Iowa news
Two behavioral health organizations joining forces in eastern Iowa
Leadership at the Area Substance Abuse Council, serving Linn, Benton, Jones, Jackson and Clinton counties, and the Substance Abuse Service Center, covering Dubuque and Delaware counties, have announced an agreement between the two agencies to align effective July 1. This move follows a nationwide trend of bringing together successful organizations and services to strengthen and support a strong system of health care. The organizations share a mission to provide accessible professional health services including substance use and problem gambling prevention, treatment and recovery components. They also use the same treatment models and electronic health records system, follow the same rigorous certification processes and interact with many of the same partner organizations. (Corridor Business Journal)
Applications open for UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s rural health care grant program
UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Foundation is accepting applications for its Rural Healthcare Grant Program. The program provides matching grant funds towards health care services for rural residents living in Benton, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, northern Johnson, Jones and Linn counties. Since 1980, St. Luke’s Foundation’s Rural Healthcare Grant provides matching grant funds towards healthcare services for rural residents. St. Luke’s Rural Healthcare Grant is focused in the areas of: Equipment for emergency care in the pre-hospital setting, training for emergency personnel to gain or enhance their skills, mileage reimbursement for transportation programs and basic life supporting training equipment such as hands-only CPR. (KGAN)
Taking care of behavioral health is good business for farmers
Agriculture is essential to the survival of the world’s burgeoning population. Although about half the populations of underdeveloped nations are farmers, less than 2% of the U.S. population and other highly developed nations are farmers. Good health, including behavioral health, is a factor that contributes to agricultural profitability, according to research findings of the Certified Safe Farm Project that is being conducted through the University of Iowa. (Ag Update)
National news
Nurse staffing is digital health’s newest frontier
Amid a shortage of nurses, health systems are increasingly turning to digital health to fill gaps in scheduling. An analysis in Health Affairs from April found that the number of nurses decreased in 2021 for the first time in 18 years. And the problem could get worse. A McKinsey survey of nurses in February found that 32% are likely to leave the profession within the year. As such, many health systems are turning to staffing agencies and travel nurses to combat the shortage. But it is an expensive option. Kaufman Hall’s survey of 900 hospitals found that median contract labor expenses went from representing 2% of hospitals’ labor expenses in February 2020 to 5% in February 2021 and 12% in February 2022. (Modern Healthcare)
With COVID-19 funding stalled, White House prepares for vaccine shortage in the fall
The White House is looking for ways to make additional cuts and reallocate remaining COVID-19 resources as it anticipates a funding shortfall for new vaccines ahead of another winter surge. With the request for additional COVID-19 funding stalled in Congress, the federal government doesn’t have enough money to begin contract negotiations with Pfizer and Moderna for new versions of vaccines the companies are developing for the fall. The government would need to secure contracts for those vaccine doses in the coming weeks if it is to ensure enough supply for the entire country. (NBC News)
Omnicell reports ransomware incident
Omnicell, a provider of medication management and adherence tools for health systems and pharmacies, has determined that a ransomware attack affected some of its services, products and internal systems, according to a SEC filing. Omnicell took steps to implement its business continuity plans to restore and support continued operations. An investigation into the incident also was launched. Omnicell has yet to determine the extent of the effect of the attack on operations or whether the incident would have a material effect on financial results. (Becker’s Hospital Review)