Health & Wellness Progress 2025
Collaboration offers expanded cardiology services at Van Diest Medical Center
A commitment to HEALTH & WELLNESS
“Van Diest Medical Center has been fabulous to work with. Everything has been going extremely well.”
By ANNE BLANKENSHIP Special to the Daily Freeman-Journal
A collaboration between Van Diest Medical Center — VDMC — and MercyOne Iowa Heart Center has led to the establishment of a clinic offering comprehensive cardiology services to patients across North Central Iowa.
The MercyOne Iowa Heart Center Fort Dodge moved to Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City last fall and the partnership has allowed for a full range of outpatient cardiac services to be provided at VDMC, expanding Iowa Heart’s presence in Webster City, Hamilton County and the surrounding region.
On October 21, 2024, MercyOne Iowa Heart Center opened a full-time clinic at VDMC. The clinic is now operating Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with board certified cardiologists and cardiology advanced practice providers seeing patients in person at Van Diest Medical Center.
“MercyOne Iowa Heart Center is proud to partner with Van Diest Medical Center to bring enhanced cardiac care to the community in Webster City. MercyOne Iowa Heart Center has a longstanding history serving patients in North Central Iowa and is ecstatic to continue to do so into the future,” said Robert Gavora, chief administrative officer for MercyOne Iowa Heart Center.
“We look at ourselves as the eyes and ears for that provider, and sometimes even for family members.”
“Van Diest Medical Center was excited to welcome a fulltime MercyOne Iowa Heart cardiac clinic to our facility.
MercyOne Iowa Heart Center interventional cardiologist Dr. Mark McGaughey, on the video screen, provides telehealth services on a recent Wednesday at Van Diest Medical Center. Kari Harlow, LPN, CMA, demonstrates the Bluetooth stethoscope used to transmit patient vital signs during telehealth appointments.
A ribbon-cutting and open house to welcome MercyOne Iowa Heart Center to Webster City is planned for Wednesday, February 12, from 8 to 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
This collaboration shows our commitment to promoting health and wellness for our communities,” Lisa Ridge, chief executive officer at VDMC, said. “By providing access to cardiac care, we aim to enhance early detection and prevention of heart-related issues.” Prior to October 2024, MercyOne Iowa Heart Center scheduled two days of outreach each month at VDMC, according to Gavora. In addition to cardiacrelated consult and followup appointments, MercyOne Iowa Heart Center offers echocardiograms, electrophysiology — EP — device checks, and nuclear cardiac stress tests. MercyOne Iowa Heart Center’s nuclear camera was moved in to provide nuclear cardiology imaging as well.
See HEART, Page 7B
Hamilton County Public Health takes on diverse duties
Caring for Hamilton County
By LORI BERGLUND
They are out there in all kinds of weather.
The registered nurses and certified nurse’s aides/ homemakers of Hamilton County Public Health juggle a busy patient load of 65 to 70 clients every week, all year long — in sub zero wind chills over icy roads and those seemingly far-off hot summer days. It must be the faces of the patients they serve that makes it all worthwhile.
When one is ill or in pain, lonely or even afraid, a kindly nurse and a cheerful homemaker can make a long day, a harsh recovery, a chronic illness, just a little easier to bear.
“We have really good people here,” said Pam Harklau, administrator of Hamilton County Public Health. “We have amazing staff that care about the community and want to be right here providing services. That
first
makes my job easy.” Harklau stepped into the role leading the diverse agency that is Hamilton County Public Health just one year ago in February, taking over from longtime Administrator Shelby Kroona.
“Shelby had talked to me and done a lot of mentoring in the last few years,” Harklau said. “That made the transition work extremely well.”
Harklau, a registered nurse with some 35 years of experience ranging from hospital and clinic work to home health care and public health, joined the local agency five years ago. She looks at Hamilton County Public Health as a prize within the state of Iowa, and a vital service to the people who live here.
“Our public health agency is very unique,”
— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Lori Berglund
Pam Harklau is closing in on her
year leading the diverse agency of Hamilton County Public Health.
By JANE CURTIS
From a young age, drinking alcohol was normal for Todd Taylor because his grandfather owned a bar.
Taylor was about 12 when he first started drinking.
Unfortunately, that translated to addiction, and that addiction, he told an audience last summer, eventually led him to CFR.
“I've been through the recovery houses, so I kind of know how it is,” he said. “I've battled addiction my whole life.”
Taylor, of Fort Dodge, spoke at the open house in 2024 hosted by Community & Family Resources as it introduced Webster City to its new 14-bed men’s recovery suite in the 500 Fair Meadow Drive building the agency bought from Hamilton County early in 2024. It is expected to begin accepting clients later this fall.
“It was just normal to start drinking at a young age,” Taylor told the visitors gathered in CFR’s conference room. “And that progressed until I was a teenager, when drugs were offered to me. They just kind of overwhelmed me and took my life over.”
But with help, he found he was determined to not let addiction define him.
“I’ve been in and out of institutions, prisons, jails. In between, I've always been an active member of the community. Good job, you know? But I just could never keep that monkey off my back long enough to get my mind right, and so one of the things I like about this place is the recovery house.”
While a residential recovery unit is new to Webster City, it has been an established service in Fort Dodge, where Taylor said he became a familiar face.
Recovery looks like this
“I went through treatment. It started a spark in my head where I know all the right from wrong. You know what I mean? But through all the years it's just instilled in my brain to do things a certain
Top: Todd Taylor talks about his addiction recovery during an open house at Community & Family Resources in Webster City in September 2024. The open house featured the new 14-bed mens recovery unit at CFR's 500 Fair Meadow Drive building. Michelle De La Riva, CFR executive director, is pictured in the background.
Below: The communal kitchen is adjacent to the dining hall at the new recovery unit.
way — and that's not the right way — and it took me probably a year before my mental capacity changed, or I knew how to talk, to communicate with people, how to do my job right. How to just do all this, all this normal stuff that people take for granted,” he said.
“I went through treatment. It started a spark in my head where I know all the right from wrong. You know what I mean? But through all the years it's just instilled in my brain to do things a certain way — and that's not the right way — and it took me probably a year before my mental capacity changed, or I knew how to talk, to communicate with people, how to do my job right. How to just do all this, all this normal stuff that people take for granted.”
CFR’s residential recovery unit gave him the time, and a place, to work on himself.
“It's because it was what I needed. I kind of work better when there's somebody over me. You know what I mean?” he said.
“Even my family knew that that's where I needed to be because I do function better with somebody kind of poking me. And that's what this recovery house is all about, giving guys a chance to slowly, not just get pushed out the door, you know? And I love that I could never have made it without CFR's help, without my friends’ help, the community.
their families and communities. Individuals participate in five or more hours of programming each week.”
In Webster City, the new unit encompasses a large communal kitchen and dining hall, a light-filled great room, and several outdoor spaces.
Though CFR has referred to the unit as a halfway house, it is not to be interpreted as a halfway house as in the penal system. CFR serves clients whose impetus to recover comes from within.
“Now I'm an active member of the community. I have a great job. I've helped other guys get jobs and now they're active members of the community. They got jobs, houses, you know, starting families, all because of one spark that I got here at the CFR.”
According to CFR, residential recovery is also referred to as a “halfway house,” a place “where they may gain additional personal freedom and more responsibility. Client recovery is reinforced and strengthened while they hold jobs and prepare to rejoin
"Community and Family Resources is dedicated to proactively assisting individuals, families, and communities achieve healthy behavior and lifestyle through advocacy, prevention, and treatment of substance use, problem gambling, and mental illness,” according to its web presence. “We have locations in Ames, Boone, Clarion, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Humboldt, Iowa City, Marengo, Rockwell City, Tipton, Washington, and Webster City."
— Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Jane Curtis
“Her name and reputation is why people continue to ask for our help today.”
“Staying in your own home as you age improves your ability to thrive. We help you meet that goal, whether
it’s
Home care close to home
Webster City's Life & Health Care fills a critical gap
ROBERT E. OLIVER
for another six months or another six years.”
Mona Everson, who worked at Hamilton County Public Hospital and Hamilton County Public Health for many years, unexpectedly found herself unemployed when her nursing position was eliminated. For Mona, that moment of adversity quickly suggested opportunity. She established L&HC to fill the very real needs she saw in her patients every day, but which were going unmet by any agency or company. Now retired from day-to-day operations, Mona retains ownership of L&HC and, importantly, is still available to assist in a consulting role from time to time.
Perhaps most importantly though, her passion to fill that critical gap for people just trying to stay in their homes as long as possible remains the guiding light of the company she founded. David Everson probably puts it best when he says: “Her name and reputation is why people continue to ask for our help today.”
Top: Mona Everson founded Life & Health Care in Webster City in 2011 to fill a critical gap in health care she'd observed during her work as a nurse, first at Hamilton County Public Hospital and later at Hamilton County Public Health. She's stepped back from day-to-day work at the company recently, leaving it in the capable hands of her son, David Everson, who worked with his mother, first as chief financial officer, and now as chief executive officer.
ABove: Life & Health Care office staff pause from their busy routine to have their photo taken. They are, from left, Chief Executive Officer David Everson; Cheyenne Thoma, R.N.; Karen Schlief, LPN; and office administrator Corrie Mork. Not shown are the 18 additional staff who provide a long list of home health care services, all with the same objective: to allow people to live in their own homes as long as possible. Newest staff member, office puppy George, is more interested in something on the floor than having his photo taken.
Some no longer even own a car. In rural America, this can be a major cause of isolation and loneliness, and can contribute to depression.
Everson’s staff do everything from picking up prescriptions or shopping for clients, to taking them to church, weddings and funerals. In one instance, Everson recalled, “One of our staff actually flew with a client so they could attend an out-of-state wedding.”
Life & Health Care’s present service area is Hamilton, Webster and Wright counties. With the existing and growing need for the company’s services in this region, Everson said further expansion isn’t part of his current
The company’s staff of 22 range in
age from 16 to 70. Presently, it has one registered nurse, and two nurse’s aides who oversee all care. Everson stressed that 100% of patient care plans are set and signed-off by physicians. L&HC’s nurses then oversee the care to ensure the doctor’s orders are strictly followed.
Life & Health Care receives no public funding for its services. It does not accept Medicare or Medicaid. Everson advised those with long-term health insurance to check details of their coverage; some cover services such as those offered by L&HC. It was Benjamin Franklin who famously said, “Out of adversity comes opportunity.” His words are an apt description of the founding of Life & Health Care.
It's all about the people
Wolfe Clinic bring more than 100 years of experience to Hamilton County clients
By KOLLEEN TAYLOR
Mixing youth and experience is one of the greatest ways to grow a community and organization. Wolfe Clinic in Webster City has clearly done this providing the best of both worlds. It’s a century of history combined with a century of experience while they bring young professionals into their fold.
With over 100 years of history, Wolfe Clinic came to Webster City in 1998, merging the practice with Eye Care Associates, which evolved from the original Oleson clinic that served the Webster City area for over 100 years. But with the name change and an upgrade to a new location in 2019, we didn’t lose the familiar faces who greet you when you come to the clinic. There are three who together have served Webster City for a combined total of 99 years.
Colleen Young has been working with the eye care offices for 40 years, hired by Dr. Richard Brauer and Dr. Robert Niemann. She has worked with all the eye doctors over the years except the Olesons. Those dedicated professionals including Dr. Wayne Strait, Dr. James Tesdahl, Dr. John Ferrell and the newest additions, Dr. Jake Haberman and Dr. Megan Petersen. Her job has evolved immensely over the years.
“I did a little bit of everything,” she said. “I answered the phones, scheduled the appointments, took patients back to the doctors,” she continued. “Back then everything was on paper. And we had to switch everything to computers.”
James Tesdahl has provided eye care in Webster City for 31 years, replacing Brauer, and working with Niemann under the name Eye Care Associates until they merged with Wolfe Clinic. Niemann retired in 2002, with Ferrell joined the clinic in 2003. Tesdahl has seen the transition as a positive move. “The partnership has been great! I love Wolfe Clinic!” Tesdahl continued, “Patient care and patient relations are also great. The biggest change to our business has been the electronic medical records (EMR).”
Wolfe Clinics employees, from
Colleen Young, Dr. James Tesdahl and Jeanne
Young agreed with Tesdahl, even compared to the move from Division to Superior Street which allowed them more space for frames, office space and better parking. It was a big change. But the computerization of her work was not just learning how to use computers, but learning new systems. Most of her work today is
together have nearly 100 years of service to the Webster City and Hamilton County area.
online, but during her early years it was all on paper. “We have switched to new computer systems three
times since 2019.” She explained that as challenging those changes are, it has made some things more efficient. “We used to see 9 patients a day,” she reminisced, “Now we see 19 plus per day.”
Another change that Tesdahl noted was the increased use of online purchasing for glasses. “Glasses have become cool!” he said, “We really appreciate people who buy here, the choices are great, and you can be sure you have the look you want before you leave our building.”
Jeanne Severe also noted the changes in eye ware. Severe is the 3rd person in that century of service. She has been assisting clients with selecting frames and lenses, known now as the Wolfe Family Vision Center for 28 years. “There is a lot more selection of frames, colors, a wider variety of styles and larger selection of coatings on lenses,” she said.
Her husband, Tom Severe ran the lab located at Division street, putting in over 40 years before he retired in 2019. The lab was the one aspect that didn’t follow the move, one of the few aspects of eye ware service that has disappeared. “We used to cut and edge our own lenses, but we don’t do that anymore,” she explained. “Everything else has allowed us to provide faster service.”
These three are the backbone, but they are joined by two younger optometrists, Haberman and Petersen. They both provide eye care service to other locations.Haberman is in Sac City every Tuesday and Peterson is in Sac City each Monday in addition to serving Clarion on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Also available through Wolfe Clinic in Webster City are cataract evaluations. Dr. Steven Anderson comes to Webster City once every 3 weeks. He also does the cataract surgery at the Van Diest Medical Center here in Webster City. In addition, there are six other employees that round out the Wolfe team. They are: Lorie McGilligan and Seth Askvig who both work at the front desk, Kendyl Felts who works with Jeanne with optical services, Stephanie Huber and Sierra Opperman who handle the tech work, and Cheri Caruth who has a dual role as reception and tech services. It’s a team effort, a great balance of experience and youth that keeps our eyes and our community in focus.
It’s Progress: The mirroring histories of Wolfe Clinic and Webster City Eye Care
By KOLLEEN TAYLOR
The history of the Wolfe Clinic in Iowa nearly mirrors the beginning of eye care in Webster City. Dr. Otis Wolfe was studying medicine in 1918 in his home state of Kansas and training in the Chicago area studying under prominent EENT (eye, ear, nose, throat) doctors. Wolfe and Dr. Frederick Wahrer went into business together in 1919 to create Wolfe Eye Clinic.
Dr. Henry Oleson, who was considered a pioneer in his field, took the inaugural optometric licensing board offered in the state of Iowa in 1918. That step brought him into downtown Webster City, where he started his eye care practice initially in a jewelry store and later brought his son, Harlan Oleson into the practice,
While Oleson was preparing to start his practice in Webster City, Wolfe, who had been studying medicine, began suffering from chronic conjunctivitis, which contributed to his decision to become an eye doctor. As he finished his education and began to look for an area to start his own offices, he found an ophthalmology clinic in Marshalltown, specializing in eye care and surgery. He then purchased it with a partner and Wolfe Clinic was born.
The Wolfe story since then has been one of innovation and forward thinking growth.
Wolfe was credited with performing one of the first Barraquer method surgeries in Iowa in 1925, as recorded in the 100th anniversary history of Wolfe Eye Clinic. Their story and their practice has spread over the years, which prompted them to write their own story in a book “100 Years: Wolfe Eye Clinic – A Century in Sight.”
While Oleson had established himself in Webster City, he also set a path for his son, Harlan, who eventually joined him in his practice. In 1958, Oleson and his son built the office at 701 Division, where subsequent professionals served the community of Webster City and Hamilton County with eye care.
Most locals do not remember a time when there wasn’t an eye doctor located at the corner of Des Moines and Division streets. This location was used until Nieman and Tesdahl agreed to a merger with Wolfe Clinic in 1998 and the offices became the property of Wolfe Clinic.
And nothing changed….for a while.
Computerized systems were moving into business offices, creating a need for more specialized training, and the angst that goes with a major upheaval of record keeping. Then came the move to Superior Street which was completed in 2019. Improved
parking and handicapped entrances, larger areas for marketing glasses, and updated offices and clinic rooms transformed this section of the former Executive Inn and Swine Graphics building into an upscale clinic which is easily accessed from Superior Street in Webster City.
When you enter the Wolfe Clinic offices in Webster City, you are still greeted with that welcoming smile and service that has become a hallmark of the eye care offices.
Today James Tesdahl, O.D., who grew up in Eagle Grove, is now the senior doctor on site, one of three, who serve this area.
Tesdahl received his Doctorate of Optometry degree, magna cum laude, from the Indiana School of Optometry in Bloomington, Indiana. His bachelor’s degree included majors in biology and business administration from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, graduating cum laude. Tesdahl is an experienced comprehensive optometrist, helping with a wide range of visual issues to managing ocular pathologies.
When he began seeing patients, his skill in recognizing eye diseases, and connecting the genetics in families created a high level of trust from his patients. His relationships with family members enhances his practice as he recalls aunts,
uncles, parents, children and connects the dots that may impact the visual needs of the new generations. His concern for his patients is evident in his care. When considering what has changed the most since he began his career, he pondered a minute.
“Macular degeneration has gone up, mostly because our patients are getting older,” Tesdahl said. “Retinal Specialists are needed and more care of the retina,” he continued, “And now cataract surgery allows the cataract implants to be corrective lenses.”
Tesdahl was inspired to become an eye doctor from a local optometrist in Eagle Grove who was not only an influential leader but a great family man as well.
Tesdahl has followed his footsteps well, actively involved in the Webster City community and developing strong bonds with his patients over the years.
Tesdahl has brought a cheerful face to the world of optometry, and the intense knowledge that he is making a difference in the lives of his patients, his family and his community. Making the decision to bring Wolfe Clinic into Webster City has brought an even higher level of eye care into our community, to serve all of our eye care needs.
— Daily Freeman-Journal
photo by Kolleen Taylor
left,
Severe
“I
have all this stateof-the-art equipment that will turn back
time on your face and skin. But the majority of the women who come in want to rejuvenate.”
Shanti
Rejuvenation services help maintain physical and skin health
KOLLEEN TAYLOR
Just like your home or car, your body needs constant maintenance according to Mary Fortune, owner of Shanti Rejuvenation services.
Located at 914 Wilson Avenue, her move just before the Covid epidemic shifted her focus from fitness and exercise to anti-aging and
“I was a personal trainer and fitness coach for 30 years,” she said. Her credentials are extensive, with nearly a dozen certifications from Yoga and Zuma instruction to Laser training and various skin
Shanti Rejuvenation has evolved over the years, first opening as Shanti Wellness Center on Main Street in Webster City. And it is continually evolving.
“My vision was to be a holistic center, treating the entire body inside and out, a
She purchased equipment last year so she could begin offering Sculpt, a body contouring service in Webster City. She also purchased a Tixel machine for facial and neck rejuvenation, using microwaves. The Tixel machine replaced other equipment she had used in the past.
“It’s similar to a CO2 laser treatment, but has very low downtime,” she said. “It goes into the dermal layers and rejuvenates collagen and elastin and will eliminate some of the hyper pigmentation that
“This is a good alternative to a face lift or anything surgical,” Fortune continued. “We are creating a wound and trying to tap into the bodies healing systems,”
Another recent addition is the Myolyft machine, which is an electronic muscle stimulator that stimulates the muscles in the
Patients who once had to travel to distant cities for these treatments can now receive care closer to home.
face. This brings blood flow back in addition to stretching the muscles in the face. She is quick to say that this is a good solution for someone who is already eating well and exercising, or someone who needs a good jumpstart to a better lifestyle. All the treatments offered through Fortune need maintenance and she recommends
purchasing packages of 3 or 4 sessions and periodic return visits.
New services will be offered in the next few months including an Ozone sauna and a vaginal rejuvenator, she explained. “This service will be available sometime in February, This will include doing a radio frequency treatment that will help tighten up tissues that assist with bladder incontinence and for those who have had babies.”
For all the new services she has added, she still maintains her permanent makeup, customized facials and micropigmentation services.
“I have all this state of the art equipment that will turn back time on your face and skin. But the majority of the women who come in want to rejuvenate,” she said.
“The Willson Avenue Wellness Center has vacancies for other health and wellness providers,” she said. She will also be providing skin care services through her license, but some services are only available through Fortune who has been trained and certified to provide. Fortune plans to hire additional personnel to assist with the services Shanti offers. And more growth is expected in the future. Since Covid, all services can only be accessed by appointment. Appointments can be scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Her hours on Friday and Saturday are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They do not schedule appointments on Sunday or Monday.
Her newly revamped website allows appointments to be made directly on the site for the various services. You can find Shanti Rejuvenation at https:// shantirejuvenationcenter.com/.
Infused with compassionate care
The Joan and Richard Stark Infusion Center at Van Diest Medical Center provides a welcoming and well-equipped space for patients undergoing a variety of infusion therapies.
The center includes eight patient bays with comfortable chairs, a private room for extended treatments, and thoughtful amenities to enhance the patient experience, including individual televisions, a nutrition center, a private restroom, and space for a loved one to accompany the patient.
A broad range of specialty therapies, including chemotherapy, IV therapy, blood transfusions, antibiotic therapy, injections, and Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Modulation (PTNM) are offered in the infusion center.
Patients who once had to travel to distant cities for these treatments can now receive care closer to home for conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, immune deficiency disorders, arthritis, and more. The infusion center has experienced consistent growth through the years.
The infusion center is staffed by two registered nurses and operates
and Mary Swaline show a comfortable chair
iPads, refreshments, and even a warm meal for longer treatments, creating a more comfortable, compassionate environment.
The hospital also offers oncology and hematology services through a partnership with Mission Cancer + Blood, allowing patients to access specialized care locally. Dr. Robert Behrens, a medical oncologist and hematologist, collaborates with the infusion team, and Dr. Sydney Brehany will be joining the team in late February. Patients must be referred by a physician to be seen at the infusion center. For more information, individuals can contact the center directly at 515-832-7895.
— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Kolleen Taylor
Mary Fortune, owner of Shanti Rejuvenation Center, demonstrates the Sentient Sculpt machine, available at the Willson Avenue Wellness Center at 914 Willson Avenue, Webster City.
Monday through Friday. In addition to its professional care, the center provides amenities like warm blankets, individual
Brittany Sadler, left,
in the Joan and Richard Stark Infusion Center at Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City.
Twin sisters, one dream
Sanctuary Yoga & Healing and Skin By Chandler take their place downtown
Speaking of kitty yoga, late 2024 brought the newest member of the family. Just prior to Thanksgiving, Gabby adopted Haven from The Cat Hut in Webster City. "He is probably the most exciting thing that happened in 2024, other than opening. He's just a ball of sunshine and everybody loves him. And he does yoga with us, literally does yoga with us. And he's just great!"
A year ago, twin sisters Chandler and Gabby Gourley were about to embark on a new journey with the completion of their building at the northwest corner of Second Street and Willson Avenue in downtown
They each had their grand opening back on March 26, 2024.
Chandler is the owner of Skin By
Gabby owns Sanctuary
Chandler shared how this dream came about.
"I moved back home after almost seven years of living in different states. I was in a season where it felt like God was calling me home. I've always wanted my own office since before I became an aesthetician. A place that would feel warm and inviting, but would also always be aesthetically timeless no matter the year.
“My dad (Gene Gourley) and Brady Hartmann both saw an opportunity with this piece of land (the vacant lot where Fuhs Bakery once stood), so my dad asked if I would like to build an office that he would own, and I would take over payments. I had already had the design in my head. I gave the drawing to our architect and he kept everything the same, just added measurements.
offered are a yin slow-based yoga, power yoga, flow yoga, which she describes as a "happy medium" yoga, and chair yoga.
She has also begun offering special events, such as Mommy & Me Yoga coming in February, a Plant Powered Yoga event held in a greenhouse, and a popular Girls Night In, which is for women 21 years of age and older. For this event there are fun activities, vendors, goodie bags, snacks and beverages, concluding with watching a movie at the end of the night.
“To say it was incredible watching my entire vision come to life is an understatement. I feel incredibly blessed to not only do what I love and work with amazing clients every day, but to have been given the opportunity to design a space for other Webster City businesses to work out of, and a space for my friends and family to enjoy for a very long time, has been a gift.
“Gabby is extremely talented at what she does and she has this light about her that draws people in. The lot offered a lot of potential and we had the option of making the spa bigger. But I brought the idea to my dad about also creating a yoga studio for her within the same building.
“She's been my best friend from literally day one, so it's definitely a dream to have her next door and to watch her start and grow her own business."
Talking about how the first 10 months in the new building have gone, Gabby said, "It's been eye-opening. I think just doing, like, in the fitness industry in a small town it's been a little slow. I think the first month or two were pretty good. And then summer hit and everybody wanted to be outside, which I understood. I totally wanted to be outside too. But it was just a little bit slower.
“Now I feel like after the holidays, everybody's got their New Year's resolutions, so things are really starting to pick up.
"The first year has been getting the schedule figured out, seeing what people like, what people don't like, and catering to your community while also still being happy myself."
Sanctuary Yoga & Healing offers classes Monday through Friday with two to three classes a day. Among the classes
Then there are kitty and puppy yoga events that have taken off.
Speaking of kitty yoga, late 2024 brought the newest member of the family. Just prior to Thanksgiving, Gabby adopted Haven from The Cat Hut in Webster City. "He is probably the most exciting thing that happened in 2024, other than opening,” she said. “He's just a ball of sunshine and everybody loves him. And he does yoga with us, literally does yoga with us. And he's just great!"
Chandler technically opened her business near the end of 2021 in The Mane Attraction next door at 607 Second Street.
"And then we waited a couple years for this to get built and we opened the same day in March. I think I had 20-plus new clients within the first two months when I moved in here. It was crazy! I don't know if people were waiting for the building to be done or what happened. But we had an influx of clients coming in, which was great. And I have new clients coming in all the time. I probably have at least one or two new clients per week.”
According to her website, Skin By Chandler offers Hydrafacial, Clear Skin Program, Facial Services and Wax & Tint.
To contact Chandler, call 515-650-3352 or email info@skinbychandler.com. Her website is www.skinbychandler.com
To contact Gabby, call 515-297-9240 or email info@sanctuaryyogahealing.com. Her website is www.sanctuaryyogahealing. com.
DAVID BORER
— Daily Freeman-Journal photos by David Borer
A year ago, twin sisters Chandler and Gabby Gourley were about to embark on a new journey with the completion of their building at the northwest corner of Second Street and Willson Avenue in downtown Webster City. Chandler is the owner of Skin By Chandler. Gabby owns Sanctuary Yoga & Healing. And they've now added Haven, the cat, pictured below.
Convenient care, close to home
Orthopedic specialists hold clinics at VDMC
By ANNE BLANKENSHIP
Special to the Daily Freeman-Journal
Thousands of Americans suffer from orthopedic pain that, if untreated, can greatly impact their quality of life. Whether it’s back, shoulder, knee or hip pain, even the simplest tasks can become challenging. Until recently, patients in Hamilton County needing orthopedic care had to travel long distances to see specialists for consultations or surgeries. However, these services are now available much closer to home.
Van Diest Medical Center — VDMC
— has welcomed four new orthopedic specialists over the past year, thanks to a partnership with Iowa Ortho.
Brett rosenthal, M.D., is a boardcertified orthopedic spine surgeon who specializes in the treatment of disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.
Rosenthal is originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, with a major in physics. He then received his M.D. from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He subsequently completed his orthopedic surgery residency training at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He then completed advanced training at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Spine Surgery fellowship under guidance from world renowned leaders in the field of spine surgery.
He entered the field of orthopedics to create rapid improvements in patients’ quality of life. He elected to pursue additional specialty training in spine surgery because of the field’s ongoing innovations. His surgical interest is in the appropriate and safe use of minimally invasive and motion-sparing (non-fusion) surgical techniques.
Rosenthal holds clinics on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
travis WilliaMs, Pa-C also sees patients at VDMC.
sCott shuMWay, M.D., is a boardcertified plastic surgeon specializing in the non-operative and surgical management of hand and upper extremity disorders. He is originally from Los Angeles, California, and has been practicing since 1988.
Shumway treats all disorders of, and injuries to, the bones and soft tissues from the fingertips to the elbow.
“Unfortunately, many disorders and injuries are often ignored or self-treated. Untreated, these problems may lead to the
Heart
Continued from Page 1B
Patients can schedule appointments and contact the office by calling 515-5748700.
The clinic also provides telehealth services, utilizing the HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform. Staff onsite use Bluetooth stethoscopes to transmit real-time patient data to the cardiologists.
development of chronic pain, weakness or loss of use of the hand,” according to Shumway. His goal is to provide his patients with a thorough upper extremity exam, an accurate diagnosis and a program of care that will allow for a timely recovery and maximum use of their uninjured hand or arm.
Shumway began seeing patients at VDMC in March 2024 and now holds clinics the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Similarly, Kellie alessio, Pa-C, also sees patients at VDMC, providing these specialty services. BenjaMin K. WilKe, M.D., Faaos,
Alisa Winkel, office administrator at MercyOne Iowa Heart Center at VDMC, said the move to VDMC has been a smooth one.
Public
Continued from Page 1B
Harklau explained. “A lot of people probably don’t realize that out of 99 counties, it used to be that every county had a home health agency. That has totally reversed and now, out of 99 counties in Iowa, only 33 counties have a home health agency associated with it.”
That makes it necessary to understand the difference between Public Health and Home Health.
Public Health includes such things as immunization clinics, foot clinics, well testing, even emergency preparedness, and much more.
Home Health consists of the nurses and aides who are boots on the ground in homes across the county, providing direct care to people to help keep them healthy and, hopefully, in their own homes as long as safely possible.
“I have five registered nurses in our home health department and five aides and they are busy,” Harklau said. “Our aides, a lot of times, are seeing eight to 10 people in a day. Our nurses, we like to have them see about five patients a day.”
“You know, we really appreciated the reputation here and the opportunity for us to grow and expand upon what we’ve built over the years,” Winkel said. In addition to the team of providers seeing patients, MercyOne Iowa Heart Center brought along a staff of 18 nurses, technicians, medical assistants and patient access representatives. “Van Diest Medical Center has been
For so many families, home health services from Hamilton County Public Health are a vital link in the overall care team when facing such things as recovering from a surgery or managing a chronic illness.
“Our nurses and aides work with the medical provider for each patient,” Harklau explained. “We look at ourselves as the eyes and ears for that provider, and sometimes even for family members.”
Following an initial assessment, a 60day care plan is written for each new patient. Sometimes, a person may only need care for a few weeks. In other cases, ongoing care plans may be written to continue care as long as needed. Payment is generally through Medicare, Medicaid or other health insurance. In some cases, patients may even choose to use private pay in order to keep the services going that help them stay healthy in their homes.
While home health services are a widely known and much-appreciated division of Hamilton County Public Health, it is just one division.
Harklau also emphasized the work of the public health side of the agency and would like to see it continue to grow and offer even more services to local residents.
“My hope is to get more services here in our community,” she said. “We have a lot of services, but I want to enhance that. I want to do more public health duties”
For example, in the fall of 2024 Hamilton County Public Health initiated
the older posterior procedure and patients recover a lot faster,” he said.
Hip and knee replacement surgeries are being performed at VDMC. Wilke said he appreciated the surgical setup in Webster City to do the direct anterior approach. Patients can begin physical therapy right on site before they go home, he said.
As an orthopedic oncologist, Wilke also specializes in both hip and knee arthritis, bone and soft tissue tumors, treating patients with metastatic disease and amputee care. He treats both adult and pediatric conditions.
Wilke, who graduated from St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge, earned his bachelor’s degree in science and graduated with honors and distinction from the University of Iowa in three years. He then went on to complete his Doctor of Medicine from St. Louis University School of Medicine. He received his orthopedic surgery training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he had the distinction of serving as chief resident.
“Mayo Clinic in Rochester was a wonderful experience. I got to learn from some of the best surgeons from all over the world,” Wilke said. “It was a great learning experience.”
He then continued his training with a fellowship in Orthopedic Oncology at the University of Florida.
“That’s a small subset of orthopedics. There are about 200 orthopedic oncologists throughout the country. Here in Iowa, there are two — one at the University of Iowa, and me,” he explained.
Prior to joining the Iowa Ortho team, Wilke spent several years on staff at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, where he mentored residents and fellows and rose to the rank of associate professor.
an orthopedic oncologist with Iowa Ortho, joined the visiting specialist team at VDMC in October. He specializes in primary and revision hip and knee replacement procedures and enjoys utilizing the latest technology and advances in surgery, such as the direct anterior approach for total hip replacement.
“The direct anterior approach has a lot of benefits with recovery time,” he said. “A lot of patients will come in, have the surgery and go home the same day. There’s still a recovery time at home, of course.”
“It’s a very precise surgery; it’s much more minimally invasive compared to
fabulous to work with. Everything has been going extremely well,” she said.
“While there is no cardiac catheterization lab here, we look to our partners that are based out of MercyOne in Des Moines, and some of our Iowa Heart physicians who do procedures,” Winkel said.
Wilke holds clinics on the first and third Mondays of each month.
Kraig holtorF, Pa-C , an orthopedic specialist, is the newest provider seeing patients in the specialty clinic. He started offering clinics on Jan. 13. Holtorf received his undergraduate degree from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and his master’s degree from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his physician assistant degree at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Holtorf treats general orthopedic conditions and will hold clinics on the second Monday of each month.
“Our goal is to foster a healthier future for everyone we serve. Together, we can continue to make a significant impact on the well-being of our community,” Ridge said.
A ribbon-cutting and open house to welcome MercyOne Iowa Heart Center to Webster City is planned for Wednesday, February 12, from 8 to 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
Patients seeking services at the new MercyOne Iowa Heart cardiology clinic at VDMC are asked to use the Emergency Department entrance to access the registration desk. Assistance will be available to help with wayfinding.
free testing for a number of sexually transmitted diseases.
“We brought forward a free STI (sexually transmitted infection) clinic once a month,” Harklau said. “We offer free HIV testing and free Hepatitis C testing. Our staff wanted to make even more testing services available, so they are reaching out to see how we can do more testing and free treatment along with that.”
Education, in regards to prevention and treatment, is an important component of all testing services. Harklau said patients can rest assured that all conversations and treatment remain completely confidential. Most tests are completed in as little as a half hour.
Other components of Public Health include Early Head Start, Building Families, WIC Clinics and Maternal Health Clinics.
One of the most popular services are monthly foot clinics held throughout the county.
“The foot clinics are highly popular,” Harklau said. “We applied for an Elderbridge grant, which is a federal grant, to help provide the service.”
Patients at the foot clinic get a relaxing foot soak, followed by trimming of the toenails, careful filing of any callouses, and an overall foot assessment. It’s even followed up by a brief massage of the
feet and lower legs. During the foot assessment, the nurse will look for any conditions that may warrant a follow-up visit with a physician and make a referral or appointment as needed.
For times and locations of any of the clinics and services, contact Hamilton County Public Health at 515-832-9565.
It’s a busy place, and the full list of services offered by the agency can grow long. Well-testing, septic inspections, even inspections of tattoo, tanning and spa facilities fall under the domain of Brad Berg as sanitarian for Hamilton County Public Health.
For her part, Harklau said her first year leading the local agency has been both very busy and highly rewarding.
“Looking back, I was just a little fearful because I was stepping into some really big shoes with Shelby Kroona,” Harklau said. “She did some amazing things in this position. I wanted to make sure that I was going to be good enough for our county.”
Harklau gives credit to her staff for making her first year a successful one and looks forward to promising new growth ahead.
“We are very dedicated and devoted to our home health team and providing all of the services public health has to offer for our area residents.”
Don’t Neglect Your Dental Health!
Brett rosenthal anD sCott shuMWay
BenjaMin WilKe anD Krai holtorF
At Van Diest Supply Company, people make the difference. We have a sincere interest in our customers’ business and a genuine desire to help. We strive for long-lasting relationships with our customers, suppliers and Team Members.
At Van Diest Supply Company, people make the difference We have a sincere interest in our customers’ business and a genuine desire to help. We strive for long-lasting relationships with our customers, suppliers and Team Members.
Our tradition revolves around providing products and services that consistently exceed expectations. Serving Agriculture since 1956, a three generation family owned business, we are know for our longevity, stability and continued growth.
Our tradition revolves around providing products and services that consistently exceed expectations. Serving Agriculture since 1956, a three generation family owned business, we are known for our longevity, stability and continued growth.
Van Diest Supply Company employs over 600 people, has 55 buildings on approximately 270 acres in Webster City, Iowa, has 20 outlying Distribution Centers and serves over 6,000 customers across the Midwest. Join us a part of our Winning Team by filling out an application today!
Van Diest Supply Company employs over 600 people, has over 55 buildings on approximately 270 acres in Webster City, Iowa, has 20 outlying Distribution Centers and serves over 6,000 customers across the Midwest. Join us as a part of our Winning Team by filling out an application today!
