IHERF scholarship deadline extended

It’s not too late to submit applications to the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation’s Health Care Careers Scholarship. The deadline to apply has been extended to Tuesday, March 7.

IHERF will award 60 postsecondary 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.

 New to the 2023 program are scholarships for high school students. The foundation is awarding 15 $2,000 scholarships to high school students whose academic performance indicates strong college success and are interested in entering a health care area of study.

 The IHERF scholarship program focuses on students pursuing high-demand health care positions. In exchange, postsecondary scholarship recipients must work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year of their scholarship award. The $1,000 award recipients must work one year with a hospital-based or hospital-contracted emergency medical service. High school scholarship recipients are not required to work for an Iowa hospital after graduation.

 Postsecondary applicants must be enrolled in an accredited program and be within three years of completing their professional education.

Register for governance regulatory webinar
Regulators and accrediting organizations have been scrutinizing governing bodies and their roles in hospital compliance. Nancy Ruzicka, a consultant on state and federal regulations, is presenting a webinar about regulatory requirements for hospital boards.

Participants in the webinar will discuss:

• Differences between telemedicine and onsite providers’ credentialing regulations.
• Hospital responsibilities for credentialing nonphysician staff.
• Minimum requirements for medical staff bylaws.
• Responsibilities for governing bodies.

The Governing Body Medical Staff Conditions of Participation webinar is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, April 20.

Russian-linked ransomware group attacking health care sector
The Russia-linked ransomware group Clop claims it is using a vulnerability in the secure file transfer software GoAnywhere MFT in attacks on more than 130 organizations, including health care organizations, this month.

Cybersecurity experts recommend health care organizations continue:

• Assessing enterprise risk against potential vulnerabilities.
• Developing a cybersecurity plan and roadmap that all staff understand.

Educating and training staff to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks.

Medical Solutions moves with the speed of health care
Ensure health care staff move with the quickly evolving health care industry. ServiShare partner Medical Solutions has the tools that hospitals need to tackle the unique challenges coming their way. Medical Solutions created a 30-second video explaining its strategic offerings from its health care talent ecosystem.