Chairperson's File
Blog posts from 2025 AHA Board Chair Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health, and past chairs.
Using HOUDINI to eliminate CAUTI. It's all about decreasing the inappropriate use of indwelling catheters鈥攁n important step in eliminating catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Lovelace Westside Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M., adopted the HOUDINI protocol to help decrease CAUTIs鈥
The Sunday Shoes Program is an innovative solution to help heart failure patients monitor weight gain. It was developed by the Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) team at Preston Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Kingwood, WV. In 2012, the heart failure readmission rate at the鈥
Ten years ago, Mercy began telemedicine in its ICUs to improve patient outcomes. Today the St. Louis-based health system has opened a four-story virtual care center with an eICU that connects more than 30 ICUs in seven states, plus telestroke and e-hospitalists. The center also houses support鈥
Creating a quieter hospital environment can help the healing process and improve the patient experience. After St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, Wis., made changes to reduce noise in its ED, 鈥渨ould you recommend鈥 responses on patient surveys dramatically increased. Staff had鈥
April is National Minority Health Month. Led by the HHS Office of Minority Health, the 2016 events are centered on the theme 鈥淎ccelerating Health Equity for the Nation.鈥 The AHA offers numerous resources to help hospitals and health systems provide high-quality, patient-centered care to鈥
When outpatients at Summa Health in Akron, Ohio, were frequently getting lost on their way to appointments on the main hospital's campus, volunteers stepped in to help. The hospital's Volunteer Services team developed a hospital guide volunteer program鈥擵olunteer Voyagers. This program has exceeded鈥
Hospitals and faith organizations are collaborating to improve health care outcomes and organize community health care resources. A Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence webinar highlighted the work of the Congregational Health Network (CHN) in Memphis, Tennessee, and the Maryland Faith Community鈥
State and regional hospital associations across the United States are recognizing hospitals and health systems for delivering high-quality and innovative care to patients. In November 2015, the Massachusetts Hospital Association presented its inaugural Accountable Care Compass Awards, to recognize鈥
One patient safety tool can be used in all care and service areas, improving safety and quality for every patient at little or no cost: the safety huddle. At Bassett Medical Center, a 180-bed hospital in Cooperstown, NY, staff developed a safety huddle program and are 鈥渕aking it stick.鈥
St. Joseph Health, Queen of the Valley Medical Center, a 208-bed hospital in Napa, California, is improving the health and quality of life for Napa County's most vulnerable populations. The hospital's CARE鈥攃ase management, advocacy, resources and education鈥擭etwork delivers timely health鈥