Mahaska Health’s physician and nursing care teams have been awarded more than $3.3 million through the
Iowa Rural Health Transformation Program to support advanced imaging technology and provider recruitment serving rural
communities across southeastern Iowa. The funding is part of a statewide initiative announced by Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa
Department of Health and Human Services.
Iowa is the first state in the nation to receive federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, made possible through
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and administered through the Iowa Healthy Hometowns Project.
Mahaska Health was awarded three grant applications, supporting continued investment in advanced technology and workforce
recruitment to strengthen access to care across the region. The awards include $3,122,894 for a new PET/CT system with cardiac
imaging capability, along with $120,000 to support recruitment for a third OB/GYN physician and $120,000 to support recruitment of a
third General Surgery Physician Assistant.
The PET/CT technology investment provides earlier detection, more precise diagnosis, and coordinated treatment planning for patients
receiving cancer care. This advanced imaging technology provides clearer visualization of cancer tumors to support informed clinical
decision-making across oncology services. Clinicians frequently use the PET/CT in oncology for detection and determination of cancer
staging, evaluation of response to therapy, and assessment for recurrence. In cardiology, the technology assesses quantitative blood
flow to assist in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia.
Central to this multidisciplinary approach is Mahaska Health’s Cancer Tumor Board, the first tumor board established in Iowa by a
critical access hospital. The tumor board medical team meets monthly and brings together specialists from around the state in surgical
and medical oncology, general surgery, radiology, pathology, radiation oncology, genetics, along with care coordination, social work,
nutritionists, and support services, to review cases and coordinate individualized treatment planning. This collaborative physician peer-
to-peer model supports timely access to care and allows patients to benefit from informed clinical decision-making through coordinated,
multidisciplinary expertise significantly reducing diagnosis to treatment times.
Workforce recruitment funding will support continued growth in obstetrics, fertility, surgical and gynecological services at Mahaska
Health, expanding access to essential care for patients and families across the region amid ongoing labor and delivery unit closures
across Iowa.
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Rural Health Transformation Funding has also renewed Mahaska Health’s four
Centers of Excellence financial support in Maternity Care, Cardiology, General Surgery, and Surgical & Medical Oncology. These
recognitions acknowledge sustained performance and adherence to evidence-based standards and reinforce our physician and nurse
led dedication to compassionate care from trusted health experts for patients and families across the region. We are grateful to Iowa
HHS for their support of vital healthcare projects for Iowans.
