Mahaska Health Partnership Welcomes Dr. Ben Oldson
Dr. Ben Oldson
MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership is pleased to introduce Dr. Ben Oldson, an Emergency Services and Hospitalist Physician joining the Medical Staff in July.
“We are very excited to welcome Dr. Oldson as a hospitalist and ED physician,” MHP CEO Jay Christensen stated. “The hospitalist program has proven to be a very positive addition to inpatient care provided at MHP. With the addition of Dr. Oldson, we will be fully staffed.”
When asked why he chose to practice in both an emergency and inpatient setting, Dr. Oldson noted the variety of patients and diagnoses he will treat. “It’s very fast paced in the Emergency Department, but you only see a glimpse of a person’s care,” Dr. Oldson explained. “In the hospitalist role, there is more continuity because I’ll be caring for patients over several days.”
Dr. Oldson graduated with his doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010 and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa. “I grew up in Eagle Grove before finishing high school in Urbandale. My grandmother still lives in Eagle Grove, my dad is in Spirit Lake and my mother is in Des Moines, so it will be nice to be closer to family again,” Dr. Oldson shared. “I’ve recently been completing my residency program in Colorado, so I look forward to getting back to the Midwest. Oskaloosa is a really nice community and a great fit; I’m looking forward to biking and fishing.”
Growing up, Dr. Oldson had a very close relationship with his grandparents. He credits this as the reason he was drawn to inpatient care. “So many of the patients I see in the hospitalist setting are aging adults. I really enjoy that population and have a genuine interest in listening to people and knowing their story,” Dr. Oldson shared.
Dr. Oldson will begin Emergency Department shifts in early July. “Our ED is a Level III Trauma Center that is staffed 24/7 by physicians with specialized training in emergency care,” Christensen explained.
Similarly, with MHP’s hospitalist program, a physician is available around the clock to serve as the primary care provider for patients admitted to the hospital. “A hospitalist takes care of patients while they are in the hospital and work closely with their primary care provider,” Christensen explained.
“The hospitalist is always just a phone call away to respond to changes in a patient’s condition and to answer questions for the nurses, patient and his or her family.”
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641.672.3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
