Iowa News
Johnson named new president/CEO of Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
Dr. Nalo Johnson has been named as the new president and CEO of Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, the organization announced today. Johnson will succeed Suzanne Mineck, who announced her resignation in June. Johnson most recently served as division director of health promotion and chronic disease prevention at the Iowa Department of Public Health. Business Record
Pandemic spurs nursing students into in-depth experience at Iowa hospitals
With many Iowa hospitals at capacity, nursing students are receiving first-hand experience for their future careers. Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames has had 579 nursing students walk through the hospital in 2021 to further their education. We Are Iowa
Unvaccinated pregnant women falling seriously ill from COVID-19, Iowa doctors say
Pregnant and recently pregnant women are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, experts say. But even with the proven safety and efficacy of vaccines, some pregnant women continue to forgo the shots. As a result, health care providers in Iowa say they are seeing more pregnant women — who otherwise are young and healthy — become severely ill with the virus. The Gazette
National News
Twice as many rural Americans dying from COVID-19 as urban residents
Rural Americans are dying from COVID-19 at more than twice the rate of their urban counterparts, the Rural Policy Research Institute said. There is a host of possible reasons. The populations are often poorer, sicker and heavier than people in large cities. And many lack the access to quality health care offered in large metropolitan cities. In addition, many rural hospitals are simply overrun and understaffed. KXAN
CMS announces expansion, nearly $1B in new funding for Missouri Medicaid
About 275,000 Missouri residents are now eligible for Medicaid coverage following the state’s Affordable Care Act expansion, according to an Oct. 4 CMS announcement. The state’s Medicaid program, MO HealthNet, has already received over 17,000 applications since August. CMS also announced that through the American Rescue Plan, the state will receive $968 million in funding over the next two years. Becker’s Hospital Review
Instacart CEO launches women’s health startup
Fidji Simo, former head of the Facebook app and current CEO of Instacart, is making waves in the healthcare world with a new startup focusing on women’s health, Fortune reported Oct 4. Ms. Simo has helped launch the Metrodora Institute, a for-profit clinic with a nonprofit research and advocacy foundation arm. When she started experiencing symptoms of endometriosis and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, she found experiences with physicians disheartening. Becker’s Hospital Review