Ron Southwick

The company employs chatbots with natural language to connect with patients on mobile phones. CEO Greg Johnsen touts the ease of the technology for consumers.

Hospital workers may be struggling more than is readily apparent. Health system leaders need to recognize healthcare has changed and adjust expectations, he says.

Millions of Americans have been affected by cyberattacks targeting hospitals and health companies in the first six months of the year. Ransomware attacks are getting more frequent, more costly and threaten patient safety.

The workforce will take at least four years to reach pre-pandemic levels, unless federal and state officials provide more funding, according to a new report.

Sossong, who leads the company’s behavioral health efforts, spoke with us about the stress of the pandemic, expanding services to rural areas and integrating mental health with primary care.

The measure would help Americans pay for health insurance and also lower some prescription drug costs. The House is expected to vote this week, sending it to President Biden.

More than 1,300 centers nationwide are getting grants to improve data reporting, which should also improve health equity, the Health and Human Services Department says.

Health systems are facing growing pressure to address climate change. A panel at the American Hospital Association Leadership Summit outlined strategies to move forward.

Half of the women faculty in some departments are harassed, according to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Some don’t feel safe reporting harassment.

The ANA acknowledges it has failed nurses of color in the past. ANA Enterprise CEO Loressa Cole talks about the organization’s efforts to make amends and vows ‘actions that matter.’

About a quarter of nurses say they have appropriate staffing, according to a new survey by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Many nurses don’t feel safe.

The Supreme Court ruled last month that Medicare improperly cut the federal drug pricing program. Hospitals want the government to pay up.

The HIMSS 2022 Future of Healthcare report said many will still be developing their digital plans in five years. If they wait too long, younger consumers could pick other retail options.

If justices bar the consideration of race, the enrollment of students from minority groups will plunge, the Association of American Medical Colleges and other groups contend.

Physicians use the software the way consumers use voice assistants in their homes. The California-based startup is banking on its AI-powered software to appeal to doctors and health systems battling burnout.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services dropped a plan to suppress some safety reporting after pressure from patient advocates. The Leapfrog Group cheered the move.

The federal government is going beyond the payment rate initially proposed in the spring, which drew sharp criticism. Hospitals welcome the move but say they could use more aid.

The timing is important, because the government has pledged to provide 60 days notice before ending the emergency. Health systems say waivers under the emergency have been critical to care for patients.

The Louisiana-based system adds Rush’s 7 hospitals and more than 30 clinics. The Rush system will now be known as Ochsner Rush Health.

It’s been an ‘extremely challenging year’ for hospitals, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest report. Health systems probably can’t expect a turnaround in the near future.

Health systems with more doctors and palliative services saw fewer patients bounce back to the hospital, a recent study found.

Cyberattacks at hospitals are proving more costly, according to a new report from IBM Security. The cost of a typical breach rose by nearly $1 million over last year.

It’s been a slow start to the year for healthcare mergers, but analysts project more transactions in the coming months. Critics worry about the prospect of mega-deals.

Researchers found patients who were Black or Hispanic were far more likely than white patients to see care postponed for more than four weeks. The delays raise the risk for poor outcomes.

Patients have higher expectations, and hospital executives say the industry must focus more on the customer experience. It was a recurring theme at the American Hospital Association Leadership Summit this week.

The e-commerce behemoth is buying the primary care provider, saying the health industry needs reinvention. Analysts say Amazon could succeed.

Eric Martin, vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer at Norton Children’s Hospital, talked about taking care of team members at the American Hospital Association Leadership Summit.

The Cleveland-based system was hailed for its commitment to excellence. Cliff Megerian, the system’s CEO, says the staff aims to deliver care with kindness and compassion.

The attacks are costing health systems millions of dollars and threatening patients. Hospital leaders must develop robust defenses and prepare detailed recovery plans, experts say.

They offered their perspectives on succeeding as leaders, building great teams and the importance of empathy.