AHA Stat Blog

Yesterday, our country surpassed a grim and somber milestone: 1 million COVID-19 deaths in the U.S..

It’s National Hospital Week — an annual event of seven days to recognize the 5,000 hospitals, health systems and networks, as well as the more than 6 million people, who provide care to individuals and communities.

Two of the simplest words also carry the most meaning: “thank you.”

Five years ago, Shodair Children's Hospital embarked on a project to build a state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital. Designed by providers, patients and families who worked with leadership, architects, and designers, it will provide patients with individual rooms and restrooms; adaptable flexible spaces; a spiritual space with a smudge room; a pool; state-of-the-art security and safety; and quiet rooms with windows and recorded music.

One priority for hospitals and health systems is advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. The AHA’s next gathering, the Accelerating Health Equity Conference, May 10–12 in Cleveland, will focus on that topic.

The AHA is committed to further identifying ways to improve health care system efficiency while providing the highest quality of care.

Courage. Compassion. Workforce. Health equity. Heroes. Challenges. Innovation. Community partnerships. Leadership. Opportunities. These were some of the most common words we heard from attendees and speakers talking about our field at this week’s AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Researchers are off base when they claim the rate Medicare pays hospitals and health systems for services is an appropriate benchmark for commercial insurance rates.

Reduce barriers to naloxone access. Put it in the hands of patients, families, friends, law enforcement officers and anyone hoping for the chance to be a Good Samaritan.

National Minority Health Month can be a launchpad to closing the ‘knowing-doing’ gap.

Americans are ready to move on from COVID-19, but the virus isn’t finished, and hospitals are still feeling the crush of the pandemic.

Attendees of the upcoming Accelerating Health Equity Conference, May 10-12 in Cleveland, will have an excellent opportunity to see the Health Equity Roadmap come to life as they join counterparts in other health care and community organizations for hands-on learning that can bolster efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.

We spoke with Leon D. Caldwell, AHA’s senior director for health equity strategies and innovation and one of the Health Equity Roadmap’s architects, about its importance to hospitals and health systems.

On this episode, Wright L. Lassiter III, Chair, American Hospital Association, talks with Matthew Stanley, D.O., a psychiatrist and clinical vice president of the behavioral health service line at Avera Health, based in Sioux Falls, S.D. He is chair-elect of AHA’s Behavioral Health Services Committee.

Hospital and health system leaders from across the country next weekend will begin to arrive in Washington, D.C.

All hospitals and health systems, regardless of size, location and type of ownership, are dedicated to caring for their patients and communities in a wide variety of ways.

This week is Black Maternal Health Week, and April is National Minority Health Month. It’s an opportunity to “deepen the conversation” about black maternal health in the U.S. and to highlight the “important role individuals and organizations can play” in helping to reduce health disparities and improve the health of racial and ethnic minority communities.

For more than two full years – day in and day out – hospitals and health systems and their front-line caregivers have cared for patients, comforted families and protected communities during this unprecedented public health crisis. 

According to latest data from the CDC, the U.S. maternal mortality rate, already significantly higher than in comparable countries, continues to rise, specifically for women of color.

The 2022 AHA Annual Membership Meeting is just three weeks away, and I’m looking forward to seeing many of you April 24-26 in Washington, D.C.