By ANNE BLANKENSHIP

Critical Access Hospitals like Van Diest Medical Center, are vital lifelines to their communities. Their primary focus is to ensure access to essential health care services such as inpatient and emergency care, laboratory services, radiology imaging, primary care and mental health services.

They often tailor services to address specific health concerns or unmet health needs in their rural communities as well. Thus, residents who may otherwise face significant travel time to access medical care can find it close to home.

Hospitals serve as economic engines in their communities, often being amongst the largest employers in their area. They also offer community benefits in the form of charity care and free and reduced-cost services.

Many of these services wouldn’t exist without hospital resources and leadership.

Iowa hospitals create an enormous impact statewide.

A study by the Iowa Hospital Association found that Van Diest Medical Center contributed $1.2 million to Hamilton County’s economy in 2023. VDMC created 494 jobs, accounting for 8% of the county’s total workforce, and generated $30.6 million in wages, which represents about 10% of all wages earned in the county. In 2023, VDMC’s total expenditures amounted to $62.2 million, or 7.7% of Hamilton County’s gross domestic product.

Additionally, VDMC provided community service programs that served nearly 15,000 people during that year.

“As a pillar of our community, Van Diest Medical Center takes great pride in not only providing essential health care services, but also in contributing to the economic well-being of Hamilton County,” Ashley Allers, VDMC’s chief financial officer, said. “The $1.2 million impact VDMC has had on the local economy reflects our commitment to both the health and prosperity of our community. We remain dedicated to supporting local jobs, wages, and growth, and we look forward to continuing this vital role in the years to come.”

Providing quality health care has been a priority for Van Diest Medical Center. For the third consecutive year, VDMC has been recognized as one of the Chartis Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in 2025. The hospital has also earned a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for both overall quality and patient satisfaction. Additionally, VDMC has been named a Top Workplace in the Healthcare Industry and a Regional Top Workplace in Iowa.

In the past year, there have been many additions to VDMC service lines as well as an expansion of facilities and equipment.

VDMC partnered with MercyOne Iowa Heart Center in October to provide a full-time cardiology clinic in Webster City. The clinic, located near the specialty clinic, expanded services to include full-time echocardiograms, nuclear medicine stress testing, telecardiology in the emergency department and in the inpatient area. The new clinic provides an invaluable service to the county and surrounding areas so patients can stay with the providers they know and love, and do not have to travel long distances to receive cardiology care.

The addition of orthopedic services allowed VDMC to serve a multitude of patients who previously had been referred to other organizations for these services. Orthopedic services include:

. Total hip and knee replacements;

. Direct anterior approach hip replacements;

. Fracture care;

. Fracture surgery;

. Sports injuries;

. Work injuries;

. Treatment of hand, wrist, elbow conditions and injuries;

. Hand and wrist surgery;

. Carpal tunnel surgery;

. Treatment of disorders of the spine;

. Spine injuries;

. General orthopedic conditions.

Many of the orthopedic surgeries are now completed at VDMC.

The hospital also purchased a Hana surgery table to support state-of the art hip replacement surgeries.

In 2024, a skilled trio of general surgeons joined the VDMC team. They perform a wide range of surgeries and procedures, such as hernia repairs, gallbladder removals, colon resections, port placements, colonoscopies, gastroscopies, and flexible sigmoidoscopies.

Additionally, a new ambulance was added to the hospital’s fleet, marking the second one purchased in the last three years.

VDMC is the only Advanced Life Support-trained ambulance service in Hamilton County, with Emergency Medical Service crews responding to around 30 calls each week.

The hospital also upgraded the defibrillators for its crash carts.

Currently, VDMC is working on an MRI project aimed at delivering higher-quality images using advanced technology. This new offering will continue to support orthopedic providers and offer a convenient, local service for patients in Hamilton County.

VDMC operates four rural health clinics in Webster City, Stratford, Jewell and Fort Dodge, offering patients easy access to primary care within the community.

The Fort Dodge Clinic is currently being expanded. Although it is not situated in Hamilton County, the Fort Dodge Clinic contributes revenue to the county and serves as a referral source for hospital services. The expansion will include the addition of x-ray equipment, allowing the clinic to generate more revenue for both VDMC and Hamilton County. Additionally, patients will no longer need to travel to other locations for these quick tests.

Hospitals and health systems play a key role in ensuring access to care remains, and services continue to be available for patients locally. Van Diest Medical Center is proud to offer 24/7 access to quality care for the residents in and surrounding Hamilton County.