Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and Web.

Iowa News

Hospital infection data go unreported
The public-reporting issue has become increasingly prominent nationally, along with concern about deadly infections that can spread in health care settings. Hospitals provide prime breeding grounds for the most dangerous bacteria, because of the heavy presence of antibiotic medications. The drugs kill most germs, but a few survive and can breed new lines of drug-resistant bacteria. (Des Moines Register)

Wheaton doctors in Iowa also fed up
Doctors from a Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare hospital in Iowa say they are frustrated with Wheaton management just like doctors at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints. “We’re ready to bring a bus of people to Milwaukee to walk in front of (Wheaton president and CEO John) Oliverio’s office,” said Anthony Leo, chief of staff at Wheaton’s Mercy Hospital of Franciscan Sisters in Oelwein, Iowa. (Racine Journal Times)

Surgeons to be honored at Heart Ball
Dr. Keith Allen and Dr. Richard Gitter, both with Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, will be recognized for their years of experience and achievements in the areas of heart disease and stroke at the Siouxland American Heart and Stroke Association’s 15th annual “Rendezvous Around the World” heart ball on Saturday evening at the Marina Inn. (Sioux City Journal)

U.S. News

Obama health plan costs $950 billion over 10 years
Trying to revive languishing health-care legislation, the White House proposed Monday that a tax on high-end health plans be delayed for all workers, not just those in unions, and suggested new taxes to help make up for the lost revenue. (Wall Street Journal)

Obama helped bring on the healthcare backlash
By leaving the overhaul in the hands of Congress, he has given the public a full view of how lawmakers do business. The result is an anti-Washington mood that Republicans have tapped into. (Los Angeles Times)

Governors focus on health care reform
Gov. Joe Manchin (D- WVa.) discusses the environmental and health care reform efforts in his state, while Gov. Gary Herbert (R-Utah), says he thinks states should take the lead in health care issues. “States have the ability to be nimble,” Herbert says. “Having 50 different approaches will probably give us a chance to find success.” The two lawmakers are in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association meeting. (National Public Radio)

After Pawlenty’s veto of health care bill, can new House minority leader sustain it?
Kurt Zellers doesn’t act like a man with a new job herding cats. But as the new House minority leader, the Maple Grove Republican is charged with doing almost exactly that. And after Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday vetoed an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill rescuing a health care program aimed at the poorest Minnesotans, Zellers quickly vowed to keep his members in line and sustain the veto. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Saving Haiti
Pediatrician Brett Hendel-Paterson spent 40 sleepless hours getting to Leogane, Haiti, near the epicenter of the earthquake. For a week, he did what he could to help. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Doctor shortage fuels nurses’ push for an expanded role
Nursing leaders say large numbers of practitioners like Cavall will be needed to fill gaps in primary care left by an increasing shortage of doctors, a problem that would intensify if Congress extends health insurance to millions more Americans. Advocates say nurse practitioners have the extra education and training needed to perform a variety of services, including physical exams, diagnosis and treatment of common ailments and prescribing drugs. (Kaiser Health News)