News

Across the country, I see hospitals and health systems doing incredible work to improve societal factors that influence the health of individuals and communities. That’s why I’m excited that the AHA is spotlighting a number of strategies that reinforce the crucial role of hospitals and health systems in serving their communities — it’s all part of a digital campaign that launches today.

The AHA and its Institute for Diversity and Health Equity are accepting applications through Nov. 19 for the 2022 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Awards.

Employment at hospitals and health systems increased by more than 1,000 jobs in October, as U.S. jobs overall increased by 531,000, according to preliminary data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Healthcare Preparedness Programs Branch will discuss its draft guidelines for regional health care emergency preparedness and response systems during a Nov. 15 webinar for health care leaders.

The AHA sponsored a virtual Capitol Hill briefing Nov. 2, where hospital leaders discussed how COVID-19 accelerated longstanding health care workforce challenges, including worker shortages and mental health fatigue

A bipartisan group of 152 House members urged the secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury and Labor to amend the recent interim final rule known as Part II, implementing parts of the No Surprises Act, to align with the law Congress passed last year.

Pfizer unveiled the first phase 2/3 clinical trial data on its oral COVID-19 antiviral treatment, declaring its candidate to be highly effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization or death from severe COVID-19.

The Association for the Healthcare Environment, an AHA professional membership group, this week presented its 2021 Phoenix Award to Sandra Rials, AHE director of education.

Ransomware actors are very likely using significant financial events, such as mergers and acquisitions, to target and leverage victim companies for ransomware infections, the FBI said in an alert this week to the private sector.

As every health care leader today can testify, the pandemic has tested the resilience of our health care workforce like never before. And as we know, without a resilient health force, we cannot exist. Our entire health care system breaks down. It's as simple as that.

The number of U.S. suicides declined by 3% in 2020 to an estimated 45,855, according to provisional estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 750,000, the AHA, American Medical Association, and American Nurses Association continued to urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

The AHA released Kids, COVID-19 and Vaccines, a video to encourage vaccination among the newly eligible children aged 5-11.

The House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee passed by voice vote a modified version of the AHA-supported Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (H.R. 1667). The changes align the House bill with the version passed by the Senate in August (S. 610). 

The AHA released a new issue of the COVID-19 Snapshot, underscoring the persisting challenges facing hospitals and health systems during the ongoing public health emergency.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued an interim final rule requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in most health care settings, including hospitals and health systems, that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Over a two-year period, health care organizations and their community partners in four cities — Atlanta, New Orleans, Detroit and Washington, D.C. — tested and scaled locally driven initiatives to improve Black maternal health equity.

In this Members in Action podcast, Northwell Health’s Viktor Klein, M.D., system director of quality and patient safety for OB/GYN, and Adriann Combs, clinical director of OB/GYN services, share how launching the Maternal Outcomes and Morbidity Collaborative (MOMS) has increased awareness of maternal health complexities, and reduced disparities in maternal care.

The National Institutes of Health will support a four-year study on the potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a webinar Nov. 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET on the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule private payor data collection and reporting policies.