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Connection newsletter 10-10-24

Read about hurricane effects on IV fluid supply, a report on hospital profitability and uncompensated care, and the application process for the Healthcare Leadership Academy.

 

 

 

This week, read about: Hurricane effects on IV fluid supply. A report on hospital profitability and

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Connection Newsletter

By AzHHA Communications ● Oct. 10, 2024

Smart Brevity® count: 6.5 mins...1717 words

This week, read about:

  • Hurricane effects on IV fluid supply.
  • A report on hospital profitability and uncompensated care.
  • The application process for the Healthcare Leadership Academy.
 

Hurricane effects on IV fluid supply

Baxter’s North Cove manufacturing site in North Carolina was damaged during Hurricane Helene and had to close production.

  • This plant manufactures 60% of the country’s supply of IV solutions and produces 1.5 million bags per day.

What’s new: Baxter announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, that it is increasing the current U.S. allocation levels of its highest demand IV fluids for direct customers from 40% to 60% and for distributors from 10% to 60%, effective immediately.

  • Baxter also said it is increasing high concentration dextrose and sterile water for injection allocations and expects to be in a position to make additional increases for certain product codes by early November.
  • Stay up-to-date on Baxter’s response here.

The bottom line: The Arizona Coalition for Emergency Healthcare Response (AzCHER) team is working with coalition members to ensure hospitals and public health agencies are informed about the situation and provided with guidance on how to conserve supplies.

  • Biweekly surveys are being conducted with situational awareness calls occurring on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The big picture: On Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a letter to healthcare leaders and stakeholders stating that the department is coordinating a government-wide response to address the supply chain.

  • AzHHA’s policy and advocacy team is in contact with U.S. Senator Mark Kelly’s office to brief them on the evolving situation.

What’s next: Contact [email protected] with questions or to be sure you are included in the situational awareness calls.

 

Hospital profitability and uncompensated care

Illustration of a red cross spinning to reveal money

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) recently posted its annual report on uncompensated hospital costs and hospital profitability which reviewed hospital Uniform Accounting Reports from hospital fiscal year 2023.

Some findings from the report:

  • Net operating margins averaged 6.1% for Arizona hospitals. Most experts agree that hospitals need operating margins of approximately 4-6% to be able reinvest in their facilities and equipment.
  • Net operating margins were significantly lower for two types of hospitals: behavioral heath hospitals (0.7%) and long-term acute care hospitals (-10.9%).
  • While the uncompensated care increase varied by different hospital classes, the largest increase was seen by behavioral health hospitals, increasing almost 50% from 1.3% to 1.9%.
  • Total net operating profits were $1.59 billion during this period. In fiscal year 2023, hospitals received $1.43 billion in AHCCCS HEALTHII supplemental payments. Without HEALTHII payments, most hospitals would not have had positive operating margins.
  • Average days in accounts receivable (the average number of days that a hospital takes to collect payments) for non-profit hospitals was 65, significantly higher than the national average of 47. Therefore, it takes Arizona hospitals significantly longer to get paid than the national average.
 

Apply now: Healthcare Leadership Academy

Illustration of black and white bookshelves forming a negative space cross which is colored red, to evoke healthcare

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2025 cohort of the Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA).

  • The AzHHA Foundation partners with Creighton University to provide healthcare leadership and management education to employees of AzHHA member hospitals.
  • Seven months of virtual learning is bookended by in-person sessions beginning in March 2025 and culminating in November 2025.
  • The HLA is geared toward mid-level managers and early-stage executives to prepare them for C-suite positions.
  • Learn more about the program here.

What’s next: To apply, submit your resume, letter of support and statement of purpose in one PDF to [email protected] by 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact Laura Dickscheid, vice president of member services and 2024 HLA participant, at [email protected].

 

Make a difference: Less than one month until the 2024 General Election!

PAC Donation

Every day, elected officials’ decisions affect the health of Arizona’s people, patients and communities.

Why it matters: Funding our PAC is essential to support candidates who align with our purpose and promote initiatives beneficial to healthcare in Arizona.

  • Every dollar counts towards advancing health and healthcare in Arizona.

The big picture: The AzHHA PAC is one important tool to help us build meaningful relationships with legislators who vote on those bills.

Donate now

What’s next: The 2024 General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

  • Early voting has started and early ballots are in the mail.
  • Friday, Oct. 25, 2024: Deadline for accepting requests for ballot-by-mail.
  • Friday, Nov. 1, 2024: Deadline to vote early in-person.
  • Voting information and resources can be found here.
 

World Mental Health Day is Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024

Illustration of two hands reaching towards each other

World Mental Health Day’s objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.

  • This year’s theme is “mental health at work” to highlight how safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health.

Why it matters: This day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done to make mental healthcare a reality for people worldwide.

  • One of the ways AzHHA is working to raise awareness of mental health issues is through the 2024 AIM Collaborative Conference.
  • This conference will focus on efforts to enhance care for maternal mental health conditions, reduce the stigma around substance use disorders (SUDs) and improve support across healthcare environments, including care for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) infants.
  • Please note: The 2024 AIM Collaborative Conference is sold out! Please email [email protected] with any questions.
 

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day

This Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 is World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.

  • Each year this day serves as a day to celebrate and take the opportunity to advocate for people living with palliative care needs.

Why it matters: This day serves as an important reminder to plan today for your healthcare needs tomorrow through advance care planning.

  • Advance care planning isn’t just for the elderly or the ill. It’s for everyone who wants control over their medical care and peace of mind for themselves and their families.

The big picture: Advance directives are legal documents that help you communicate future healthcare treatment decisions and appoint someone to speak for you if you are not able to speak for yourself.

Dig deeper: Access helpful information and resources here.

 

Workforce compensation strategies webinar and open discussion

Hospital plus being pulled down by people. People are in the shadow of the plus.

Join AzHHA affiliated partner, Salary.com, for a free informational webinar to discuss Arizona’s most pressing workforce needs, namely recruitment and retention of permanent employees.

  • The webinar is from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.

Why it matters: Salary.com will lead an open discussion and present solutions on the following topics:

  • Recruitment and retention concerns (wage compression).
  • Best practices for benchmarking jobs and the importance of hybrid market pricings.
  • Compensation data sources and how to integrate into compensation strategy.
  • Discussion on the most searched job titles and the impact to hospitals.

All members who attend the webinar will receive one free job report after the presentation.

Register now

 

 

Optimizing your hospital’s physician recruitment strategies webinar

Stethoscope

Join AzHHA’s affiliated partner, 3Dhealth, for an informational webinar and open discussion on physician recruitment strategies.

  • The webinar is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

Why it matters: 3Dhealth partners with hospitals and health systems to provide them with the data, advanced analytics and strategies they need to realize the full value of the ongoing investment in their physician base.

  • During this one-hour webinar, 3Dhealth President and CEO Ron Flower will guide us through the approach, methodology, data sources and strategies 3Dhealth has available to assist AzHHA members in developing their three- to five-year recruitment strategies.
  • Ron will also share some of the top trends 3Dhealth is seeing in this work across the country and the impact those trends are having on hospitals in urban, suburban and rural markets.
Register here
 

Next week is National Women’s Blood Pressure Awareness Week

Two hands forming a heart shape

To improve women’s health outcomes related to hypertension, an annual observance takes place; this year it is being held Oct. 13-19.

Why it matters: High blood pressure is common and can lead to serious health problems such as aneurysms, kidney disease, heart attacks and strokes.

  • One of the focus areas this year is blood pressure considerations during pregnancy and postpartum.

Go deeper: The Arizona Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Collaborative continues to implement the Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Bundle to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients experiencing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Learn more about the Arizona AIM Collaborative.

What’s next: You can access resources for the promoting the week including:

 

Member spotlight: Yuma Regional Medical Center announces name change

Onvida Health logo

On Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, Yuma Regional Medical Center announced it is changing its name to Onvida Health.

Why it matters: The new name reflects who the organization is today and the bright future ahead.

  • The name is inspired by “vida,” meaning “life” in Spanish, which speaks to optimism and celebrates life moments.

Go deeper: Visit this website to learn more about what lies ahead for the organization and community.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 10-16 - Perinatal Nurses Week and virtual 5K event
This week celebrates and recognizes perinatal nurses for the work they do caring for women, newborns and their families. This week, join the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) for Every Woman, Every Baby’s Virtual 5K Your Way in honor of Perinatal Nurses Week. Proceeds from this event support healthier women, safer pregnancies, stronger babies, while providing tangible support to nurses through scholarships and grants. Register now.

Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 - The demands of quality: Staying ahead of the curve!
Are you struggling to keep up with the ever-changing demands of quality or maintaining continuous readiness? Is time and project management a concern for you or your team? Join us for a hybrid educational opportunity with speakers and a highly qualified panel as they address these topics and more. Learn more and register.

 

IN THE NEWS

 

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