Today’s NewsStand — Nov. 10, 2020
Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and the web.
Iowa news
MercyOne provides free flu shots to marginalized communities
To help marginalized communities during the flu season, free flu shots were given on Saturday by MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.
“In our state, we have a disparate impact affecting our communities of color,” said Jacquie Easley, 62, the director of diversity at MercyOne. “Being vulnerable to the coronavirus and getting the flu is a deadly combination. … We want to do everything we can to prevent afflicted to the coronavirus.” (Des Moines Register)
UnityPoint Health receives stroke care award
UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center has received the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Get With the Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
Trinity earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions. (The Messenger)
More than 1,000 in Iowa hospitals; COVID-19 hospitalizations up 84% in past two weeks
For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic arrived in Iowa, more than 1,000 people were being hospitalized in Iowa with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Hospitalizations have increased dramatically in the past two weeks. On Oct. 25, the state reported a then-record 561 COVID-19 hospitalizations. On Sunday, the state reported 1,034, an increase of about 84%. Sunday’s hospitalizations were up 42% from the day prior. (Des Moines Register)
National news
Application period for FCC Connected Care Pilot Program now open
The new initiative offers $100 million in network equipment and services for providers offering innovative telehealth and remote care services to low-income patients and veterans. The application period for the FCC Connected Care Pilot Program is open for the next 30 days, through December 7.
Why It Matters
The Connected Care Pilot Program, first formalized on March 31, 2020, is open to nonprofit and public-eligible healthcare providers nationwide. (Healthcare IT News)
Healthcare trade groups ready to work with Biden on COVID; affordability and access
Trade groups representing insurers and hospitals Saturday pledged to work President-elect Joe Biden and a new administration on combating the coronavirus pandemic and continuing to reshape the nation’s healthcare system.
“There are many healthcare challenges that our nation must face together – from continuing to battle the COVID-19 crisis, to making healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable, to protecting patients from surprise medical bills, to ensuring stable coverage markets for those who need it most,” Matt Eyles president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, said in a statement. (Modern Healthcare)
Rising Covid cases means Americans may face health care rationing. Here’s how they view that.
Through a mixture of systemic and individual failures, front-line health care workers are in an impossible position: They are, or may be, asked to make the ethically and emotionally fraught decision of who lives and who dies because of Covid-19 – and many Americans have little or no understanding can lead to disagreements, exacerbate tensions between patients and care providers and even intensify feelings of grief or loss.
When hospitals are overwhelmed – whether by Covid-19 cases or other crises – decisions must be made as to how to distribute scare medical resources. Early in this pandemic, as uncontrolled surges sprouted in Italy, Spain, New York and elsewhere, medical-resource rationing was at the forefront of ethical and policy debates. (NBC News)