Leaders of Genesis Health System in the Quad Cities and University of Iowa Children's Hospital in Iowa City today announced Monday they are caring for area children in a joint pediatric specialty clinic located in Bettendorf.

"University of Iowa Children's Hospital is committed to creating a system of care for children, connecting families with specialty services, family resources, community providers, support services, and electronic medical records," said Jean Robillard, M.D., UI vice president for medical affairs. "Our goal is to collaborate with local providers to improve the health of children and families at home, in school, and in the community."

The services being offered include Pediatric Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Genetics, Nephrology, Neuromuscular, Surgery, and Child Health Specialty Clinics for children with special needs. The specialists are in Suite 500 at the Genesis Health Group offices located at 865 Lincoln Road in Bettendorf.

Genesis and the University of Iowa have a successful history of collaboration to serve the health care needs of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Highly skilled UI Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care physicians care for sick and at-risk babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street, Davenport, on a full-time basis.

Vickie Pyevich, M.D, a clinical associate professor in the UI Department of Pediatrics, also provides pediatric cardiology care and treats children diagnosed with lipid disorders on the Genesis East campus.

In addition, Riad Rahhal, M.D. and Judith Heckman, P.A.-C. see patients twice per month in a special pediatric gastroenterology clinic in the Center for Digestive Health, Gastroenterology Associates P.C., located at 2222 53rd Avenue in Bettendorf.

"This relationship will provide UI Children's Hospital care close to home in collaboration with their own trusted providers," said Doug Cropper, president and CEO, Genesis Health System. "Patients and families will have access to highly specialized pediatric care without leaving the Quad Cities.

"This is an exciting partnership and an opportunity for Genesis to join with one of the nation's top children's hospitals. And, of course, our youngest patients will benefit from the relationship."

"Our specialists provide pediatric specialty care to communities throughout the state in collaboration with local providers," explained Thomas Scholz, M.D. interim head of the UI Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief, UI Children's Hospital. "Relationships with local providers not only improve access to pediatric specialty care for children and their families, but also lead to better health outcomes and lower medical costs."

Children who require additional care, or more urgent consultation, will receive care at UI Children's Hospital in Iowa City. To schedule an appointment, call 1-877-891-5350.

CONTACTS: Craig Cooper, 563-421-9263, cooperc@genesishealth.com, Tom Moore, 319-356-3945, thomas-moore@uiowa.edu

###
Temple Grandin, a prominent author and speaker with autism, has
been featured by TIME magazine as one of 100 people who most affect our
world. She has appeared on "60 Minutes" and was the subject of an award-
winning HBO movie.

Now she is coming to Davenport in April - Autism Awareness Month -
- to share her insights about autism, a challenging communication disorder
that impacts thousands of individuals, their families, teachers, classmates
and others in the Quad-City region.

Temple will speak April 19 at The RiverCenter in Davenport from
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. She'll describe the challenges she has faced and provide
practical ideas on how others living with autism can meet these obstacles
and improve the quality of their lives. A free will offering will be accepted.

Temple's talk is part of the Anti-Stigma Speaker Series that the Vera
French Foundation developed in 2008 to bring to the Quad-City community
nationally recognized personalities who address mental health issues. The
goal of the Anti-Stigma series is to educate and inform people and shine a
light of understanding on those dealing with mental health issues.

An estimated 4,000 people in the Quad-City region have autism, says
Tom Crane, president of the Autism Society of the Quad Cities and parent of
an adult son with autism.

No one is more articulate in explaining some of the mysteries of
autism than Temple, who at age two was unable to speak and showed signs
of severe autism. Many hours of speech therapy, and intensive teaching
enabled her to learn speech. She endured constant teasing as a teenager
because of unusual behavior, but her high school science teacher and an
aunt who lived on a ranch motivated the young woman to pursue a career as
a scientist and livestock equipment designer.

Awarded a Ph.D in Animal Science from the University of Illinois
in 1989, Temple serves as a professor at Colorado State University. She
conducts research while teaching courses on livestock handling and facility
design. Her book, "Animals in Translation" was a New York Times bestseller.
Other popular books she has authored include "Thinking in Pictures,
Emergence Labeled Autistic," "Animals Make us Human," and "The Way I See
It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's."

Temple has received numerous awards for her work and is a past
member of the board of directors of the Autism Society of America. She
lectures to parents and teachers throughout the U.S. on her experiences with
autism. Articles and interviews about Temple have appeared in the New York
Times, People, TIME, "National Public Radio," "20/20," "The View" and the
BBC.

Sponsors of Temple's presentation are Genesis Health System, Scott
County Regional Authority, Autism Society of the Quad Cities, Quad-City
Times, Cumulus Quad Cities, Radish, Vera French Foundation Speakers
Committee, and the Putnam Museum, which will show a free screening of
HBO's "Temple Grandin" April 12 at 7 p.m. For a complete schedule of
Autism Awareness Month activities, visit www.verafrenchmhc.org.

###
DAVENPORT, Iowa - Nov. 3, 2011 -- The Genesis Remembrance Trees in Davenport and Clinton will celebrate the memories of loved ones and focus attention on the continuing need of hospice care in the region.

The Genesis Remembrance Tree in Davenport will be lit in a ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 12 in Bechtel Park at River Drive and Iowa Street. The Genesis Remembrance Tree at 612 North 2nd Street in Clinton will be lit in a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Both ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m.

Special guest performers this year at the Davenport tree lighting will be the 50-member Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church in Davenport.

Individual "light" sponsors are invited to make a donation in any amount in the name of a loved one. All proceeds will benefit Genesis Hospice Care.

Genesis will maintain a Book of Names throughout the holiday season. This book is dedicated to the memory of family and friends. Names and donations received will help light the tree and will be included in the 2011 Book Of Names.

Genesis Hospice is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team to assist in managing symptoms, as well as enhancing quality of life. The common goal of all services is to provide the patient and family with comfort.

For information about how to honor the memory of a loved one, call (563) 421-6865 or go to www.genesishealth.com and click on the Remembrance Tree link.

###

The annual Mayors' Hunger Luncheon will be held at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Golden Leaf Banquet and Convention Center in Davenport.   The mayors of the Quad Cities will serve a simple lunch of bread and hearty soup. The message of the event is "We eat simply so that others may simply eat.''

Since 1992, In From the Cold, with the assistance of the United Way of the Quad Cities Area, has distributed more than $300,000 to fund agencies which assist the hungry and homeless.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the luncheon and contribute. Tickets are $20 per person; tables for 10 cost $175.  For more information, go to www.infromthecoldqc.org or call (563) 421-4343.

In From the Cold recently announced the 2011 grant awards. In From the Cold distributed $2,500 to Community Health Care, Inc.; $2,000 to Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc.; $1,600 to Project NOW,  Inc.;  $1,500 to Winnie's Place shelter for women and children; $800 to Vera French Community Mental Health Center; and $600 to the Hunger Ministry of Churches United of the QCA.

###

Twice As Many Child Pedestrians Are Killed While Walking on Halloween

Quad Cities - Safe Kids Quad Cities shares the newest research report on Halloween safety to Quad Cities area; a key finding showing that only one third of parents talk to their children annually about Halloween safety. This is a first-of-its kind study on Halloween-safety, which was commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a poll of 935 parents with children ages 12 and younger to assess their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to Halloween safety.

"Given children's limited attention spans, repeated and consistent messages about safe behaviors are key to preventing injuries," says Keene Hart. "By following the basic safety tips provided by Safe Kids, Halloween can be a fun and safe night for children of all ages."

On average, twice as many child pedestrians are killed while walking on Halloween compared to other days of the year. On this potentially dangerous night of the year for child pedestrians, Safe Kids Quad Cities strongly recommends that parents prepare children to behave safely and for drivers to take extra precautions.

While most of the parent participants in the study have talked to their children about Halloween safety at some point, many have not made it an annual conversation. Safe Kids Quad Cities urges parents to engage in repeated discussions with each child, every year to reinforce safety messages and safe behaviors because of the risks they face on Halloween.

According to the study, 40 percent of parents allow their child to use one or more unsafe item on Halloween such as a mask, loosing fitting clothing, and / or a sharp object - any of which could contribute to falls, burns or pedestrian injuries. These are preventable hazards that could be avoided by following Safe Kids Quad Cities safety tips.

Another key finding of this report shows twelve percent of children five years of age or younger are permitted to trick-or-treat alone. Not only should these young children be accompanied by an adult, but it is also recommended by Safe Kids that no child under 12 years of age spend Halloween night navigating the streets unsupervised. This recommendation was made to protect children who often lack the maturity and cognitive ability to make appropriate decisions to accurately judge speeds and distance.

"It is alarming to hear that children ages five years and younger are trick-or-treating without adult supervision," added Keene Hart. "If they are old enough and mature enough to trick-or-treat without an adult, parents should make sure children go out in groups and stick to a predetermined route with good lighting."

In preparation for Halloween, Safe Kids Quad Cities will team up with Walk This Way program sponsor FedEx to provide kids with reflective materials to promote visibility, including zipper tags that can be attached to costumes and trick-or-treat bags, as well as important safety information to children, parents, and drivers. The Halloween study was made possible through funding provided by FedEx.

To ensure a safer celebration of Halloween, Safe Kids Quad Cities and FedEx recommend the following tips to parents and caregivers:

Trick-or-Treating Safety:

  • Children under 12 should trick-or-treat and cross streets with an adult.

  • Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.

  • Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.

  • Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, choose light colored costumes that fit properly and avoid carrying sticks, swords, or other sharp objects.

  • Check treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them. Candy should be thrown away if the wrapper is faded, torn, or unwrapped.

What Drivers Need to Know:

  • Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.

  • Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on early in the day so you can spot children from greater distances.

  • Remember that costumes can limit children's visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle.

  • Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

SILVIS, Ill. -- Sept. 21, 2011 -- Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus has been named one of the nation's top-performing hospitals in key quality measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditation agency of health care organizations in the United States.

This is the first time The Joint Commission has listed hospitals that are top performers in its annual report on quality and safety. The 405 organizations in 45 states that were identified as top performers represent approximately 14 percent of Joint Commission-accredited hospitals.

Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus was recognized for achieving excellence in performance in heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care in 2010.

Illini was the only hospital in the Quad Cities to receive recognition from The Joint Commission.

"Excellent care is something all patients expect and deserve. Recognition from The Joint Commission sends a strong message to our patients that Genesis Medical Center, Illini is performing at the top of the nation with outstanding patient outcomes," said Flo Spyrow, President, Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus. "We have made a commitment to quality patient care, patient safety and excellence in patient service and are pleased to be named to the list of top performers by The Joint Commission."A core team of providers at Illini, led by Spyrow, have met weekly over the past year to review patient outcomes, analyze process, collaborate with physicians, and GMC Illini Receives National Recognition For Patient Care ultimately, to continually improve the care delivered to Illini patients.

"The Joint Commission is an independent, highly objective agency of quality for health care organizations. Their recognition is significant to our organization and to our patients,'' Spyrow said. "This is a tribute to Illini staff and the hard work they do each and every day."
The top performers list is based on performance related to 22 accountability measures for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care and children's asthma care. The recognition program is based on data reported about evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to be the best treatments.

"Today, the public expects transparency in the reporting of performance at the hospitals where they receive care, and The Joint Commission is shining a light on the top-performing hospitals that have achieved excellence on a number of vital measures of quality of care,'' said Mark Chassin, M.D., President of The Joint Commission. "Hospitals that commit themselves to accreditation-related quality improvement efforts create better outcomes for patients and, ultimately, a healthier nation."

For information about quality of care and patient safety at Genesis Health System, go to www.genesishealth.com/quality.

About The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long-term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care centers. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

###

22nd annual rankings recognize hospitals in 94 metro areas and 16 specialties

Washington D.C. - Sept. 2, 2011 - Genesis Medical Center, Davenport has been ranked as "high performing" in five medical specialties in U.S. News Media & World Report's 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings, available online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals. The rankings, annually published by U.S. News for the past 22 years, are also featured in the U.S. News Best Hospitals guidebook, which is now on sale.

The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Each is ranked among the country's top hospitals in at least one medical specialty and/or ranked among the best hospitals in its metro area.

Genesis Medical Center, Davenport was recognized as "high performing" in gastroenterology, gynecology, geriatrics, nephrology and orthopedics.

"Recognition from U.S. News in its annual report is highly sought by hospitals and health systems across the country,'' said Doug Cropper, President and CEO, Genesis Health System. "The recognition by an independent and credible source is affirmation that our system-wide focus on quality of care, patient safety and excellent patient outcomes is on the right track.

"The important message from recognition like this to our patients is that they can expect a high level of care and outstanding outcomes at Genesis."

The core mission of Best Hospitals is to help guide patients who need an especially high level of care because of a difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age. "These are referral centers where other hospitals send their sickest patients," said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. "Hospitals like these are ones you or those close to you should consider when the stakes are high."

Covering 94 metro areas in the U.S., the regional hospital rankings complement the national rankings by including hospitals with solid performance nearly at the level of nationally ranked institutions. The regional rankings are aimed primarily at consumers whose care may not demand the special expertise found only at a nationally ranked Best Hospital or who may not be willing or able to travel long distances for medical care. The U.S. News metro rankings give many such patients and their families more options of hospitals within their community and in their health insurance network.

"These are hospitals we call 'high performers.' They are fully capable of giving most patients first-rate care, even if they have serious conditions or need demanding procedures," Comarow said. "Almost every major metro area has at least one of these hospitals."

Hard numbers stand behind the rankings in most specialties?death rates, patient safety, procedure volume, and other objective data. Responses to a national survey, in which physicians were asked to name hospitals they consider best in their specialty for the toughest cases, also were factored in.

The rankings cover 16 medical specialties and all 94 metro areas that have at least 500,000 residents and at least one hospital that performed well enough to be ranked.

 

####

DATE DAY/TIME PLACE

09-24-11 Sat. 8am - 12pm CASI 1035 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport IA

10-05-11 Wed. 9am - 12pm American Legion Hall, Bluegrass, IA

10-06-11 Thur. 8am - 1pm CASI 1035 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport IA

10-19-11 Wed. 3pm - 6pm Bettendorf Presbyterian Church, 1200 Middle Rd., Bettendorf , IA

10/24/11 Mon. 11am - 1pm Heritage Woods of Moline, 5500 46th Ave. Dr. Moline, Il

10-27-11 Thur. 8am - 12 CASI 1035 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport IA

Those receiving a flu shot should wear loose-fitting clothing, preferably short sleeves. Medicare recipients must bring their Medicare card/Medicare HMO card to the clinic. For those without Medicare the flu vaccine cost is $35 with a $5 discount at the door if you pay by cash or check at that time. No Credit Cards accepted. Pneumonia vaccine is $40.

 

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- March 8, 2010 -- Communitas Awards has recognized Genesis Health System for Leadership In Community Service.

Genesis received a Communitas Award award for its Flu-Free Quad Cities project that provided seasonal influenza vaccinations to more than 10,000 elementary school children in 2009.

The Communitas Awards are an international effort to recognize exceptional businesses, organizations and individuals that are unselfishly giving of themselves and their resources, and those that are changing how they do business to benefit their communities. Nominees are evaluated on the extent and effectiveness of their efforts.

The Communitas Awards is an outgrowth of the pro bono recognition program of the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). Founded in 1995, AMCP fosters and supports the efforts of its members who contribute their unique marketing and communication talents to public service and charitable organizations.

Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities is an initiative of Genesis Health System that started three years ago with the idea to protect thousands of elementary school children against seasonal influenza.

Starting out as a pilot project in 2007 with 300 students in three schools, the program has expanded to reach 10,000 children in 82 schools throughout the Quad Cities area of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Children in elementary schools often go unvaccinated. They are not generally considered to be a high-risk group because they rarely suffer severe complications of flu, but they are very efficient carriers.  They carry seasonal flu into their homes and into the communities where they reside.  They carry the flu to baby siblings who may be at higher risk from complications and to grandparents, who also are at higher risk of complications.

Through the Genesis Health Services Foundation, more than $250,000 was raised to fund the project in 2009.

###

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Jan. 29, 2010 - For the third straight year, Genesis Health System has been recognized by SDI as a one of the nation's Top 100 health systems for integrating services to improve quality and operate efficiently.

Genesis moved up from No. 93 in 2009 to No. 71.

"This ranking is recognition of the hard work and dedication of the staff, physicians, volunteers and leadership of Genesis Health System,'' said Doug Cropper, President and CEO, Genesis Health System. "This ranking also is recognition of the quality of care and financial stability of Genesis that allows us to continue to provide that quality care

The 2010 edition of the rankings from SDI identifies the top 100 Integrated Health Networks (IHNs) from a universe of 593 local and regional health networks in the United States that meet critical success factors.

The ratings are based on SDI's IHN Rating System, which evaluates each network's ability to operate as a unified organization in eight categories: integration, integrated technology, contractual capabilities, outpatient utilization, financial stability, services and access, hospital utilization, and physician participation.

SDI is a Pennsylvania-based healthcare analytics organization that provides innovative services that help the healthcare industry solve a wide range of business challenges.

###

Pages