A NOTE FROM JENNI
A NOTE FROM JENNI … It’s been said that nothing worth having comes easily. If that’s the case, we have more reason than ever to get excited about the future of health care in Marshalltown. In the three years since UnityPoint Health stepped in to take over this town’s struggling health system, we’ve made tremendous strides, tough decisions, and experienced growing pains. All the while, we made many improvements to the care we provide, strengthened our team, and put ourselves in a position to be here for the long term. We were ecstatic in December when we announced exhilarating news – approval of a $38.4 consolidation to an expanded south campus, which is our beautiful Medical Park conveniently located where highways 30 and 14 intersect. When I received the news of the approval, I cried. Fate wasn’t as sentimental, though. Before we could firm up blueprints or break ground, COVID-19 came along, and it put our plans on pause for a few months. Still, the pandemic brought out the best in people. Our healthcare workers were heroes as they battled the virus around the clock for months. The community was amazing, too, as they supported us with supplies, donations and so much encouragement. Now, with summer here and the pandemic seemingly shrinking, it’s time for all of us get excited again. After all, having our healthcare operations consolidated into a modern facility has obvious benefits for both our team and the patients who come to see us. In addition, I hope the decision to invest this much into the project shows Marshalltown that our commitment to the community is as strong as ever. We want to keep health care local, and the community can help us do that as we build on some of our recent achievements. • We announced a significant financial turnaround in the past year – reversing a reported $7 million loss. We planned on being profitable in 2020 before the pandemic arrived. • Despite a national shortage of providers, our emergency department is fully staffed with five excellent providers. • We successfully launched a new electronic medical record system. At the touch of a button, patients can view their medical record, schedule an appointment or send a message directly to their provider. • Our patient satisfaction scores are climbing across the board. Overall, we’re well above average nationally at 64% (compared to 21% in 2017). Specifically, mammography ranks in the 99th percentile nationally! • We’ve developed a plan for sustainable health care to serve our community. • We’ve embedded local leadership, who live in Marshalltown, to guide us into the future Finally, know that we’re grateful for your continued support and patience as we make this journey together.
The leadership team at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown is Shari King, Hospital Administrator; Jenni Friedly, Regional Chief Operating Officer; and Jen Arneson, Director of Nursing.
Sincerely,
Jenni Friedly Regional Chief Operating Officer LiveWell Summer 2020 | 1
