Latest AHA Trustee Insights Focuses on Post-Merger Board Restructuring

The November edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), includes CEO insights about the integration of two major health systems which resulted in stronger governance. The article explains the importance of defining roles and responsibilities for both subsidiary and parent boards. In addition, it describes how decision-making is approached collectively, emphasizing “systemness” and integration across the organization.

Also in the issue, an article reaffirms the distinction between operations and governance and how to work constructively to define the responsibilities and the scope of authority of board members.

Members seeking information about MHA trustee resources or webinars may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

Latest AHA Trustee Insights Explores AI in Healthcare, Workplace Equity and Community Partnerships

The September edition of Trustee Insights, a monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), outlines how artificial intelligence (AI) will change healthcare operations and how trustees can provide meaningful leadership and guidance.

The issue explores how AI can be used in strategic planning, incorporated into culture and used for clinical improvement and organizational performance. It also explains how partners play a critical role in prioritizing justice and inclusivity in patient care, quality and experience.

Lastly, the package provides key questions that board members should consider on equitable access, workplace equity and leveraging AI implementation.

For information about MHA trustee resources or webinars, contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Aug. 12, 2024

MHA Shares State Impacts and Insights at Regional 340B Roundtable

MHA staff attended the Regional 340B Roundtable Aug. 7 in Florence, IN to join colleagues from the Indiana Hospital Association, Ohio Hospital Association, Kentucky Hospital Association and endorsed business partner, SunRx, to share best practices …


MHA Keystone Center Offers Learning Collaboratives for Peer Recovery Services

The MHA Keystone Center is partnering with the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan to host a two-part, virtual series about peer recovery services for substance and opioid use disorders from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. …


CMS Releases FY 2025 Final Rule for Skilled Nursing Facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities for federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. Key provisions …


Kelley Cawthorne Ad


MHA Webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement to Culture Performance Deadline Approaching

One week remains before the registration deadline for the MHA webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement to Culture and Performance. Scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 20, the webinar provides an opportunity for hospitals to …


CMS Releases FY 2025 LTCH Prospective Payment System Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (C recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment system for fiscal year 2025. Specifically, the final rule: Increases …


CMS Releases FY 2025 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a final rule to update the Medicare fee-for-service hospital inpatient prospective payment system for fiscal year (FY) 2025. Highlights of the final rule include: …


The Keckley Report

Big Sky is Cloudy for Hospitals

“As state hospital association leaders assemble in Big Sky, Montana this week, the environment for hospital-friendly legislation is threatening at best:

The public’s trust in hospitals has eroded. Hospital financial performance is a mixed bag: some are profitable and many aren’t. Congress thinks hospitals need more regulation to increase price transparency, require ownership disclosure, verify community benefits that justify tax exemptions and impose restrictions on hospital private equity investments. And programs through which state and federal health policies are authorized—HHS, CMS, FTC, FDA, CMMI et al—are in limbo as a result of the June 28, 2024 Chevron ruling by the Supreme Court. …

For hospitals, effective advocacy is imperative: the reservoir of good will enjoyed for decades is evaporating. Advertising “we’re there for you” is timely as rural providers need a lifeline, and public castigation of “corporate insurers and billionaire critics” necessary to rally supporters. But beyond these, two things are clear:

  • The marketplace for “hospitals” is fundamentally different than the past requiring a clearer value proposition and fresh messaging.
  • And in states, hospitals will encounter unique opportunities and challenges in plotting strategies for their future. No two are alike.

Big Sky is a symbolic locale for this week’s meeting of state health executives: the Big Sky over hospitals is cloudy.”

Paul Keckley, Aug. 5, 2024

MHA Webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement to Culture Performance Deadline Approaching

One week remains before the registration deadline for the MHA webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement (PFE) to Culture and Performance. Scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 20, the webinar provides an opportunity for hospitals to share examples of how leaders are creating a PFE culture by building policies into operations.

The webinar outlines a process for structuring value-based employee competencies that are foundational to delivering patient-centered care; programs that uniformly train and support knowledge and application of PFE principles across the system; and examples of how to establish clear expectations of behaviors and actions that support a patient-centered culture.

In 2022, The MHA released the MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap in 2022, featuring research and tools supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care to help MHA members further develop person and family engagement.

Registration is free of charge for MHA member organizations. Members with questions about the webinar or MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

Webinar Explores Connection Between Person and Family Engagement and Performance

The MHA is hosting the webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement (PFE) to Culture and Performance from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 20. The webinar will provide examples of how peers at hospitals are creating a PFE culture by building policies into operations.

Engaging patients and families in systematic feedback and recommendations to improve quality and safety is associated with better outcomes in quality and the experience of care. The MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap features research and tools supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care that prove the value of person and family engagement.

The webinar also outlines a process for structuring value-based employee competencies that are foundational to delivering patient-centered care, programs that uniformly train and support knowledge and application of PFE principles across the system and examples of how to establish clear expectations of behaviors and actions that support a patient-centered culture.

Registration is free of charge for MHA member organizations. Chief nurse and medical officers, patient experience, safety & quality, social work and human resources professionals are encouraged to register.

Members with questions about the webinar or MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report July 15, 2024

MHA Service Corporation Board Highlights Solutions and Mission

The MHA Service Corporation board held its final meeting of the 2023-2024 program year June 26 focused on supporting the MHA Strategic Action Plan priorities of workforce support and innovation, viability, behavioral health and …


2025 Medicare Fee-for-Service Home Health Proposed Rule Released

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a proposed rule to update the home health prospective payment system for calendar year 2025. The rule includes updates to the Medicare …


What I Learned as a Provider Working in Public Policy

Carlie Austin, BSN, RN, shares her journey serving as the maternal infant health policy specialist at the MHA. As a clinician, what drew you to a role tied to public policy? If I had to …


MHA Webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement to Culture and Performance

The MHA is hosting the webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement to Culture and Performance from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 20. The webinar will outline a process for structuring value-based employee competencies that …


MHA CEO Report — A Program Year in Review

I am pleased to share we just completed a successful MHA Annual Meeting, continuing a long-standing June tradition whereby we celebrate the conclusion of one MHA program year, and prepare for the next. Each program year is unique with the different challenges it presents. …


The Keckley Report

The Healthcare Workforce Crossroad: Incrementalism or Transformation

“Congress returns from its July 4 break today and its focus will be on the President: will he resign or tough it out through the election in 120 days. But not everyone is paying attention to this DC drama.  In fact, most are disgusted with the performance of the political system and looking for something better. Per Gallup, trust and confidence in the U.S. Congress is at an all-time low.

The same is true of the healthcare system: 69% think it’s fundamentally flawed and in need of systemic change vs. 7% who think otherwise (Keckley Poll). And 60% think it puts its profits above all else, laying the blame at all its major players—hospitals, insurers, physician, drug companies and their army of advisors and suppliers.

These feelings are strongly shared by its workforce, especially the caregivers and support personnel who service patient in hospital, clinic and long-term care facilities. Their ranks are growing, but their morale is sinking. Career satisfaction among clinical professionals (nurses, physicians, dentists, counselors) is at all time low and burnout is at an all-time high. …

It’s easier to talk about healthcare’s workforce issues but It’s harder to fix them. That’s why incrementalism is the rule and transformational change just noise.”

Paul Keckley, July 8, 2024


News to Know

  • July 22 is the deadline to register by mail or online to be eligible to vote in the Primary Election on Aug. 6.
  • The MHA recently submitted comments on the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affair’s Psychology proposed rules.

 

MHA Webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement to Culture and Performance

The MHA is hosting the webinar Tying Person and Family Engagement (PFE) to Culture and Performance from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 20. The webinar will outline a process for structuring value-based employee competencies that are foundational to delivering patient-centered care, programs that uniformly train and support knowledge and application of PFE principles across the system and examples of how to establish clear expectations of behaviors and actions that support a patient-centered culture.

Pandemic recovery happened at many levels, but public perception of hospital quality and experience is declining, as shown through research by the Beryl Institute. Now is the time to re-establish programs and policies that place patients and their caregivers at the heart of planning and decision-making, empowering them to actively participate in their care.

The webinar will also highlight the MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap, which features research and tools supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care. These resources are proven to re-engage patients and improve PFE.

Registration is free of charge for MHA member organizations. Chief nurse and medical officers, patient experience, safety & quality, social work and human resources professionals are encouraged to register.

Members with questions about the webinar or MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

Latest AHA Trustee Insights: Leadership at the System and Community Level

The June edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), includes insights from four governing board chairs who respond to questions about the opportunities and challenges for the current and future state of health care and what inspires them as they chart the course ahead.

Also, in this issue, renowned governance expert Jamie Orlikoff writes about how subsidiary boards can contribute to one effective governance system and describes tools, like a governance authority matrix, to provide maximum clarity and purpose.

For members wanting information about MHA trustee resources or webinars, contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

Deadline Approaching for MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship

Applications for the 2024 – 2025 MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship, held from October 2024 through June 2025, are due June 28.

Governing board members enrolled in the fellowship will learn how to frame problems to determine what questions the organization should ask of itself to prepare for the future and to develop pragmatic and practical ways to implement board actions that enhance organizational effectiveness. Content focuses on strategic areas such as governance excellence, safety and quality, organizational vitality and leadership development. The classes provide a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and explore challenges with healthcare experts and other trustees.

Fellows meet in person four times a year at the MHA headquarters in Okemos and participate in virtual sessions held in the months when fellows are not meeting in person.

To further explore this one-of-a-kind offering, members may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

Deadline to Register for MHA Workforce Recruitment Models Webinar

Registration closes May 29 for the MHA webinar Recruitment Models that Grow a Strong and Patient-Centered Workforce scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. May 30. The webinar highlights the MHA Person & Family Engagement Roadmap, featuring research and tools supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care. These resources are proven to re-engage patients and improve person and family engagement.

Presenters from Covenant HealthCare and McLaren Northern Michigan will share nursing internship and patient care tech programs that help students and employees gain clinical experience and makes new and veteran employees feel valued. They will also cover a program designed for high school students to excite them about the possible careers in clinical and nonclinical healthcare positions.

Registration is free of charge for MHA member organizations and the webinar is approved for credits for nursing and social workers*. Members with questions may contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

*Please visit the Accredited Continuing Education Accreditation Statement online for details.