Iowa news
Newsweek names UIHC top hospital in Iowa
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics recently was named the top hospital in Iowa by Newsweek. The list identified the top 600 U.S. hospitals ranked by state and sorted by a score that factors recommendations, patient experience, quality and patient-reported outcome measures. Besides UIHC, 12 other Iowa hospitals made the list of 600. Hospitals from every U.S. state were eligible for the 2024 ranking and were included in the nationwide survey except for those with 1-star ratings from CMS. Newsweek partnered with Statista to conduct a national online survey for the rankings, in which tens of thousands of health care professionals were asked to recommend the leading hospitals from their respective state. (Newsweek)
KHC CEO receives Iowa Hospital Association Leadership Award
Knoxville Hospital and Clinics CEO Kevin Kincaid was awarded the 2023 Iowa Hospital Association’s Excellence in Leadership Award at the association’s annual meeting last month. This award is presented annually to an outstanding Iowa hospital or health system executive who shows achievement in local, state, and national health care affairs, leadership among peers and contributions to the community. Kincaid has been the CEO at KHC since 2012 and is noted for his advocacy for critical access hospitals in Iowa and rural hospitals at the national level. (Oskaloosa Herald)
Genesis’ Gather for the Cure breast cancer awareness fundraiser a success
Last month, Genesis Health System and the Genesis Health Services Foundation hosted the third annual Gather for the Cure for breast cancer awareness. Hundreds got their walking shoes on at the Whispering Pines Shelter to walk for the fundraiser to help raise money for those affected by breast cancer. Participants wore pink shirts and pink décor as they showed support for those who have battled this disease. The money raised went to a fund to help ensure that nobody goes without cancer screenings who can’t afford it. (KCRG)
National news
Ransomware attacks might increase in-hospital mortality by up to 35%
A recent study found that during ransomware attacks, in-hospital patient mortality increased 20%-35%. The research analyzed data for patients 65 and older in the hospitals during an attack. Cyberattacks have more than doubled between 2016 and 2021, exposing tens of millions of patients’ health information and forcing facilities to divert and delay care. Within the first week of an attack, hospital volume falls by 17% to 25%. The findings confirm hospitals’ worst fears, but they might push the industry and government to make substantial changes. (National Public Radio)
New CDC report measures health care worker distress
A CDC report quantifies what many health care workers know to be true: Risks to their mental health, safety and well-being have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, “Health Worker-perceived Working Conditions and Symptoms of Poor Mental Health — Quality of Worklife Survey,” describes and compares self-reported well-being and working conditions for health care workers from pre- to mid-pandemic (2018 to 2022). The CDC conducted the analysis to ascertain whether U.S. health workers experienced more mental health declines than did other workers during the pandemic. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Health care ransomware attacks cost U.S. economy $77 billion
Ransomware attacks on health care have resulted in downtime-related losses of more than $77 billion for the U.S. economy. Since 2016, there have been 539 ransomware incidents targeting health care institutions in the U.S., affecting 9,780 health care facilities and potentially compromising more than 52 million patient records. On average, ransomware attacks resulted in 14 days of downtime, but in certain instances, the damage took several months to fully restore. Hackers sought more than $39 million in 34 attacks, with 31 out of 160 medical organizations confirming payment of the ransom. (Comparitech)