Advancing Health

The influx of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is here to stay, yet there is considerable debate about the best and most effective ways to safely employ it. In this conversation, Joanne Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and the 2024 Chair of AHA's Board, and Janice Nevin, M.D., president and CEO of ChristianaCare, discuss what the rise of AI means for health care organ...

This special series explores the medical complications that can accompany pregnancy, successful prenatal and postpartum treatment programs, and how hospitals and health systems are addressing the social needs of new mothers. For many new mothers, the transition to parenthood can trigger depression and anxiety. In this episode, Laura La Porte, LCSW, manager of the Perinatal Depression Program...

For many clinicians the pressure of treating a never-ending line of patients can be stressful. The COVID pandemic has been a health care game changer, and its lasting effect on care teams accelerated issues like burnout and the need to address well-being. In this conversation, Suzanne Bentley, M.D., chief wellness officer and director of simulation, innovation and research at the New York City Hea...

One hallmark of America's rapidly changing health care system is the evolving role of physician leaders who have chosen to wear two leadership hats as both doctor and administrator. As physicians they must make quick and decisive clinical decisions about a patient’s care, while as physician-administrators they often face longer-term organizational challenges that require different types of problem...

In today's health care field, leaders must address a multitude of complex and intertwined challenges. One of the most important is supporting the well-being of their clinicians. In this conversation, experts from Kaiser Permanente and Mass General Brigham discuss how their organizations are using innovative workforce approaches to give their clinicians the resources and skills needed to thrive pro...

Thanks for listening to the Advancing Health podcast and we hope you have found it engaging and informative! As we wind up 2023 we wanted to re-release one of our most popular episodes from the last year. Advancing Health returns with new episodes in 2024. Until then we hope you and your family have a safe and wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!

Attracting and retaining skilled health care workers in rural settings is more difficult than ever before, with increasing competition from other employers and dwindling applications. But rural health care leaders aren't throwing in the towel. In this conversation, Kevin Stansbury, CEO of Lincoln Health, Debra Rudquist, president of Amery Hospital, and Karen Cheeseman, CEO of Mackinac St...

Health care has experienced challenges and tribulations over this past year, but this also has created opportunities and advancements to help positively elevate the field. In this conversation, John Haupert, president and CEO of Grady Health and the 2023 Chair of AHA’s Board, and Joanne Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and incoming 2024 AHA Board Chair, discuss the multiple...

In recent years, American health care has become acutely aware of the importance of well-being for its workers. To address the mental stresses of health care, Chicago’s Northwestern Medicine established the Scholars of Wellness program, focusing on understanding what well-being actually means, and how it can be woven into organizational culture. In this discussion, Gaurava Agarwal, M.D., vice...

The push for increased diversity and inclusion on boards of governance for hospitals and health systems is a necessity for success. A 2023 AHA national survey found that boards are paying increased attention to bringing diverse viewpoints to their membership, including from one particular group — nurses. In this conversation, Ellen Brzytwa, R.N., trustee at the Cleveland Clinic, discusses her...

The health care field needs workers, and the demand will increase even more in the years to come. Grady Health System realized that accessing a key demographic could unlock solutions to these labor shortages. In this conversation, Grady Health System’s Yolanda Wimberly, M.D., senior vice president and chief health equity officer, and Felicia Mobley, Ph. D., director of health equity, discuss their...

High levels of stress and burnout in the health care field not only cause more errors on the job, but can cost hospitals and health systems millions of dollars to replace departing staff. Having a robust employee wellness program has become a huge priority, moving the needle in recruiting and retaining staff. In this conversation, Kristine Olson, M.D., chief wellness officer at Yale New Haven Hosp...

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is essential for clinical and nursing teams to make critical patient care decisions, but what if even more patient data could be accessed? Through the use of predictive analytics, a patient’s care team can predict where the patient’s condition is heading, which leads to more informed care decisions. In this conversation, Natalie Correll-Yoder, critical care clini...

It’s estimated that the health care industry will need at least an additional 3.5 million workers in the next five years to meet demand, but where will they come from? Health care experts say there is a crucial component of new talent that is being overlooked — community health workers. In this conversation, hear from three experts who believe that expanding and integrating this talent pool i...

American health care has come a long way over the years, but there is at least one glaring exception — maternal health. This three-part series explores the medical complications that can accompany pregnancy, successful prenatal and postpartum treatment programs, and how hospitals and health systems are addressing the social needs of new mothers. In this episode, Tiffany Moore Simas, M.D., chair of...

In the U.S. health care system, the demand for behavioral health care has long outpaced availability, with many patients forced to turn to their primary care providers for help. To find a solution, Henry Ford Health System decided to get creative with a new collaborative care program that for the first time integrated primary care with behavioral health. In this conversation, four clinic...

Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) officially became a new type of care provider on January 1, 2023, expanding the scope of services that rural providers can offer. In this conversation, Laura Appel, executive vice president of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, and Christina Campos, CEO at Guadalupe County Hospital, discuss what’s involved in converting to and meeting the eligibility req...

An estimated 57 million rural Americans depend on their hospital as an important source of care and critical pillar of their community. In this conversation, Joanne Conroy, M.D., president and CEO of Dartmouth Health and board chair-elect at the AHA, discusses the future of rural hospitals and health systems in the U.S., and the possible solutions to providing quality and cost-efficient care for t...

The many emotions pregnant and postpartum women experience can have a huge impact on their mental well-being, and if left untreated can have devastating consequences. In 2022, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, offering support and resources via call o...

People of American Indian and Alaska Native descent, also known as Indigenous, are twice as likely to experience pregnancy-related deaths as white women. In this conversation, Tina Pattara-Lau, M.D., maternal and child health consultant with the Indian Health Service Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, and Johnna Nynas, M.D. obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Sanford Bemidji...

For health care organizations, welcoming a new CEO can present uneasy change — but it also allows the opportunity to creatively address some of the field's biggest hurdles. In this conversation, learn how the leadership and board of directors at Northwestern Medical Center in Vermont started their CEO searches, and how the CEO transition plan helped accelerate their organization’s s...

The American Hospital Association is proud to be a major sponsor of the 2023 Circle of Life Award, which honors health care organizations that are demonstrating innovative palliative or end-of-life care to impact the patients, families and communities they serve. In this conversation, Martha Twaddle, M.D., Waud family medical director for palliative medicine & supportive care at Northwest...

As the nursing profession continues to evolve, it is embracing new technologies and practices that allow nurses to focus on what matters most — their patients. In this conversation, John Haupert, president and CEO of Grady Health System and 2023 AHA board chair, and Mary Beth Kingston, Ph. D., R.N., executive vice president and chief nursing officer at Advocate Health and AHA board member, discuss...

Addressing burnout and the mental health of employees is not only the right thing to do, but also improves care, quality, patient satisfaction and the financial health of the organization. In this conversation, Nigel Girgrah, M.D., chief wellness officer at Ochsner Health, discusses his evolution in workforce well-being, building a business case for organizational buy-in and the importance of comb...

American health care has come a long way over the years, but there is at least one glaring exception — maternal health. This three-part series explores the medical complications that can accompany pregnancy, successful prenatal and postpartum treatment programs, and how hospitals and health systems are addressing the social needs of new mothers. In this episode, Stacy Garrett-Ray, M.D., senior vic...