Grundy County Memorial Hospital | Live Well | Fall 2021

2 L E A D E R S H I P C O R N E R Our team’s true colors As this issue of Live Well enters your home mailbox, many of you are returning to typical back- to-school routines. Others are looking forward to a return to traditional schedules for fall sports. We’re each eager to mark the season as we’ve known it—surrounded by family and friends and wearing our favorite team’s colors. This fall, our hospital team will mark the sixth consecutive year that our employees’ input has earned us recognition as a top workplace. Both the regional Employer of Choice award and state recognition as a Top 150 Workplace are especially meaningful this year because of the extreme challenges our employees have faced over the past months. Guidance on COVID-19 procedures changed rapidly, while employees were asked to work outside of their usual department or shift in order to provide care to patients. Through the many long months of caring for people with COVID-19, our team members proved that they could be responsive to rapid changes, provide top-quality care even through layers of PPE (personal protective equipment) and learn new methods of care when breakthrough treat- ments for the virus emerged. Our team has shown its true colors of compassion, dedication and com- mitment to others. I’m especially proud that in a year like no other, our employees feel supported and valued, which came across in their responses to the workplace surveys. As we celebrate the workplace awards with employees, we will also celebrate the prog- ress our nation has made against the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only have the vaccines dramatically reduced transmission of the virus, limiting illness, death and hospitalizations, but new treatment methods also continue to provide hope of recov- ery for those who contract COVID-19. You’ll find GCMH, like other health care organizations, making vaccines accessible while continuing to follow safety measures like universal masking and health screenings to keep you safe when you are here. Help to support healthy aging: New program at GCMH Recognizing an increasing need for senior behavioral health support in our rural communities, Grundy County Memorial Hospital is pleased to introduce a new outpatient service through a partnership with Senior Life Solutions. The program is an intensive group and individual therapy program designed to meet the needs of those over the age of 65 who are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety due to age- related changes. “Along with the common stresses of aging, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional strain on the mental health of our senior population,” says Adam Scherling, MHA, GCMH Ad- ministrator. “The hospital is responding by adding a service that will provide the support our senior community members need as they adjust to life’s changes.” What the program offers Grundy County Memorial Hospital Senior Life Solutions includes a team of three—a registered nurse who serves as program director, a licensed social worker or licensed mental health counselor, and an office patient coordinator. The program is supervised by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Upon an evaluation and admission into the program, participants will meet for group therapy typically three times weekly and for individual therapy once a week, along with monthly provider visits. The duration of the program depends on individual needs. The program is built around three main components: clinical therapy, physical care and case management. Each of these ar- eas is designed to address the emotional and behavioral health of seniors and help them improve their quality of life through the aging process. Who can join? Senior Life Solutions does not require a provider referral; patients can be referred by family members or self-referred as well. The program is set to kick off in November. Check the hospital’s website for more information, coming soon, if you or a loved one is experiencing signs of depression or anxiety, including feelings of grief, loss of energy or difficulty sleeping due to aging. Adam Scherling, MHA, GCMH Administrator >> health NEWS

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