Broadlawns Medical Center has hired Jill MacNaughton as director of patient and guest relations. Certified by the state of Nebraska as a mediator, MacNaughton will serve as a liaison between patients and their families, physicians, staff and hospital administrators during their stay at the medical center. She will work to ensure quality customer service and patient satisfaction. MacNaughton had a similar role at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Principal Financial Group Inc. celebrated the opening of its Principal Child Development Center yesterday. The center offers early learning and child-care services for up to 180 children of Principal employees. The Principal Child Development Center is built to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design designation and includes a large outdoor play area, tricycle track and water feature for outdoor play. Bright Horizons Family Solutions manages the day-to-day operations.

The Labor Department said today that applications for unemployment benefits declined for the third straight week last week after reaching a six-year high in early August, the Associated Press reported. Applications fell to a seasonally adjusted 425,000, down 10,000 from the week before. But economists still consider a claims level above 400,000 as an indicator of a slowing economy.

Iowa Health System has donated 50,000 scrub tops and pants to Project C.U.R.E., an organization that supports medical efforts in developing countries. The clothes will help doctors and nurses provide a more sterile environment in locations that lack basic medical resources. Since 2005, Iowa Health has donated more than $1 million worth of medical equipment and supplies to developing countries.