Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

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|August 17, 2021

Iowa news

Iowa hospitals see ICU bed shortage, but COVID-19 is not solely to blame

Several Iowa hospitals are running out of ICU beds, but COVID-19 is not the main reason behind the shortage. Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Iowa Lutheran Hospital say they hovered around or above their ICU bed capacity for multiple weeks. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics say they see the surge. (WHO 13)

Some eastern Iowa hospitals admitting out-of-state COVID-19 patients

A few hospitals in eastern Iowa are accepting COVID-19 patients from different states. One of them is St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Health officials with the hospital said some health systems in bordering states are overwhelmed. St. Luke’s confirmed to Iowa’s News Now, a few of the patients are from northern Missouri and western Illinois. Dr. Dustin Arnold, chief medical officer for St. Luke’s, said some of the vaccination rates in northern Missouri counties hover around 10%. (CBS 2 Iowa)

Mercy postpones annual Heritage Awards event because of COVID-19

CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs has postponed its Mercy Heritage Awards because of “uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 trends in southwest Iowa.” The hospital announced the decision on Monday. The Heritage Awards had been scheduled for Aug. 26 at the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center in Council Bluffs. Tickets will be honored at the rescheduled event, of which a date is still to be determined. (The Daily Nonpareil)

National news

Georgia governor boosts hospital staffing amid COVID-19 surge

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday the state will spend another $125 million to increase staffing at hospitals amid a surge in coronavirus cases that has forced them to turn patients away. The money will fund another 1,500 health care workers through the beginning of December, Kemp said at a news conference. It comes on top of $500 million the state has previously allocated that is funding 1,300 staff members at 68 hospitals, the governor said. (US News)

Mayo Clinic plans $200M proton beam expansion to meet growing demand

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is planning a 110,000-square-foot, $200 million expansion of its proton beam therapy program facility. The addition is expected to be complete in 2025.  When the additions are complete, the health system anticipates the facility will treat an additional 900 patients per year. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

New York state orders COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers

New York state is requiring health care workers to get their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Sept. 27. The requirement includes staff at hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. These facilities must develop and implement a policy mandating employee vaccination, with limited exceptions for workers with religious or medical reasons, the governor said. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

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