REGISTER: Webinar on Balancing Human Connection, Technology Sept. 8
Human connection remains essential as adoption of artificial intelligence accelerates throughout healthcare. A complimentary webinar sponsored by Medical Solutions will address the issue from a workforce perspective, highlighting strategies to ensure meaningful connections across care teams and workforce partnerships.
Medical Solutions Chief Recruitment Officer Kerry Sirkka will present the 11 a.m.-noon CT webinar. Sirkka, who has over 20 years of experience healthcare staffing and technology, will zoom in on:
- How technology can enhance, not replace the human experience;
- Best practices to balance automation with personalized communication during recruitment and in supporting clinicians throughout their careers;
- Strategies to leverage tech-enabled insights while preserving empathy, trust, and meaningful connections.
Leaders in human resources, nursing and clinical operations will benefit from the webinar, which is designed for those responsible for workforce strategy, recruitment, retention, clinician engagement, staffing operations, and technology-enabled workforce solutions.
The webinar is free for IHA-member hospitals and health systems. The program will be recorded and made available to all registrants. Click here to register for the Sept. 8 webinar.
Medical Solutions is an IHA Strategic Partner since 2018 and Gold IHA Corporate Sponsor. IHA, Medical Solutions and Exigent Medical Education are jointly offering an in-person event, “Shaping the Future Healthcare Workforce: A Leadership Forum,” on Aug. 27, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., in Naperville. Click here to register for the forum.
Staff contact: Bridget McCarte
H.R. 1 Medicaid Redeterminations and Retroactive Coverage Webinar
Under new federal requirements certain adults enrolled in Medicaid may eventually need to report work, education, or training activities to maintain coverage. While many individuals are expected to qualify for exemptions, ensuring patients receive clear, timely information will be essential to helping eligible individuals avoid unnecessary coverage disruptions.
To support stakeholder education and planning efforts, the Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) continues to host a webinar series focused on the anticipated Medicaid changes under H.R. 1. The next webinar, “Redeterminations and Retroactive Coverage,” will take place Thursday, Aug. 20 from 1 – 2 p.m. CT. Additional webinars are also planned in the coming months. To register for this webinar, and view other upcoming webinars, click here.
HFS has also developed a communication toolkit to help providers educate Medicaid enrollees about the importance of maintaining current contact information with the state. These resources are intended to reduce avoidable coverage losses as eligibility-related changes begin to roll out in late 2026 and 2027. The toolkit includes flyers, presentation materials, and multilingual resources available in English, Spanish, and several additional languages. Click here to access the HFS toolkit.
In addition, through IHA’s participation in Cook County Health’s Medicaid Impact Workgroup, IHA is helping amplify public awareness efforts and distribute additional educational resources. This includes the “Get Medicaid Facts” website and accompanying multilingual communications materials designed to support hospitals, providers, and community organizations in educating patients and preparing for the upcoming changes.
HAN Alert: Risk of Severe Arboviral Disease in Patients Receiving B Cell-Depleting or Modulating Medications
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to share information and notify clinicians, public health authorities, and the public about the risk of severe arboviral neuroinvasive disease among patients who are receiving B cell-depleting or B cell-modulating medications, particularly anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Patients and their providers should be aware of this risk to help patients protect themselves against the bites of mosquitoes and ticks, which can increase patients’ risk of arboviral disease. More information, including recommendations for clinicians, can be found in the HAN Health Advisory.
IDPH Reaffirms Existing Child Immunization Schedule
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) issued a statement yesterday reaffirming the state’s existing endorsement of the 2026 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule remains unchanged, despite a federal executive order this week seeking to make changes to established vaccine guidance. IDPH restated its position that vaccines on the existing child and adolescent schedule are safe and effective in keeping children healthy and protecting them from the effects of serious preventable illnesses.
Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data
The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.
Briefly Noted
The Food and Drug Administration has identified a Class I recall of catheter introducers by Abiomed and Oscor due to a potential for sheath leakage from the sidearm, under the sheath cap and along the hub score lines in the hub region. As of April 22, Abiomed has reported eight instances of major bleeding and three complaints that have corresponding patient deaths, though Abiomed determined that the deaths are not attributable to the recall issue.
Leading the News
New lawsuit seeks to halt Illinois’ medical aid in dying law before it takes effect
Crain’s Chicago Business
Saying an Illinois law set to go into effect next month would force doctors to tout the benefits of suicide in violation of their religious freedoms, the conservative Christian law firm Thomas More Society is suing to block the statute on behalf of a Catholic bishop, a downstate nursing home and four doctors.
Judge orders DCFS director to answer for repeated failures to release public documents in child death
Capitol News Illinois
A circuit court judge in Sangamon County threatened Tuesday to begin assessing daily fines against the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for its repeated failure to appear in court or comply with orders to hand over documents related to the death of a teenager who was in the agency’s care.
20 hospitals with the highest, lowest ED visit times for mental health patients
Becker’s Hospital Review
Smithfield, N.C.-based Johnston Health has the lowest median emergency department visit time for psychiatric and mental health patients. Becker’s has compiled lists of hospitals and health systems with the shortest and longest emergency department visit times for psychiatric and mental health patients using CMS’ Timely and Effective Care-Hospital data.
