Rick Pollack, President and CEO, AHA
Articles
AHA, Members, Advocacy & Public Policy, Workforce, Well-Being & Resilience
Hospitals’ Spirit of Caring Shines Bright through a Challenging Year
Despite unprecedented challenges this year, hospitals and health systems can be proud of the job they do each and every day to care for our families, our friends and our neighbors..
Advocacy & Public Policy, Environmental Scan, Legislation and Legislative Advocacy
Looking Ahead with AHA’s 2023 Environmental Scan
Challenges. Resilience. Innovation. Opportunities. These four words help describe the current environment facing our hospitals and health systems — nearly three years into a pandemic that has transformed the nation’s health care landscape and our society..
Advocacy & Public Policy, Medicare, Medical Education/Teaching Hospitals, Post-Acute Care, Telehealth, Medicare Advantage, Metropolitan Anchor Hospital (MAH)
Putting on a Full-court Press to Secure Support for Hospitals and Patients
As Congress convenes for its post-election lame-duck session, we are turning up the pressure to secure additional support for hospitals and the patients and communities they serve. We need to put on a full-court press — and that includes all of us reaching out to our senators and representatives — to urge them to include a number of key priorities in a year-end spending package..
Leadership, Workforce
Many Reasons to Be Thankful Despite Difficult Challenges
For more than 400 years, we have paused each fall to give thanks. We do so during good times and bad because most years bring a mixture of both. This year, our world, our nation and our field face many difficult challenges. But that’s why it’s so important that we take the time to express our gratitude for the many things we are thankful for. This includes the amazing work that hospitals and health systems do — every minute of every hour of every day of the year — to advance health in America..
Veteran Hiring, Recognition and Awards
Giving Thanks Today and Always for America’s Veterans
The news is filled daily with accounts of conflict around the globe … notably Russia’s war against Ukraine, but other potential clashes bubble near the surface, such as military action by China against Taiwan, or a North Korean missile aimed at Japan. We cannot know for sure what this unsettled era will bring. But we do know that we are blessed with the strongest, bravest and best-trained guardians a nation can have: the individuals who wear the military uniform of the United States of America..
Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19), Rural issues, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medical Education/Teaching Hospitals
Exercise Your Precious Right to Vote on Nov. 8
There are many significant milestones in our nation’s history of voting..
Legislation and Legislative Advocacy, Population/Community Health
Making the Case for Additional Federal Support for Hospitals
After Election Day, lawmakers will return to Washington to consider many important issues, including funding the government, the annual must-pass defense bill, hurricane aid, election reform and tax extenders..
Cybersecurity
Keeping Our Defenses Strong Against Cyberthreats
The health care field continues to be a top target for cybercriminals. According to data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), there has been an 84% increase in the number of data breaches against health care organizations from 2018-2021, with 324 reported in the first half of 2022 alone..
Emergency Readiness, Advocacy & Public Policy, Telling the Hospital Story
In Times of Crisis, the Blue “H” Never Wavers
That commitment to being always there and ready to care is being tested as hospitals and health systems navigate historic workforce shortages, broken supply chains, rapid inflation that has increased the cost of caring, and other severe financial pressures that could jeopardize access to care..
United Against the Flu, Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19), Flu
Get Vaccinated Against the Flu and COVID-19
With fall in full swing, there are two easy steps that individuals can take to protect themselves and their families against illness – get a flu shot and get a COVID-19 vaccination or booster..