Hospital's Annual Report Demonstrates Several Improvements in 2012

Posted on February 4, 2013

The Annual Stockholders Meeting for George C. Grape Community Hospital was held Monday evening, February 4, 2013. The evening was opened with a prayer by Pastor Dan Voigt and the meeting called to order by Board President Gean Clapper. The Annual Report was given by the President/CEO, Michael O'Neal and financial report given by CFO, Hilary Christiansen.

Dr. Kelli Woltemath, D.O and Chief of Staff reviewed the news of Dr. Largen's retirement as well as the encouraging news about new staff. Melissa Marshall, ARNP-FNP started in November and has been well received. The Med Clinic P.C. is actively recruiting and interviewing candidates for a Medical Doctor and hopes to have someone hired soon.

Auxiliary President, Elaine Howard reported that the Hospital Auxiliary volunteers are very active in hospital and foundation events and promotions throughout the year. They have continued to recruit new volunteers and publicize their organization through the Hospital "Grab the Gold" newsletter. They raise funds for college scholarships and new hospital equipment.

Charlie Zanker serves as the President for the Hospital Foundation. He reported on the three major projects that they have contributed to or plan to contribute to this year: a new signage project, bone density machine, and room renovations. The Foundation is in the process of recruiting new board members and expanding their fundraising beyond the golf tournament. They are excited to be planning a retreat with four other hospital foundations to learn and share how to be more successful. In 2013 they have pledged to help fund a new Lab Chemistry Analyzer.

The election of Board Directors from Districts I & II were voted by the Stockholders.

Judith Holliman of Hamburg was elected to serve a second term for District II. Carolyn Maher of Sidney was elected to serve District I. Retiring Board member and former chairman of the Board of Directors, Russ Loewe was recognized with a plaque for his leadership and years of service.

Hospital CEO Michael O'Neal highlighted the many accomplishments and changes implemented by the staff during 2012. "Technology will continue to be a driver for safer, more efficient patient care." Our Information Technology Department was honored with the distinction of being 1 of 125 "Where To Work: BEST Hospital IT Departments" by Healthcare IT News 2012. This recognition says a lot about our Information Technology Department, our staff, and the teamwork that it takes to receive this type of recognition.

Thanks in part to a kind donation from the George C. Grape Community Hospital Auxiliary; we will be bringing back a Family Room, providing an area for patients and their family and friends to have some privacy in the hospital. The Hospital, Foundation, and Auxiliary have also agreed to a multi-year room renovation of our inpatient wing, updating those rooms to be more aesthetically pleasing to patients and more efficient for our Doctors and Nurses, adding new flooring, curtains, paint, furniture, lighting and cabinetry.

To meet the demands of better access to services in our rural community, our hospital began a relationship with Radiant Complexions out of Des Moines. New Respiratory Equipment has been implemented, a new Respironics BiPAP/CPAP machine, along with a new Pulmonary Function Test machine were purchased as step one in recruiting a new Pulmonologist in 2013. Adding a new Cardiology Clinic, the Outpatient Specialty Department welcomed Dr. Akaad, from Clarkson Hospital, to our staff.

To improve Women's Health services, we have moved our Mammography Unit to a new remodeled area of the hospital and added Bone Density scans to our list of services.

Commitment to our community will continue to be our theme into 2013 as the Board of Directors has approved a Master Facility Plan for the hospital. In 2012, Altus Architecture out of Omaha Ne, was hired to complete our Master Plan. While evaluations revealed that we have done a very good job at maintaining the aging physical structure and the environmental systems, new State Requirements, patient demands, and the need to bring new services to our hospital, require that we look to the future.

I consider the staff at George C. Grape Community Hospital as some of the finest people in the country to work with. Listening to patients I am continually reminded of how great our staff is, and how good their care was.

Future Growth and Development

Although our facility is beginning to show its age, we have made several investments this past year to make it look nicer and improve quality. In 2013 the hospital and Board of Directors will be reviewing opportunities for growth by way of remodeling, additions, and the prospects of a new building. Financial wellness along with community input, and staff involvement, will be the drivers for this decision, as all options will be reviewed and discussed in their entirety so that no decision for the future growth of this hospital is made without due diligence.

Working together is how we have been able to keep this hospital moving forward and it is what we will continue to do to build a better tomorrow. In keeping with that theme, I have challenged CEO's in area hospitals, both rural and metro, to develop a plan that takes George C. Grape Community Hospital to the next level, improving and expanding the care and services we provide, in order to give our patients an experience, coined, "The Grape Experience". We believe you are more than just a patient to us, you are our neighbors, our family, our friends, and deserve more than just a visit to a hospital, but rather, we want to create a pleasing experience for you that you will share with others.


The GCGCH Board of Directors for 2013. Michael O'Neal, CEO; Gean Clapper, Charlie Owen, Rick Jamison, Tom Woodward, Carolyn Maher, Judy Holliman and Chief of Staff, Dr. Kelli Woltemath. Not pictured: Dr. Michael Galllagher.


Russ Loewe of Sidney is recognized by Mike O'Neal for serving two terms on the Hospital Board of Directors. Everyone gets a laugh when it is suggested that he sit out for a year and then come back for 6 more years.