Today’s NewsStand — May 12, 2020

Today’s NewsStand — May 12, 2020

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|May 11, 2020

Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and the web.

Iowa news

Gov. Reynolds to follow ‘modified quarantine’ after being exposed to VP Pence staffer who tested positive for COVID-19

Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to follow a “modified quarantine” after she was exposed to a staff member of Vice President Mike Pence who tested positive for COVID-19. Gov. Reynolds made the announcement Monday morning during her daily coronavirus update. She said though she had no direct contact with the staffer while at the White House Thursday, “out of an abundance of caution,” she would take extra measures to make sure she is not sick and does not spread the illness. She said she will be tested daily and she already tested negative Monday, her temperature will be taken before she enters the Emergency Operations Center, she will practice social distancing, and wear a mask when she needs to interact with people. (WHO-TV)

Iowa is one of six states selected to receive remdesivir from the federal government to treat COVID-19 patients

Iowa is one of six states selected by the US Department of Health and Human Services to receive a shipment of the drug remdesivir, and on Saturday HHS announced it will allow state health agencies to begin distributing the antiviral drug to treat COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir is the only drug approved to treat COVID-19. The FDA used its emergency authorization process to approve the drug for patient treatment on May 1. Before that, the drug was only authorized for use in clinical trials. The University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics was one of the medical institutions participating in those trials. (Little Village)

Iowa’s health care systems unite in times of crisis

In times of a public health crisis, the true test of leadership is not exemplified through solitary actions or isolated mechanics but instead through the collective actions of health care systems, businesses, non-profits, government and communities coming together to confront the threat and work toward its defeat. (Sioux City Journal)

 

National news

The tech needed for more contactless hospitals, health care

Hospitals in many regions across the U.S. are beginning to resume elective surgeries and develop a strategy to return some remote workers to the hospital. But it won’t be an instantaneous move and CIOs will be at the forefront to make processes in the hospital as contactless as possible. The technology required to measure whether clinicians, staff and patients entering the hospital are safe includes body temperature monitors and areas to clean mobile devices. (Becker’s Health IT)

How to find trustworthy COVID-19 data: 5 observations from Harvard, Beth Israel researchers

The amount of data created by the COVID-19 pandemic is massive. Although data aggregators and technology companies are using new data to release dashboards and contact tracing apps, that data usage is not always transparent, rigorous or collaborative. According to academics and providers affiliated with Harvard University, although data can be an essential tool in measuring how effective pandemic interventions are, incomplete or incorrect data can be harmful. (Harvard Business Review)

AHA report estimates $202.6 billion in hospital financial losses, March-June

A report released by the American Hospital Association Tuesday, May 5, confirms the tremendous financial strain that hospitals and health systems on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19 are under. The report, titled “Hospitals and Health Systems Face Unprecedented Financial Pressures Due to COVID-19,” estimates a total financial impact of $202.6 billion in losses from COVID-19 expenses and lost revenue for hospitals and health systems over the four-month period from March 1-June 30, 2020 – or an average of more than $50 billion in losses a month. (Healthcare Innovation)

Become a hospital advocate. Sign up for IHA Action Alerts.

Click here