Health Care Systems

Sixty percent of AHA member hospitals are part of health systems, the majority consisting of three to 10 hospitals.

Health care systems range in size, geography and facility type. Three-quarters are not-for-profit, with another 10% identifying as Catholic church-related and 10% as for-profit investor-owned. The remaining are non-federal government of varying types.

As key thought leaders, Section executives provide guidance to support AHA Board and executive team strategies on key policy and advocacy activities of great importance to systems and the field. They are most often the major employer in their communities and serve as conveners of key stakeholders to leverage new strategies to improve access to care, ensure care is affordable and of its highest quality while working to lower total cost of care.

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Engaging our System Leaders

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Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity vulnerabilities and intrusions pose risks for every hospital, and its reputation. While there are significant benefits for care delivery and organizational efficiency from the expanded use of networked technology, Internet-enabled medical devices and electronic databas...

Regulatory Relief

Every day, hospitals, health systems and post-acute care providers confront the daunting task of complying with a growing number of federal regulations. They are constantly challenged to understand and implement new or revised regulations, while maintaining their core mission of providi...

Drug Prices

Unchecked drug price increases are not sustainable, and are a serious economic threat to the patients and communities we serve. They not only threaten patient access to drug therapies, but challenge providers’ abilities to provide the highest quality of care. Did you know? In 2015,...

Tax-Exempt Status

America's hospitals provide compassionate, high quality care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but their benefit to their communities extends far beyond direct patient care. Not-for-profit community hospitals do more than care for the injured and infirm; they promote and protect th...

Reducing Health Care Disparities

Research has shown that individuals of color, of various ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientation, or with limited English proficiency have less access to care, receive different care and often have worse health than those who are white. AHA and its members strive to help all ...

Telehealth

From emergency department care to remote patient monitoring for chronic care management and access to care from specialists, telehealth is changing the way health care is provided –- both expanding patient access to routine and specialty care while improving patient satisfaction and ...

Medicaid

Medicaid is the nation’s largest single source of coverage primarily serving low-income populations – children and their families, adults, seniors and disabled individuals. The program provides a broad array of health care services such as primary and acute care services, as well as lon...

Workforce

An aging population, better care coordination and integrating behavioral and physical health care are all challenges the changing health care workforce must address. The American Hospital Association’s Workforce Center supports hospitals facing unique workforce issues by providing the ...

Emergency Readiness

AcronymsCDC Centers for Disease Control and PreventionDHS Department of Homeland SecurityDMAT Disaster Medical Assistance TeamDMORT Disaster Mortuary Operational Response TeamDoD Department of DefenseDOE Department of EnergyDOJ Department of JusticeFBI Federal Bureau of InvestigationFEM...