Iowa news
Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation offers 60 scholarships
The Iowa Hospital Association’s Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation will award 60 postsecondary scholarships to students pursuing training for health occupations. That will include health care scholarships of up to $7,000 ($3,500 per year for up to two years) and $1,000 to students enrolling in emergency medical technology/technician certification programs. The foundation also will award 15 $2,000 scholarships to high school students whose academic performance supports success in college and would benefit from a scholarship to start a health care area of study. (The Daily Nonpareil)
How to approach the trio of viral illnesses that are battering us
You’ve likely heard about the increased cases of RSV, flu and COVID-19. They’re real. Recently, Blank Children’s Hospital recorded a record 185 visits in one day. Emergency departments in Des Moines and throughout the nation are overflowing. Three viruses now circulating account for much of the misery both in the community and emergency room waiting areas: RSV, influenzas, COVID. In general, these viral illnesses are not harmful to most people. On the other hand, if you’re not “most people,“ these viruses can be quite harmful. (Des Moines Register)
Iowa to receive nearly $6 million in high-speed internet funding
A $5.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce will provide the state of Iowa funds to expand high-speed internet access. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allots $65 billion for broadband services nationwide. This latest announcement includes a $5 million Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment planning grant to Iowa and a Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program grant of more than $400,000 to the Meskwaki Tribe. This allocation will let the state evaluate barriers to accessing high-speed internet, increase capacity and staffing of broadband offices and educate communities. The goal is to help create equal learning opportunities for kids in school, expands telehealth options and helps Iowa’s small businesses compete. (Corridor Business Journal)
National news
Why health care mergers and acquisitions are a cybersecurity risk
As Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, formed by the merger of Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives in 2019, dealt with a weeks-long fallout from a ransomware attack, health system CIOs and chief information security officers say these large acquisitions can make health care systems more vulnerable to security breaches. A health care merger and acquisition is not just adding one organization to another; it could also mean inheriting security flaws and vulnerabilities. In addition, large health systems that encompass multiple organizations like CommonSpirit rely on a vast network of providers. And when health systems expand, it introduces new IT infrastructure to existing infrastructure, which can become a complex task for the IT team to integrate. (Becker’s Health IT and CIO Report)
Flu continues to spread across the U.S., infecting millions, CDC reports
The floodgates have opened on flu, with millions of people across the U.S. reporting illness and nearly 3,000 deaths from influenza since the beginning of October, according to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With the start of the holiday season and large family gatherings, cases are expected to keep rising. So far this season, an estimated 6.2 million flu illnesses have been logged, according to the latest CDC data. Twelve influenza deaths occurred in children. (NBC News)
Amazon launches virtual health service with Amazon Clinic
Amazon has launched Amazon Clinic, a virtual health care service that delivers care for 20 common conditions, including hair loss, heartburn, acne, dandruff and seasonal allergies. The virtual consultation service allows customers to select their condition from a list, then choose a preferred provider from a list of third-party licensed clinicians, including ones from SteadyMD and HealthTap. After completing a short intake questionnaire, customers and third-party clinicians connect through a message-based portal within hours of the initial request. (Mobi Health News)