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Flu Season is Upon Us – Get Your Flu Shot!

Flu season has arrived and Delaware County Public Health (DCPH) along with Regional Family Health (RFH) are providing a friendly reminder of the importance of receiving the flu shot. Everyone 6 months or older is recommended to get a flu shot, especially if you are someone with a higher risk of developing complications from the flu.

The benefits of getting a flu shot: It reduces the likelihood of contracting the flu, doctor visits and missed school or workdays. If you do get sick, the vaccine can lessen the severity of flu symptoms. Getting vaccinated also helps protect vulnerable individuals from serious flu illness, including infants, young children, older adults and those with chronic health conditions. 

When to get your flu shot: Flu shot protection decreases over time. Due to this, influenza or flu shots are generally recommended in the fall as full illnesses tend to increase over the holiday season and into the new year.

Where to get your flu shot: Flu shots are readily available in our communities. Contact your healthcare provider to schedule an appointment or you can find local clinics being held in Delaware County by DCPH and RFH at regmedctr.org/flushots.

If you have any questions about the annual flu shot, contact your trusted primary healthcare provider (563-927-7777) or call DCPH at 563-927-7551. Additional helpful resources are available at cdc.gov/flu.

Pictured: Krystle DeShaw, Delaware County Public Health Administrator

“He [Dr. Pepper] made me feel so at ease in such a scary time of going into labor so early. It felt really great just to have him there and feel supported. He would talk to you about the research behind it, his thoughts on it, but then also give that space to make your own decisions, too.”

Through a recent grant awarded by the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County, Delaware County Public Health (DCPH) is able to provide free radon test kits to Delaware County residents. 

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among individuals who have never smoked, causing over 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. This naturally occurring, radioactive gas is released during the decay of uranium found in rock and soil across the United States. As many as 5 in 7 homes in Iowa have elevated radon levels. 

Radon can enter your home through cracks in the foundation, basement floors, walls or other openings. Once indoors, it can become trapped at dangerous levels. That is why DCPH is making an effort to provide you a free way to check your home for radon levels. 

Pick-Up FREE Radon Test Kit

A limited supply of free radon test kits will be available on a first come, first serve basis for all Delaware County residents. 

Jill Carpenter, Manchester resident and daughter of Paul Kammarmeyer, stresses the importance of testing after her father passed away from lung cancer at the age of 59. She shares, “After his diagnosis, it was confirmed through testing that my parent’s basement, where my dad spent a lot of time, was high in radon. If a test could save the life of a person, half as good as my dad, it would be a true blessing.” 

Radon has no color, taste or smell. The only way to detect radon in your home is to test for it. To learn more about Radon visit lung.org/radon. If you have questions regarding the free test kits for Delaware County residents, please contact DCPH at 563-927-7551.

Regional Medical Center (RMC) is continuing to partner with LifeServe Blood Center as their primary blood supplier. Because the hospital in Manchester, Iowa utilizes blood products and services from LifeServe, it’s only right that all RMC blood drives are hosted through LifeServe. 

LifeServe is a community-based blood center and all blood that is donated through them remains in the community. So when you donate at an RMC blood drive, you are donating your blood to save lives in local neighborhoods and communities. RMC relies on LifeServe and LifeServe relies on local donors and community support. Blood donor KeriAnne Schmidt shares why she donates, “Donating blood has always been an important thing for me to do because it’s something really small that can help so many others. Working in healthcare, I directly see the need for blood and how it can really save lives. I also love donating through LifeServe, because I know that it will help someone in this community and surrounding areas!” 

Whether you’ve donated once or one hundred times, it’s important to make sure your lifesaving impact is counted and celebrated. That’s why LifeServe makes it easy to transfer your donation accomplishments, including your gallon milestones and total donation count. Transferring is simple. Just reach out to the LifeServe team at your next donation appointment or fill out a quick online form to get started. 

RMC is hosting their next LifeServe blood drive on Tuesday, September 23rd from 12-5PM in the RMC Veterans Education Center (Level 3). To schedule your appointment, visit lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 1-800-287-4903.  

Have questions about donating at RMC? View our FAQ on our website at regmedctr.org/blood.

Pictured: KeriAnne Schmidt, Donating at RMC Blood Drive

Regional Medical Center (RMC) and the Good Neighbor Society have partnered together to host their annual Senior Wellness Fair on Thursday, October 2nd from 11AM to 1PM. This free event will be held at the Delaware County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Manchester for senior citizens and caregivers. 

Attendees will learn about healthcare services provided in our community by visiting with local vendors. There will be complimentary giveaways and a light to-go lunch consisting of a handheld sandwich, chips, fruit and cookie. This event also provides attendees the opportunity to receive important immunizations including flu shots and the COVID-19 vaccine administered by Delaware County Public Health (DCPH) and Breheme Drug. If attendees choose to receive vaccinations at the fair, they must bring their Medicare or insurance card.

RMC and the Good Neighbor Society would like to personally invite senior citizens and caregivers to the Senior Wellness Fair to enjoy this free event. No registration is required. If you have any questions, please contact Abbey Klostermann at 563-927-7782 or Jessie Tibbott at 563-927-3907.

An Edgewood native, Sara McCool, Nurse Practitioner, is returning back to her hometown to provide family practice care. McCool recently joined the Regional Family Health (RFH) Edgewood team after working closely with Dr. Scot Christiansen to ensure a seamless transition following his retirement. 

She expressed her excitement, stating, “It has been an honor to work with Dr. Christiansen as he ended an incredible career in family medicine. I am excited to continue to provide exceptional family healthcare here in Edgewood.” 

McCool initially joined the RFH Urgent Care team in Manchester in 2022 and will continue to dedicate one day a week to urgent care services. The majority of her time will now be focused on providing family practice care in Edgewood. She joins an established provider team in Edgewood that includes Nurse Practitioners Stephanie Gudenkauf and Bridget Baker, as well as Dr. Andrew Pepper. 

Sara McCool is a 2017 graduate of Purdue University Global where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then went on to finish her Master of Science in Nursing in 2021, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She brings a strong passion for rural healthcare and is eager to serve the Edgewood community.  

To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Regional Family Health, please call 563-927-7777.

Pictured: Dr. Scot Christiansen with Sara McCool

Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Manchester welcomes visiting Orthopedic specialists from Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa (PCI) in Cedar Rapids.

Beginning September 2025, Dr. Omar Akhtar and Dr. Blake Eyberg, along with Nurse Practitioners, Sarah Gates, Jennifer Botsford and Erin Roberts, will be providing orthopedic care right here in Manchester. Services will include evaluation and treatment for a variety of bone, joint and muscle conditions, helping patients receive high-quality care without the need to travel far. These visiting specialists are Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery, providing surgical and non-surgical services at RMC. 

“We are excited to partner with PCI and welcome these specialists to better serve our community,” shared Kendra Downs, RMC Specialty Clinic Manager. “We are dedicated to continuing to offer advanced specialty care in Manchester, allowing patients to receive the specialty care they need, close to home.” 

Talk to your healthcare provider about being referred to the Specialty Clinic. For more information about services available at the RMC Specialty Clinic, visit regmedctr.org/specialtyclinic or call 563-927-7301. 

Pictured: (Left to Right) Dr. Omar Akhtar, Dr. Blake Eyberg, Sarah Gates, Jennifer Botsford & Erin Roberts

An online public meeting to discuss cancer in Delaware County will be held on Monday, September 15, 2025 from 8-9AM. 

The Iowa Cancer Registry and University of Iowa College of Public Health, in collaboration with the Iowa Cancer Consortium, University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Iowa Rural Health Association, is hosting the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project to present county-specific cancer information and address community concerns in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

The online meeting for Delaware County is Monday, September 15 from 8-9AM. A group viewing option is available at Regional Medical Center (RMC) Veterans Education Center (Parking Lot 1, Entrance B). Local residents, public health officials, community leaders, and policy makers are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion. Representatives from the 99 Counties Project will share the latest cancer data related to Delaware County and provide residents an opportunity to voice concerns or suggestions for improving cancer outcomes in the community. 

About the Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project
The 99 Counties Project is a public health initiative aimed at enhancing cancer education and community engagement across Iowa’s 99 counties. Reports containing information about the rates of new cancers and cancer deaths in each country compared to the state of Iowa and the US, as well as risk factor data from the Center for Disease and Control’s (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, will be presented to each county. 

Meeting Registration: iowacancerconsortium.wildapricot.org/event-6255099/Registration

There will be time allotted to listening to the questions, concerns, and ideas of community members. If you have questions regarding this public online meeting, you may direct those to Audrey Gronemeyer, Project Coordinator at audrey-herring@uiowa.edu or ICR-Media@uiowa.edu. 

After over 31 years of service at Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Manchester, Dr. Scot Christiansen is retiring from OB & Family Practice on September 1, 2025. 

As his time in OB & Family Practice comes to a close, it has been bittersweet within the walls of the RMC labor and delivery rooms as we reflect on the impact that Dr. Christiansen has had in our community. Over his 31 years of service, he has touched the lives of countless patients and delivered over 550 newborns. 

Emilie Hanaway and Robert Dettbarn from Independence welcomed their baby girl, Ivy Mae, on July 27, 2025. When asked about their experience with Dr. Christiansen, Emilie shared, “Dr. Christiansen has been my doctor for over 10 years. He has always gone above and beyond to make sure we are okay. Dr. Christiansen would take my phone calls, even if he wasn’t in the office, making it a point to talk with me when I needed it. I love him and will miss him very much.” 

On August 12, 2025, a baby boy named Clarence Ryan was born to Bryce and Rebecca Troester of Strawberry Point. The Troesters shared their appreciation for Dr. Christiansen, with Rebecca sharing, “He has been my doctor my entire life. Every appointment he gives his full attention and is so patient. It will be hard to replace him.” Bryce added, “No matter how busy he was, he’d ask if we had additional questions and if we did, he would sit down and take the time to make sure we felt comfortable.”

Regional Family Health is hosting a retirement reception in Dr. Christiansen’s honor on Sunday, September 7th at the Edgewood Event Center located at 303 North Washington Street in Edgewood. This open house celebration will take place from 11AM-2PM, offering a light lunch. All are welcome and invited to attend. 

On behalf of RMC, we express our gratitude to Dr. Christiansen for his commitment to excellence and the lasting impact he has made on each of his patients, colleagues and our entire community.

Pictured: (Left to Right) Dr. Christiansen with Ivy Mae, Dr. Christiansen with Rebecca & Clarence Troester

“Dr. Christiansen has been my doctor my entire life. He is very patient and great at explaining things. No matter how busy he is, he always asks if I have additional questions and answers them to make sure I am comfortable.”

Become a Sponsor of RMC

Regional Medical Center in Manchester celebrated our 75th birthday on August 7th! We invite you to join us in the celebration of this huge milestone in the form of community support with your sponsorship!

Community support has helped Regional Medical Center (RMC) grow to be the quality healthcare system it is today. Many changes have taken place since the original hospital was built in 1950, and we look forward to the future to come.

Like previous years, we are offering sponsorship opportunities to area businesses, organizations and individuals to help support our mission. Funds raised will help offset the cost of our $30 million Surgery Addition and Radiology Department renovation as well as saving funds for our future with our Endowment Fund.

  • Surgery Addition: Our 18,000 square foot addition will expand our operating rooms to four, incorporate over $1 million in state-of-the-art surgical equipment in each room as well as include 12 spacious pre-operative and post-operative rooms focused on promoting patient comfort and healing.
  • Radiology Department Renovation: Radiology will see significant updates to four crucial imaging rooms: two ultrasound rooms, the mammography suite and the bone density room. These areas will be completely remodeled and redesigned to offer a spacious and modern environment for patients. The current x-ray rooms will also receive a face-lift and the Radiology waiting room will be expanded and modernized.
  • Endowment Fund: An Endowment Fund is an investment fund that helps a non-profit focus on growing and saving funds. The principal amount that is donated stays intact while the investment income or growth is available for funding use by the non-profit. Growing our Endowment Fund will help provide long-term financial stability for generations to come. We have a goal of growing our fund to $500,000 and your sponsorship can help us achieve this goal.

Sponsorship levels include Platinum $5,000; Gold $2,500; Silver $1,000; Bronze $500; Supporter $250 and Friend $100. Visit regmedctr.org/fy2026sponsor for more sponsor details.

If you would like to help RMC, mail your gift made payable to Regional Medical Center, ATTN Donations, PO Box 359, Manchester, Iowa 52057 or go online to  regmedctr.org/fy2026sponsor. Please reach out to Valerie Lindsay, Volunteer Services & Fund Development Manager at 563-927-7534 or donations@regmedctr.org if you have any questions. 

Delaware County Public Health (DCPH) is emphasizing the serious nature of measles. As school begins, it’s critical to ensure everyone is up-to-date on recommended measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines. Individuals who are unvaccinated and have been exposed to measles are subject to a 21-day quarantine period, which can pose a great challenge for families. 

Measles is highly contagious and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. This disease can spread simply by being present in the same area previously occupied by a person with measles. 

Measles can lead to severe illness, including potential brain damage or death. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 

  • Measles symptoms typically include a high fever (may spike to 104°F or higher); cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; and a rash which breaks out 3-5 days after other symptoms begin. Symptoms present 7-14 days post-exposure.
  • Call your healthcare provider immediately if you think you or your child have been exposed to measles.
  • Do not go to the clinic or hospital without calling first if you think you or your child could have measles or have been exposed. 
  • Get vaccinated. Call your healthcare provider today to make sure you and your child(ren) are up-to-date with the MMR vaccine.

“Measles spreads faster and farther than most people realize,” shared Krystle DeShaw, DCPH Manager. “One case of Measles has the ability to infect up to 90% of nearby unvaccinated people. Our best defense is prevention through vaccination.”

One dose of the MMR vaccine has a 93% effectiveness, while two doses exhibit 97% effectiveness. A free MMR vaccine is available. Call DCPH for an appointment at 563-927-7551. 

Given 2 new, unlinked cases of measles in the region, Iowans could consider earlier MMR vaccination. Typically children receive one dose at 12–15 months and a second dose at 4–6 years. However, Iowans could now consider: 

  • An early extra dose of MMR between 6 and 11 months of age (“dose 0”); this dose does not count toward the routine series
  • The first routine dose (dose 1) can be given after 12 months of age, at least 28 days after dose 0
  • The second routine dose (dose 2) can be given at least 28 days after dose 1, instead of waiting until age 4–6 years

For more information or guidance, call DCPH at 563-927-7551 or contact your primary healthcare provider. For more information about measles, prevention and the latest outbreak statistics go to cdc.gov/measles.

Become a Sponsor of RMCCLICK HERE