GREATER SIOUX COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER CELEBRATES THIRD ANNIVERSARY

Speaker Commends Community Members to Assist the “Wounded Travelers” Among Us

 

For more information contact:

l Nancy Dykstra, Executive Director – 712-722-1700   ndykstra@greatersiouxchc.org

 

A large crowd was on hand in Sioux Center on Tuesday evening to celebrate the third anniversary of the Greater Sioux Community Health Center.

Attendees heard an inspiring message given by Siouxland medical missionary Dr. Thor Swanson, MD who charged listeners to “aid the wounded travelers” in our local communities. Swanson, a co-medical director at the Siouxland Community Health Center in Sioux City, is also an ordained minister and serves as Associate Pastor at Friendship Community Church in Sergeant Bluff.

Swanson based his presentation on the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan, who aided the wounded traveler he found on the road to Jericho – after he had been by-passed by some religious leaders who chose to ignore the man in need.

While Swanson shared his own background serving the health care needs in third world areas such as Kenya and Tanzania, he indicated that there is plenty of mission work to do here. 

“There are many medically unserved and underserved people among us – the ‘wounded travelers’ right here,” stated Swanson.

Swanson involved the audience in a statistical quiz regarding the high number of uninsured and low-income persons who have limited or no access to health care.

Swanson explained that the nation’s 8,000 community health centers serve wounded travelers by providing access to primary health care for over 20 million patients across the United States.

Board President Don Ortman, who is the elementary school principal in Rock Valley, told how he got involved in getting the health center started because one of his students’ families had no access to health care. At the time, they were uninsured and were unable to pay their bill at a local clinic.

“Because their bill had gotten too big, the local clinic wouldn’t see them.  When I was asked to get involved in looking at the possibility of a community health center in northwest Iowa, I said count me in!” exclaimed Ortman.

Ortman says Greater Sioux CHC has provided primary health care services to over 1000 uninsured patients so far in 2011. “Uninsured and underinsured patients are given the opportunity to pay for services using a sliding fee scale based on family size and income. By providing primary health care to the uninsured, Greater Sioux CHC is reducing local families’ medical debts and decreasing bad debts associated with local emergency room visits.”

The point of Swanson’s talk on Tuesday evening was that anyone can suddenly become a “wounded traveler” due to an unanticipated healthcare crisis.

“You may think you’re doing fine, and then suddenly you’re not.  A third of the bankruptcies in this country are due to health care needs.”

 “Don’t think that you can’t suddenly become a wounded traveler yourself,” Swanson warned.  He then went on to describe how he took on the role of patient during the past year. 

In October 2010, after months of being treated for tendonitis in his ankle, Swanson explained, “I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – bone cancer.”

Then he pulled up his pant leg and showed where his right foot and lower leg was amputated below the knee and replaced with a prosthesis.

“If you think your life is your own, think again. You could become a wounded traveler at any time. I had insurance and people praying for me in three continents,” Swanson stated. “Not everyone is so blessed.”

 

Greater Sioux Community Health Center (GSCHC) opened during July 2008 in Sioux Center. The health center is a private, not-for-profit, consumer-directed healthcare institution with a mission to provide affordable primary healthcare services to residents of northwest Iowa and the greater Sioux County area. The center operates based on private donations, patient and insurance payments, and limited grants.

Since opening in 2008, the Greater Sioux CHC has served over 3,000 patients from a five-county area in northwest Iowa. 

The center offers basic primary health care services, dental services, and mental health care services, and can be contacted at 712-722-1700 or toll-free 877-722-1770. Email for more information to care@greatersiouxchc.org.

 

MEDICAL MISSIONARY IS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT GREATER SIOUX COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER CELEBRATION

 

For more information contact:

l Nancy Dykstra, Executive Director – 712-722-1700   ndykstra@greatersiouxchc.org

 

Siouxland medical missionary Dr. Thor Swanson, MD will be the keynote speaker as the Greater Sioux Community Health Center celebrates three years of providing access to quality, affordable health care to all.

The health center dinner and celebration is set for Tuesday evening, September 27 at 6:00 p.m.  The event will take place at the New Life Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa. Dr. Swanson’s keynote address is titled:  “The Wounded Traveler, the Good Samaritan, and the Modern Health Care Situation.”

Dr. Swanson served at the Kijabe Hospital in Kenya during 2006-2007 and has also provided volunteer HIV care in Nepal, Tanzania and Honduras. 

In addition to earning his M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Swanson holds a Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology, a Masters of Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Masters of Arts in Bioethics from Trinity International University.

Thor is an ordained minister who serves as Associate Pastor at Friendship Community Church in Sergeant Bluff.

Dr. Swanson serves as HIV specialist and medical director at Siouxland Community Health Center in Sioux City, Iowa.  He is certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine as an HIV Specialist.

Dr. Swanson also instructs University of Iowa medical students and residents in the field of low-resource HIV care and bioethics through the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation in Sioux City.

Dr. Thor Swanson is the 2010 Recipient of the HIV Leadership Award from the Institute for International Medicine.  The award is presented annually to a person who has made a significant contribution toward the control of HIV in developing nations and has demonstrated innovation and personal sacrifice throughout their efforts toward this end.

He holds certifications from the American board of Family Practice; the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Traveler's Health; and the International Society of Travel Medicine in Knowledge in Travel Medicine.  He also recently achieved the Degree of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Swanson has taken on the role of patient during the past year.  In October 2010 he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous bone tumor that usually develops in adolescence.  His right foot was amputated above the ankle and he received 18 rounds of chemotherapy.  Chemotherapy was scheduled to end this summer and he looks forward to returning to work fulltime.

Greater Sioux Community Health Center (GSCHC) opened during July 2008 in Sioux Center.  The health center is a private, not-for-profit, consumer-directed healthcare institution with a mission to provide affordable primary healthcare services to all residents of northwest Iowa and the greater Sioux County area.  The center operates based on private donations, patient and insurance payments, and limited grants.

The September 27th event is aimed at celebrating three years of service to the community.

Tickets for the dinner and celebration are $25 and available from any board member or by contacting the health center at 712-722-1700 or toll-free 877-722-1770.  Email for more information to care@greatersiouxchc.org

 

GREATER SIOUX COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER BRINGS AWARENESS TO MEN’S HEALTH IN JUNE

 

     Each June, Men’s Health Month is celebrated in an effort to increase the awareness of preventable health problems and to encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men and boys. By focusing on primary and preventive care, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s) across Iowa and the nation provide care that is essential in keeping men and boys healthy.

    “Here at the Greater Sioux Community Health Center, we provide comprehensive health care for our patients,” said Nancy Dykstra, Executive Director. “With a focus on accessible, affordable care for all patients, we offer services that focus on overall wellness, including medical, dental and mental health.”

     Dykstra notes that for many men there is a stigma around seeing a medical provider. “Men need to understand how important regular exams and preventive screenings are. By focusing on prevention, many health issues, diseases and injuries can be avoided.”

     Greater Sioux Community Health Center provides a variety of services for men from prostate exams, to colon cancer screening, to help with quitting smoking and the use of tobacco or other addictive substances. Regular health care is important in diagnosing and managing all chronic illnesses. Community Health Centers lead the country in efforts to improve health in their patients and in lowering costs of treating patients with chronic illnesses.

      “As one of our community’s health care home options, we try to be diligent in screening for chronic illnesses and proactive in educating our patients about their risk factors and symptoms,” said Dykstra.

      Greater Sioux Community Health Center provides care to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay. Individuals who are uninsured may be eligible to receive services at a reduced fee on a sliding fee scale based on income.

     “We encourage men who are looking for a health home to contact us for an appointment at 712-722-1700” said Dykstra.

 

 

GREATER SIOUX COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER EXPANDS PATIENT HOURS FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE

 

     Greater Sioux Community Health Center continues to meet community health care needs by extending the days and hours available for patient appointments.

     The center will be open two evenings each week, plus Saturday mornings.

     “Our patient demand for services continues to grow,” says Nancy Dykstra, Executive Director of the center.

     “We understand that working people often need to seek medical care for themselves or their children during non-traditional hours. That’s why we’re expanding our evening and weekend hours.”

Effective beginning in July , the center will add Saturday morning hours. “In addition to being open on Monday and Thursday evenings, the center will also be open on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.”

      “We expect this to be a busy time for appointments,” commented Dykstra, “especially as families start to schedule back-to-school and sports physicals for the coming school year.”

      Dental services are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays each week. The center plans to expand these hours in the future.

     “Our health care providers understand that we need to be available when our patients can come in”, explained Dykstra. “Families are busy with a variety of work, school and activity schedules, and we need to be flexible.”

Greater Sioux Community Health center (GSCHC) is a private, not-for-profit, consumer-directed healthcare institution with a mission to provide primary healthcare services to all residents of Northwest Iowa and the greater Sioux County area. The center operates based on private donations, patient and insurance payments, and limited grants.

       All persons of any income level are welcome and eligible for services at the GSCHC. All new patients are accepted and may be insured, uninsured, on Medicare, Medicaid or Hawk-I. Fees for services are based on a sliding fee scale that takes in to account a patient’s financial situation and family size. Call 712-722-1700 or toll-free 877-722-1700 for more information or to make an appointment.

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