The costs of violence
Violence
Report examines cost of community violence
Community violence cost U.S. hospitals and health systems an estimated $2.7 billion in 2016, according to a report prepared for the American Hospital Association by Milliman. Specifically, the authors found that hospitals and health systems spent $1.1 billion on security and training to prevent violence in hospitals; $852 million caring for victims of violence; $429 million on medical care, staffing, indemnity and other costs related to violence against hospital employees; and $280 million on preparedness and prevention of community violence. “Keeping people healthy is at the heart of health care, and violence runs counter to that,” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. For more on the report, visit www.aha.org/HAVhope.
Vulnerable communities
AHA releases resource on community conversations
The AHA recently released a toolkit to help hospitals and health systems in vulnerable rural and urban areas engage their communities in discussions on how to ensure continued access to essential health care services. Building on an AHA task force’s 2016 report on strategies to ensure access to essential health care services in vulnerable communities, the toolkit offers ways to broadly engage stakeholders through community events and the community health needs assessment process; dialogue with specific stakeholders such as patients, families, trustees and clinicians; and expand community conversations through social media. To access the toolkit, visit www.aha.org/EnsuringAccess.
Antibiotic resistance
CDC issues report on antibiotic use, stewardship
A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report provides an overview of antibiotic use in U.S. health care settings and what health care providers, patients, insurers and others can do to support appropriate antibiotic use to prevent antibiotic resistance. For more information, visit www.aha.org/appropriateuse.
Telemedicine
Innovative telehealth programs put in the spotlight
Hospitals and health systems are using telehealth to expand access to care, improve outcomes for patients and reduce costs, according to a report released at the July AHA Leadership Summit in San Diego. The report shows how seven hospitals and health systems are using telehealth to expand access to opioid recovery programs, early intervention services for people with chronic conditions and specialty care for patients in underserved communities, among other benefits, often at lower cost. For more on the value of telehealth, visit www.aha.org/telehealth.
Public health
FDA to expand campaign targeting youth e-cigarette use
The Food and Drug Administration is pursuing a strategic new public health education campaign aimed at discouraging the use of e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems by kids. The agency this fall plans to expand its “The Real Cost” public education campaign to include messaging to teens about the dangers of using these products while developing a full-scale campaign to launch in 2018. These efforts are part of the agency's new comprehensive plan for tobacco and nicotine regulation. For more information, visit www.fda.gov.
Opioid epidemic
HHS awards grants to to help women, girls
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health recently awarded 16 organizations about $100,000 each to help prevent opioid misuse by women and girls in underserved communities. The office recently released a report examining the impact of the opioid epidemic on women and promising practices that address their specific needs. For more information, visit www.womenshealth.gov.