/ en Fri, 25 Apr 2025 22:53:21 -0500 Tue, 22 Apr 25 14:44:08 -0500 /role-hospitals-providence-alaska-medical-center-innovative-therapy-prostate-cancer <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/ths-providence-alaska-prostate-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Providence Alaska. A male physician sits talking with an older male patient" width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>In 2025, researchers predict about 313,780 new diagnoses of prostate cancer and 34,770 deaths across the United States. But those cases aren’t evenly spread across the country. Mortality rates for Alaskans, for example, are typically higher than the general population due to a range of factors including limited access to treatment. For Alaska Native men, the number is even higher. Study findings show that overall prostate cancer rates for American Indian and Alaska Native men are 12% lower than white men, but mortality rates are 31% higher. For Alaska Native men, the number is even higher. Study findings show that overall prostate cancer rates for American Indian and Alaska Native men are 12% lower than white men, but mortality rates are 31% higher.</p><p>In Anchorage, Providence Alaska Medical Center has become the first facility in the state to offer an innovative treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. In March, the hospital began administering Pluvicto, a targeted therapy designed to identify and kill prostate cancer cells that express a protein known as prostate-specific membrane antigen. Pluvicto is different from traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatments because it specifically targets these cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells. </p><p>“Pluvicto is one of the only treatments that improves overall survival in men with prostate cancer that has spread elsewhere in the body and is no longer responding to hormonal treatments,” said Dr. John Halligan, radiation oncologist and medical director of Radiation Oncology at Providence Cancer Center. </p><p>Treatment data shows that combining Pluvicto with standard chemotherapy and radiation led to 30% of men experiencing tumor reduction or disappearance. In contrast, those who received standard therapy alone saw a 2% reduction. Thanks to this new therapy, Alaskans no longer need to travel to the Lower 48 to receive this care.<br><br><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.nnbw.com/news/2025/mar/06/healthcare-industry-focus-conrad-breast-center-expected-to-open-this-summer/" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:44:08 -0500 Patient care and Information /role-hospitals-renown-healths-comprehensive-hub-breast-cancer-care <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/ths-renown-breast-cancer-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Renown Health. A female physician holds a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon " width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>This spring, the Renown Specialty Care Center at Renown Health in Reno, Nev., will open the <a href="https://www.renown.org/Health-Services/Cancer-Care/Breast-Health" target="_blank">Conrad Breast Center</a>, a multidisciplinary, one-stop shop for breast health and wellness.</p><p>The center, which will open on the third floor of the hospital, will feature state-of-the-art diagnostic medical equipment such as 3D mammography, breast MRI and breast ultrasound. It will also feature a breast wellness center for patients with a high genetic risk of developing breast and other types of cancers. These services will be available in one place, reducing travel requirements for patients and setting the facility apart from other care centers in the community.</p><p>“It was very fragmented, but now it will all be under one roof,” said Madeline Hardacre, oncology wellness physician at Renown Health. “It allows us to treat patients in a more collaborative and comprehensive way, which is better for our community since everything will all be located in one center.”</p><p>Certain cancer-related services, like medical oncology and chemotherapy infusion services, will remain at the main hospital campus. But most breast-specific services will be housed in the new center.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.nnbw.com/news/2025/mar/06/healthcare-industry-focus-conrad-breast-center-expected-to-open-this-summer/" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:49:45 -0500 Patient care and Information /role-hospitals-queens-health-systems-collaborate-provide-enlightened-cancer-care-hawaiians <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/ths-queens-medical-cancer-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="The Queen’s Health Systems. An older woman wearing a scarf on her head sits in a chair receiving cancer treatment from a nurse" width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>The Queen’s Health Systems, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, joined a new collaborative initiative — called Ka Umeke Lama, or “Bowl of Enlightenment” in Hawaiian — that aims to transform cancer care across the islands.</p><p>In Hawaii, over 7,000 residents are diagnosed with invasive cancer annually, and 2,000 residents die each year of cancer. As the population continues to age and the need for cancer care grows, the <a href="https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/12/17/new-initiative-aims-transform-cancer-care-hawaii/" target="_blank">Ka Umeke Lama initiative</a> aims to improve access to care and cancer outcomes through research, workforce development and culturally informed practices.</p><p>Specific plans include the creation of a centralized clinical research database; the launch of clinical trials that address cancer disparities among different populations; deployment of oncology providers and early detection units to rural and underserved areas; the development of telehealth systems; and use of artificial intelligence-based clinical trial screening and monitoring tools.</p><p>Additionally, Queen’s Health Systems has partnered with the University of Hawaii Cancer Center to provide oncology care in a newly constructed hospital wing — a collaborative project with the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the members of which also form the Ka Umeke Lama Initiative. This partnership offers early-phase clinical trial treatments, so patients won’t have to travel to other states to receive cutting-edge care options.</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.queens.org/the-queens-health-systems-and-uh-cancer-center-parnter-to-develop-hawaiis-first-on-campus-cancer-clinical-center/" target="_blank">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:34:51 -0500 Patient care and Information /concord/case-studies/thyme-care <div></div><div> /* Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar */ .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar { position: relative; display: block; overflow: hidden; max-width: 1170px; margin: 0px auto 25px auto; } .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar h1 { position: absolute; bottom: 40px; color: #003087; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, .8); 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} /* CntMenuSub // */ <div class="container CntMenuSub"> <div class="col-md-1">   </div> <div class="col-md-10 row CntMenuBar"> <a class="CntMenuSubHome" id="CntMenuSubHome"></a> <a class="CntMenuSubParent" id="CntMenuSubParent" href="./"></a> <span class="CntMenuSubChild" id="CntMenuSubChild"></span> </div> <div class="col-md-1">   </div> </div> var url = window.location.pathname; var path = url.split('/').slice(-3, 2).join('/'); var pathreplace = path.replace(/-/g, " "); document.getElementById("CntMenuSubHome").innerHTML =(pathreplace); var url = window.location.pathname; var path = url.split('/').slice(-2, 3).join('/'); var pathreplace2 = path.replace(/-/g, " "); document.getElementById("CntMenuSubParent").innerHTML =(pathreplace2); var url = window.location.pathname; var path = url.split('/').slice(1, 2).join('/'); var pathreplace2 = path.replace(/-/g, " "); document.getElementById("CntMenuSubParentOnly").innerHTML =(pathreplace2); var y = document.getElementsByTagName("h1"); document.getElementById("CntMenuSubChild").innerHTML = y[0].innerHTML; </div><div class="row sp_Resource1"> .sp_Resource1 { /*padding: 25px 0 0px 0;*/ } .sp_Resource1 h2 { margin-top: 0px; } .sp_Resource1 h3 { margin: 10px 0 0 0; color: #555; font-size: .7em; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 3px; } .sp_Resource1 h4 { color: #002855; line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 30px; margin: 10px 0 15px 0 } .sp_Resource1 p, .sp_Resource1 ul li { font-size: 16px; } .sp_Resource1_holder { background-color: ; padding: 0; overflow: auto } .sp_Resource1 .sp_Resource1_holder img { margin: auto; display: block; box-shadow: 10px 10px 14px -6px rgba(0,0,0,0.75); -webkit-box-shadow: 10px 10px 14px -6px rgba(0,0,0,0.75); -moz-box-shadow: 10px 10px 14px -6px rgba(0,0,0,0.75); } @media (max-width:767px) { .sp_Resource1 .sp_Resource1_holder img { width: 100%; max-width: 150px; } } .sp_Resource1 .btn { margin-top: 20px; } .sp_Resource1_holder h2 span { color: #d50032; display: block; position: relative; font-size: .8em; } <div class="col-md-10 col-md-offset-1 sp_Resource1_holder"><div class="text-align-center col-sm-4 col-md-3"><a href="https://20041330.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20041330/Thyme%20Care%202024%20Impact%20Report.pdf?utm_source=aha&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=aha-concord-portcos&utm_term=2025&utm_content=casestudy" target="_blank" title="Thyme Care’s Impact Report on Improving the Cancer Care Journey"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/thyme_care_cancer-care-journey_impact-report-247x320.jpg" alt="Cover image" width="247" height="320"></a> </div><div class="col-sm-8 col-md-9"> Scan </h3> --><h2><span>Case Study</span> <a href="https://20041330.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20041330/Thyme%20Care%202024%20Impact%20Report.pdf?utm_source=aha&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=aha-concord-portcos&utm_term=2025&utm_content=casestudy" target="_blank" title="Thyme Care’s Impact Report on Improving the Cancer Care Journey">Thyme Care’s Impact Report on Improving the Cancer Care Journey</a></h2><p>Thyme Care’s Impact Report showcases their 2024 key outcomes in oncology care, highlighting powerful data on cost reduction, acute care utilization, social barriers, and member experience. This free resource helps organizations understand how Thyme Care’s comprehensive, value-based approach can meaningfully improve care quality, lower costs, and enhance the patient experience.</p><p><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="https://20041330.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20041330/Thyme%20Care%202024%20Impact%20Report.pdf?utm_source=aha&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=aha-concord-portcos&utm_term=2025&utm_content=casestudy" target="_blank" title="Thyme Care’s Impact Report on Improving the Cancer Care Journey"><span>Read Case Study</span></a><span> </span></p></div></div><div class="col-md-1"> </div></div> /* y-hr3 */ .y-hr3{ clear: both; } .y-hr3 div:nth-child(2) { border-top: solid 2px lightgrey; margin: 50px 0px; height: 0px } /* y-hr3 // */ <div class="row y-hr3"><div class="col-md-3"> </div><div class="col-md-6"> </div><div class="col-md-3"> </div></div><div class="row spacer"><div class="col-sm-8 col-md-offset-2"><div><a href="https://www.thymecare.com/oncologygroups?utm_source=aha&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=aha-concord-portcos&utm_term=2025&utm_content=casestudy" target="_blank" title="Thyme Care"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/thyme-care-logo-834x313.jpg" alt="Thyme Care logo" width="417" height="157"></a><h3><a href="https://www.thymecare.com/oncologygroups?utm_source=aha&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=aha-concord-portcos&utm_term=2025&utm_content=casestudy" target="_blank" title="Thyme Care">Thyme Care</a></h3><p>Thyme Care is the leading value-based care enabler, collaborating with providers and payers to transform the experience and outcomes for cancer patients. By combining a technology-enabled Care Team and a partnership with 1000+ oncologists, Thyme Care creates a collaborative care model that supports patients with cancer while reducing the total cost of care.</p><p>If you would like to learn more about Thyme Care visit <a href="https://www.thymecare.com">Thymecare.com</a> or <a href="mailto:michele@thymecare.com?subject=I%20would%20like%20to%20learn%20more%20about%20your%20solution&body=I%20would%20like%20to%20learn%20more%20about%20the%20work%20your%20company%20is%20doing%20with%20hospitals%20and%20health%20care%20providers." title="Contact Michele Lee">contact Michele Lee</a>.</p></div></div></div> /* y-hr3 */ .y-hr3{ clear: both; } .y-hr3 div:nth-child(2) { border-top: solid 2px lightgrey; margin: 50px 0px; height: 0px } /* y-hr3 // */ <div class="row y-hr3"><div class="col-md-3"> </div><div class="col-md-6"> </div><div class="col-md-3"> </div></div> Tue, 01 Apr 2025 11:41:00 -0500 Patient care and Information /keck-school-medicine-uscs-primary-care-provider-pipeline-fix <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-7"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-03/ths-image-keck-school-of-medicine-at-uscs-primary-care-provider-pipeline-fix-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt=": Keck School of Medicine of USC. A Team Photo: Keck School of Medicine of USC" width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></div><p>Primary care physicians may not be the flashiest health care professionals, but they deliver a core, foundational element of patient care. Because they provide preventive care and offer crucial referrals to medical specialists and other services, they are integral to health care systems. They’re also in short supply worldwide, a problem that is expected to worsen in the future. </p><p>To address this growing issue, the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California uses an immersive model called the Primary Care Initiative to inspire medical students to pursue careers in primary care. Launched in 2011, the PCI also includes the Primary Care Program, which focuses on community-based primary care for underserved urban populations. A recent alumni questionnaire showed that of the 61 respondents who were matched into primary care residencies and were practicing or had almost completed residency training, 70% were still practicing primary care or on track to do so. </p><p>“There’s a paucity of role models in medical schools who are primary care physicians,” said study senior author Jo Marie Reilly, M.D., founding director of PCI and a professor of family medicine at the Keck School of Medicine. “We provide a forum for students to see the breadth and scope of primary care services and envision what their own careers could be.”</p><p>The study in which the questionnaire results were highlighted, published in Family Medicine, also showed that 90% of practicing physicians who responded served urban communities, in keeping with the Primary Care Program’s focus. <br><br><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://keck.usc.edu/news/usc-medical-school-program-helps-drive-primary-care-careers-through-community-focused-training">LEARN MORE</a></p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/workforce-home">Workforce</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:14:56 -0500 Patient care and Information /uc-davis-healths-ai-powered-solution-type-1-diabetes-management <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-sm-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-03/image-telling-hospital-story-uc-davis-healths-ai-powered-solution-for-type-1-diabetes-management.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="UC Davis Health. A man programming his write tracker." width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></p></div><p>About 2 million Americans — including over 300,000 children and adolescents — live with type 1 diabetes, or T1D. T1D is an autoimmune disease where immune system cells mistakenly attack insulin-producing cells, leaving the body unable to produce enough insulin to control blood sugar. Consistently monitoring blood glucose to maintain balanced levels, particularly for kids and their parents, is a constant mental drain.  </p><p>Enter BeaGL, a “metabolic watchdog” that uses machine learning to predict glucose changes and send alerts to devices like smartwatches before the patient has to take immediate action — aiming to reduce the cognitive load on patients. BeaGL was created by researchers at the University of California Davis and UC Davis Health who were inspired by their own personal experiences with managing T1D. </p><p>"It's the ultimate goal that the international diabetes community is working towards," said Stephanie Crossen, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist, diabetes researcher and associate professor at UC Davis Health. "It would be a complete game-changer, especially for this adolescent and young adult age group, and it would allow these young people to function more typically and not have to be their own pancreas. It's hard to even quantify the potential of a system like that."<br><br><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/with-ai-a-new-metabolic-watchdog-takes-diabetes-care-from-burden-to-balance/2025/02">LEARN MORE</a></p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:00:27 -0500 Patient care and Information /role-hospitals-st-davids-medical-center <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-6"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-03/ths-st-david-liver-cancer-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="St. David’s Medical Center. Stock image shows a physician sitting at a patient bedside talking." width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>St. David's Medical Center in Austin has become the first hospital in Central Texas to offer histotripsy, a new noninvasive treatment for liver cancer. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023, this innovative therapy uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to destroy liver tumors without the need for incisions or probes, often resulting in lower recovery time and less harm to the patient’s liver.</p><p>"We were so excited with what we saw and ... the early data," said Dr. Shaun McKenzie, the medical director of surgical oncology at St. David's Medical Center, in <a href="https://communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/health-care/2025/02/11/st-davids-becomes-first-central-texas-hospital-to-offer-new-liver-cancer-therapy/" target="_blank">an interview with Community Impact</a>.  “We felt that we needed to be part of the cutting-edge component of treatment for liver tumors.” Histotripsy doesn’t replace other cancer treatments but can be used alongside them, such as ablation therapies or radiation, and it is particularly effective for tumors wrapped around blood vessels, which were previously difficult to treat.</p><p>Patients undergoing histotripsy at St. David's Medical Center have experienced quick recoveries, often returning to their normal activities within days. “I've had patients that had treatment on Friday and went back to work on Monday,” McKenzie said. “That's unusual for a procedure that actually will destroy tumor tissue.”</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.stdavids.com/locations/st-davids-medical-center">LEARN MORE</a></p><p> </p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:05:26 -0500 Patient care and Information /news/chairpersons-file/2025-02-24-chair-file-leadership-dialogue-advancing-health-and-building-trust-lynn-hanessian-and-robert <div class="raw-html-embed"></div><p>Trust — in one another, in our field, and in our communities — is so important to what we do. Everyone should know that our hospitals and health systems are a place for healing, no matter what. Yet, over the past several years, public trust has been decreasing, not just in health care but across the board.</p><p>In this Leadership Dialogue, I’m joined by Lynn Hanessian, former chief health strategist for Edelman, which recently released its <a href="https://www.edelman.com/trust/2025/trust-barometer" target="_blank" title="Edelman: 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer">2025 Trust Barometer</a>, and AHA Board Member Robert Trestman, M.D., chair of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Carilion Clinic.</p><p>Lynn, Bob and I dove deep into the importance of trust and how it has evolved in recent years, as well as how hospitals and health systems can build trust in our communities and with the people we serve. Overlistening and overcommunicating, sharing stories, and really connecting and talking with one another are all ways we can improve health and develop trust.</p><p>I hope you find our conversation insightful and strategic. Look for future conversations with health care, business and community leaders on making health better as part of the Chair File in 2025.</p><hr><p></p><hr><div></div><div class="raw-html-embed"><div class="raw-html-embed"> <details class="transcript"> <summary> <h2 title="Click here to open/close the transcript."> <span>View Transcript</span><br> </h2> </summary> <p>00:00:01:06 - 00:00:29:09<br> Tom Haederle<br> Welcome to Advancing Health. In this month's Leadership Dialogue, hosted by the ���������� Association's 2025 board Chair, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health, we delve into the critical importance of trust - not only in the health care system, but across our society in general. Joining Tina are two distinguished experts who share their insights on what trust really means, why it seems to have eroded in many aspects of American life, and what we can do to restore it. </p> <p>00:00:29:11 - 00:00:35:20<br> Tom Haederle<br> Trust us. This is a discussion you don't want to miss. </p> <p>00:00:35:22 - 00:00:59:00<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Thank you, everyone, for joining us today. I'm Tina Freese Decker, the president and CEO of Corewell Health and the board chair for the ���������� Association. In 2025, the AHA is all in on tackling the challenges facing health care today. And these Leadership Dialogue conversations are diving deep into issues for inspiration and action as we continue to make health better together. </p> <p>00:00:59:02 - 00:01:21:18<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> So today, I want to talk about an issue that seems timelier than ever. Trust. Trust in one another. Trust in our field. Trust in our communities and our government is so important to what we do every day. And everyone should know that our hospitals, our health systems are a place for healing no matter what. And that trust is critical. </p> <p>00:01:21:21 - 00:01:44:03<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Yet we see over the past several years, public trust has been decreasing, not just in health care but across the board. So with me today to give us some insights into why this might be happening is Lynn Hanessian who just completed a 28-year tenure as chief health strategist for Edelman, a global communications firm, and has worked directly with a number of hospitals and health systems during her career. </p> <p>00:01:44:06 - 00:02:04:17<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> And we had the opportunity to meet last month, and I was just fascinated by her presentation and what she's seen. And then we also have Dr. Robert Trestman, who I call Bob, who is the chair of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Carilion Clinic, based in Roanoke, Virginia. And he also serves as professor of behavioral medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. </p> <p>00:02:04:20 - 00:02:25:29<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> And he's also on the ���������� Association board. He is passionate about helping health care professionals and emphasizes the importance of remembering that we are human beings. It's a great reminder, with limits, and it's okay to ask for help. So before we get started, I would just love to hear from each of you about what you trust in today and why. </p> <p>00:02:26:01 - 00:02:49:03<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Well, I'll go first if you don't mind. So for me, trust is about this sort of sense of confidence. Do I rely on that person, that organization, that institution? Can I count on them to do what's right? And so having that, connection is really important and influences how I operate professionally and certainly how I operate personally and how I take care of my family. </p> <p>00:02:49:08 - 00:02:50:03<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> That's great. Thank you. Bob? </p> <p>00:02:50:07 - 00:03:20:23<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> In same way as physicians, we are in a unique situation to bond with a patient and they need to believe that we have their interests at heart, even above our own. That's core to what we're all about. And for hospitals and health systems to be seen as extensions of the physicians, the nurses, the other clinicians who are dedicated to caring for our patients. </p> <p>00:03:20:26 - 00:03:34:17<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> So their belief in us is paramount because frankly, unless they trust in us, they won't be willing to follow our recommendations and we won't be able to help them heal. </p> <p>00:03:34:20 - 00:03:54:04<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Yeah, it's so important why I am so focused on our mission, because it is really about what we do and what we say we do in those values that are aligned there. And that's what gives me that confidence and trust that we're going to continue to focus on the mission. So, Lynn, let's start with you and the Trust Institute and the trust barometer. </p> <p>00:03:54:06 - 00:03:59:21<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Can you give us some just general background on the work and the research that has been conducted? </p> <p>00:03:59:24 - 00:04:22:23<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Thanks so much. To give you some framing around it, for about 25 years Edelman has been studying trust. And we originally sort of wanted to get a handle on what does the public think? How did they perceive sort of the pillars of society? How do they think about government, business, not for profits, the media? And what does that mean in relation to their behaviors? </p> <p>00:04:22:24 - 00:04:42:18<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> And I think, Dr. Trestman, you bring up a really good point. If people don't trust they're not going to follow their doctor's recommendations. And we found that if they don't have trust in their health, what we defined as the health ecosystem that includes the doctor, the hospital, all of those factors that help them get into the health care, </p> <p>00:04:42:20 - 00:05:05:24<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> they're not going to get their regular appointments. They're not going to get the kind of care that's recommended. And I deeply worried that that means they're going to turn somewhere else. As we've studied trust over the years, we've looked very closely at trust in different sectors of business, of industry. Health care is among the areas that we looked at, but we also want to understand how do we build trust? </p> <p>00:05:05:27 - 00:05:17:03<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> How do we think about the implications of that and how do we sort of, frankly, help to forge a more trusting society? So that's really been quite a journey that Edelman has been on. </p> <p>00:05:17:05 - 00:05:26:13<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> And so this conversation is particularly timely because Edelman just released the latest Trust Barometer data last month. What are some of the key trends that you can share with us? </p> <p>00:05:26:16 - 00:05:55:03<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Absolutely. And I think, I'm going to share some global trends because it's important to know that we're not alone. We're in a really interesting time, a difficult time because what we've seen is really a rise in distrust, distrust in government, in business, across society. And even as employers, we've seen a decline in the last year, a decline in my trust in my employer, which is, you know, if you think about your daily activities, you know, your employer relationship is among the strongest. </p> <p>00:05:55:05 - 00:06:16:04<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> If we asked about spouses and loved ones, we'd probably find similar numbers. But what we know is, there's fear. There's fear of globalization, fear of economic pressures, fear of change that's really set upon us. And one of the things that the key concluding point that we saw this year, and again, this influence is what's coming into your health systems, </p> <p>00:06:16:04 - 00:06:39:07<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> that dialogue with the doctor, the dialogue with the nurse, the whole communities in which you operate. There is a lack of optimism about the future. There is also a real fear of being discriminated against across all of the demographics we look at. And there's a belief that the government and business has their self-interest in that it's not including me, and that our leaders aren't telling us the truth. </p> <p>00:06:39:07 - 00:06:58:22<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> So there's a real sort of intense worry, and we called it grievance this year that we're not going to get a fair shake. And so that's really the finding that we happened upon. And you can see there's forces in the world in which we live that want to shake our confidence in one sector so that they can have an advantage somewhere else. </p> <p>00:06:58:22 - 00:07:01:12<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> And we're seeing it play out in the general public. </p> <p>00:07:01:14 - 00:07:21:01<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> That word grievance, really hit me when you presented that to us and we talked about it. And it really does sum up where we are. And it's hard to be optimistic, but those are the things we need to be focused on and moving forward. So, Bob, as you're listening to this, what do you see are the implications of this distrust as it relates to health care? </p> <p>00:07:21:04 - 00:07:48:11<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> Well, I think it's really important for us to be aware that there is this level of distrust in the community and to think through very consciously how we can mitigate it. The words that come up grievance, fear, trust, all are woven together. So we need to think through what is it our patients fear? Yeah. There's the fear of pain. </p> <p>00:07:48:11 - 00:08:11:02<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> The fear of death. The fear of different kinds of morbidity. That's what we as clinicians are trained to focus on. But we now need to talk even more broadly about a range of other fears, because, frankly, people can be afraid that they even if we give them a recommendation, they may not be able to afford to follow it. </p> <p>00:08:11:04 - 00:08:51:09<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> So we need to think through with our patients the financial implications of our recommendations, what it means for their families. So we as clinicians, as providers of care and as systems of care need to be very, very thoughtful about how to support our patients so they can trust that we are thinking through the implications of how we recommend they deal with their illnesses in ways that actually will benefit them globally, and not that we're just focusing on one issue that may compromise something else. </p> <p>00:08:51:11 - 00:09:00:10<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> So for both of you, how do we as hospitals and health systems help build that trust with our patients and with our communities and the people that we serve? </p> <p>00:09:00:13 - 00:09:24:14<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> So I have some good news. While trust in these powers outside of us has really declined, one of the few places where we still have trust is local. My doctor, my institutions, my media. And so that gives us some hope. And I think, Dr. Trestman, when you talked about things so beautifully, it's not just, you know, Lynn, you have a diagnosis, here's your medication. </p> <p>00:09:24:15 - 00:10:02:12<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> The things you're taking into account reassure me that you're concerned about all of me, that it is your understanding the context in which I live. And this is one of the few places where we have some defense, some opportunity to build trust, because that expertise of my doctor, more so than my CEO, is trusted. And so I think those places where we can lean into helping people to really understand all of those things, that we're seeing them not just as a diagnosis in a particular space, but we understand how that plays out in their whole lives, gives us an opportunity. </p> <p>00:10:02:12 - 00:10:28:27<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> And I think, you know, the way you described it is so much a reflection of, I'm concerned about you, how you live, those hurdles that may prevent you from achieving all you want to achieve. And so helping the people in the communities that we serve to understand that that's so central. I think you mentioned mission earlier, so central to how we serve, that we have an opportunity to build that trust. </p> <p>00:10:28:28 - 00:10:50:19<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Now, one of the big challenges is when your patients are coming in, they're not getting a reliable source of information. They're not getting the news. We're not hearing the kinds of things and we don't trust public authority. So we have to think a little bit more about not only our individual patient, the role of our institutions in serving our communities and filling a little bit of that void. </p> <p>00:10:50:27 - 00:10:52:11<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> What would you suggest related to that? </p> <p>00:10:52:15 - 00:11:20:15<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Well, I think, frankly, for health systems and hospitals, particularly hospital CEOs, take a look at your operations, your communications, your marketing, your public policy. All of your external and internal engagement activities have to be aligned. They have to be communicating. You can't just assume that we're in silos anymore where you've got your marketing team that's going out to bring in your patients, but your public policy folks are out there talking to your elected officials. </p> <p>00:11:20:15 - 00:11:41:06<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> We need to make sure that there's a an integration, a communication, and, frankly, a little bit of a willingness to share the occasional vulnerability. We have our authority and our expertise because we're doctors and we're anchored in science. On the other hand, having that opportunity to be human together with the people we serve can make a big difference. </p> <p>00:11:41:09 - 00:11:55:24<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> That goes back to your quote. So I'm curious to know what you think, Bob, we can do to build trust. And I know you're also very passionate about all of our teams that work in health care. And so how do we not only build trust with our community, but build it with our team members? </p> <p>00:11:55:27 - 00:12:21:22<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> There is an aphorism that at least is true today, as it was when it was first uttered, that people don't care how much we know until they know that we care. And how is it that they know that we care? It's by what we do, what we say, how we interact. And so I think hospitals and health systems are uniquely positioned to be an integral part of the community. </p> <p>00:12:21:24 - 00:12:55:06<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> In many of our communities, we are the financial driver, we are the main employer. And that gives us an enormous opportunity to think globally about the impact of care delivery to our patients. But also our clinicians need to feel supported and safe so that they can do their best to provide care to those in their charge. So, as Lynn just said, we need to think in a coordinated fashion. </p> <p>00:12:55:09 - 00:13:40:08<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> Silos can no longer exist if we want to thrive as a health care system, we really need to work in a coordinated fashion so that all of the information is shared. And it's really, really hard to overcommunicate these days. We really need as long as we're on message, and our message is driven by our mission to improve health and health care for the people we care for, that our internal folks, our employees, our colleagues know that we are doing everything we can to support them, to provide them the infrastructure they need to deliver the care they want to do and to deliver. </p> <p>00:13:40:11 - 00:13:46:27<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> Because so many of the people they're caring for are their neighbors in the communities in which we serve. </p> <p>00:13:47:00 - 00:14:27:25<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> I have to say, the one other real benefit from that is trust is built. When we look at a business or an institution, trust is built by how you treat your colleagues, your workforce. And seeing those folks, appreciating that - and I think that gets back to sort of this really integrated communication model when I know when your teams, everyone from the person I see as I'm walking into the institution who may be at the information desk all the way to the clinician, to the nurse, to every touchpoint - when I know that they have the confidence because their institution trust them, engages with them, that radiates and rebuilds my sense of trust and my confidence. </p> <p>00:14:27:25 - 00:14:47:29<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> So it's a nice virtuous cycle. And I would not underestimate the power of being a little bit more public sometimes with your internal communications, whether it's using your spokespeople or knowing that, as you said, so well, Dr. Trestman, that the people who are your employees are also part of your community, but that that then radiates out to their neighbors as well. </p> <p>00:14:47:29 - 00:15:07:23<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> And so I think that's a that's an important place to be in it. It's a little bit challenging when we think with respect and deference to our, our patients, but letting our hair down just a little bit helps people to understand. And that's sort of that a little bit of the genuine and authentic kind of engagement that people look for these days. </p> <p>00:15:07:25 - 00:15:16:07<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> And if I may, as someone who serves on AHA the board with me, what do you think are some of the things that AHA members can be focusing on? </p> <p>00:15:16:10 - 00:15:39:06<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Well, we've talked a little bit about it. I have this view of a kind of paradox. We have to overcommunicate and we have to over-listen, and we have to show both of those in an authentic, vulnerable way to make sure we know we're really connecting with people. We're hearing where their fears are or where they are anxious, or where they want to go in places and really understand that and then communicate it back and forth. </p> <p>00:15:39:09 - 00:16:00:11<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> So I think this power of communication is really critical. Also accepting grace. We're going to make mistakes and we need to make sure we continue move forward, and we have the best interests of people at heart. And how do we do that? Always focusing on the mission. And then lastly from the ���������� Association, sharing and communicating stories are so important for us. </p> <p>00:16:00:18 - 00:16:31:26<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Talking about stories in the local community about what you can do to help patients, to help people live a healthier life. Those are really helpful as we drive those forward. As Lynn said, that local piece is critical. And then thinking about how do we represent ourselves well that delivers the trust and reinforces the trust in everyday actions. So I think we have to connect all of those dots and recognize that what we do is, is who we are, and we need to make sure we're delivering on that trust every single day. </p> <p>00:16:31:29 - 00:16:51:05<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> So thank you so much, Lynn and Bob, for your time today, for sharing your expertise. Every one of our hospitals, our health systems is here for their communities. Despite the challenges that we all face, making sure that everyone has access to the care that they need and trying to build that trust every single day, trying to build that trust with our teams, with one another, with our communities. </p> <p>00:16:51:07 - 00:17:13:02<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> And I think that the lessons that we've learned here about storytelling and over-communication and over-listening and connecting on a human level and really addressing it back to how we're serving everybody, and not assuming that people know that our mission is at the forefront of everything that we're doing, I think it's really great feedback for us. So thank you all for taking the time to listen to this Leadership Dialogue </p> <p>00:17:13:02 - 00:17:16:17<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> and we'll be back next month for another good conversation. </p> <p>00:17:16:20 - 00:17:25:01<br> Tom Haederle<br> Thanks for listening to Advancing Health. Please subscribe and rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. </p> </details> </div> </div> Mon, 24 Feb 2025 08:21:34 -0600 Patient care and Information /advancing-health-podcast/2025-02-24-leadership-dialogue-series-critical-role-trust-health-care <p>Trust is a critical component of any healthy society. In health care, any potential erosion of trust can have negative impacts on the field as a whole.  In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and 2025 AHA board chair, talks with two health care leaders, Lynn Hanessian, former chief health strategist at Edelman, and Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D., chair of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Carilion Clinic, about why trust is eroding in society, how that impacts patient care, and what leaders can do to restore and strengthen it.</p><hr><div></div><p> </p><div class="raw-html-embed"> <details class="transcript"> <summary> <h2 title="Click here to open/close the transcript."> View Transcript<br>   </h2> </summary> <p> 00:00:01:06 - 00:00:29:09<br> Tom Haederle<br> Welcome to Advancing Health. In this month's Leadership Dialogue, hosted by the ���������� Association's 2025 board Chair, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health, we delve into the critical importance of trust - not only in the health care system, but across our society in general. Joining Tina are two distinguished experts who share their insights on what trust really means, why it seems to have eroded in many aspects of American life, and what we can do to restore it. </p> <p> 00:00:29:11 - 00:00:35:20<br> Tom Haederle<br> Trust us. This is a discussion you don't want to miss. </p> <p> 00:00:35:22 - 00:00:59:00<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Thank you, everyone, for joining us today. I'm Tina Freese Decker, the president and CEO of Corewell Health and the board chair for the ���������� Association. In 2025, the AHA is all in on tackling the challenges facing health care today. And these Leadership Dialogue conversations are diving deep into issues for inspiration and action as we continue to make health better together. </p> <p> 00:00:59:02 - 00:01:21:18<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> So today, I want to talk about an issue that seems timelier than ever. Trust. Trust in one another. Trust in our field. Trust in our communities and our government is so important to what we do every day. And everyone should know that our hospitals, our health systems are a place for healing no matter what. And that trust is critical. </p> <p> 00:01:21:21 - 00:01:44:03<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Yet we see over the past several years, public trust has been decreasing, not just in health care but across the board. So with me today to give us some insights into why this might be happening is Lynn Hanessian who just completed a 28-year tenure as chief health strategist for Edelman, a global communications firm, and has worked directly with a number of hospitals and health systems during her career. </p> <p> 00:01:44:06 - 00:02:04:17<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> And we had the opportunity to meet last month, and I was just fascinated by her presentation and what she's seen. And then we also have Dr. Robert Trestman, who I call Bob, who is the chair of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Carilion Clinic, based in Roanoke, Virginia. And he also serves as professor of behavioral medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. </p> <p> 00:02:04:20 - 00:02:25:29<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> And he's also on the ���������� Association board. He is passionate about helping health care professionals and emphasizes the importance of remembering that we are human beings. It's a great reminder, with limits, and it's okay to ask for help. So before we get started, I would just love to hear from each of you about what you trust in today and why. </p> <p> 00:02:26:01 - 00:02:49:03<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Well, I'll go first if you don't mind. So for me, trust is about this sort of sense of confidence. Do I rely on that person, that organization, that institution? Can I count on them to do what's right? And so having that, connection is really important and influences how I operate professionally and certainly how I operate personally and how I take care of my family. </p> <p> 00:02:49:08 - 00:02:50:03<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> That's great. Thank you. Bob? </p> <p> 00:02:50:07 - 00:03:20:23<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> In same way as physicians, we are in a unique situation to bond with a patient and they need to believe that we have their interests at heart, even above our own. That's core to what we're all about. And for hospitals and health systems to be seen as extensions of the physicians, the nurses, the other clinicians who are dedicated to caring for our patients. </p> <p> 00:03:20:26 - 00:03:34:17<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> So their belief in us is paramount because frankly, unless they trust in us, they won't be willing to follow our recommendations and we won't be able to help them heal. </p> <p> 00:03:34:20 - 00:03:54:04<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Yeah, it's so important why I am so focused on our mission, because it is really about what we do and what we say we do in those values that are aligned there. And that's what gives me that confidence and trust that we're going to continue to focus on the mission. So, Lynn, let's start with you and the Trust Institute and the trust barometer. </p> <p> 00:03:54:06 - 00:03:59:21<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Can you give us some just general background on the work and the research that has been conducted? </p> <p> 00:03:59:24 - 00:04:22:23<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Thanks so much. To give you some framing around it, for about 25 years Edelman has been studying trust. And we originally sort of wanted to get a handle on what does the public think? How did they perceive sort of the pillars of society? How do they think about government, business, not for profits, the media? And what does that mean in relation to their behaviors? </p> <p> 00:04:22:24 - 00:04:42:18<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> And I think, Dr. Trestman, you bring up a really good point. If people don't trust they're not going to follow their doctor's recommendations. And we found that if they don't have trust in their health, what we defined as the health ecosystem that includes the doctor, the hospital, all of those factors that help them get into the health care, </p> <p> 00:04:42:20 - 00:05:05:24<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> they're not going to get their regular appointments. They're not going to get the kind of care that's recommended. And I deeply worried that that means they're going to turn somewhere else. As we've studied trust over the years, we've looked very closely at trust in different sectors of business, of industry. Health care is among the areas that we looked at, but we also want to understand how do we build trust? </p> <p> 00:05:05:27 - 00:05:17:03<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> How do we think about the implications of that and how do we sort of, frankly, help to forge a more trusting society? So that's really been quite a journey that Edelman has been on. </p> <p> 00:05:17:05 - 00:05:26:13<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> And so this conversation is particularly timely because Edelman just released the latest Trust Barometer data last month. What are some of the key trends that you can share with us? </p> <p> 00:05:26:16 - 00:05:55:03<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Absolutely. And I think, I'm going to share some global trends because it's important to know that we're not alone. We're in a really interesting time, a difficult time because what we've seen is really a rise in distrust, distrust in government, in business, across society. And even as employers, we've seen a decline in the last year, a decline in my trust in my employer, which is, you know, if you think about your daily activities, you know, your employer relationship is among the strongest. </p> <p> 00:05:55:05 - 00:06:16:04<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> If we asked about spouses and loved ones, we'd probably find similar numbers. But what we know is, there's fear. There's fear of globalization, fear of economic pressures, fear of change that's really set upon us. And one of the things that the key concluding point that we saw this year, and again, this influence is what's coming into your health systems, </p> <p> 00:06:16:04 - 00:06:39:07<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> that dialogue with the doctor, the dialogue with the nurse, the whole communities in which you operate. There is a lack of optimism about the future. There is also a real fear of being discriminated against across all of the demographics we look at. And there's a belief that the government and business has their self-interest in that it's not including me, and that our leaders aren't telling us the truth. </p> <p> 00:06:39:07 - 00:06:58:22<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> So there's a real sort of intense worry, and we called it grievance this year that we're not going to get a fair shake. And so that's really the finding that we happened upon. And you can see there's forces in the world in which we live that want to shake our confidence in one sector so that they can have an advantage somewhere else. </p> <p> 00:06:58:22 - 00:07:01:12<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> And we're seeing it play out in the general public. </p> <p> 00:07:01:14 - 00:07:21:01<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> That word grievance, really hit me when you presented that to us and we talked about it. And it really does sum up where we are. And it's hard to be optimistic, but those are the things we need to be focused on and moving forward. So, Bob, as you're listening to this, what do you see are the implications of this distrust as it relates to health care? </p> <p> 00:07:21:04 - 00:07:48:11<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> Well, I think it's really important for us to be aware that there is this level of distrust in the community and to think through very consciously how we can mitigate it. The words that come up grievance, fear, trust, all are woven together. So we need to think through what is it our patients fear? Yeah. There's the fear of pain. </p> <p> 00:07:48:11 - 00:08:11:02<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> The fear of death. The fear of different kinds of morbidity. That's what we as clinicians are trained to focus on. But we now need to talk even more broadly about a range of other fears, because, frankly, people can be afraid that they even if we give them a recommendation, they may not be able to afford to follow it. </p> <p> 00:08:11:04 - 00:08:51:09<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> So we need to think through with our patients the financial implications of our recommendations, what it means for their families. So we as clinicians, as providers of care and as systems of care need to be very, very thoughtful about how to support our patients so they can trust that we are thinking through the implications of how we recommend they deal with their illnesses in ways that actually will benefit them globally, and not that we're just focusing on one issue that may compromise something else. </p> <p> 00:08:51:11 - 00:09:00:10<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> So for both of you, how do we as hospitals and health systems help build that trust with our patients and with our communities and the people that we serve? </p> <p> 00:09:00:13 - 00:09:24:14<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> So I have some good news. While trust in these powers outside of us has really declined, one of the few places where we still have trust is local. My doctor, my institutions, my media. And so that gives us some hope. And I think, Dr. Trestman, when you talked about things so beautifully, it's not just, you know, Lynn, you have a diagnosis, here's your medication. </p> <p> 00:09:24:15 - 00:10:02:12<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> The things you're taking into account reassure me that you're concerned about all of me, that it is your understanding the context in which I live. And this is one of the few places where we have some defense, some opportunity to build trust, because that expertise of my doctor, more so than my CEO, is trusted. And so I think those places where we can lean into helping people to really understand all of those things, that we're seeing them not just as a diagnosis in a particular space, but we understand how that plays out in their whole lives, gives us an opportunity. </p> <p> 00:10:02:12 - 00:10:28:27<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> And I think, you know, the way you described it is so much a reflection of, I'm concerned about you, how you live, those hurdles that may prevent you from achieving all you want to achieve. And so helping the people in the communities that we serve to understand that that's so central. I think you mentioned mission earlier, so central to how we serve, that we have an opportunity to build that trust. </p> <p> 00:10:28:28 - 00:10:50:19<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Now, one of the big challenges is when your patients are coming in, they're not getting a reliable source of information. They're not getting the news. We're not hearing the kinds of things and we don't trust public authority. So we have to think a little bit more about not only our individual patient, the role of our institutions in serving our communities and filling a little bit of that void. </p> <p> 00:10:50:27 - 00:10:52:11<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> What would you suggest related to that? </p> <p> 00:10:52:15 - 00:11:20:15<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> Well, I think, frankly, for health systems and hospitals, particularly hospital CEOs, take a look at your operations, your communications, your marketing, your public policy. All of your external and internal engagement activities have to be aligned. They have to be communicating. You can't just assume that we're in silos anymore where you've got your marketing team that's going out to bring in your patients, but your public policy folks are out there talking to your elected officials. </p> <p> 00:11:20:15 - 00:11:41:06<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> We need to make sure that there's a an integration, a communication, and, frankly, a little bit of a willingness to share the occasional vulnerability. We have our authority and our expertise because we're doctors and we're anchored in science. On the other hand, having that opportunity to be human together with the people we serve can make a big difference. </p> <p> 00:11:41:09 - 00:11:55:24<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> That goes back to your quote. So I'm curious to know what you think, Bob, we can do to build trust. And I know you're also very passionate about all of our teams that work in health care. And so how do we not only build trust with our community, but build it with our team members? </p> <p> 00:11:55:27 - 00:12:21:22<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> There is an aphorism that at least is true today, as it was when it was first uttered, that people don't care how much we know until they know that we care. And how is it that they know that we care? It's by what we do, what we say, how we interact. And so I think hospitals and health systems are uniquely positioned to be an integral part of the community. </p> <p> 00:12:21:24 - 00:12:55:06<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> In many of our communities, we are the financial driver, we are the main employer. And that gives us an enormous opportunity to think globally about the impact of care delivery to our patients. But also our clinicians need to feel supported and safe so that they can do their best to provide care to those in their charge. So, as Lynn just said, we need to think in a coordinated fashion. </p> <p> 00:12:55:09 - 00:13:40:08<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> Silos can no longer exist if we want to thrive as a health care system, we really need to work in a coordinated fashion so that all of the information is shared. And it's really, really hard to overcommunicate these days. We really need as long as we're on message, and our message is driven by our mission to improve health and health care for the people we care for, that our internal folks, our employees, our colleagues know that we are doing everything we can to support them, to provide them the infrastructure they need to deliver the care they want to do and to deliver. </p> <p> 00:13:40:11 - 00:13:46:27<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> Because so many of the people they're caring for are their neighbors in the communities in which we serve. </p> <p> 00:13:47:00 - 00:14:27:25<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> I have to say, the one other real benefit from that is trust is built. When we look at a business or an institution, trust is built by how you treat your colleagues, your workforce. And seeing those folks, appreciating that - and I think that gets back to sort of this really integrated communication model when I know when your teams, everyone from the person I see as I'm walking into the institution who may be at the information desk all the way to the clinician, to the nurse, to every touchpoint - when I know that they have the confidence because their institution trust them, engages with them, that radiates and rebuilds my sense of trust and my confidence. </p> <p> 00:14:27:25 - 00:14:47:29<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> So it's a nice virtuous cycle. And I would not underestimate the power of being a little bit more public sometimes with your internal communications, whether it's using your spokespeople or knowing that, as you said, so well, Dr. Trestman, that the people who are your employees are also part of your community, but that that then radiates out to their neighbors as well. </p> <p> 00:14:47:29 - 00:15:07:23<br> Lynn Hanessian<br> And so I think that's a that's an important place to be in it. It's a little bit challenging when we think with respect and deference to our, our patients, but letting our hair down just a little bit helps people to understand. And that's sort of that a little bit of the genuine and authentic kind of engagement that people look for these days. </p> <p> 00:15:07:25 - 00:15:16:07<br> Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D.<br> And if I may, as someone who serves on AHA the board with me, what do you think are some of the things that AHA members can be focusing on? </p> <p> 00:15:16:10 - 00:15:39:06<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Well, we've talked a little bit about it. I have this view of a kind of paradox. We have to overcommunicate and we have to over-listen, and we have to show both of those in an authentic, vulnerable way to make sure we know we're really connecting with people. We're hearing where their fears are or where they are anxious, or where they want to go in places and really understand that and then communicate it back and forth. </p> <p> 00:15:39:09 - 00:16:00:11<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> So I think this power of communication is really critical. Also accepting grace. We're going to make mistakes and we need to make sure we continue move forward, and we have the best interests of people at heart. And how do we do that? Always focusing on the mission. And then lastly from the ���������� Association, sharing and communicating stories are so important for us. </p> <p> 00:16:00:18 - 00:16:31:26<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> Talking about stories in the local community about what you can do to help patients, to help people live a healthier life. Those are really helpful as we drive those forward. As Lynn said, that local piece is critical. And then thinking about how do we represent ourselves well that delivers the trust and reinforces the trust in everyday actions. So I think we have to connect all of those dots and recognize that what we do is, is who we are, and we need to make sure we're delivering on that trust every single day. </p> <p> 00:16:31:29 - 00:16:51:05<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> So thank you so much, Lynn and Bob, for your time today, for sharing your expertise. Every one of our hospitals, our health systems is here for their communities. Despite the challenges that we all face, making sure that everyone has access to the care that they need and trying to build that trust every single day, trying to build that trust with our teams, with one another, with our communities. </p> <p> 00:16:51:07 - 00:17:13:02<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> And I think that the lessons that we've learned here about storytelling and over-communication and over-listening and connecting on a human level and really addressing it back to how we're serving everybody, and not assuming that people know that our mission is at the forefront of everything that we're doing, I think it's really great feedback for us. So thank you all for taking the time to listen to this Leadership Dialogue </p> <p> 00:17:13:02 - 00:17:16:17<br> Tina Freese Decker<br> and we'll be back next month for another good conversation. </p> <p> 00:17:16:20 - 00:17:25:01<br> Tom Haederle<br> Thanks for listening to Advancing Health. Please subscribe and rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. </p> </details> </div> Mon, 24 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0600 Patient care and Information /role-hospitals-university-tennessee-medical-center-nurses-ut-medical-center-make-brides-dream-come-true <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-5"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-02/ths-tennessee-wedding-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="University of Tennessee Medical Center. Front, from left: Samantha Barry, Lynn Barry and Phillip Bastelica; Rear: University of Tennessee Medical Center nurses" width="700" height="532" class="align-left"></p></div><p>How long does it take to plan a wedding? For some nurses at the <a href="https://www.utmedicalcenter.org/blog-post/wedding-spotlight-samantha-and-phillip">University of Tennessee Medical Center</a>, it took four hours.</p><p>Samantha Barry and Phillip Bastelica were supposed to get married in August 2025. But Barry’s mother, Lynn, had been battling a terminal illness for some time and in December 2024 was released from the progressive care unit to hospice care. Since it was unlikely she would make it to the planned wedding, the wedding came to her.</p><p>Barry had her dress, so that was taken care of. Bastelica ran to Walmart to buy a suit. At the hospital, a team of nurses swung into action.</p><p>“I called dietary and was like, ‘hey, we need a cake,’” Shailee Dowdy, the team leader nurse on the progressive care unit, <a href="https://www.wate.com/news/knox-county-news/knoxville-nurses-bring-wedding-ceremony-to-brides-dying-mother/">told Knoxville’s WATE-TV</a>. Nurses headed to the gift shop, called the marketing team so they could take photos and grabbed a hospital chaplain. “Here Comes the Bride” played on a nurse’s phone when Barry’s father walked her down the aisle, while a nurse made sure to FaceTime in Bastelica’s family.</p><p>And Lynn? She was in the front row of the Absher Chapel for her daughter’s wedding day on Dec. 23.</p><p>“It’s the patient, but it’s also the family,” said nurse manager Kayla Daugherty. “When you go to nursing school, you don’t think you’ll plan a wedding, but that was really important for the patient and family that day.”</p></div></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/center/population-health">Improving Health and Wellness</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:45:03 -0600 Patient care and Information