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Healthcare

Since 1912, Washington County Hospital and Clinics (WCHC) has been a part of the local healthcare community. WCHC is a 25-bed Critical Access hospital and 43-bed nursing home, providing inpatient, outpatient, long-term care and emergency services for Washington County and surrounding areas.

The hospital was originally founded as Washington County Hospital, the first rural county public hospital in Iowa and west of the Mississippi. The name was changed to Washington County Hospital and Clinics in 1998 in an effort to encompass more of what the hospital offers and after completing a major expansion project.

WCHC’s entire healthcare team strives to meet the changing medical needs of the communities they serve. With today’s shift to shorter hospital stays, WCHC provides an extensive outpatient surgery department, radiology and rehabilitation services. WCHC continuously meets healthcare needs with compassionate treatment, state-of-the-art technology and a competent staff of professionals.

The hospital has seen many changes in its storied history. In 2006, WCHC broke ground on a major $22 million expansion and renovation project. Nearly all patient care areas experienced much-needed improvements, thanks to this project. The first phase, a new 50,970-square-foot addition, was completed in July 2007; the second phase was completed in December 2007, featuring 28,140 square feet of renovations.

The Medical/Surgical floor features all private rooms, complete with a large bathroom and walk-in shower. Each room has a family area and a daybed and comes with large windows that allow the patient to view the landscaped exteriors and enjoy the natural sunlight.

WCHC’s Medical/Surgical Unit houses the Respiratory Therapy Department, which treats, manages and is responsible for the testing of patients with lung disease and breathing difficulties. The hospital’s surgical facilities are some of the finest in the area. They include: general surgery, orthopedics, ENT, eye, podiatry, gastroenterology and gynecological procedures and laparoscopic surgery.

WCHC’s Ambulatory Care Department offers the convenience of home recovery, as well as wound care, IV therapy, enemas, chemotherapy and injections.

The beautiful Family Birthing Center at WCHC is comprised of all LDRP rooms, which means patients labor, deliver, recover and spend time after birth in the same room. There are also Murphy beds that fold down for overnight visitors.

The Washington County Hospital Foundation recently funded the addition of a high-tech Infant Security System. This system was made possible with funds raised from the 2009 Care for Our Kids Golf Classic.

The Family Birthing Center provides the latest in security to assure the safety and health of the new babies. With no public access to the area, visitors must be buzzed both in and out. The area is under 24-hour surveillance by camera. The progress and health of the mother and unborn child are tracked with sophisticated monitoring equipment allowing doctors to monitor labor from a remote location.

The Emergency Room Department at Washington County Hospital and Clinics is a Level IV Community Trauma Care Facility. The Emergency Room has private ER treatment rooms to allow more confidentiality, a large double-bay trauma room, and is physician-staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. WCHC has access to specialized services on an emergency basis through the use of helicopters.

There are also the Specialty Clinic and Cardiac Rehab areas, with six exam rooms and two work stations serving WCHC’s visiting specialists from Iowa City. These specialties include cardiology; ear, nose and throat; neurology; podiatry; urology; orthopedics; gastroenterology; ophthalmology; and surgery.

The Cardiac Rehab area at WCHC offers Phase I and Phase II Cardiac Rehab. This includes individualized rehabilitative sessions, which consists of an exercise program utilizing circuit training, discussions of risk factors, medical plan of care, medication assessment and counseling, dietary counseling and lifestyle adjustments. WCHC staff also assists physicians and cardiologists who perform diagnostic testing, such as stress tests, bubble echos, stress echos and Dobutamine echos.

The Therapy Department at WCHC provides numerous services to enhance the quality of life for WCHC patients, including offering hydrotherapy as an additional treatment for many disorders.

Washington County Hospital and Clinics is pleased to also offer Women’s and Surgical Healthcare of Washington. As a separate clinic, there are two full-time Obstetricians and Gynecologist and a General Surgeon.

Other healthcare options at WCHC, range from family practice, optometry and chiropractic care to physical therapy, massage therapy, mental health—and everything in between.

The University of Iowa Clinical Outreach Dialysis/Specialty Clinics offer a scope of specialties and a dialysis unit comprised of six stations to treat patients locally.

The Washington County Hospital Foundation (WCHF) has been making a difference in the community since its establishment, its mission is to encourage, accept and steward all public and private gifts, grants and contributions in support of the hospital. Through donor generosity, the WCHF has purchased equipment and funded educational programs. The foundation holds annual events, such as the WCHF Care for Our Kids Golf Event to raise awareness and funds for children’s healthcare.

McCreedy Home provides skilled nursing care for the elderly. It is connected to the hospital for easy access for emergency needs. The facility was able to add a new dining room and office space during recent renovations.

Further services for the area’s mature population can be found through Lending Hands, an adult day service provider. Adults who need assistance due to memory loss, confusion, moderate Alzheimer’s, mild depression, arthritis, audio or visual loss, diabetes, stroke, or loneliness can find a variety of things to do and make new friends at the same time.

In addition to the state-of-the-art medical facility, Washington offers an array of other providers that include dental, eye care, pharmaceutical, chiropractic, physical therapy as well as residential retirement options.