Advancing Health

Epizode

• 
  Stopping Workplace Violence Before It Starts 14.09.2026 14min

  Building trust with patients before a crisis can be one of the most powerful tools in preventing violence in healthcare settings. In this conversation, Tom Saggio, R.N., director of behavioral health operations at St. Louis Children's Hospital, explains how the hospital's teams are using proactive intervention, behavioral assessments and de-escalation techniques to improve safety for patients, families and healthcare workers.
• 
  Welcome to "Frontiers: A Rural Maternal Health Podcast" 12.09.2026 1min

  What does it take to sustain maternal care in rural communities?In this special Frontiers podcast series from the American Hospital Association, we explore the people, ideas and innovations working to ensure mothers and families can access high-quality maternal care close to home.Hear directly from rural hospital leaders who are tackling the challenges facing maternal health, strengthening their communities and building a future where geography doesn’t determine access to care. Along the way, discover why investing in maternal care creates an impact that extends far beyond one patient — shaping outcomes for newborns, families and entire communities for generations to come.Join Frontiers for stories of leadership, resilience and the future of rural maternal care.New episodes September 16, 23 and 30.
• 
  Safer Care Through Simulation 09.09.2026 13min

  Healthcare simulation is becoming far more than a training exercise. In this conversation, Clint Pridgen, vice president of business development and hospital strategy at Laerdal Medical, explores the future of healthcare simulation, including data-driven training, workplace safety, quality improvement and emerging technologies. Hear how healthcare organizations can turn simulation insights into measurable improvements for patients and communities.
• 
  Top 3 Healthcare Cyber Threats in 2026 02.09.2026 15min

  Cyberattacks against hospitals are growing in scale and sophistication, putting patient care, critical infrastructure, and millions of healthcare records at risk. In this conversation, the American Hospital Association's John Riggi, national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, and Scott Gee, deputy national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, break down the three biggest cyber threats facing healthcare organizations in 2026: geopolitical cyber activity, third-party and supply chain vulnerabilities, and the rapidly evolving risks of artificial intelligence.
• 
  Why Age-Friendly Care Is Becoming a Healthcare Standard 31.08.2026 17min

  From reducing falls and readmissions to focusing on what matters most, age-friendly care is changing healthcare delivery for older adults. In this conversation, Rani E. Snyder, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation, discusses how the movement is gaining momentum in hospitals and health systems across the country, and how the AHA's new Age-Friendly Healthcare Impact Award aims to inspire even greater progress.For more information on the AHA's new Age-Friendly Healthcare Impact Award and how to apply, visit http://aha.org/agefriendlyaward
• 
  Pregnancy and the Heart: Why Teamwork Matters 26.08.2026 12min

  Maternal mortality remains a critical challenge in the United States, and many pregnancy complications are linked to chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease. In this conversation, Kardie Tobb, D.O., a non-invasive preventative cardiologist at Cone Health, explains how multidisciplinary teams are breaking down clinical silos, emphasizing preconception care, and coordinating care across specialties to support healthier pregnancies and healthier families.
• 
  The First Chapter: Literacy and Bonding in the NICU 24.08.2026 15min

  How can hospitals help NICU parents feel informed, empowered and connected to their babies during one of the most stressful moments of their lives? In this conversation, Gabriela Jimenez Thompson, program lead of Our Story Begins at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, and Liliana Escobar, R.N., NICU head nurse at Bellevue Hospital Center, share how the Our Story Begins program uses books, reading, language and nurse education to strengthen NICU parent engagement, bonding and early childhood development.
• 
  Elevating the Patient Voice: Building Partnerships in Care 19.08.2026 14min

  For healthcare organizations pursuing better quality and better outcomes, the patient voice needs to be more than a checkbox. In this conversation, Caroline DeLongchamps, director of the patient-and family-centered care program at MUSC Health, shares her powerful personal story and explains how patient and family-centered care can improve quality, strengthen trust, and transform how care is designed and delivered.
• 
  Care Without the Wait: Rethinking Access to Healthcare 17.08.2026 14min

  Getting patients the care they need shouldn't mean navigating weeks of appointments, uncertainty and distance. In this conversation, Baligh Yehia, M.D., president of Jefferson Health, shares how the organization is rethinking healthcare access through same-day cancer care, virtual primary care, home-based services, and expanded access to clinical trials.
• 
  A Leadership Playbook for Age-Friendly Care 12.08.2026 18min

  Building an age-friendly health system requires more than clinical excellence — it demands leadership, strategy and system​wide commitment. In this conversation, Michele Frankel, deputy market president for Northwell Health's Eastern Market, and Susan Kwiatek, DNP, vice president of aging and supportive care and leader of Northwell Health's Institute for Healthy Aging, reveal how one of the nation's largest health systems transformed age-friendly care into an organization-wide strategy. With collaboration between finance, frontline clinicians and governing boards, the two share how Northwell is creating a sustainable model of care for older adults.
• 
  The "Phygital Ecosystem" Behind Better Patient Care 10.08.2026 14min

  What does it take to create a truly connected patient experience? In this conversation, Jennifer Bollinger, chief consumer and brand officer at Sutter Health, discusses how a "phygital ecosystem" approach creates a seamless experience between virtual and in-person care. Learn how Sutter Health is eliminating friction, improving patient engagement, and using technology to make healthcare more connected without losing the human touch.
• 
  In 20 Years: The Future of Healthcare 05.08.2026 16min

  What will healthcare look like in 20 years? In this conversation, Jackie Gerhart, M.D., chief medical officer at Epic, Thomas McGinn, M.D., chief physician executive officer at CommonSpirit Health, and Zia Agha, M.D., chief medical officer at West Health, discuss the rapid pace of healthcare's evolution, and what that means for physicians, patients and health systems. From continuous care and workforce challenges to stronger patient relationships and emerging technologies, this conversation examines the changes shaping the next generation of healthcare and beyond.Dive deeper into how hospitals and health systems are preparing for the future of care by scaling proven, technology-enabled solutions through the West Health Accelerator at AHA's Health Research & Educational Trust. Learn more at nationalaccelerator.org.
• 
  Crime Victim Compensation: A Critical Hospital Resource 03.08.2026 19min

  After a mass violence incident, recovery extends far beyond emergency care. In this conversation, Anne Seymour of the National Mass Violence Center, and Michael Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina, explain how crime victim compensation programs can help survivors of mass violence cover medical bills, mental health care, transportation and other recovery costs. Learn what every hospital leader should know about these resources, and how they can make them easier to access for survivors.
• 
  How Boards Should Engage in AI Decision-Making 29.07.2026 15min

  Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare, and hospital boards can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines. In this conversation, Ajay Gupta, board vice chair for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, explains how trustees can confidently guide AI adoption while protecting patients and supporting innovation. Learn the key questions every trustee should be asking as AI becomes a critical part of healthcare's future.
• 
  How APPs Can Ease the Healthcare Workforce Crisis 27.07.2026 9min

  Hospitals and health systems can't meet growing patient demand without fully leveraging advanced practice providers (APPs). In this conversation, Leslie Clayton, program director for ​Program director for Advanced Practice at M Health Fairview, and chair of the AHA's APP Leadership Advisory Group, explains why investing in APP leadership is now essential to addressing workforce shortages, expanding access to care, and preparing organizations for what is ahead.
• 
  AI in Healthcare: Hidden Cybersecurity Risks 22.07.2026 12min

  As healthcare rapidly adopts artificial intelligence, protecting the data behind it has never been more important. In this conversation, John Riggi, the AHA’s national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, and Edward You, former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and founder of EHY Consulting, discuss why healthcare organizations must look beyond AI tools and focus on protecting the data, governance and supply chains that power them. Edward also shares why health data has become one of the world's most valuable assets, how foreign threats could reshape healthcare innovation, and what leaders should do now to build a secure AI strategy.
• 
  Giving Families and Kids an upSTART for Better Health 20.07.2026 18min

  The earliest years of life shape a child's health, development and future. In this conversation, Nancy Correa, DrPH, director of population health at Texas Children's Hospital, and Beth Van Horne, DrPH, director of research for the Division of Public Health Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, discuss the upSTART program, a comprehensive initiative that combines homegrown innovation with evidence-based care. They share how the program evolved from identifying developmental delays in children to creating multiple integrated programs that support pregnancy, postpartum mental health, early literacy, language development, positive parenting, and connections to community resources.
• 
  Bridge to Care: Better Care Transitions for Opioid Use 15.07.2026 19min

  Improving care transitions is one of the most effective ways health systems can improve outcomes for patients with substance use disorders. In this conversation, the team from the University Medical Center New Orleans - LSU School of Medicine's Benjamin Springgate, M.D., professor of Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine, and Seth Vignes, M.D., assistant professor of Internal Medicine, share how integrated care models, addiction consult services and peer navigators are improving care transitions and increasing access to evidence-based treatment.This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $910,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
• 
  Bridge to Care: Strengthening Opioid Recovery 13.07.2026 15min

  The most important part of recovery may begin before a patient ever leaves the hospital. In this conversation, Heidi Bray, DNP, nurse practitioner and hospitalist at Providence St. Peter Hospital, explores how hospitals can improve opioid use disorder treatment through stronger discharge planning, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and better connections to community care. She also highlights the challenges rural patients face and the innovative work of the Bridge to Care Collaborative to ensure recovery continues beyond the hospital walls.This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $910,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
• 
  From Hospital to Home: The Power of Connected Care 08.07.2026 19min

  Healthcare doesn't end when patients leave the hospital — and neither should the support they receive. In this conversation, Ryane Jackson, vice president of Community Health Network at Memorial Hermann Health System, explains how the system is creating seamless connections between clinical care and community resources to improve long-term health outcomes. Learn how these solutions are helping patients overcome barriers like food insecurity, housing instability and chronic disease.