Awards
Baldrige Honors Health System's Long Journey, Matthew Weinstock, January, 15
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award: Poudre Valley Health System, Fort Collins, Colo.
The 2009 Vista Award Winners, Amy Eagle, April, 14
New Construction Winner: Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, Springfield, Ore. Renovation Winner: SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, St. Louis. Infrastructure Winner: Fairbanks Memorial Hospital/Denali Center, Fairbanks, Alaska.
A Pillar of Hope in a Hard-Hit Hometown, Terese Hudson Thrall, April, 33
The 2008 Foster G. McGaw Prize Winner: St. Mary's Health System, Lewiston, Maine
2009 Circle of Life Awards, Jan Greene, July, 38
Palliative care expands scope at winners Four Seasons, Flat Rock, N.C., Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, and Wishard Health Services, Indianapolis
AHA NOVA Awards, Bill Santamour, August, 36
Winners collaboratively improve community health: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston; Duke Raleigh Hospital, Raleigh, N.C.; Holy Cross Hospital, Taos, N.M.; Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital, New York; and Mission Health System, Asheville, N.C.
Hardwiring Excellence, Lee Ann Runy, September, 32
2009 Quest for Quality Prize winner Bronson Methodist Hospital and finalists Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Duke University Hospital
Care Delivery/Service Lines
Gatefold: The Evolving Role of the CMO, Lee Ann Runy, January, after 26
The scope of job responsibilities of chief medical officers has expanded over last 20 years
New Ways to Care for People Living Longer with Cancer, Terese Hudson Thrall, January, 35
As survival rates climb for chronic forms of the disease, hospitals strive to make the experience easier on patients
Warm and Fuzzy Hospitalists, Jan Greene, July, 42
Hospital leaders see these specialists as key to improving patient satisfaction. Sometimes, the simplest ideas work best
Building the Medical Home, Charlotte Huff, September, 25
Hospitals face conflicting challenges as this alternative to traditional primary care gains momentum
The CMO and the Medical Management of Inpatient Care, H&HN Staff, October, 51
Executive Dialogue Series roundtable of thought leaders
Clinical Management Series
Hospitals Work to Control Undiagnosed Diabetes, Geri Aston, February, 26
Patients with high blood sugar levels ate at risk for a wide range of conditions. Early testing and new treatments help keep them out of danger.
Pumping New Life into Cardiovascular, Geri Aston, May, 30
Hospitals—and their physicians—merge service lines, benefits are many
Hospitals Rethink Their Role in Asthma Care, Geri Aston, June, 41
Proactively reaching out to patients and families can cut down on emergencies—and costly ED visits
Cancer Care's Big Leap, Geri Aston, October, 30
Genetic tests and personalized therapies are forcing oncology and pathology programs to constantly—and rapidly—evolve
A Growing Inpatient Imperative: Alzheimer's Disease, Geri Aston, November, 26
Hospitals no longer consider dementia beyond their domain, increasingly identifying and monitoring patients who have it to tailor care
Opportunities Beyond Obstetrics: Women's Health, Geri Aston, December, 31
Hospitals target the unique needs of the "Sandwich Generation," bolstering a range of service lines and building lifelong loyalty
Columns: Business Matters
E-Health Windfall? Alden Solovy, January, 21
Obama plan to invest in health care IT means hospitals must do their homework
Calling an IT Time-Out, Pam Arlotto, February, 18
Tough economy may present an opportunity
People, Get Ready, Molly Joel Coye, March, 18
This is our chance to truly transform health care
Customer Loyalty, Joe E. Inguanzo, April, 17
It's the key to hospitals' survival in tough economic times
Recession Reaction, Jim Gauss, May, 24
What the economic downturn means to hospital and health system CEOs
It's Just That Simple, Matthew Weinstock, June, 24
The H1N1 outbreak provides a stark reminder that hand washing can save lives
E-Me and E-You, Too, Bill Santamour, July, 24
It's time to Tweet about that Facebook page that links to the blog that hosts a YouTube video
Risk and Reform, Molly Joel Coye, August, 16
What will it take to cut health care utilization and realize true transformational change?
Roxie's Excellent Adventure, Bill Santamour, September, 20
When it comes to health care, service is about more than outcomes
Superhighway, Alden Solovy, October, 20
By building a web of health care connections, IT will transform the American landscape
From Ellington to Einstein, Molly Joel Coye, November, 18
Leaders have the courage to ask why—and why not—and then to act
Aiming for the High Notes, Bill Santamour, December, 18
Hospitals are as complex and demanding as any Puccini opera, and even more ambitious and creative
Columns: Editor's Notes
Once Again? Mary Grayson, January, 4
What happened to hospitals during the Great Depression?
They're Back! Mary Grayson, February, 4
Health reform isn't just about us. People will want a system that works for them.
Across the Pond, Mary Grayson, March, 4
The English experience might enlighten our own, seemingly endless talks about EHRs
Problem Spamalot, Mary Grayson, April, 6
Just think what could have happened if mythology's Pandora had access to e-mail
A Little Bit of Knowledge..., Mary Grayson, May, 6
…can lead to a dangerous thing, but states are proving to be great real-life learning fields for reform
Feeling Earthbound? Mary Grayson, June, 4
We are awash in problems these days, but we've always had a strong sense of possibility
Back to the Future. Anon! Mary Grayson, July, 4
We all learn from past experience and sometimes for the better—even when we flopped
In the Background, Mary Grayson, August, 4
Health care reform is a fast-moving, complex story with some unchanging connections
Final Acts, Mary Grayson, September, 4
The dog days of summer brought some of the loudest and most surprising moments yet
Getting There, Mary Grayson, October, 4
I'm not one to declare pivotal moments in history, but To Err Is Human actually might be one
Out in the Open, Mary Grayson, November, 4
Comparative effectiveness research isn't new, but who knows about it—or about the results?
A Snow Village Town Meeting, Mary Grayson, December, 4
The residents of Snow Village can't believe their ears. What is everyone yelling about?
Columns: OutBox
The Roots of Reform, Richard Umbdenstock, January, 54
"Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly"—Francis Bacon
Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence, Stephen R. Mayfield, DHA, February, 48
Transforming patient care through shared innovations for a healthier future
264 Years is Too Long, Maulik Joshi, March, 52
We need to better educate and integrate research into practice
Forward. Together. Now., Thomas M. Priselac, April, 52
For too long we've watched health care grow more fragment, costly and inequitable
The Future is Finally Here, Nelly Leon-Chisen, May, 72
The upcoming move to ICD-10 is not just a "coding thing." Everyone must be involved
Memo to The Field, Ian Morrison, June, 64
The 2009 Health Forum-American Hospital Association Leadership Summit
Diverse and Dynamic Leaders, David Satcher, M.D., July, 84
Strong health care leaders are needed to prioritize health care issues and policies
Quality Denominators, Jeffrey D. Selberg, August, 48
Lessons from the three honorees of this year's AHA-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize
Peer Perspective Deepens, John R. Combes, M.D., September, 56
Assessment process helps board members understand and improve their performance
A Voice in the Debate, Rick Pollack, October, 68
Webcasts and e-mail alerts keep AHA members informed about and involved in reform efforts
An Executive Checklist, Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., John Combes, M.D., and Maulik Joshi, November, 52
Health care leaders must take an active role in building results-oriented patient safety efforts
Lessons for Rural Leaders, Todd C. Linden, December, 64
Rural hospitals come together to meet today's unprecedented challenges
Community Health/Wellness/Outreach
Community Health Grows Up, Jan Greene, October, 42
There's increasing pressure for hospitals to better define and measure community health programs
Economy/Financial Depression/ARRA
Take a Deep Breath and Brace Yourself..., Haydn Bush, January, 22
Some hospitals will not survive down economy intact, a few will emerge stronger
Plugging in a Nation/Bringing Doctors into the Digital Fold, Charlotte Huff and Ken Terry, March, 22
How will your hospital spend its share of federal funds for health care IT? And how will you help wire docs?
Positioning Your Hospital for Brighter Days, Haydn Bush, June, 28
Between the economy and expected health care reform, hospitals are entering a new era of uncertainty. How should you plan for the next year—or decade?
Lessons From the Credit Crisis, Lee Ann Runy, June, after 32
Seven lessons from today's economic crunch help hospitals shore up operations, position for future
E-Health/Technology
Most Wired: Performance at a Glance, Maureen McKinney, January, 40
A user-friendly way to display system performance helps a hospital remove the mystery behind misbehaving IT applications
Most Wired: Seeing the Light with CPOE, Chris Serb, February, 36
Still holding off on electronic order entry? Hospitals that made the leap are ready to help
Most Wired: Practice Makes Perfect, Haydn Bush, March, 28
Michigan medical school uses simulation center training to produce more competent, confident students
Most Wired: Another Way to Seal the Deal, Alan Joch, April, 38
As competition for physicians heats up, EMRs and other technology help hospitals stand out
Most Wired: The Sooner, The Better, Howard Larkin, May, 44
Early efforts to bring hospital and community physicians on board with EMR use are key to reaping IT stimulus benefits
Most Wired: HIPAA and HITECH: Tighter Control of Patient Data, Maureen McKinney, June, 50
Stimulus payments for EHRs add another task to providers' plates: beefing up privacy practices
Being Most Wired in a Down Economy, Alden Solovy, Suzanna Hoppszallern and Sarah B. Brown, July, 28
Results from the 2009 Hospitals & Health Networks Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study
Most Wired: Hospitals Cut the Cords, Alden Solovy, August, 33
When it comes to wireless technology, the 2009 Most Wired think of patients first
Most Wired: Connecting All Your Docs, Alden Solovy, September, 28
Hospitals subsidize physicians—employed and independent—to make electronic medical records more dynamic
Most Wired: Watching the Big Board to Reduce Overcrowding, Maureen McKinney, October, 48
Electronic bed tracking systems can improve patient throughput, but staff buy-in is a must
Most Wired: Plan Before the Panic, Maureen McKinney, November, 35
Hospitals must carefully weigh whether to outsource IT disaster recovery operations or keep them in-house
Gatefold: IT Challenges in Physician Practice Management, Lee Ann Runy, November, after 36
Easing Stark and antikickback statues didn't increase EMR usage. What are the barriers to digitizing docs? How can we move forward?
Most Wired: Decision Support for Docs, Maureen McKinney, December, 42
Imbedding medication alerts and other tools into clinical IT can improve patient care and safety. But beware of pitfalls.
Facilities/Construction and Planning
Not So Hot, Dave Carpenter and Suzanna Hoppszallern, March, 31
Hospital construction boom starts to cool, annual survey shows
Finances/Census
Gatefold: Consumer Research, Lee Ann Runy, March, after 32
Understanding how people shop for health care can be an effective strategic and financial planning tool
Capital Challenge: Improving Trust and Accountability Through Transparency, various authors, after 46
Financial supplement sponsored by Citi
- Building Trust in a Time of Crisis: Increasing transparency is a smart step for nonprofit providers, Dave Carpenter, S4
- Empowering Leaders Through Simplified Pricing, Richard L. Clarke, S9
- Using Transparency to Tell Your Story, Frederick A. Hessler, S10
- A Competitive Advantage in the Capital Market, Catherine A. Jacobson, S11
- The Power of Payer Data in Health Care Reform, Sam Nussbaum, M.D., S12
- Engaging Patients with User-Friendly Data, John Rother, S13
- Leaders in Transparency, Rich Umbdenstock, S14
Frank Talk, Financial Rigor, Alden Solovy, June, 32
Run down of the 2009 Health Care Investor Conference
Health Reform
Will We Make History? Howard Larkin, February, 20
Health Reform has been a national concern since the 1930s. But with a new, determined president, growing consensus and billions in federal funds, dramatic change may be at hand
Mass. Appeal? Howard D. Larkin, May, 26
The state's health reform plan sharply cut the number of uninsured residents—but brought unintended consequences. What are the lessons for national reform?
A Model of Efficiency, Matthew Weinstock, August, 20
Could your hospital survive on Medicare payments alone? With sharper benchmarking, Novant Health launched an all-out assault on variations and inefficiencies to find out.
Insurance/Reimbursement
Are You Ready for Bundled Payments? Matthew Weinstock, December, 26
Two demonstration projects show the ins and outs of replacing today's fee-for-service system with one that makes a single payment to all providers involved in a patient's care
Gatefold: Your ICD-10 Planning Starts Now! Lee Ann Runy, December, after 32
What hospital executives need to know about the shift in ICD-10 codes—and why they must begin planning without delay
Leadership
Gatefold: Leaders and Values in Uncertain Times, Lee Ann Runy, October, after 32
In a tough economy, successful leaders never lose focus on mission and values
The New Pace of Strategic Planning, Jan Greene, November, 31
In today's fast-changing health care world, planning is a constant process for hospital leaders
The Root of the Problem, Mary Grayson, December, 20
The issues facing health care are immense, but AHA Chair-Elect John Bluford believes that common sense will prevail in the end
Mental Health
Something New for Mental Health Services: Help, Charlotte Huff, February, 32
Hospitals work with their communities to create programs that increase access and use resources more wisely
Marketing
Time to Tweet? Haydn Bush, June, 46
Twitter is popping up in hospitals. Is it a savvy marketing tool or a fad?
Nocosomial Infections/Infection Control
Speeding Up Infection Detection, Geri Aston, July, 46
Hospitals begin to embrace rapid lab tests
Patient Care
Word for Word, Culture to Culture, Laurie Larson, July, 44
With so many patients speaking so many languages, skilled interpreters become "transparent" but essential members of hospital care teams
Patient Safety/Medical Errors
Gatefold: Pediatric Safety, Lee Ann Runy, May, after 32
Caring for children raises different quality and patient safety issues
10 Years, 5 Voices, 1 Challenge, Howard Larkin, October, 24
To Err Is Human jump-started a movement to improve patient safety. How far have we come? Where do we go from here?
Predictions/Trends
Gatefold: Physician Snapshot, Lee Ann Runy, August, after 24
A current and future look at physician demographics in America
Gatefold: 2010 AHA Environmental Scan, Gene O'Dell, September, 39
Annual tool identifies trends to help hospital leaders better understand health care landscape and critical issues in foreseeable future
Quality
Teamwork Improves Care, Jennifer Towne, January, 50
AHA Quality Center "Quality Update"
Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence, Jennifer Towne, March, 50
AHA Quality Center "Quality Update"
Aiming for Perfection, Bill Santamour, April, 18
Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence offers rationale, steps to zero errors and waste
One State's Big Goal: No HAIs, Charles D. Beaman Jr. and Susan D. Devore
AHA Quality Center/HPOE "Quality Update"
What Top-Performing EDs Do, Greg Butler, Chip Caldwell and Nancy Poston, July, 80
AHA Quality Center/HPOE "Quality Update"
Comparative Effectiveness, Geri Aston, November, 22
Why does it matter to you?
A Transformation in Patient Care, Airica Steed, R.N., and Lorraine Saintus, November, 51
AHA Quality Center/HPOE "Quality Update"
Rural Health Care
To Survive, Small Hospitals Give Up Independence, Jan Greene, May, 41
Executives and boards ask: Is affiliated with a larger organization right for us? How do we make it work?
Section: Data Page/Data Dig
Palliative Care Saves Hospitals Money, Sarah B. Brown, January, 46
Data from Archives of Internal Medicine and American Hospital Association
Inpatient Service Trends, Sarah B. Brown, February, 41
Data from Thomson Reuters MarketScan®
As Hospital Quality Improves, Managers Lead the Way, Bill Santamour, March, 44
Data from Health Research & Educational Trust
Will Recession Help or Hinder Green Construction? Sarah B. Brown, April, 44
Data from Health Facilities Management and American Society for Healthcare Engineering
When Patients Approach Death, Candid Talks Matter, Sarah B. Brown, May, 64
Data from Archives of Internal Medicine
How Clean is Clean? Gina Rollins, June, 58
Data from MMHC/APIC/ASHES 2008 Infection Prevention & Hospital Cleaning Survey
Infection Control Takes a Hit, Bill Santamour, July, 76
Data from Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Facilities Managers Salaries, Dave Carpenter and Suzanna Hoppszallern, August, 44
Data from HFM/ASHE/ASHES 2009 Management and Compensation Survey
Where Health Care Workers Work, Bill Santamour, September, 53
Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Teaching Hospitals Squeezed, Bill Santamour, November, 46
Data from American Hospital Association
Employers Spend on Wellness to Improve Bottom Line, Bill Santamour, December, 58
Data from Compdata Surveys
Section: The Extra Mile
Hospital Staff Proves "Nothing is Impossible," Laura Putre, January, 16
Columbus Regional Medical Center in Indiana reaches for the extraordinary after a devastating flood
A Dramatic Homecoming, Haydn Bush, February, 14
At annual reunion in La Jolla, Calif., trauma patients give back to Scripps Memorial Hospital clinicians who saved them
Seeing Things Through a Child's Eyes, Laura Putre, March, 12
ICU nurse eases anxiety and tension visiting their sick parents at University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan.
Laughing All the Way to a Healthier Life, Haydn Bush, May, 20
Health system promotes kids' health with offbeat videos, yearlong clinical program
Hospital Staff Goes Into Overdrive During Anthrax Scare, Laura Putre, September, 18
During a 16-hour lockdown, food service staff dished out 540 meals, calmed patients and visitors
From Walking Tacos to Hydroponics, Battling Childhood Obesity, Laura Putre, November, 16
Ohio health system engages school kids, community with innovative—and interactive—approaches to health living
"I Need Somebody to Donate To," Laura Putre, December, 14
Nurse's selfless act to donate a kidney creates a domino effect, helping four patients get new organs
Section: Other Voices
Setting Bold But Achievable Goals, Matthew Weinstock, January, 14
National Quality Forum CEO Janet Corrigan talks about reshaping health care delivery
Should Money Drive Everything? Matthew Weinstock, February, 12
Harvard professor Pamela Hartzband, M.D., worries that the focus on money will diminish patient care
Inspired Staff Can See You Through Hard Times, Bill Santamour, March, 10
Jo Manion, R.N., Ph.D., tells how to inspire your workforce during tough times
Executive Directive, Matthew Weinstock, April, 13
AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock discusses two high-profile summits—one on the recession, the other on health care—at the White House
Building Health Care's Shangri-la of Innovation, Haydn Bush, May, 16
Geisinger Health Systems CEO Glenn Steele, M.D., takes part in Leadership Summit panel discussion of health care innovations
Time to Heal the Nation's Chronic Health Problems, Matthew Weinstock, June, 14
Richard Carmona, M.D., chair of the National Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, says more attention needed on prevention and chronic disease management
Reducing Patient Anxiety, Increasing Satisfaction, Bill Santamour, July, 16
Author Wendy Leebov talks about patient, staff satisfaction
Energetic About Improving Quality, Matthew Weinstock, August, 12
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Director Carolyn Clancy supports comparative effectiveness research and better data to improve quality and safety
Planning for a Pandemic, Haydn Bush, September, 16
The CDC's Chief of Healthcare Preparedness Activity Deborah Levy discusses planning for possible H1N1 pandemic
Hospital CEO, Blog Star, Bill Santamour, November, 12
Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CEO Paul Levy talks about the fast-changing online world of social media
A Slam Dunk for Two Small Hospitals, Bill Santamour, December, 16
Benjamin Anderson, CEO of Ashland (Kan.) Health Center, turned a modest fundraiser to fight breast cancer into star-studded women's basketball game
Section: Practical Ethics
Keep Quiet About a Sale? Terese Hudson Thrall, February, 13
Opinions from Brad Neet and Philip Newbold
Delay Upsets Donor, Haydn Bush, March, 14
Opinions from Rhonda G. Green and Mark Doak
Should Protest Derail a Gala? Terese Hudson Thrall, April, 12
Opinions from John Zelezny and Mark Cummings
Section: Staffing Watch
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, January, 18
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, February, 16
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, March, 16
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, April, 16
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, May, 22
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Bill Santamour, June, 16
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Bill Santamour, July, 17
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Bill Santamour, August, 15
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Bill Santamour, September, 17
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Bill Santamour, October, 18
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Bill Santamour, November, 14
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Bill Santamour, December, 11
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Section: Story Board
Safety Nets Get Financial Help:, H&HN Staff, June, 18
Data from Department of Health & Human Services
If the Incentives Are Right, Americans Will Be Well, Matthew Weinstock, July, 18
Data from Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and National Business Group on Health
Flu Fighters to the Rescue, Bill Santamour, October, 13
Data from NYC.gov.
Workforce Issues
Docs on Board, Susan Meyers, January, 38
How on hospital rebuilt its frayed relationships with physicians
Not Your Father's COO, Richard Haugh and Matthew Weinstock, February, 30
Four hospital chief operating officers describe how their jobs are expanding and evolving
The Hardest Cuts of All, Haydn Bush, March, 41
The bleak economy has forced some hospitals to lay off staff, but workforce decisions must balance current realities with long-term plans for growth
The Return of the RNs, Terese Hudson Thrall, April, 22
The recession may ease the nursing shortage, but this is no time to let down your guard
Gatefold: Developing Tomorrow's Leaders, Lee Ann Runy, April, after 24
A skillful, knowledgeable and motivated workforce is a competitive advantage in today's complex health care environment
Why the Hospital-Physician Staffing Structure Must Change, Lee Ann Runy, June, 65
Create incentives? Employ docs? Put quality measures in contracts? Everything is on the table, CMO roundtable panelists say.
Physician Alignment, Ken Terry, September, 22
Long-running trend intensifies because of recession, reform fears
Executive Dialogue: Physician-Hospital Relationships, H&HN Staff, December, 45
Is the model broken? Can it be fixed?
