Iowa news
MercyOne’s Carreon recognized as a ‘Chief Medical Executive to Know’
MercyOne’s chief medical executive Hijinio Carreon, M.D., has been selected as a Chief Medical Executive to Know in 2022 by Becker’s Hospital Review. Dr. Carreon was the only Iowa-based health leader to be recognized among 88 health executives. Dr. Carreon began his career with MercyOne in 2007 as a physician at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and was chief medical officer of MercyOne’s Central Iowa region before being appointed chief medical executive and senior vice president of the health system in May 2021. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Reynolds launches $100M Destination Iowa fund for community projects
Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced a $100 million investment aimed at bolstering the quality of life in Iowa’s communities and attracting visitors and new residents to the state. The new effort, called Destination Iowa, will provide grants to help communities move forward on transformational, shovel-ready attractions. Cities, counties, nonprofits and other organizations can apply for Destination Iowa grants from four separate funds: Economically Significant Development, Outdoor Recreation, Tourism Attraction and Creative Placemaking. Using federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, Destination Iowa will provide new opportunities to create and invest in attractions that will raise Iowa’s profile, welcome out-of-state travelers and increase visitor spending while accelerating tourism’s recovery. It will also spur local economies and contribute to efforts to recruit new members of Iowa’s workforce. (Business Record)
A lack of EMTs in Iowa leads to less stable care for rural residents
Iowa’s rural areas are seeing emergency services volunteers retire without enough new ones to replace them. Nationwide, emergency medical services are seeing high rates of turnover for emergency service technicians and paramedics – with an average of 20 to 30% leaving annually. As more emergency service professionals disappear, it puts the state’s rural residents at greater risk. (Iowa Public Radio)
National news
37 companies that could be negatively affecting Americans’ health
Companies that excessively cater to consumer desires for comfort and convenience could be negatively affecting Americans’ health, according to a report released by Building H, a nonprofit focused on building health into everyday life. Building H evaluated 37 companies in four industries closely associated with Americans’ daily health decisions: food, entertainment, transportation and housing. A team of public health experts examined the companies to determine if they were making it more or less difficult for customers to be healthy. The team of experts analyzed the companies’ product/service selection and influence on their customers’ behavior, contacting each company to validate the accuracy of their company profile. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Advisers to FDA weigh in on updated COVID-19 boosters for the fall
In a daylong virtual meeting, a panel of experts advising the Food and Drug Administration came out in general support of efforts to develop new COVID-19 vaccines tailored to variants. The committee wasn’t asked to vote on any specific recommendations to the agency but instead discussed the framework for making decisions about when to change the viral strain or strains used for future vaccines, including boosters. (Iowa Public Radio)
CDC mask guidelines spur confusion among hospitals
Health care facilities nationwide are grappling with conflicting CDC guidelines on masking amid the pandemic, resulting in a patchwork of policies and practices. CDC advises against wearing masks that are soiled or damaged, a guideline some hospitals have cited when asking patients to replace their N95 masks with surgical masks provided by the facility. But the CDC updated its guidelines, saying hospitals should let patients and visitors wear N95 masks, which are more protective. Some hospitals have opted to let patients layer surgical masks over N95s, though the CDC warns against this practice because it can affect N95 masks’ fit, making them less protective. Many hospitals are also providing employees with surgical masks to work in, although the CDC says these masks are less protective. (Becker’s Hospital Review)