Iowa news
Grassley-backed measure to protect rural health clinics passes Senate
Because of Sen. Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) leadership, the bipartisan Rural Health Clinic Protection Act was added to a health care extenders package that passed the US Senate today. Rural health clinics in Iowa communities – including in Denver, Grinnell, Hawarden, North English, Ottumwa, Perry and Waverly – will be protected from a reduction in reimbursement, ensuring rural Iowa communities have access to health care. (KIOW)
MercyOne recognizes Heroes Among Us in virtual event
MercyOne is honoring 12 northeast Iowans who showed exceptional courage and love for others, the environment and the community in 2020. The 16th annual Heroes Among Us awards were presented Thursday during a virtual event because of the pandemic. The awards ceremony recognizes heroes in several categories and serves as a fundraiser to benefiting the MercyOne Foundations. (KWWL)
UI Healthcare now offers new procedure as alternative to coronary stent
University of Iowa Healthcare announced that its heart and vascular team has become the first in the state to perform a procedure that uses sonic pressure waves to break up calcium buildup in heart arteries. The procedure, called intravascular lithotripsy, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in February to treat severely calcified coronary artery disease. Coronary stent procedures are commonly used to treat coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in Americans. (Business Record)
National news
Bridging the digital divide to avoid leaving the most vulnerable behind
The pandemic provided a springboard for telemedicine use as a necessity to deliver care while social distancing affected all aspects of health care. The declaration of a public health emergency in March 2020 resulted in a rapid expansion of telehealth services with a relaxing of regulations at the state and national levels. Nationally, there is mounting evidence that many aspects of patient care can continue virtually. More widespread use of telemedicine and the ability to engage in new patient evaluations can help reduce geographic barriers and allow hospital systems to create capacity for patients with more severe illness to be seen in person, while patients who are stable and healthier can engage from home. Combining virtual and hands-on care will persist beyond the pandemic. (JAMA Surgery)
The White House defended its America-first COVID-19 vaccination strategy this week, calling it justified because of the country’s terrible outbreak and promising to share shots after Americans are protected. Global leaders and residents of other countries are voicing increasing criticism of the United States and other wealthy nations for buying up most of the world’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines. (MSN)
Use of telehealth by surgical specialties during the COVID-19 pandemic
In this statewide cohort study that included 4,405 surgeons, telehealth use grew substantially during the early pandemic period and declined during the later period; this use varied by surgical specialty. Compared with 2019 visit volume, telehealth salvaged only a small portion of 2020 surgical visits. Meaning telehealth is being used in surgical fields at rates higher than before the pandemic, and its use varies across surgical specialties. (JAMA Surgery)