Iowa Specialty Hospitals Receive Funds from First Citizens Charitable Foundation

Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond and Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion recently received grant funding from First Citizens Charitable Foundation toward two purchases that will be of great benefit to their patients. 

Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond received $2,500.00 toward the purchase of an exam table for the specialty clinic. The exam tables are an essential piece of equipment for the clinic. Depending on the room, there is either an exam table or an exam chair for the patients. The tables are used approximately 20 times every week in the specialty clinic for patient appointments. Exam tables were needed to replace current tables that are no longer functioning properly as well as for offices that will be transitioned into patient exam rooms.

The exam tables can accommodate patients up to 500 pounds and have multiple features to provide a pleasant patient experience. Foot controls allow the table to be positioned low so patients with limited mobility can easily transition to the table and then be raised to a height ideal for the provider. The functionality these exam tables provide makes them the ideal choice for use in our specialty clinic by multiple different specialties. Patients coming to see providers in the specialty clinic will benefit from these exam tables. The main specialties that will use these exam tables are bariatrics, ENT, gastroenterology, general surgery, pain, podiatry, and orthopedics.

Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion received $2,500.00 toward the purchase of a bariatric recliner for the medical/surgical floor. All patients on the inpatient floor are encouraged to use the recliners as much as possible, therefore they are one of the items that get the most use in each of the rooms. It is important for patients to sit upright during the day and when eating meals. This promotes good sleep-wake cycles for the patient and lends to healing. If patients were to lie in bed all day, they are likely to sleep during the day which would keep them up at night.

Many patient recliners are not made for bariatric patients. These larger recliners were chosen because of the ease of use for the patient. They also help with circulation/blood flow. The locking wheels allow the recliner to be easily moved to different areas of the room and then locked for safety once in place. 

Having a recliner chair with features to help with patient safety and comfort is an important piece of equipment in each room to help during an inpatient stay. The new recliner will be better suited for patients with a higher BMI. Each recliner has a weight capacity of 750 pounds and has multiple reclining positions and a non-locking footrest providing both patient comfort and safety, and the material is easily cleaned for improved infection control and prevention.

Patients on the medical/surgical floor and their family and visitors will benefit from these recliners. There is a wide variety of patients seen on the medical/surgical floor. In the last 12 months, Iowa Specialty-Clarion saw a total of 1,762 inpatient days with patient ages ranging from 19 years old to 98 years old at the time of their care. The patient classes on the medical/surgical floor are hospice, inpatient, observation, private care, and skilled care.

Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond and Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion are grateful to the First Citizens Charitable Foundation for their generous funding toward these items.  The purchases of an exam table for the specialty clinic and a bariatric recliner for the medical/surgical floor will ensure that Iowa Specialty providers and staff continue to provide both a comfortable and a secure environment for their patients at both facilities.