Hinson tours new WinnMed facilities, aims to support healthcare workers

By Seth Boyes,

Rep. Ashley Hinson (center) spoke with WinnMed employees inside the hospital’s newly renovated obstetrics unit during a tour on Friday, Jan. 10. (Photo courtesy of the office of U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson)

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R – Marion) said she and other federal lawmakers will be having continued conversations about what can be done to help improve medical care and ease recruiting challenges among Iowa’s health facilities. Hinson made a stop in Decorah Friday to tour WinnMed’s facilities — the hospital recently completed renovations to its obstetrics unit, and additional improvements to the hospital’s surgery and clinic areas are also underway as part of a $50 million project. 

“We have an aging healthcare infrastructure in this country,” Hinson said, following the tour. “Many of the critical access hospitals do need to do some of these renovations.”

Information from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services said more than 80 hospitals in the state are considered to be critical access hospitals, which are defined in part as being located in a rural area and more than 35 miles from another hospital — WinnMed is considered a critical access hospital, according to IDHH, as are the Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in Fayette County and Veterans Memorial Hospital in Allamakee County.

Hinson said she sees telemedicine as an important part of the equation, and she called partnerships, such as the relationship between WinnMed and Gunderson Decorah Clinic, invaluable in addressing complicated cases, especially those involving newborns.

Full article available in the January 16 Decorah Leader.

Submit A Comment

Fill out the form to submit a comment. All comments require approval by our staff before it is displayed on the website.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments