Iowa news
Register editorial writer Andie Dominick caught up again with Dr. Tom Benzoni, a local emergency room physician. We have interviewed him several times since the coronavirus pandemic hit Iowa. Here are excerpts from the June 1 interview. (Des Moines Register)
DPH seeks public input to inform the state maternal health strategic plan
The Iowa Department of Public Health is asking Iowans to fill out a survey to improve the state’s maternal health strategic plan. The survey will help to identify gaps in the health system, according to Dr. Nalo Johnson, the division director for health promotion and disease prevention at the IDPH. Iowa’s maternal mortality rates have increased in the past years, although the state still considers maternal death a rarity. (Iowa Public Radio)
UI Hospitals and Clinics increasing rates 6% next budget year
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics will increase rates for its services by 6% in the coming budget year. UIHC officials say the increase is especially needed now because of the losses the health system suffered during the pandemic. The Board of Regents approved the rates, as it has for years. (Western Iowa Today)
National news
Hospitals gain jobs after 4 straight months of losses
Hospitals added 2,900 jobs in May after four months of job losses this year, according to the latest jobs report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The May count compares to 5,800 hospital jobs lost in April, 600 jobs lost in March, 2,200 jobs lost in February and 2,100 jobs lost in January. Before January, the last job loss was in September, when hospitals lost 6,400 jobs. Overall, health care added 22,500 jobs last month — compared to 4,100 jobs lost in April and 11,500 jobs added in March — and employment in the industry is down by 508,000 compared with February 2020. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
FDA authorizes new Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, the first in nearly two decades
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a high-profile Alzheimer’s drug, the first new drug to treat the mind-robbing disease in nearly two decades. The FDA’s landmark authorization of Biogen’s aducanumab will require the drug company to conduct a post-approval study to monitor the effectiveness of the drug. The company said it will market the drug under the name Aduhelm. (Des Moines Register)
First in line, still no shot: Surprising number of hospital workers refuse vaccines
Bob Nevens hoped to retire at Houston Methodist, where the 47-year-old had served for a decade as director of corporate risk. Instead, Nevens was fired April 29 after he refused to have a COVID-19 vaccine injected into his arm. Houston Methodist was among the first hospitals in the nation to require the vaccine and remains one of a handful doing so. Houston Methodist set an early deadline for its 1,255 executives and managers, and Nevens was one of only two managers who failed to step up. Other workers have until June 7 to comply. (Yahoo News)