Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|March 2, 2022

Iowa news

Simpson, Mercy College announce 4-year health sciences-nursing option

Simpson College and Mercy College of Health Sciences have announced a new affiliation that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in health and exercise science or biology from Simpson and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Mercy College in about the time it would take to earn a degree from one institution. After completing their third year at Simpson, students who meet admission requirements will begin nursing coursework at Mercy College. After successful completion of the nursing coursework, students can sit for the National Council Licensure Examination. (Business Record)

There is good news about depression in farmers

There are several positive developments concerning the occurrence and management of depression in the agricultural population. Depression is an overused word today. It can mean many things, such as referring to an economic slump, temporarily downcast emotional feelings or a diagnosed mental health condition. The range of feelings we routinely call “depressed” can vary from unhappy to completely lacking hope and desire to continue living. (AgUpdate)

UnityPoint music therapist explains the benefits of the practice

Madi Pote is a board-certified music therapist at UnityPoint Health who uses music to help people in other areas of life. “We use music as the medium to address non-music goals,” Pote said. “So, through the music, we typically use live music, and we can adapt the music to fit patient’s or client’s needs.” Emily Betsworth is a behavioral health counselor at UnityPoint. She said the work Pote does for youth at her facility alters their moods for the day. “It’s really awesome to see how kids react to her music and the mood they’re in through the afternoon is a difference after she has been here,” Betsworth said. (WOI-TV)

 

National news

Pfizer vaccine’s protection against COVID-19 wanes quickly in kids ages 5-11, study says

Protection from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine wanes quickly in kids ages 5-11, a new study shows. In all cases, the vaccine provided strong protection against becoming seriously ill, but the lower-dose regimen given to younger children appears to be much less effective than the higher-dose version given to older children and adults. The study, which comes on the heels of eased mask guidance, says the results highlight a potential need to study alternative dosages for that age group and the continued importance of “layered protections,” including mask wearing. (Iowa Public Radio)

COVID-19 cases, deaths continue to fall globally, WHO reports

The number of new coronavirus cases reported globally dropped by 16% last week, marking a monthlong decline in COVID-19 infections, according to figures from the World Health Organization. The U.N. health agency also said that deaths fell by 10%, continuing a drop in fatalities first seen last week. WHO said there were more than 10 million new cases and about 60,000 deaths globally. The Western Pacific was the only region where COVID-19 increased, with about a third more infections than the previous week. Deaths rose by 22% in the Western Pacific and about 4% in the Middle East, while declining everywhere else. (NBC News)

White House rolls out next COVID-19 plan

The White House has released a COVID-19 preparedness plan centered on living alongside the virus while continuing to combat it. The debut of the 96-page plan coincides with falling COVID-19 cases in the U.S. The plan is the product of nearly two months of work by the White House’s coronavirus response team and consultations with dozens of external experts, public health officials and governors. The plan is built around four goals: protect against and treat COVID-19, prepare for new variants, prevent economic and educational shutdowns, and vaccinate the world. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

 

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