Rebuilding Community Trust: Rural Hospitals and the Power of Storytelling
Trust in public institutions has eroded—even among the most revered local institutions. The
2025 IHA Small & Rural Hospitals Annual Meeting on June 12 will tackle this challenge head-on, as Oscar-winning broadcaster and Missouri farmer Andrew McCrea delivers the keynote address.
McCrea’s address “Beyond the Hospital Walls: Building Trust and Transforming Communities,” will serve as a call to action for hospital leaders to foster deeper connections with the communities they serve.
As host of the nationally syndicated “American Countryside” radio program, McCrea has spent decades sharing stories of resilience, leadership and rural revitalization. He is the author of six books, including “The Total Town Makeover,” and speaks regularly to audiences nationwide about community transformation and connection.
Along with McCrea’s session on community trust building, this year’s annual meeting will cover pressing concerns of behavioral health services, federal regulatory and reimbursement changes, and Medicare Advantage underpayments and nonpayment.
Public Health Officials Confirm Two Measles Cases in Cook County
Yesterday, the Chicago Dept. of Public Health (CDPH) and Cook County Dept. of Public Health (CCDPH) confirmed the first two measles cases in Cook County this year—both in adults, one from suburban Cook County and one from Chicago. The health departments are working together to identify and notify those who may have been exposed. For more information about potential public exposure locations and additional guidance and resources,
click here to view the joint press release from CDPH, CCDPH and the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH). Last week, IDPH
reported the first measles case of 2025 was confirmed in Southern Illinois.
These are the first reported cases of measles since an outbreak in Chicago in early 2024 that resulted in 67 cases. However, IDPH said it is closely monitoring the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, which have resulted in more than 700 confirmed cases, including three deaths. Nationally, the CDC is
reporting nearly 900 cases of measles have been confirmed in 30 U.S. jurisdictions.
Nursing Leaders: Register for IHA’s Nursing Care Cmt. Co-Chair Forum
As part of IHA’s continued support of nursing leadership in hospitals, nursing leaders and their Nursing Care Committee co-chairs are invited to participate in the IHA Nursing Care Committee Co-Chair Forum.
This forum convenes regularly to review the background and requirements of the Nurse Staffing Improvement Act and to explore available resources that support hospitals in implementing the law’s requirements. Through shared learning and collaboration, the forum aims to strengthen the work of Nursing Care Committees and help them reach their full potential.
We invite the nursing leaders and committee co-chairs in your organization to
click here to register and participate in our upcoming May-January meetings. We also encourage you to share the registration information with others in your organization who lead your nursing care committee’s efforts.
IHA thanks you for your dedication and support of nurses across the state. If you have any questions, please reach out to
NurseStaffing@team-iha.org.
IHA Webinar May 29: Free Take-Home Naloxone Kits for Patients
Naloxone is a proven, lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. A
complimentary IHA webinar on May 29 to explore how hospitals can provide take-home naloxone kits at no cost to patients at risk of overdose.
Click here to register.
The webinar, “Take-Home Naloxone: Creating Access & Saving Lives,” is open to hospital and health system staff involved in naloxone distribution. Expert speakers from the Illinois Dept. of Human Services and The Naloxone Project will discuss the overdose crisis in Illinois and the importance of trauma-informed care; explain how to implement take-home naloxone using the enhanced Drug Overdose Prevention Program reporting portal; and share lessons learned and strategies to overcome common implementation barriers.
CME and nursing CE credits are available for those attending the live event. The webinar recording will be sent to all registrants. Contact IHA’s Quality and Patient Safety Team at
QualityPatientSafety@team-iha.org.
