All year round, University of Iowa Health Care works to better understand disease trends in Iowa and beyond. During certain periods of the year, the focus turns to defending against microscopic pathogens that cause influenza-like illnesses like the flu, COVID-19, and RSV. A team of UI Health Care experts, including a dedicated team of epidemiologists, are responsible for continually monitoring…
Patient Care
Patient Care
Iowans should be on their guard outside during winter months, particularly against damage to the nose, ears, toes, and fingers, explains Hans R. House, MD, an emergency medicine physician at UI Health Care. Factors that impact frostbite, several factors determine how much damage is done by the cold, he notes. Temperature, dampness, and the duration of exposure are among factors, of course, but,…
When winter weather arrives, it’s important to take the appropriate steps to prevent injuries and understand when to seek medical attention. Here are nine tips to shovel the snow safely this season: 1. Be proactive. If you know a winter storm is coming, consider salting your driveway in advance. 2. Be careful in icy conditions. Slipping and falling when shoveling or starting your snow blower can…
When winter weather arrives, it’s important to take the appropriate steps to prevent injuries and understand when to seek medical attention. Be proactive. If you know a winter storm is coming, consider salting your driveway in advance. Be careful in icy conditions. Slipping and falling when shoveling or starting your snow blower can cause injury. Don't ignore chest pain. Snow shoveling produces a…
January 5, 2024Mercy Iowa City500 E. Market St. Iowa City, IA 52245Dear Patient: We appreciate your trust in Mercy Iowa City and its providers for your health care needs. As you may know, Mercy Iowa City is in the process of transitioning its ownership to University of Iowa Health Care. Once this transition is complete—anticipated Jan. 31, 2024—you can expect the same high-quality health care…
UI Health Care’s Perioperative Robotics Program recently celebrated its 10,000th soft-tissue surgery using robotics and is performing approximately 100 cases per month, thanks to the collaborative work of the surgical specialties and expanded training programs for nurses and residents. “Robotic procedures are done across all surgical disciplines for patients in need of surgery—many of whom have…
For people dealing with central sleep apnea—often affecting a patient’s cardiovascular health—a new device is available at University of Iowa Health Care’s Heart and Vascular Center. Implanted during a minimally invasive procedure, the Remedē® System is a battery-powered device that helps stimulate the phrenic nerve—the nerve in your chest responsible for breathing—so that it can send signals to…
For hospital security officer Joe Swisher, security means more than just protecting a building. As one of the first staff members that patients and visitors see when they come through the door, Swisher knows the importance of providing a welcoming and safe environment. Swisher is the son of a retired deputy for Jones County, Iowa. He grew up around law enforcement officers and even helped train a…
“We were told to call our families to come say goodbye.” For 45 minutes, Quinn Anderson’s care team at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital tried to re-start his heart. Doctors placed the 3-year-old boy on an advanced form of life support called ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), which does the work of the heart and lungs when they aren’t strong enough.
Nathan McDonald and his family are used to overcoming difficult odds and medical challenges. Nathan was transferred to University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital shortly after birth when skeletal deformities and a hunch in his back were detected. He was diagnosed with infantile myofibromatosis, a rare tumor that grows in the skin, muscles, bones, and sometimes the organs of the chest or…