Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|August 17, 2022

Iowa news

American Heart Association to host annual Go Red for Women event Sept. 22

The American Heart Association will host its annual Go Red for Women event Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Sheraton in West Des Moines. The event raises money for cardiovascular research and aims to raise awareness that cardiovascular disease is women’s greatest health threat. The Des Moines Go Red for Women event has raised more than $1 million in its 18-year history. The event includes a silent auction, keynote speaker, survivor story and a runway fashion show. (American Heart Association)

Receiver appointed for 8 nursing homes in ‘dire’ financial position

The fate of eight financially struggling Iowa nursing homes rests largely in the hands of a state district court judge and the Kansas City, Missouri, receiver appointed to oversee a dispute over $133,000 in failed July rent payments. Rebecca Brommel, an attorney representing the facilities’ operating companies, said the firms couldn’t reach an agreement with the landlords on how to mitigate the additional financial impact on the nursing homes, and are in the process of searching for a new “party” to assume operational control. Representatives of the eight homes, which have at least 450 beds among them, reported they were in “dire” financial positions. None has more than 40 days of available operating cash. (McKnight’s Long-term Care News)

University of Iowa hospital eyeing $95M ‘vertical expansion of inpatient tower’

Well before University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics erects a new tower for patients — a long-term project officials revealed earlier this year as part of a 10-year master plan for the main campus — it is looking to spend $95 million adding two floors onto its existing inpatient tower. The UI this week issued a request for proposals from prospective construction managers for a “vertical expansion of inpatient tower” project on which crews would start work next summer. The total project budget is $95 million with the construction portion accounting for $50.4 million. UIHC aims to add two floors to its existing eight-floor John Pappajohn Pavilion, increasing the tower to 10 stories by adding a total of 38,000 square feet. (The Gazette)

National news

NU regents approve project to address rural workforce shortage

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents have approved the program statement and construction budget for phase two of the UNK-UNMC Rural Health Education Building on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. Construction of the $85 million facility is expected to begin in September 2023, with projected completion in July 2025. The proposed facility received $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for capital construction, plus $10 million for iEXCEL technology startup costs. Further, the Legislature has committed the necessary sustainable operational funds to support faculty and staff. The university has committed to raising $35 million in private funding for construction. (North Platte Telegraph)

CDC takes back control of pandemic hospitalization data despite criticism

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has won a months-long battle for control of COVID-19 hospital data, a rare victory during its pandemic response that’s seen some of its functions handed off to other players amid widespread criticism. The U.S. won’t renew its contract with TeleTracking Technologies, a private company that took over COVID-19 hospitalization data collection from CDC in 2020. Hospitals will resume reporting the data to the CDC in mid-December, with TeleTracking’s contract expiring Saturday, Dec. 31. (Bloomberg)

Statistics provide a view of physician compensation

With health care workforce shortages persisting as a significant problem for hospitals and health systems, it is important to look at how physician compensation has been evolving. According to HHS, the seven-day average of hospitals reporting critical staffing shortages peaked at 22% in the second week of January. Though that number has decreased significantly since then, currently under 10%, staffing shortages are still a significant barrier for hospitals and health systems. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

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