Officials say Indiana has enough gowns, masks for 13 days
State officials are urging local manufacturers to help keep supplies up by producing additional protective gear for the state’s hospitals and nursing homes.
John Russell
Articles
Nursing home operator designates facility for COVID-19, moving residents to others
A Fishers-based operator of nursing homes plans to relocate residents from one of its facilities to other sites and designate the vacated 140-bed facility for COVID-19 patients only—a move that is meeting resistance from some public officials and family members.
State launches ‘Hope’ campaign as Hoosiers seek mental health, social services in huge numbers
Gov. Eric Holcomb acknowledged the state is facing a potential mental-health crisis, and said he is committed to offering services to Hoosiers who are feeling troubled.
Residents at 29 nursing homes, state prison inmates infected with COVID-19
Both types of locations are considered serious in a pandemic, because the virus can spread quickly in confined spaces. In addition, elderly people in nursing homes or prisons with underlying medical conditions are considered especially vulnerable if they are infected.
Anthem waiving out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 treatments
Other big insurers, including Cigna, Humana and UnitedHealth Group, have already rolled out similar moves.
As Indiana COVID-19 cases rise, testing appears to have slowed
State leaders on Wednesday defended “targeted testing”—or restricting tests to certain high-risk groups—saying they didn’t want to deplete test supplies.
Lilly expands drive-thru COVID-19 testing to essential workers, vulnerable seniors
The decision means perhaps tens of thousands of additional people can get tested at Lilly’s drive-thru, including people who work in grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and other places listed by the state as essential.
Justice Department suit alleges Anthem overbilled in its popular Medicare Advantage plans
The Indianapolis-based health insurer is accused of falsely certifying the accuracy of incorrect diagnosis data from doctors and other health providers over four years.
Number of medical volunteers more than doubles in one day as COVID-19 surges in Indiana
The list of volunteer professionals includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, dentists, veterinarians, therapists and midwives. Many of those people will be used to free up health care workers who have experience with more critical care.
Lilly teams with British startup to develop autoimmune medicines
In a deal that could eventually be worth close to a billion dollars, Eli Lilly and Co. is teaming with a British biopharmaceutical company in one of the hottest areas in medical research.
UPDATE: State working to double ICU beds, ventilators, as 5,300 health care workers volunteer
The state said more than 5,300 health care workers who are not currently working in hospital settings have volunteered to help during the projected coronavirus surge, which is expected to begin in mid April.
Other cities scramble to erect field hospitals, but Indy remains mum
IUPUI said Monday it is cleaning and sanitizing University Tower to house health care workers, but no plans have been announced locally for temporary field hospitals.
Indiana still weeks away from COVID-19 peak, officials say; hospitals scramble to get ready
State officials again refused to say how many ventilators or intensive-care unit beds hospitals have, citing confidentiality agreements with hospitals and vendors. Some hospitals expect their supplies to run short in coming weeks.
Career OB/GYN thrust into spotlight as state battles COVID-19 pandemic
As Indiana state health commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box finds herself in the spotlight as the highest-ranking public health official in the state during the pandemic, which threatens to overwhelm hospitals.
Eight residents of Franklin nursing home hospitalized after positive COVID-19 tests
Officials at Otterbein Franklin SeniorLife Community say a nurse and therapist also tested positive and are recovering at home.
Indiana hospitals to pool information on medical supplies as COVID-19 surge looms
The move comes as doctors, nurses and hospitals across the country plead with federal officials to provide more critical medical supplies.
COVID-19 testing in Indiana remains sharply limited for foreseeable future
As in other states, tests are being reserved for health care workers and people with strong symptoms who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.
Lilly to launch drive-thru COVID-19 testing for health care workers
The drugmaker did not say whether it might broaden the testing in the future to include non-health care workers.
Indianapolis hospitals could be overwhelmed within weeks, new study says
This area has 1,081 intensive care unit beds, but they could be filled by coronavirus patients within weeks under numerous scenarios mapped out by the Harvard Global Health Institute.
Pharma giant Lilly to help Indiana health officials with COVID-19 testing
State officials have taken sharp criticism in the last week for the slow pace of testing. Through Tuesday, the Indiana State Department of Health had conducted 193 tests, out of which 39 were presumed positive.