Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and the web.
Iowa news
Doctors are asking people to get their flu shots soon to help hospitals
Medical professionals are saying now is the best time to get the flu shot, especially with the continuing spread of COVID-19. UnityPoint Health Des Moines said it has already seen a significant increase in the number of people getting their shots. Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 10, UnityPoint in Central Iowa said they gave about 6,300 flu shots, which is about 2,000 more than this time last year. (KCCI)
‘Overwhelming loss’: Rural Iowans brace for mental health needs in the wake of the derecho
When the derecho slammed into the state one month ago, many Iowans were already struggling with extreme stress. Accessing mental health care can be a major challenge in rural Iowa in the best of times. Some local leaders worry the devastation of the storm will push some even closer to crisis. (Iowa Public Radio)
Cerro Gordo County moving to withdraw from mental health region
Almost two years ago, the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors withdrew an application to enter an 11-county mental health region to the south known as CICS. At the time, District 3 Supervisor Chris Watts said that county officials wanted to make the shift from the much larger County Social Services group (22 counties) to the smaller CICS because “Their leadership is awesome compared to what we got.” (Mason City Globe Gazette)
National news
Underlying conditions common among kids and teens who die of COVID-19
Black and Hispanic children and adolescents, along with those with underlying medical conditions, make up most COVID-19 deaths in patients younger than 21, according to a report published Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report looked at a total of 121 COVID-19 deaths in children and adolescents from Feb. 12 through July 31. Of these cases, 15 were confirmed to have MIS-C, an inflammatory condition linked to COVID-19. (NBC News)
Taskforce on Telehealth Policy releases final report on safeguarding virtual care
The Taskforce on Telehealth Policy released a final report on Tuesday outlining its findings and recommendations around safeguarding the future of telehealth after the COVID-19 pandemic. The task force, which was convened by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the Alliance for Connected Care and the American Telemedicine Association, represented a broad spectrum of stakeholders who spent the summer building consensus around the challenges and opportunities for virtual care. (Healthcare IT News)
Hospital visits rebound, but some patients still need convincing
Hospital volumes are rebounding, with the exception of emergency room visits, as providers work to convince patients it’s safe to get routine care as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. But as some patients continue to defer care and health systems understand that conditions are more of a “new normal” than a temporary change, they are realizing service adjustments like investment in telemedicine will require a new way of thinking. (Healthcare Dive)