Advancing Equity

A third-year report on U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin's Hospital Engagement Action and Leadership (HEAL) initiative shows how the 10 HEAL health systems are effecting positive change in the 18 HEAL neighborhoods. By partnering with neighborhood organizations, HEAL health systems are creating opportunities for individual advancement and building a better future for the communities they serve.

Inspiring Connections—the 2022 IHA Small & Rural Hospitals Annual Meeting—will bring together leading experts for discussions on the top issues in rural healthcare. You'll gain new strategies and leadership approaches to address staff burnout, recruitment and retention, and rural hospital viability. This year's meeting will be held in person on June 16-17 in Springfield.

The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color is a stark reminder of the continuing health disparities that challenge all of us to do better. Unquestionably, racism is a serious public health crisis. IHA and the Illinois hospital community are working together to confront this issue. Learn more about efforts to achieve health equity statewide.

A new white paper from the Midwest Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS) Patient Safety Organization (PSO) offers insight into the top patient safety issues for 2022, including health equity, staffing shortages, opioid use disorder, patient and family engagement, and post-partum care transitions. The white paper, Patient Safety Focus: Top 10 Issues for 2022, is a benefit of MAPS membership.

IHA is working closely with health departments and government officials to ensure Illinois hospitals have the resources and support they need to respond to COVID-19. See our COVID-19 webpage for key resources and government updates, along with information on issues including health equity, legal policy and COVID-19 waivers.

The pandemic has shown how important hospitals and health systems are to communities across Illinois, with healthcare professionals exhibiting tireless dedication in caring for patients. IHA recognizes their bravery, compassion and extraordinary response to an unprecedented crisis. Witness their efforts in a new video—A Year Like No Other.