On June 16-17, the Iowa Hospital Association hosted its summer leadership forum: Reform and the Road Ahead. Conference objectives were to discuss the current MedPAC recommendations regarding health care payment reform, how scale matters in health care and what the impact of the current U.S. economy will have on the entire health care industry.

The following video is the second in a two-part series of interviews conducted with a couple of the forum’s esteemed speakers. IHA had the chance to speak with David Swenson, Associate Scientist, Department of Economics at Iowa State University. Swenson provides his unique perspective on where the country is at in the current economic recession and how it may affect the economics of health care in the near future.

Part one of the series was posted last week and featured Herb Kuhn, President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (Jefferson, MO), who discussed his thoughts on how health care reform will impact states like Iowa and Missouri.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyiolSNFgBg

On June 16-17, the Iowa Hospital Association hosted its summer leadership forum: Reform and the Road Ahead. Conference objectives were to discuss the current MedPAC recommendations regarding health care payment reform, how scale matters in health care and what the impact of the current U.S. economy will have on the entire health care industry.

The following video is the first in a two-part series of interviews conducted with a couple of the forum’s esteemed speakers. IHA had the chance to speak with Herb Kuhn, President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (Jefferson, MO), on how health care reform will impact states like Iowa and Missouri.

Part two of the series will be posted next week and will feature David Swenson, Associate Scientist, Dept. of Economics at Iowa State University. (Update: click here for part 2)

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWSOlXI7qiA

On June 15 and 16, the Iowa Hospital Association hosted Crucial Conversations Training, which focuses on research-backed techniques for improving relationships among co-workers and addressing the issues that can sometimes result in tragedy. 

The training was led by Dr. Emily Hoffman – a master trainer and expert in the health care industry. Dr. Hoffman helped attendees work on bringing people to the table and engage in effective dialog, especially when having to converse with guarded or emotional individuals.

For more information visit: www.vitalsmarts.com

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hauqlzY8igs

On June 10, IHA hosted the Social Media and Health Care conference in Des Moines. First up to present for the day was Lava Row, a Des Moines-based social media consulting firm that specializes in helping its clients understand the ins and outs of social media and how to drive results in this emerging realm of marketing and communications.

Nathan Wright, founder of Lava Row, took a few minutes to chat with IHA about some of the hot topics involving social media and health care as well as provide some tips hospitals can use as they begin the process of implementing social media as part of their full marketing strategy.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gPO8CefR6Y

In recognition of National Nurses Week, IHA is taking an in-depth look at one of the many career tracks possible within the field of nursing.

Julie Larson is a nurse practitioner at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.  Julie was kind enough to take a few moments out of her very busy schedule to sit down with us and answer a few questions about her career and what advice she can provide to those who may be interested in pursuing this as his or her own nursing career.

YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmYBxOVo4oc