Accessing mental health and addiction services can be especially difficult in rural communities, and solutions can be scarce. In this conversation, Brenda Romero, administrator at Presbyterian Española Hospital, discusses the methods for accessing treatment and the importance of the hospital's innovative and community-focused work.

Clinical validation audits are a new tactic that certain commercial insurers are adopting to reduce or deny payment to health care providers. These audits can take months or even years to be adjudicated and resolved. In this conversation, Richelle Marting, director of managed care contracting at North Kansas City Hospital, and Chris Thompson, executive director of reimbursement and compliance for managed care at AdventHealth, discuss the rapid growth in these audits, the financial strain they...

Since 1982, The John A. Hartford Foundation has been a national leader in raising awareness and improving health care for older adults. In this conversation, Rani Snyder, vice president, Program at The John A. Hartford Foundation, discusses the importance of Action Communities in age-friendly care, and why health organizations should use the tools they provide to build exceptional care frameworks.

The Farmer Angel Network is a support group devoted to suicide prevention in Wisconsin's farming communities. In this conversation, Brenda Statz, co-founder of the Farmer Angel Network, Carey Craker, marketing and volunteer services associate at Reedsburg Area Medical Center, and Christy Updike, transformation program manager at Sauk Prairie Healthcare, discuss how this impactful work began, the domino effect that suicide can have in farming towns, and the resources available to support...

The American Hospital Association's Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award honors the most outstanding examples of health equity across America. In today's conversation, this year's winners discuss the successful strategies they’ve implemented to advance the work of health equity in their hospitals and beyond.

The devastating 2023 Maui wildfires claimed 102 lives, destroyed more than 2,200 structures and caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damages. One year later, as communities recover, caregivers and first responders are reflecting on what was learned and how to prepare for future disasters. In this conversation, Hilton Raethel, president and CEO of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, describes how the tragedy unfolded, the steps health care providers took in the face of an unparalleled crisis...

Health care leaders are learning that removing silos between physical and mental health care not only benefits patients, but also helps with the recruitment and retention of desperately needed behavioral health specialists. In this conversation, Stacey Ouellette, director of Behavioral Health Integration with Maine Behavioral Healthcare, discusses the positive impact integrated care has had on workplace productivity and satisfaction, and how it's made their teams more connected across the...

Advancing Health's new series, “Caring for Our Kids,” focuses on how pediatric hospitals are meeting the needs of their communities. In this first episode, learn about the Texas Children's Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Program, and the impact it has had on the lives of young cancer patients.

Most maternal deaths do not occur in the hospital, but after discharge, postpartum to one year. And there are equity challenges; Black women die at three times the rate of white women from birth-related complications. In this conversation, Veronica Gillispie-Bell, M.D., OB-GYN at Ochsner Health, discusses successful strategies to reduce maternal morbidity after childbirth, and how these solutions should always start with equity at the forefront.

Everyone in a health care organization has a role to play to advance health equity, but what does it take to weave this important work into the fabric of everyday operations? In this conversation, Children's Mercy Kansas City's John Cowden, M.D., director of the Culture & Language Coaching Program, and Jessi Johnson, health equity specialist, discuss what makes equity integration at the health system so unique, and how initial discussions with employees helped guide equity principles. 

Advancing health equity is a key priority for the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA), with both developing key initiatives and programs dedicated to these efforts. In this conversation, Joy Lewis, senior vice president of health equity strategies at the AHA, speaks with Aletha Maybank, M.D., senior vice president and chief health equity officer at the AMA, about the challenges in the health equity space, and the opportunities that can make a...

The American Hospital Association’s Quest for Quality Prize recognizes exceptional health care leadership and innovation in improving quality and advancing health in America’s communities. In this conversation, leaders from the 2024 Quest for Quality winner, WellSpan Health, and finalists Carilion Clinic, Jefferson Health and MUSC Health, discuss their organizations' work in providing safe, patient- and family-centered care, and share how they partner with community organizations to keep...

Health care is under constant threat of cyberattacks, but how prepared is the industry to fight back? The lack of resources is especially acute in rural areas. In this conversation, cyber security experts from the AHA and Microsoft, discuss the urgent need to build a cyber strong workforce, particularly in rural hospital and health systems, and how methods such as re-skilling can sustain permanent cyber readiness. For more information on this work, please email: [email protected]

Two clinicians and a vehicle — that's the model Sheppard Pratt has been using to provide behavioral health access to its communities. In this conversation, Jason Melegari, R.N., director of clinical services at Sheppard Pratt, discusses how the organization's mobile behavioral health initiative was road tested, and the positive difference it is making for accessibility. 

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is the winner of the AHA’s 2024 Foster G. McGaw Prize, which recognizes the efforts of hospitals and health systems to improve the health and well-being of their communities. In this conversation, Thea James, M.D., vice president of mission with BMC, discusses the organization's evolution with health disparity work, and how BMC’s creation of the Health Equity Accelerator helped lead the way to achieve health justice in their communities.

Building a culture of safety is the foundation for any hospital or health system. In this "Safety Speaks" conversation, Christi Barney, R.N., vice president of quality and patient safety at Emerson Health, discusses their innovative approach to culture building, and how quality and safety trainings for all stakeholders drove buy-in and measurable success across the health system.

Nationwide, there is a critical shortage of trained care providers to meet the needs of kids struggling with mental health issues, and the problem is especially acute in rural areas. In this conversation, three experts from Dartmouth Health discuss their five-part virtual behavioral health training program, "Keeping Students Safe: Supporting Youth in Mental Health Distress." Backed by a federal grant, the program offers tools for care providers to help guide young people through their mental...

Cybercriminals are ramping up attacks on health care systems throughout the United States, with a majority of these crimes originating from international, state-sponsored bad actors. In this conversation, John Riggi, national advisor for cybersecurity and risk at the AHA, talks with Oliver E. Rich, Jr., assistant director of the FBI’s International Operations Division, about the unique ways the bureau operates across the globe, and the essential role that diplomacy and cooperation play in...

A shrinking workforce presents a host of challenges for any health care organization. With fewer caregivers available, hospital staff can have their bandwidth stretched to the breaking point. In this conversation, Darryl A. Elmouchi, M.D., chief operating officer of Corewell Health, discusses the current constraints facing caregivers when managing their day-to-day responsibilities, and how Corewell piloted innovative programs to help their employees get back to the main priority of patient care.

Hospital boards are comprised of leaders from all types of professional backgrounds, and are also primarily responsible for developing the quality and safety plans for their organizations. In this new "Safety Speaks" conversation, Jamie Orlikoff, president of Orlikoff & Associates, Inc. and national adviser on governance and leadership at the AHA, discusses the role hospital boards can play in supporting quality and safety within their health systems, and how board members who aren't...

In this conversation, Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 AHA board chair, speaks with her colleague Robert E. Brady, director of Anxiety Disorders Service at Dartmouth Health, about different types of anxieties and their prevalence in today’s culture. The two also discuss how the health care community is being acutely affected by the rise in anxiety disorders.  This is an edited conversation. To hear the full version please visit...

2024 has seen a sharp uptick in ruthless tactics by cybercriminals, who are now directly threatening patients with release of sensitive information, photos and medical records. In one instance, cybercriminals went as far as submitting a phony incident report to local police, triggering a harrowing visit from a SWAT Team. In this conversation, John Riggi, national advisor for cybersecurity and risk at the AHA, talks with two experts about the rise in these tactics, and what’s needed to fight...

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 how simple steps can be implemented to make it easier to focus on what's most important. To learn...

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 patients, including cultural competency training, medical interpreter services, and most importantly,...

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 services for women of all ages.