Iowa news Iowa’s recent COVID-19 surge slows COVID-19’s most-recent rise across Iowa slowed somewhat in the past week, according to new data released by the Iowa Department of Public Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The number of new reported COVID-19 cases have increased again, but only

Iowa news UIHC part of new program to ensure equity in patient care The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is part of the first phase of the American Medical Association’s Peer Network, which is designed to “apply an equity lens to all aspects of quality and safety practices.” The

Iowa news State board approves Ames outpatient surgery center Mary Greeley Medical Center and McFarland Clinic have received certificate-of-need approval from the Iowa Department of Public Health for the development of an outpatient ambulatory surgery center in Ames. This is an important step in the development of the project, which

Iowa news CDC warns of rising COVID-19 risk in Iowa For the first time in two months, an Iowa county has a high level of community risk for COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Poweshiek County has that distinction, because of a combination of its

Iowa news ChildServe nears opening of 23,000-square-foot rehabilitation unit ChildServe will soon open its new inpatient rehabilitation unit, Jojo’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit. The 14-bed unit, which replaces a smaller inpatient rehabilitation unit that has operated since 2007 at ChildServe’s Johnston medical campus, provides the only free-standing, comprehensive pediatric inpatient rehabilitation

Iowa news In Iowa, EMS is not legally required to show up. What happens when no one does? Senate File 615, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in June 2021, provides the framework for counties to deem EMS service “essential.” It allows them to create a referendum to raise

Iowa news Iowa hospitals chart big dip in margins as operating costs skyrocket Far from being fiscally on the mend from the pandemic, many Iowa hospitals are continuing to experience financial pain into 2022. Iowa hospitals have collectively amassed $101 million in operating losses in the first two months of

Iowa news Two behavioral health organizations joining forces in eastern Iowa Leadership at the Area Substance Abuse Council, serving Linn, Benton, Jones, Jackson and Clinton counties, and the Substance Abuse Service Center, covering Dubuque and Delaware counties, have announced an agreement between the two agencies to align effective July 1.

Iowa news Black Iowans can become organ donors, even if they don’t trust the medical system Nationwide, more Black people need to register to become organ donors to increase the odds of Black people on the organ waiting list getting an organ. “Unfortunately, here in Iowa we don’t have statistics

Iowa news A vision of the mental health system we could have in Iowa One of four Iowans (more than 775,000 people) will experience a mental health challenge this year. Depression is the No. 1 cause of workplace absenteeism. Suicide rates are rising among almost all demographic groups. Ninety percent

Iowa news How to map out an innovation strategy A recent survey of 100 health system executives found only 6% have a “fully developed” digital health strategy. Iowa-based UnityPoint Health may well fit into that category, with a $100 million venture capital fund aimed at driving consumer-based digital transformation and

Iowa news Six health system execs on how to battle labor shortages beyond pay Although compensation increases have played a key role in retaining and recruiting health care employees amid a major workforce shortage, perks such as mental health services and education financial assistance have also helped meet staff needs.