Corydon, Iowa: September 2, 2010: U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa paid a visit to Wayne County Hospital today. He came to tour the new facility since he had been unable to attend the Grand Reopening in October 2009. The Senator viewed the new Emergency & Radiology Departments, learned about WCH’s outstanding patient satisfaction scores and visited patients and nursing staff on the new H. Dale & Lois Bright Patient Care Wing. He was intrigued with the implementation of eICU services currently underway. A visit to the Rehabilitation Services Department proved to be enlightening as staff explained the overwhelming complexity of working through the system to schedule patients for necessary appointments. So much time is spent on processing the required documentation for treatment authorization it impacts the clincal time with patients. The Senator visited with members of the hospital Board, Administration, Medical Staff and employees in the cafeteria listening to concerns and providing insight to the governmental process. He was enthusiastic and supportive of rural healthcare and listened as providers expressed concern regarding the feasibility of maintaining a private medical practice in the future. The Senator was less than optimistic regarding the future of our healthcare service comparing it to the Canadian healthcare of today.
