I-PASS, the gold standard for reducing preventable medical errors through improved clinical handoffs, today announced an industry leading partnership with the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) through the organization’s I-PASS Kentucky Hospital Association Transitions and Communication in Hospitals (KHATCH) Program. The I-PASS KHATCH Program’s mission is to elevate care quality across the state. I-PASS’s handoff bundle is proven to reduce clinician miscommunication, improve outcomes, and decrease adverse events and associated malpractice claims. Through the program, KHA will fund the implementation of the I-PASS handoff bundle for its member organizations over an eight-year period with the goal of establishing a universal language for transitions across the Commonwealth.

Today, KHA President Nancy Galvagni testified alongside Dr. Dan Goulson, chair of KHA’s Physician Leadership Forum and the chief medical officer at CHI Saint Joseph Health and St. Elizabeth Healthcare obstetrician Dr. Allana Oak at the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations meeting addressing certificate of need (CON) requirements for freestanding birthing centers.

During the annual statewide Recovery Rally, held at the state Capitol on Friday, Dr. Katherine Marks, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, announced the expansion of the Kentucky Statewide Opioid Stewardship Emergency Department (ED) Bridge Program. Six hospitals pledged to join the 11 facilities currently participating in this important initiative to fight opioid use disorder (OUD) across the Commonwealth.

The workforce shortage is having a critical impact across Kentucky’s key industries, particularly health care.

National news outlets are reporting concern surrounding the latest shortages of prescription drugs and medical supplies. The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) and its member hospitals are addressing the issue and working to help ensure every patient continues to receive quality, uninterrupted care.

The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) presented its annual Quality Awards to eight hospitals from across the state at the 93^rd Annual KHA Convention in Lexington on May 17. This award honors hospital leadership and innovation in quality, safety, and commitment to patient care.

The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) presented several awards on May 17 during an awards luncheon at the 94th Annual KHA Convention. This year’s event was held at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

In 2022, Kentucky hospitals faced their most challenging year financially since the start of the pandemic. Inflation, record-high operating costs, and lower volumes led to unprecedented financial losses according to a new study by Kaufman Hall, which estimates 38% of the state’s hospitals are now at risk of closure.

Representative Brandon Reed introduced HB 75 the Kentucky House of Representatives earlier in January. The legislation would adjust a current Medicaid inpatient program to include outpatient care as well. The Medicaid Hospital Rate Improvement Program (HRIP), which allows Kentucky hospitals to receive additional federal dollars to increase Medicaid reimbursement for inpatient Medicaid services, was passed twice by the legislature – in 2019 and revised in 2021, and it operates at no cost to the state.

The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) just launched a new podcast for both KHA members and the general public, the association announced Wednesday. The show will highlight healthcare news, specific issues affecting KHA members, and KHA member hospitals and their achievements.

Over 22% of nursing positions in Kentucky hospitals are unfilled across the state according to a report released today by the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) during a press conference in the state capitol rotunda. That’s over 5,000 registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) needed in Kentucky today. The shortage of healthcare professionals available across the Commonwealth, in addition to an unprecedented rise in staffing costs, could cause a crisis in the access Kentuckians have to the healthcare they need.

The data comes from the 2022 KHA Workforce Survey, an annual survey of hospitals throughout the state regarding the status of Kentucky’s hospital workforce. This year’s survey had the highest level of participation in recent history with 100% of acute care hospitals submitting data.

This week, KHA recognized Representative Steve Sheldon for his efforts to protect the patients Kentucky hospitals serve during the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly session.

Sponsorship with hospitals in KHA network will improve care transitions and decrease readmissions

The Kentucky Hospital Association applauded the State House of Representatives’ passage of Representative Ken Fleming’s HB 777 on Monday. Advocates say HB 777 will begin the important work of reforming the regulation of Kentucky’s emergency medical services (EMS) to better serve Kentuckians.

FRANKFORT, KY – (February 3, 2022) Kentucky lags in the bottom ten states in terms of liability climate, which negatively impacts economic growth. Two state legislators are seeking to change that and improve the state’s standing to support economic and health care competitiveness.

HSG, a national health care consultancy that supports health systems in building differentiated health system strategy, announces a new hospital member benefit initiative with KHA. The partnership between HSG and KHA is designed to provide hospital members with ambulatory, physician office and practice market share data on a quarterly basis. Additionally, through this collaboration, ongoing educational programs will be provided to member hospitals through KHA's forums and town hall meetings.

The storms that hit Kentucky and other states on December 10 were devastating in so many ways. They left a path of destruction few in the commonwealth have ever witnessed, and the recovery (both physical and emotional) will be an arduous task. In times such as these, people rely on their local hospital to provide care for the victims, and the state’s hospital employees have stepped up to this challenge in outstanding ways.

The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) presented its annual Quality Awards to six hospitals from across the state. This award honors hospital leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care.

LOUISVILLE, KY (Oct. 13, 2021) — With the surge created by the delta variant of COVID-19 sickening thousands and filling Kentucky hospitals to capacity, the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA), Kentucky Foundation for Medical Care (KFMC), Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (FHKY), Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) and the Kentucky Primary Care Association (KPCA) have introduced a new set of videos as part of the “Take It From Me” campaign to encourage residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The KHA Health Care Leadership Conference will take place virtually on Friday, November 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (ET).