REGISTER: Virtual Leadership Series for Hospital, Health System Teams
Guiding healthcare teams through constant change is a must-have skill for hospital and health system leaders. A virtual leadership series, “The Leadership Expedition,” offered to IHA members through the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations will address key leadership competencies.

The series will begin Jan. 20 with a webinar on building leadership capacity across the organization. The session, “Leadership at Every Level,” will cover the essential foundation of leadership and why empowering staff at every level—clinical, administrative and support—is critical to hospital success.

Each webinar in the series will run from noon-1 p.m. CT. The second and third webinars will be:

• “Magnetic Communication” on Feb. 17, spotlighting the science and art of communication and why leaders must be intentional in the way they speak, act and engage with others; and
• “Leading Through Chaos” on March 17, exploring how to guide teams with clarity, confidence and purpose.

Registration is $195 per webinar per hospital, which includes an unlimited number of connections within the same location. Webinar recordings will be available to registrants for 60 days after each session. Register today.

Staff contact: Bridget McCarte

IDPH Cautions Influenza Rates Are Climbing Statewide
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) is urging residents to take precautions against the spread of influenza and other seasonal respiratory illnesses, as rates continue to climb across the state, according to an IDPH news release. IDPH reports flu activity in the state has climbed to “very high” in recent days, the most severe of five categories of respiratory illness activity, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, COVID-19 rates have climbed to “moderate” levels in Illinois. 

These trends are similar to what is being seen across the nation, with CDC data showing all but four states have high or very high levels of activity due to the spread of a new virus strain called subclade K. The CDC estimates that there have been at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths from the flu so far this season.

Illinois is also reporting its first influenza child death this season. Nationally, there have been nine pediatric deaths due to influenza this season. During the 2024-2025 season, Illinois reported 12 pediatric deaths from influenza, six from respiratory syncytial virus and three from COVID. Data on seasonal respiratory illnesses across the state is available at IDPH’s Seasonal Respiratory Illness Dashboard, which is updated weekly.

According to IDPH’s Illinois Vaccination Coverage Dashboards, 21.9% of Illinoisans have received their flu shot this season, while only 6.8% have received COVID-19 immunization. IDPH is encouraging the public to speak with their providers, pharmacists or local health departments for information about vaccinations. To find out more about vaccine  availability, visit the vaccine locator dashboard on the IDPH website.

CDC Updates Childhood Vaccine Schedule
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revised the recommended childhood immunization schedule, organizing vaccines into three broad groupings. The first group outlines 11 routine immunizations recommended for all children, covering protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal disease, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, human papillomavirus and varicella (chickenpox). A second group includes vaccines advised for children in specific risk categories or populations, such as those targeting respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis A and B, dengue, and meningococcal disease (both ACWY and B). The third group consists of vaccines to be administered based on “shared clinical decision-making” between families and providers. These include immunizations for influenza, COVID-19, rotavirus, and hepatitis A and B.

The updates follow a Dec. 5 White House directive to the CDC ordering a review of immunization practices in other developed countries. The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services noted that the updated recommendations remain aligned with existing insurance coverage and payment policies.

States No Longer Required to Report Immunizations for Children, Pregnant Women
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Dec. 30 that it will no longer require states to report quality measures related to the immunization status of children and pregnant women. States can still report the information voluntarily. The update, along with other changes, were made to the 2026 Child and Adult Core Set Health Care Quality Measures for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. CMS said that it will explore options to facilitate the development of new vaccine measures that capture information on whether parents and families were informed about vaccine choices, safety, side effects and alternative vaccine schedules.