Advancing Health

Overall health does not fit neatly into individual buckets, which is why today's caregivers are designing treatment plans that integrate behavioral and physical health. In this conversation, Jerry Halverson, M.D., consult liaison psychiatrist at Rogers Behavioral Health, discusses the impact of these integrations on patient outcomes, and how payers are providing reimbursement for these rapidly growing care models.

In order for the American Hospital Association to be the most effective voice it can be for its members, personal visits to member hospitals and health systems are a must. Face-to-face conversations with health care leadership are invaluable, and a big part of the job for Chris DeRienzo, M.D., senior vice president and chief physician executive at the AHA. In this conversation, Dr. DeRienzo shares what he has learned from visiting with members, and how they are innovating unique solutions to combat current health care challenges.

Health care providers are working hard to move beyond the hospital walls and expand access into the communities they serve. Sentara Health is one of many organizations that are creatively identifying populations with the greatest need for health care and community services. In this conversation, Iris Lundy, R.N., vice president of health equity at Sentara Health, discusses their thoughtful approach to delivering accessible and high-quality health care to those who need it most.

As opioid abuse has reached epidemic proportions, the number of babies born dependent on these drugs also has increased dramatically. The award-winning WISH (Women and Infant Substance Help) Center at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital is combating this serious problem with innovative and people-first solutions that help mothers get off and stay off opioids and other substances. In this conversation, Chris DeRienzo, M.D., SVP and chief physician executive at the AHA, speaks with three WISH Center experts about how its approach is helping to protect the health of new mothers and their babies.For more information on the SSM WISH Center visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzaZZrLRAn0&t=1s#CHIWeek #CHI

As we observe AHA’s 8th annual #HAVHope Day, it's an important reminder that many hospital and health system leaders are looking for solutions to address the root causes of violence in their organizations and communities. Some AHA members have already figured out how to make their organizations a safer and more peaceful environment in which to receive care. In this conversation, Kenneth Rogers, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer at WellSpan Health, discusses how the implementation of their Behavioral Health Emergency Response Team has successfully de-escalated workplace violence incidents by 75% since 2019, by increasing capacity for their team members to respond to situations that could result in violence. #HAVhope

Hospitals and health systems have their hands full coping with the scary reality of a ransomware attack, but there are also civil liability concerns that arise in the fallout of a health care cybercrime. In the second of this two-part conversation, John Riggi, national advisor for cybersecurity and risk at the AHA, and Chris Van Gorder, president & CEO of Scripps Health, explore the underdiscussed aspects in the aftermath of a cyber-attack, and the necessary support from the federal government.

In response to the alarming rise of ransomware attacks, hospitals and health systems must stay vigilant by playing defense, having a mitigation plan in place, and keeping lines of communication open with federal law enforcement. But even when it's followed, it's no guarantee. Scripps Health did everything right, yet in May of 2021, a serious incursion occurred anyway. In part one of this two-part conversation, Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health, joins John Riggi, National Advisor for Cybersecurity and Risk at the AHA, about how his organization responded when cyber criminals attacked and breached the defenses of the well-prepared health system.

Prior authorization means getting approval from your health plan before scheduling a medical service, but many clinicians and patients say prior authorization has become an administrative nightmare, delaying or even denying needed medical care. In mid-January, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) issued a final rule designed to address some of the widespread difficulties. In this conversation, Andrea Preisler, senior associate director of administrative simplification policy at the AHA, Jennifer Cameron, executive director of Patient Access at Children's National Health System and David Jacobson, M.D., division chief of blood and marrow transplantation at Children's National Hospital, discuss what the new prior authorization rule means for making sure clinicians can do what they do best: taking care of their patients.

As Americans age, health care is seeing a shift in addressing the unique needs of older adults. But what about those caring for their loved ones? In this conversation, Diane Mariani, program manager at Rush University Medical Center, discusses their Caring for Caregivers program, which shares resources and guidance to family and friends who care for older adults, while helping them better manage their own health and wellness. To watch the video version of this podcast visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRIIvSuEmMc

According to the World Health Organization, behavioral health conditions among older populations are often underrecognized, undertreated and stigmatized. Broaddus Hospital, a critical access hospital and part of Davis Health System, tackled this problem head-on with the development of Senior Life Solutions, an intensive outpatient group therapy program designed for patients 65 and older. In this conversation, Broaddus Hospital's Dana Gould, CEO, and Donetta McVicker, program director of Senior Life Solutions, share how they are working to identify and fill the unique mental health needs of their older community members. 

Across the country, hospitals and health systems are moving to fully integrate behavioral health treatment as a core part of patient-centered care. In this conversation, Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 AHA board chair, talks with Jeremy Musher, M.D., chief behavioral medical officer at Lifepoint Health, about common obstacles in the behavioral health field, including access and reimbursement, as well as ways to approach mental health stigmas.

In 2020, Congress acted to prevent any more loss of essential health care services in rural areas by creating a new designation: Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). REHs became official on January 1, 2023. Since then, a growing number of rural care providers have voluntarily converted to this category. In this discussion, two rural health care leaders assess how the conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital is proceeding, and how to build trust and buy-in from patients and communities. 

Community health workers (CHWs) serve as a bridge between social and clinical care, providing essential outreach and advocacy to populations with unmet social needs. Understanding the importance of CHWs, Montefiore Medical Center created the Community Health Worker Institute to standardize CHW training and ensure that the patients they serve receive the best possible care. In this conversation, Renee Whiskey-LaLanne, director of community partnerships at Montefiore's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Kevin Fiori, M.D., vice chair of community health and engagement at Montefiore Health System, discuss how the lofty dream of an institute turned into reality, as well as the strategies for addressing social determinants of health.

In addition to caring for patients, many health care providers have an equally important role at home — being parents to young children. Given the pressures of parenting, what are hospitals and health systems doing to retain new parents, especially moms, in the health care workforce? In the final episode of this award-winning series, learn how health care organizations are supporting new moms to enable them to thrive at work, and most importantly, at home. For more resources on maternal health or to listen to previous Beyond Birth episodes, visit www.aha.org/betterhhealthformothersandbabies.

The constant strain of workforce and financial issues are proving difficult to solve for rural health care providers. In this conversation, Barbara Sowada, president of the Board of Trustees at Memorial Hospital, discusses the role board members can play in helping their hospitals and health systems navigate today’s pressing problems, and how the AHA’s resources and educational materials can provide valuable assistance.

Despite the fact that half of all mental health issues begin before age 14, most parents can have difficulty talking with their kids about mental health concerns. AdventHealth for Children has created "Be a Mindleader,” a preventive campaign to help parents and their kids open the door to difficult, but necessary conversations on mental health. In this conversation, Jessica Galo, director of specialty care at AdventHealth for Children, and Jaeann Ashton, marketing director of Women's and Children's at AdventHealth, explore how the “Be a Mindleader” campaign is leading the way to improving adolescent mental health with these life-changing conversations.

There are a host of medical issues that can come with pregnancy and giving birth. An often-overlooked aspect of pregnancy and motherhood is that some new mothers do better with intensive outpatient perinatal care, which is an elevated level of support. Ascension Alexian Brothers - Behavioral Health Hospital is among a small number of providers specializing in providing intensive outpatient perinatal care. In this conversation, two behavioral health experts from Ascension's outpatient program share the formula for its success in helping at-risk new moms.

In the current health care landscape, hospitals and health systems have been focusing their attention on tackling the social determinants of health in their communities. To achieve this, they are working hand in hand with community stakeholders, reaching areas where zip codes can often determine health outcomes. In this conversation, Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and 2024 AHA board chair, talks with Lynn Todman, vice president of health equity and community partnerships at Corewell Health, about how care providers are reaching within their community to reinforce strong health habits and individual wellness. To listen to the full conversation visit https://youtu.be/mxmS4GuJCmY

Recruiting a young and engaged workforce is particularly challenging for rural care providers. Innovative solutions such as signing bonuses and tuition payment are familiar tools many health care employers are using in employee recruitment. In this conversation, Susan Wathen, vice president of human resources at Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, discusses their unique approaches to finding and retaining future health care employees.

The mental and physical well-being of the nation’s caregivers has been a main priority for health care leaders across the country, but implementing support programs across large organizations can be challenging. NYC Health + Hospitals has faced the challenge with their Helping Healers Heal network, a peer-to-peer support program that helps care teams stay physically and mentally healthy. In this conversation, Jeremy Segall, chief wellness officer at NYC Health + Hospitals, discusses the system's various well-being programs, as well as the steps needed to move these programs forward in big organizations.