Home News Thursday News, April 13th

Thursday News, April 13th

Floyd Valley Healthcare Selected As Top 20 Hospitals

(Le Mars) — For a second consecutive year, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has named Floyd Valley Healthcare as a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital (CAH). These highest ranking hospitals were selected from Top 100 CAH list released by iVantage Health Analytics earlier this year. Nationally, there
are 1332 critical access hospitals. FVH will be honored at an awards ceremony during the National Rural Health Association’s Critical Access Hospital Conference in September in Kansas City, Mo.

The Top 20 Critical Access Hospital “winners” are those hospitals who have achieved success in the overall performance based on a composite rating from eight indices of strength: inpatient market share, outpatient market share,
quality, outcomes, patient perspectives, costs, charges and financial stability. This group was selected from iVantage’s Top 100 CAH list, released earlier this
year.

Those hospitals that have been recognized as Top 20 Critical Access Hospital “best practice recipients” have achieved success one of two key areas of performance:

Quality index: A rating of hospital performance based on the percentile rank across the five categories of Hospital Compare Process of Care measures.

Patient perspective index: A rating of hospital performance based on the percentile rank on two Hospital Compare HCAHPS measures (“Overall Rating” and “Highly Recommend)”.

Floyd Valley Healthcare North Addition

 

Mark Vonnahme Honored As “Teacher of the Year”

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District Foundation made the announcement Wednesday morning for the “Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell-Teacher of the Year” award. Denise Anthony with the school foundation made the presentation.

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The presentation was made at the Middle School library which was filled with students. Mark Vonnahme received a thunderous applause from the students when he walked into the school library. Vonnahme will be retiring from teaching this
year at the conclusion of the school year. He has been a Social Studies teacher with the Le Mars Community School District for 20 years with a focus on teaching 8th grade civics. Earlier in his teaching career, Mr. Vonnahme contributed to the district’s athletic program as a softball coach and as a boys basketball
coach. He established the Adaptive Physical Education program and has served as the coordinator of the annual Middle School Carnival. Vonnahme will be formally
recognized during the upcoming Le Mars Community School District’s Foundation annual banquet and awards program. Vonnahme was nominated for the award by his colleagues: Cliff Collins, Tina Gray, and Caleb Van Otterloo. The retiring
teacher was humbled by the honor.

The Decades Of Excellence Crystal Bell Award is co-sponsored by the Le Mars Community School Foundation and the Le Mars Community School Alumni Association.

 

Preparation Being Made For Annual Easter Egg Hunt

(Le Mars) — Le Mars Cleveland Castle park will be the site for the annual Easter egg hunt which is scheduled for Saturday morning. More than 600 children will scramble to pick up close to 13,000 plastic eggs filled with candy and coupons that will be distributed on the grounds of the park. The Easter egg hunt is being sponsored for the fourth year by The Education Station and Primebank, along with assistance from the Le Mars Kiwanis organization. John MacGregor of The Education Station says the park will be divided into separate areas for different age levels.

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MacGregor says there are more eggs that have been added to this year’s Easter egg hunt.

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MacGregor says many volunteers have helped the Easter Bunny fill those plastic eggs, and prepare them for the annual event.

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The annual Easter egg hunt will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. this coming Saturday morning, and MacGregor suggests you get to the park early.

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Iowa House Passes Bill To Cap Medical Malpractice Suits

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has approved legislation that would cap financial awards in medical malpractice lawsuits except in severe cases.
The House approved the bill Wednesday 65-32 to limit pain and suffering payouts at $250,000 in most cases of medical malpractice and create standards for expert witnesses testifying in such cases.
The chamber unanimously added an exception to the cap if a jury finds an individual suffered substantial impairment to bodily function, substantial disfigurement or death. The Senate will need to approve the change before the
bill becomes law.
The National Conference of State Legislatures says non-economic caps have been declared unconstitutional in 10 states, but several states have upheld such liability limits.
Supporters of the bill say it’s necessary to help recruit doctors and lower medical liability and premiums.

 

Lawmakers Finalize 2018 Budget

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican lawmakers trying to finalize the next state budget have proposed reducing money used on services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
A GOP-led budget committee approved a bill Wednesday that would cut about $1.4 million from victim assistance grants distributed through the Iowa Attorney
General’s office.
The roughly $6.7 million budget for the grants had already been reduced by about $260,000 during mid-year spending cuts.
Republicans say increased federal funding in recent years for victims will ensure no services are cut. Advocacy groups say the reductions will affect staffing and diminish the capacity to provide services.
The cuts are in the justice budget, which would get about $559 million in the spending year that goes into effect in July.

 

Iowa Senate Trying To Expand Medical Marijuana Bill

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Senate Republicans are showing support for legislation that would expand a state medical marijuana oil program, but it appears to lack support in the House.
The Senate Appropriations subcommittee approved a bill Wednesday to expand Iowa’s existing medical marijuana program, which allows use of cannabis oil for some people with epilepsy. The new proposal would allow use of the oil to treat
18 conditions, including epilepsy and cancer, but still bans smoking marijuana.
The Department of Public Health says lawmakers would need to allocate money to start the program.
If approved by other committees, senators say the bill could be eligible for debate next week by the full Senate.
However, House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says the bill would need to be more limited to pass in the House.