COVID-19 public health emergency to end May 11
The Biden Administration is planning to end the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies on May 11. The Office of Management and Budget issued a policy statement opposing House resolutions that would end the emergencies immediately. The administration's plan aligns with its previous statements to give at least a 60-day notice before ending the public health emergency.

Forum highlights needs of rural and critical access hospitals
Participants in the 2023 Critical Access and Rural Hospital Forum will hear from their colleagues about the unique needs of rural and critical access hospitals.

IHA members from Van Diest Medical Center, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, MercyOne Newton Medical Center and Van Buren County Hospital will host a panel discussion addressing social determinants of health in rural hospitals. Participants will learn about approaches to health care in rural settings.

Other topics in this year’s agenda will highlight:

• Creating organizational value and culture.
• Marketing tactics.
• Preventing burnout.
• Rethinking strategic planning for rural and critical access hospitals.

The forum is scheduled from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9.

Registration open for meeting procedures webinar
The rules and procedures for open, closed and public meetings vary between nonprofit and government-owned hospitals. In IHA’s March Foundations of Governance Excellence webinar, Nyemaster and Goode attorneys Willard Boyd III and Seamus Taylor will review key legal decisions about open meetings laws and discuss rules about:

• Agendas.
• Advance notices.
• Public records.
• Records for in-person and virtual meetings.

The Open, Closed and Public Hearing Procedures webinar is scheduled from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, March 16

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program applications due Feb. 23
Registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses and nurse faculty are encouraged to apply for the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program through the Health Resources and Services Administration. The program pays up to 85% of unpaid nursing education debt for nurses practicing full time in high-need areas or accredited schools of nursing.

Award recipients will receive 60% of their total outstanding loans over two years. After two years, recipients may be eligible for an additional 25% of their loans. HRSA is hosting an application assistance webinar scheduled from 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15. Applications are due Thursday, Feb. 23.

William Kiefer named CEO of Ottumwa Regional Health Center
Ottumwa Regional Health Center announced interim CEO William Kiefer was officially named CEO of the organization. He was interim CEO since November 2022.

Kiefer was CEO for Canyon Vista Medical Center in Sierra Vista, Arizona, before joining Ottumwa Regional Health Center. He also was CEO and chief nursing officer at several other hospitals including:

• OmniPoint Health in Anahuac, Texas.
• Marias Medical Center in Shelby, Montana.
• Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services in Gallup, New Mexico.

In addition, he held leadership positions at Red River Regional Hospital in Bonham, Texas, and Sierra Medical Center in El Paso, Texas.

Kiefer holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and nursing from the University of Texas at El Paso, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and a doctor of nursing practice degree from Texas Tech University.