AHA report: Losses deepen for hospitals and health systems

An American Hospital Association (AHA) report released this week finds that the growing financial strain hospitals and health systems are facing due to COVID-19 will continue through at least the end of 2020. The report estimates an additional minimum of $120.5 billion in financial losses, due in large part to lower patient volumes, from July 2020 through December 2020, or an average of $20.1 billion per month. Read


Source: American Hospital Association, 2020

Study: Layered cotton fabric likely slow the spread of COVID-19 better than synthetics

Of the 32 tested by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, three of the five most effective cloth face coverings were 100% cotton and had a visible raised fiber or nap, such as found on flannels. In its announcement this week the agency noted the five lowest performers were synthetic materials. Read

Advance Care Planning – for you and your patient

Advance Care Planning (ACP) has never been more important than now. Having conversations about future medical care that is right for you should you become unable to speak for yourself, is the first step to ensuring your values and personal preferences will be honored. AzHHA has resources to assist you with advance care directives both for you and those who come into your care. Our Ethics Resource Toolkit is available in draft form to help guide you in reviewing the goals of care and identifying the patient’s treatment preferences prior to aggressive interventions to ensure goal concordant care. Read

AzHHA releases DataGen reports

In relationship with DataGen, AzHHA issues reports to hospitals based on information submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This data can help hospital understand the financial impact of proposed changes and annual updates. The reports can also assist in preparing budgets or benchmarking results with other similar organizations. Read

Kingman Regional Medical Center uses localized chemotherapy to treat bladder cancer

Kingman Regional Medical Center’s (KRMC) WL Nugent Cancer Center has begun using intravesicle method to treat bladder cancer. This process delivers chemotherapy directly to the bladder through a catheter whereas traditionally patients receive chemotherapy in the whole body through an IV. Read