Iowa news
Three IHA members on Forbes’ ‘America’s best employers to work for’ list
Forbes has released its fifth annual list of America’s Best Employers By State. The list includes three IHA members: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Broadlawns Medical Center and UnityPoint Health. Forbes and Statista surveyed more than 70,000 workers at companies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Participants evaluated their employer based on working conditions, compensation, diversity, potential for advancement and were asked if they would recommend their employer to others. Companies pay no fee to participate. (Forbes)
Two Iowa physicians named to ‘chief medical officers to know’ list
Hijinio Carreon, D.O., regional chief medical officer for MercyOne and chief operating officer of MercyOne Des Moines, and David Williams, M.D., chief medical officer of UnityPoint Health, were recently names to Becker’s list of 130 hospital and health system chief medical officers to know. The chief medical officers were recognized for ensuring patients receive the safest and most-effective care possible and acting as liaisons between physicians and administrative staff to provide unique clinical perspectives to the executive team. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Iowa hospital warns of increase in counterfeit, noncompliant car seats
Blank Children’s Hospital is sounding the alarm about an increase in counterfeit and noncompliant car seats. The hospital said the problem seems to be growing in central Iowa. Fake car seats are not designed to protect children in the event of a crash. Noncompliant car seats are car seats that may be approved in other countries but do not meet federal motor vehicle safety standards in the United States. Both may look like real car seats, but there are clear differences. (KCCI)
National news
Where health systems are spending IT dollars
Despite tight operating margins, 80% of health care organizations increased their technology spending in the past year and three-quarters expect that growth to continue. Hospital and health system leaders boosted tech spending to keep up with emerging technologies, ease labor shortages and help with cost pressures in other areas, according to a June survey of 201 health care executives. (Bain and Company)
IRS appealing Mayo Clinic’s win in $11.5M tax dispute
The Internal Revenue Service has filed an appeal seeking to overturn a 2022 ruling that required the agency to repay $11.5 million to Mayo Clinic. The legal dispute dates to May 2016, when Mayo Clinic filed a lawsuit against the IRS in an attempt to recover tax payments the hospital said it was wrongly forced to pay. The case centered on whether Mayo Clinic is primarily an educational organization or a healthcare system. Mayo Clinic contended it is an educational organization that makes patient care available as a necessary part of its education activities, while the IRS considers Mayo Clinic to be a parent company of a health system as its primary purpose. Under the IRS’ classification, more of the income generated by Mayo Clinic’s investments is taxable. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Vaccines for the three most closely watched viruses — COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus — will soon be available just before the respiratory virus season is in full swing. Questions remain about the rate at which U.S. adults will receive the vaccines after fewer than 23% of adults chose to receive the COVID-19 booster last fall. On top of that, by the end of the 2022-23 flu season, the CDC reported that only 54% of adults chose to get the flu vaccine. Now with a new vaccine in the Rolodex — the RSV vaccine for older adults and infants — there will be another to watch. (Becker’s Clinical Leadership)