by Dan Royer on Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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IHA has launched a new Hospital Board Self-Assessment program, replacing the paper-based survey IHA has provided to members over the past several years. The new system allows for both individual board member self-evaluations as well as an evaluation of the full board. Hospitals that elect to utilize this tool will be able to use a survey with common questions for benchmarking opportunities as well as add custom questions unique to their hospital.
The survey tool will produce reports that provide hospitals with board data break-outs and comparative averages against other similarly sized hospitals statewide.
“It is a very easy to use program where the hospital designates a program coordinator who does initial survey set-up and any customization. The survey is then initiated when the hospital is ready,” said Perry Meyer IHA senior vice president of information services. “The survey program is available 365 days a year and can be administered as often as the hospital would like. Obviously, the more hospitals that use the program the better for benchmarking.”
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa has been using a similar online board assessment over the past few years, but is excited about moving toward a system that can benchmark against peers.
Kristin Kaiser, planning and marketing specialist with Mercy-North Iowa said the hospital uses the tool to ensure its board is functioning effectively.
“We use this to show the board what they’re doing well and what they need improvement on,” she said. “This tool helps stimulate discussion at the board level and clarify performance expectations.”
Kaiser said that the response rate increased when the survey was put online as people are getting more and more reliant on technology and online communications.
The program is now live and hospital boards can begin using the system at any time.
by Chris English on Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The health care industry in Iowa knows that in order to cultivate a healthy workforce, you have to work to inspire the youth of the state. That’s exactly what Des Moines University and the Central Iowa Area Health Education Center are attempting to do with their annual YES MED summer camp.
Staff members say that the effects of the program can be seen immediately in the students and they’re sure that, for some, it could prove to be the catalyst for a future career.
For more information, please visit: www.centraliowaahec.org
YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfbEWl2oYt0
by Chris English on Thursday, August 12, 2010
Recently, the Iowa Hospital Association hosted the sixth annual Swinging for Scholars fundraiser golf tournament at The Harvester Golf Club north of Des Moines.
A record number of participants turned out to support the only fundraiser held for the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation Health Care Careers Scholarship Fund (IHERF). More than $100,000 in scholarship funds were contributed by a number of Iowa hospitals and other businesses and individuals who are committed to helping educate health care professionals and keep those professionals practicing in Iowa.
This year, 31 scholarships were awarded totaling $93,000 with more than $500,000 having been awarded since the inception of the program. Eight of the 31 scholarship recipients were present at the event to formally accept their award as well as to express their gratitude for what the scholarship will enable for their careers.
YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSayT4hJmDc
by Chris English on Friday, August 6, 2010
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
by Dan Royer on Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The U.S. Senate voted for a six-month, $16 billion extension of enhanced federal Medicaid funding by a slim 61-38 vote (60 needed for passage). The vote comes after many failed attempts over the past several months leaving the provision, and many state budgets, in limbo.
The amendment will provide much-needed funding to state Medicaid programs freeing up resources for other state priorities. Iowa’s state budget relies on nearly $120 million in federal Medicaid funding that will now be available.
The package is scaled back from the original proposal making the price tag easier to swallow and garnering few, but enough Republican votes. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin co-sponsored the amendment and voted Yea and Senator Charles Grassley voted nay.
The bill now travels back to the House for its approval.
