2022 AHA Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

BOARD of Directors

Ron Peterson, FACHE Chairman President/CEO Baxter Health

Larry Shackelford, CPA, FACMPE Chairman-Elect CEO Washington Regional Medical System

Peggy Abbott Treasurer President/CEO

Ouachita County Medical Center

Chris Barber, FACHE Past-Chairman Delegate, American Hospital Association President/CEO St. Bernards Healthcare

Ryan Gehrig, FACHE Director, At-Large President Mercy Hospitals Arkansas

Robert Rupp Arkansas Valley District CEO Mena Regional Health System

Greg Crain, FACHE Metropolitan District President, Central Region Baptist Health

Barry Davis, FACHE Northeast District CEO

Arkansas Methodist Medical Center

Eric Pianalto Northwest District Chief Strategic Growth Officer

Mercy Hospitals Arkansas

David Deaton, FACHE North Central District CEO

Ozark Health Medical Center

Brian Thomas Southeast District CEO Jefferson Regional

Debra Wright, MSBA, RN Southwest District CEO Howard Memorial Hospital

Phillip Gilmore, PhD, FACHE

Trustee, Arkansas State Board of Health CEO Ashley County Medical Center

Gary Paxson, RN, BSN, MS Representative, QIO Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care President/CEO White River Health System

James Magee Ex-Officio Executive Director Piggott Community Hospital

Judy Shaffer President Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association Baxter Health

Guy Patteson President

Arkansas Association of Hospital Trustees St. Bernards Healthcare

With supply costs, workforce shortages, and violence against health care workers all on the rise, hospitals throughout the state are facing a complex set of longstanding challenges that have only been intensified by the immediate pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet hospitals' commitment to providing highquality care to all Arkansans has not wavered. More than ever, we are joining forces to face down the root causes of the crisis.

Using data and expertise, the Arkansas Hospital Association amplifies the voice of Arkansas’s hospitals in shaping health policy, driving quality improvement initiatives, providing opportunities for education and networking, and advocating for economic sustainability to support our diverse membership.

HOSPITALS ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

POLICY & ADVOCACY

As the state’s most trusted authority on health care, the AHA has a seat at the table for all major policy initiatives, with the goal of improving the system to enhance individual patient care and public health for Arkansans. Through the AHA, Arkansas hospitals present a united voice to lawmakers and regulatory agencies.

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

• Worked with the Department of Human Services to secure an additional $60M in state ARPA COVID relief funding, and supported hospital applications for additional state COVID relief funds.

• Raised awareness among legislators, community leaders, and other stakeholders regarding the financial crisis facing hospitals, calling for relief as well as more systemic change.

• Provided insight from the perspective of hospitals to DHS in the development of the Life360 HOME program.

• Donated state AHA PAC funds to Arkansas candidates who consistently support hospitals and their patients.

ADVOCATING FOR YOU

• Monitors proposed federal and state laws and regulations, commenting during the rulemaking process with support and/or objections in the interest of our members and the patients they serve.

• Crafts legislation favorable to the patients of Arkansas.

• Intervenes in lawsuits to offer insight about the broad implications of court decisions on patients and the health care system.

• Maintains relationships with legislators, regulators, and their staff members, so that the hospital perspective is always foremost in their minds.

WHAT'S NEW? 340B IN THE COURTS

On June 15, 340B hospitals and their patients won a decisive victory in the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling said that the Department of Health and Human Services’ outpatient payment cuts to hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program were unlawful. The federal government will develop a plan to reimburse 340B hospitals affected by the unlawful cuts. The AHA will keep members informed on the process as it moves forward.

STATE LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS

We will have a new governor with a new executive team! There are also many newcomers to the state legislature. It will be a key priority to build fruitful and productive relationships and to educate them on hospitals' unique set of challenges.

January

February

March

2023

SESSION PREVIEW

The November 8th elections were historic, as Arkansans elected both the state’s first female governor and first female lieutenant governor. Though there were few real surprises in the House and Senate races, there are 12 freshmen Senators and 26 freshmen Representatives. With so many new faces among our state's leaders, the Policy and Advocacy team will be hard at work educating the newcomers on hospitals' priorities.

• Protect Arkansas’s Medicaid Expansion program.

• Continue to preserve the funds collected from the Soft Drink Tax, a critical source of funding for the Medicaid Trust Fund.

• Vigilantly defend hospitals against new legislation that will present obstacles to delivering timely, effective care to Arkansans.

• Support legislation that aims to protect the safety of health care workers and includes funding for the installation and operation of the physical and non-physical tools that can help ensure that protection.

• Fight for adequate reimbursement to keep up with the rising costs of materials, drugs, supplies, and personnel.

• Collaborate with other stakeholders on how best to support and retain current health care workers and develop new channels for educating and training the health care workers of the future.

AHA ANALYTICS

AHA Analytics, the Arkansas Hospital Association’s data services program, provides access to timely and accurate data and statistics for hospitals, offering members indispensable tools for strategic planning and quality improvement.

Tracking COVID-19

All aspects of AHA’s COVID-19 response have been enhanced by the AHA Analytics program, from advocating for financial and regulatory relief to monitoring hospital capacity and preparedness. The ArkPrepare COVID-19 Snapshot provides statistical information on hospital bed availability and COVID-19 hospitalizations, both statewide and for specific hospital regions.

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

• Produced and distributed hospital-specific reports on strategic planning topics such as Medicare proposed and final rule impacts.

• Provided technical support for state and federal COVID-19 hospital reporting requirements, including regular contact and meetings with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Arkansas Department of Health, monitored TeleTracking and EMResource data systems, and targeted assistance for compliance issues.

• Offered small-group and one-on-one training to the nearly 300 current users of the AHA Analytics website and reports.

• Created impact reports for member hospitals, highlighting the important economic benefits they bring to their communities.

WHAT’S NEW?

• Launched the new AHA Analytics Tableau-based website, Advantage Optics, which includes new interactive data visualization options.

• On-boarded two new hospitals into the discharge data system: St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center of Russellville and CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System of Texarkana, TX.

WHAT’S NEXT?

• In 2023, we plan a soft launch of the AHA Analytics discharge data program’s outpatient expansion, which will include outpatient data beyond the ED. Participation is voluntary for those already participating in the discharge data program, and interested hospitals are encouraged to contact us to learn more.

Participation in the AHA Analytics data services program is included in your membership dues. For more information, contact AHA Vice President of Data and Financial Policy, Melanie Thomasson, at mthomasson@arkhospitals.org.

EDUCATION & NETWORKING

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

• 94% of member hospitals attended at least one AHA educational event in 2022, up 11% from 2021, with over 3,600 individuals attending inperson and virtual events.

• Partnered with 19 hospital associations across the country to offer a virtual leadership series promoting a new focus on patient care. Speaker fees for the series totaled $30,000. By partnering with other hospital associations, the series was offered at an affordable, minimal cost to AHA members. Continuing medical education and continuing nursing education were offered at no additional cost.

• The AHA Continuing Nursing Education Approved Provider Unit (APU) submitted its application for Approved Providership in the fall. Approval would be for 2023-2026. The APU also submitted the Annual Report for activities held in 2022 through the Midwest MSD Professional Development – Approver Unit. The AHA Provider Unit passed the review process. The Provider Unit is approved through January 31, 2023.

• Provided 26+ complimentary or discounted online education opportunities through partnerships with other hospital associations.

WHAT’S NEW?

• Held a full-day cybersecurity workshop featuring the American Hospital Association's national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, the FBI, and a panel of Arkansas hospital CEOs discussing cyber attacks at their facilities.

• Convened the Workplace Violence Collaborative and established a schedule of monthly meetings for the group to share information, resources, and expertise.

• Affiliated Group events now offer online registrations! After taking AHA event registrations digital, we now offer online registrations for affiliated group events. This includes both online credit card payments (for those groups that have opted to accept credit cards) and a pay-later option for invoicing. Online registrants receive an immediate email confirmation of all registrations and payment transactions.

• Renegotiated the emergency preparedness grant with the Arkansas Department of Health to offer one conference on hospital preparedness as well as a planning conference for the state’s 41 hospital regional leaders and other preparedness partners statewide.

• Offered more than 130 hours of continuing education on topics including: compliance, engineering, human resources, materials management, legal issues, long-term care, medical staff services, nursing, risk management, quality, and coding. This included 7.5 hours of face-to-face American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) education, 48 hours of qualified education, and 14 networking hours, per ACHE requirements.

• Provided staff assistance to 13 affiliated organizations, to produce virtual events, newsletters, websites, listservs, board meetings, conference calls, communications to members, and other information of benefit to their members with over 500 hours of work time.

BACK IN PERSON!

• The AHA Annual Meeting made its much-anticipated return this year, after two years canceled due to COVID-19. The two-day event featured a dynamic Keynote Address by Ginger Zee, educational sessions on an array of topics, lots of fun giveaways, and an awards luncheon to honor our hospitals’ amazing work this year.

• The annual two-day Emergency Preparedness Forum was held in-person after two years of cancellation due to COVID-19. Presentations focused on trauma and resilience, cybersecurity, Joint Commission compliance standards for emergency management, identifying suicide risk, hazmat patient decontamination, Arkansas federal surplus property, and updates from the HHS Region VI project officer and the Arkansas Department of Health. The AHA secured $44,800 in Healthcare Preparedness Program (HPP) grant funds for this event.

• The AHERT Leadership Conference also returned after a twoyear hiatus and featured sessions on the importance of leadership in health care, resilience through times of chaos, and how to effectively lead the next generation of employees. Attendees and guests also enjoyed fellowship and networking events, including cheering on the Naturals and the Travelers at "A Night at the Ballpark" and practicing their golf swings at Top Golf.

QUALITY & PATIENT SAFETY

The AHA quality improvement team supports members through on-site visits, coaching calls, mentoring, and programs for building quality improvement capacity throughout the state.

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

• Healthcare Quality Improvement Contract with TMF and AFMC: AHA met our recruitment goals and has 52 Arkansas hospitals participating. We have made quarterly virtual visits with participating hospitals to focus on reducing healthcare-acquired conditions and readmissions. Throughout the work, we are also focusing on patient and family engagement, healthcare equity, and eliminating care disparities.

• Represented TMF in the CMS HQIC Focused Event Series on Infection Prevention.

• Provided a clinical experience for six DNP students from the University of Central Arkansas which involved six hours of virtual presentations and self-study.

• Statewide Patient and Family Advisory Council: Now in its fourth year, the PFAC continues to be a forum for supporting patient and family engagement.

• Provided informational and technical support to hospitals reporting data through NHSN.

• South Central HIINergy Collaboration: Along with state hospital associations in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Florida, Montana, and New Mexico, we participate in monthly calls to share resources and strategize on how to maximize results in quality and patient safety.

• Celebrated member organizations for achievements in Quality and Patient Safety on an ongoing basis both nationally and within the state through articles, webinars, and weekly newsletters.

• With the AHA Education Team, participated in CE Provider Unit monthly calls and served as the primary nurse planners for the Approved Provider Unit (APU). Attended monthly virtual meetings, as well as the annual Provider Unit meeting. Completed the application process for certification as an APU for another three years.

• Participated in the ongoing work of the ArkPrepare Team, delivering breaking news on topics related to COVID-19 infection control, therapeutics, vaccines, and more.

REPRESENTED AHA AS A MEMBER OR STAKEHOLDER AT MULTIPLE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, OFFERING THE HOSPITAL QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY PERSPECTIVE:

• Maternal Mortality Review Committee

• Arkansas STEMI Advisory Group

• Arkansas Falls Coalition

• Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee

• Medicaid IQI Advisory Council

• AFMC/ADH Rural Health Summit

• Arkansas Cancer Coalition

• South-Central Telehealth Resource Center Advisory Committee.

• CPC+ (Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative)

• Arkansas Association of Professionals in Infection Control

• Economic Development Alliance for Arkansas

• Rural Health Association of Arkansas Conference

• Arkansas Antimicrobial Stewardship Advisory Committee with the Arkansas Department of Health

• Arkansas Association of Healthcare Quality

• Arkansas Organization for Nurse Leaders

• Arkansas Behavioral Health Innovation Network

• The Joint Commission Continuous Survey Readiness

WHAT’S NEW?

One-Stop Resource Guides for Monthly Quality Forums

The Quality Team has released two resource guides designed to accompany the instruction included in the Monthly Quality Forums. These reference guides will support quality professionals in hospitals as they apply the training and education delivered by the Quality Team.

AHA SERVICES

AHA Services, Inc. (AHASI) is owned by you, the AHA membership, and was created to serve you. AHASI connects member hospitals throughout the state with products and services that reduce costs and drive performance improvement. All AHASI Endorsed Vendors undergo a strategic vetting process to ensure that their offerings will help AHA member hospitals respond to the ever-shifting health care landscape.

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

• The AHA Workers’ Compensation Self-Insured Trust returned $700,000 in unspent workers’ compensation premiums to participating hospitals, while maintaining a healthy fund balance to meet all workers’ compensation obligations.

• Maintained relationships with hospital leaders to stay informed on what products and services will best support hospitals as they meet with operational challenges.

• Used AHASI profits to provide substantial support to the AHA Annual Meeting as a sponsor, to educational programs, and to reinvest in AHA operations.

WHAT’S NEW?

New Endorsed Vendor: Medical Waste Management

Medical Waste Management (MWM) offers a full-service, cost-effective solution for your hospital's waste and compliance needs, all centered around exceptional customer service. In an industry with ever-changing, strict regulatory guidelines, Medical Waste Management makes it a top priority to continually adapt to regulatory changes to better serve its customers and their communities.

New Endorsed Vendor: Corrohealth

Corrohealth provides pricing, price transparency, coding, reimbursement, compliance, contract management, accounts receivable and recovery, consulting, and web-based services to hospitals. Over the last thirty-seven years, its services have resulted in significant financial improvement to hospitals and hospital systems across the country.

New Endorsed Vendor: STOPit Solutions

Workplaces are experiencing serious challenges, from sexual harassment, bullying, and discrimination to fraud, safety concerns, and violence. STOPit Solutions provides technology, training, and resources to meet your safety and wellness needs.

Learn more about all of AHA Services’ endorsed vendors at ahaservicesinc.com, or reach out to AHASI President Tina Creel at tcreel@arkhospitals.org.

AHA MEMBERS

• 19th Medical Group

• Advanced Care Hospital of White County

• Arkansas Children's Hospital

• Arkansas Children's Northwest

• Arkansas Continued Care Hospital of Jonesboro

• Arkansas Extended Care Hospital – Fort Smith

• Arkansas Extended Care Hospital – Hot Springs

• Arkansas Hospice

• Arkansas Methodist Medical Center

• Arkansas State Hospital

• Ashley County Medical Center

• Baptist Health Extended Care Hospital

• Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia

• Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway

• Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs

• Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County

• Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock

• Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock

• Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart

• Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute

• Baptist Health-Fort Smith

• Baptist Health-Van Buren

• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden

• Baxter Health

• Bradley County Medical Center

• CARTI

• Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

• Chambers Memorial Hospital

• CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs

• CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Rehab Hospital, a Partner of Encompass Health

• CHI St. Vincent Infirmary

• CHI St. Vincent Morrilton

• CHI St. Vincent North

• CHI St. Vincent Sherwood Rehabilitation Hospital, a Partner of Encompass Health

• Chicot Memorial Medical Center

• CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System

• Conway Behavioral Health

• Conway Regional Health System

• Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital

• Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Little Rock

• CrossRidge Community Hospital

• Dallas County Medical Center

• Dardanelle Regional Medical Center

• Delta Health System

• DeWitt Hospital & Nursing Home

• Drew Memorial Health System

• Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, a Partner of Washington Regional

• Eureka Springs Hospital

• Forrest City Medical Center

• Fulton County Hospital

• Great River Medical Center

• Helena Regional Medical Center

• Howard Memorial Hospital

• Izard County Medical Center

• Jefferson Regional

• Johnson Regional Medical Center

• Lawrence Memorial Health Foundation, Inc.

• Levi Hospital

• Little River Medical Center, Inc.

• Magnolia Regional Medical Center

• McGehee Hospital

• Medical Center of South Arkansas

• Mena Regional Health System

• Mercy Hospital Berryville

• Mercy Hospital Booneville

• Mercy Hospital Fort Smith

• Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas

• Mercy Hospital Ozark

• Mercy Hospital Paris

• Mercy Hospital Waldron

• Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Smith

• Methodist Behavioral Hospital

• National Park Medical Center

• NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital

• North Arkansas Regional Medical Center

• Northwest Health Physicians' Specialty Hospital

• Northwest Medical Center Bentonville

• Northwest Medical Center Springdale

• Ouachita County Medical Center

• Ozark Health Medical Center

• Ozarks Community Hospital

• Piggott Health System

• Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare System

• Regional One Health

• Rivendell Behavioral Health Services

• Riverview Behavioral Health

• Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center

• Saline Memorial Hospital

• Sevier County Medical Center

• Siloam Springs Regional Hospital

• SMC Regional Medical Center

• Springwoods Behavioral Health Hospital

• St. Bernards Five Rivers

• St. Bernards Medical Center

• Stone County Medical Center

• The BridgeWay

• UAMS Medical Center

• Unity Health

• Unity Health Newport

• Valley Behavioral Health System

• Vantage Point of NWA

• Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks

• Washington Regional Medical System

• White River Health

• Willow Creek Women’s Hospital

• WoodRidge of West Memphis, LLC d/b/a Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of West Memphis

SHARING OUR STORIES

Arkansas Hospitals magazine unites the community linking all Arkansas hospitals by featuring stories of your innovations and achievements, always highlighting the central role you play in the lives of Arkansans and in the economy of our state. This year we have also attempted to shed light on the challenges you're facing, with calls to action on how our readership can advocate for you.

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