/ en Thu, 01 May 2025 11:09:08 -0500 Tue, 09 Jan 24 08:35:46 -0600 /magazinenewspaper/2024-01-09-aha-site-nuetral-advocacy-alliance-bulletin-january-8-2024 <p><strong>Register for Jan. 11 Site-neutral Advocacy Alliance call</strong></p><p>The AHA’s Site-neutral Advocacy Alliance will meet on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. ET. This call will feature updates on site-neutral provisions moving through Congress and next steps. <strong>Register for the Jan. 11 call </strong><a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPeilndrxoUD3f8P1VAL38olue7Qf6-VwlhLXOHpbC5SX7CZBFYRS4qYV44c8o1xlZVp8%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C3dbc4dbb497c4c59466508dc1085be72%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638403413812575224%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=opc0QU1PspLdCWQtCq4ex%2FcyfH5jE9MjsWYNM3JvQMA%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" id="" originalsrc="https://email.advocacy.aha.org/NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPeilndrxoUD3f8P1VAL38olue7Qf6-VwlhLXOHpbC5SX7CZBFYRS4qYV44c8o1xlZVp8=" shash="d7HVWksbaIJ80LDEZBvn3k3C9l2tkVsXD6OQGwMLm3ExA7QLGyCWMNOgeBXe4SagMU8uBh8vjmIWzJSqoWjfQCaH6GPPREiauKhxM0xLNNquyZ2ZCga5qtzd2gKXCTMZ5oY+Ux/BTL0b7T2/Hy5j5GWRQFQ0mLJk96QwJzd0XhU="><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong><br><br>Please continue to urge your members of Congress to oppose including site-neutral cuts as part of a potential health care package tied to the Jan. 19 appropriations deadline. To help with your outreach, AHA’s <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPeqlU4Gnh0ykrG0T-AF2Jw6zpLQ2I8sDr0oKLBZKAvFMzhrs9aeIkzQ_0UEgiERF66Hc%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C3dbc4dbb497c4c59466508dc1085be72%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638403413812575224%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BteqiX8ofUoil1IP8DuFUWVUfqGNLT6ichkcEnXYxwo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" id="" originalsrc="https://email.advocacy.aha.org/NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPeqlU4Gnh0ykrG0T-AF2Jw6zpLQ2I8sDr0oKLBZKAvFMzhrs9aeIkzQ_0UEgiERF66Hc=" shash="kQlpE1oEBxTeChWlc+HrEJHZFZ73EhJlZy5Nfskz7t/SaXDpM0BhVgggTvFy9Kg3d2+A9vVnAchQo4aTih1eKTKh9pA2kCSFOvn23w7dy6cHyYdwzg2yAcC5/V4MK/8U6nkldMo3ZhRM4YwXxFHdaMaAmMm90gHISUEHjetC7wg=">site-neutral advocacy webpage</a> contains a number of helpful resources, including:</p><ul type="disc"><li>A <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPe0NXDGFzsqpobAWyym9OW-OMX6xJ22FsxgeawhaeNz0sd4TOTj5W6JL9Bo5RhjygI_A%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C3dbc4dbb497c4c59466508dc1085be72%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638403413812575224%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ijdAN%2F74xEJclnwH5mzHPJKLAjI6G5AefN0ikrw%2Fi7s%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" id="" originalsrc="https://email.advocacy.aha.org/NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPe0NXDGFzsqpobAWyym9OW-OMX6xJ22FsxgeawhaeNz0sd4TOTj5W6JL9Bo5RhjygI_A=" shash="Pik//Iwu6KH6nSrZutLHsiKjDDcD5wexd/l2OycaFlYraySV+rVk9ZrbNouUDY0wPp0VAZx0IwUYEKRSIPJSmjKZrBExhCC5NAhXSsVZaNdx1u/0SULsvRNSEUTwkuoo0zov943Rz90lAlQyzsOgTlbi70SLN09GatbRzX+8q9Q=">fact sheet</a> opposing site-neutral payment policies.</li><li>A <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPe3F66jTA-27-HCgzeP3b_9MysD5QiNltJqF04R7gptHQh71w8taGk6gZeFY3U4gN-M8%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C3dbc4dbb497c4c59466508dc1085be72%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638403413812575224%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rRzSoPbxSYFv3BLAfsjvaX%2BR26btdDo61NeCSXP2%2FLo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" id="" originalsrc="https://email.advocacy.aha.org/NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPe3F66jTA-27-HCgzeP3b_9MysD5QiNltJqF04R7gptHQh71w8taGk6gZeFY3U4gN-M8=" shash="DJo51PYBlqjpkydH6C36DV835RlbNyIggJshfuzedbYT7IfqrpntZBWA7HPz7+R5yZMiU6/h6IkBR80p41nyjptL54sR3T6qg0Py/PxTna/CYQtiF4B/nue4WIY5ZwxbJ1oKFVvecLmxYr44ksVRbSJPX4xoTeU5se3QKFNE68Y=">chart</a> that highlights the rigorous standards for safe drug administration and preparation requirements that hospitals must meet compared to other sites of care.</li><li>An <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPek-I8U2obf1cWd7JNmTyvzut6qfKScp2RHScSNJ788hgJuFX82dWRPGjK7YCSihBOkk%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C3dbc4dbb497c4c59466508dc1085be72%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638403413812575224%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=A5Y5iZoseqbuAkyCnO0njfiwDojxgS%2FcUPHpA1%2FJ%2FD8%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" id="" originalsrc="https://email.advocacy.aha.org/NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPek-I8U2obf1cWd7JNmTyvzut6qfKScp2RHScSNJ788hgJuFX82dWRPGjK7YCSihBOkk=" shash="WDT+c/66pru32lD0Dss5NAsC1qSuD59iBIcqmQNV5I1pIZwLrMp0hnkO+3+ld86pUHYR74vZK1OiS4sVzCKn5+cnZ5TOG5HBeugnsGJsVlK20Z5jTW3fvlg5XBRfCt2RLLc9lPUfikuV4/8gFnfCmTAd3i07tp+YBD8KJus7HoQ=">infographic</a> that shows private equity firms and health insurers — not hospitals — are responsible for most of the physician practice acquisitions during the last five years.</li></ul><p><strong>Further questions</strong></p><p>If you have further questions, please contact Jason Kleinman, AHA’s senior associate director of federal relations, at <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPegcAcIN7SboXzCyrHXqCOa2uw8y3NrSvdmJiWxQUUz5x9l9nqsyPG1YCwk3LgpgHlCY%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C3dbc4dbb497c4c59466508dc1085be72%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638403413812575224%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=9R9wivpB61FQ3cSt1mRJx%2BBcaTrBHrPXIQkMmv4QmEE%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" id="" originalsrc="https://email.advocacy.aha.org/NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGQiaqPegcAcIN7SboXzCyrHXqCOa2uw8y3NrSvdmJiWxQUUz5x9l9nqsyPG1YCwk3LgpgHlCY=" shash="UgHp0cnO6l3XLMQufOOnP4ZPp0H5o/iEzMUY/pReptvBEcNKiP0fiBZxZ8dVIut4kQEV/YpyaD8b/7mmauoSYp45nSHJaB91BUyi883OppbCPeEWhsRDhmg5aeBQLuUTRsi73uaM/opISeyARwTjkTJ9w6MW3s388h9B60quWUs=">jkleinman@aha.org</a></p> Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:35:46 -0600 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2019-01-03-ligature-risk-requirements <p>Few events in health care facilities are as catastrophic — and preventable — as a patient suicide. Yet data indicate that suicide incidents are a serious problem, which suggests that hospitals must do a better job not only of identifying and monitoring patients at risk but removing the means to accomplish suicide in the physical environment.</p> <p>The facts are sobering: The suicide rate has increased more than 25 percent nationwide from 1999 to 2016, per a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, which also found that 54 percent of those who died by suicide in that period did not suffer from a mental health condition. According to the CDC, suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, taking more than 40,000 lives a year. The most recent data published by the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) reveals that, in 2015, 83 suicides occurred in medical facilities.</p> <p>The vast majority of these inpatient suicides have resulted from hanging, most commonly in a bathroom or bedroom and often using a door or its handle or hinge; a head, handle, bar or door in the shower; a ceiling or sink pipe; or another type of fixture as the ligature fixation point. Logic dictates that eliminating these and other ligature risks from the environment of a patient with suicidal ideation is necessary. Standards and requirements by accrediting organizations mandate as much. But the truth is, many health care organizations are misinterpreting the requirements for reducing ligature risk. Others mistakenly believe that new ligature-resistance rules have been put into effect, which is not accurate. And plenty suffer from the misconception that eliminating ligature points is the only effective solution. In reality, decreasing ligature risks isn’t practical in many hospitals. Additionally, it’s not the best or sole option. The key to more successfully preventing suicides is for health care organizations to change their way of thinking about this issue. They need to realize that ligature resistance is secondary to a more important priority: providing continuous one-to-one (1:1) observation of any patient with suicidal ideation.</p> Thu, 03 Jan 2019 10:25:29 -0600 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2019-01-03-behavioral-design-strategies <p>Beginning any behavioral health project takes a unique frame of reference that allows designers to understand that the environment of care is a critical component of the patient care plan. A truly successful project is one that provides patient and staff safety, along with a pleasant environment that provides patient privacy, dignity and respect. Emergency departments (EDs) are unique environments of care when it comes to behavioral health needs. They provide acute care without a prior appointment, so prediction of when, or if, care for a behavioral health patient will be needed, is not possible. The patient type also can vary widely. Patients can present with acute care needs that must be stabilized but also have a range of emotional, mental or substance misuse issues. Prediction of the case load and patient type makes it hard to determine how prepared a department should be. However, one thing is certain, behavioral health cases in the ED are on the rise.</p> Thu, 03 Jan 2019 10:21:16 -0600 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2018-05-22-sacramento-discuss-part-kaisers-200-million-investment-fight <p>May 2018 - Kaiser Permanente, an Oakland-based nonprofit health care provider, recently announced a $200 million investment in affordable and supportive housing to prevent homelessness nationwide. The initial focus will be on preventing displacement and homelessness in low- and middle-income households. Learn more in this <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article211617389.html" target="_blank"><em>Sacramento Bee</em> story</a>.</p> Tue, 22 May 2018 14:05:18 -0500 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2015-08-10-2015-most-wired <p>This year's winners of Health Care's Most Wired Survey are employing information technology to help they achieve the Triple Aim of health care. These hosptials ensure their application of HIT is driving value, connecting patients and physicians and even moving outside of the hospital's four walls. More than 2,213 hospitals (39 percent of all U.S. hospitals) participated in the benchmarking survey, which is now in its 17th year. Based on the criteria, 338 organziations achieved the Most Wired designation, a 10 percent decrease from 2014 due to additional requirements. </p> <p>According to the article, one stand out is in patient engagement, which can partially be attributed to Stage 2 requirements of meaningful use regulations, but something more. The survey shows that more than two-thirds of Most Wired hospitals are providing and enagaging patients and families via the Internet to learn more about their conditions. The more sophisticated are even providng e-visits with care teams. </p> <p>Read the entire article by clicking 'view item' below.</p> Mon, 10 Aug 2015 00:00:00 -0500 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2015-07-01-when-doctors-dont-talk-doctors <p>This <em>New York Times</em> blog was written by a resident in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. She describes two patient encounters. First, a family decided on a course of action and before she knew it, another physician went ahead with a procedure the family decided against. Second, a patient received three visits at her bedside by three different physicians, each telling her a completely different procedure.</p> <p>Review other HPOE resources on improving communication.</p> <ul> <li><a href='../../resources/hpoehretaha-guides/2598'>Improving Patient Safety Culture through Teamwork and Communication: TeamSTEPPS</a></li> <li><a href='../../resources/hanys-case-studies/859'>Implementation of TeamSTEPPS to Improve Communication, Patient Outcomes and Reduce Clinical Errors</a></li> <li><a href='../../resources/iha-case-studies/2405'>Closing the Communication Loop</a></li> <li><a href='../../resources/chair-files/488'>Improving and Sustaining Teamwork</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Vist the <a href='http://www.ahaphysicianforum.org/' target='_blank'>AHA's Physician Leadership Forum</a> for other resources tailored to doctors.</p> Wed, 01 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0500 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2015-06-09-how-succeed-fee-service-while-preparing-value-based-payment <p>This blog post is from <em>H&HN</em>, the journal of the ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Association and was written by Rita E. Numerof, Ph.D., president, Numerof & Associates, Inc., St. Louis.</p> <p>Here are the concluding statements:</p> <p>A number of recent developments have accelerated the need for predictable and transparent outcomes in health care delivery. These include financial penalties for 'never events' and excessive readmissions, mandates for the public release of rates charged by hospitals, new policies and regulations such as health insurance exchanges, and tools to help consumers evaluate comparative cost and quality for the care they need.</p> <p>For a particular service, organizations should be able to clearly define what's included and what's not included as well as to provide quality guarantees irrespective of where that service is offered along the continuum of care. Organizations that can effectively manage the cost and quality of care within the walls of their own institutions and form meaningful partnerships with like-minded external care providers will be well-positioned to achieve this goal.</p> <p>Differentiation will come from more effective execution of 'standard' protocols reflected in new outcome metrics as well as transparent economic and clinical value data. These data also can demonstrate a value story that will resonate with different key stakeholders. Patients will want to understand why the provider is better than the competition, and payers will want to see evidence of consistent outcomes and predictable costs. Institutions that do not provide such economic and clinical value data risk being omitted from consideration, and thus losing out on patients.</p> <p>The path forward is clearer than many might want to admit. It is a difficult and strenuous journey — one that challenges traditional norms, requires new competencies and introduces fundamentals that haven't been the mainstay of health care delivery. The pay-off for those organizations that invest now will be significant, both in the short term and long term.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> Tue, 09 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0500 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2015-06-03-hhs-cvs-collaborate-educate <p>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CVS Health will colaborate to put lifesaving information about preventive services into the hands of millions of consumers where they are already looking for it—on CVS Health's MinuteClinic.com and CVS.com/myhealthfinder websites.</p> <p> </p> Wed, 03 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0500 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2015-05-11-four-ways-hospitals-are-improving-behavioral-health-care <p>This article highlights what hospitals are doing to improve access to behavioral health services. It includes case studies from:</p> <ul> <li>Montefiore Health System: Integrating psychiatry into primary care</li> <li>Atlantic Health System: Building a full continuum of behavioral health</li> <li>Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis: Linking up all the providers</li> <li>Lee Memorial Health System: Helping ED patients get outpatient services</li> </ul> Mon, 11 May 2015 00:00:00 -0500 Magazine/Newspaper /magazinenewspaper/2015-03-10-collaborating-communities-redefine-hospital <p>This article from Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Association, details the report from the 2014 committee on research. Among other point, the authors highlight the following:</p> <p>Far from being insulated to the challenges and opportunities associated with change and transformation, hospitals and health care systems should consider new ways to engage with communities and assess how changes in the health care delivery system will affect patients and consumers. Hospitals should be redefined in a manner that positively impacts the overall health of a community and is supported by the community.</p> <p><br />The AHA believes that changes as significant as those likely to occur in the coming decade need to be planned for, not only within the hospitals, but also with strong input and engagement from the local community. In 2014, the AHA Committee on Research and the Committee on Performance Improvement focused on how hospitals can engage with community stakeholders to discuss the changing health care landscape. The committees also examined how hospitals can educate and engage leaders at the governance level — those who can help to navigate new payment models, delivery system reforms and community health challenges.</p> <p><br />The Leadership Toolkit includes a report plus several tools and resources that address community engagement and governance strategies for hospital leaders.</p> Tue, 10 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0500 Magazine/Newspaper