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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