Protect Patient Care

Launched four years ago, the Hospital Engagement Action and Leadership (HEAL) initiative reflects the commitment of 10 leading hospitals serving Chicago. These hospitals answered the call from U.S. Sen. Richard J. Durbin to engage communities experiencing the highest rates of violence, poverty and inequality. By several measures, HEAL has produced significant results.

With expert insights and key strategies, this year’s IHA Small & Rural Hospitals Annual Meeting will tackle today’s top issues—financial stability, regulatory challenges, staffing and workplace violence—while looking to the future of rural healthcare. The one-and-a-half-day meeting, “Milestones in Rural Health,” will be on June 28-29 in Springfield. Keith Mueller, PhD, of the Rural Policy Research Institute, will deliver the keynote address, “A Path Forward: The Rural Healthcare System of the Future.”

Illinois hospitals contribute $108 billion to the state economy every year, yet half of Illinois' 213 hospitals operate on negative or low operating margins. Hospitals and health systems face intense financial pressures as expenses increase. IHA's 2023 Federal Advocacy Agenda spotlights these challenges while advocating for policies that promote hospital financial stability, resiliency and transformation. Federal support of these three pillars will help strengthen hospitals as they serve communities.