Iowa news
UIHC nurses save Waukee man after sudden collapse at hospital
Earlier this summer, Ervin and Sherry Imm, of Waukee, went to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for a routine visit. While there, Ervin Imm collapsed on the hospital’s sky bridge. After he was down, three nurses, all of whom were clocked out, came to his aid. Julie Liebe, Kelsey DeWeese and Courtney Heid immediately jumped into action to help resuscitate Ervin, beginning with CPR. After CPR, the nurses could not find a pulse, leading to Heid using a defibrillator to shock him back. (KCCI)
MercyOne emerging as key revenue driver for Trinity Health
Trinity Health may initially be losing money on the September 2022 acquisition of MercyOne, but the 16-medical-center network is fast becoming a key revenue source for the Livonia, Michigan-based health system. Although the contribution of new acquisitions in fiscal 2023, largely driven by Des Moines-based MercyOne, was a $128 million operating loss, or a -8.1% operating margin, MercyOne is now a $3 billion-plus revenue-producing division, making the service area the second-largest region in the system. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Broadlawns hosts open house, ribbon-cutting for new pediatric clinic
Broadlawns Medical Center hosted an open house and ribbon-cutting last week at the newly renovated Broadlawns Variety Pediatric Clinic. The 1,700-square-foot pediatric clinic provides health screenings, vaccinations, acute and chronic care, and injury treatment. The remodel was designed to enhance the efficiency of the space, with improvements to intake, patient flow and safety, and the addition of three examination rooms. (Business Record)
National news
Conversational AI for health care is a significant step beyond the chatbot, here’s why
In an era where technology is reshaping virtually every industry, conversational AI for health care has emerged as a promising solution to some longstanding challenges. Despite large financial investments and lengthy implementation timelines, chatbots often fall short of expectations, leading to patient leakage and additional work for already overburdened patient engagement teams and contact centers. Today, more often than not, patients attempting to schedule through a chatbot are redirected to the call center or mobile application. (Notable Health)
Hospital CEO turnover up 67% this year
Hospitals and health systems reported 125 CEO changes in the first nine months of the year, marking a 67% increase from the same period in 2022. Hospitals and health systems announced 75 CEO changes in the same period last year. In September, hospitals announced the second-highest number of CEO changes across the 29 industries and sectors measured by the firm: 24. Across all industries, September brought 164 CEO changes — up 4.5% from August and up 122% from the same month last year. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Epic, Microsoft unveil vision for enhanced health care productivity
Epic Systems is implementing an array of copilot solutions that leverage Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service and Dragon Ambient eXperience Copilot. Epic System is integrating its automated clinical documentation application, DAX Copilot into its EHR system. The application aims to cut physicians’ documentation time in half, allowing them to dedicate more time to direct patient interactions. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says this solution comes at a time where AI will “fundamentally transform productivity for every individual, organization and industry on earth.” (LinkedIn)