Iowa news
Compass Memorial Healthcare generated $54,020,995 impact on Iowa County economy in 2022
Last year, Compass Memorial Healthcare and Clinics had a direct impact on Iowa County employment. The hospital provided 351 jobs, adding more than $54 million to Iowa County’s economy. Compass Memorial also contributed just over $1 million in value of community benefits provided beyond health care. (Southeast Iowa Union)
Orange City hospital contributes to local economy
Last year, Orange City Area health System generated 1,113 jobs that added more than $109 million to Northwest Iowa’s economy. The hospital’s impact on total wages was more than $56 million, when factoring in jobs created because of the health system’s presence and direct employment. Additionally, the health system contributed more than $1.1 million in community benefits that included free or reduced services, charity care and bad debt. (Sioux County Radio)
Mercy Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic now offers Inspire therapy to treat sleep apnea
Mercy Cedar Rapids is offering an innovative solution to sleep apnea sufferers who cannot tolerate a continuous positive airway pressure machine. Inspire is a small device that’s implanted under the skin of the neck and chest with two small incisions in a same-day, outpatient procedure. Inspire therapy is activated at night before bed, and delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles when patients breathe in. (Mercy Cedar Rapids)
National news
Does nursing need a rebrand to attract more men?
Data shows that in 2022, roughly 12% of nurses in the U.S. were men, despite a diverse range of career options. Society still holds outdated perceptions about the nursing profession that could hinder progress toward recruiting more male nurses. Nursing leaders must invest in efforts to educate communities about nursing’s diverse career paths. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
New study finds a strong link between depression and dementia
A study published in JAMA Neurology found that a diagnosis of depression in adulthood could more than double your risk of developing dementia in older age. People were identified as having a depression diagnosis or not and followed throughout the years to see who developed dementia later in life, the study said. Researchers adjusted for factors like education, income, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, substance use disorder and bipolar disorder. The large dataset and numerous analyses researchers used made their findings strong and reliable, but the study is limited by the unavailability of information like genetic data. (CNN)
Hospital visits from tick bites jump 30%
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said milder winters may be responsible for the increase of tick bites. In 2023, the Midwest has had the second highest number of hospital visits per 100,000 for tick bites at 63. Lyme disease accounts for upward of 80% of all tick-borne diseases. (Becker’s Hospital Review)