Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and the web:
Iowa news
Nearly 100 new COVID-19 cases in Iowa as officials stress potential increase in abuse, neglect
Gov. Kim Reynolds said that, as of Wednesday, there are 96 new cases of COVID-19 for a state total of 1,995. Four more people have died for a total of 53 deaths. She said 49% of deaths are related to long-term care facilities. There have been a total of 17,874 negative tests. Seven outbreaks have been recorded at long-term care facilities. Reynolds said the state is sending an additional 900 tests to a Tyson plant in Louisa County. There are 171 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, with 68 in ICUs. There are 718 ventilators available. (KETV)
Tissues are in short supply, but Val and Bobby Mason’s love story might make you use a few. It has an unconventional beginning. The two went to Saydel High School together, graduated and then went their separate ways. Years later, their daughters from previous marriages went to La’ James International College in Johnston together. Bobby’s daughter, in an attempt to set him up, showed him a picture of Val, and he thought she looked familiar. They went out, hit it off, and on Feb. 5, of this year, the Alleman couple celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. That was two days after an annual checkup that would change Val’s life. It was a routine mammogram. A few days after the Feb. 3 appointment, she was called back for one that was not so routine. The doctors had found something. She had an ultrasound, then a biopsy. On Feb. 27, she got the call that she had breast cancer. An MRI revealed that the cancer was an aggressive stage 2. (Des Moines Register)
Hospital taking financial hit from pandemic
The coronavirus is going to have a negative impact on Jackson County Regional Health Center’s near-term financial health, according to its top finance executive. The hospital expects to lose about $1.55 million in the final four months of its fiscal year, which ends June 30, according to Penny Soucie, the hospital’s chief financial officer. The loss is directly related to COVID-19, and the hospital will utilize multiple resources, including federal stimulus programs, to lessen the financial impact, explained hospital CEO Curt Coleman. (Bellevue Herald-Leader)
National news
Rural hospitals shut out of stimulus loans face financial crisis
Government-owned hospitals were shut out of the coronavirus rescue package’s loan program, putting some of the most financially vulnerable rural health care systems in danger of running out of money just as the virus hits the heartland. Dozens of Republican and Democratic lawmakers are now pleading with the Trump administration to make an exception for rural health providers or for a legislative fix. Without one, they’re warning the industry could tumble into further financial turmoil. About one-third of rural hospitals — as well as over 15 percent of rural health clinics — are owned by local governments, but municipal owned entities are not allowed to receive small business loans. (Politico)
9,000+ health care workers have contracted COVID-19
More than 9,000 health care employees have contracted COVID-19 in the US, according to CDC data released April 14. CDC researchers analyzed data on 315,531 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported nationwide between Feb. 12 and April 9. The agency identified 9,282 cases known to involve health care professionals. The CDC noted this figure is likely an underestimate, since health care employee status was only available for 16 percent of cases reported nationally. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Purdue pharmacy students graduate early to face COVID-19 pandemic
Purdue University will graduate 144 pharmacy students on Friday, a month early, to help the possible shortage of pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Purdue approved early graduation to help students get a jump on their license exams and cover a potential shortage of pharmacists during the COVID-19 outbreak. (WTHR)