Research and Trends

Making Our Case

AHA studies support the advocacy efforts of the association and its member hospitals as they work to provide health care services to communities around the country. This section of the AHA website will provide you with the latest research and analysis of important and emerging trends in the hospital and health care field.  AHA sponsors or conducts policy research in the areas of provider payment, limited-service hospitals, the cost of health care, information technology and other topics to assist members and policy makers in understanding issues critical to America’s hospitals.

Health and Hospital Trends

Every year AHA releases a series of reports that provide up to date information on both health and hospital trends.  Data from various sources including the AHA Annual Survey is compiled and made available through our TrendWatch Chartbook.  Other reports and surveys of hospital leaders are released throughout the year and provide a snapshot of issues like the workforce shortage, ED diversion, health care costs, disaster preparedness and other topics of interest to hospital members, policy makers and the media.

AHA Policy Research

AHA research reports examine key issues to inform the policy making process.  These include the TrendWatch series, a periodic AHA publication that reports on the latest trends affecting hospitals and the health care system (now conducted in collaboration with Avalere Health* www.avalerehealth.net), as well as other AHA sponsored studies. 

Featured Reports

	Beyond Health Care: The Economic Contribution of Hospitals, TrendWatch, April 2008 Update Hospitals play a critical role in the health of Americans, but few people are aware of the economic and community benefits hospitals provide.  Hospitals employ more than 5 million people and represent the second largest source of private sector jobs.  But the impact of hospitals doesn’t stop there.  Hospitals and hospital employees purchase goods and services from other businesses creating additional jobs and economic activity.  Hospitals also provide an array of special programs to help communities meet broader health and social needs. Chartpack (ppt) Press Release
	Physician Ownership and Self-referral in Hospitals: Research on Negative Effects Grows, TrendWatch, April 2008 This TrendWatch provides a compilation of the growing body of research on physician ownership and self-referral in the hospital setting.  Issues addressed include:  growth trends, impact on utilization and costs, quality and efficiency, and the effect of the patient selection practices of these facilities on patient access to care and the ability of community hospitals to maintain their mission.  Chartpack (ppt)

*Avalere Health provides objective analysis to support AHA policy development. As a research and consulting organization, Avalere does not advocate for or endorse positions on specific policy issues.