Alabama Hospital Association Inc

THE PURPOSE OF THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS TO PROMOTE ITS MEMBERS AS THE INTEGRATORS OF HEALTH CARE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND, THROUGH ADVOCACY, REPRESENTATION, EDUCATION AND SERVICE, TO ASSIST ITS MEMBERS IN EFFECTIVELY SERVING THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF ALABAMA.

SPONSORED MEETINGS: THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION CONDUCTS TWO MAJOR MEETINGS FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP EACH YEAR. BOTH OF THESE MEETINGS PROVIDE TIMELY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS QUALIFYING FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FROM EXECUTIVE, FINANCIAL AND CLINICAL LICENSING ENTITIES. DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, THE MEETINGS WERE HELD VIRTUALLY. THE ANNUAL MEETING, WITH 150 HOSPITAL EXECUTIVES PARTICIPATING, COVERED THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: DRIVING THE FUTURE OF HEALTH, HIPAA CHANGES, OPERATIONALIZING HEALTH EQUITY, STAFFING, PLANNING FOR THE END OF COVID-19 REGULATORY FLEXIBILITIES, HOME HEALTH COLLABORATION AND EFFECTIVE PATIENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES. THE ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED $21,262 IN SPONSORSHIP REVENUE FROM THIS MEETING. THE OTHER MAJOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM CONDUCTED DURING THE YEAR IS GEARED TOWARD SENIOR HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, TRUSTEE BOARD MEMBERS, LEGISLATORS AND OTHER STAKE HOLDERS. THIS TWO-DAY MEETING HELD IN FEBRUARY 2021 HAD 360 PARTICIPANTS. EDUCATIONAL TOPICS INCLUDED A NATIONAL ELECTION DEBRIEF, COVID LESSONS LEARNED FROM A PANEL DISCUSSION, HEALTH EQUITY, A COVID-19 UPDATE FROM ALABAMA'S STATE HEALTH OFFICER, STATEWIDE HOSPITAL DATA COLLECTION, ACCESS TO CARE-LEARNING FROM THE PANDEMIC AND CARES ACT FUNDING. THE ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED $14,952 IN SPONSORSHIP REVENUE FEES FOR THIS MEETING.

GRANTS & ADMINISTRATIVE FEES: THE ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION CONTRACTS WITH THE STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF A HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS GRANT. THIS GRANT PROVIDES REDUNDANT TELECOMMUNICATIONS VIA CELLULAR SERVICE TO PREPARE HOSPITALS FOR NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS. DURING THE YEAR, 108 HOSPITALS PARTICIPATED IN THE GRANT RECEIVING A TOTAL OF $37,741 IN FUNDING. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO ADMINISTERED GRANTS TARGETING RURAL HOSPITALS TO INCLUDE THOSE DESIGNATED AS MEDICARE CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS. ONE OF THE GRANTS FUNDED THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS/INITIATIVES: EDUCATION TO SHIP ELIGIBLE HOSPITAL ON COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE, CHANGES IN THE PROVIDER BASED RHC PROGRAM AND LEARNING ACTION NETWORKS FOR THE HOSPITALS TO ADDRESS VARIOUS QUALITY AND CLINICAL ISSUES. $225,013 WAS EXPENDED FOR THIS GRANT BENEFITING 35 HOSPITALS. ANOTHER GRANT, SHIP (SMALL HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM) PROVIDES FEDERAL FUNDS TO ASSIST 41 HOSPITALS WITH 49 BEDS OR LESS TO IMPLEMENT HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS. $396,450 WAS EXPENDED FOR THIS GRANT. THE FINAL GRANT TARGETING RURAL HOSPITALS PROVIDED FUNDING TO OFFSET HOSPITAL COSTS CARING FOR COVID PATIENTS (STAFFING, PPE, TELEHEALTH). $3,332,680 WAS EXPENDED FOR THIS GRANT BENEFITTING 40 HOSPITALS. THE ASSOCIATION RECEIVED $137,539 IN ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FROM THE ABOVE REFERENCED GRANTS AND OR CONTRACTS.

QUALITY: ALAHA IS WORKING WITH 18 HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH THE ALLIANT/CMS HQIC PROJECT. THE PROJECT PROVIDES NETWORKING, EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES FOR THESE HOSPITALS. THE FOUR-YEAR HQIC PROJECT FOCUSES ON REDUCING PATIENT HARM AND EVALUATES HOSPITALS ANNUALLY ON MEASURE IMPROVEMENT. THERE ARE FIFTEEN EVALUATION MEASURES AND HOSPITALS ARE EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON ALL MEASURES NOT MEETING TARGET. MEASURES INCLUDE: ADVERSE DRUG EVENTS-OPIOIDS, HYPOGLYCEMIA AND ANTICOAGULANTS, PRESSURE ULCERS, SEPTIC SHOCK, C DIFF-RATE AND SIR, MRSA-RATE AND SIR, OPIOID DOSE AT DISCHARGE, 30-DAY HW READMISSIONS, CAUTI AND CLABSI.