Recent News

 
News - CDC head: flu shots look like 'a very good match' for this year's strains

CDC head: flu shots look like 'a very good match' for this year's strains

December 12, 2022

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters on Monday that the updated flu shots generated this year seem to be “a very good match” for the most prevalent strains of influenza.

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News - Five million in grants available for nursing students

Five million in grants available for nursing students

November 23, 2022

Lincoln – Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been granted $5,000,000 to award $2,500 per semester scholarships to Nebraska Nursing Students.

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News - Nebraska hospitals facing increasing cost pressures

Nebraska hospitals facing increasing cost pressures

November 21, 2022

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Faith Regional Medical Center spent about $2.5 million to $3 million annually on contract labor for traveling nurses and other personnel working short-term stints. This year, that cost is likely to hit $11.5 million, said Janna Cline, chief financial officer for the Norfolk hospital. That's on top of a 9.5% increase in salaries for regular staff members since January 2021, Cline said, as well as a 5% increase in utilities costs and various other cost increases.

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News - 4 key predictions for health care in 2023 and how to respond

4 key predictions for health care in 2023 and how to respond

November 21, 2022

Health care prediction season for 2023 is upon us and thought leaders, futurists and analysts are already reading the tea leaves. Based on some of the forecasts, provider organizations can expect significant evolutionary changes in how to optimize patient engagement, the ever-expanding role that retail clinics will play in care delivery and some upheaval in venture capital funding for health care startups.

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News - HHS releases video on documenting recognized HIPAA security practices

HHS releases video on documenting recognized HIPAA security practices

November 7, 2022

OCR has designed this video presentation for HIPAA regulated entities on “recognized security practices,” as set forth in the HITECH Act. The video is intended to educate HIPAA regulated entities on the categories of recognized security practices and how entities may demonstrate implementation.

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News - Listening session on protecting the safety of patients and health care workers

Listening session on protecting the safety of patients and health care workers

November 7, 2022

Join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including leaders from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Food and Drug Administration, on November 14 as they recommit to the advancement of patient and healthcare worker safety.

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News - AHA - Addressing commercial health plan challenges to ensure fair coverage for patients and providers

AHA - Addressing commercial health plan challenges to ensure fair coverage for patients and providers

November 7, 2022

Hospitals and health systems are committed to ensuring timely patient access to medically necessary health care services. Comprehensive health care coverage is a critical tool to help individuals and patients access and finance their care. This is why hospitals and health systems have long advocated for a robust system for universal coverage rooted in our long-standing public-private model that relies on a strong commercial health insurance market alongside the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

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News - Census: uninsured rate falls to 8.3% in 2021

Census: uninsured rate falls to 8.3% in 2021

September 18, 2022

This report presents statistics on health insurance coverage in the United States based on information collected in the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC).

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News - Rise of the virtual nurse

Rise of the virtual nurse

September 11, 2022

Health care organizations across the U.S. are under tremendous pressure as the growing need for nurses outpaces a shrinking workforce. There have been unprecedented challenges from the large, aging baby boomer population. Nurses are also getting older, with a median age of 52 — 4.7 million are projected to retire by 2030.

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News - Columbus Community Hospital hip fracture care among nation's best

Columbus Community Hospital hip fracture care among nation's best

September 11, 2022

(COLUMBUS, Neb.) – Columbus Community Hospital is among an elite 36% of hospitals nationwide to earn an award from the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals list. Of the more than 6,000 adult hospitals in the U.S., fewer than 2,200 qualified for an award. The award was for excellence in orthopedics, specifically in hip fracture care. The score is based on multiple data categories, including patient outcomes, readmission prevention and more.

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