Advancing Health

Clinicians bring all of their skill and mental acuity to treat the whole patient, but there are many factors that can derail their ability to provide patient care. In this new "Safety Speaks" conversation, Michael Privitera, M.D., professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses ways to ease the cognitive load that many physicians and caregivers face, and h...

Access to quality mental and physical health services can be a complex challenge, but for individuals of color and people with severe or chronic mental illnesses, finding treatment can be exceptionally hard. In this conversation, Tracey Lavallias, executive director of behavioral health at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, discusses potential solutions to make access easier for pat...

Prior to 2022, Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) was delivering 300 – 350 babies each year, offering the region's only comprehensive OB/GYN services. But when its three full-time OB/GYNs left, KVH was suddenly faced with a huge problem. In this conversation, Julie Petersen, CEO of Kittitas Valley Healthcare, discusses how her organization kept its promise to preserve essential obstetric servic...

The American Hospital Association has made improving access to rural health care a top priority, and its 2024 AHA Rural Advocacy Agenda lays the groundwork to improve the system as a whole. In this conversation, three AHA experts drill down on specific steps needed to help rural health care stay financially sound and ready to serve. This discussion took place at the 2024 Rural Health Care Conferen...

In this new “Safety Speaks” conversation, Harry S. Smith, board chair of Valley Health System and member of the AHA Committee on Governance, discusses how their organization rearranged its governance system to ensure that quality and patient safety standards were being met across the board. To learn more and sign up for the Patient Safety Initiative please visit https://www.aha.org/aha-patien...

The reality of today's health care workforce is that demand outstrips supply. For rural health care providers, building and sustaining a strong and vibrant workforce is paramount, but not easily achieved. In this conversation, Brandie Manuel, R.N., chief patient safety and quality officer at Jefferson Healthcare, discusses how the use of TeamSTEPPS and other tools are making a big difference in cr...

Providing optimal care to patients, regardless of where they live, can be a tall task for a hospital or health system. But with the advent of technology and integrated clinics, Henry Ford Health System is leading the way in serving its growing communities. In this conversation, Cathrine Frank, M.D., chair of psychiatry and behavioral health services at Henry Ford Health, shares how they utilize a...

America is facing an alarming shortage of nurses. Many experienced nurses are retiring. Burnout and other stressors, like an increase in workplace violence, also are compelling more nurses to leave their jobs.  In this conversation, Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 AHA board chair, talks with Joy Parchment, R.N., assistant professor at the Unive...

Health care pressures are often magnified for rural caregivers, yet some are developing unique solutions for these turbulent times. In this conversation, Mary Mannix, CEO and president of Augusta Health, discusses the impact that cross-training has had on high-quality patient care in their community, and how the transition to an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) ensures patients are getting the...

Hospitals and health systems never stop working to advance patient safety, while collaborating and innovating together for the best quality outcomes. Welcome to “Safety Speaks,” an Advancing Health series where hospital and health system leaders share successes from their organizations’ patient safety efforts. In this conversation, Tom Peterson, M.D., vice president and chief s...

Overall health does not fit neatly into individual buckets, which is why today's caregivers are designing treatment plans that integrate behavioral and physical health. In this conversation, Jerry Halverson, M.D., consult liaison psychiatrist at Rogers Behavioral Health, discusses the impact of these integrations on patient outcomes, and how payers are providing reimbursement for these rapidly gro...

In order for the American Hospital Association to be the most effective voice it can be for its members, personal visits to member hospitals and health systems are a must. Face-to-face conversations with health care leadership are invaluable, and a big part of the job for Chris DeRienzo, M.D., senior vice president and chief physician executive at the AHA. In this conversation, Dr. DeRienzo s...

Health care providers are working hard to move beyond the hospital walls and expand access into the communities they serve. Sentara Health is one of many organizations that are creatively identifying populations with the greatest need for health care and community services. In this conversation, Iris Lundy, R.N., vice president of health equity at Sentara Health, discusses their thoughtful approac...

As opioid abuse has reached epidemic proportions, the number of babies born dependent on these drugs also has increased dramatically. The award-winning WISH (Women and Infant Substance Help) Center at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital is combating this serious problem with innovative and people-first solutions that help mothers get off and stay off opioids and other substances. In this conversat...

As we observe AHA’s 8th annual #HAVHope Day, it's an important reminder that many hospital and health system leaders are looking for solutions to address the root causes of violence in their organizations and communities. Some AHA members have already figured out how to make their organizations a safer and more peaceful environment in which to receive care. In this conversation, Ken...

Hospitals and health systems have their hands full coping with the scary reality of a ransomware attack, but there are also civil liability concerns that arise in the fallout of a health care cybercrime. In the second of this two-part conversation, John Riggi, national advisor for cybersecurity and risk at the AHA, and Chris Van Gorder, president & CEO of Scripps Health, explore the underdiscu...

In response to the alarming rise of ransomware attacks, hospitals and health systems must stay vigilant by playing defense, having a mitigation plan in place, and keeping lines of communication open with federal law enforcement. But even when it's followed, it's no guarantee. Scripps Health did everything right, yet in May of 2021, a serious incursion occurred anyway. In part one of this two-part...

Prior authorization means getting approval from your health plan before scheduling a medical service, but many clinicians and patients say prior authorization has become an administrative nightmare, delaying or even denying needed medical care. In mid-January, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) issued a final rule designed to address some of the widespread difficulties. In t...

As Americans age, health care is seeing a shift in addressing the unique needs of older adults. But what about those caring for their loved ones? In this conversation, Diane Mariani, program manager at Rush University Medical Center, discusses their Caring for Caregivers program, which shares resources and guidance to family and friends who care for older adults, while helping them better manage t...

According to the World Health Organization, behavioral health conditions among older populations are often underrecognized, undertreated and stigmatized. Broaddus Hospital, a critical access hospital and part of Davis Health System, tackled this problem head-on with the development of Senior Life Solutions, an intensive outpatient group therapy program designed for patients 65 and older. In this c...

Across the country, hospitals and health systems are moving to fully integrate behavioral health treatment as a core part of patient-centered care. In this conversation, Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 AHA board chair, talks with Jeremy Musher, M.D., chief behavioral medical officer at Lifepoint Health, about common obstacles in the behavioral health field, i...

In 2020, Congress acted to prevent any more loss of essential health care services in rural areas by creating a new designation: Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). REHs became official on January 1, 2023. Since then, a growing number of rural care providers have voluntarily converted to this category. In this discussion, two rural health care leaders assess how the conversion to Rural Emergency Hos...

Community health workers (CHWs) serve as a bridge between social and clinical care, providing essential outreach and advocacy to populations with unmet social needs. Understanding the importance of CHWs, Montefiore Medical Center created the Community Health Worker Institute to standardize CHW training and ensure that the patients they serve receive the best possible care. In this conversation,&nb...

In addition to caring for patients, many health care providers have an equally important role at home — being parents to young children. Given the pressures of parenting, what are hospitals and health systems doing to retain new parents, especially moms, in the health care workforce? In the final episode of this award-winning series, learn how health care organizations are supporting new moms to e...

The constant strain of workforce and financial issues are proving difficult to solve for rural health care providers. In this conversation, Barbara Sowada, president of the Board of Trustees at Memorial Hospital, discusses the role board members can play in helping their hospitals and health systems navigate today’s pressing problems, and how the AHA’s resources and educational materials can provi...