News

The AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership affiliate has elected four new members to its board of directors effective Jan. 1.

Nancy Myers, AHA’s vice president of leadership and system innovation, and Marisa Scala-Foley, director of the Aging and Disability Business Institute, discuss how hospitals and health systems are partnering with their Area Agencies on Aging to address the health and social needs of older community members.

Price increases for over 1,200 drugs exceeded inflation between July 2021 and July 2022, including many drugs used to treat cancer and other chronic conditions, the Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra yesterday declared a public health emergency for South Carolina to address the health impacts of Hurricane Ian, and waived or modified certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements to ensure sufficient health care items and services are available.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra last week extended for 10 years his Aug. 4 public health emergency for monkeypox under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, and authorized additional providers to administer vaccines and therapeutics under the emergency declaration. The original declaration was effective through Dec. 31. 

Each year the AHA Quest for Quality Prize recognizes hospitals and health systems that are achieving high-quality care and improving community health. The AHA heartily encourages your organization to apply for the 2023 award.

The New Hampshire Hospital Association and the Foundation for Healthy Communities Sept. 29 received a Power of Associations Gold Award for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Society of Association Executives' Power of Associations Awards recognize associations’ economic and societal contributions locally, nationally and globally.

The AHA and its Institute for Diversity and Health Equity have revised the criteria for the Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award, for which applications are now being accepted. The award is given annually in recognition of outstanding efforts among hospitals and health care systems to advance equity of care to all patients and to share lessons and progress made toward diversity, inclusion and health equity.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently released a guide to help health care organizations reduce their carbon emissions. The guide offers strategies, examples from the field, and measures to track progress in six areas: building energy; transportation; anesthetic gas; pharmaceuticals and chemicals; medical devices and supplies; and food.

Hypertension while pregnant or postpartum can increase the risk of other complications that impact the mom and baby. Alison Williams, vice president of Clinical Quality Improvement at Missouri Hospital Association, and Kendell Farr, Women’s Health nurse practitioner at Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, discuss the launch of a home-based blood pressure monitoring program for at-risk patients, which was lauded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Million Hearts 2021 Hypertension Control Exemplar.