MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2019  |  IN THIS ISSUE
Para1IDx eyeing therapeutic AI as next frontier of health care
Coralville-based IDx made headlines last year by creating the first - and for now, only - autonomous AI diagnostic system cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, but what's next could be even more transformative.

The company behind the IDx-DR system, which can automate the detection of diabetic retinopathy, is now working to develop therapeutic AI technologies, which can not only automate testing but prescribe therapies or medicines, according to President and COO Ben Clark, who spoke to Cedar Rapids' Downtown Rotary club on June 10.

IDx last month approached the FDA for a proposal on therapeutic AI tied to a common foe of many new parents, the ear infection, Mr. Clark said. While the technology remains in an early stage, the idea is that it could ultimately be placed in a point-of-prescription zone, such as a CVS or Walgreens, and parents would be able to have their children scanned and "walk out with a prescription from the same spot, same day, real time," he noted.

While the challenge is "actually a fairly simple problem to solve from an approval perspective," the company is running into state licensure issues associated with who has the right to prescribe medicine, Mr. Clark said.

"It's a function of being in the vanguard," he added. "We're excited to sort of test out where these limits are in the coming years as we evolve with technology."

Other tests on the horizon include those for glaucoma and macular degeneration, and possibly even for Alzheimer's disease, as research on the disease's connection to eyes progresses.

Mr. Clark also described the "rigorous" eight-year process IDx underwent with the FDA to secure approvals for its IDx-DR system, which is now being rolled out in frontline care settings around the country. The administration originally required the company to produce volumes of evidence that the system was safe and accurate, and to explain specific parts of its proprietary algorithms to ensure transparency. The bespoke process IDx went through will ultimately shape how the FDA makes future AI approvals, Mr. Clark said.

"The FDA is trying to get this one right, because if they get it wrong, it could set the [AI] field back decades," he added.

Founded in 2010, IDx has since grown to 60 employees and is headquartered in the University of Iowa Research Park.
Mercy Medical Center Birthplace suite equipped with NICU technology. PHOTO / MERCY
Mercy Medical Center announces that all of its Birthplace suites are now equipped with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) technology. This more patient-centered approach improves safety and allows both parents to stay with their newborn in one room for their entire stay - from labor and delivery to postpartum and NICU care.

Studies show that when mothers and babies stay together in the NICU, mothers have better postpartum recovery and increased rates of breastfeeding, and babies have decreased rates of infections and decreased lengths of stay in the hospital. These outcomes lead to increased patient satisfaction. And, the extra time together enables parents to provide better and more confident care for their babies after discharge, which has also been proven to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for babies.

"Mercy Birthplace and NICU is always looking for ways to improve safety and quality, as well as the overall birth experience," Srikanth Ravisankar, Mercy neonatologist, stated in a press release.  "Only a handful of NICUs nationwide have transitioned to this new standard of care. I'm sure it will be well-received by our patients and families."

Mercy's NICU is equipped to care for babies as young as 32 weeks gestation. However, less than 2 percent of all babies in the U.S. are born at 32 weeks gestation or earlier.

Expectant parents who would like to visit one of the recently remodeled, NICU-ready birth suites at Mercy can call (319) 363-BABY.
The city of Cedar Rapids recently installed new "Walk Your Wheels" sidewalk decals in the Downtown, NewBo, Czech Village and Kingston Village districts.

The decals serve as visual reminders that in the downtown and surrounding districts, bikes, scooters and skateboards are not permitted to ride on sidewalks. Riders are asked to walk their wheels in these areas for the safety of pedestrians or ride their bike or scooter in a bike lane (bikes may also use the full travel lane).

The "Walk Your Wheels" campaign is a component of a public education program to encourage pedestrian safety.  Other safety reminders for cyclists include:
  • Follow the Law: Obey all traffic laws at all times.
  • Use Headgear: Protect your head by wearing a helmet.
  • Go with the Flow: Always ride in the same direction as traffic (usually, on the right side of the street).
  • Yield to Pedestrians: When on a trail, alert pedestrians to your presence by saying "on your left" before passing.
  • Stay Alert: Pay attention to your surroundings and ride predictably.
  • Use Hand Signals: Let others know where you're going by always signaling 100 feet before your turn.
Additional information, as well as safety videos, are available on the city's website. 
Mercy Home Health Care, Mercy Iowa City, has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a "Premier Performer" for achieving an overall patient satisfaction score that ranked in the top 5 percent of all eligible SHP clients for the 2018 calendar year.

"We're honored that our patient satisfaction survey results have earned such prestigious recognition," Sean Williams, president and CEO, Mercy Iowa City, stated in a press release. "But scores are not the true reason we celebrate. What makes this award so meaningful is the fact that our home care staff makes the needs of our patients their number one priority. The survey scores reflect Mercy's patient-centered philosophy."

The annual SHPBest award program was created to acknowledge home health agencies that consistently provide high quality service to their patients. The 2018 award recipients were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall satisfaction score of more than 2,500 home health providers. With the largest HHCAHPS benchmark in the nation, SHP is in a position to identify and recognize organizations that have made patient satisfaction a priority and have been rewarded for their efforts with high marks on the HHCAHPS survey.

For the past three years Mercy Home Health Care colleagues have worked agency-wide to focus on patient satisfaction scores. Each member reviews the surveys regularly to stay aware of how their care and performance is perceived by the patient.

Read more about the SHPBest awards program, including methodology and award recipient lists at www.shpdata.com .
Kalona SuperNatural, an organic dairy brand based in Kalona, has launched  #DairyProud, a marketing campaign that educates consumers about where their dairy comes from. It showcases their local Amish and Mennonite family farms, informs consumers about the benefits of consuming organic dairy and explains their "old-school" processing methods.

The campaign also explores the environmental effects of dairy farms, including the role animals play in small-scale farming operations. Kalona SuperNatural will release a series of videos, blogs, and social media posts, encouraging consumers to share their #DairyProud story.
 
"We are excited to launch our #DairyProud campaign during National Dairy Month," Sara Rissi, sales and marketing manager for the Kalona SuperNatural brand, stated in a press release. "We're proud to be a dairy brand and are honored to work with a wonderful group of local, organic farmers who 'do things right' and take pride in the high-quality product they produce."

Learn more about the #DairyProud campaign at  kalonasupernatural.com, and on their social media pages.  
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AEGON AEG 4.69 -0.01 -0.21%
Alliant Energy  LNT 49.6 -0.40 -0.80%
Casey's General Stores CASY 153.53 1.55 1.02%
Deere & Company DE 154.36 2.85 1.88%
Dow Jones ^DJI 26,112.53 22.92 0.09%
General Mills GIS 52.97 -0.44 -0.82%
GoDaddy GDDY 71.26 1.22 1.74%
Great Western Bank GWB 32.85 -0.34 -1.02%
Heartland Express HTLD 18.65 -0.43 -2.25%
KemPharm KMPH 1.66 0.07 4.40%
Marsh & McLennan MMC 97.07 -1.11 -1.13%
MidWestOne  MOFG 27.87 -0.47 -1.66%
Pearson PSO 10.11 0.09 0.85%
Pepsico PEP 132.52 -0.21 -0.16%
Principal Financial  PFG 54.86 -1.05 -1.88%
QCR Holdings QCRH 33.86 0.04 0.12%
S&P 500 ^GSPC 2,889.67 2.69 0.09%
Procter & Gamble  PG 110.98 -0.22 -0.20%
United Fire Group UFCS 47.42 -0.24 -0.50%
U.S. Bank USB 51.50 -1.12 -2.13%
United Technologies UTX 124.22 -1.08 -0.86%
Wells Fargo  WFC 45.25 -0.34 -0.75%
West Bank WTBA 21.35 -0.07 -0.33%
Whirlpool  WHR 138.03 2.35 1.73%
Short-Term Event Planner
     
June 18
Iowa City Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., India Café, 227 E. Washington St., Iowa City. Members are invited to network and keep up-to-date with chamber and community events. Free. For more information, visit  iowacityarea.com.

June 19
1 Million Cups, by 1MC Cedar Rapids, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit  facebook.com/1MCICR.

1 Million Cups, by 1MC Iowa City, 9-10 a.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit  facebook.com/1MillionCupsIC/.

North Liberty Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Reds Alehouse, 405 N. Dubuque St., North Liberty. Members are invited to network and keep up-to-date with chamber and community events. Free. For more information, visit  iowacityarea.com.
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  

Jerry Foxhoven, director of Iowa Department of Human Services, resigned today, according to a release. Mr. Foxhoven's resignation comes just months after the announcement that UnitedHealthcare will be leaving Iowa's privatized Medicaid system, criticism of the departments handling of the Glenwood Resource Center (which houses about 200 Iowans with severe intellectual disabilities in the western side of the state) and allegations of mistreatment at the Boys State Training School in Eldora. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the appointment of Gerd W. Clabaugh to serve as interim director. Mr. Clabaugh will continue to serve as director of the Iowa Department of Public Health until a permanent DHS director is named. "Gerd has done an incredible job at the Department of Public Health and is well positioned to lead the Department of Human Services," said Gov. Reynolds in a statement. Mr. Clabaugh has served as the director of the IDPH since 2014.

The Marion Public Library will host Marion's first ever PRIDE event in honor of PRIDE month and to celebrate LGBTQ+ community members from all over the area this Saturday. "It's important for people to feel like they have a voice," Sid Karasek, one of the teens who organized the event, said. "Especially those who are in the closet or just want to find a voice or somewhere to go, the library is a wonderful place to go for resources. The mayor will be present at the event reading a proclamation for PRIDE month in Marion. He will be joined by Liz Bennett, District 65 State Representative, and several other officials. The Marion Civil Rights commission that's been working in the community for the past five years sent a letter of support for the event and also embraces the opportunity to include everyone at the Marion Public Library. "Our hope is that people would accept everybody who is different from them and I think a lot of this is an opportunity to educate people about the whole set of issues that are involved here," Kent Jackson, with the commission, said. 
 
T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails'  Weather First Forecast
 
 It will be mostly cloudy tonight with the chance for a few showers and storms north of Highway 20. Another cold front begins to arrive Tuesday and will lead to warmer temperatures and more humidity. There will be scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening as the front comes through. There will be an area of low pressure that moves through the Midwest on Wednesday, but there's some uncertainty on the track.