/ en Sat, 26 Apr 2025 13:33:11 -0500 Tue, 24 Jan 23 14:09:11 -0600 <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><h2><span>Contents</span></h2><ol><li><a href="#buildingrelationships"><span><strong>The Importance of Building Relationships with Congress</strong></span></a></li><li><a href="#introduceyourself"><span><strong>Introduce Yourself: Reaching Out to Your Legislators</strong></span></a></li><li><a href="#tipsfortours"><span><strong>Tips for Giving a Tour of Your Hospital</strong></span></a></li><li><a href="#nurturing"><span><strong>Nurturing the Relationship</strong></span></a></li><li><a href="#phone"><span><strong>Reaching Out by Phone</strong></span></a></li><li><a href="#whoswho"><span><strong>Who’s Who in a Legislator’s Office</strong></span></a></li><li><a href="#houseleadership"><span><strong>Key Leadership in Congress: House Leadership</strong></span></a></li><li><a href="#senateleadership"><span><strong>Key Leadership in Congress: Senate Leadership</strong></span></a></li></ol><h2 id="buildingrelationships"><span>The Importance of Building Relationships with Congress</span></h2><p><span><strong>Members of Congress are called upon to consider and vote on a vast number of issues from health care to energy to farm policy and more.</strong></span> While they may be an expert on one or two issues, it is impossible to master every issue that comes before Congress. Elected officials rely on their own staffs’ work, outside experts and, most importantly, constituent input to effectively represent the people of their district or state.</p><p>That’s why they need – and want – to hear from you. As a hospital or health system leader, you represent a cornerstone of your local community and your local economy.</p><p>An ongoing dialogue with your elected officials is the best way to ensure they understand how the decisions they make in Washington, D.C., will affect their constituents back home. No one better than you can explain the complexities of health care delivery and the impact on your community.</p><p>Hospital leaders tend to limit communications with Congress to when a key vote affecting hospitals is scheduled. But it’s just as important to build a relationship with legislators and to offer your expertise and counsel on a regular basis, so that when a critical issue arises, they’ll seek out your opinion and give weight to what you say.</p><p>This guide provides tips on how to cultivate a relationship with members of Congress and their staffs, and advice for communicating more effectively and navigating the halls of Congress.</p><p><span><strong>An important note:</strong></span><strong> Under federal tax law, 501(c)(3) organizations, like hospitals, can, within permissible limits, engage in lobbying about issues, including communicating with any legislator or legislative staff member, where the principal purpose is to influence legislation. However, there is an absolute prohibition on 501(c)(3) organizations participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office.</strong></p><p><strong>If you have questions about what is or is not permissible, please consult with your lawyers and/or AHA legal counsel.</strong></p><h2 id="introduceyourself"><span>Introduce Yourself: Reaching Out to Your Legislators</span></h2><p><span><strong>Scheduling a personal visit</strong></span> – in either the member’s district or state office, the Washington, D.C. office, or by phone or video — is an effective way to introduce yourself to your legislators and key members of their staff.</p><p>Most members of Congress handle scheduling requests through their website, which you can locate through either <a href="http://www.house.gov/" target="_blank" title="The United States House of Representatives homepage.">www.house.gov</a> or <a href="http://www.senate.gov/" target="_blank" title="The United States Senate homepage.">www.senate.gov</a>.</p><p>If you call the office to request a meeting, you’ll likely be referred to the scheduler. Explain who you are, the organization you represent and the purpose of your meeting.</p><p>The health legislative assistant, legislative director or the chief of staff will likely participate in the meeting as well. (See “Who’s Who in a Legislator’s Office” at the back of this guide for more on staff roles).</p><p>A few tips to make setting up a meeting go smoothly:</p><ul><li><strong>Be flexible on the timing.</strong> Remember, legislators are juggling priorities and have busy travel schedules. Many travel frequently between their home office and Washington and may have more availability to meet with you back home. Others travel home less frequently and may have limited availability to meet outside of designated district work periods, like the August recess. Be as flexible as possible with your time in order to make the most of their time.</li><li><strong>Explain the purpose of the meeting and how long it will take.</strong> If you need 20 minutes, ask for 20 minutes. Members will be eager to greet constituents, and they will usually have between 15 and 30 minutes available.</li><li><strong>If you’ve scheduled a meeting by phone, send an email to the scheduler confirming the date and time.</strong> If you’ve scheduled online, you’re likely to receive a confirmation email from the office.</li><li><strong>For video meetings,</strong> send your materials to the office’s staff and confirm the video hyperlink at least one day in advance.</li><li><p><strong>On the day of the meeting,</strong> arrive at least 10 minutes early for either an in-person or video meeting. Appropriate attire for in-person and video meetings is business formal. For video meetings, ensure you and other hospital representatives use a strong Internet connection. For in-person meetings, keep in mind that Capitol Hill office buildings have tight security procedures, and there may be long lines to enter the buildings. Bring background materials, preferably a one-pager about your organization — its size, history and role in your community. Bring extra copies for staff, as well as several business cards. Also, ask for staff’s business cards during the visit and ask whether they prefer you to contact them by phone or email.</p><p>If you’d like to take a photo with the member and staff, please be sure to ask the scheduler about the policy in advance. Individual member offices set their own policies about photographs.</p></li><li><strong>After the meeting,</strong> send a follow-up email thanking the legislator and staff for meeting with you and expressing your desire to work together in the months and years to come. This also is a good opportunity to repeat the invitation to tour your hospital. And remember to thank the scheduler who arranged the visit on your behalf.</li></ul><h2 id="tipsfortours"><span>Tips for Giving a Tour of Your Hospital</span></h2><p><span><strong>A tour provides the opportunity to familiarize your legislator with what you do and the challenges you face.</strong></span> The purpose of the tour should be informative, not political. Hospitals are prohibited by law from employing resources to influence voter preferences or the outcome of an election. Please see the “Legal Do’s and Don’ts” at at <a href="/" target="_blank" title="AHA home page">www.aha.org</a> if you have questions about permissible activities, or consult with your lawyers and/or AHA legal counsel.</p><p>Be patient with the scheduling process. It may take some time to fulfill a time-intensive and not time-sensitive request like a tour; but also be persistent so the office understands this is important. Once a date and time have been set, you’re ready to plan a successful and productive visit. Here’s a list of things you may want to keep in mind:</p><ul><li><strong>Prepare a fact sheet about your hospital.</strong> Include important information, such as services provided, number of personnel, other locations, services within the community, awards, information about key people and interesting facts. This will give your legislator and his or her staff a quick and easy look at your organization and the role it plays in your community.</li><li><strong>Arrange for a photographer</strong> if you want photos of the visit for your internal communications, and check with the legislator’s office about permissible uses of these photos for social media, etc.</li><li><strong>Determine if press will be allowed into your facility.</strong> Check with the legislator’s office to see if they plan to notify the press of the visit. If you or they don’t want the press involved, then tell your legislator that press is not allowed. If you agree to allow the press in, make sure your legislator’s office understands this tour is an opportunity to learn more about your organization and not a campaign opportunity. Assign a staffer to work with the legislator’s communications office and the press. You’ll also need to determine in advance what parts of the visit are off-limits. Also, make sure all proper procedures are followed to maintain patient privacy.</li><li><strong>Notify your staff of the tour’s date and time.</strong> Make sure your employees are aware of the legislator’s visit and the purpose for the visit — getting to know your organization, the great work you do in your community and the challenges you face as you go about this work. Emphasize that this is not a political or campaign visit but a chance for your employees to spotlight the great work they do every day.</li><li><strong>Set aside a place for the members of Congress and staff</strong> to make a phone call or relax for five minutes before the tour begins. An empty office or conference room will suffice.</li><li><strong>Set aside time for discussion.</strong> Either at the end or the beginning of the tour, set aside some time for you and possibly other key hospital staff to sit down with the legislator to discuss any critical issues and answer any questions they might have.</li><li><strong>Send follow-up letters.</strong> Send a letter thanking the legislator and staff for making the visit and reinforcing the points you made during the tour.</li></ul><p><span><strong>A note about timing.</strong></span> Legislators are eager to meet with their constituents during congressional recesses. Recesses generally occur the weeks before or after a major federal holiday and in the month of August. Check <a href="http://www.congress.gov/" target="_blank" title="Congress.gov homepage.">www.congress.gov</a> for the latest congressional calendars. A standing invitation to tour your facility in August or during other congressional recesses will increase the likelihood of the legislator accepting the invitation.</p><h2 id="nurturing"><span>Nurturing the Relationship</span></h2><p><span><strong>A strong relationship needs to be nurtured, and maintaining a dialogue is essential.</strong></span> Now that you’ve met your legislator and key staff members, continue to reach out to them on a regular basis on various issues throughout the year. Because legislators rely on input from constituents to inform their opinions on legislation and policy, you can become a valuable resource to them.</p><p>Because nearly every minute of a legislator’s day is scheduled, from breakfast briefings to evening events, it may be difficult to reach members and staff by phone. Also, for security measures, all mail sent to Capitol Hill via USPS, FedEx or UPS is delivered to an off-site facility for processing — a process that may delay delivery for days or even weeks. For that reason, email is typically the preferred form of communication. Confirm with your legislators and their staff how they prefer to communicate.</p><p>The keys to writing an effective email are simple:</p><ul><li><strong>Personalize the message as much as possible.</strong> Remind the legislator or staff member of your most recent meeting, visit to their office or phone call. Also, include the name of your organization, its location(s), the total number of people employed, and/or the total number of patients who receive care. Personalization may mean your message is given closer attention.</li><li><strong>Get straight to the point.</strong> Explain who you are and why you are writing. Ask for your email to be directed to the legislative staff person who handles health care.</li><li><strong>Share your personal experience.</strong> Use real-life examples to illustrate your points.</li><li><strong>Limit any formatting.</strong> Be sure to format the email as simply as possible because most are read on mobile devices. Do not include extraneous graphics or signatures.</li></ul><p><span><strong>A note about social media.</strong></span> Nearly all members of Congress have social media accounts, such as Facebook and X. You can connect with Congress online to see what issues are most important to them.</p><h2 id="phone"><span>Reaching Out by Phone</span></h2><p><span><strong>From time to time, when urgent matters arise, such as a pending vote in the House or Senate, you may need to make a phone call.</strong></span> Here are a few tips:</p><ul><li><strong>Do your homework.</strong> Make sure you have your facts straight and your talking points ready. You may only have a few minutes to get your point across.</li><li><strong>Get straight to the point.</strong> Explain who you are and why you are calling. Ask to speak to the legislative assistant who handles health care.</li><li><strong>Be ready to answer questions.</strong> Don’t expect a onesided conversation. Anticipate questions the legislator or staff could ask and have answers. If you’re asked a question and you don’t know the answer, say you will get the answer as soon as possible and follow up with them.</li><li><strong>Follow-up with an email referencing your conversation.</strong> Reiterate your talking points and provide any additional information you promised them.</li></ul><h2 id="whoswho"><span>Who’s Who in a Legislator’s Office</span></h2><p><span><strong>Commonly used titles and job functions of congressional staff:</strong></span></p><ul><li>The <strong>chief of staff</strong> handles the overall office operations, including the assignment of work and the supervision of staff. The chief of staff reports directly to the senator or representative and usually is responsible for evaluating the political implications of various legislative proposals and constituent requests.</li><li>In most Congressional offices there are several <strong>legislative assistants</strong> with expertise in specific policy areas. Depending on the committee assignments and interests of the member, an office may have a different legislative assistant for health care, the environment, foreign relations and tax policy.</li><li>The <strong>legislative correspondent</strong> manages the flow of letters and emails. They draft responses and flag items of note for the legislator’s attention.</li><li>The <strong>legislative director</strong> monitors the legislative schedule in committee and on the floor and makes recommendations to the legislator on positions and votes. In some offices, the legislative director supervises the legislative assistants.</li><li>The <strong>communications director or press secretary</strong> manages the legislator’s relationship with the media and the public. They are expected to know the benefits, demands and special requirements of print, electronic and social media, and how to most effectively promote the member’s views or positions on specific issues. Many press secretaries double as speech writers.</li><li>The <strong>scheduler</strong> is usually responsible for allocating a legislator’s time among the many demands that arise from congressional responsibilities, constituent requests and political activities. The scheduler also may handle travel arrangements and speaking requests.</li><li>The <strong>executive assistant/office manager</strong> often handles scheduling as well as the day-to-day management of the office.</li></ul><p><span><strong>A note about district staff.</strong></span> . A legislator also maintains staff in the district or state office. It is a good idea to get to know these staffers, given that they may be more familiar with your organization and its role in the local community. The district staff director is the legislator’s main point person back home, keeps the the legislator informed about the local community and can help move along meeting requests and other information you may wish to convey. The district office staff organizes town hall meetings that may provide you and your employees the opportunity to weigh in on issues of importance.</p><h2 id="houseleadership"><span>Key Leadership in Congress:</span> <span>House Leadership</span></h2><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2019/12/Guide-working-with-congress.pdf#page=5" target="_blank">Democratic House Leadership</a></div></div><div class="col-md-6"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2019/12/Guide-working-with-congress.pdf#page=5" target="_blank">Republican House Leadership</a></div></div></div><h2 id="senateleadership"><span>Key Leadership in Congress:</span> <span>Senate Leadership</span></h2><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2019/12/Guide-working-with-congress.pdf#page=6" target="_blank">Democratic Senate Leadership</a></div></div><div class="col-md-6"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2019/12/Guide-working-with-congress.pdf#page=6" target="_blank">Republican Senate Leadership</a></div></div></div></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2019/12/Guide-working-with-congress.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the A Guide to Working with Members of Congress: Tips for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Legislators PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-02/guide-to-working-with-members-congress-2025.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="A Guide to Working with Members of Congress 2025, page 1." width="695" height="902"></a></p><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/advocacy/action-center" target="_blank" title="Go to the AHA Action Center to see AHA's current advocacy campaigns and contact your members of Congress.">AHA Action Center</a></div><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/2024-03-01-congressional-site-visits-during-and-after" target="_blank" title="Click here to explore the AHA's Congressional Site Visits: Before, During and After PDF.">Congressional Site Visits: Before, During and After</a></div></div></div></div>ol { margin:1.5em; 0 1.5em; padding:0; counter-reset:item; } ol>li { margin:0; padding:0 0 0 2em; text-indent:-2em; list-style-type:none; counter-increment:item; } ol>li:before { display:inline-block; width:1.5em; padding-right:0.5em; font-weight:bold; color: #003087; text-align:right; content:counter(item) "."; } Tue, 24 Jan 2023 14:09:11 -0600 Hospital Departments <div class="container"><div class="col-md-8"><p>As cornerstones of their communities, hospitals and health systems play a role in addressing societal factors that influence the health of the patients and communities they serve. Focusing on societal factors benefits patient care and serves as an avenue to meet hospitals’ strategic goals including improving quality and outcomes, reducing costs, and building community engagement and trust.</p><p>The AHA’s <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/09/SocietalFactorsFramework_Fall2024.pdf">Societal Factors that Influence Health Framework</a> is designed to guide hospitals’ strategies to identify patients' social needs, the social drivers of health in their communities and the systemic causes that lead disparities in health outcomes so all stakeholders can take action around these critical issues.</p><h2>Societal Factors That Influence Health: A Framework for Hospitals</h2><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-09/societal-factors-framework-2024.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Societal Factors that Influence Health: A Framework for Hospitals. Three circles of different sizes with the small circle inside the medium circle, which are both inside the large circle. The large circle is labeled Systemic. Systemic Causes: The fundamental causes of the social inequities that lead to poor health. The medium circle is labeled Community. Social Determinants of Health: Underlying social and economic conditions that influence people's ability to be healthy. The small circle is labeled Person. Social Needs: Individuals' non-medical, social or economic circumstances that hinder their ability to stay healthy and/or recover from illness." width="1683" height="1683"></p><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2024/09/SocietalFactorsFramework_Fall2024.pdf" download="file" target="_blank">Explore the Framework</a></div></div><div class="col-md-6"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/news/blog/2020-12-07-addressing-societal-factors-improve-health-equity" target="_blank">Read the Blog</a></div></div></div><hr><h2>AHA Resources</h2><p>Explore AHA’s growing repository of resources to support hospitals and their community stakeholders as they take action to address the societal factors that influence health.<br> </p><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/presentation-resource/2024-12-19-addressing-societal-factors-influence-health-framework-hospitals-and-health-systems"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-12/addressing-societal-factors-influence-health-presentation-cover.png" alt="Presentation: Addressing the Societal Factors that Influence Health: A Framework for Hospitals and Health Systems cover slide" width="706" height="397"></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/presentation-resource/2024-12-19-addressing-societal-factors-influence-health-framework-hospitals-and-health-systems">Addressing the Societal Factors that Influence Health: A Framework for Hospitals and Health Systems</a></h4><p><em>*Members Only*</em></p><p>The AHA’s Societal Factors that Influence Health Framework is designed to guide hospitals’ strategies to identify patients' social needs, the social drivers of health in their communities and the systemic causes that lead to health inequities so all stakeholders can take action around these critical issues. Use this slide deck to foster conversations with your team and community about how your organization can make an impact on the societal factors that influence health.</p><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/presentation-resource/2024-12-19-addressing-societal-factors-influence-health-framework-hospitals-and-health-systems" target="_blank">Download the Presentation</a></div></div></div><hr><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/webinar-recordings/2021-06-25-investing-power-teams-address-social-needs"><img src="/sites/default/files/2021-07/hands-image-investing-in-the-power-of-teams-to-address-social-needs-video-6-29-21.JPG" alt="Joining Hands Image" width="383" height="212"></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/webinar-recordings/2021-06-25-investing-power-teams-address-social-needs">Investing in the Power of Teams to Address Social Needs</a></h4><p>Meeting patients’ social needs is a collaborative effort, which requires engagement of various professions from across the health care spectrum and community. Learn how Regional One Health and New-York Presbyterian Hospital improved health outcomes by leveraging specialized skills of care team members to identify and address the social needs of their patients.</p><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/webinar-recordings/2021-06-25-investing-power-teams-address-social-needs" target="_blank">Watch the Video</a></div></div></div><hr><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/housingandhealth"><img src="/sites/default/files/2021-03/housing-and-health-roadmap-cover-383x49xpx.png" alt="Housing and Health: A Roadmap for the Future" width="383" height="496"></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/housingandhealth">Housing and Health</a></h4><p>A Roadmap for the Future examines the impact of housing instability on individuals’ health and outlines opportunities and avenues for hospitals to reduce housing instability in their communities. This tool shares strategic considerations for how to tailor a housing strategy to meet community needs and case examples of how hospitals are addressing housing instability during COVID-19.</p></div></div><hr><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/toolkitsmethodology/2019-06-05-screening-social-needs-guiding-care-teams-engage-patients"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-06/screening-for-social-needs-cover-296.jpg" width="297" height="385" alt="Screening for Social Needs: Guiding Care Teams to Engage Patients cover."></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/toolkitsmethodology/2019-06-05-screening-social-needs-guiding-care-teams-engage-patients">Screening for Social Needs: Guiding Care Teams to Engage Patients</a></h4><p>Screening for Social Needs: Guiding Care Teams to Engage Patients is a tool to help hospitals and health systems facilitate sensitive conversations with patients about their nonmedical needs that may be a barrier to good health. It is the latest effort by The Value Initiative to promote the field’s work to drive value by lowering cost and improving outcomes.</p><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="https://soundcloud.com/ahahospitals/achi-tvi-podcast" target="_blank">Listen to the Podcast<em><i class="fa fa-external-link fa-fw"><span class="sr-only"><sup>this is an external link</sup></span></i></em></a></div></div></div><hr><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/2018-04/value-initiative-icd-10-code-social-determinants-of-health.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2022-01/cover-ICD-10-coding-social-determinants-health.jpg" width="385" height="498" alt="ICD-10-CM Coding for Social Determinants of Health page 1."></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/system/files/2018-04/value-initiative-icd-10-code-social-determinants-of-health.pdf">ICD-10-CM Coding for Social Determinants of Health</a></h4><p>Numerous studies have demonstrated a link between the social determinants of health and key health outcomes. AHA has worked to promote widespread use of ICD-10-CM codes that enable provider to collect data on the social determinants of health.</p><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/advancing-health-podcast/2019-10-02-using-z-codes-address-patient-needs" target="_blank">Listen to the Podcast<em><i class="fa fa-external-link fa-fw"><span class="sr-only"><sup>this is an external link</sup></span></i></em></a></div></div><div class="col-md-6"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="https://sponsors.aha.org/HFC-Gen-2020-Coding-Webinar-Promotion_.html" target="_blank">Watch the Webinar<em><i class="fa fa-external-link fa-fw"><span class="sr-only"><sup>this is an external link</sup></span></i></em></a></div></div></div></div></div><hr><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/case-studies/2022-10-04-using-z-codes-improve-health-equity-rural-indiana"><img src="/sites/default/files/2022-10/cover-using-z-codes-to-improve-health-equity-in-rural-indiana-case-study-297.png" width="288" height="372" alt="Using Z Codes to Improve Health Equity in Rural Indiana page 1."></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/case-studies/2022-10-04-using-z-codes-improve-health-equity-rural-indiana">Using Z Codes to Improve Health Equity in Rural Indiana</a></h4><p>Cameron Memorial Community Hospital, an independent critical access hospital in northeastern Indiana, shares how it embraced the use of ICD-10-CM Z codes to detect and address patients’ social needs as part of the hospital’s health equity strategy.</p></div></div><hr><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/interview/2023-01-12-value-based-payment-support-health-equity"><img src="/sites/default/files/2023-01/cover-value-based-payment-to-support-health-equity.png" width="291" height="376" alt="Value-based Payment to Support Health Equity page 1."></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/interview/2023-01-12-value-based-payment-support-health-equity">Value-based Payment to Support Health Equity</a></h4><p>AHA’s The Value Initiative summarizes a conversation among two experts, Amol Navathe, M.D., assistant professor, medical ethics and health policy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and Mai Pham, M.D., president and CEO, Institute for Exceptional Care, about opportunities and challenges in implementing value-based payment models to improve health equity.</p></div></div><hr><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/social-determinants-health"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/cover-determinants-health-food-insecurity-role-of-hospitals.jpg" data-entity-uuid="3de56c96-7b72-403a-9957-c4effab88869" data-entity-type="file" alt="Food Insecurity and the Role of Hospitals guide cover" width="671" height="868"></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/social-determinants-health">Social Determinants of Health Guides</a></h4><p>AHA is producing a series of guides on how hospitals can address various social determinants of health. Below are the topics covered to date:</p><ul><li><em>Food Insecurity and the Role of Hospitals</em></li><li><em>Housing and the Role of Hospitals</em></li><li><em>Transportation and the Role of Hospitals</em></li></ul><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/social-determinants-health" target="_blank">Explore the Social Determinants of Health Guides<em><i class="fa fa-external-link fa-fw"><span class="sr-only"><sup>this is an external link</sup></span></i></em></a></div></div></div><hr><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/physicians/SDOH-Main"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-alliance-issue-brief-care-well-SDoH_0.jpg" data-entity-uuid="273072ce-efe4-436f-a720-9d0c0a8fd769" data-entity-type="file" alt="Care Well: Addressing Social Determinants of Health from Bedside to Boardroom page 1" width="561" height="726"></a></div><div class="col-md-8"><h4><a href="/physicians/SDOH-Main">Social Determinants of Health Curriculum for Clinicians</a></h4><p>To help clinicians address social determinants, the AHA’s Physician Alliance created a web-based virtual expedition to train and equip staff with how-to actions and companion resources. Modules include an overview of social determinants, introduction to upstream quality improvement, and a focus on addressing food and housing insecurity as well as transportation.</p><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2019/03/alliance-issue-brief-care%20well%20SDoH_0.pdf" target="_blank">Download the Issue Brief<em><i class="fa fa-external-link fa-fw"><span class="sr-only"><sup>this is an external link</sup></span></i></em></a></div></div></div></div><div class="col-md-4">.TTaddon1 { border:solid 1px #555; padding:0 10px; } <div class="TTaddon1"><h4>Strategies For Reimagining Health Care</h4><h5><a href="/aha-transformation-talks/">AHA Transformation Talks</a></h5><div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"></div><p>Learn more about <a href="/aha-transformation-talks/ep1-sdoh">Social Determinants: Leveraging the Community and Innovation to Improve Health</a> and download the abstract or framework.</p></div></div></div> Wed, 11 Jan 2023 09:30:17 -0600 Hospital Departments /advancing-health-podcast/2022-06-17-equity-through-precision-heart-care-cleerly-inc-and-lee-health <p>Dr. Leon D. Caldwell, Senior Director, Health Equity Strategies and Innovation, in the Institute of Diversity and Health Equity at the AHA, sits down with Dr. James Min, CEO and Co-founder of AHA Associate, Cleerly, as well as Dr. Richard Chazal, Senior Cardiologist and Medical Director of the Heart & Vascular Institute at Lee Health System. Dr. Min and Dr. Chazal are at the forefront of a new population-based, precision heart care approach that is transforming the historical approach to cardiovascular care by treating the actual disease instead of symptoms. Together, they discuss how this new standard of care ultimately impacts health equity.</p> <hr /> <p></p> <div><a href="https://soundcloud.com/advancinghealth" target="_blank" title="Advancing Health">Advancing Health</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/advancinghealth/review3-cleerlypodcast-associates-advancinghealth" target="_blank" title="Equity Through Precision Heart Care with Cleerly, Inc. and Lee Health System">Equity Through Precision Heart Care with Cleerly, Inc. and Lee Health System</a></div> Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:16:54 -0500 Hospital Departments /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2022-06-07-aws-latest-accelerator-aims-give-boost-health <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <p><img alt="AWS’ Latest Accelerator Aims to Give a Boost to Health-Equity Startups. A seated black mother in a winter coat and hat holds her baby who is wrapped in a blanket." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8e51e4c4-4570-4e65-9bf0-0d415c3ef48b" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/AWS-Latest-Accelerator-Aims-to-Give-a-Boost-to-Health-Equity-Startups.jpg" width="620" height="381"></p> <p>Finding solutions to help the more than 3.6 million Americans who miss or delay their health care appointments each year because they lack transportation is no simple process. In 2016, a Philadelphia-based startup <a href="https://roundtriphealth.com/" target="_blank" title="Rountrip homepage">Roundtrip</a> teamed with a group of local health care providers, including nurses, physicians, social workers and transportation providers to examine the process for arranging trips for those in need.</p> <p>A year later, Roundtrip’s three founders used design-thinking methodology to create their on-demand transportation company. The firm provides nonemergency medical transportation to providers and patients. Roundtrip’s <a href="https://roundtriphealth.com/health-systems/" target="_blank" title="Roundtrip: Inside our digital transportation solution">customized online marketplace and digital tools</a> connect patients with the type of rides they need — from ride shares and medical sedans to wheelchair vans and stretcher vehicles.</p> <p>This year, with support from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Roundtrip will scale in California by launching a pilot with <a href="https://cchealth.org/" target="_blank" title="Contra Costa Health Services homepage">Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS)</a> to increase call center efficiency. Together, AWS, CCHS and Roundtrip will design and implement automated <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/connect/" target="_blank" title="Amazon Connect landing page">Amazon Connect</a> cloud-based contact center infrastructure and incorporate machine learning services such as <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/lex/" target="_blank" title="Amazon Lex: Build chatbots with conversational AI landing page.">Amazon Lex</a> and <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/polly/" target="_blank" title="Amazon Polly: Turn text into lifelike speech using deep learning landing page.">Amazon Polly</a> to make it easier to book rides for vulnerable people who need care.</p> <p>Roundtrip’s continuing development can be traced in part to AWS’ <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/nonprofits/global-social-impact/health-equity/" target="_blank" title="AWS: New Global Program to Help Customers Develop Cloud Solutions to Advance Health Equity">Health Equity Initiative</a>, a three-year $40 million commitment to help its health care customers develop cloud-based solutions to reduce health disparities.</p> <p>Now AWS has launched its <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/new-aws-healthcare-accelerator-focuses-on-health-equity" target="_blank" title="Amazon: New AWS Healthcare Accelerator focuses on health equity">second health care accelerator</a> to support 10 startups with U.S.-based operations through a four-week technical, business and mentorship program. Applications are due July 1, and the program begins in late August.</p> <p>The new health care accelerator will consider startups focused on increasing access to health services, reducing disparities by addressing social factors influencing health and using data to promote equitable and inclusive systems of health. Participating startups will be eligible for:</p> <ul> <li>Up to $25,000 in AWS promotional credits.</li> <li>Connections to venture capital firms through AWS’ innovation network.</li> <li>Collaboration opportunities with other AWS health care customers and AWS partners.</li> <li>Specialized AWS training and mentoring from domain and technical subject matter experts.</li> <li>Guidance on business development and fundraising from AWS and accelerator collaborators.</li> <li>Go-to-market planners.</li> </ul> <p>Applications are available on the <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/nonprofits/global-social-impact/health-equity/" target="_blank" title="AWS: New Global Program to Help Customers Develop Cloud Solutions to Advance Health Equity">AWS Healthcare Accelerator</a> webpage.</p> </div> <div class="col-md-4"> <p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" data-entity- data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" type="file" class="align-center"></a></p> <a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img alt data-entity-type data-entity-uuid src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png"></a></div> </div> </div> .field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } Tue, 07 Jun 2022 08:27:29 -0500 Hospital Departments /news/blog/2022-04-19-blog-aha-launches-health-equity-roadmap-we-asked-one-its-architects-why-its <p>AHA on March 29 launched the <a href="https://equity.aha.org/" target="_blank">Health Equity Roadmap</a>, an innovative framework from its Institute for Diversity and Health Equity to support hospitals and health systems in their efforts to become more equitable organizations. We spoke with Leon D. Caldwell, AHA’s senior director for health equity strategies and innovation and one of the Roadmap’s architects, about its importance to hospitals and health systems.</p> <p><strong>AHA:</strong> What was the state of play before the Health Equity Roadmap launched?</p> <p><strong>Caldwell:</strong> Previous attempts to advance health equity centered on interpersonal awareness and skills programs, case studies, workshops and webinars, conceptual maps, logic models and frameworks, each designed to highlight the necessity for health equity, to reduce health disparities, and call attention to the societal factors that impact health. All of these efforts are significant, but they would often leave hospitals and health systems and their equity advocates short on actions and resources to accomplish the aspirational goals of health equity for all.</p> <p>Additionally, the primary focus of these previous equity initiatives were on addressing individual-level gaps in knowledge, skills and awareness that are usually in the form of cultural competence and humility. However, these approaches can only be impactful if they are reinforced by organizational policy and practices as a function of organizational culture.</p> <p><strong>AHA:</strong> So, it sounds like more was needed to foster systemic change?</p> <p><strong>Caldwell</strong>: Right. To sustain these efforts, now and beyond, individuals in health equity roles within organizations have to rethink, redesign, and prepare for more inclusive futures. So, the health equity landscape needs to change because the models where the primary strategy was only training or looking at training of people or individuals has limits in the ability to sustain health equity. Health equity will become sustainable when organizations or systems change the way they operate, and what they reinforce as expected or anticipated organizational behavior to promote health equity.</p> <p><strong>AHA:</strong> Makes sense. So on March 29, AHA and IFDHE flipped the switch on the Health Equity Roadmap. What changed when that switch turned on?</p> <p><strong>Caldwell</strong>: The main thing was that our members now have access to a comprehensive strategic framework to advance equity. And this comprehensive framework is a model with actionable steps. It includes an assessment, which is a tool for a hospital to locate its position on the transformation continuum. From the assessment, the hospital is given its own data in the form of a Transformation Profile that provides a visualization of the responses from each of the <a href="https://equity.aha.org/the-six-levers-of-transformation" target="_blank">six Levers of Transformation</a>. As a baseline, the hospital will gain greater insights on which levers resources can be mobilized around, while gathering internal and external stakeholders to engage with a set of Transformation <em>Action Planners</em>.</p> <p>Hospital leaders will have clear steps to advance equity by changing policies and practices. So when the switch was flipped, hospitals now have an opportunity to learn even more information about themselves and activate tools to actually be equitable not just talk about it.</p> <p>We have to be clear that the Health Equity Transformation Assessment is NOT the IFDHE Benchmark survey. This is a hospital-specific assessment whereas the benchmark survey is a snapshot of the entire field as it advances toward equity.</p> <p>The benchmark survey calls attention to structural barriers, lack of equity or disparities, but does not offer a real sense of how to solve the problem. So, in some sense, flipping this switch resulted in providing more solutions to the field.</p> <p><strong>AHA:</strong> And why was it necessary?</p> <p><strong>Caldwell:</strong> Because if we don't provide solutions, in ways which are accessible to members, most systems will continue to operate in homeostasis. We offer solutions that can provide opportunities for constructive and instructive disruption in organizations.</p> <p>If hospitals and health systems don't have a clear sense of direction and guidance, then they are more likely to maintain the status quo that tacitly produces disparities. Because that's the most comfortable space to operate even though it may yield inefficiencies and disparities as unintended consequences. So what we've tried to do is create a set of tools to guide hospitals in developing their own solutions to challenges in their communities. The data trend line indicating threats to patient safety, workforce shortages, supply chain limitations and community mistrust can be reversed with strategic intention and alignment of resources. Now is the time to align policy and practices to inspire system changes that themselves can eliminate decades of disparities previously revealed by ReAL and SOGI data.</p> <p><strong>AHA:</strong> So, with that in mind, what's next? Particularly for the people and the organizations that want to get on board with this effort.</p> <p><strong>Caldwell:</strong> When members begin their assessment, they will see that the process is built to meet their unique needs. As we look to implement the Roadmap we are taking an equity-within-equity approach. Meaning that we recognize that not all members are the same — thus why each hospital will receive a customized roadmap.</p> <p>AHA’s membership is diverse, whether it’s geography, a community’s political leanings, resources, leadership, governance structure, all those aspects that make a hospital its own unique entity even when it’s part of a system. So a one-size-fits-all design for the Health Equity Roadmap would have undermined our intent.</p> <p>What you’ll get is a set of initiatives that are strategically aligned with advancing equity in hospitals and health care, with an overarching theme of eliminating disparities as a key performance indicator for sustaining equity, past this current flashpoint in our national historic moment about equity.</p> <p><strong>AHA:</strong> Last question: What's the one thing that hospitals and health systems need to know about efforts to foster equity across the field?</p> <p><strong>Caldwell</strong>: I would say that they should understand that equity is not a standalone activity, event or concept. It flows through all aspects of our hospitals, from quality to patient safety to operations. In order for a hospital to become the most effective and efficient health delivery system, equity should be a central theme, not an adjunct to all other aspects of the hospital’s priorities.</p> <p><em>Visit <a href="http://equity.aha.org" target="_blank">equity.aha.org</a> to learn more about the Health Equity Roadmap</em>.</p> Tue, 19 Apr 2022 15:26:48 -0500 Hospital Departments /news/healthcareinnovation-thursday-blog/2022-03-31-accelerating-health-equity-moving-conversation <p><img alt="#healthcareinnovation Thursday" src="/sites/default/files/2019-11/innovation-blog-banner-900.jpg" /></p> <p>The past 24 months have shown the best of what we can achieve as health care organizations working in partnership with communities. This time also has illuminated how far we have to go to achieve a just society of healthy communities, where all individuals reach their highest potential for health.</p> <p>Now is the time to evaluate how far we have come in closing gaps in health disparities, assess where health care is on the equity journey and take what we’ve learned to strengthen our organizations and communities through collaborative and innovative work — by investing in our neighborhoods and one another. We must continue developing better and more equitable solutions to dismantle structural barriers that prevent access to high-quality care and improved health outcomes.</p> <blockquote> <h4>The issues are long-standing and well documented. The vision is clear. The time for action is now.</h4> </blockquote> <p>It takes collective effort to uncover the gaps in health outcomes and health access, engage in critical conversations and problem-solve to eliminate health inequities.</p> <p>And it starts by asking: What is my role? How can I help evolve my organization’s approach to health to more intentionally infuse an equity lens? And what tools, tactics and resources do I need to mobilize my organization’s leadership and workforce toward achieving more equitable outcomes for all?</p> <p>With the theme “Forward on the Journey,” the <a href="/accelerating-health-equity" target="_blank" title="Accelerating Health Equity Conference homepage">2022 AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference</a>, May 10-12 in Cleveland, will convene front-line leaders charged with improving community and population health, health equity, diversity and inclusion and foster conversations on who, what, why, how and when we — as a community — can ultimately achieve our collective vision of ensuring all people have an opportunity to lead healthy lives.</p> <p>To achieve that vision, we’ll need tools and resources to:</p> <ul> <li>expand knowledge through innovative strategies, successful actions and proven practices;</li> <li>build stronger community connections; and</li> <li>develop more integrated approaches to health equity.</li> </ul> <p>In anticipation of this conference, the AHA has just released the <a href="https://equity.aha.org/" target="_blank" title="The Health Equity Roadmap homepage">Health Equity Roadmap</a>, an innovative framework to support hospitals and health systems in their efforts to become more equitable organizations and dismantle structural barriers to health and overall well-being.</p> <p>At the conference, participants will:</p> <ul> <li>hear from <a href="https://web.cvent.com/event/efb71c93-6768-4141-b8fa-9b54477449b9/websitePage:ffe911ee-caea-44a9-9cdd-6dcffc4f1102" target="_blank" title="Accelerating Health Equity Conference Plenary Sessions">key thought leaders</a> — including Heather McGhee, Bechara Choucair, M.D. and Hilton Kelley;</li> <li>learn from peers across the U.S. about replicable tactics that are advancing health equity in hospitals, health systems and communities today; and</li> <li>have opportunities to engage on-site in community immersion experiences that highlight community investment for health in action.</li> </ul> <p>The issues are long-standing and well documented. The vision is clear. The time for action is now. Join us in Cleveland to share your successes and challenges and learn from others. Then be prepared to engage your organization and community in new and critical ways to accelerate health equity.</p> <p><em>Early bird registration for the AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference ends March 31. <a href="/accelerating-health-equity" target="_blank" title="Accelerating Health Equity Conference homepage">Check out conference details and register.</a></em></p> <p><em>Joy A. Lewis is senior vice president, health equity strategies, and executive director of the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity at the ���������� Association. Nancy Myers is vice president, leadership and system innovation, at the ���������� Association.</em></p> Thu, 31 Mar 2022 07:47:04 -0500 Hospital Departments /advocacy/2022-01-27-aha-virtual-advocacy-day-february-1-2022-digital-toolkit <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p><span><strong>With both the delta and omicron variants exerting tremendous strain on our health care system, we are calling on Congress to include several key priorities to support hospitals and health systems as part of any must-pass legislative package next month.</strong></span></p><p>We encourage members to customize social posts with information about the pandemic’s impact on your hospital/health system, as well as specifically how additional COVID-19 relief would strengthen access to care in your communities and how your hospital/system operates. For customized messages, please include the hashtag <strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong>.</p><h2><span>General Advocacy Day</span></h2><ul><li>I’m joining health care providers and AHA to ask Congress for support on:<ul><li>Provider Relief Fund</li><li>Medicare Sequester Relief</li><li>Repayment Delay for Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments</li><li>340B Hospital Eligibility</li></ul></li><li>All of the above<br><span>http://ow.ly/zZCW50HEtrY</span></li></ul><h2><span>Provider Relief Funds</span></h2><ul><li>The Provider Relief Fund has been a lifeline to hospitals across the country, but despite record level hospitalizations due to the Delta and Omicron variants distributions haven’t been announced for expenses. I urge Congress to act to distribute the remaining funds in the PRF to providers. <strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong></li><li>The delta and omicron variants have put an additional strain on the nation’s hospitals. Congress, please provide additional Provider Relief Funds so hospitals can have the funds needed to enhance the health of their communities. <strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong> http://ow.ly/zZCW50HEtrY</li><li><p>Distributing the remaining funds in the Provider Relief Fund can help ‘INSERT HOSPITAL NAME’:</p><ul><li>Recruit and pay for health care providers</li><li>Help recover from increased expenses from #COVID19 variants</li><li>Help expand health care access to the community</li></ul><p><strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong> http://ow.ly/zZCW50HEtrY</p></li></ul><h2><span>Medicare Sequester Relief</span></h2><ul><li>The costs of the #delta and #omicron surges have laid a heavy financial burden on hospitals and health systems. Congress, help hospitals and health systems advance the health of their communities — extend the Medicare sequester relief. <strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong> http://ow.ly/zZCW50HEtrY</li><li>The pandemic is still putting financial stress on hospitals, especially with <strong>#Omicron</strong> surge stretching the workforce thin. Congress, extend the Medicare sequester relief so hospitals have the resources to care for their communities. <strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong> http://ow.ly/zZCW50HEtrY</li></ul><h2><span>Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments</span></h2><ul><li>The Accelerated and Advance Payments Programs have given much needed flexibility to hospitals to deal with <strong>#COVID19</strong>. Health care providers are asking for a six-month suspension of repayments to recoup from costs of the delta and omicron surges. <strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong> http://ow.ly/zZCW50HEtrY</li></ul><h2><span>340B Hospital Eligibility</span></h2><ul><li>The pandemic has temporarily lowered hospitals’ DSH percentage, which has threatened their eligibility for 340B Drug Pricing Program. Congress needs to ensure hospitals who had changes to their DSH adjustment retain eligibility in 340B and can continue to participate in this program to help the community. <strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong> http://ow.ly/zZCW50HEtrY</li><li>The 340B program provides hospitals with patients on Medicaid resources to provide medications to their communities at discounted prices. Congress, ensure hospitals who had changes to their DSH adjustment retain their eligibility in 340B. <strong>#ProtectHospitals</strong> http://ow.ly/zZCW50HEtrY</li></ul></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2022/01/social-posts-advocacy-day-2022-02-01.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the AHA Virtual Advocacy Day February 1, 2022, Digital Toolkit PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-AHA-Virtual-Advocacy%20Day-Feb-1-2022-Digital-Toolkit.png" data-entity-uuid="4989b701-4458-43f3-8dbe-57c1edbb6388" data-entity-type="file" alt="AHA Virtual Advocacy Day February 1, 2022, Digital Toolkit page 1." width="2210" height="2860"></a></p><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2022/01/social-posts-advocacy-day-2022-02-01.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the AHA Virtual Advocacy Day February 1, 2022, Digital Toolkit PDF.">Download the PDF</a></div></div></div></div> Thu, 27 Jan 2022 13:26:33 -0600 Hospital Departments /node/681884 <p>In 2018, the Alliance formed a Racial Equity Network (REN) of local and state systems and program leaders and advocates to inspire more engagement about best practices, data collection, and action steps at the systems level. The intent is to create a space in which leaders in the field can exchange ideas and advise the Alliance on practical approaches to addressing racial disparities.</p> Tue, 25 Jan 2022 21:57:45 -0600 Hospital Departments /node/681881 <p>This report aims to strengthen community-driven efforts to achieve health equity by improving the online data tools that make health equity data readily available to them.</p> Tue, 25 Jan 2022 21:48:04 -0600 Hospital Departments /node/681880 <p>The purpose of this tool is to ensure equity* by creating a lens through which each Healthy King County Coalition Workgroup better understands who is impacted by our policies and practices.</p> Tue, 25 Jan 2022 21:43:09 -0600 Hospital Departments