Summer Internship: Grinnell Regional Medical Center
By: Alex Smolik (MHA '20)
Hello from Grinnell!
Located directly between Iowa City and Des Moines, UnityPoint
Health—Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is a 49 bed, private, nonprofit
hospital that has been providing care across east central Iowa since 1919. Previously
an independent hospital, Grinnell Regional Medical Center recently joined
UnityPoint Health, one of the most integrated health systems in the nation. GRMC
offers a range of services from da Vinci robotic surgeries to walk-in care, but
the hospital is especially known for its nationally recognized Comprehensive
Bariatric Center.
Projects are endless at Grinnell Regional Medical Center
with some post-integration work still left to be completed. There is an intense
focus on IT around the hospital with an Epic go live date of September 29th
creeping near. In addition to sitting on the Epic Steering Committee and
assisting in go-live prep, I have had the opportunity to work with clinical
staff to improve the hospital’s medication reconciliation process, assist with
the operating budget process, develop a productivity tool to measure FTE
efficiencies, and enhance the marketing tool used for the hospital foundation.
In addition to these projects, I have also had the
opportunity to participate in a diverse array of meetings including strategic
planning, process improvement, and board meetings. During the first two weeks
of my internship, I had the opportunity to spend time with each department head
leader across the hospital, allowing me to get a better understanding of each
department.
Grinnell’s small town feel and endless list of tasty
restaurants make it a charming town. Its close proximity to both Des Moines and
Iowa City also offers a lot of options for fun events on the weekends. Grinnell
hosts a farmer’s market every Thursday night, has two golf courses, Rock Creek
Lake and Nature Trail, and a gym that is free for UnityPoint Health Employees.
My internship has flown by so far, and I have learned and
experienced so much. I look forward to completing some of my current projects
at Grinnell and returning to Iowa City for year 2!
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