Advancing Health

Mergers, acquisitions and affiliations. Most health care leaders agree that the future, especially for rural providers, will involve more cooperation and partnerships. In this podcast, three leaders from rural health care systems agree that every community must find its own unique way to maximize its health care resources while maintaining the best possible care for patients.

2023 AHA Board Chair John Haupert talks with three health care leaders affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): Terri Poe, chief nursing officer at UAB Medicine; Maria Rodriguez Shirey, dean of the UAB School of Nursing; and Shea Polancich, assistant dean for clinical innovation, UAB School of Nursing. Haupert and the UAB team discuss innovative ways to address workforce chal...

Ruby Kirby is a proud and accomplished member of a small club: African American women who are CEO’s of rural hospitals. The 2022 recipient of AHA’s Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award, Kirby is CEO of both Bolivar and Camden hospitals. In this podcast, she discusses what has worked in making progress in quality and equity in rural health and how her team is using data to drive action and mentorin...

The AHA’s prestigious Foster G. McGaw Prize honors health delivery organizations that have demonstrated a strategic approach to community health and health equity. Finalist Cedars-Sinai was one of the organizations honored in 2023 for leading the way. In this conversation, Jonathan Schreiber, Cedars-Sinai VP of community engagement, shares how they’re continually working to provide better care thr...

Rural health care providers face challenges in caring for their communities while coping with finite resources. In this conversation, guest Kevin Barnett, senior investigator with the Public Health Institute and board member for Trinity Health, discusses what it will take for rural providers to bridge the gap between clinical care and community population health, while also improving health equity...

In the health care field one of the scariest types of infections is called CLABSI, or Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection. In this episode, Nishant Prasad, M.D., attending physician and program director of infectious diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, shares how they re-approached CLABSI prevention by deeply examining structure and process, and how their work got them to zero CLABS...

Succession planning can feel like a luxury in health care, but its importance cannot be overstated. As hospitals continue to face workforce challenges, it is more critical than ever that they invest time and resources into developing and growing the next generation of leaders. Brian Juncker, managing partner of Strategic Talent Solutions, and Frank Venuto, Chief Human Capital Officer at Nebraska M...

Squeezed budgets, lack of insurance, transportation and access issues, dwindling patient populations — all problems facing rural health care providers in America. Titus Regional Medical Center is one such rural health system, serving about 88,000 people as the last independent system still operating in northeast Texas. In this episode, Terry Scoggin, CEO of Titus Regional Medical Center, discusses...

The population of adults ages 65 and older will exceed 95 million in the United States by the year 2060. As Americans age, hospitals and health systems need to adapt their models of care to address the unique needs of older adults. In this episode, Sonja Rosen, M.D., chief of geriatrics at Cedars-Sinai, shares updates on their journey as an Age-Friendly Health System, and discusses a multidiscipli...

Fostering trust in both the COVID-19 vaccines and other necessary pediatric vaccinations is an essential part of Gillette Children's effort to protect families and their communities. In this episode, Micah Niermann, M.D. discusses how Gillette Children's is reaching their pediatric community and fighting vaccine misinformation.

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 was Congress’ fix to the confusing statutes that regulated the cyber threat information that could pass between the private sector and the federal government. Eight years later, many people still don’t know the law exists or what a valuable tool it can be. In this episode, guest Leonard Bailey, head of Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Secti...

One of the biggest challenges communities faced during the COVID-19 pandemic wasn't just the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccines, but convincing people to take them. In this conversation, hear how MUSC Health in Charleston, South Carolina and the Charleston School district set the example by collaborating with community stakeholders in the school system and beyond to spread confidence in the C...

The LGBTQIA+ community often faces barriers to equitable health care. In this conversation, guest David W. Rosenthal, D.O. of Northwell Health discusses bias, the specific needs of LGBTQIA+ patients, education and training for health care workers, and the paths to creating competent and outstanding health care for all people.

There are many creative ways that hospitals and care providers support their communities beyond offering great medical care. In 2017 UMass Memorial Health chose to reimagine itself as an “anchor” hospital, taking on much more responsibility for the welfare of the communities it serves. Hear how in this conversation between John Haupert, president and CEO of Grady Health System and the 2023 Chair o...

For Black women who are hospital and health system CEOs, it's been difficult to find and connect with others like themselves. In 2022, the AHA launched the Black Women CEO Roundtable to create a support system and facilitate meaningful connections. In this conversation, roundtable member Asha Rodriguez, vice president, facility executive with Atrium Health Cabarrus, reflects on how the roundtable’...

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a big problem in health systems across the country. HAIs can be defeated, and Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City recently experienced great success in getting to the magic number of zero with three different HAIs. Today's guest, Dr. Waleed Javaid, MSBI epidemiologist and director of Infection Prevention and Control, shares tried and true strategies...

Men can have a significant influence in supporting women during their pregnancy, and can be essential allies in creating better outcomes for mother and child. Guests Dr. Amina Alio of University of Rochester Medical Center, and Jonathan Webb, CEO of the Association of Women's Health Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses, explore the role of fathers in maternal and child health, and how addressing fathers...

The creation of the Rural Emergency Hospital designation on January 1, 2023 was intended to offer struggling rural hospitals a new financial lifeline. Converting to REH has its benefits, but also its challenges. Anson General Hospital CEO Ted Matthews and chief nursing officer Anna Doan speak about how this new designation has worked out so far, and what the local patient population thinks about t...

Today marks the start of Community Health Improvement Week, a time to highlight hospitals and community organizations working together to enhance health. In this episode, the AHA’s Nancy Myers and Chris DeRienzo discuss where community health and equity goals are headed, and what are the driving forces behind the movement to align them.

Serving a small rural community in upper Michigan, Mackinac Straits Health System was once in dire financial straits, operating on only a few days of cash reserves. Karen Cheeseman, Mackinac Straits president and CEO, explains how the health system turned things around thanks to strategic planning and critical investments from community partners.

Communicating information is critical during emergencies and disasters. Phelps Health shares proven strategies for successful risk communication in times of crisis, which can be adopted by other health care organizations.

There is growing awareness in the health care field that becoming a better steward of the environment is something well within the capabilities of most health caregivers. In fact, it benefits the overall mission in ways we often don’t think about. One environmental officer whose health care organization has been paying close attention to environmental sustainability and reducing its carbon footpri...

A survey of 1,000 caregivers in April of 2022 found that 92 percent had directly experienced or witnessed workplace violence. The problem has been growing exponentially for years, and prompted the AHA to create #HAVhope Day, a national day of awareness to highlight how America’s hospitals and health systems combat violence in their workplaces and communities. Hear some of the ways health care lead...

America’s health care workers are the backbone of hospitals and health systems to provide strong patient care. Hear recommendations for the bold and innovative approaches that are needed to support current staff, and recruit the health care workers of tomorrow. This podcast is sponsored by Relias.

The shortage of behavioral health care professionals is a serious public health issue, particularly in rural areas. In rural Iowa, some care providers have found successful new pathways to recruit, train and retain behavioral health specialists.