Iowa news Iowa telehealth startup OpenLoop plans massive downtown Des Moines expansion On the fourth floor of the Bank of America Building, workers sipped seltzers and dipped chips under a ceiling-high banana tree and a pink neon light. Many of the employees of Des Moines telehealth startup OpenLoop Health were

Iowa news UI Heart and Vascular Center updates cardiac cath labs The University of Iowa Heart and Vascular Center has added two new cardiac catheterization labs and updated existing ones to increase patient access to the service. The new labs have the most-advanced technology in the state. The new technology

Iowa news ICN celebrates 30 years of innovation The Iowa Communications Network, one of the country’s pioneers of statewide networks, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023. Created in three parts, the first two parts consisted of installing one state-owned fiber optic connection for service delivery per county, one at

Iowa news Take time to take care of your mental health Coping with stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health struggles can be challenging, and for some, it can be even tougher as the holidays wind down. When stress reaches its peak, it’s time to take a step back and

Iowa news COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations drop to lowest points in months Most of the typical COVID-19 indicators declined in Iowa this week, a sign the pandemic may be receding after a second consecutive week of decreasing cases and hospitalizations. The state health department reported fewer new cases this week

Iowa news COVID-19 pandemic easing slightly in Iowa but XBB.1.5 on the rise The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to ease slightly in Iowa last week, according to data released by the Iowa Department of Public Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19

Iowa news XBB.1.5, the latest COVID-19 variant, will probably infect everyone. What you should know. With a highly contagious coronavirus variant expected to hit Iowa in earnest in the coming weeks, infectious disease specialists and public health experts are urging Iowans to get the bivalent COVID-19 booster shot as soon

Iowa news Lee County schedules special election for funding EMS Lee County voters will have a say in how they want to fund the county’s recently expanded emergency medical services. The Board of Supervisors scheduled a special election for March 7, when voters will decide if they want to pay

Iowa news Report finds 2% of Iowa hospitals at immediate risk of closure 2% of Iowa hospitals are at immediate risk of closing because of financial losses and lack of financial reserves to sustain operations, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. Nationwide, 220 rural hospitals —

Iowa news Iowa commission suggests mental health policy changes The Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Commission has published a 20-page report detailing the state’s mental health capabilities, needs and requests. The document was drafted by representatives from 19 communities statewide. The report comes a year after an overhaul to

Iowa news Meningococcal disease detected in Iowa, state declines to release details given the ‘small number’ of cases State public health officials say “multiple cases” of meningococcal disease have been detected in Iowa in recent weeks. The bacterial infection most commonly causes meningitis, or inflammation of the brain and spinal

Iowa news Quad Cities area medical centers update COVID-19 policies MercyOne Clinton Medical Center is updating its visitor and masking guidelines because of a recent increase in cases of COVID-19 and flu in eastern Iowa. To help ensure the safety of patients, MercyOne Clinton Medical Center is requiring masks for