last spring. “We have a dog come visit us three times a week,” Cox said. “After visits, patients often ask when they are coming back.

“Medical studies have proven that pet therapy benefits patients. People who are sick, lonely and even depressed will often respond to an animal offering genuine affection and unconditional love.”

Jennifer Rouse, Physical Therapist at Lucas County Health Center in Chariton takes a few minutes to say what inspired her to pursue her career as well as what it takes to be a physical therapist.

For more information on health care careers in Iowa, click here.

(Watch this video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/iOkJd9L7M0Q)

Thursday, 8:45 a.m.
At last night’s House of Delegates meeting, Gary Riedmann, CEO at St. Anthony’s Regional Hospital in Carroll, was sworn in as the new IHA Board Chair.  Riedmann replaces last year’s Board Chair, Joe Smith, and will serve a one-year term as head of the board. Riedmann is slated to provide the opening remarks for today’s first session, the recognition of this year’s Iowa Hospital Heroes at 8:30 a.m. Following the awards, Riedmann will also introduce the final keynote speaker of this year’s Annual Meeting, Paul Auerbach.

Want to see more pictures from this year’s annual meeting? Click here to view the whole album on Flickr.

Thursday, 10:00 a.m.

Keynote speaker, Paul Auerbach, left the crowd stunned with the stories of his experience providing medical relief in the wake of the Haiti earthquake. His words and photos had a profound impact on attendees as they embarked on the final day of the 82nd Annual Meeting.

Thursday, 12:30 p.m.
Laurie Everhardt, Volunteer Services Manager at Waverly Health Center, provides her reaction to Cy Wakeman’s session, “Succeeding in Spite of the Facts,” and talks about challenging conventional wisdom in volunteerism.

Thursday, 3:00 p.m.

That’s all she wrote! The 82nd IHA Annual Meeting has officially adjourned. Thank you to all who attended, IHA hopes you had a great week. Safe travels – we’ll see you again next year!

Wednesday, 8:45 a.m.

The halls of the Des Moines Downtown Marriott are a’buzz this morning with hundreds of health care workers as well as over 50 trade show exhibitors. Attendees have filed into the ballroom once again to prepare for the morning’s opening session. Starting out day two of the Annual Meeting is an award ceremony, recognizing those who have completed the IHA Health Care Leadership Series.  Following the ceremony will be health care futurist, Jeff Goldsmith who will be delivering the Cordes/Ramsey keynote speech.

Pictures of the keynote and award ceremony will be posted soon.

Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.

Some pictures from this morning’s opening session:

Cordes/Ramsey keynote speaker, health care futurist, Jeff Goldsmith.

IHA Board Chair and CEO of Boone County Hospital, Joe Smith, handing out awards recognizing those who completed the IHA Health Care Leadership Series.

Wednesday, 12:45 p.m.

The afternoon sessions have begun. Today’s tracks include the following:

• Clinical Leadership: Finding Balance
• Reform: From Impact to Innovation
• Strategic Leadership
• Foundations: Giving for Good

After the final sessions of the day are finished, there are still a couple events happening at the conference. At 4:30 p.m. is the House of Delegates (for IHA Voting Delegates Only) in the Cedar Rapids/Council Bluffs rooms on the 3rd floor. Following this is the Chair’s Celebration at 5:30 p.m. in the Iowa Ballroom. All attendees are encouraged to attend this reception and enjoy an opportunity to relax and socialize amongst their peers at the conference.

Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.

Sherri Doggett, VP of Patient Care Services at Mercy Medical Center-Centerville talks about why its important for nurses to attend Annual Meeting and why it’s still a worthwhile conference to attend year after year.

Tuesday, 8:45 a.m.

The 82nd IHA Annual Meeting is now underway. Attendees have all gathered in the ballroom to hear opening keynote speaker, Dan Buettner. Health care workers will know Buettner as the renowned National Geographic author and creator of the “Blue Zones” concept. Buettner is set to discuss Blue Zones as well as how this ground-breaking project is being performed right here in Iowa.

Tuesday, 9:07 a.m.

Tuesday, 10:25 a.m.

The first of the morning breakout sessions have begun. Today’s session tracks are:

• Connecting with the Community
• Workforce for Tomorrow
• Legal Review
• Physician Focus

Lunch break is at 11:20 a.m. with the general lunch happening in the Des Moines Room on the 3rd floor and the marketing PR folks will be chowing down at the ISHMPR Luncheon (for members only) happening in Council Bluffs room on the 3rd floor.

Tuesday, 11:45 a.m.

Pam Delagardelle, CEO, Grundy County Memorial Hospital provides her thoughts on opening keynote, Dan Buettner, as well as how Grundy Center is taking on the “Blue Zones” initiatives in an effort to become the healthiest community in the state.

Tuesday, 1:00 p.m.

Afternoon sessions currently taking place. The Physician Focus track continues with three sessions:

• From Volume to Value: Physicians and Hospitals Playing Nice
• Development and Implementation of a Medical Home
• Developing a Sustainable Physician Relations Strategy

These sessions parallel with IHA’s new partnership with the University of South Florida College of Medicine to create the Physician Leadership Institute of Iowa. The Institute is designed to engage physicians in Iowa and provide them with the tools to become more empathetic, creative and collaborative in their practice.

Quotes from Twitter:

• @iowahospital “Dr. MacKinney stated it will take collaboration to deliver value in today’s environment” #iha2011am.”
• @iowahospital “No outcome – No income” replaces “No margin – No mission” in today’s reformed health environment. Clinton MacKinney, MD #iha2011am”

Tuesday, 2:00 p.m.

Here are some photos from throughout the day.

Joe Smith, IHA Board Chair and CEO of Boone County Hospital, delivering the opening remarks of the conference.

Keynote speaker, Dan Buettner, held a book signing immediately after his morning speech.

Clint MacKinney, MD, MS provided some illuminating points during his session “From Volume to Value: Physicians and Hospitals Playing Nice.”

Tuesday, 3:20 p.m.

Mark Baldwin, Board Chair at Allen Hospital in Waterloo took some time talk about how trustees can benefit from attending the IHA Annual Meeting along with why technology at the conference is one of his favorite reasons to attend.  A lot of buzz has been circulating around the conference about the IHA mobile app. Attendees have commented on how easy it is to use and appreciate that it’s an initiative to be more paperless.

A marching band's tour bus lies in a field after leaving Interstate 80 and crashing near Minden.

The bus, one of three used to carry the band members on their national summer tour, was eastbound on I-80 when it is believed a tire blew out, causing the bus to fall onto its driver’s side and slide off the road. 

“On a Monday morning there are a lot of people here, a lot of departments, a lot of staff that were already here,” explained Marie Knedler, vice president and chief operating officer of Mercy Hospital and a member of the IHA Board. “Everyone jumped into the roles that were assigned to them. The incident command center was opened immediately and they responded just like we practiced.” 

A “code triage” was called at Jennie Edmundson, alerting all staff to prep for the special duties assigned for such an event. An incident command led by Donna Hubbell, the hospital’s vice president of quality and patient safety, was immediately established in the administrative offices. Radios and other instructions were given at that time while approximately 50 employees from various departments were dispersed throughout the campus. 

With the help of housekeeping, both hospitals’ emergency departments were quickly stocked with extra supplies, linens and beds while employees from admissions and other departments prepared to log and tag patients as they arrived. As security and engineering personnel finished clearing main entrances of extra vehicle traffic and redirected guests as they arrived on the campus, emergency vehicles carrying victims of the bus crash began arriving at around 8:45 a.m. 

Medical director of the Mercy’s emergency department, Dr. Jeffrey Snyder, said everything went very smoothly: “We had anesthesia, we had four emergency providers, normally there would be one. We had two orthopeadic surgeons respond, a trauma surgeon, a family practitioner so plenty of physicians, multiple nurses so that every room had two nurses per room and multiple ancillary staff to take care of the patient load.” 

As all of the patients seen at the hospitals were between the ages of 17 and 22 years old and were from all parts of the U.S., social workers and case managers assisted them with contacting their families and answering questions. Upon release, patients were escorted to the cafeteria and then a meeting room with TV and Internet access where food service provided them meals. By late morning, all 30 patients had been treated and released and they were then joined by their peers and continued their trip. 

Connie Blietz, chief nursing executive for Mercy Hospital, said one of the lessons learned from this experience that she would offer to others is to put people on standby when you hear of an incident – it gives them time to get mentally ready before a code triage is even called.  “I really am so proud of everyone. People took on assignments that they haven’t done before without question,” said Blietz. “We stayed focused and kept our patients in the center of our care – and not just for their physical needs but also their emotional and spiritual needs. We helped them get connected with their families. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about – taking care of people.” 

“Fortunately, the accident did not have more serious outcomes,” said Jennie Edmundson CEO Steve Baumert.  “But as a hospital, it was gratifying to see the many hours our staff has dedicated to training and preparing for such an occurrence were well spent. Because of those efforts, the atmosphere that day had an overriding sense of professionalism, teamwork and assurance that clearly helped ease the fears of the patients. 

“As we continue to review the details of that day, it will undoubtedly prove to be an invaluable teaching tool on how to prepare for and deal with future incidents.”

Nancy Freybler, a Surgical Nurse with Van Diest Medical Center (Webster City, IA), gives the Iowa Hospital Association some insight into what a surgical nurse does, the camaraderie among nurses and what kind of person who becomes interested in this type of career.

For more information on health care careers in Iowa, click here.

(Watch this video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/tCqtgsiUntA)

Olivia Chapman receives her scholarship check from Martin Guthmiller, CEO of Orange City Area Health System.

 One of the recipients is Olivia Chapman, a nursing assistant at Orange City Area Health System who is working on her four-year nursing degree at Dordt College in Sioux Center.  

“I have wanted to be a nurse since I was very young and I am very happy that I can finally see the finish line to this goal,” Chapman said.  “Each day as I participate in clinical experiences as a nursing student I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to serve those in my community during their time of need. My long-term goal is to use the experience I gained in my first few years as a nurse and apply that knowledge in the field of surgical nursing.  Your support will assist me in my efforts to obtain this degree and continue my career in health care.”  

In exchange for financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award.  Including these latest awards, the scholarship program has provided $603,000 in direct support to students since its inception. 

IHA staff, the IHERF Board, hospital leaders and IHA Auxilian/Volunteer Board members from throughout the state evaluated scholarship applications from more than 130 students, who were judged on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference, and extracurricular, community and health care-related activities.  

This year’s recipients include nurses seeking both graduate and undergraduate degrees as well as students in physical therapy, occupational therapy, ultrasound technology and physician assistant programs.

IHA is thankful for the opportunity to represent Iowa’s 118 hospitals that are caring for the sick and healing the injured in the communities they serve each and every day of the year. Wishing the best to all members of IHA in 2011.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwR0AtmHrDg

Click here to download the PDF of the video’s poem.

IHA also proudly promoted health care careers in Iowa and honored another year’s worth of Hospital Heroes at the 81st IHA Annual Meeting. IHA travelled to every district in the state to interact with members and celebrate the great work being accomplished every day.

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-93WBZVN2o