Grundy County Memorial Hosp

Pros

• The staff were absolutely amazing, setting the ankle and getting the pain under control.
• The attending doctor and nurses were amazing, and they arranged the transfer to Iowa City for surgery.
• Grundy Center ER treated the patient promptly with evaluation and imaging.
• The hospital is described as a great small-town facility with friendly, professional staff.
• The staff stayed in regular contact with updates and provided compassionate communication.
• The infusion nurse is wonderful, remembers patients, and makes the experience pleasant.
• The MRI team provided a high level of care and professionalism.
• The staff saved the patient's life.

Cons

• Dr. Jeffrey Curnes was described as rude, dismissive, rushed, and not listening to the patient.
• He allegedly accused the patient of aggression and flailing arms, and later documented it in the chart.
• The reviewer found him arrogant, unprofessional, uncaring, and not allowing the patient to speak.
• He dismissed concerns about a possible blood clot as anxiety.
• The ER doctors were criticized for trying to discharge patients quickly and not addressing ongoing issues.
• The reviewer stated Dr. Curnes should be fired and possibly lose his medical license.
• Another reviewer described Grundy County Hospital staff as uneducated and having fake licenses.
• Mercy in Waterloo was criticized for inadequate pain relief, offering only one dose of fentanyl and suggesting naproxen.
• A HIPAA violation was reported when ultrasound images were provided on a CD containing thousands of other patients' information.
• The ER experience was described as the absolute worst, with a lack of trust in the hospital for loved ones.
• Postpartum care was allegedly mishandled, with a discharge for postpartum preeclampsia that led to later admission elsewhere.
• A parent claimed the hospital missed her daughter's condition, dismissed it as nothing, and DHS was called.
• It was claimed that an ambulance ride for a planned procedure was unnecessary and overpriced, with the procedure scheduled weeks out.

Review

The collection of observations about Grundy County's hospital and its Emergency Department paints a picture of a facility that can deliver exceptional, compassionate care in urgent moments, while also showing that patient experiences can diverge dramatically depending on whom they encounter. One account begins with a fall and a broken ankle at the end of May. In that moment, the Grundy Center ED is praised for its swift and thorough response: the ankle was realigned, pain was brought under control, and the patient was stabilized for a transfer to Iowa City for surgery. The gratitude here is emphatic - attending clinicians and nurses were described as amazing, and the transfer team, including a physician and a nurse, was lauded for their help. The entire experience is framed as a model of prompt and capable care, with special thanks given to Dr. Shover and Nurse Troy and their team for their assistance.

In stark contrast to that glowing account, another voice centers on a troubling interpersonal encounter with a specific physician. Dr. Jeffrey Curnes is painted as rude and dismissive, someone who rushed the patient, didn't listen, and cut the patient off. The reviewer felt falsely accused of aggression - an accusation allegedly documented in the chart shortly after leaving the hospital. They described his behavior as arrogant and unprofessional, noting that they felt neither heard nor cared for, and that their concerns about a possible blood clot were dismissed as "anxiety." The patient expressed a strong intention to dispute the chart entry and to avoid repeating an encounter with this doctor, underscoring the impact that one bedside manner can have on trust and care continuity.

Amid the mixed experiences, there are vivid affirmations of the hospital's strengths. One review proclaims Grundy County as a "GREAT small-town hospital," recounting a recent ER visit that was both efficient and effective. The patient described imaging and evaluation as swift, with care delivered in under two hours - far faster than they had experienced elsewhere. The staff was characterized as super helpful, professional, and friendly, and the overall sentiment expressed was one of having had the best possible experience at a medical facility. This narrative emphasizes efficiency, competence, and a reassuring bedside presence that helped expedite care when time mattered.

Several reviews underscore a broader appreciation for the hospital's everyday care environment and the people who staff it. In one testimonial, the hospital is described as the only one they would allow their family to use, with consistent experiences of feeling listened to and respected. The difference in experience even shows up in comparisons to other local facilities: another patient recounted a highly unsatisfactory experience at Mercy in Waterloo, where pain management was ineffective, and contrasted it with Grundy County, where staff were perceived to be more attentive and committed to finding an appropriate pain regimen. Across these reflections, the nursing staff and doctors are frequently highlighted for their kindness, professionalism, and willingness to explain what's wrong and what comes next, helping patients feel supported during stressful times.

There are more specialized and positive notes about particular care moments and departments. Patients recount positive encounters with infusion nurses who remembered them and made visits more pleasant, as well as praise for someone's experience with an MRI that was met with a high level of care and professionalism. The gratitude extends to instances of prompt and thorough care that left patients feeling reassured about their treatment plans. The recurring theme is that when care is well-coordinated and delivered with empathy, hospital stays - whether short or lengthy - can feel manageable and even comforting.

Yet the reviews don't shy away from more troubling or concerning themes. Several accounts touch on perceived gaps in communication, inconsistent patient experiences, and a sense that some clinicians rush patients through or fail to engage with their concerns. There are mentions of frustration with emergency room doctors who seemed more focused on rapid disposition than on solving ongoing problems, leading some patients to feel rushed, dismissed, or subjected to quick judgments rather than careful evaluation. A patient describes a frightening experience where a postpartum situation was not adequately recognized, later requiring admission to another hospital for magnesium treatment and ongoing management of preeclampsia-related symptoms, highlighting potential gaps in initial screening or follow-through. There are also references to HIPAA concerns stemming from a separate ultrasound incident, where a patient's CD contained other people's personal information, and to the emotional toll of feeling ignored or underestimated in communication with clinicians and staff.

Taken together, the opinions suggest Grundy County's hospital is a place of strong, mixed experiences. For some patients and their families, the facility embodies the dependable care of a small-town hospital: quick imaging, decisive stabilization, thoughtful pain management, and consistently kind nursing staff. For others, particularly when interacting with specific physicians or in high-stress moments, the experience can feel frustrating or distressing - owing to perceived dismissiveness, rushed interactions, or concerns about patient advocacy and chart accuracy. A common thread is gratitude for those clinicians and nurses who listen, explain, and treat patients with respect, alongside cautionary notes about individuals or patterns that can erode trust and comfort.

Whether as a first choice in emergencies or a place for routine care, the hospital clearly elicits a spectrum of experiences that reflect the realities of busy emergency departments and the human variability of healthcare teams. Several reviewers describe it as a trusted, go-to facility in their community, where care can be both fast and compassionate when everything aligns. Others advise readers to consider their personal needs and to be mindful of who is on duty, recognizing that strong outcomes can hinge on the particular clinicians encountered during a stressful time. In any case, the overarching takeaway is that Grundy County's hospital is a place where courage, skill, and care can shine, even as the patient experience remains deeply personal and sometimes uneven.

Hospitals

• Grundy County Memorial Hospital Emergency Room (0 miles)
• Grundy Care Center (0.1 miles)
• Conrad Clinic (10.9 miles)
• Gladbrook Family Health Center (12.1 miles)
• Westbrook Acres Nursing Home (12.3 miles)
• Parkersburg Medical Center (15 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Mary's Church (0.3 miles)
• Bethany Presbyterian Church (0.3 miles)
• Orchard Hill Church (0.6 miles)
• Lutheran Parsonage ALC (0.9 miles)
• United Methodist Church (0.9 miles)
• Colfax Center Presbyterian Church (5.8 miles)
• Alice Church of God (7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Manly Drug Store (0.5 miles)
• Stefl Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Reinbeck Pharmacy (8.7 miles)
• Phil's Pharmacy (8.7 miles)
• Gladbrook Family Pharmacy (12.1 miles)
• Parkersburg Pharmacy (15.2 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul (0.6 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (1 miles)
• Sleepy Creek Tannery & Fur Dressing (10 miles)

Theaters

• Center Theatre (0.6 miles)
• Gladbrook Theater (12.1 miles)
• Grand Theatre (17.1 miles)

Restaurants

• The Landmark Bistro (0.6 miles)
• Scotty's Saloon (0.6 miles)
• Maid Rite (1 miles)
• Fuze (1.3 miles)
• Subway (1.3 miles)
• Pancho Villa (1.6 miles)
• Corn Crib Creations (2.9 miles)

Parks

• Orion Park (1 miles)
• C. E. Shearn Memorial Park (4.6 miles)
• Beaver Roadside Park (7.7 miles)
• Elmwood Park (8.3 miles)
• Ed Thomas Field (14.8 miles)
• Miracle Park (14.8 miles)
• Union Grove State Park (16 miles)

Physicians

• Covenant Clinic (8.6 miles)
• Total Health of Iowa (8.7 miles)
• Randolph Greg PA-C Dfaapa (12.1 miles)
• Covenant Clinic (12.1 miles)
• Aplington-Parkersburg Family Practice (15 miles)
• Total Health of Iowa (16.5 miles)