Overwhelmed by latest surge, hospitals again delay elective surgeries
Some hospitals across Indiana warn they are operating near full capacity due to the latest COVID-19 surge and that their doctors, nurses and other staffers are already exhausted.
John Russell
Articles
IU Health enlists National Guard to help with surge in COVID-19 cases
The state’s largest hospital system said it continues to see “exceptionally high numbers” of COVID-19 patients in all 16 of its hospitals.
Hospitals set new pandemic record, with 70% of staffed beds in use
Across the state, 2,408 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 Saturday. That’s up from a recent low of 1,209 on Nov. 6, and six times the number of people hospitalized from COVID-19 at the year-to-date low mark of 369 on June 24.
Walgreens, VillageMD make health clinic push
The partners are on the prowl to buy hundreds of primary care medical practices.
Elanco cuts 380 positions, including about 20% of senior management
Elanco said the cuts, which include three executive vice presidents, were an effort in “streamlining and simplifying organizational structure,” and were intended to increase productivity and reduce organizational complexity.
Purdue-based startup gets FDA approval for cancer-targeting drug
It’s a big moment for On Target Laboratories, an 11-year-old biotech based in West Lafayette. The FDA approval marks the company’s first novel compound to get across the finish line. The drug is marketed under the brand name Cytalux.
Carmel-based power grid manager faces challenge of keeping up with electricity demand
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, is the organization responsible for managing the power grid across Indiana, 14 other states and the Canadian province of Manitoba.
Duke Energy Indiana seeks to raise rates 1% yearly until 2029 to upgrade grid
Duke Energy Indiana wants to spend about $1.9 billion to upgrade its electric grid, a move it says would result in few and shorter power outages and would harden the grid against severe weather.
Roche Diagnostics terminates ‘small number’ of workers for not getting COVID-19 vaccine
About 3,000 people work on the company’s large campus at 9115 Hague Road on the northeast side of Indianapolis and another 1,500 people work elsewhere across the region.
Eskenazi Health patient sues after cyberattack data breach, asks for class action status
Terri Ruehl Young filed suit in Indiana Commercial Court in Marion County on Friday against the Indianapolis-based public hospital and health care provider.
Hospitals face big fines for frequent readmissions
For the 10th straight year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is using the pressure of lower reimbursements to get hospitals to improve their numbers and cut down on the revolving door of readmissions.
Fired exec at Community Health can pursue retaliation lawsuit, judge rules
U.S. District Judge Richard Young this week threw out most of Community Health’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Thomas Fischer, who served as the hospital system’s chief financial officer for eight years before he was fired in 2013.
For second time, Franciscan Health extends deadline for employee vaccinations
Franciscan issued a three-paragraph statement, saying it had “re-examined its next steps” for the COVID-19 vaccine and was now adopting a Jan. 4 deadline to comply with the federal mandate.
Health insurance premiums still on rise, topping $22,000 a year for family coverage
Over the past decade, premiums for family coverage under employer-sponsored health insurance has climbed 47%, faster than wages (31%) or inflation (19%), according to the Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey.
Q&A: Jeremy Rogers, a digital guru who connects hospitals and patients
Rogers, 44, is executive director of digital marketing and experience, meaning he plans and implements ways to keep patients informed and to hear what’s on their minds.
Fishers lands $125M life sciences manufacturing operation with plans for 210 jobs
Genome & Co. announced Thursday morning that it plans to establish a new 110,000-square-foot facility on 15 acres in the new Fishers Life Science & Innovation Park.
IU Health sues Methodist Sports Medicine, claiming trademark infringement
Indiana University Health, the parent of Methodist Hospital, wants the sports medicine group to drop “Methodist” from its name.
Indianapolis investing group bets big on renewable energy
A blank-check company, or SPAC, plans to close early next year on a merger with California-based Energy Vault that will take the company public and give it a cash infusion of $388 million.
Feds buy another $1.29B worth of Lilly antibody treatment for COVID-19
The purchase will amount to 614,000 doses of two drugs, bamlanivimab and etesevimab, that make up the drug-cocktail infusion, Lilly said.
Fishers nursing home chain sues former CFO, claiming ‘extensive fraud’
Chosen Consulting LLC, which does business as Chosen Healthcare, alleges its former chief financial officer defrauded the company through a scheme to get double paychecks for more than a year and that she also improperly sent more than a half-million dollars to her own construction company.