News to Know – Aug. 11, 2025

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.

News to Know – May 12, 2025

New to Know
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner Vault Verify, is offering a free webinar People, Process and Protection: Rethinking HR Data Strategy hosted by the Massachusetts Hospital Association from 12 – 12:30 p.m. ET May 13. Join this webinar to explore simple strategies for optimizing HR processes and effectively reducing risks in employee data management. Topics include an overview of the Vault EDGe Gateway and how it improves HR technology/vendor processes, as well as a case study from the University of Michigan. To learn more, visit the Vault Verifypage or contact Donny Phillips, director of partnerships at Vault Verify. In addition, the MHA Unemployment Compensation Program partners with Vault Verify to enhance operational efficiency.
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner Medical Solutions, will host the free webinar Workforce Wellness: Effective Approaches to Foster Well-being and Retention in Healthcare from 1 to 2 p.m. ET May 19. This webinar features Patti Artley, chief nursing officer & chief clinical officer at Medical Solutions sharing actionable insights to empower your team and strengthen your organization. Discover innovative strategies to reduce burnout, promote well-being and enhance retention across healthcare teams. Learn how fostering a supportive environment and maximizing staff potential can drive job satisfaction and improve patient care. To learn more, visit the Medical Solutions page or contact Tony Lehman, enterprise executive at Medical Solutions.

 

Michigan HR Professionals Gather at the MHA Human Resources Conference

MHA Human Resources Conference March 25, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Lansing.

More than 100 healthcare human resources (HR) professionals from across the state gathered at the MHA Human Resources Conference March 25 in Lansing. Attendees participated in small group discussions that developed innovative ideas focused on workplace culture and community partnerships. The conference provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to network, listen, learn and collaborate on solutions to the challenges facing Michigan hospitals and health systems.

Attendees engaged in remarks from The Advisory Board on how Michigan hospitals can reimagine the clinical care team responsibilities by leveraging technology to deploy AI tools to collect vital signs and system integration with electronic medical records to automate charting. This gives time back to the workforce, optimizes care workflows and empowers the care team.

The MHA values the presence and participation of sponsors of the HR Conference, whose support strengthened the impact of the event. Sponsors were represented by a variety of companies and organizations involved in the workforce solutions space, including AMN Healthcare, Brogan, Executive Core, LLC, HPS, Michigan Academy of Physician Associates, Michigan Health Council, Salary.com, Vault Verify and Western Governors University.

Members with questions should contact Erica Leyko at the MHA.

Workforce Webinars Available for MHA Members

The MHA is pleased to announce a series of upcoming free webinars addressing healthcare workforce issues that leverage the expertise of MHA Endorsed Business Partners (EBPs) to provide guidance and thought leadership for members.

  • Registration is open for a webinar from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET Jan. 29 to review Employee Data Stewardship for Healthcare HR. Hear from Brad Kelso, managing partner/co-founder of Privageo, and Donny Phillips, director of partnerships at Vault Verify, as they provide an overview of the U.S. data security landscape and the measures your HR team should consider to maintain appropriate employee data stewardship. In addition, the MHA Unemployment Compensation Program partnered with Vault Verify starting in 2024 to enhance operational efficiency.
  • The MHA will host a Michigan Workforce Webinar 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET Feb. 6 with experts from Salary.com to provide an open forum discussing the most pressing workforce needs including recruitment and retention of permanent employees. Topics include:
    • Healthcare HR landscape and worker burnout.
    • Best practices for benchmarking jobs and the importance of hybrid market pricings.
    • Compensation data sources and how to integrate into compensation strategy.
    • Discussion on the most searched job titles and the impact to hospitals.
  • Join the exclusive webinar Leading with Purpose: Strategies for Building a Retention-Driven Culture from 1 – 2 p.m. ET Feb. 10. Rich Thompson, chief human resources officer at Medical Solutions, will share strategic insights on building a workplace that empowers healthcare professionals and supports long-term commitment. Drawing on the 5 Cs – Courage, Connection, Communication, Coaching and Consistency – Rich will outline actionable strategies for developing a culture where clinicians can thrive.

Members with questions about the EBP program may contact Rob Wood, senior director of partnerships at the MHA.

Strategic Planning Session Update with MHA Service Corporation Board

The MHA Service Corporation (MHASC) board met Oct. 24 to discuss healthcare market strategies to identify, diversify and grow solutions for MHA members and clients. The board retreat focused on how the MHASC can support the five key pillars of the MHA Strategic Action Plan: workforce support, protecting access, support for mental and behavioral health, creating healthy communities and strengthening cybercrime/cybersecurity policy.

The MHASC highlighted the MHA Unemployment Compensation Program and its new strategic partnership with Vault Verify for wage and employment verifications. Tim Fessenden, CEO ,Vault Verify, explored how solutions provide employers additional security due to the contractual commitment to never resell any of the data accessed for verifications.

Additionally, the MHASC is creating a new model for piloting “mission-driven” partnerships with organizations that may address improving health outcomes for all, behavioral health and more.

The MHASC is also moving forward with supply chain strategic sourcing opportunities to help address shortages and provide savings. The MHASC continues to work closely with its various business solutions to address the pillars in the MHA Strategic Action Plan.

Members with questions regarding the MHASC Board may contact Ruthanne Sudderth at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report June 17, 2024

Cybersecurity Resources Available to Assist Rural Hospitals

The White House announced collaborative efforts June 10 aimed at strengthening cybersecurity for rural hospitals across the United States. Through this collaboration, Microsoft and Google announced a series of initiatives to provide free or discounted …


New Drug Linked to Overdose Deaths Across Michigan

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning Michigan residents and healthcare providers about medetomidine, a new drug identified in overdose deaths across the state. Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer, similar to …



New Endorsed Business Partner Vault Verify Provides HR Data Solutions

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 Vault Verify, which is a leader in automated employment …


COMPACT Act Expands Emergent Suicide Care to Veterans

Effective January 2023, section 201 of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment (COMPACT) Act of 2020 allows eligible veterans to receive emergent suicide care in any Veterans Affairs (VA) or non-VA facility …


Protecting Community-based Care Through 340BMHA Rounds graphic, indicating thought leadership blog style post. Featuring Elizabeth Kutter pictured, woman with blonde hair smiling on the right.

Right now, a low-income patient in Northern Michigan is picking up a drug at a discounted price that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. In another corner of the state, a cancer patient is receiving lifesaving treatment …


The Keckley Report

Can Medical Schools be Part of the Physician Discontent Solution?

“Friday, the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association began their Annual Meeting in Chicago where payment reforms will headline the meeting and resolutions to strengthen the profession voted on by the 1000 attendees. This meeting falls on the heels of welcome attention from Congress which seems sympathetic to physician pay issues as documented most recently in the Senate Finance Committee’s White Paper on Physician payment reforms. …

Modernizing medical school training to better prepare physicians for practice in the 21 century is needed in medical schools. As Deans are reducing lectures, implementing collaborative instructional methods, incorporating technology-enabled clinical decision support tools, expanding team-based learning experiences and expanding student exposure to non-hospital-based practice environments, resources should also be invested to prepare students to operate effectively as leaders and managers. …”

Paul Keckley, June 10, 2024


News to Know

  • MHA offices will be closed and no formal meetings will be scheduled June 19 in honor of Juneteenth.
  • The MHA is hosting office hours virtually from 2 to 3 p.m. every Thursday through June 27 to assist hospitals in completing an application for The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care  Verification.
  • MHA Endorsed Business Partner CorroHealth will host two free webinars for members to register.