AHA’s Behavioral Health Team, in collaboration with AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, Sept. 16 released an infographic highlighting minority mental health. The infographic includes data on mental health care access and health risks for Black, Latino and Asian Americans versus white Americans, as well as ways hospitals can support patients in these communities ..read more

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

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a request for information that seeks information on artificial intelligence use from health care providers, companies and others that can improve health care outcomes and care delivery. CMS plans to select organizations on a rolling basis to give 15-minute demonstrations of their AI products and services to the agency during quarterly CMS AI Demo Days which begin in October. The presentations will inform future CMS actions on AI. The deadline for questions is Sept. 27 and responses are due by Oct. 7 ..read more

September 17 is World Patient Safety Day. It’s an opportunity to spotlight the importance of ensuring all patients receive safe, quality care in all health care settings.Patient safety is always the top priority at hospitals and health systems every day. Physicians, nurses, environmental services team members, pharmacists, therapists, lab technicians, C-suite executives and board members — everyone working in a hospital keeps safety top of mind 24/7/365.The AHA last year launched the Patient Safety Initiative to reaffirm hospital and health system leadership and commitment to patient safety. T ..read more

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 and what can be improved when the next disaster strikes. LISTEN NOW ..read more

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Oct. 21 will host a webinar on meeting new hospital price transparency requirements which become effective Jan. 1. The most recent changes became effective July 1, which require hospitals to use a standard machine-readable file format, which includes some new data elements, such as the negotiated rate methodology and an accuracy and completeness statement ..read more

More than 5.5 million women live in counties with no or limited access to maternity care services, due to recent hospital closures and obstetric service reductions, according to a report released Sept. 10 by the March of Dimes. More than one-third of counties are now classified as maternity care deserts, and the report found that over half of all counties do not have a hospital that provides obstetric care other than on an emergency basis. These results are consistent with other national estimates of rural obstetric care, including a 2022 GAO report.  The AHA has highlighted ..read more

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bob Casey, D-Pa., Sept. 11 introduced the SEPSIS Act, legislation which would task the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with building on its current efforts addressing sepsis care. New efforts would include an education campaign about addressing sepsis in hospitals, improving pediatric sepsis data collection, sharing information with the Department of Health and Human Services on data collection, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on sepsis quality measures, and the development and implementation of ..read more

In a new AHA video, Daryl Tol, former CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida, speaks on his personal struggle with anxiety and why health care leadership must reduce the stigma around employees talking about their mental health. WATCH NOW ..read more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sept. 12 released a rural health strategic plan which includes the agency’s key priorities, objectives and outcomes in rural health for the next five years. The CDC's priorities include advancing results-based engagement with partners and communities to address rural health challenges, strengthening rural health infrastructure and the workforce, advancing rural health science and improving rural health preparedness and response capacity. As part of the fiscal year 2023 Congressional appropriations, CDC created an Office of Rural Health to coordina ..read more