Iowa news
Iowa Methodist Medical Center receives $1 million endowment for director position
P. Sue Beckwith, M.D., a colorectal surgeon and the first female graduate of the Iowa Methodist Surgery Residency Program, has made a $1 million commitment to endow the director position of the general surgery residency program at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. Administered by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, the endowment will support the purchase of new curriculum and technology, as well as research by surgical residents and special projects within the program, which is one of eight residency programs under UnityPoint Health – Des Moines’ administration. (Business Record)
Mary Evers nursing scholarships available
The Auxiliary of Pella Regional Health Center is seeking people in need of financial assistance to pursue a nursing career. The 2024 Mary Evers Nursing Scholarships are available to those beginning their nursing degree or continuing their education. Any 2024 senior or graduate of the Pella Community School District, Pella Christian School District or employee of Pella Regional Health Center may apply or reapply. The online application form is available at Pella Regional’s website at www.pellahealth.org/scholarship. The deadline is March 22. (Pella Regional Health Center)
New postpartum support groups throughout Iowa aim to fill gaps in care
The Iowa chapter of Postpartum Support International received funding from the National Institutes of Health that will be used to create postpartum support groups throughout the state. Advocates said this funding and the groups it will be used to create will help not only babies and parents but also the economy. Untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders cost the U.S. approximately $14 billion annually, or $31,800 per mother-baby pair. The funding comes at a critical time for Iowa families, as maternal mortality has continued to rise in Iowa while birthing units, especially in rural areas, have been closing. (Fearless)
National news
Hospitals work to end stigma on med-surg nursing
Although hospitals and health systems have seen improvements in nurse turnover and recruitment since the height of the pandemic, many continue to need help staffing medical-surgical units. At Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, around 90% of agency dollars are spent on nurses working in med-surg. Many U.S. health systems are experiencing a similar situation. A history of stigma attached to med-surg — the units that typically account for most of a hospital’s beds — is driving this challenge. Often, it’s considered a steppingstone to other specialties. (Becker’s Clinical Leadership)
Ransomware gang gives hospital two days to pay $900K
A ransomware gang said it is giving a Chicago safety-net hospital two days to pay a nearly $900,000 ransom, or it will leak its patients’ data. The LockBit hacker group took responsibility for the December cyberattack on Saint Anthony Hospital, posting the incident to its data leak site on Jan. 30. LockBit has been busy hacking hospitals. The group reportedly posted in January that it only stole data from a New Jersey health system — but didn’t encrypt it — “so as not to interfere with patient care.” The gang was said to have valued the data in that breach at $250,000. (The Record)
Security guard injured in shooting at Kansas City hospital
A security guard at University Health Hospital-Kansas City (Mo.) was shot while escorting a discharged patient out of the building to a parking lot last week. During a confrontation between the two, the patient wrestled the guard’s gun away from him and fired it, injuring the guard, the Kansas City Police Department confirmed. A second security guard who was nearby secured the weapon and took the patient into custody without additional incident. The guard’s injuries are not life-threatening. Initial reports claimed there was an active shooter at the hospital, but police confirmed it was not an active shooter, just an isolated incident. (Becker’s Clinical Leadership)