Issues & Trends

American Hospital Association content on issues and trends in the health care field.

Trustees can spread the word about the redesigned website on radiation emergency medical management produced by the Health & Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and the National Library of Medicine. The site adds behavioral health resources and…
Getting there is half the fun, right? Keep that in mind this holiday season, all of you who will be loading the family jalopy with unruly kids, rambunctious pets, more baggage than you even knew you owned and every flashy distraction Silicon Valley has yet to devise. The ride to Grandma’s…
Successful hospital and health systems are rooted in a mission-driven focus. But that focus must include a continued sense of vitality, creativity, relevance and forward thinking if hospitals and health systems are to continue their success into the future. Who better to contribute energy, new…
Rural health care boards and executives are transforming their organizations for a new world of accountable care marked by changing payment models, heightened expectations for physician alignment and greater need for collaboration. The 2016 Rural Health Care Leadership Conference Feb. 7–10 in…
Health care must become more diverse in its leadership, governance and staff, and it must work hard to eliminate disparities in care. Here’s why: Changing America: • Half of all children in the U.S. will be nonwhite by 2020 • The majority of the population will be nonwhite by 2044
To meet the changing needs of our communities, hospitals are working hard to make sure that every individual receives the highest quality of care. To achieve that goal as our nation becomes increasingly diverse, we must redouble our efforts to identify and eliminate disparities in care.
Health care governance education transformed immeasurably for the better during my 36-year career with the Arkansas Hospital Association. Almost four decades ago, board members were chosen for their prominence in the community. They met and enjoyed a nice lunch or dinner on the third Thursday of…
The headline on this month’s cover story can be taken in a couple of ways, but there’s one important way you as a board member should not take it. As the article makes clear, experience matters when it comes to running a hospital. A thorough understanding of health…
The U.S. health care field is moving in a new direction — toward population health. The alignment of expanded access to care with the adoption of value-based reimbursement models has primed health care for unprecedented transformation. Succeeding in this new environment…
Snapshot A series of high-profile breaches underscored the vulnerability of online records and the ability of cyber-criminals to quickly adapt their tactics. Providers and vendors are intensifying efforts to protect data from prying eyes.