The Circle of Life Awards recognize innovative palliative or end-of-life care providers that measure and evaluate the impact of their work on patients, family and/or the community. Part 1 applications for the 2023 awards will be accepted through May 31 and Part 2 applications are due Aug. 15. The new two-part process is designed to reduce the time needed to apply. Up to three Circle of Life Awards will be presented during the American Hospital Association (AHA) Leadership Summit in July 2023. Questions about the award and the application process may be directed to the AHA.
Tag: AHA
Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Week of April 4
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported there were an average of 752 new confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases per day from April 2 through April 6. As of April 6, 453 adults and 17 children were hospitalized with confirmed and suspected cases; 96 adults were in intensive care units, 39 of them on ventilators. The MDHHS is now reporting this data once a week.
The MHA continues to keep members apprised of pandemic-related developments affecting hospitals through email updates and the MHA Coronavirus webpage. Important updates are outlined below.
FDA Revokes Sotrovimab Authorization
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revoked emergency use authorization (EUA) for sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 patients at risk of developing severe disease. This occurred due to the treatment’s ineffectiveness as a remedy for the omicron subvariant BA.2, which is now responsible for more than half of all U.S. infections.
The FDA authorized a new monoclonal antibody, Eli Lilly’s bebtelovimab, Feb. 11 that remains effective against omicron variants; the bebtelovimab EUA is still in place. The MHA will continue to work with the Michigan MDHHS leadership on therapeutics recommendations and availability in Michigan. Members with questions may contact Laura Appel at the MHA.
President Biden Announces Long COVID-19 Care Planning
President Joe Biden announced April 5 that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will assemble a cross-government plan to manage “long COVID.” However, it is largely dependent on being funded by Congress.
The plan’s goals are broadening research, detection and treatment access to fight lingering or late-emerging effects of COVID-19 that are estimated to impact between seven million and 23 million Americans. The symptoms include shortness of breath, heart irregularities, kidney problems and more.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and other federal advocacy groups sent a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in March stating that there is “a need for further clinical guidance regarding the symptoms of and best course of treatment for long Covid-19 patients.” According to news reports, the Biden administration needs at least $25 million in the 2023 federal budget to build on tracking and surveillance progress, in addition to the $50 million the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is already spending.
The long COVID-19 plan further includes establishing a Center of Excellence to treat long COVID-19 patients through in-person, multispecialty and telehealth services. The administration reportedly wants to establish long COVID-19 clinics around the country modeled after a Veterans Affairs clinic setup.
The MHA will continue to work closely with the AHA about the viability of this plan, both operationally and politically, and will keep members apprised of progress or plans that may impact hospitals, health systems and their patients. Members with questions may contact Laura Appel at the MHA.
Additional information on the COVID-19 pandemic is available to members on the MHA Community Site and the MHA COVID-19 webpage. Questions on COVID-19 and infectious disease response strategies may be directed to the MDHHS Community Health Emergency Coordination Center (CHECC).
Donations Sought to Aid Ukrainian Refugees
Ukrainians affected by the ongoing crisis in their country are in desperate need of help. The U.S. Ukraine Foundation has established a fund to provide food, medical care and emergency supplies to refugee families.
The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation is a strategic organization aimed at supporting the development of democracy, a free-market economy and human rights headquartered in Washington, DC, with a permanent presence working on the ground in Ukraine since 1991. The foundation has created and sustained numerous strategic programs and projects, having secured funding of nearly $50 million.
In addition, the U.S. Ukraine Foundation is coordinating the distribution of donated medical supplies through its operation “Ukraine AirLIFT.” Members interested in donating medical supplies should contact the AFYA Foundation.
The U.S. Ukraine Foundation has also provided a list of verified charitable organizations that are assisting the citizens and refugees of Ukraine. For more information, contact Nadia McConnell, president of the U.S. Ukraine Foundation.
Responses to Cybersecurity Attacks, Mitigation Strategies Focus of Member Forum
The healthcare sector remains a target-rich environment for cyberattacks due to a large amount of sensitive data related to patient care and operations. The MHA will host a cybersecurity member forum from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 24 at the Henry Center for Executive Development. The forum is designed for chief executive, information, financial, operating and medical officers.
Representatives from a midsize hospital and a health system will share the steps the leadership teams took to recover from a cyberattack and the processes amplified to identify vulnerabilities and reduce breaches of data systems and cloud-based security services. Cybersecurity experts from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will also discuss cyberthreats investigated and how the AHA is helping the field mitigate threats and exchange information with the FBI and other government agencies, as well as ways to facilitate cyber resource requests between technical and nontechnical leadership.
Attendees will also participate in a table-top exercise to test their organizations’ incident response plans. The Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services is generously sponsoring this event.
The forum is open to MHA-member organizations only. Members can register for $150 per person. For more information, contact Brenda Carr at the MHA.
Cybersecurity Member Forum Scheduled for March
Cyberattacks are a clear and present danger to patient care and safety. Questions regarding organizational alignment with the current cybersecurity environment cannot be answered solely by considering the electronic defense measures that are in place. Information technology experts can lead cybersecurity efforts, but cyber risk needs to be incorporated into the overall risk management framework of a hospital or health system and receive an attendant level of executive leadership support.
The MHA will host a cybersecurity member forum from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 24 at the Henry Center for Executive Development. The forum is designed for chief executive, information, financial, operating and medical officers. Cybersecurity experts from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will review criminal and national security cyber threats investigated and how the AHA is helping the field mitigate threats and exchange information with the FBI and other government agencies. They will also discuss ways to create an organizational culture of cybersecurity and facilitate cyber resource requests between technical and nontechnical leadership.
Representatives from a midsize hospital and a health system will share about their cyber or supply chain attack incidents and experiences with cloud-based security services. Attendees will also participate in a table-top exercise to test their organizations’ incident response plans. The Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services is generously sponsoring this event.
The forum is open to MHA-member organizations only. Members can register for $150 per person. For more information, contact Brenda Carr at the MHA.
Trustee Insights Highlights Crisis Standards of Care, Community Investment
The latest edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), is now available. This month’s issue features an article on crisis standards of care. In this severe pandemic, one of the most challenging demands that many hospitals may face is determining objective criteria and clinical guidelines for making decisions regarding the triage and management of COVID-19 patients. These patients may be competing for scarce resources, such as hospital emergency admissions, ventilators and other equipment, medications and intensive care resources, and the article outlines considerations for the board.
In addition, the newsletter features a video series and report outlining place-based investment, otherwise known as community investment, which helps create the social and physical environments that support community health over the long term. Hospitals and health systems are using this “anchor mission” strategy to address housing insecurity and other social determinants of health.
The expanded website and enhanced monthly e-newsletter of Trustee Insights are available through the AHA Trustee Services webpage. They are free, do not require AHA membership and include articles, tools and webinars. Those interested in subscribing to AHA Trustee Insights may do so online.
For information about MHA trustee resources, contact Erin Steward at the MHA.
Trustee Insights Highlights Effective Governance Practices, Drivers of Improvement
The latest edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), is now available. The October issue includes articles about board consolidation and steps boards should consider for improving overall pandemic-era engagement.
In addition, the newsletter features an interview with Marcus Osborne, senior vice president of Walmart Health, who laid out his views on what healthcare will look like in 2040, including more use of artificial intelligence and the demand for people to help patients manage their care.
The expanded website and enhanced monthly e-newsletter of Trustee Insights are available through the AHA Trustee Services webpage. They are free, do not require AHA membership and include articles, tools and webinars. Those interested in subscribing to AHA Trustee Insights may do so online.
For information about MHA trustee resources, contact Erin Steward at the MHA.