Iowa news Mukherjee receives Hero Award from Iowa Hospital Association Sumit Mukherjee, M.D., has been honored with an Iowa Hospital Association’s Hospital Hero award for demonstrating exceptional commitment to care and service. Dr. Mukherjee — a pulmonologist with Methodist Physicians Clinic and the medical director of the Critical Care Unit

Iowa news New reported COVID-19 cases decline in Iowa for seventh consecutive week COVID-19 hospitalizations and new reported cases both dropped again this week in Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 in

Iowa news ChildServe announces Iowa City expansion, first satellite location ChildServe will double the size of its Iowa City facility and open its first satellite location in the state in Hiawatha. Groundbreaking for the 13,000-square-foot expansion of the Iowa City facility is planned for spring 2023. The project will increase

Iowa news Millions of Americans are losing access to maternal care. Here’s what can be done. This year’s report on maternity care by the nonprofit March of Dimes found 35 of Iowa’s 99 counties were considered maternity care deserts in 2020. The counties have no hospitals providing obstetric care, no

Iowa news University of Iowa pauses search for new VP, Carver College dean The University of Iowa is temporarily suspending its search for a new vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Carver College of Medicine. After a national search was launched in March, the university invited four

Iowa news EMS council eyes essential service designation The group that was instrumental in creating Lee County’s first county-run ambulance service will likely disband, not because it is no longer needed, but because a new group – a District Advisory Council – will be formed. The Lee County EMS Advisory

Iowa news MercyOne sites scheduling patient appointments via phone calls after national IT incident All care locations in MercyOne Central Iowa’s region, including Des Moines, are continuing to take patient appointments even as the health system struggles with an unspecified IT security breach affecting its parent company, Chicago-based CommonSpirit. MercyOne

Iowa news New cases decline and more Iowans are getting boosters This is the fifth consecutive week that Iowa has reported fewer cases than the week before, according to the weekly data release. Over the past seven days, Iowa has averaged 265 new reported cases, down from 299 per day

Iowa news Supreme Court declines 10 states’ challenge to CMS’ vaccine mandate The U.S. Supreme Court has declined a case brought by 10 states, including Iowa, challenging the Biden administration’s rule that requires employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they work in health care facilities that receive federal funding.

Iowa news MercyOne Newton asks county for $2M donation MercyOne Newton Medical Center may receive American Rescue Plan Act funds from Jasper County to go toward facility improvements. During the Sept. 27 county board of supervisors meeting, Chad Kelley, director of operations for MercyOne Newton, requested the hospital at least

Iowa news New COVID-19 cases drop 60% since start of September The COVID-19 pandemic continued to recede in Iowa over the past week. New reported COVID-19 cases dropped nearly 30% week over the week, the state health department said. There were 2,091 new cases reported this week, or an average

Iowa news MercyOne says Sioux City hospital in ‘full compliance’ with CMS vaccination requirements MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center said it is in “full compliance” with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements for COVID-19 vaccination of staff. Documents posted to the Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals’ website showed MercyOne