/ en Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:54:38 -0500 Thu, 31 Jul 25 19:43:23 -0500 /role-hospitals-ssm-health-st-marys-hospital-st-louis-infant-safe-sleep-program <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-SSM-Health-StLouis-Sleep-Safe-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital, St. Louis combating state's high infant mortality rates through Infant Safe Sleep Program. Stock photo of a baby sleeping peacefully." width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></p></div><p>SSM Health Hospitals in Missouri are taking a proactive role in combating the state’s high infant mortality rates through their <a href="https://www.ssmhealth.com/services/maternity-care/postpartum-baby-care-resources/safe-sleep-and-sudden-unexpected-infant-death" target="_blank">Infant Safe Sleep Program</a>. This initiative, part of the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program in collaboration with Cribs for Kids, educates new parents on safe sleep practices to prevent sudden unexpected infant death, which includes sudden infant death syndrome.</p><p>At SSM Health St. Clare, for example, perinatal educators ensure every family leaves the hospital equipped with knowledge and tools for safe infant sleep. Parents receive swaddle sacks, fitted crib sheets and educational materials, while hospital staff wear badges with safe sleep guidelines to reinforce the message. The hospital also celebrates every birth by playing a lullaby over the public address system to welcome the new babies.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/health-and-safety-alerts/safe-sleep-safe-babies-ssm-health-program-working-to-lower-infant-mortality-rates-in-missouri/ar-AA1EuK4d" 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> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:43:23 -0500 Stories /role-hospitals-integris-health-mobile-health-clinic-helps-bridge-access-care-oklahoma-communities <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-integris-health-mobile-clinic-700x532.jpg" alt="Telling the Hospital Story: INTEGRIS Health Mobile health clinic helps bridge access to care in Oklahoma communities. Stock image of male health worker outdoors at a rural event, speaking with community members" width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma has been working to meet people where they are with their Mobile Health Clinic, launched in March 2019. Having a focus on prevention and chronic disease management, this initiative is aimed at expanding access to health care for underserved communities in Oklahoma County. The clinic travels directly to at-risk neighborhoods, eliminating barriers such as lack of transportation, long wait times and appointment difficulties. Staffed by a dedicated team of nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and health educators, the mobile unit offers comprehensive services including health screenings, case management, cooking demonstrations and wellness resources. By partnering with organizations like the Oklahoma Lions Service Foundation and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the clinic integrates health care with food distribution and education, addressing both medical and social drivers of health.</p><p>The clinic’s impact has been measured through a robust evaluation framework that tracks biometric screenings, patient follow-ups, educational session participation and emergency room utilization rates. Community engagement is central to its success, with local churches, schools and civic organizations helping to identify needs and shape services. The program has demonstrated effectiveness in improving health behaviors and access to care, particularly in high-poverty zip codes. The INTEGRIS Mobile Health Clinic not only bridges health access gaps but also sets a replicable model for sustainable, community-centered health care delivery.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://integrishealth.org/about-integris/serving-our-community/outreach-programs/mobile-wellness-clinic">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, 31 Jul 2025 13:23:33 -0500 Stories /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 Stories /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 Stories /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 Stories /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 Stories /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 Stories /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 Stories /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 Stories /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 Stories