AHA Stat Blog

February is Black History Month, and this year’s theme – Black Health and Wellness – recognizes medical scholars and health care providers. The theme is especially timely as our nation and health care system continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The AHA and Department of Health and Human Services, by way of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, have entered into a new grant to strengthen and reimagine the emergency management system for the nation’s health care and public health preparedness, response and recovery efforts to disasters and other emergencies. 

No one can deny that health care is changing. Our field is rapidly becoming more personalized, collaborative and digitally focused.

We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many longstanding challenges facing the health care field. One of the most alarming developments that is a top concern today is its effect on our nation’s blood supply. 

As rural health care leaders from the AHA and other health care organizations convened at AHA’s Rural Health Care Leadership Conference this week, a robust discussion took place over the role hospital and health system trustees can play in building confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines in their rural communities. Read six insights from the conference in this blog.

On a recent AHA webinar, health care leaders discussed key strategies for building trust in the safety and efficacy of the COVID1-9 vaccines among pregnant people.

Today I had the opportunity to welcome more than 1,000 people to the AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference.

Rural hospitals have been and always will be a critical part of the nation’s health care delivery system. For nearly one-in-five Americans, they offer a caring and compassionate lifeline for individuals and families who would have few health care options otherwise.

The Congressional Budget Office recently published a report that compares prices for hospital and physicians services paid by commercial insurers

This year, I look forward to continuing AHA’s leadership dialogues on trending topics with health care, business and community leaders from around the country.

Congress returns to Washington, D.C., next week and its top focus will be passing a spending package that keeps the government funded past Feb. 18. 

The AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship helps ensure a robust and well-supported community of next generation health care leaders. Paired with a C-suite-level mentor from another health care organization, the fellows complete a year-long transformation project designed to solve a strategic challenge for their own organization.

For the past two years, our hospital and health system teams have shown compassion and courage as they’ve worked tirelessly to care for our communities during the greatest public health challenge of our lifetime. To all of those on the front lines, we express our sincere gratitude for your continued efforts, commitment and resiliency.

Collaborating on key issues affecting hospitals and the health care system. Creating solutions to some of the biggest health care challenges impacting our country. Connecting with colleagues from across the country to share knowledge, ideas and support as we work to advance health in America. 

The American Hospital Association responds to the New York Times Opinion Video "We Know the Real Cause of Crisis in Our Hospitals. It's Greed." For two long years, the dedicated women and men of America’s hospitals and health systems have experienced firsthand the overwhelming impact of COVID-19. They have worked tirelessly and courageously day in and day out to care for patients in their communities.

Record-high COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases. Unprecedented workforce shortages. Persistent supply chain challenges. 

To help hospitals and health system leaders stay up-to-date on all of the legal developments related to CMS’ vaccine mandate, the AHA has developed a blog authored by Sean Marotta, a partner at Hogan Lovells and outside counsel for the AHA. See the initial post and check back regularly for updates as new developments occur.

Wright L. Lassiter III is president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System. Lassiter has more than 30 years of experience working in large, complex health systems, including Alameda Health System in Oakland, Calif., Dallas Methodist Health System and JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas.

Turn on the TV or open a newspaper these days and you’re likely to see a story that isn’t “news” at all to our stressed and burned-out care providers. The headline: They need help so they can continue helping others. 

As we reach the end of year two confronting a hopefully once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, caregivers are understandably tired from giving their all to care for patients, comfort families, save lives and protect communities.