Advancing Health A Podcast from the AHA

Recruiting a young and engaged workforce is particularly challenging for rural care providers. Innovative solutions such as signing bonuses and tuition payment are familiar tools many health care employers are using in employee recruitment. In this conversation, Susan Wathen, vice president of human resources at Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, discusses their unique approaches to finding and retaining future health care employees.

The mental and physical well-being of the nation’s caregivers has been a main priority for health care leaders across the country, but implementing support programs across large organizations can be challenging. NYC Health + Hospitals has faced the challenge with their Helping Healers Heal network, a peer-to-peer support program that helps care teams stay physically and mentally healthy. In this conversation, Jeremy Segall, chief wellness officer at NYC Health + Hospitals, discusses the system's various well-being programs, as well as the steps needed to move these programs forward in big organizations. 

Psychiatric hospitals and community mental health centers (CMHCs) often work independently in their efforts to meet patients’ needs. Butler Hospital decided to break down these silos by forging a close and cooperative relationship with a CMHC — The Providence Center. In this conversation, Mary Marran, president and CEO of Butler Hospital, describes how the enhanced partnership between the two mental health service providers has made a big difference in coordinating services and resources for their patients.

John Bluford’s distinguished career in hospital and health system administration has spanned more than four decades, and he has been recognized by Modern Healthcare and Becker's Hospital Review as one of the Most Influential People in Healthcare. He is also the founder of the Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute (BHLI), a professional development program that introduces talented minority undergraduate scholars to health care administration. In this conversation, Bluford describes how the Institute is training young and diverse talent to assume leadership roles.

Rural hospitals in the United States are struggling to maintain obstetric services, and in the last five years more than 300 birthing units across the country have shut down. San Luis Valley Hospital is fighting this trend, implementing creative strategies to keep obstetric services open for their communities. In this conversation, San Luis Valley Hospital's Monica Hinds, R.N., director of emergency services and obstetrics, and Stephanie Posorske, certified nurse midwife, discuss their approach to cross-training units with minimal resources, and partnering with community stakeholders to keep the lights on for new and future families.

Welcome to “Rural,” a yearlong series devoted to rural hospitals and health systems in America. Being a new parent is challenging in the best of circumstances, but it is even harder for expecting and new moms struggling with social and behavioral health needs. In this conversation, two experts from Intermountain Health discuss their "First 1,000 Days of Life" program that provides wraparound services for at-risk new moms. Then, Lacey Starcevich, a former program participant, shares her emotional journey to building a healthy life for herself and her new family. This podcast was recorded at this year's AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference.