Tag: Rob Wood

News to Know – Jan. 26, 2026

Member News
  • New to KnowThe MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council met virtually Jan. 15 to identify ways to support the MHA strategic action plan. Council members shared tactics for highlighting their hospital’s community impact and how to support patients navigating the healthcare system; examined the research from the Birth Experience Project, shared birth plan templates and pregnancy service literature to improve patient experience and outcomes, and discussed using patient journey mapping to identify where patients feel the most disconnected in their care process. Questions about the council can be directed to Erin Steward at the MHA.
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) CyberForce|Q is hosting the webinar Proactive Cyber Risk Measures from 11 a.m. to noon ET on Jan. 29. The session will feature speakers from Trinity Health, the Michigan State Cyber Command Center and other organizations. Members are encouraged to register for a first-hand look at what happens when a real cyber incident occurs, including proactive steps organizations can take to accelerate recovery and reduce impact. To learn more about CyberForce|Q, contact Midwest regional sales director, John Kelley. Members interested in solutions offered through the MHA EBP program may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.
  • The enrollment deadline for the MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy (HCLA) is Feb. 6. The cohort meets Feb. 25–27 and May 7–8 at the MHA headquarters in Okemos. HCLA, in partnership with Executive Core, has been a staple of the MHA, with more than 125 physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals completing the academy. The two power-packed modules featured in the coursework provide participants with Leadership 360° feedback with personalized executive coaching, an exploration of best practices balanced with patient outcomes and valuable discussions with senior healthcare leaders. For more information, please contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.

 

Webinar Explores Strategies to Strengthen Revenue Integrity

Member News

The MHA and MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) AMN Healthcare Revenue Cycle Solutions will host A Tale of Three Health Systems: Their Mid-Revenue Cycle Insights and Road to Revenue Integrity webinar from 11 to 11:50 a.m. ET Feb. 19. This webinar highlights the journeys of three health systems and how they navigated mid-revenue cycle challenges to strengthen revenue integrity. Attendees will gain actionable strategies for C-suite leaders focused on denials management, documentation accuracy and technology adoption—empowering organizations to maximize every dollar.

By attending this session, participants will:

  • Understand key drivers of revenue integrity and their impact on financial performance.
  • Explore strategies to reduce denials and improve reimbursement accuracy through coding and documentation best practices.
  • Evaluate the role of technology and AI – where automation succeeds, where human oversight is essential and how to build ROI for adoption.
  • Gain insights from real-world case studies on clinical revenue cycle improvements, including length of stay and avoidable days.

The webinar is free of charge and members are encouraged to register.

For additional information, visit the AMN Healthcare page or contact Christine Poleon, DVP, revenue cycle solutions, AMN Healthcare. Members seeking information about the MHA’s EBP program may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

Webinar to Highlight Effective Cyber Incident Response

Member News

MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) CyberForce|Q is hosting the webinar Proactive Cyber Risk Measures from 11 a.m. to noon ET on Jan. 29. The session will feature speakers from Trinity Health, the Michigan State Cyber Command Center and other organizations.

Presenters Adrienne Chase and Sam Khan will walk attendees through a real-world incident, discuss key lessons learned, practical takeaways and the strategies that made the biggest difference when every minute mattered. Michigan State Cyber Command Center leader Tarek Sasy will also provide insights into statewide response efforts and best practices.

Members are encouraged to register for a first-hand look at what happens when a real cyber incident occurs, including proactive steps organizations can take to accelerate recovery and reduce impact. The session is designed for leaders seeking a realistic understanding of incident response, preparation and how proactive defense shapes outcomes when facing real-world attacks.

To learn more about CyberForce|Q, contact Midwest regional sales director, John Kelley. Members interested in solutions offered through the MHA EBP program may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

New Endorsed Business Partner SmarterDx Provides Clinical AI to Support Financial Outcomes and Quality Scores

Member News

The MHA’s Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) program promotes industry-leading firms. The EBP program connects member hospitals to solutions that alleviate pain points. The MHA recently endorsed SmarterDx, a national leader in revenue integrity solutions, offering advanced clinical artificial intelligence (AI) that is transforming how hospitals translate care into payment. Their platform connects clinical context with revenue intelligence, helping health systems recover millions in missed revenue, improve quality scores and appeal every denial.

Founded by physicians in 2020, SmarterDx’s proprietary AI platform understands the nuances of clinical reasoning, enabling hospitals to accurately reflect every patient visit for fair reimbursement. By doing so, hospitals can recover millions in earned revenue, enhance care outcomes and quality metrics and optimize healthcare operations.

SmarterDx currently partners with 60+ health systems representing over 250 hospitals nationwide, including McLaren Health Care.

For more information about SmarterDx, members may contact Tom Dougherty, head of sales, SmarterDx. Members seeking information about the MHA’s EBP program may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

MHASC Board Engages in Strategic Planning Retreat

Member News

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board met Oct. 21 to discuss healthcare market strategies to identify, diversify and grow solutions for MHA members and clients. The board’s strategic planning retreat focused on creative ideation and brainstorming how the MHASC can support the key pillars of the MHA Strategic Action Plan (SAP): protecting patient access to care, workforce support, support for mental and behavioral health and creating healthy communities. Members are invited to register for the virtual member forum scheduled from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 7 to learn more about the MHA 2025-26 SAP.

The MHASC featured SmarterDx as a new endorsed business partner that has developed a clinical AI platform to help hospitals and health systems analyze complete patient records and fully capture the value of care provided. Founded by physicians in 2020, its proprietary AI platform understands the nuances of clinical reasoning, enabling hospitals to stay true to the patient record for every discharge. By doing so, hospitals can recover earned revenue, enhance care quality metrics and optimize healthcare operations. Wayne Grodsky, chief commercial officer, SmarterDx, explored how its solutions can rapidly improve a hospital’s financial performance through advanced revenue cycle analysis.

The board also recognized outgoing member Marita Hattem-Schiffman, central region president, MyMichigan Health, for her upcoming retirement and many years of service in rural healthcare leadership.

The MHASC continues to work closely with its business solutions to address challenges and opportunities for MHA members to explore innovations to improve value and performance. Members with questions regarding the MHASC Board may contact Lindsay Peters at the MHA. Members with questions regarding the endorsed business partner program may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

Strengthening Rural Healthcare Through Smarter Physician Recruitment

Member News

MHA Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare recently released the Rural Physician Recruiting Challenges and Solutions white paper, produced by its Physician Solutions division (formerly Merritt Hawkins).

The resource identifies several approaches to address these challenges:

Recruiting Physicians to Rural Hospitals is More Challenging than Ever.

According to AMN Healthcare’s 2025 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives, the average signing bonus for family medicine physicians has increased by 15% over the past year. This trend underscores the escalating competition for medical talent in underserved areas. For rural hospitals, the stakes are even higher. With limited resources and fewer candidates, attracting and retaining physicians requires innovative strategies.

Traditional Incentives Are No Longer Sufficient.

While competitive salaries and signing bonuses are important, they are no longer the primary drivers for physicians considering rural practice. A recent survey by AMN Healthcare revealed that 70% of physicians prioritize work-life balance and community engagement over financial incentives. This shift necessitates a reevaluation of recruitment strategies.

Building a Sustainable Workforce Requires a Multifaceted Approach.

Successful rural hospitals are adopting comprehensive recruitment strategies that include:

  • Community integration: Engaging physicians in local community activities to foster a sense of belonging.
  • Flexible work arrangements: Offering part-time or telemedicine options to accommodate lifestyle preferences.
  • Educational partnerships: Collaborating with medical schools to create residency programs tailored to rural healthcare needs.

By implementing these strategies, rural hospitals can strengthen recruitment efforts and improve retention.

Members seeking for more insights and detailed strategies may download the full white paper.

Members with questions may contact Ben Jones, regional vice president at AMN Healthcare. Members with questions about the MHA Endorsed Business Partner Program may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

AMN Physician Incentive Survey Results

Member News

MHA Endorsed Business Partner AMN Healthcare recently released the 2025 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives, produced by its Physician Solutions division (formerly Merritt Hawkins).

For 32 years, the Review has been a key source of data and insight regarding physician starting salaries, signing bonuses, relocation allowances and other recruiting incentives.

Members interested in a copy of the 2025 Review or those who would like to discuss their hospital’s current physician and APP recruiting needs, may reach out to Ben Jones, regional vice president at AMN.

Members seeking information about the MHA’s EBP program may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

MHA EBP care.ai Shares Case Study on Virtual Care Expansion

Member News

MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) care.ai recently shared an insightful case study on how a 22-bed virtual care pilot with Henry Ford Health (HFH) is expanding across 13-acute care hospitals, including a chief nursing informatics officer’s tips for finding success with inpatient virtual care projects. care.ai and SONIFI Health collaborated on creating a virtual care solution that fit HFH’s goals, with the versatility for added use cases and flexibility for growth and evolution.

This case study includes an inside look at:

  1. Guardrails put in place (and why) for piloting the virtual care project.
  2. Feedback collection from nurses and patients.
  3. Pilot outcomes and next steps.
  4. Tips for having a successful virtual care strategy.

The care.ai SmartCare Platform leverages always-aware ambient sensors and an AI-powered command center to manage and automate virtual care workflows. It provides additional support to on-site care team members so they can stay focused on what matters most—delivering patient-centered care. By integrating data and near real-time analytics, care.ai equips clinicians with the insights they need to make informed decisions at critical moments throughout the patient journey.

Members are encouraged to save the date for the MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization (PSO) in-person safe table event Dec. 3, 2025, at the MHA Headquarters in Okemos. The safe table will focus on virtual care models with speakers from HFH. Safe tables are valuable opportunities for hospital team members to come together, share ideas with peers, engage in safety discussions and obtain advice to improve or eliminate harm. These events are unique in offering a legally protected, confidential environment for discussing sensitive topics.

Members who want to learn more may visit the care.ai profile page or contact Bruce Mehdizadeh, senior director of sales at care.ai. Members interested in solutions offered through the MHA EBP program may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

 

News to Know – Aug. 11, 2025

Member News

MHA Endorsed Business Partner Vault Verify is hosting a live webinar on HR’s Growing Role in Data Protection from 1 to 2 p.m. ET Aug. 13. Human resources (HR) is crucial in protecting organizations from third-party data breaches, as they often manage outsourced programs that require access to sensitive employee information. It’s vital for HR professionals to stay aware of the risks associated with third-party data access to safeguard privacy rights effectively. Members with questions may contact Rob Wood at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report July 28, 2025

Member News, Monday Report

MHA Shares Recent Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Analysis

The MHA recently updated its analysis of Medicaid and Medicare enrollment based on June 2025 data. The analysis includes program enrollment as a percentage of each county’s total population and the split between fee-for-service and …

Registration Open for 2025 Communications Retreat

Registration is open for the 2025 MHA Communications Retreat from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Henry Center for Executive Development in Lansing. The daylong event offers hospital communicators a …

New PwC Report Warns of Rising Hospital Costs and Mounting Financial Pressure on U.S. Healthcare System

The MHA is drawing attention to a new national report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) that outlines the severe financial challenges facing hospitals across the country that could soon jeopardize patient care …

MI AIM Hosting Regional Quality Improvement Training Sessions in the Fall

The Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM) is inviting inpatient clinicians from birthing units across Michigan to its fall regional training sessions. The half-day trainings will be facilitated by maternal health experts …

Keckley Report

Gut Punches for Healthcare and Hospitals: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the CMS Proposed Rule

“The healthcare industry is still licking its wounds from $1 trillion in federal funding cuts included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law July 4. Adding insult to injury, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services issued a 913-page proposed rule last Tuesday that includes unwelcome changes especially troublesome for hospitals i.e. adoption of site neutral payments, expansion of hospital price transparency requirements, reduction of inpatient-only services, acceleration of hospital 340B discount repayment obligations and more. …

The antipathy toward the healthcare industry among the public  and in Congress played a key role in passage of the OBBBA and regulatory changes likely to follow. Polls show three-fourths of likely voters want to see transformational change to healthcare and two-thirds think the industry is more concerned with its profit over their care: these views lend to hostile regulatory changes. The public and the majority of elected officials think the industry prioritizes protection of the status quo over obligations to serve communities and the greater good. The result: winners and losers in each sector, lack of continuity and interoperability, runaway costs and poor outcomes. No sector in healthcare stands as the surrogate for the health and wellbeing of the population. There are well-intended players in each sector who seek the moral high ground for healthcare, but their boards and leaders put short-term sustainability above long-term systemness and purpose. That void needs to be filled.”

Paul Keckley, July 20, 2025

New to KnowNews to Know

  • Join MHA Endorsed Business Partner CyberForce|Q for the in-person Coffee & Collab for Cybersecurity Leaders Aug. 19 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. ET at the MHA headquarters in Okemos.
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner CorroHealth recently hosted the webinar Price Transparency in 2025: What’s Required, What’s Coming, What to do Now and a recording is now available on the CorroHealth On-Demand platform along with additional resources.

 

MHA in the News

The MHA received media coverage during the week of July 21 that focused on setting the record straight about the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on hospitals. The Detroit News published …