Advancing Health

The influx of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is here to stay, yet there is considerable debate about the best and most effective ways to safely employ it. In this conversation, Joanne Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and the 2024 Chair of AHA's Board, and Janice Nevin, M.D., president and CEO of ChristianaCare, discuss what the rise of AI means for health care organizations and their employees, as well the marked improvements that this type of intelligence can have on hospital and health system efficiency.

This special series explores the medical complications that can accompany pregnancy, successful prenatal and postpartum treatment programs, and how hospitals and health systems are addressing the social needs of new mothers. For many new mothers, the transition to parenthood can trigger depression and anxiety. In this episode, Laura La Porte, LCSW, manager of the Perinatal Depression Program at Endeavor Health, and new mom Anna Ma, discuss how the program supports a new mother's mental health and provides avenues for parents to seek help. 

For many clinicians the pressure of treating a never-ending line of patients can be stressful. The COVID pandemic has been a health care game changer, and its lasting effect on care teams accelerated issues like burnout and the need to address well-being. In this conversation, Suzanne Bentley, M.D., chief wellness officer and director of simulation, innovation and research at the New York City Health and Hospitals Elmhurst, discusses the critical role that their peer support program played in employee mental health and the impact of building infrastructure focused on the well-being of staff.

One hallmark of America's rapidly changing health care system is the evolving role of physician leaders who have chosen to wear two leadership hats as both doctor and administrator. As physicians they must make quick and decisive clinical decisions about a patient’s care, while as physician-administrators they often face longer-term organizational challenges that require different types of problem-solving approaches. In this conversation, Chris DeRienzo, M.D., senior vice president and chief physician executive at the American Hospital Association, explores how today’s physician leaders can reconcile the demands of two different jobs and support both the patient and their organization's long-term goals.

In today's health care field, leaders must address a multitude of complex and intertwined challenges. One of the most important is supporting the well-being of their clinicians. In this conversation, experts from Kaiser Permanente and Mass General Brigham discuss how their organizations are using innovative workforce approaches to give their clinicians the resources and skills needed to thrive professionally and personally. This podcast is brought to you by Valor Performance. Visit https://www.valorperform.com/ to learn more.

Thanks for listening to the Advancing Health podcast and we hope you have found it engaging and informative! As we wind up 2023 we wanted to re-release one of our most popular episodes from the last year. Advancing Health returns with new episodes in 2024. Until then we hope you and your family have a safe and wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!

Attracting and retaining skilled health care workers in rural settings is more difficult than ever before, with increasing competition from other employers and dwindling applications. But rural health care leaders aren't throwing in the towel. In this conversation, Kevin Stansbury, CEO of Lincoln Health, Debra Rudquist, president of Amery Hospital, and Karen Cheeseman, CEO of Mackinac Straits Health System, discuss the new ways they are retaining their current workforce, and how they are forging new paths to attract future generations of health care workers. 

Health care has experienced challenges and tribulations over this past year, but this also has created opportunities and advancements to help positively elevate the field. In this conversation, John Haupert, president and CEO of Grady Health and the 2023 Chair of AHA’s Board, and Joanne Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and incoming 2024 AHA Board Chair, discuss the multiple health care priorities of 2024, and how hospitals and health systems can redefine health care delivery.

In recent years, American health care has become acutely aware of the importance of well-being for its workers. To address the mental stresses of health care, Chicago’s Northwestern Medicine established the Scholars of Wellness program, focusing on understanding what well-being actually means, and how it can be woven into organizational culture. In this discussion, Gaurava Agarwal, M.D., vice president and chief wellness executive at Northwestern Medicine and director of faculty wellness at Northwestern University, and Samantha Saggese, physician assistant of nephrology and hypertension at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, explain the difference the Scholars of Wellness program is making, and how it could be adopted for the benefit of hospitals and health systems across the nation.

The push for increased diversity and inclusion on boards of governance for hospitals and health systems is a necessity for success. A 2023 AHA national survey found that boards are paying increased attention to bringing diverse viewpoints to their membership, including from one particular group — nurses. In this conversation, Ellen Brzytwa, R.N., trustee at the Cleveland Clinic, discusses her mission of bringing more nurses into board positions, and how her own experience demonstrated that more hospital boards should have nurses as trustee members.

The health care field needs workers, and the demand will increase even more in the years to come. Grady Health System realized that accessing a key demographic could unlock solutions to these labor shortages. In this conversation, Grady Health System’s Yolanda Wimberly, M.D., senior vice president and chief health equity officer, and Felicia Mobley, Ph.D., director of health equity, discuss their new teen experience and leadership program, and how providing hands-on internships for local teens is helping to build its workforce pipeline for decades to come.

High levels of stress and burnout in the health care field not only cause more errors on the job, but can cost hospitals and health systems millions of dollars to replace departing staff. Having a robust employee wellness program has become a huge priority, moving the needle in recruiting and retaining staff. In this conversation, Kristine Olson, M.D., chief wellness officer at Yale New Haven Hospital, discusses the steps to developing organization-wide wellness and well-being, and how these types of programs are creating positive results in their workforce.

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is essential for clinical and nursing teams to make critical patient care decisions, but what if even more patient data could be accessed? Through the use of predictive analytics, a patient’s care team can predict where the patient’s condition is heading, which leads to more informed care decisions. In this conversation, Natalie Correll-Yoder, critical care clinical nurse specialist with NorthBay Health, and Nikki Rasmussen, senior clinical account manager with Spacelabs Healthcare, discuss one such predictive analytics tool, the Rothman Index, and how it made a huge impact for NorthBay Health's employees, and most importantly, its patients. This podcast is brought to you by Spacelabs Healthcare. To learn more about Spacelabs Healthcare please visit www.spacelabshealthcare.com

It’s estimated that the health care industry will need at least an additional 3.5 million workers in the next five years to meet demand, but where will they come from? Health care experts say there is a crucial component of new talent that is being overlooked — community health workers. In this conversation, hear from three experts who believe that expanding and integrating this talent pool into America's hospitals and health systems could provide a bridge to meeting future health care needs. To learn more about the AHA's Institute for Diversity and Health Equity please visit https://ifdhe.aha.org/

American health care has come a long way over the years, but there is at least one glaring exception — maternal health. This three-part series explores the medical complications that can accompany pregnancy, successful prenatal and postpartum treatment programs, and how hospitals and health systems are addressing the social needs of new mothers. In this episode, Tiffany Moore Simas, M.D., chair of obstetrics and gynecology at UMass Memorial Health, discusses the concerning prevalence of perinatal depression, and the options available to provide a lifeline for mothers. For more information on UMass Memorial Health's efforts visit www.umass.edu/lifeline4moms

In the U.S. health care system, the demand for behavioral health care has long outpaced availability, with many patients forced to turn to their primary care providers for help. To find a solution, Henry Ford Health System decided to get creative with a new collaborative care program that for the first time integrated primary care with behavioral health. In this conversation, four clinicians from Henry Ford discuss the beginnings of the program and how collaboration and technology have made it easier to see patients than ever before.Visit www.aha.org/behavioralhealth to learn more information.

Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) officially became a new type of care provider on January 1, 2023, expanding the scope of services that rural providers can offer. In this conversation, Laura Appel, executive vice president of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, and Christina Campos, CEO at Guadalupe County Hospital, discuss what’s involved in converting to and meeting the eligibility requirements of a Rural Emergency Hospital, and what patients stand to gain from it.

An estimated 57 million rural Americans depend on their hospital as an important source of care and critical pillar of their community. In this conversation, Joanne Conroy, M.D., president and CEO of Dartmouth Health and board chair-elect at the AHA, discusses the future of rural hospitals and health systems in the U.S., and the possible solutions to providing quality and cost-efficient care for the communities that need it most. November 16 is #NationalRuralHealthDayVisit www.aha.org/national-rural-health-day to learn more about Rural Hospitals in America.

The many emotions pregnant and postpartum women experience can have a huge impact on their mental well-being, and if left untreated can have devastating consequences. In 2022, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, offering support and resources via call or text to pregnant women and new mothers. In this episode, Michael Warren, M.D., associate administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at HRSA, discusses how the hotline came to exist, and how it is helping combat the overwhelming stresses that new mothers can face. The hotline can be reached at 1-833-TLC-MAMA and the hotline also offers a Partner Toolkit for health care organization to raise awareness. Visit AHA’s Maternal Mental Health webpage for more resources such as infographics and podcasts.Dr. Michael Warren

People of American Indian and Alaska Native descent, also known as Indigenous, are twice as likely to experience pregnancy-related deaths as white women. In this conversation, Tina Pattara-Lau, M.D., maternal and child health consultant with the Indian Health Service Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, and Johnna Nynas, M.D. obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, explore common disparities and systemic barriers Indigenous people experience in pregnancy and postpartum, and ways hospitals and health care organizations can combat these challenges to provide culturally-focused care. November is #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.