Advancing Health

Health care is under constant threat of cyberattacks, but how prepared is the industry to fight back? The lack of resources is especially acute in rural areas. In this conversation, cyber security experts from the AHA and Microsoft, discuss the urgent need to build a cyber strong workforce, particularly in rural hospital and health systems, and how methods such as re-skilling can sustain permanent cyber readiness. For more information on this work, please email: mrhtp@microsoft.com

Two clinicians and a vehicle — that's the model Sheppard Pratt has been using to provide behavioral health access to its communities. In this conversation, Jason Melegari, R.N., director of clinical services at Sheppard Pratt, discusses how the organization's mobile behavioral health initiative was road tested, and the positive difference it is making for accessibility. 

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is the winner of the AHA’s 2024 Foster G. McGaw Prize, which recognizes the efforts of hospitals and health systems to improve the health and well-being of their communities. In this conversation, Thea James, M.D., vice president of mission with BMC, discusses the organization's evolution with health disparity work, and how BMC’s creation of the Health Equity Accelerator helped lead the way to achieve health justice in their communities.

Building a culture of safety is the foundation for any hospital or health system. In this "Safety Speaks" conversation, Christi Barney, R.N., vice president of quality and patient safety at Emerson Health, discusses their innovative approach to culture building, and how quality and safety trainings for all stakeholders drove buy-in and measurable success across the health system.

Nationwide, there is a critical shortage of trained care providers to meet the needs of kids struggling with mental health issues, and the problem is especially acute in rural areas. In this conversation, three experts from Dartmouth Health discuss their five-part virtual behavioral health training program, "Keeping Students Safe: Supporting Youth in Mental Health Distress." Backed by a federal grant, the program offers tools for care providers to help guide young people through their mental health challenges.To learn more about Dartmouth Health's innovative program visit https://video.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/playlist/dedicated/1_3g66mb6m/1_pvvjilri

Cybercriminals are ramping up attacks on health care systems throughout the United States, with a majority of these crimes originating from international, state-sponsored bad actors. In this conversation, John Riggi, national advisor for cybersecurity and risk at the AHA, talks with Oliver E. Rich, Jr., assistant director of the FBI’s International Operations Division, about the unique ways the bureau operates across the globe, and the essential role that diplomacy and cooperation play in making sure America's essential services are safe and secure.  

A shrinking workforce presents a host of challenges for any health care organization. With fewer caregivers available, hospital staff can have their bandwidth stretched to the breaking point. In this conversation, Darryl A. Elmouchi, M.D., chief operating officer of Corewell Health, discusses the current constraints facing caregivers when managing their day-to-day responsibilities, and how Corewell piloted innovative programs to help their employees get back to the main priority of patient care.

Hospital boards are comprised of leaders from all types of professional backgrounds, and are also primarily responsible for developing the quality and safety plans for their organizations. In this new "Safety Speaks" conversation, Jamie Orlikoff, president of Orlikoff & Associates, Inc. and national adviser on governance and leadership at the AHA, discusses the role hospital boards can play in supporting quality and safety within their health systems, and how board members who aren't clinicians or health care administrators can make a difference in patient safety.

In this conversation, Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 AHA board chair, speaks with her colleague Robert E. Brady, director of Anxiety Disorders Service at Dartmouth Health, about different types of anxieties and their prevalence in today’s culture. The two also discuss how the health care community is being acutely affected by the rise in anxiety disorders. This is an edited conversation. To hear the full version please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-queynyeLE

2024 has seen a sharp uptick in ruthless tactics by cybercriminals, who are now directly threatening patients with release of sensitive information, photos and medical records. In one instance, cybercriminals went as far as submitting a phony incident report to local police, triggering a harrowing visit from a SWAT Team. In this conversation, John Riggi, national advisor for cybersecurity and risk at the AHA, talks with two experts about the rise in these tactics, and what’s needed to fight back and prepare against these threat-to-life crimes.For more information on cybersecurity and ways to protect your organization, please visit www.aha.org/cybersecurity

Clinicians bring all of their skill and mental acuity to treat the whole patient, but there are many factors that can derail their ability to provide patient care. In this new "Safety Speaks" conversation, Michael Privitera, M.D., professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses ways to ease the cognitive load that many physicians and caregivers face, and how simple steps can be implemented to make it easier to focus on what's most important.To learn more and sign up for the Patient Safety Initiative please visit https://www.aha.org/aha-patient-safety-initiative

Access to quality mental and physical health services can be a complex challenge, but for individuals of color and people with severe or chronic mental illnesses, finding treatment can be exceptionally hard. In this conversation, Tracey Lavallias, executive director of behavioral health at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, discusses potential solutions to make access easier for patients, including cultural competency training, medical interpreter services, and most importantly, integration of mental and physical health services.

Prior to 2022, Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) was delivering 300 – 350 babies each year, offering the region's only comprehensive OB/GYN services. But when its three full-time OB/GYNs left, KVH was suddenly faced with a huge problem. In this conversation, Julie Petersen, CEO of Kittitas Valley Healthcare, discusses how her organization kept its promise to preserve essential obstetric services for women of all ages.

The American Hospital Association has made improving access to rural health care a top priority, and its 2024 AHA Rural Advocacy Agenda lays the groundwork to improve the system as a whole. In this conversation, three AHA experts drill down on specific steps needed to help rural health care stay financially sound and ready to serve.This discussion took place at the 2024 Rural Health Care Conference in Orlando, Florida.

In this new “Safety Speaks” conversation, Harry S. Smith, board chair of Valley Health System and member of the AHA Committee on Governance, discusses how their organization rearranged its governance system to ensure that quality and patient safety standards were being met across the board. To learn more and sign up for the Patient Safety Initiative please visit https://www.aha.org/aha-patient-safety-initiative

The reality of today's health care workforce is that demand outstrips supply. For rural health care providers, building and sustaining a strong and vibrant workforce is paramount, but not easily achieved. In this conversation, Brandie Manuel, R.N., chief patient safety and quality officer at Jefferson Healthcare, discusses how the use of TeamSTEPPS and other tools are making a big difference in creating a thriving employee pipeline.

Providing optimal care to patients, regardless of where they live, can be a tall task for a hospital or health system. But with the advent of technology and integrated clinics, Henry Ford Health System is leading the way in serving its growing communities. In this conversation, Cathrine Frank, M.D., chair of psychiatry and behavioral health services at Henry Ford Health, shares how they utilize a virtual team approach to provide reachable care, and how innovations like a patient tracking registry are benefiting the whole person. 

America is facing an alarming shortage of nurses. Many experienced nurses are retiring. Burnout and other stressors, like an increase in workplace violence, also are compelling more nurses to leave their jobs.  In this conversation, Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 AHA board chair, talks with Joy Parchment, R.N., assistant professor at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing and board member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), about ways that care providers can retain nurses and build a talent pipeline of future nurses.This is an edited conversation. To hear the full version please visit https://youtu.be/7KJEMjIeN5M

Health care pressures are often magnified for rural caregivers, yet some are developing unique solutions for these turbulent times. In this conversation, Mary Mannix, CEO and president of Augusta Health, discusses the impact that cross-training has had on high-quality patient care in their community, and how the transition to an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) ensures patients are getting the right care at the right time.

Hospitals and health systems never stop working to advance patient safety, while collaborating and innovating together for the best quality outcomes. Welcome to “Safety Speaks,” an Advancing Health series where hospital and health system leaders share successes from their organizations’ patient safety efforts. In this conversation, Tom Peterson, M.D., vice president and chief safety officer at Trinity Health, discusses how Trinity's focus on both workforce and patient safety is paying off. To learn more and sign up for the Patient Safety Initiative please visit https://www.aha.org/aha-patient-safety-initiative