As the people who must deliver honest and compassionate messaging to patients who may be facing uncertain or stressful journeys with their health, the marketing teams at hospitals and healthcare facilities have a tough task ahead of them.

The effort to achieve mass vaccination in the U.S. has gotten off to a slower-than-predicted start, plagued by supply shortages, disorganization and inadequate IT systems.

The American Heart Association and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine have created a national registry of college athletes who have had COVID-19 to help cardiologists better assess how the disease affects athletes' hearts.

From acquisitions to new initiatives to executives leaving, here are the latest of stories about health IT companies, including Google, Microsoft and Optum.

Dr. Karen Marhefka was named deputy CIO and vice president of information technology for the combined medical group of West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health, a part of New Brunswick, N.J.-based Rutgers University, according to a Jan. 15 news release. 

Arizona's worsening COVID-19 surge could soon mirror the dire situation in California, where intensive care unit availability is at 0 percent in much of the state, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 15.

There was no stockpile of second COVID-19 vaccine doses waiting to be shipped, despite reports of a stockpile and HHS Secretary Alex Azar announcing earlier this week that the government would start distributing all reserved doses of the vaccine, The Washington Post reported. 

A group of Indiana physician organizations, including many of the state's largest medical associations and specialty societies, established the Indiana Physician Coalition Jan. 14. The alliance aims to better educate lawmakers and the public on the level of training required to be a physician, and distinguish their role from that of advanced practitioners. 

Shafat Quadri, Merck's former director of medical and scientific affairs, was arrested Jan. 13 and charged with one count of theft of trade secrets and one count of unauthorized transmission of trade secrets, according to the U.S. District Court in New Jersey.

America's Essential Hospitals, an association that lobbies in Washington, D.C., said it will suspend political donations to members of Congress who voted against certifying the results of the Electoral College.

On Jan. 15, CMS issued 2022 Medicare Advantage and Part D rates three months early in a move it says will give plans more time to calculate bids for the next coverage year. 

The following leadership moves by women have been reported since Jan. 8.  

The following hospital and health system executive moves have been reported since Jan. 8:

A Court of Common Pleas judge denied Cleveland Clinic's motion to dismiss a proposed class-action suit challenging its billing practices. 

The fast-spreading coronavirus variant first identified in the U.K. has been found in Chicago, health officials said Jan. 15, according to NBC affiliate WMAQ-TV.

Researchers are studying common drugs such as antidepressants, cough medicines and nutritional supplements to treat early-state COVID-19, according to a Jan. 14 report from The Boston Globe.

CAQH CORE, a nonprofit organization that represents healthcare providers, health plans and vendors, updated connectivity rules and issued new operating rules for patient attribution data exchange.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield agreed to pay the Office for Civil Rights $5.1 million to settle potential HIPAA violations related to a data breach, HHS said Jan. 15. 

The effort to vaccinate long-term care facility residents against COVID-19 has been slowed by the federal program that sends retail pharmacists into nursing homes, reports Kaiser Health News. 

Business beats out nongovernmental organizations, governments and the media for being the most trustworthy institution in the public's eye, according to an annual report on trust from public relations firm Edelman.