Mahaska Health, EMA discuss COVID, E911
Mar. 13—OSKALOOSA — County officials teamed up with Mahaska Health employees to discuss public health and emergency management issues with Mahaska County residents at Eggs and Issues.
The event took place Saturday at Smokey Row. Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem and Mahaska County Emergency Management Administrator Jamey Robinson represented the county on the panel.
Mahaska Health Partnership was represented by Kevin DeRonde, Mahaska Health CEO; Dr. Shawn Richmond, family practice; Mike Lang, emergency services director; Rachel Sheetz, physician's assistant; and Arthur Zacharjasz, director of public health and occupational therapy.
The panel discussed everything from the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to emergency services in Mahaska County.
Hospital staff fielded a question about what lessons Mahaska County has learned from COVID.
"It really takes partnerships going forward," DeRonde said. "After COVID, we met with EMA and our leadership, law enforcement, and said 'Hey, let's do a debrief on what happened. How can we make this better going forward?' So we've done that. We've made some changes to how we're responding to international pandemic, let alone if something happens in Iowa"
Hospital staff also said that it's impossible to know the full effect of the pandemic at this point.
"We're still evaluating to see and learn," Zacharjasz said. "With the global pandemic declaration ending in May, what does that look like? Eighteen million Americans had extended Medicaid coverage that may no longer qualify. The social isolation ... Kids having great disruption in their education. Adolescents are at higher risk ... experiencing depression ... In short, we still don't know the impacts."
Zacharjasz said that in spite of all the pandemic's difficulties, Mahaska Health weathered the storm.
"To our credit, we handled," Zacharjasz said. "I was shocked at the things we did, as a hospital. The challenges we faced. We had 30-, 40-year-olds dying ...The extra we took, the lives that were saved. The community kind of came together and did amazing things."
Hospital staff shared updates on the hospital moving forward, including news that a new surgical oncologist will be joining the Mahaska Health team.
That same community is currently facing a decision about the future structure of its E911 services, with city and county officials considering placing the Mahaska County E911 Center under Oskaloosa Police Department control. Another option would be to put the center under the Mahaska County Sheriff's Department jurisdiction.
The panelists shared some of their thoughts on the issue.
"Of course, I'm a fan of it staying where it's at ... [But] 911 in Mahaska County is not going to change," Robinson said. "We have built an amazing product. The staff that's in there is going to continue to run it the same way."
Placing the center under either police or sheriff's jurisdiction will not affect the main staff that dispatch calls, Robinson explained.
"I think it's appropriate for dispatchers, if they're going to be placed under a law enforcement agency, I believe it's appropriate that they be put under the sheriff's office," Van Renterghem said. "Certainly nothing against the police department ... The transition, I believe, would be much easier, because right now the dispatchers are EMA employees."
Van Renterghem explained the dispatchers' benefits currently come from the county, making a switch from EMA to sheriff's office oversight a smoother ride for them.
"I don't want to misquote the city," Van Renterghem said. "I believe they've already said that none of the benefits will change. My concern is the city's health insurance may not be exactly what the county's is."
The sixth and final Eggs and Issues panel of 2023 will take place at 8:30 a.m. March 25 at Smokey Row. The panel will feature Sen. Ken Rozenboom of Iowa District 19 and Reps. Helena Hayes and Barb Kniff-McCulla of Iowa Districts 88 and 37.
Channing Rucks can be reached at crucks@oskyherald.com.
