Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Iowa Senate President Pam Jochum, Senator Liz Mathis and Senator Amanda Ragan released the following statement today after the four met in Washington, D.C. to discuss Governor Branstad's plan to implement a move to privatized management of Iowa's Medicaid program, which is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2016. Loebsack and Senators Jochum, Mathis and Ragan have been leading the fight to ensure those who rely on Medicaid are not negatively affected by these changes. Approximately 560,000 Iowans rely on Medicaid, which often serves the state's most vulnerable populations, including low-income families, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities.

"We remain concerned that Governor Branstad's plan is moving too quickly and both those who provide Medicaid services and those who rely on Medicaid to receive medical care will face uncertainty. It is time to pump the brakes and slow down the process so Iowans have a chance to fully understand the possible changes. We cannot allow Iowa's most vulnerable patients to fall through the cracks."

Recently, Loebsack wrote to the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) expressing his concern with the plan and has called on him to protect the wellbeing of Iowans. He has also spoken directly with Sylvia Burwell, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which oversees CMS, to express his concerns with her. Senators Jochum, Mathis and Ragan have also been fighting in Iowa and earlier today met with CMS officials in Washington to express their concerns.

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Nov. 17, 2015 - Genesis Medical Center, Silvis and Genesis Medical Center, Davenport are being recognized by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures.®

The achievement demonstrates that the Genesis Medical Centers have a commitment to provide evidence-based care the right way and at the right time.

As Top Performers in The Joint Commission's 2015 annual report, Genesis Medical Centers will be recognized in "America's Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety" annual report. The hospitals will also be recognized on The Joint Commission website and, and on The Joint Commission's Quality Check website.

Of the more than 3,300 eligible hospitals in the United States, only 1,043 achieved the 2014 Top Performer distinction and Genesis has two of them.

"Genesis Health System has made it the top priority of the organization to improve patient outcomes using evidence-based care measures,'' said Doug Cropper, president and CEO, Genesis Health System. "To have two Genesis hospital campuses earn this recognition is a tribute to the knowledge, skills, team concept and dedication of our staff who provide high quality patient care every day.''

Genesis Medical Center, Silvis was recognized as a Top Performer in the care of heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care and care of venous thromboembolism. Genesis Medical Center, Silvis was the only Rock Island County hospital earning Top Performer recognition.

Genesis Medical Center, Davenport was recognized as a Top Performer in the care of heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical patients and perinatal care.

The Top Performer program recognizes hospitals for improving performance on evidence-based interventions that increase the changes of healthy outcomes for patients with certain conditions.

To be a Top Performer, hospitals had to meet three performance criteria based on 2014 accountability measure data, including:

Achieve cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures;

Achieve performance of 95 percent or above on each and every reported accountability measure with at least 30 cases;

And, have at least one core measure set that had a composite rate of 95 percent or above and within that measure set, achieve a performance rate of 95 percent or above on all applicable individual accountability measures.

For more information about the Top Performer program, visit www.jointcommission.org/accreditation/top_performers.aspx.

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS PROGRAM RE-CREDENTIALED

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Nov. 13, 2015 -- The Iowa Department of Management and Public Health is pleased to announce that the Scott County Kids Nest of Scott County has earned the Iowa Family Support Credential.  The Scott County Kids Nest program is the 70th Iowa program to earn this important distinction.

Also, the Bright Beginnings program of Scott County has been re-credentialed by earning the Iowa Family Support Credential.  The program is only the third in Iowa to be re-credentialed.

The Iowa Family Support Credential is awarded to family support and parent education programs that are validated through an external evaluation to be in substantial adherence to the Iowa Family Support Standards.

The Iowa Family Support Standards are based on the most up-to-date, evidence- based practice in the family support field.  Adherence to the standards indicates that the program is providing high quality services that will result in positive outcomes for young children and their families.

Bright Beginnings and the Scott County Kids Nest diligently worked toward meeting all of the 138 standards over the course of more than two years with the assistance of a program specialist.  A peer review was conducted by trained peers from central Iowa to validate the program's adherence to the standards.  The Iowa Family Support Credential is valid for five years.

The two programs will celebrate the accreditations on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 10:30 a.m. at Genesis VNA and Hospice, 2894 AAA Court, Suite 202, Bettendorf.

For additional information concerning the Scott County Kids Nest program, Genesis VNA and Hospice, Scott County contact Tera Weets, Scott County Kids Nest, 563-421-5070 or send email to weetst@genesishealth.com.

About Bright Beginnings Home Visitation Program:

Genesis VNA Bright Beginnings  Home Visitation Program provides family support and education services to pregnant and parenting families with children through age 5 years residing in Scott, Clinton or Jackson counties.  Goals include helping families establish a relationship with a primary physician, encouraging immunizations for children, preventing abuse of children; and, helping families achieve self reliance.

About Scott County Kids Nest Group Education Program:

Genesis VNA Scott County Kids' Nest Group Education Program provides family support and education services to pregnant and parenting families with children in first 13 months in Scott County.  Goals include increased numbers of healthy births by increasing the number of at-risk pregnant women who receive adequate care and services during pregnancy; increase confidence and competence in parenting abilities; and, increase healthy informal support systems of families.

Scientific method helps provide better understanding of dementia

DAVENPORT, IA (November 13, 2015) - Senior Star at Elmore Place, in an effort to help build support for Alzheimer's Awareness, invites the public to experience the Virtual Dementia Tour®, (VDT®), an educational program created by Second Wind Dreams®, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18 at 4500 Elmore Avenue, Davenport.

According to the Alzheimer's Association website, every 69 seconds someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  The VDT® helps people experience the challenges of aging and, even more importantly, connects that experience to how much more difficult it can be for people with dementia to face aging challenges because they are also unable to communicate what they are experiencing to their loved one, caregiver or physician.

Senior Star associates provide compassionate and innovative care to those facing Alzheimer's, making this team well prepared to address participants' questions.  The average VDT® experience takes between 90-120 minutes, depending on the number of people in attendance, and includes a class discussion as well as a 15-20 minute tour led by the experienced associates of Senior Star at Elmore Place.

This real-life experience is also important since persons first diagnosed with a form of dementia are often cared for by a family member.  The VDT® is an eye-opener for caregivers to better understand the challenges those with Alzheimer's face.

Each tour is limited.  To take the VDT®, RSVP no later than November 17 by calling 563.359.0100.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to tour the community, call 563.359.0100.

About Senior Star at Elmore Place

Senior Star at Elmore Place, a Senior Star community, features 236 modernly decorated apartments spanning across 20 acres of beautifully landscaped property with many customized amenities to offer its residents three distinctive living experiences:  independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For more information, visit www.seniorstar.com.

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