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Health care providers may work together more closely in the future
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
The featured theme of the April Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce Recognition, Appreciation and Participation (RAP) breakfast was described by Keokuk Area Hospital CEO Al Zastrow as a philosophical kick-off by the health community.
Addressing the crowd of business people in the lounge at River Hills Village, the breakfast sponsor, Zastrow predicted the future will entail “pulling Keokuk health care providers together to make them even more effective and efficient.”
The result of working together would enable the local health care system to play an even bigger part in the community than it does today.
Health care-related services provide 1,000 jobs in Keokuk, Zastrow said, generating $25 million in direct sales and $7 million in retail sales. Also, health care directly affects the community's quality of life, as well as attracting new businesses to the area.
“It's an economic development issue that always comes up,” he said.
However, health care is taken for granted in Keokuk and in the state at large, Zastrow said. Given that 90 of Iowa's 99 counties have hospitals and related services, Iowans don't have to travel more than 30 minutes to get to a hospital, a situation not enjoyed by many other places in the nation and around the world.
Also, Keokuk has a long history of heath care, he said. People in the Keokuk area can't remember a time when the community hasn't had at least one hospital.
In 1850, the College of Physicians and Surgeons opened in Keokuk, prompting the federal government to open a hospital at 500 Main St. during the Civil War. That hospital, the Estes House, provided care for wounded soldiers from both sides of the conflict.
When Keokuk's two hospitals, St. Joseph's Hospital and Graham Hospital merged in 1975, the move ushered in the modern era of health care in the form of Keokuk Area Hospital, Zastrow said.
He called on several members of the medical community to discuss their place in the local health care complex.
KAH Chief Financial Officer Richard Thomason called the Keokuk facility “not your father's hospital.”
“What is the difference between the physicians in Keokuk Area Hospital and physicians in the University of Iowa hospital?” he asked. “Ninety miles. And the hospital's laboratory has equipment that's better, newer and more state-of-the-art than the university has. It's not a problem to get the diagnostic service you need. We have things here you can't find in many urban hospitals.”
Thomason numbered his active staff members at 35 with an additional 35 “who come through.”
The hospital has added new obstetric gynecological suites and a new Women's Health Center at 1425 Morgan St., he said.
The Women's Health Center offers pregnancy and prenatal services as well as primary care for women whether or not they are insured, said Stacey Gehle, certified nurse midwife.
“Money is not an issue,” she said. “We will see women despite money or a lack thereof.”
KAH Medical Director and Chief of Staff Dr. James Holsinger said he is impressed by the ability of Keokuk's health care community to handle most health care problems from birth through the elder years.
“It is very rare that we have to transfer people to get care,” he said.
Evangelical Free Church Pastor Craig Burton talked about the services offered by Addicts Victorious, a group that offers community members with drug problems who he described as “the other segment” a way out of addiction.
“Drugs and alcohol rob them of their ability to care for themselves and their families,” he said.
He said the work of Addicts Victorious is “a drop in the bucket” because of the many people with addiction problems in the Tri-State Area.
“We're one aspect of a total program here that's trying to help people,” Burton said.
River Hills Village CEO Mike Steinkruger said the facility draws from the elderly population in Keokuk and the area community 12 miles out - 2,300 seniors 75 and older, with one in 10 over 75.
“When you look at Keokuk as the hub, there is a lot of business out there for all of us,” Steinkruger said. “It will pay for us to work together.”
People are living on their own longer, he said. Keokuk Area Hospital, Home Health Services, the county health department and hospice all make it possible for people to live in their homes until they need additional assistance.
“Yes, we want you to come visit us some day,” he said. “But our goal is, you stay home as long as possible and then come and visit us some day.”
He suggested people look into buying long term care insurance in preparation.
Zastrow said dentistry in Keokuk is “our next major crisis.” The dentists in the community are nearing retirement age and recruitment of dentists to take their place will require a community effort.
Business of the Month was Derr Motor Company.
The next RAP breakfast is Thursday, May 17, at the Holiday Inn Express. The feature will be Keokuk Area Vision with Action. Sponsor will be Peters' Heating and Air Conditioning.
Addressing the crowd of business people in the lounge at River Hills Village, the breakfast sponsor, Zastrow predicted the future will entail “pulling Keokuk health care providers together to make them even more effective and efficient.”
The result of working together would enable the local health care system to play an even bigger part in the community than it does today.
Health care-related services provide 1,000 jobs in Keokuk, Zastrow said, generating $25 million in direct sales and $7 million in retail sales. Also, health care directly affects the community's quality of life, as well as attracting new businesses to the area.
“It's an economic development issue that always comes up,” he said.
However, health care is taken for granted in Keokuk and in the state at large, Zastrow said. Given that 90 of Iowa's 99 counties have hospitals and related services, Iowans don't have to travel more than 30 minutes to get to a hospital, a situation not enjoyed by many other places in the nation and around the world.
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In 1850, the College of Physicians and Surgeons opened in Keokuk, prompting the federal government to open a hospital at 500 Main St. during the Civil War. That hospital, the Estes House, provided care for wounded soldiers from both sides of the conflict.
When Keokuk's two hospitals, St. Joseph's Hospital and Graham Hospital merged in 1975, the move ushered in the modern era of health care in the form of Keokuk Area Hospital, Zastrow said.
He called on several members of the medical community to discuss their place in the local health care complex.
KAH Chief Financial Officer Richard Thomason called the Keokuk facility “not your father's hospital.”
“What is the difference between the physicians in Keokuk Area Hospital and physicians in the University of Iowa hospital?” he asked. “Ninety miles. And the hospital's laboratory has equipment that's better, newer and more state-of-the-art than the university has. It's not a problem to get the diagnostic service you need. We have things here you can't find in many urban hospitals.”
Thomason numbered his active staff members at 35 with an additional 35 “who come through.”
The hospital has added new obstetric gynecological suites and a new Women's Health Center at 1425 Morgan St., he said.
The Women's Health Center offers pregnancy and prenatal services as well as primary care for women whether or not they are insured, said Stacey Gehle, certified nurse midwife.
“Money is not an issue,” she said. “We will see women despite money or a lack thereof.”
KAH Medical Director and Chief of Staff Dr. James Holsinger said he is impressed by the ability of Keokuk's health care community to handle most health care problems from birth through the elder years.
“It is very rare that we have to transfer people to get care,” he said.
Evangelical Free Church Pastor Craig Burton talked about the services offered by Addicts Victorious, a group that offers community members with drug problems who he described as “the other segment” a way out of addiction.
“Drugs and alcohol rob them of their ability to care for themselves and their families,” he said.
He said the work of Addicts Victorious is “a drop in the bucket” because of the many people with addiction problems in the Tri-State Area.
“We're one aspect of a total program here that's trying to help people,” Burton said.
River Hills Village CEO Mike Steinkruger said the facility draws from the elderly population in Keokuk and the area community 12 miles out - 2,300 seniors 75 and older, with one in 10 over 75.
“When you look at Keokuk as the hub, there is a lot of business out there for all of us,” Steinkruger said. “It will pay for us to work together.”
People are living on their own longer, he said. Keokuk Area Hospital, Home Health Services, the county health department and hospice all make it possible for people to live in their homes until they need additional assistance.
“Yes, we want you to come visit us some day,” he said. “But our goal is, you stay home as long as possible and then come and visit us some day.”
He suggested people look into buying long term care insurance in preparation.
Zastrow said dentistry in Keokuk is “our next major crisis.” The dentists in the community are nearing retirement age and recruitment of dentists to take their place will require a community effort.
Business of the Month was Derr Motor Company.
The next RAP breakfast is Thursday, May 17, at the Holiday Inn Express. The feature will be Keokuk Area Vision with Action. Sponsor will be Peters' Heating and Air Conditioning.
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