Iowa news
The Check Up: Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua of UnityPoint Clinic
Vaccine hesitancy continues to be one of the top challenges facing public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a few national education campaigns, the task of convincing skeptical patients and staff to get vaccinated has largely fallen on local providers. UnityPoint Health uses a host of different media and messages for its effort. UnityPoint Clinic President and CEO Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua, who joined the Iowa-based health system in January, talks about building an effective outreach campaign. (Modern Healthcare)
Stark named Business Record’s 2021 Forty Under 40 Alumnus of the Year
Each year, the Business Record honors a member of a previous Forty Under 40 class to recognize his or her contributions since being named a Forty. The 2021 Forty Under 40 Alumnus of the Year is David Stark, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health-Des Moines. Stark was honored 20 years ago, in the Class of 2001. Stark began his current leadership role on July 1, 2018. He was selected as UnityPoint Health-Des Moines president and CEO after a national search that included both internal and national candidates. (Business Record)
Iowa facing maternal health crisis
Like the rest of the US, Iowa is facing a maternal health crisis. The maternal mortality rate in Iowa has almost doubled in recent years and significant racial disparities exist. Black mothers in Iowa have a pregnancy-related maternal mortality over six times higher than their white counterparts. But Iowa lawmakers have the chance to pass legislation that could reduce maternal mortality rates and improve outcomes for mothers. Extending the Medicaid postpartum coverage period from 60 days to 12 months is the simplest and most targeted way to ensure that new mothers can get the care they need to help keep them and their baby healthy. (The Messenger)
National news
COVID-19’s impact includes a vital lesson on prioritizing the lives of older Americans
On March 13, 2020, federal officials did something both unthinkable and absolutely necessary: They issued nationwide guidance closing nursing homes to all visitors to combat the COVID-19 virus. As caregivers, we understood that isolating the residents from their families was vital in protecting them from a deadly illness. But it was an agonizing decision because of the costs involved. Long-term care residents and staff have felt the brunt of this pandemic, not just in terms of illness and lives lost, but also in the social isolation. (Des Moines Register)
‘Considerable degree of normality’ possible by July, Fauci says
Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that federal restrictions “will be much more liberal” and the US could see a “considerable degree of normality” by the Fourth of July if US cases drop as more Americans are vaccinated. But he also warned, on “Fox News Sunday,” that the US must gradually lift restrictions or risk a wide-ranging lockdown to halt another surge. Now the nation just needs former President Donald Trump to help out, Fauci says. (USA Today)
Digging into the numbers on COVID-19 illness and MMR vaccination
As people impatiently wait for their COVID-19 vaccinations and try to get an appointment or wait for their turn, is there anything they can do to protect themselves besides wearing masks, social distancing, and washing their hands constantly? We are learning that being vaccinated for other diseases is associated with decreased severity of COVID-19 illness. (Des Moines Register)