Wendy Kadner Todd Linden

“Partnering with UnityPoint Health Des Moines and UI Health Care allows Grinnell Regional Medical Center to continue to offer the quality of care GRMC patients have come to expect and keep it close to home,” said Wendy Kadner, chair of the GRMC board of directors in a Jan. 4 news release. “This partnership will enhance our local services by providing resources that will broaden the reach of health care in the GRMC service area.”

It was announced in the release “Under the affiliation, UnityPoint Health Des Moines will become the sole corporate member of Grinnell Regional Medical Center, which will be referred to as UnityPoint Health Grinnell Regional Medical Center.”

“One of the things we will be focusing on with the integration plan is how we can continue to strengthen and expand our services in Tama – Toledo with the Deer Creek Health Center,” Todd Linden told The Chronicle.

GRMC owns and operates the family care clinic at 401 1st Ave. in Toledo. It is staffed by Polly Hiineman DO, Daryl Allsion PA-C sherry Parks, PA-C and Becky Dillman MPAS, PA-C. Visiting specialists also provide care at the center.

Linden, who had served as GRMC president and CEO for the past 24 years, “shifted to consultant” on Jan. 1 with the parternership of the three entities. Doris Rindels, vice president at GRMC for the last four years, and an employee of GRMC for more than 39 years, has been named interim CEO.

“There are no major changes being contemplated, but rather we will ask our new partners to help us evaluate what we are doing in our outreach clinics and see what thoughts they have to fortify what we are doing now. UnityPoint Health and the University of Iowa Healthcare have vast resources and now we can tap into the rich reservoir of knowledge and expertise to reinforce an already excellent set of services,” Linden said. “There will be more to come as the integration plan unfolds, but this is what we are currently thing about with our clinics in Toledo and Victor.”

“As a regional hospital, we are in the quality of life business,” said Linden. “We believe that by working with UnityPoint Health and UI Health Care we can ensure the best quality of life for the residents of the greater Grinnell service area. Both UnityPoint Health and UI Health Care are excellent organizations with outstanding brand recognition and a wide array of support services that will enhance what we do locally.”