Iowa Healthcare News

The Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) Auxiliary is once again inviting the community to honor or remember someone special through its annual Tree of Love ornament sale. Hand-painted, heart-shaped wooden ornaments are available now for $5 each, with proceeds funding scholarships for area students pursuing careers in healthcare.

Holiday shoppers can find great deals while supporting future healthcare professionals at the annual Holiday Sidewalk Sale, hosted by the Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) Volunteers and the LRH Gift Shop. The sale will be held on Friday, November 6, from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm inside the hospital’s east entrance.

Regional Medical Center (RMC) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Nicole Salow as its first-ever Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) honored Sam Magill, Director of Mobile Integrated Health at Greater Regional Health in Creston, Iowa, as a 2026 Hospital Hero in recognition of her exceptional service, dedication and impact on patients, colleagues and the community. Sam was one of 10 Iowa hospital employees selected to receive this year’s award.

At its heart, MED is a community organization. And one of the most enjoyable things we do every year is spend time in the communities we serve. We attend many events and conferences, especially in the fall. Here are a few of the places we've been and the people we've seen in the last few months.

UnityPoint Health has named Samuel Schroeder, MD, Medical Director, Radiation Oncology, as of November 1, 2026.

For the second year in a row, WinnMed has been recognized as a Top Workplace by the Des Moines Register. The award is based on results from a recent staff satisfaction survey that were compared to other businesses’ results across the state.

ChildServe is pleased to announce that Wendy Woods-Swafford, MD, MPH, will join the organization as its inaugural Chief Medical Officer, a newly established role that reflects ChildServe’s ongoing commitment to clinical excellence and exceptional pediatric care, on January 11, 2027. Dr. Woods-Swafford currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for UnityPoint Health - Des Moines and as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Blank Children’s Hospital, where she provides inpatient and outpatient care.

Certified Physician Assistant Katie Haverly is unequivocal when she talks about her experience in the University of South Dakota Physician Assistant Studies Program.  "The best decision I ever made was to further my education at USD," says the 2020 graduate. As a PA at Avera Comprehensive Weight Management in Sioux Falls…

Three UnityPoint Health – Des Moines physicians have been recognized by the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) for exceptional achievement in enrolling cancer patients in NCI-sponsored treatment and cancer control clinical trials and cancer care delivery research (CCDR) trials during the past year.

MercyOne will host another ‘Walk-In Wednesday’ in-person hiring event on Wednesday, October 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. This walk-in hiring event is designed to make it even easier for both job seekers and MercyOne to find the right fit.

UnityPoint Clinic welcomes Joshua Hollingshead, MD, Peter Cmorej, MD, and Jennifer Johnson, ARNP, to its general surgery and gastroenterology teams in Sioux City. Their arrival expands access to specialized care for patients across Siouxland.

An anonymous benefactor has committed $150,000 to support the renovation of the WinnMed Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine gym and Cardiac Rehabilitation spaces. The gift was announced to the WinnMed Board of Trustees during its October meeting.

Danette Kramer, Chief Executive Officer of Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Manchester, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Excellence in Leadership Award by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). Presented at the IHA Annual Conference in Des Moines, the award honors an Iowa healthcare executive who demonstrates exceptional leadership, operational excellence and dedication to community health.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes and the community of Davenport are pleased to announce the blessing and official unveiling of the newest Safe Haven Baby Box, located at MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center at 1227 East Rusholme Street, Davenport, IA 52803. The ceremony will take place on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 9:30 AM CDT. This blessing marks the 481st Safe Haven Baby Box in the nation and the 5th in Iowa, expanding access to safe, anonymous surrender options for mothers in crisis.

For Bailey Krull, director of quality services at Waverly Health Center (WHC), caring for patients extends far beyond the walls of a hospital room. It means advocating for those who may struggle to find their voice and ensuring every patient receives compassionate care.

Regional Medical Center (RMC) has officially welcomed its very first surgical patient into its brand new surgery addition.

Newsweek has named Good Samaritan– Ambassador in New Hope, Minn., and Good Samaritan – Davenport in Davenport, Iowa, to its list of “America’s Best Nursing Homes” for 2027.

When an injured patient arrives at Waverly Health Center (WHC), providing exceptional trauma care takes more than one person or department. Behind every response is a system of people, training, protocols and preparation designed to make sure the right care happens at the right time.

Dickinson County Public Health is offering free radon test kits to Iowa homeowners, giving local families a simple way to find out whether their home has high levels of this invisible gas.

The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is proud to recognize Journey Construction, a Premium Associate Member and trusted partner in healthcare construction.

Dubuque Fighting Saints will be dropping the gloves in the fight against breast cancer when they host the Youngstown Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. for their annual "Pink the Rink" night, Saturday, Oct. 9, at ImOn Arena - proceeds from the 50/50 raffle benefit the MercyOne Dubuque Cancer Center.

Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics is proud to announce that it has earned the prestigious 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces award.

The Governing Board of Trustees of Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Manchester, Iowa announced that Glen Winekauf has been selected as the next Chief Executive Officer, effective early 2027. Winekauf succeeds Danette Kramer, who will retire from RMC in late December following a dedicated and impactful career with the rural hospital.

MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center is looking for people who take finger painting seriously, love kids and enjoy story time to work at its Child Development Center and Preschool.

In an effort to catch colon cancer early, UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center is using GI Genius™ technology during colonoscopies. The computer-assisted tool uses artificial intelligence, or AI, to help doctors see small or hard-to-spot polyps in real time during a colonoscopy. Finding and removing these growths early can help prevent colorectal cancer before it starts.

Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) has begun construction plans on a new Emergency Department, replacing a facility built in 1993 that no longer accommodates the growth in patient volumes. A public groundbreaking ceremony is being planned for early November.

Behavioral health care that once required hours of travel is now available inside schools for thousands of Iowa students.

The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Healthiest State Annual Awards, recognizing four outstanding Iowans whose leadership and dedication are helping create healthier communities across the state.

The Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) today presented Speaker Pat Grassley with its 2026 Healthcare Champion Award during a special recognition event at Waverly Health Center. The award recognizes individuals whose leadership, partnership and commitment have made a meaningful difference in strengthening Iowa's healthcare system and supporting hospitals' ability to serve their communities.