Decatur County Hospital

09/30/2025

As we leave September and welcome October, we don’t want to miss sharing information for Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, which is a national recognition established by the Foundation for Women’s Cancer in 1999. It is estimated that every five minutes, someone will be diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer, and over 33,000 will die from gynecologic cancer this year. There are five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar.

With the newly decreased availability for gynecologic cancer care in Iowa, you may be experiencing limited options for your women’s health care. With just a handful of providers remaining in the state for this vital service, the DCH Outpatient Clinic in Leon, Iowa, is proud to provide access to this highly specialized care, not readily available in central and southern Iowa. Decatur County Hospital is excited to announce the addition of Elizabeth Dubil, MD, FACOG, to the DCH Outpatient Clinic team. Dr. Dubil provides Women’s Health services three days each month, including cancer screenings and on-site surgical services.

For exceptional women’s health care, close to home, call us at 641-446-2285 schedule an appointment in our DCH Outpatient Clinic. Depending on your insurance, you likely do not need a referral to see Dr. Dubil. To learn more about our women’s health services, visit www.decaturcountyhospital.org/womenshealth

As we leave September and welcome October, we don’t want to miss sharing information for Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, which is a national recognition ...

09/26/2025

Almost a year ago, Dr. Oben Ojong, DO, FAAD, joined the DCH family to provide Dermatology services four (4) days each month. Dr. Ojong is a double-board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. She is a skincare expert, providing comprehensive care for all hair, skin, and nail conditions.

Based on the needs of our community, we are excited to announce the expanded availability of dermatology care at dch.

Beginning October 15th, Kiley Howell, ARNP, and Rosa Stocker, ARNP, with Frontline Dermatology will visit Decatur County Hospital every other week! They can provide care for:
--Acne
--Skin Cancer
--Eczema
--Psoriasis
--Rosacea
--Shingles
--Allergic Reactions
--Fungal Infections
--Hair Problems
--Hives
--Moles
--Rash
--Warts
--And more

When you need a higher level of care for your dermatologic condition, Rosa can refer you to Dr. Ojong for advanced treatments, including on-site surgery to remove cancerous tissue.

Apart from allowing you to get healthy, spotless skin, additional advantages of Mohs surgical treatment for skin cancer include:
--Lowered possibility of cancer relapsing
--Cure rate of 95–99% for certain types of skin cancers
--Low chance of long-term scars
--More accurate compared to different options
--Shorter recovery time
--Doesn't harm the bordering healthy tissue

Depending on your insurance, you likely do not need a referral to see Dr. Ojong or any of our other specialists. Call 641-446-2285 to schedule an appointment today.

09/25/2025

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM). Every 5 minutes, someone is diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. Awareness, early detection, and access to care can save lives.

To learn more about the symptoms of gynecologic cancer, and assess your risk, visit foundationforwomenscancer.org.

If you are due for a screening for gynecologic cancer, the DCH Outpatient Clinic can help you access care. Our newest specialist, Dr. Elizabeth Dubil, is available in the DCH Outpatient Clinic three days each month for your general gynecologic needs, and assistance with the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic cancers.

Gynecologic oncologists are medical doctors with specialized training in treating gynecologic cancers. If cervical, ovarian, uterine/endometrial cancer, vaginal, or vulvar cancer is suspected or diagnosed, seek care from a gynecologic oncologist.

The Foundation for Women's Cancer offers free, downloadable educational materials, many of them available in three languages: English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. These guides can help you learn about the five gynecologic cancers and related topics such as postoperative pain management, financial resources for cancer patients, survivorship and more.

To schedule your appointment with Dr. Dubil, give us a call at 641-446-2285.

09/23/2025

We have new opportunities to join our team! Learn more and apply at www.decaturcountyhospital.org/careers

09/17/2025

Did you know? Every year, approximately 805,000 Americans have a heart attack. There are steps you can take to learn how to recognize early signs of a heart attack, or respond with hands-only CPR.

Heart attacks don’t typically look like what we see in the movies or on television. They can present with mild symptoms up to two weeks prior to a major event. This is the window of opportunity to prevent death and minimize heart damage.

Some common heart attack symptoms that may start before a major attack include:
--Chest discomfort
--Chest pressure
--Chest ache
--Chest burning
--Chest fullness

In addition, there are some common symptoms that might not always seem related to the heart. These include:
--Weakness
--Sweating
--Nausea
--Dizziness

These mild symptoms may indicate the onset of a heart attack. They may come and go for hours or days before the chest pain becomes severe. Early symptoms are called prodromal and can be likened to the prodromal symptoms of a cold. When treated early, prevention can take place to avert sudden death and cardiac damage. Early recognition and response saves lives.

If you recognize any of these symptoms in someone, it is important to encourage them to seek treatment and diagnosis to confirm the cause. Seeking early treatment at the start of these symptoms is the best way to recognize a major cardiac event before it happens.

09/15/2025

Today is the last (but not least) feature in our series on orthopedic services available at Decatur County Hospital!

When your pain or bone health is not a condition that can be addressed with surgery, you may benefit from an appointment in our Bone Health Clinic, overseen by Libby Allen, ARNP, FNP. She specializes in treating arthritis, gout, lupus, osteoporosis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, or other rheumatic conditions. She not only can help look for answers to their underlying condition(s) but also work to develop a plan to treat the symptoms and improve quality of life.

In order to provide a well-rounded program, DCH is installing a new DEXA Scanner later this month. This allows Libby to asses bone health, monitor ongoing conditions, and recommend appropriate treatment options. You may benefit from a scan if you:
1) are over the age of 50 years old
2) have low vitamin D levels
3) are postmenopausal
4) have poor nutrition
5) take certain medication
6) have a family history of osteoporosis
7) are interested in preventative treatment options

If you are concerned about your orthopedic health, call us at 641-446-2285 to schedule a consultation with a member of our head-to-toe orthopedic team.

09/14/2025

Day 4 of our orthopedic feature is here, and we've made it to the foundation of your body, your feet! If you have pain in your ankles, feet, and toes, Dr. Randy Metzger, DPM, rounds out our orthopedic surgery services, offering care for the base of your skeletal system.

He help patients with any condition related to foot and ankle care such as
1) bunions
2) claw toes
3) diabetic foot care
4) dislocated toes
5) flat and high arched foot conditions
6) fractures or sprains of the foot and ankle
7) hammertoes,
8) sport related injuries
9) and much more.

If you have pain in your feet, toes, or ankles, call 641-446-2285 to set up your appointment with Dr. Metzger!

09/13/2025

On day 3 of our orthopedic feature, we're excited to introduce you to another NEW provider in the DCH Outpatient Clinic!

If you have pain in your lower extremities, Dr. Daniel Reinhardt, MD, is available to address general orthopedic issues. He is known for his expertise in direct anterior hip arthroplasty, and multimodal pain control strategies that minimize opioid use and promote faster recovery.

With his expertise, and our new Hana table, we will be able to offer anterior hip replacement procedures in addition to our current lineup of total joint replacement services.

To learn more or schedule your appointment, call us at 641-446-2285.

09/13/2025

It's day 2 of our head-to-toe orthopedic feature! We're telling you all about the services available at Decatur County Hospital to help with your orthopedic needs. Today's focus is shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand pain.

For pain below the neck, Dr. Tyson Cobb, a board-certified, hand to shoulder orthopedic specialist, treats conditions that affect the hand, elbow, and shoulder including:
1) arthritis
2) carpal tunnel
3) golfer’s elbow
4) numbness and pain due to cubital tunnel syndrome
5) rotator cuff repair
5) tennis elbow
6) and more

To get help for your arm pain, call the DCH Outpatient Clinic at 641-446-2285 to schedule your consultation.

09/12/2025

For the first feature in our head-to-toe orthopedics series, we're excited to introduce one of our newest providers, Dr. Zaki Ibrahim, MD. As a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon, he offers both conservative and surgical measures that may help decrease your pain.

In addition to conservative methods to manage back and neck pain, Dr. Ibrahim can help patients with:
1) minimally-invasive spine surgery
2) cervical decompression
3) cervical fusion
4) lumbar decompression
5) lumbar fusion
6) spinal stenosis
7) sciatica
8) back pain, neck pain, arm pain
9) spinal cord issues
10) spinal deformity
11) pediatric & adult scoliosis
12) spinal trauma
13) nerve pain in arms & legs

To learn more and schedule your appointment, give us a call at 641-446-2285.

09/10/2025

Did you know? If you are dealing with a fracture, joint pain, or a sports injury, help is available close to home at Decatur County Hospital. Save the stress of traveling to “the big city,” and get head to toe orthopedic care at Decatur County Hospital.

This week, we will feature all of our orthopedic specialists to help you learn what is available in your local community. Follow along for updates each day!

09/01/2025

From all our providers and staff, we wish you a safe and happy Labor Day! And special shout out to the staff working today to keep our emergency services available 24/7.