Floyd Valley Hospital Again Honored By Press-Ganey
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Hospital of Le Mars was recently again recognized for its excellence in health care from the pretigous Press-Ganey firm. Hospital Administrator, Mike Donlin says the latest honor is a bit different than previous Press-Ganey awards.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/November 2014/Donlin1.mp3{/audio}
Donlin says Press-Ganey also recognizedFloyd Valley for its In-patient care.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/November 2014/Donlin2.mp3{/audio}
Donlin reports that despite the recent four inch snowfall, and the colder than normal temperatures, contruction on the new hospital expansion addition is continuing.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/November 2014/Donlin3.mp3{/audio}
Mercy Medical Breast Care Center Honored
SIOUX CITY, IOWA: Mercy Breast Care Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in stereotactic breast biopsy as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Mercy Breast Care Center is the only ACR accredited Breast Center of Excellence in the tri-state area. This represents accreditation in Mammography, Ultrasound, and Stereotactic breast biopsy.
A breast biopsy is performed to remove cells — either surgically or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle — from an area in the breast suspected to be cancerous. These cells are examined under a microscope to determine a diagnosis. In stereotactic breast biopsy, a special mammography machine helps guide the radiologist’s instruments to the site of an abnormal growth.
The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field.
Iowa National Guard May Be Deployed To West Africa To Assist With Ebola
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – About 80 soldiers in an Iowa Army National Guard unit may be sent to West Africa to help respond to the Ebola outbreak there.
The Iowa National Guard said Sunday that members of the 294th Area Support Medical Company are being notified that they may be deployed next spring for six months to a year.
The Iowa soldiers would provide medial support to the humanitarian effort to help. The deadly Ebola virus has killed more than 5,000 people since the outbreak began.
The National Guard says the Iowa solders would only provide care to Defense Department personnel and others sent to help, but they wouldn’t be treating residents of West Africa.
Shootings In Des Moines Suburb Shuts Down School
PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man with a gun drove around a Des Moines suburb and randomly opened fire, injuring two people.
Pleasant Hill police say the man was taken into custody for questioning following the Monday morning shootings. Two men have been hospitalized.
Public Information Officer Adam Choat says the suspect has been linked to three shootings that were reported within a 12-minute span. One man was fired at but was not hurt. Choat says it appears all three men were not targeted prior to the shootings.
Authorities say the shootings are not related to threats made on social media against a local high school. Still, the Southeast Polk Community School District canceled classes following the shootings. Superintendent Craig Menozzi says classes likely will resume Tuesday.
Des Moines Schools Were Locked Down Due To Area Shootings
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in Des Moines say a middle school and a high school were briefly locked down because of a nearby shooting.
Police say Hiatt Middle School and East High School were put on lockdown Monday morning following reports of a nearby shooting. Resource officers were dispatched to both schools to provide additional security.
The lockdown was later lifted. No suspects have been identified in the shooting, which police believe involved a dispute between several people. No injuries have been reported.
Authorities say there is no connection between the lockdown and shootings in nearby Pleasant Hill, which led to the cancellation of school for several area schools.
Police Departments Say Applications Need To Be Streamlined
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some Des Moines police departments are studying ways to join forces and streamline the hiring process in an effort to save money and hire a more diverse force.
Ankeny officer Jacob Miller says he spent a year applying for job openings at law enforcement agencies until he was hired in the central Iowa city. He says he filled out more than 10 different applications and took several written exams and physical fitness tests.
The 24-year-old said all of the departments had the same criteria for job applicants.
Police chiefs in the Des Moines-metro area began meeting this fall in finding ways to cut costs and end duplication of some procedures. They hope to set up a system where candidates only have to fill out one application and undergo the written exams just once.
—
Des Moines To Host NCAA Basketball Tournament
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines will host first and second-round games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 2016.
The NCAA announced Monday that Iowa’s capital city will be among eight sites to host early-round games next season.
Landing such a prestigious event is a major coup for Des Moines, which has hoped to host the NCAA tournament ever since Wells Fargo Arena opened in 2005.
The arena hosted the NCAA women’s basketball tournament – which included legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt’s last game – and the NCAA wrestling championships in 2013.
Iowa State will serve as the tournament host, so the Cyclones can’t play in Des Moines in 2016.
