/ en Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:50:56 -0500 Wed, 11 Jun 25 10:50:32 -0500 /role-hospitals-uva-health-aims-reduce-carbon-footprint-paper-pill-bottles <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-5"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-06/ths-uva-paper-pill-bottles-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="UVA Health. An orange plastic pill bottle is shown on the left, next to one of UVA's new paper pill bottles " width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>At UVA Health, the iconic orange plastic pill bottle is getting a makeover. Some prescriptions are now being filled in a new, recyclable paper bottle. Made with 100% recyclable materials and a compostable paper core, the bottles, called Tully Tubes, debuted at some UVA Health pharmacies in April. They will eventually be available in all UVA Health pharmacy locations. The bottles are still child- and moisture-resistant.</p><p>“Traditional plastic vials can be difficult to recycle, but sustainable alternatives that maintain safety, quality and usability have been limited,” said (https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2025/04/22/uva-health-pharmacy-paper-pill-bottles/) Carrie Kovacik, PharmD, manager of UVA Health’s ambulatory pharmacy supply chain. “These paper-based bottles offer a step forward in reducing our introduction of single-use plastics into our community.”</p><p>The paper bottles cost about the same to produce as traditional plastic bottles while generating about 30% less carbon. The reduction of UVA Health’s carbon footprint by switching entirely to paper bottles would be the equivalent of not driving more than 24,000 miles in a gas-powered vehicle.</p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:50:32 -0500 Leveraging Technology /care-delivery-transformation/clinical/technology-enabled-care <div class="cdt-banner-wrap"><div class="clinical-banner-wrap"><div class="clinical-banner-wrap-content"><h1 class="text-align-center">Technology-enabled Care</h1><h2 class="text-align-center">Care Delivery Transformation Framework<br><span>Clinical Settings</span></h2></div></div></div> Wed, 11 Jun 2025 04:44:42 -0500 Leveraging Technology /care-delivery-transformation/community/telehealth <div class="cdt-banner-wrap"><div class="community-banner-wrap"><div class="community-banner-wrap-content"><h1 class="text-align-center">Telehealth Resources</h1><h2 class="text-align-center">Care Delivery Transformation Framework<br><span>Community Settings</span></h2></div></div></div> Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:48:25 -0500 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-06-03-why-rural-hospitals-may-have-some-advantages-drive-tech-innovation <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Why-Rural-Hospitals-May-Have-Some-Advantages-to-Drive-Tech-Innovation.png" data-entity-uuid="bb0adbd4-9ef7-48af-89da-1fc1b74bdad5" data-entity-type="file" alt="Why Rural Hospitals May Have Some Advantages to Drive Tech Innovation. A clinician with a stethoscope around her neck, wearing a white lab coat and holding a clipboard stands in a rural field of grain. Around her is a mandala of AI circuits." width="1200" height="751"><p>Rural hospitals and health systems may not have the size, resources or scale of their urban and academic medical center counterparts, but they have ideal traits to help spur technology innovation.</p><p>Rural health organizations offer the agility, practicality and a culture of creative problem-solving, <a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/industry-voices-plan-do-study-disrupt-how-rural-hospitals-can-power-innovation" target="_blank" title="Fierce Healthcare Industry Voices: Plan, do, study, disrupt—how rural hospitals can power innovation">notes Jason Cohen, M.D., in a recent blog</a>. Cohen, formerly chief medical officer at North Valley Hospital in Montana, is now chief medical officer-inpatient for <a href="https://www.qventus.com/" target="_blank" title="Qventus">Qventus</a>, a tech company providing AI-powered care operations automation software to improve health system efficiency.</p><p>Rural hospitals, by necessity, are experts in working “lean,” Cohen writes. “They typically lack the resources of larger systems, but their experience of doing more with less makes them understanding partners for startups.”</p><p>Feedback loops also run deeper in rural settings, he notes. Providers and patients are used to more personal, face-to-face interactions — and often are more generous with their time and insights. Though the volume of interactions may be lower, the quality is higher, offering sharper, more actionable feedback for startups, Cohen adds.</p><h2>How Rural Hospitals Can Advocate for Innovation</h2><p>Cohen offers the following suggestions for ways rural hospitals can become advocates for innovation to drive greater tech advances that can lead to greater efficiency in the field.</p><ol class="red"><li class="red"><strong>Develop in-house expertise</strong> across clinical, technical and operational teams. This helps rural systems become active co-creators of solutions.</li><li class="red"><strong>Step into startup spaces</strong> such as digital health summits and health conferences like the <a href="https://ruralconference.aha.org/" target="_blank" title="AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference">AHA Rural Health Leadership Conference</a>.</li><li class="red"><strong>Build innovation coalitions</strong> across hospitals to attract startups that need broader populations to develop their products. Innovation partnerships thrive on mutual readiness, and rural systems that show up informed, organized and curious can help steer solutions that can work for them and others in the field.</li></ol></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } ol.red li.red::marker { color: #9d2235; font-weight: bold; } Tue, 03 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0500 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-05-20-3-ways-engage-todays-health-consumers <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/3-Ways-to-Engage-Todays-Health-Consumers.png" data-entity-uuid="3cd918d2-3637-41b0-a692-84288081e6fb" data-entity-type="file" alt="3 Ways to Engage Today’s Health Consumers. A clinician, a patient, and a patient's family member compare results from the patient's wearable medical device and a data on a mobile phone telemedicine app." width="1200" height="751"><p>As consumers take a more active role in their health, their relationships with hospitals and health systems continue to evolve.</p><p>This new landscape, replete with consumers having unprecedented access to health data through wearable devices, remote monitoring and other technologies, is causing some organizations to more closely examine their engagement strategies and tactics.</p><p>Likewise, with Americans’ expectations and behaviors continuing to shift when it comes to how they monitor and act on their health concerns, today’s environment requires a deeper understanding of consumers.</p><h2>A ‘Lightning’ Response to Assessment</h2><p>The <a href="https://cbc.ict.usc.edu/" target="_blank" title="USC Center for Body Computing homepage">USC Center for Body Computing</a>, for example, has developed digital research software called the <a href="https://ict.usc.edu/research/projects/the-lightning-platform-cbc/" target="_blank" title="USC Institute for Creative Technologies: The Lightning Platform (CBC)">Lightning Platform</a> that continually assesses a person’s self-reported psychological state and can measure cognitive status dynamically.</p><p>These datasets, when integrated, provide measures of holistic health and help to drive a deeper understanding of their relatedness in the moment or as a trend. This provides individuals with data and insights to make the best health and human performance decisions.</p><p>Because these tools measure the consumer continuously, the line between health and disease states blurs. This requires a redefinition of health and human performance that is much more individualized and dynamic, researchers suggest in a recent <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12059502/" target="_blank" title="National Library of Medicine—Journal of Medical Internet Research: Health Care 2025: How Consumer-Facing Devices Change Health Management and Delivery">study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research</a>. This de-siloing of health and disease, they say, presents significant challenges for a health care system built and defined largely by what happens inside a medical facility to patients who are sick.</p><h2>Building a More Consumer-Centric Organization</h2><p>With each passing year, as consumers feel more empowered to manage their health and have greater access to technology to monitor and act on their conditions, their behaviors continue to change. Data from the recently released <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/engaging-the-evolving-us-healthcare-consumer-and-improving-business-performance" target="_blank" title="McKinsey & Company: Engaging the evolving US healthcare consumer and improving business performance">Consumer Health Insights survey</a> from McKinsey & Company highlight evolving behavioral shifts.</p><p>Survey respondents reported low to medium satisfaction with many steps in their health care journeys, data revealed. For example, nearly 70% expressed satisfaction with how they receive care, the follow-up process with their providers and managing how prescriptions are filled. Areas such as ease of finding care, managing their own health and wellness, and saving and paying for care scored below 60% satisfaction.</p><p>No silver bullet exists for the best way to respond to some of these issues, the report’s authors explain. An organization-wide strategy is needed, because the range of experiences that consumers in the survey noted as needing attention are multifactorial and cross-organizational silos. This takes time and focus, the report concludes. Change begins with developing cross-functional capabilities, building the governance structure to support the transformation and embedding a consumer-centric culture.</p><h2>3 Tactical Shifts the Report’s Authors Recommend</h2><ol><li>Set a strategic vision that captures the overall value at stake and propels the organization to change its culture and ways of thinking about consumers.</li><li>Adopt an agile, consumer-centered operating model to refine innovations by using a test-and-learn model.</li><li>Build consumer-centric capabilities to reach and respond to consumers more effectively — by investing in, for example, defined metrics and personalized communications.</li></ol><p>By surprising and delighting consumers in multiple ways over the course of a year, an organization can change even long-held attitudes and opinions, the authors state.</p><h2>3 Ways to Better Engage Consumers</h2><h3><span>1</span> <span>|</span> Direct consumers to more expedient options.</h3><p>While some consumers prefer to be loyal to their current physicians, many will choose to visit a new provider if they encounter difficulties in scheduling appointments with their preferred doctors. This highlights health systems’ opportunity to invest further in improving timely access — for example, by optimizing capacity through dynamic scheduling and increasing virtual or walk-in options.</p><h3><span>2</span> <span>|</span> Become the trusted source of published medical information.</h3><p>While physicians are still the most trusted source for health information, health information websites come in second, according to McKinsey research. Since consumers find value in the type of content they find on health information websites, hospitals and health systems could consider publishing their own or licensing third-party content. High-quality content can better inform consumers, increase engagement and build brand loyalty, the authors suggest.</p><h3><span>3</span> <span>|</span> Augment the health care journey with integrated digital solutions.</h3><p>Survey respondents expressed interest in digital products, particularly those that enable health information sharing with doctors, provide personalized health tips and support adherence to a doctor’s recommendations. “This suggests an opportunity for health care organizations to work with tech companies to integrate relevant tools seamlessly into health care journeys,” the authors conclude.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 20 May 2025 06:15:00 -0500 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-05-20-can-selfie-really-estimate-ones-age-and-predict-cancer-outcomes <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Can-a-Selfie-Really-Estimate-Ones-Age-and-Predict-Cancer-Outcomes.png" data-entity-uuid="afa72536-8042-449d-a202-58645edf2d27" data-entity-type="file" alt="Can a Selfie Really Estimate One's Age and Predict Cancer Outcomes? A man standing in front of a background of cancer cells holds up his mobile phone and takes a selfie of himself." width="1200" height="751"><p>Eyes may be the window to the soul, but a person’s biological age could be reflected in their facial characteristics in photos, according to investigators from <a href="https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en" target="_blank" title="Mass General Brigham homepage">Mass General Brigham</a>.</p><p>The researchers have developed a deep learning algorithm called <a href="https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/ai-face-photos-tool-estimate-age-predict-cancer-outcomes" target="_blank" title="Mass General Brigham: AI Tool Uses Face Photos to Estimate Biological Age and Predict Cancer Outcomes">FaceAge</a> that uses a photo of a person’s face to predict biological age and survival outcomes for cancer patients.</p><p>They found that patients with cancer, on average, had a higher FaceAge than those without and appeared about five years older than their chronological age. Older FaceAge predictions were associated with worse overall survival outcomes across multiple cancer types.</p><p>They also found that FaceAge outperformed clinicians in predicting short-term life expectancies of patients receiving palliative radiotherapy, according to results published in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(25)00042-1/fulltext" target="_blank" title="The Lancet Digital Health: FaceAge, a deep learning system to estimate biological age from face photographs to improve prognostication: a model development and validation study">Lancet Digital Health</a>.</p><h2>How the FaceAge Algorithm Works</h2><p>The work by investigators and their study shows that information obtained from a photo like a simple selfie could help to inform clinical decision-making and care plans for patients and clinicians, said Hugo Aerts, Ph.D., director of the <a href="https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/research-and-innovation/centers-and-programs/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" title="Mass General Brigham: Mass General Brigham AI">Artificial Intelligence in Medicine program</a> at Mass General Brigham.</p><p>When patients walk into exam rooms, their appearance may give physicians clues about their overall health and vitality. Those intuitive assessments combined with a patient’s chronological age, in addition to many other biological measures, may help determine the best course of treatment. However, like anyone, physicians may have biases about a person’s age that may influence them, fueling a need for more objective, predictive measures to inform care decisions.</p><p>With that goal in mind, Mass General Brigham investigators leveraged deep learning and facial recognition technologies to train FaceAge. The tool was trained on 58,851 photos of presumed healthy individuals from public datasets. The team tested the algorithm in a cohort of 6,196 cancer patients from two centers, using photographs routinely taken at the start of radiotherapy treatment.</p><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Selfie-Cancer-Evaluation-Algorithm-Process.png" data-entity-uuid="97d35a3a-6929-4c67-b259-2c73756621c2" data-entity-type="file" alt="FaceAge algorithm selfie evaluation process. Input > Deep Learning Pipeline: Face Localization; Face Feature Extraction > Output: FaceAge; Chronological Age. Source: Mass General Brigham, 2025." width="1200" height="383"></p><h2>Results of the FaceAge Research Study</h2><p>Results showed that cancer patients appear significantly older than those without cancer, and their FaceAge, on average, was about five years older than their chronological age. In the cancer patient cohort, older FaceAge was associated with worse survival outcomes, especially in individuals who appeared older than 85, even after adjusting for chronological age, gender and cancer type.</p><p>Estimated survival time at the end of life is difficult to pin down but has important treatment implications in cancer care. The team asked 10 clinicians and researchers to predict short-term life expectancy from 100 photos of patients receiving palliative radiotherapy. While there was a wide range in their performance, overall, the clinicians’ predictions were only slightly better than a coin flip, even after they were given clinical context, such as the patient’s chronological age and cancer status. Yet, when clinicians also were provided with the patient’s FaceAge information, their predictions improved significantly.</p><h2>Use of FaceAge in a Clinical Setting</h2><p>Investigators say further research is needed before this technology could be considered for use in a real-world clinical setting. The research team is testing this technology to predict diseases, general health status and lifespan. Follow-up studies include expanding this work across different hospitals, looking at patients in different stages of cancer, tracking FaceAge estimates over time, and testing its accuracy against plastic surgery and makeup data sets.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 20 May 2025 06:00:00 -0500 Leveraging Technology /04/2025/mobilizing-technology-and-innovation-support-rural-health <div> </div>header.jumbotron {display:none} <div> /* center_body */ .center_body { /*margin-top:50px;*/ /* margin-bottom: 50px;*/ } .center_body h3 {} .center_body p { font-size: 16px } p.center_Intro { color: #002855; line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 30px; margin: 10px 0 25px 0; font-weight: 700; font-size: 2em; } @media (max-width:768px) { p.center_Intro { line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 23px; font-size: 1.45em; } } .center_body .center_Lead { color: #63666A; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.4; font-size: 21px; } /* center_body // */ /* Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar */ .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar { position: relative; display: block; overflow: hidden; max-width: 1170px; margin: 0px auto 25px auto; } .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { position: absolute; bottom: 40px; color: #003087; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, .8); width: 100%; padding: 20px 40px; font-size: 3em; box-shadow: 0 3px 8px -5px rgba(0, 0, 0, .6); } @media (max-width:991px) { .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; font-size: 2.5em; } } @media (max-width:767px) { .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { font-size: 2em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; padding: 10px 20px; } } @media (max-width:530px) { .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { position: relative; background-color: #63666A22; } } /* Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar // */ <header class="Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/VED_Microsoft_banner_1170x250.png" alt="Microsoft Banner Image" width="1170" height="250"><div><h1>Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health</h1></div></header>/* CntMenuSub */ .CntMenuSub{ margin:20px 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; color: #afb1b1; letter-spacing: 1.5px; font-weight: 400; font-size: .7em; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuBar{ border-bottom: 1px solid lightblue; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuBar a:after{ content: "|"; padding: 0 3px 0 6px; color: #555; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuBar a:last-child:after{ content: ""; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubHome, .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubParent{ text-transform: uppercase; color: #555; opacity: .9; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubParent{ } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubChild{ } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubCurrent{ opacity: .7; } .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubHome:hover, .CntMenuSub .CntMenuSubParent:hover{ text-transform: uppercase; color: #d50032; } /* CntMenuSub // */ <div class="container CntMenuSub"><div class="col-md-1"> </div><div class="col-md-10 row CntMenuBar"><a class="CntMenuSubHome" href="/education-events/aha-virtual-executive-dialogues">AHA Knowledge Exchange</a> <span class="CntMenuSubChild" id="CntMenuSubChild">Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health</span></div><div class="col-md-1"> </div></div><div class="row spacer"><div class="col-sm-3"><div><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/ke-microsoft-mobilizing-tech-to-support-rural-health.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/VED_Microsoft_cover_910x1220.jpg" alt="AHA Knowledge Exchange | Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health" width="100%" height="100%"></a></div></div><div class="col-sm-9 center_body">.sponsortype { color: #9d2235; font-size: 1.5em; margin: 0px; font-weight: 700; } <p class="sponsortype">AHA Knowledge Exchange</p> Intro.............. </p> --> xxxxxx </p> --><h2>Mitigating gaps in rural health resources and the workforce</h2><p>Rural residents’ top three health concerns are mental health, substance-use disorders and health care access, according to the Rural Healthy People 2030 survey. Geographical isolation, inadequate health infrastructure and a shortage of health professionals can result in poor health outcomes in rural settings. These challenges impact rural communities and residents’ well-being both physically and emotionally. Technology and artificial intelligence (AI) can bridge these gaps in innovative ways to make health care services more accessible in rural communities and support economic stability. This Knowledge Exchange e-book provides insights on how rural health care leaders envision using technology and innovation to address these issues, as well as transform their organizations and community engagement.</p><div class="row">@media (min-width:768px){ .EDsponsorFloat{ float:right; } } @media (max-width:767px){ .EDLinkFloat{ position:relative; left:27%; } .EDsponsorFloat { text-align:center } } <div class="col-sm-6"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary EDLinkFloat" href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/ke-microsoft-mobilizing-tech-to-support-rural-health.pdf" title="AHA Knowledge Exchange | Mobilizing Technology and Innovation to Support Rural Health" data-view-context="top-level-view">Download the Report</a></div><div class="col-sm-6"><div class="EDsponsorFloat"><strong>Sponsored by: </strong><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-06/Logo_Microsoft_834x313.jpg" alt="Microsoft Logo" width="100%" height="100%"></a></div></div></div></div></div>.sp_CTA5_holder { margin-top:0px; border-bottom: solid 1px #555; padding-bottom: 50px; } .sp_CTA5_holder_last { border-bottom: solid 0px #555; } .sp_CTA5_holder >div{ overflow: auto; } .sp_CTA5_holder ul { list-style: none; /* Remove default bullets */ padding-left: 0px; /*width: calc(100% - 15%);*/ /*margin: 50px auto 0;*/ margin:auto 50px; } .sp_CTA5_holder ul li{ margin-bottom:7px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size:16px; } .sp_CTA5_holder ul li::before { content: " "; font-size: 1em; margin-right: 10px; display: inline-block; height: 12px; background-color: #9d2235; width: 12px; position: relative; top: 0px; -webkit-transform: rotate(45deg); -moz-transform: rotate(45deg); -o-transform: rotate(45deg); } .sp_CTA5_holder ul li{ padding-left:23px; text-indent:-23px; } .body ol>li, .body ul>li{ font-size:16px: } .sp_CTA5_holder h2 { color: #002855; /*! line-height: 2em; */ font-size: 2.15em; margin: 0 0 15px 0; /*! font-size: 30px; */ } .sp_CTA5_holder h3 { /*color: #002855;*/ line-height: 1em; /*font-size: 1.5em;*/ margin-bottom: 25px; margin-top:5px; font-size: 28px; } .sp_CTA5_section{ margin-top: 25px } .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow { /*background-color:green;*/ /* just a visual */ text-align: center } .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow { padding-bottom:75px; /* must match the padding on the img*/ margin: 0px; } .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow img{ width: calc(100% - 35px - 15px); -webkit-box-shadow: 50px -75px 0px 0px rgba(185, 217, 235, 1); -moz-box-shadow: 50px -75px 0px 0px rgba(185, 217, 235, 1); box-shadow: 50px -75px 0px 0px rgba(185, 217, 235, 1); position: relative; top: 75px; max-width: 490px; } @media (max-width:990px){ .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow img{ max-width: 350px;} } @media (max-width:990px){ .sp_CTA5_ImgShadow { padding-bottom:75px; /* must match the padding on the img*/ margin: 0px; margin-right: 40px } } <div class="row spacer sp_CTA5_holder sp_CTA5_holder_last"><div class="col-md-12"><h3>10 strategies and technology investments rural health leaders prioritize to attract clinicians and expand health services in their communities</h3><div class="sp_CTA5_section"><ul><li>Communicate and commit to a <strong>digital health vision</strong> in the hospital strategic plan and educate the community on specifics being implemented and the big picture.</li><li>Form an <strong>interdisciplinary digital health and AI steering committee</strong> with an executive sponsor to vet technology and look at each solution for security, ethics and operational issues.</li><li><strong>Partner with specialty programs</strong> such as teleneonatal intensive care, teleneuro and telepharmacy. Collaborate with other hospitals and emergency medical service providers.</li><li>Work on <strong>processes that can be repeatable and scalable</strong> for clinical workflows and claims processing.</li><li><strong>Select AI technology designed to fit easily into clinical teams’ day-to-day workflows</strong> inside the electronic health record and does not detract from patient-clinician interactions.</li><li><strong>Address nursing shortages with virtual integrated nursing care models</strong>. Use team models for inpatient rounding to improve patient experience.</li><li><strong>Create a telepsychiatry hub</strong> for perinatal patients. Offer virtual medical and behavioral health services in schools.</li><li>Develop patient education materials and videos using AI tools to <strong>address the health literacy gap</strong>.</li><li><strong>Pilot AI programs</strong> like MindUP, Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid to expand access to vital assessments.</li><li>Use Findhelp or Unite Us to <strong>connect the hospital and clinics to community-based organizations</strong>.</li></ul></div></div></div><h2>Participants</h2>/* people */ .people { margin-top: 50px; } .people img:nth-child(1) { border-radius: 200px; -moz-border-radius: 200px; -webkit-border-radius: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; max-width:200px; /* for Transformation Talks */ display:block; /* for Transformation Talks */ margin:auto; /* for Transformation Talks */ } .people img:nth-child(1):hover { opacity: .7 } @media (max-width:991px) { .people { margin: auto; } .people p { text-align: center } } .ci_profile { margin-bottom: 30px; display: block; text-align:center /* this is for the "Executive Dialogue" page */ } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_profile { text-align: center } } .ci_profile p { margin: 0 0 7px 0 } .ci_profile_name { font-weight: 700; font-size: 20px; } p.ci_profile_name { font-size: 1.5em; line-height:1.2em; margin-top:10px } .ci_profile_title { font-style: italic; line-height: 1.3em } .ci_profile_company { font-size: 1em; } p.ci_profile_award { font-size: .8em; text-align:center; color:#55555599; font-weight: 700 } .ci_profile_social { width: auto; } .ci_profile_social i { padding-right: 25px; font-size: 20px } .ci_profile_social a:last-of-type i { padding-right: 0px; } #ci_footer-social { font-size: 1.5em; padding-top: 0px; width: 100%; text-align: right; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_logo { margin-top: 25px } .ci_social p { text-align: center !important; } #ci_footer-social { text-align: center } } @media (min-width:769px){ .people .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .people .rowEqual_768>[class*='col-'] { -ms-flex: 3; /* IE 10 */ flex: inherit; /*flex*/ width: calc((100% / 3) - 2px) /*Adjust % for the number per row, will override the bootstrap - Also needed for Safari*/; } } @media (max-width:767px) and (min-width:361px){ .people .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .people .rowEqual_768>[class*='col-'] { -ms-flex: 1; /* IE 10 */ flex: auto; width: calc((100% / 2) - 2px) /*Adjust % for the number per row, will override the bootstrap - Also needed for Safari*/; } } p.ci_profile_name { font-size: 1.5em; line-height:1.2em; margin-top:10px } .people .ci_profile_combined{ font-size:14px; line-height: 18px; } .people .ci_profile_combined span{ font-style: italic; } .people .ci_profile_combined:before{ content:""; border-bottom: solid 1px #55555522; display: block; clear: both; width: 85%; margin: 5PX auto 10px; } <div class="people"><div class="row rowEqual_768"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Bourland_Trent_300x300.jpg" alt="Trent Bourland" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Trent Bourland</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Coal County General Hospital</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Boyd_Melanie_300x300.jpg" alt="Melanie Boyd" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Melanie Boyd</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Clarke County Hospital</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Davis_Jeremy_300x300.jpg" alt="Jeremy P. Davis" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Jeremy P. Davis, MHA</p><p class="ci_profile_title">President and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Dybdal_Landon_300x300.jpg" alt="Landon M. Dybdal" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Landon M. Dybdal</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Lake Health District</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Kreofsky_Laura_300x300.jpg" alt="Laura Kreofsky" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Laura Kreofsky</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director, Rural Health Resiliency</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Microsoft</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Lively_Corey_300x300.jpg" alt="Corey G. Lively" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Corey G. Lively</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Great Plains Regional Medical Center</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Lutz_Carrie_300x300.jpg" alt="Carrie Lutz" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Carrie Lutz, R.N.</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Holton Community Hospital</p> profile_combined </p> <p class="ci_profile_award"> profile_award </p> <div class="ci_profile_social"> profile_social </div> --></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Mallet_Teresa_300x300.jpg" alt="Teresa Mallett" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Teresa Mallett, MHA</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Madison Regional Health System</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/McCormack_Holly_300x300.jpg" alt="Holly McCormack" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Holly McCormack, DNP, R.N.</p><p class="ci_profile_title">President and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Cottage Hospital</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Mills_Dora_300x300.jpg" alt="Dora Anne Mills" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Dora Anne Mills, M.D., MPH, FAAP</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Chief health improvement officer</p><p class="ci_profile_company">MaineHealth</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Pitcher_Gratia_300x300.jpg" alt="Gratia L. Pitcher" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Gratia L. Pitcher, M.D., MBA</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Chief medical officer and Patient experience dyad leader</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Essentia Health</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Sweetnam_Olivia_300x300.jpg" alt="Olivia Sweetnam" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Olivia Sweetnam, MPH, MSN, ACNP-BC</p><p class="ci_profile_title">CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Grace Cottage Family Health and Hospital</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Torres_Tony_300x300.jpg" alt="Tony Torres" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Tony Torres, M.D., FACP</p><p class="ci_profile_title">President and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Ward_Josiah_300x300.jpg" alt="Josiah Ward" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Josiah Ward, D.O., FAAP</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Chief medical officer</p><p class="ci_profile_company">La Esperanza Clinic</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Weeks_Bill_300x300.jpg" alt="Bill Weeks" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">William (Bill) Weeks, M.D., PhD, MBA</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director, AI for Health</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Microsoft</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Wehrman_Doug_300x300.jpg" alt="Doug Wehrman" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Doug Wehrman, PT, DPT</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Chief operating officer</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Brodstone Healthcare</p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Hoppszallern_Suzanna_300x300%20%281%29.png" alt="Suzanna Hoppszallern" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Moderator:</p><p class="ci_profile_name">Suzanna Hoppszallern</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Senior Editor, Center for Health Innovation</p><p class="ci_profile_company">���������� Association</p></div></div></div>@media (min-width:768px){ .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .rowEqual_768>[class*='col-'] { -ms-flex: 1; /* IE 10 */ flex: auto; width: calc(33.3% - 2px) /*Safari Fix*/; } } .center_callout_3invert { background-color: #f6f6f6; text-align: center; /*margin-bottom:25px;*/ margin-top:30px; } .center_callout_3invert h4 { color: #002855; line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 30px; margin: 10px 0 30px 0; } .center_callout_3invert h3 { margin: 25px 0 0 0; color: #555; font-size: .7em; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 3px; } .center_callout_3invert p{ font-size:16px; } <div class="row center_callout_3invert"><div class="col-md-1"> </div><div class="col-md-10"><h2>AHA Knowledge Exchange</h2><p>Gain insights from the C-suite and health care leaders on the most pressing issues and transformational strategies.</p><p><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/education-events/aha-virtual-executive-dialogues" data-view-context="top-level-view">Explore the Series</a> /* y-hr3 */ .y-hr3{ clear: both; } .y-hr3 div:nth-child(2) { border-top: solid 2px lightgrey; margin: 50px 0px; height: 0px } /* y-hr3 // */ </p><div class="row y-hr3"><div class="col-md-3"> </div><div class="col-md-6"> </div><div class="col-md-3"> </div></div></div><div class="col-md-1"> </div></div><div class="row"><h2>Latest Knowledge Exchange</h2><div class="feedEmbedImg">.feedEmbedImg .views-element-container { background-color: #f6f6f6;; padding: 20px } .feedEmbedImg .views-element-container h2{ margin-top:0px; color: } .feedEmbedImg .views-element-container .views-field.views-field-created{ color: } .feedEmbedImg .views-element-container .views-field.views-field-title a{ font-size: 20px; color:#002855 } .feedEmbedImg .views-element-container .views-field.views-field-body{ font-size: 16px; color:; } .feedEmbedImg .views-element-container .article.views-row { display: inline-block; transition: 1s; } .feedEmbedImg .views-element-container img{ float: left; margin-right:15px; max-width: 200px ; transition: 2s; } .feedEmbedImg .resource-block .resource-view .views-row:hover{ transform: scale(1.02); } .feedEmbedImg .resource-block .resource-view .views-row:hover img{ opacity: .6; transition: 1.5s; } .feedEmbedImg .resource-block .resource-view .views-row:hover a{ color:#307fe2; } .feedEmbedImg .feedEmbedImg .views-element-container .more-link{ font-size: 1.3em; text-align: right; } .feedEmbedImg .more-link{ text-align: right } @media (max-width:550px){ .feedEmbedImg .views-element-container img { float:unset; display: block; margin: 0 auto; max-width: 100% } .feedEmbedImg .views-field.views-field-created{ clear: both; margin-top:10px; } }  <div class="views-element-container"> <section class="top-level-view js-view-dom-id-20aa7e709d679a57e227dae5547d954e90c3f5b17bda39c4c0d6bc65d3dbfb16 resource-block"> <div class="resource-wrapper"> <div class="resource-view"> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-page-title-background"> <div class="field-content sed-thumb"> <a href="/member-knowledge-exchange/2024-12-11/resilient-health-system-operating-model" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_200x200/public/2024-12/VED_Accenture_Governance_620x381.jpg?itok=viVBuq-l" width="200" height="123" alt="VED_Accenture_Governance_620x381-image" /> </a> </div> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <span class="field-content"><time datetime="2024-12-10T16:11:13-06:00">Dec 10, 2024</time> </span> </div><div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/member-knowledge-exchange/2024-12-11/resilient-health-system-operating-model" hreflang="en">The Resilient Health System Operating Model</a></span> </div><div class="views-field views-field-body"> <div class="field-content">Health system leaders are building a robust governance and resilient operating model to transform health care delivery models for the future.</div> </div></div> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-page-title-background"> <div class="field-content sed-thumb"> <a href="/member-knowledge-exchange/2024-12-06/optimize-your-hospitals-revenue-cycle-efficient-patient-centered-operations" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_200x200/public/2024-12/KnowEx_RI_RevenueCycle_620x381_rev1.jpg?itok=42C41VMq" width="200" height="123" 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goals and incentives to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.</div> </div></div> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-page-title-background"> <div class="field-content sed-thumb"> <a href="/2024-09-26/transforming-behavioral-health-journey" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_200x200/public/2024-09/Iris-Telehealth-banner-620x381.jpg?itok=QQ9C-7Mp" width="200" height="123" alt="Iris-Telehealth-banner-620x381" /> </a> </div> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <span class="field-content"><time datetime="2024-09-25T14:49:38-05:00">Sep 25, 2024</time> </span> </div><div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/2024-09-26/transforming-behavioral-health-journey" hreflang="en">Transforming the Behavioral Health Journey</a></span> </div><div class="views-field views-field-body"> <div class="field-content">Transforming the behavioral health journey with strategic initiatives to build a sustainable and coordinated behavioral health services continuum.</div> </div></div> </div> </div> <div class="more-link"><a href="/aha-knowledge-exchange-archive">View All: AHA Knowledge Exchange</a></div> </section> </div> </div></div> Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:41:52 -0500 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-04-22-how-unleash-power-health-related-social-needs-data <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/How-to-Unleash-the-Power-of-Health-Related-Social-Needs-Data_0.png" data-entity-uuid="721ea50f-f258-434c-98ff-41f6690b032f" data-entity-type="file" alt="How to Unleash the Power of Health-Related Social Needs Data. Trailblazers report. Driving the Drivers: How hospitals and health systems can leverage technology and workflow optimization to address health-related social needs. Download the report." width="100%" height="100%"><p>Capturing health-related social needs (HRSN) data effectively and efficiently helps provider organizations leverage these data to meet the Quadruple Aim objectives: enhancing the patient experience, improving population health, reducing costs and improving the work life of health care providers.</p><p>Connecting patients with the resources they need to experience better health outcomes is a vital part of the HRSN screening process. With the right technology and resources, hospitals and health systems can identify inefficiencies and close gaps that could challenge the successful conclusion of that journey.</p><p>A new AHA Market Scan Trailblazers report, <a href="/aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-04-21-driving-drivers">“Driving the Drivers,”</a> explores how providers can leverage technology and workflow optimization to improve HRSN screening and connect patients with resources to address their health-related social needs.</p><h2>Personalize Care Connections</h2><p>Deploying enterprise technology that scales across the entire health system can connect patients with the right social network programs and resources and aid in tracking low-risk, rising-risk and high-risk populations. Key benefits of this approach include:</p><ul><li><strong>Send and track closed-loop referrals from start to finish to see whether patients obtained services.</strong></li><li><strong>Share personalized resource lists with patients, giving them easy access to the support they need.</strong></li><li><strong>Find and share tailored resources that meet each patient’s unique care needs.</strong></li></ul><p>By integrating HRSN data into electronic health records (EHRs), providers can identify patterns and trends at scale across communities that may not be immediately evident when considering individual medical data alone.</p><p>Overall, EHR and HRSN data integration support a holistic approach to health care. This empowers organizations across the care continuum to address population health challenges at a systemic level. By recognizing and responding to HRSN efficiently, proactively and at scale, providers can reduce health care costs and better manage population health outcomes.</p><h2>Standardize HRSN Data Management</h2><p>New Mexico-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services (PHS) has standardized its approach to automating HRSN screening, reaping multifold benefits in the process.</p><p>Toni Grinstead, health equity consultant and senior program manager for community health, oversees Presbyterian’s initiatives to address social drivers of health, including an automated health-related social needs screening workflow. Leigh Caswell, vice president for community and health equity, oversees the network’s community health worker team and its social needs screening and referral work.</p><p>Before automating the HRSN screening process, Grinstead and Caswell describe the health system’s approach as “scattershot.”</p><p>Some of PHS’ clinic sites still used paper, rather than their EHR tool, to screen patients. That created a twofold data entry problem. Clinicians or support staff sometimes would enter data inaccurately into the EHR system or not at all if paper screens went missing. Other challenges included the lack of standardized workflows to screen all patients across all settings and the lack of integrated screening results into the EHR system and each patient’s EHR.</p><h2>Harness the Power of HRSN Data</h2><p>With PHS conducting more than 1.5 million HRSN screenings annually across nine hospitals, 40 primary or specialty clinics and five urgent care centers, effectively managing these data became critically important.</p><p>In early 2024, PHS migrated to an automated approach to managing HRSN screening data. Three systems — HRSN screening, EHR and portal — now work in concert to power the HRSN screening process as part of routine health care. This approach eliminated paper screenings, standardized screening workflows across care sites and integrated patients’ HRSN screening data into their EHRs and patient portals.</p><p>“Having technology support our [HRSN] efforts is really powerful. We know a lot more about what our communities need. We know a lot more about what resources exist in our communities. Now we can use those data to influence policy and investment at the state level and at the local level,” Caswell says.</p><p>Patients now can answer HRSN screening questions through the patient portal before scheduled visits, eliminating that responsibility from busy clinicians and clinical support staff. Screening workflows now are standard across all sites of care.</p><p>PHS asks 12 questions in eight HRSN domains: housing, food, transportation, utilities, interpersonal violence, alcohol use, substance use and tobacco use. Screening results now appear directly in patients’ records, enabling the care team to determine if patients are experiencing a social need. If so, the system automatically generates a list of recommended resources in patients’ after-visit summaries directly within the EHR.</p><p>“Because everything is interoperable, the technology allows us to screen patients every six months, and every person who interacts with that patient has access to those data,” Grinstead says. “Patients [and caregivers] don’t have to answer the same questions over and over again during an episode of care. That improves the patient experience and the caregiver experience.”</p><p><a href="/aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-04-21-driving-drivers"><strong>Download the full Trailblazers report</strong></a> to learn more about the power of automating the HRSN screening and data management process and explore how Yale New Haven Health has improved its workflow efficiency.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:15:00 -0500 Leveraging Technology /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-04-01-innovative-rural-hospitals-think-beyond-tradition-improve-access-care <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Innovative-Rural-Hospitals-Think-Beyond-Tradition-to-Improve-Access-to-Care.png" data-entity-uuid="e778c7ba-7645-47e7-92fc-159ef664d4dd" data-entity-type="file" alt="Innovative Rural Hospitals Think Beyond Tradition to Improve Access to Care. Drones fly over fields in a rural community in Virginia to deliver lifesaving medications with a computer monitor in the foreground displaying radiology images that AI is helping radiologists provide faster diagnoses." width="100%" height="100%"><h2>AI Helps to Improve Speed of Radiology Reviews</h2><p>Last year, <a href="https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/how-mercy-is-using-ai-to-improve-patient-care" target="_blank" title="Chief Healthcare Executive: https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/how-mercy-is-using-ai-to-improve-patient-care">Mercy</a> — a large health system serving many rural communities across Missouri and surrounding states — expanded its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve patient access and outcomes in radiology. By integrating Aidoc, an AI-powered clinical decision-support platform, into its imaging workflow, Mercy now can provide faster diagnosis of life-threatening conditions such as pulmonary embolisms and brain bleeds across its network of more than 50 hospitals, many of them in rural or underserved areas.</p><p>The AI platform reviews scans in real time and automatically flags critical findings for radiologists and emergency teams. This reduces turnaround times for high-risk cases and helps to ensure that patients in rural facilities receive the same rapid care available in larger urban centers. According to Mercy leaders, the AI implementation has enhanced clinical efficiency and supported more timely interventions — particularly in emergency departments (EDs) where staffing can be stretched thinly.</p><h3>Key Takeaway</h3><p>Artificial intelligence can be a vital force multiplier for rural hospitals. AI helps to improve diagnostic speed, enhance care team coordination and ensures that patients with high-acuity conditions receive timely attention.</p><h2>Drones Deliver Lifesaving Medications in Virginia</h2><p>In partnership with Zipline, a logistics drone company, Wise County, Virginia, launched a pilot program with <a href="https://cardinalnews.org/2024/12/26/nearly-a-decade-after-historic-drone-test-in-wise-county-drone-scare-shows-need-for-drone-identification/" target="_blank" title="Nearly a decade after historic drone test in Wise County, drone scare shows need for drone identification">Cardinal News: Remote Area Medical</a> to deliver essential medications to remote communities. Using autonomous drones, the health department now can transport insulin, antibiotics and other critical supplies across rugged terrain in less than 30 minutes — a journey that otherwise might take hours by car.</p><p>The program, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, has grown into a model for how unmanned aerial vehicles can support rural health equity. Because the drones are not hindered by poor roads, weather or distance, they help to ensure continuity of care for patients who manage chronic conditions or need urgent medications.</p><h3>Key Takeaway</h3><p>Explore logistics innovations like drones to reduce delays and transportation costs in rural care delivery. Investing in or partnering with drone logistics providers can help eliminate last-mile delivery challenges, particularly for pharmacy and lab services, and enhance health equity in hard-to-reach communities.</p><h2>Nurse-Run Telehealth Hubs in North Dakota</h2><p><a href="https://www.trinity-health.org/newsroom/press-releases/trinity-health-revolutionizes-nursing-practice-through-virtual-connected" target="_blank" title="Trinity Health: Trinity Health Revolutionizes Nursing Practice Through a TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™ Delivery Model">Trinity Health</a> in Minot, North Dakota, operates mobile nurse-run telehealth hubs in converted vans that travel to underserved towns across the state. Equipped with diagnostic tools, mobile internet and tablets connecting to remote physicians, these vans serve as a lifeline for patients in areas that lack nearby clinics.</p><p>Staffed by advanced practice nurses, the vans provide on-site assessments, collect vitals, administer vaccines and facilitate virtual consults with physicians at Trinity’s main facilities. This hybrid care model bridges the gap between virtual and hands-on services.</p><p>The program has improved appointment adherence and helped to identify serious conditions sooner, reducing ED usage and supporting chronic disease management.</p><h3>Key Takeaway</h3><p>Mobile, nurse-led clinics are a scalable solution to rural provider shortages. Leveraging nurses and physician extenders in mobile units allows systems to reach new populations, increase care continuity and reduce unnecessary ED visits at a relatively low capital cost.</p><h2>Digital Front Doors in Rural Ohio</h2><p>Memorial Health System in Marietta, Ohio, accelerated its digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing a <a href="https://www.trinity-health.org/newsroom/press-releases/trinity-health-revolutionizes-nursing-practice-through-virtual-connected" target="_blank" title="Trinity Health: Trinity Health Revolutionizes Nursing Practice Through a TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™ Delivery Model">comprehensive patient intake platform</a>. This initiative enabled patients to complete appointment scheduling, registration and billing processes remotely, enhancing convenience and safety.</p><p>The digital system streamlined front-end operations, reducing the need for manual data entry and minimizing lobby congestion. Patients now can check in and complete necessary forms from their homes, decreasing errors and enhancing privacy. This transformation not only improved operational efficiency, but also strengthened infection control measures by reducing in-person interactions. Memorial Health System's experience underscores the importance of digital solutions in enhancing patient engagement and streamlining health care delivery, particularly in rural settings where access to care can be challenging.</p><h3>Key Takeaway</h3><p>Prioritize digital inclusion alongside digital transformation. Implementing a digital front-door strategy can significantly enhance patient access, satisfaction and operational efficiency in rural health care settings.</p><h2>The Future of Access: Innovation with Intent</h2><p>Whether it’s drones delivering medications or nurses driving virtual care on wheels, rural hospitals are innovating to close the gap between providers and patients. These creative solutions are designed to keep patient needs, geographic barriers and economic realities top of mind.</p><p>As workforce shortages, financial constraints and care disparities persist in rural America, hospital leaders must think beyond traditional infrastructure. Strategic investment in technology — paired with thoughtful implementation — can transform how care is delivered and experienced, regardless of ZIP code.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0500 Leveraging Technology /role-hospitals-bethesda-hospital-west-game-changing-ar-spine-surgery-performed-first-time-florida <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-03/ths-bethesda-spine-surgery-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Bethesda Hospital West. Illustration of an augmented reality spinal surgery" width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>Timothy O’Connor, M.D., director of minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Bethesda Hospital West in Boca Raton, Fla., on Feb. 10 performed the first next-generation augmented reality (AR) spinal surgery in the state.</p><p>“While performing this procedure, we can see the patient’s anatomy in high definition, with their imaging superimposed directly in our field of vision to allow real-time guidance when wearing the AR headset during surgery,” <a href="https://baptisthealth.net/newsroom/press-release/marcus-neuroscience-institute-performs-first-next-generation-augmented-reality-spinal-surgery">O'Connor said</a>. In an AR spinal surgery, a three-dimensional, computer-generated virtual model of the patient’s spine is overlaid onto their actual anatomy. The AR headset allows surgeons to guide instrument placement and assists in surgical navigation, all while keeping their eyes on the patient. Even 3D stereoscopic displays of surgical instruments are superimposed on the surgical field, which offers the benefit of improved hand-eye coordination.</p><p>AR surgery not only allows for more accuracy during the surgery, but the less-invasive approach also leads to less surgical time and less cutting of tissue, which minimizes both pain and recovery time for the patient.</p><p>“The future of spine surgery is here,” O’Connor said. “It’s a testament to our commitment at Baptist Health to lead the way and improve the lives of those we serve.”</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://baptisthealth.net/newsroom/press-release/marcus-neuroscience-institute-performs-first-next-generation-augmented-reality-spinal-surgery" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:26:50 -0500 Leveraging Technology