/ en Wed, 30 Jul 2025 08:30:26 -0500 Fri, 25 Jul 25 00:25:28 -0500 /role-hospitals-monument-health-trash-collecting-character-gets-kids-read <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-5"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/ths-monument-health-porter-project-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Monument Health Trash-collecting character gets kids to read. stock image of a woman and young girl reading together." width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></p></div><p>Thanks to a partnership between Monument Health and the Porter Project, thousands of second-grade students in the Black Hills of South Dakota received a free book — and homework for their parents.</p><p>The “Porter the Hoarder” book series is written by film and television producer Sean Covel (best-known for the movie “Napoleon Dynamite”) and illustrated by artist and singer/songwriter Rebecca Swift. The South Dakota natives paired up to create a reading experience for young children and their families. Parents and siblings read the book to the younger child, who takes on the challenge to “seek and find” all the odds and ends that Porter has tried to squirrel away. If they can find all the objects, then Porter gets a prize at the end of the book.</p><p>In “Porter the Hoarder and the Hospital Hijinks,” that prize is an ambulance full of lollipops.</p><p>Monument Health and the Porter Project distributed the books to area kids in May 2024, via hundreds of classrooms across the region.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://monument.health/magazine-article/reading-together-is-a-check-up-from-the-neck-up/" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/community-benefit">Benefiting Communities</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:25:28 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /role-hospitals-golisano-childrens-hospital-exploring-benefits-pediatric-mental-health-urgent-care-centers <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/ths-brighter-days-pediatric-mental-health-700x532.jpg" alt="Telling the Hospital Story: Golisano Children’s Hospital - Exploring the benefits of pediatric mental health urgent care centers. Image: Brighter Days Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Center exterior" width="700" height="532"></p></div><p><a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/behavioral-health-wellness/pediatric-mental-health-urgent-care">The Brighter Days Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Center</a>, part of Golisano Children’s Hospital in Western New York, opened in June 2024 to provide walk-in mental health services for individuals under 18. The center is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of 30 professionals and can treat up to 3,000 patients annually. Brighter Days is the only facility of its kind outside the New York City area and fills a critical gap in pediatric mental health care, offering immediate support without the need for appointments. Its opening reflects a broader national trend, with over 20 similar centers opening across the U.S. in the past year to address the growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents.</p><p>These urgent care centers are reshaping mental health treatment by offering rapid access to care, easing pressure on emergency departments, and connecting patients to long-term support. They are especially vital as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and substance-use disorders remain prevalent, with anxiety alone accounting for over 18% of top diagnoses in 2023.</p><p>The pandemic exacerbated mental health challenges, leading to a sustained increase in emergency visits for issues like self-harm and suicide among youth. Mental health urgent care centers help bridge the gap between emergency and long-term care, offering timely assessments, short-term treatment, and referrals.</p> <a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://sponsors.aha.org/index.php/email/emailWebview">LEARN MORE</a> </p> --><p> </p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/center/population-health">Improving Health and Wellness</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:24:54 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /advancing-health-podcast/2025-07-22-mobilizing-4ms-how-el-camino-health-transforming-age-friendly-care <p>The 4Ms framework that supports age-friendly health care for older patients continues to expand in hospitals and health systems across the nation. In this conversation, Carolyn Bogard, DNP, R.N., director of care coordination and palliative care at El Camino Health, talks about her system’s use of data to harness the passion that care providers feel for improving outcomes and streamlining care delivery for older adults.</p><hr><div></div><div class="raw-html-embed"> <details class="transcript"> <summary> <h2 title="Click here to open/close the transcript."> <span>View Transcript</span><br>   </h2> </summary> <p> 00:00:01:06 - 00:00:23:22<br> Tom Haederle<br> Welcome to Advancing Health. The 4Ms are the core components of Age-Friendly health systems that aim to improve the quality of care for older adults. Today, we hear from California-based El Camino Health about how its adoption of the forums has produced measurable improvements for the older people it serves. </p> <p> 00:00:23:24 - 00:00:40:20<br> Raahat Ansari<br> Hi everyone. We're here in Chicago at AHA’s Advancing Age-Friendly Care Convening. I'm Raahat Ansari, senior program manager at the ���������� Association. Today I'm here and joined by Carolyn Bogard from El Camino Hospital. Thank you so much for being here with us today. </p> <p> 00:00:40:23 - 00:00:43:19<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here. </p> <p> 00:00:43:22 - 00:01:06:18<br> Raahat Ansari<br> Great. So we wanted to take some time to understand your Age-Friendly journey and how you implemented the 4M's framework at your organization. And I'll just take a quick moment for those listeners who might be new to this work to explain that the 4Ms is: what matters, medication, mentation and mobility, and applying that care to older adults. So can you tell us how it got started? </p> <p> 00:01:06:20 - 00:01:29:09<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Absolutely. And again, thank you so much for having me and for this opportunity. I'm so proud to talk about the work being done at El Camino Health, and where we're at on our journey. We are still in the beginning phases of our journey and the 4M implementation at El Camino Health - it actually started with the leadership of one nurse. </p> <p> 00:01:29:15 - 00:02:02:08<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> This nurse was making advances in her unit to implement an evidence based project, and her passion was really around delivering Age-Friendly care to older adults. And through her work and collaboration with pharmacy and our Epic analysts and other interdisciplinary team members, she was able to advance and roll out the 4M's on this medical unit within El Camino Health. </p> <p> 00:02:02:11 - 00:02:14:15<br> Raahat Ansari<br> It's amazing to hear. I just want to share that we do hear that a lot of organizations get started with this by one single individual championing this work, so I'm super excited to hear that that's the story at your organization. </p> <p> 00:02:14:18 - 00:02:37:21<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Oh, thank you so much. Yeah, we're super proud of her. And she continues to be a steadfast advocate for this work and continues to be so passionate about it and deeply involved with rolling out the 4Ms further throughout our health system. We certainly saw the impact in the benefits of rolling out the 4Ms and of this Age-Friendly health initiative. </p> <p> 00:02:37:24 - 00:02:47:22<br> Raahat Ansari<br> Did you see some outcomes and did you have data and what did you do with that data? And I wonder, were you able to share that with your leadership if you needed some help with leadership buy in? </p> <p> 00:02:47:29 - 00:03:26:18<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Yes. One of the things that we helped to do to advance this work, one of the first things is really to pull some of the data. And some of the data already on this unit was around high patient engagement scores and also the volume of older adults within this specific unit. We knew through the Age-Friendly initiative and the work with the IHI and ���������� Association that rolling out the 4Ms within a health system impacts length of stay, readmissions, falls and other patient health outcomes and health system outcomes, too. </p> <p> 00:03:26:21 - 00:03:52:29<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> And we were able to bring this information in this data to our chief nursing officer. And we began conversations around how can we expand this initiative throughout our health care organization? So, she was extremely supportive and excited and passionate around this work as well. And then it was a matter of identifying next steps. </p> <p> 00:03:53:03 - 00:03:58:09<br> Raahat Ansari<br> So it was the data that got your chief nursing officer on board. Did I hear that correctly? </p> <p> 00:03:58:09 - 00:04:32:15<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> I think it was the data and also her passion around it. And I think what I've seen is there is a lot of health care providers passionate about caring for older adults. And I think the 4M framework really helps to create a platform for where to focus that passion and energy to help produce really tangible outcomes and help to really streamline health care delivery for the older adults in our health systems. </p> <p> 00:04:32:17 - 00:04:43:17<br> Raahat Ansari<br> So I'm hearing a little bit of outcomes across the board. So there were definitely some positive patient outcomes. And from what you just shared right now, there were some positive provider outcomes. </p> <p> 00:04:43:19 - 00:05:21:09<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Well, I think certainly our providers are interested in continuing to advance this work. I think from the pilot phases and initial rollout of the 4Ms and this unit, the nurses in particular in this area found the work to be important and meaningful. And recognized the value that this work can have for their patients. And, you know, one thing that we did within our health system, when we're talking a little bit about scope and spread and how to really expand this work is, where do you begin? </p> <p> 00:05:21:15 - 00:05:52:05<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> We had some success on this medical unit within our health system. What nursing leaders, what key stakeholders within the health system do we need to further expand? And we are so thankful to have the executive support that we do. Because our CNO knows exactly who to pull into the conversation. And one of the stakeholders that was really helpful with advancing these conversations is our process improvement adviser. </p> <p> 00:05:52:07 - 00:06:19:20<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> And we really started by identifying what problem are we trying to solve, and then really doing a value stream about current processes within our health care organization. And what do we need to do to further expand some of this work? And some of the things that we identified right off the bat is identifying some programmatic leadership. </p> <p> 00:06:19:23 - 00:06:48:24<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Who's in charge of further expanding this, this, health care initiative? And also, where can we get consistent data from? Data can help tell your story and we know that this is an important story to tell, both to our patients and our health system. And we were lucky enough to work with a fantastic data analyst within our health care organization and he helped to develop an Age-Friendly dashboard. </p> <p> 00:06:48:27 - 00:07:29:12<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> It's still in the beginning stages because sometimes there's so much data you can get paralyzed. And so we have to really think about what data do we need and how do we act upon the data that we have. Part of the initial data collection was around our patient population. You know, better understanding who are we caring for in our health system, identifying certainly ages and demographics and what service lines are these patients on based on that data that's helping to inform us around which units will we spread to next? </p> <p> 00:07:29:14 - 00:07:45:24<br> Raahat Ansari<br> I think that makes perfect sense. And one question that I want to ask you that I imagine some of our listeners might have of you is do you have any tips that you could share that you used to get that leadership buy in? We all know how important that is to leverage. </p> <p> 00:07:45:27 - 00:08:30:04<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Well, I'm so thankful to have regular and consistent communication with my executive and that alone gives me a pathway to communicate where we need help and what type of support that we need. And through that support and engagement and ongoing communication, we were able to develop a plan. Now, the plan did not develop overnight. It took probably three months from that initial conversation to even get a quorum of nursing directors across the organization in one room, with the process improvement advisory to talk a little bit about Age-Friendly care within our health care organization. </p> <p> 00:08:30:04 - 00:08:35:16<br> Raahat Ansari<br> And that's a success in and of itself, right? And get have all the stakeholders in one room to talk about that. </p> <p> 00:08:35:16 - 00:09:13:09<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Definitely. And when we had these initial conversations, everyone had different thoughts and ideas and opinions and observations about what was going well within the organization and what could be improved. And following that, we completed an A3, which is really a, you know, a systematic way to tackle a problem. And through input in discussion and these observations from all the nurse leaders, we were really able to see what areas are we doing well in and what areas can we improve in. </p> <p> 00:09:13:12 - 00:09:39:05<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> And because we did have the 4M framework already rolled out on one unit, we weren't starting from scratch. We already had a pilot unit that implemented the 4Ms and was successful with that. So it was really more about building upon that success. Now we're at a spot as we think a little bit more about spread and scale across the organization. </p> <p> 00:09:39:08 - 00:09:51:03<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> How do we dive a little bit deeper into each M, and how do we gain further engagement from members of the interdisciplinary team? </p> <p> 00:09:51:06 - 00:10:05:06<br> Raahat Ansari<br> And I do hear another challenge from some organizations about breaking down those silos and having that those interdisciplinary conversations. Any advice that you could share and how you successfully made that happen at your organization? </p> <p> 00:10:05:09 - 00:10:29:19<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Oh, yeah. Thank you so much for that question. And I would just add, being here at this forum, it's just so fantastic because even just today, I learned different ideas from different folks within the community. So one of the areas that we talked about was how do we get that buy-in and collaboration from members of the interdisciplinary team? </p> <p> 00:10:29:21 - 00:11:04:27<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Being that it's, you know, pharmacy or rehab services, case management, social worker, even our physicians, and certainly one of the best practices that was identified is really trying to find a champion in each area. And in my experience and observations, I have seen some passion out there about delivering high quality care to our older adult patient population. So at least within my health system, I don't have to look too far for individuals that are interested in advancing this work. </p> <p> 00:11:05:00 - 00:11:32:02<br> Raahat Ansari<br> When we started this work, that provider re-engagement and that spark, that passion that really was reignited when providers were working towards implementing the 4Ms framework into a patient care plan - that was something we were not expecting to see. So I really appreciate that you're saying that it's not hard to find, because we have seen that in real life when we have new teams come and join the action </p> <p> 00:11:32:02 - 00:11:50:00<br> Raahat Ansari<br> communities a little unsure of what to expect, what they're going to get out of it. And come two, three months into this, we've got a whole host of providers from all different disciplines who are really excited and passionate about being able to implement this work with their patients. So just wanted to highlight that point. Thank you for bringing that up. </p> <p> 00:11:50:06 - 00:12:08:15<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Oh you're welcome. And actually to your exact point, I have been part of the action community intermittently, throughout a number of years based on various jobs that I've had. And I get it. Caring for older adults, it is a passion of mine and it's such a privilege to be able to continue to be part of this work. </p> <p> 00:12:08:18 - 00:12:46:11<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> But I would even think 5 to 7 years ago, people were just better understanding the importance of delivering high quality, reliable care to older adults. And even in that short period of time, I feel as if I have seen some reinvigoration in interest into this real specialty area of medicine. It's fantastic because it really does take a village, and an interdisciplinary team to provide holistic care to our patients, certainly within the hospital setting, but also across the care continuum. </p> <p> 00:12:46:14 - 00:13:03:09<br> Raahat Ansari<br> And so what I'm hearing is you have nailed it at this at this one site, you are done and done. Just kidding. Because that work is never done, right? But you've made some really good strides at one care site and you're moving to expand to other care sites within your organization. And that is fantastic news and something to celebrate. </p> <p> 00:13:03:11 - 00:13:05:06<br> Raahat Ansari<br> Thank you again for being here with us today. </p> <p> 00:13:05:09 - 00:13:08:05<br> Carolyn Bogard, R.N.<br> Thank you. It's been an honor and a pleasure. </p> <p> 00:13:08:07 - 00:13:16:18<br> Tom Haederle<br> Thanks for listening to Advancing Health. Please subscribe and rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. </p> </details> </div> Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:47:48 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /role-hospitals-st-tammany-health-system-reaches-rural-communities-through-collaboration <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-5"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/ths-st-tammany-healthier-northshore-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="St. Tammany Health System. Woman checks fresh produce at a farmer's market as vendor looks on" width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></p></div><p>Launched in September 2020, Healthier Northshore is a collaborative initiative led by St. Tammany Health System to improve health outcomes across Louisiana’s Northshore region. Born out of the urgent health needs highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program brings together nearly 50 leaders from health care, government, education and nonprofit sectors. Its mission is to improve access to care, promote preventive health care and address chronic issues such as poor behavioral health, smoking and vaping, poor nutrition and lack of exercise. The program operates through a network of mobile clinics, community gardens, school-based campaigns and health education events to make health care services more accessible.</p><p>Healthier Northshore has already shown measurable success, including increased cancer screenings, improved smoking cessation rates and over 2,000 rural residents gaining access to care through mobile clinics. Its emphasis on collaboration is a model of community-driven health innovation with a replicable structure.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://healthiernorthshore.health/" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/community-benefit">Benefiting Communities</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:43:24 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /role-hospitals-hshs-st-vincent-hospital-14-labor-and-delivery-nurses-experience-their-own-baby-boom <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-7"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/THS%20-%20StVincent-Nurses-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Telling the Hospital Story. 14 St. Vincent Hospital labor and delivery nurses experience their own baby boom" width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></div><p>What started as a group of nurses and friends taking a photo during a shift change has turned into a viral social media moment — in the best way.</p><p>In May, 11 registered nurses at <a href="https://www.hshs.org/st-vincent/services/pregnancy-and-birth" target="_blank">HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s Women and Infants Center</a> in Green Bay, Wis., gathered for a quick picture between shifts. The nurses (not including three more who couldn’t be there) were all pregnant and wanted to capture the shared moment in time. During her daily round, Director of Nursing Amy Bardon heard about the photo op and asked the hospital’s marketing team to take the photo. After a social media post and an article on the hospital’s website wishing the team a happy Nurses Week and Mother’s Day were published, the news spread. Fast.</p><p>The nurses were quickly caught up in the viral moment and began giving interviews to several news outlets, including local TV stations, USA Today, People, Good Morning America and <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/world-news-tonight-with-david-muirT/video/14-wisconsin-nurses-pregnant-same-time-121677297" target="_blank">ABC News</a>.</p><p>“It’s been really fun for them and they’re still talking about it,” Bardon said, adding that the nurses are now recognized in the grocery store and around town. “But it’s changing rapidly, because pregnancies don’t last forever. There is a due date.”</p><p>Eight of the 14 nurses have delivered their babies so far, Bardon said — four girls and four boys. The tight-knit group has shared experiences and stories and helped set new moms’ expectations. And when the time comes for them to deliver, they know they will experience the same compassion and empathy they bring to their patients’ bedside. “It’s a phenomenal experience,” Bardon said.</p><p>Bardon added that support from her chief nursing officer and other senior leaders is making it possible for the nurses to be on leave and not unduly stress the rest of the staff. Data transparency was key to show where staffing gaps would be and leaders in the Women and Infants Center are hands-on in managing the situation. The unit has 87 nurses in all, with regional and internal flex teams, orientees, temporary staff and full-time staff helping to fill in the absences.</p><p>“Staffing is always a challenge. As health care leaders, we face that challenge in many organizations, especially in a specialty area where that skillset is required to provide that high quality care,” Bardon said. “Our leadership team have embraced it.”</p><p>The nurses plan to recreate their viral photo next year, with one difference: Their babies will make an appearance, too. </p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/workforce-home">Workforce</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:23:42 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /role-hospitals-canyon-vista-medical-center-launches-special-delivery-program-improve-maternal-health-and-save-lives <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/ths-canyon-vista-special-delivery-700x532.jpg" alt="Canyon Vista Medical Center launches special delivery program to improve maternal health and save lives" width="700" height="513"></p></div><p>For Canyon Vista Medical Center (CVMC) in Sierra Vista, Arizona, it’s all in the wrist. Its new Special Delivery Program equips postpartum patients with wristbands to wear for six weeks after childbirth, serving as a visual cue for both patients and health care providers to remain alert to potential complications.</p><p>Many life-threatening postpartum complications — such as hypertension, infections, and heart conditions — often arise days or even weeks after delivery. With over half of pregnancy-related deaths occurring between one week and one year postpartum, the Special Delivery Program aims to bridge this dangerous gap by ensuring that recent deliveries are recognized and addressed promptly in medical settings.</p><p>In addition to the wristbands, CVMC encourages community involvement by asking families, friends, and neighbors to check in on new mothers during the postpartum period. The wristbands act as a discreet but effective signal, prompting conversations and encouraging individuals to seek medical attention if they experience concerning symptoms.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.canyonvistamedicalcenter.com/news/cvmc-launches-special-delivery-program-to-improve-maternal-health-and-save-lives">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/center/population-health">Improving Health and Wellness</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:21:50 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /role-hospitals-sunrise-hospital-and-medical-center-nevada-patients-get-jolt-hope-new-heartbeat-tech <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-5"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/ths-sunrise-health-heart-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Telling the Hospital Story. From stem cells to supernovas: Nevada patients get a jolt of hope with new heartbeat tech." width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas recently introduced technology to treat heart rhythm disorders, building on the hospital’s earlier success using pulse field ablation — the delivery of electrical pulses to kill cells causing the irregular heart rhythm.</p><p>Sunrise’s new system is integrated with a sophisticated mapping system that allows doctors to more accurately identify and treat parts of the heart responsible for abnormal rhythms, called arrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia characterized by irregular and often very rapid heart rhythms, increases risk of stroke, heart failure and other conditions and can lead to blood clots in the heart.</p><p>"We are committed to providing our patients with the most innovative and effective treatments available," said Todd P. Sklamberg, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center CEO. "This new technology underscores that commitment and will allow us to offer a new level of care for patients with complex cardiac arrhythmias."</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.sunrisehealthinfo.com/about-us/newsroom/sunrise-hospital-to-launch-innovative-cardiac-technology"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></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, 17 Jul 2025 13:10:17 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /role-hospitals-ochsner-lafayette-general-medical-center-opelousas-general-health-system-partner-local-organizations-create <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-7"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/ths-acadiana-country-roads-inclusion-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Ochsner. An ethnically diverse medical team of three men and three women wearing scrubs and white coats" width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></div><p>In the heart of rural Louisiana, Acadiana Workforce Solutions has launched the Country Road Inclusion Project, an initiative aimed at tackling the region’s critical shortage of health care workers. The project focuses on training and placing individuals from underserved communities into vital health care roles. By partnering with local educational institutions and two health care systems, Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center and Opelousas General Health System, the program seeks to create a sustainable pipeline of talent to serve rural populations. “We understand the importance of addressing health care workforce challenges while creating opportunities for individuals in our community," said Patrick W. Gandy, Jr., chief executive officer of Ochsner Lafayette General. "Through our partnerships, we are already seeing tremendous success in filling critical gaps in the health care workforce.</p><p>The initiative is gaining traction, with participants expressing hope and excitement about new career paths. Through targeted outreach and support services, the project aims to remove barriers that have historically limited access to health care careers in rural areas, such as transportation and training.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ochsner-health-system-_acadiana-workforce-solutions-launches-country-activity-7286020186892054529-f9kN/" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/workforce-home">Workforce</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:06:06 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /role-hospitals-atlanticare-opens-75m-expansion-featuring-50-private-rooms-integrated-care-technology <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-5"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/ths-atlanticare-expansion-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid="d8d940b7-6135-4cb2-a792-04306933fb2d" data-entity-type="file" alt="The ribbon cutting ceremony for AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center - Mainland Campus's 50 new state-of-the-art private rooms spread over two floors." width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></p></div><p>State of the art health care has taken on a new dimension with the opening by AtlantiCare, the largest health care provider in southeastern New Jersey, of 50 new state-of-the-art private rooms spread over two floors at its Mainland Campus in Galloway Township.</p><p>Each room is designed to enhance safety, comfort, and the experience of care. They include smart technology for patient control over entertainment, climate, and meals, as well as integrated clinical tools like digital whiteboards and bedside dialysis access. The design was shaped by input from medical staff and includes features such as satellite nursing stations with natural light, decentralized supply areas, and hospitality-inspired aesthetics. Staff lounges and ceiling-mounted lifts in select rooms further enhance the working and healing environment.</p><p>In addition, the $75 million project also incorporated its Healing Arts Program into the new floors, commissioning local artists to create calming, uplifting artwork. This expansion is a key part of AtlantiCare’s Vision 2030, a six-year strategic plan to transform health care in the region.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.atlanticare.org/news/atlanticare-opens-75m-expansion-featuring-50-private-rooms-integrated-care-technology" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/community-benefit">Benefiting Communities</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:09:39 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story /role-hospitals-chi-health-offers-free-training-fill-workforce-shortages <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-7"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/STC-CHI-Health-ST-Elizabeth-700x532.PNG" data-entity-uuid="b6894718-be49-4fdf-ad89-cc0704474813" data-entity-type="file" alt="Students training in CHI Health St. Elizabeth's CNA Advance Program." width="700" height="532" class="align-left"><p> </p></div><p>CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, Neb., is creating its own solution to the health care field’s staffing problem.</p><p>The organization’s CNA Advance Program offers free training, testing and employment to individuals in the Lincoln and Omaha area who want to become certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The students can more quickly climb the health care career ladder, while CHI Health fills gaps in its workforce.</p><p>Alicia Wenz recently graduated from the three-week program and is now employed in the progressive care unit at CHI Health St. Elizabeth.</p><p>“I just love being able to be a part of a care team that helps people get better,” Wenz said.</p><p>She is one of more than 40 students to complete the program since it launched in 2024. Once students pass a final exam, they are guaranteed employment at a CHI Health hospital of their choice. They also receive free CPR and basic life support training and are eligible to get training in skills such as phlebotomy or recording EKGs.</p><p>“CNAs are extremely important to helping with our patient care,” said Jenny Stachura, CHI Health chief nursing officer for the Iowa/Nebraska market. “CNAs will help take vital signs, they’ll do blood pressure, heart rate, those kinds of things. They really help assist the nursing team with anything that is needed.”</p><p>Program instructor Heidi Enderson works with students in the classroom and in a simulated patient room for hands-on practice. “The students can have all the practice they need if they want to go over a skill. We’ll either watch the video or do it again,” Enderson said. “I feel it’s very important for the hands-on part to kind of solidify and make sense of all these skills.”</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.chihealth.com/careers/cna-opportunities" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/workforce-home">Workforce</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:13:37 -0500 Telling the Hospital Story