DAVENPORT, Iowa - March 10, 2015 - Genesis Medical Centers in Davenport and Silvis have been named among the nation's HEALTHSTRONG Hospitals by iVantage Health Analytics.
The study and announcement of 2015 HEALTHSTRONG Hospitals highlights top-performing hospitals as determined through the Hospital Strength INDEX.  The annual INDEX study is the industry's most comprehensive rating system of hospitals and the results recognize top-performing hospitals.

Top-performing hospitals are measured across 62 performance metrics, including quality, patient outcomes, patient perspective, affordability and efficiency. Information and study findings can be found at www.iVantageINDEX.com.

"Genesis places tremendous emphasis on safety, quality, performance and satisfaction,'' said Doug Cropper, president and CEO, Genesis Health System.  "This recognition is an affirmation that our efforts are making a difference to the hospital and the patients we serve."Genesis shares this recognition with our medical staff and every employee who touches the lives of our patients.'' 

"iVantage seeks to help hospitals meet the demands of the new healthcare environment  by providing a new level of transparency into the internal and external metrics which drive more informed decision making," said Araby Thornewill, president of iVantage Health Analytics. "As the industry continues to evolve toward value-based delivery models, the Hospital Strength INDEX provides a unique perspective into how hospitals are responding to unprecedented change as well as advancing toward the ultimate goal of higher quality care at lower cost."

About Genesis Health System
Genesis Health System, its affiliates and partners offer a continuum of health care services for a 12-county region of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Our affiliates include : Acute and tertiary hospital care at Genesis Medical Center, Davenport and DeWitt, Iowa and at Genesis Medical Center, Silvis and Genesis Medical Center, Aledo, Ill.; home health and hospice services through Genesis VNA and Hospice; Genesis Workplace Services, including occupational health, employee assistance program and wellness services for employers and their employees; the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House; senior living facilities offering rehabilitation and long-term care; Genesis Health Group, with nearly 200 primary care providers and specialists; the Genesis Quad Cities  Family Practice Residency program; Genesis Psychology Associates; three Convenient Care clinics; and Genesis Home Medical Equipment.  Partners include Genesis Medical Park, Crow Valley and Spring Street Surgical Center, Davenport and Genesis Imaging Centers.  Genesis manages Jackson County Regional Health Center, Maquoketa, Iowa. Genesis is one of the largest employers in the Quad Cities region with nearly 5,000 employees.  For more information, visit our Web site at www.genesishealth.com.

About iVantage Health Analytics
iVantage is a leading advisory and business analytic services company applying   Accelerated Healthcare Transformation™ and the VantagePoints™ platform to drive sustained, evidence-based results. The company's unique combination of technology, content, and expert advisory services accelerates decision making for the new healthcare. For more visit, www.ivantagehealth.com.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pointing out that individuals awaiting trial (pretrial detainees) are particularly vulnerable to government abuse and should not be forced to prove that their alleged abusers intended to harm them in order to claim their rights were violated, attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to remove restrictions some courts have imposed on civil rights lawsuits for excessive force by inmates against jail personnel, thereby discouraging the use of excessive force by prison officials. The case of Kingsley v. Hendrickson involves a Wisconsin man who alleges that he was subjected to unreasonable and excessive force in reckless disregard for his safety when prison guards forcibly removed him from his jail cell and subdued with a stun gun.

The Rutherford Institute's amicus brief in Kingsley v. Hendrickson is available at www.rutherford.org.

"In a police state, there is no need for judges, juries or courts of law, because the police act as judge, jury and law, and their version of justice is one-sided, delivered at the end of a gun, taser or riot stick," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of the award-winning A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State. "Unless the courts and legislatures act soon to change this climate of government-sanctioned police brutality, we may find that there is no real difference between those who are innocent, those accused of committing crimes and those found guilty, because we will all suffer the same at the hands of government agents."

In 2010, Michael Kingsley was arrested and booked into the jail in Sparta, Wisconsin, and detained there pending his court appearances on the charges against him. About one month into his detention, guards noticed that a sheet of yellow paper was covering the light above Kingsley's bed, which was a common practice among detainees in order to dim the brightness of the facilities lights. The guards ordered Kingsley to remove the paper, but he refused, pointing out that he had not put the paper over the light. The next morning, Kingsley was again ordered to remove the paper and again he refused. The jail administrator was then called, who told Kingsley he would be transferred to another cell. Five officers then came to the cell and ordered Kingsley to stand up. Kingsley protested that he had done nothing wrong, but was told to follow the order or he would be tasered. Kingsley continued to lie face down on his bunk but put his hands behind his back and was handcuffed. The officers then pulled Kingsley off the bunk, which allegedly caused injuries to his knees and feet and inflicted pain so severe Kingsley could not stand or walk. The officers then carried him to a receiving cell, placed him face down on a bunk and attempted to remove the handcuffs. Although Kingsley denied that he resisted, the officers allegedly smashed his head into the concrete bunk and placed a knee into his back. When Kingsley told the officer to get off him, one of the officers tasered Kingsley for five seconds. As a result of this incident, Kingsley sued several officers involved, alleging that they used excessive force against him and that this violated his constitutional right to due process. The jury ruled against Kingsley, who subsequently lost his appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Affiliate attorney Stephen J. Neuberger of The Neuberger Firm assisted The Rutherford Institute in advancing the arguments in the amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court.

This press release is also available at www.rutherford.org.

Teach Your Favorite Bartender A New Recipe, Or Enjoy At Home With Friends

Even on a Tuesday - this year's March 17 - St. Patrick's Day can tempt infrequent drinkers to get out and enjoy the festivities. But you don't have to drink dyed-green beer to tap into the spirit of the holiday, says Steven Earles, CEO of Portland-based Eastside Distilling (www.EastsideDistilling.com).

"With each successive year, consumers are getting more sophisticated in their beverage choices - they want quality and variety," says Earles, whose company experiments with a variety of flavors in its drinks, such as Cherry Bomb Whiskey and Below Deck Coffee Rum.

"These days, women, for example, make up a much greater share of the whiskey market, which experienced an increase in sales by half a billion dollars from 2013 to 2014. Much of this new market is looking for a new direction."

Whether St. Patty's Day merrymakers prefer to be a part of their town's celebrations, or they prefer keeping it intimate with close friends and family, Earles offers new drink ideas for drink connoisseurs in search of a new tradition.

•  Dropkick Murphy Coffee: Inspired from the popular Celtic punk band, this feisty coffee has the buzz and kick many enjoy in kicking off an extended night of celebration.

1 ½ oz. Burnside Bourbon
½ oz. Below Deck Coffee Rum
2 tsp. vanilla simple syrup
Coffee
Whip Cream
Ground cinnamon

In a coffee glass add Burnside Bourbon, Coffee Rum, and vanilla simple syrup. Fill glass with coffee leaving about 1/4 room. Top with whip cream and then a few dashes of ground cinnamon. You can garnish with lucky clovers!

•  Blarney Stone Kiss: A popular attraction in Ireland, the Blarney Stone gives those who kiss it - which requires an acrobatic, back-bending approach - the gift of the gab. The following shooter gives you the same ...

1 oz. Burnside Bourbon
½ oz. Cherry Bomb
2 tsp. lime juice 
Lime wedge

Add all ingredients to a shaker, chill hard, and serve in a shot glass. Garnish with lime wedge. Since most people won't be able to kiss the Blarney Stone on St. Patrick's day, make sure to take this shot and then "kiss" (bite) the lime wedge after.

•  Adult Shamrock Shake: Many of us have fond memories as a child enjoying the McDonald's Shamrock shake on St. Patty's Day. Consider an adult version.

1.5 oz. Portland Potato Vodka
1 oz. Peppermint Bark Liqueur 
.5 oz. Irish Cream
½ scoop vanilla ice cream
1 scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream

Add all ingredients in a blender a cup of ice. Blend for 10 seconds and serve immediately.

•  Irish Mule: There's a Moscow mule, made with vodka, and a Mexican mule, made with Tequila - now, here's an Irish take ...

1 ¼ oz. Burnside Bouron
2 tsp. mint simple syrup
Ginger beer
Lime juice
Mint leaves

In a tumbler over ice add Burnside Bourbon, mint simple syrup, a splash of lime juice, then fill with ginger beer. Stir together and garnish with mint leaves.

•  Emerald Elixir: Who says you need a thick and heavy Guinness to raise a glass to St. Patrick? Why not something light, green and refreshing to attract the luck of the Irish?

1 ¼ oz. Portland Potato Vodka
½ oz. Midori
Lemonade
Soda water

In a tumbler over ice add Portland Potato Vodka and Midori. Fill to the top with half lemonade and half soda water.

About Steven Earles

Steven Earles is the CEO of Portland-based Eastside Distilling, (www.EastsideDistilling.com), a producer of handcrafted spirits created from local ingredients and focused in small batches to ensure unparalleled quality. He is responsible for Eastside's day-to-day operations as well as overseeing the company's brand development and financial strategy. Earles, who joined Eastside in 2009, has more than two decades of executive experience and orchestrated the development and building of one of the largest land-development companies in southern California.