Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|September 8, 2021

Iowa news

Iowa hospitals, nursing homes face widespread nursing shortage

Iowa hospitals and nursing homes report a decline in nurses as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. According to a study released by the Iowa Board of Nursing, demand for nurses across the state is high and the nursing shortage is widespread. The Iowa Board of Nursing and Iowa Center for Nursing Workforce Nursing Demand survey found that nearly 58% of hospitals report finding qualified nursing candidates as their top workforce challenge. (KCCI)

Regents quick to OK construction of new University of Iowa hospital in North Liberty

With little debate but much praise for the project — which struggled to get the go-ahead it needed from a state health facilities panel — Iowa’s Board of Regents unanimously approved Tuesday the construction of a $395 million University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics site in North Liberty starting as soon as this month. (The Gazette

Iowans not fully vaccinated make up 90.3% of COVID-19 ICU patients

Updated data from the Iowa Department of Public Health confirms that just over 90% of COVID-19 patients in intensive care are not fully vaccinated. The Iowa DPH reports 90.3% of COVID-19 patients in ICUs are not fully vaccinated. Of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, 82.4% are not fully vaccinated. There are currently 539 COVID-19 patients in Iowa hospitals. Iowa DPH reports 137 COVID-19 patients in ICUs. (KCCI)

National news

An Ohio judge reverses an earlier order forcing a hospital to administer Ivermectin

A judge in Ohio has reversed an earlier emergency order that required a hospital to administer ivermectin to a COVID-19 patient against the hospital’s wishes. The anti-parasitic drug is most commonly used in the U.S. as a dewormer in animals. Federal agencies and medical associations alike have cautioned against the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19, as there is little evidence it is effective. But prescriptions — and related calls to poison control centers — have skyrocketed in 2021 as right-wing media have hyped it as a treatment for COVID-19. (NPR)

After traveling nurses quit, hospital blames lack of EHR familiarity

Four out of six traveling intensive care unit nurses quit just one day after arriving at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, California, this past week.   The reason, according to hospital officials quoted in local outlet the Times-Standard, concerned a lack of familiarity with the hospital’s electronic health record.  (Healthcare IT News)

MA hospital faces class action suit after paying ransomware attackers

Massachusetts-based Sturdy Memorial Hospital is facing a class action lawsuit after a ransomware attack in February that impacted over 35,000 individuals and put personally identifiable information (PII) in jeopardy. The plaintiffs alleged in the lawsuit that the ransomware payment did not guarantee that their information is secured. In addition, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) both strongly discourage entities from paying a ransom in response to a cyberattack. (Health IT Security)  

Become a hospital advocate. Sign up for IHA Action Alerts.

Click here