West Des Moines Doctor's License Placed on Probation

Accused of incompetence, Dr. Dale Grunewald must complete training and utilize an educational mentor

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:26pm

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The Iowa Board of Medicine has placed the license of West Des Moines family medicine practitioner Dr. Dale Grunewald on probation for one year after investigations into allegations of professional incompetence related to pain management, inappropriate wound care, and failure to maintain proper documentation.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about physician competence and oversight, as well as the challenges in balancing patient care with proper medical practices and record-keeping requirements, especially around sensitive issues like opioid prescriptions.

The details

The board initiated four separate investigations of Dr. Grunewald between 2016 and 2020. In 2022, he was ordered to complete a clinical competency evaluation, and in 2024 a review of 17 patient cases found issues with his pain management, wound care, and documentation. To resolve the disciplinary case, the board has placed his license on probation for one year and ordered him to complete additional training and utilize an educational mentor.

  • The board initiated investigations of Dr. Grunewald in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
  • In January 2022, the board issued a confidential order for Dr. Grunewald to complete a clinical competency evaluation.
  • The evaluation was completed in September 2022.
  • In February 2024, a physician review of 17 patient cases found issues with Dr. Grunewald's care.
  • In April 2025, the board charged Dr. Grunewald with professional incompetence related to pain management.

The players

Dr. Dale Grunewald

A family medicine practitioner in West Des Moines, Iowa who has had his medical license placed on probation for one year by the Iowa Board of Medicine after investigations into allegations of professional incompetence.

Iowa Board of Medicine

The state regulatory body that oversees and disciplines medical professionals in Iowa, which has placed Dr. Grunewald's license on probation.

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What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Dr. Grunewald to continue practicing medicine during his one-year probationary period.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of rigorous medical oversight and accountability, as well as the need for doctors to maintain the highest standards of care, documentation, and adherence to guidelines - especially when it comes to pain management and opioid prescriptions.