In all, Iowa’s Health Care Sector Provides More Than 330,000 Jobs Across State DES MOINES – Orange City Area Health System generates 734 jobs that add $32,961,037 to Northwest Iowa’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association. In addition, Orange City Area Health System employees by themselves spend $5,948,265 on retail sales and contribute $454,708 in state sales tax revenue. “We understand, and embrace, the economic role that Orange City Area Health System has in the region,” said Marty Guthmiller, CEO of the health system. “We firmly believe a vibrant health system is a vital component of a vibrant community.” 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 74,691 people and create another 57,586 jobs outside the hospital sector. As an income source, hospitals provide $4.8 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 offices of physicians, dentists and other health practitioners, nursing home and residential care, other medical and health services and pharmacies, contributes $17 billion to the state economy while directly and indirectly providing 330,308 jobs, or about 20 percent of the state’s total non-farm employment. “Hospitals and health care are vital to the economy in all parts of the state, both urban and rural,” said IHA president and CEO Kirk Norris. “With more than 330,000 jobs, health care is one of Iowa’s largest employers, and hospitals remain, by far, the biggest contributor to that enormous impact. “In Iowa cities and counties, hospitals are uniformly among the largest employers. Those jobs bring income to Main Street businesses and support local government services and infrastructure through taxes.” As possible cuts to Medicaid and Medicare are contemplated, hospital services and jobs are put at risk – and with them a large swath of the Iowa economy. “These facts need to be front-of-mind among our political leaders in Washington, DC and Des Moines. They need to understand that when legislation and regulations financially impact hospitals and health care, they also impact jobs and business in every part of the state.”[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]

– by Amy Van Gorp, Pharm.D., BCPS • Clinical Pharmacist on our Family Medicine Team

(Originally published in the Capital-Democrat)

We hear it all the time: I hate taking medication! I don’t blame you. I don’t like taking medication either, and I’m a pharmacist. My poor husband suffers every time he has a cold as I tell him “you’ll get over it” instead of offering him medication. But, if taken correctly, medications can do amazing things – stop life threatening infections, heal wounds, prevent you from having a heart attack, and help you live longer! Medications are incredible, but there is always a cost. Like all of healthcare, the price for medications seems to be going up and not down. If you’re going to spend the money, you might as well get the maximum benefit from your medicine. Here are some of my best tips on how to get the most from your medications:

• Make sure you have an up-to-date medication list and try to keep it with you at all times. This is so important. If your healthcare provider knows what you are actually taking, it helps them take better care of you! Don’t assume the list your provider has is correct. Ask your provider for a printout of your medications and compare it to your actual bottles at home. Let your provider know if anything needs to be fixed or updated. Don’t forget to include any over-the-counter or herbal products! These have side effects and drug interactions just like any other medicine.
• Take your medication as directed. It may be tempting to only take your pills every other day or a couple times per week to save costs, but medications need to be taken as directed to receive the full benefit. Many medications need to reach a constant level in your body in order to do their job; skipping doses impairs this process. If you have trouble remembering if you took your pills, try using a weekly pillbox to organize your medications. This simple tool takes out some of the guesswork! You can get pillboxes at many stores locally or online.
• If a medication becomes too costly, ask your pharmacist about cheaper alternatives. There are often cheaper options – you just have to ask! Have your pharmacist write down more cost-effective options and bring these to your healthcare provider to discuss.
• Ask your provider or pharmacist before you start splitting pills. Some medications, especially long-acting forms, should not be split. Splitting these pills could cause you to get a large dose of the medication all at once and then nothing the rest of the day. This can result in serious side effects and leave your medical condition uncontrolled.
• Consider pharmacogenetic testing. This is a lab test done to measure how you uniquely respond to certain medications. Science has long known that different people react differently to the same medication, but we are just starting to have the tools to figure out why. The test will show which medications your body processes well, which medications it metabolizes too quickly (making the medication ineffective), and which medications tend to build up and cause problems. Getting tested ensures that your doctor will choose medications that work for you and don’t cause unnecessary side effects – the right drug at the right dose. The potential cost-savings and avoidance of adverse effects makes pharmacogenetic testing very appealing to both patients and providers. Many places are offering this testing which may or may not be covered by your insurance. Be sure you are using a reputable lab if you choose to do this testing.
• Be careful about what you read on the internet. You can search any medication online and will get some fantastic stories about side effects and conspiracy theories. If you think you might be experiencing a side effect, call your healthcare provider. They can research reputable databases for realistic side effect rates and offer you options on what to do next. If you are getting your medical knowledge from a website with ads lining the sides of the screen, you should probably look elsewhere.

These tips might not make taking medicine enjoyable, but they will help you get the most benefit and value from your medication regimen. Always keep in mind that you have healthcare providers who are willing and able to help you navigate this confusing area of healthcare. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”http://kpth130275site.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Amy-Van-Gorp-2016-for-web.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px”]

Dr. Harrison Hanson re-joining Orange City Area Health System in September

Orange City Area Health System will be welcoming back Harrison Hanson, MD, to its family medicine and birth care team in September 2018. Dr. Hanson served in the Orange City medical clinic, hospital, and birth center from March 2009 to June 2016. He left his practice to take a position in his hometown of Long Prairie, MN, at Long Prairie CentraCare Clinic and Hospital. “We welcome Dr. Hanson back with open arms,” reported Marty Guthmiller, CEO of Orange City Area Health System. “His skill set, compassion, and integrity will complement our group and service offerings very well.” Dr. Hanson received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School, and did his residency at the Mercy Family Medicine Residency Program in Mason City, Iowa. In addition to serving alongside Orange City Area Health System’s team of 20+ family medicine providers, Dr. Hanson will offer prenatal, birth care, and Creighton Model FertilityCare™ services, as well as full spectrum Family Medicine care for all ages. “The addition of Dr. Hanson will uniquely position us to offer NaPro Technology (Natural Procreative Technology, a women’s health science that monitors and maintains a woman’s reproductive and gynecological health) as a team with Dr. Allison Schoenfelder, further complementing our full range of fertility and birth services offered by our seven birthcare doctors,” said Guthmiller. “This is a tremendous opportunity to build and offer an unparalleled service to the greater Northwest Iowa region.” “We are delighted the Lord has led us back to Orange City and what our family considers home,” said Dr. Hanson. “We joyfully anticipate living with and serving in this great community. I am so thankful to be welcomed back to this excellent team at Orange City Area Health System.” Dr. Hanson and his family will be relocating to Orange City this summer, and he will begin seeing patients September 1. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”http://kpth130275site.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Hanson-NFP-jan-2011-cmyk.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#e09900″ box_shadow_style=”preset2″ /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]

3D mammography provides state-of-the-art tomosynthesis for breast cancer screening

Orange City Area Health System recently installed the Hologic® 3D Mammography System in the Radiology department at the health system’s main campus in Orange City. The new leading-edge mammography system allows for Genius™ 3D exams – also referred to as tomosynthesis – which provide better, earlier breast cancer detection compared to 2D mammography alone. Conventional 2D mammograms provide doctors with a 2D image to evaluate the breast. This can be limiting due to overlapping layers of tissue, which can sometimes produce unclear results, false alarms, or cancer being missed, according to Dr. Jameson Guthmiller, board-certified radiologist who will be joining Orange City Area Health System this summer. Genius 3D exams deliver a series of detailed breast images, allowing doctors to better evaluate a woman’s breasts layer by layer. Studies show that the Genius 3D mammography exam has greater accuracy than 2D mammography for women across a variety of ages and breast densities. It is the only mammogram FDA approved as superior for women with dense breasts. According to studies, the Genius 3D mammography exam finds 20-65% more invasive breast cancers than 2D mammography alone. Genius exams have also been proven to reduce unnecessary callbacks by up to 40 percent. “Greater accuracy means better breast cancer detection and a reduced chance of being called back for additional screenings,” explained Dr. Guthmiller. According to the American Cancer Society, with early detection, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is almost 100 percent. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”http://kpth130275site.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SYSIMG-006.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_right=”1px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”] February 11-17 is National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week. All month we celebrate American Heart Month, but this week we honor cardiovascular professionals, and everyone involved in cardiac rehab – including our heart-healthy patients! Here’s a helpful article from our cardiac rehab nurse, Angela Boles, RN … Cardiac rehabilitation provides a path towards activity and support. It provides answers to questions regarding diseases, medications, and other concerns Cardiac rehab can benefit patients who are relatively fit, as well as older patients with complex health issues, even if they think rehab is not for them. We are starting to see a rise in younger patients ranging in age from 40s and 50s having heart events, so cardiac rehab is not just for the “older folk.” A lot of people think, “I don’t need the rehab, I can do this on my own,” but later find out they enjoy the socialization, enjoy the benefits of exercise, and know that they are being monitored by health professionals. Cardiac rehabilitation provides exercise training, advice for handling stress and depression, and improved eating and smoking cessation. However, only about one-third or fewer eligible cardiac patients get such care. Improving strength, balance, and overall physical function can help patients have the confidence to live independently. So there are so many benefits to cardiac rehab and if you have further questions or feel a family member could benefit from our program call 712-737-5289. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”http://kpth130275site.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cardiac-rehab-2018-four.jpeg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]