Community benefits are activities designed to improve health status and increase access to health care. According to CEO Marty Guthmiller, “Along with uncompensated care — which includes both charity care and bad debt — community benefits through Orange City Area Health system include programs such as health screenings, support groups, community health education programs, babysitting classes, emergency services, and scholarships.”

While businesses generally consider bad debt as simply a cost of doing business, according to the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA), hospitals differ from other businesses in that other businesses can refuse to provide a service or product to a person who cannot or will not pay, no matter what the reason. “Nonprofit hospitals are the safety net of Iowa’s healthcare system and do not deny access to care to anyone, no matter what their ability to pay,” reports the IHA.

In fact, Iowa’s community hospitals provide uncompensated healthcare valued at more than $1.2 billion per year. They also, like Orange City Area Health System, invest in the health of their communities by increasing access to needed healthcare services to the tune of $147 million in reduced-fee or free programs and services.

“Being an integral part of the communities we serve is simply the right thing to do,” adds Guthmiller. “We value the opportunity to make the region we serve a better place to work, live and raise a family.”

Volunteers are asked to visit residents three hours a month and attend quarterly committee meetings.  During visits, volunteers assist residents to understand and exercise their rights.  They also work as a team to find solutions to resident and/or family concerns.   Beginner orientation and on-going education are provided.

People who live in long-term care facilities need to speak with compassionate and objective adults who care about their rights.  You may be eligible to serve even if you have a relative who is a resident of Orange City Area Health System’s Long Term Care Unit or Heritage House.

For an application or more information on becoming a volunteer, contact Katie Mulford, Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 800-532-3213.  Or visit www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs/advocacy/rac.html.

Become a volunteer today and see how you can make a difference with our senior citizens.

This Wellmark-sponsored performance improvement program is designed to support primary care clinicians in their effort to improve the quality and efficiency of the health care provided to their patients, and is part of Wellmark’s Collaboration on Quality® initiative.

The program uses data gathered through Wellmark’s health care claims and clinician-provided medical records to measure health care delivered to patients. Clinicians who met or exceeded certain measures for care for diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and childhood immunizations for the Wellmark members were honored. Information on care delivered to patients was collected and compared to performance measures of clinical care based on national standards of care.  In addition, the clinicians’ rate of generic drug prescribing and the use of electronic medical records or e-prescribing tools were also measured.

“We are very proud of the quality of medicine practiced throughout Orange City Area Health System,” reports Marty Guthmiller, CEO of the health system. “It is gratifying that organizations like Wellmark acknowledge our high level of quality.”

Orange City Area Health System family practice clinicians in the Orange City Medical Clinic, Hospers Medical Clinic, and Mill Creek Family Practice, Paullina, are now participating in Wellmark’s 2010 Primary Care Program, which continues to focus on care of diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and childhood immunizations.

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Orange City Area Health System is a comprehensive health system with a hospital, three family practice clinics, home health and hospice, physical therapy, surgical services, two nursing homes, and a retirement community. More information at ocHealthSystem.org.

Are you going to be eligible for Medicare in the near future? Have you been on Medicare for awhile and want to better understand what it offers? Do you have a family member you help with Medicare issues? “Welcome to Medicare” — a free two hour seminar offered by Orange City Area Health System and the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) — will be held Tuesday, June 15, from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the health system’s main campus, lower level meeting room. “We’re excited to offer this free seminar to the community,” says Barb Den Herder, Education Coordinator for Orange City Area Health System. ” ‘Welcome to Medicare’ will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.” Pre-registration is required by calling the OCAHS education department at 712-737-5260 by June 10.