IHA Partner Webinar on Employee Retention Strategies Is Next Week
Workforce wellness programs can have a significant impact on employee satisfaction, performance and retention. Given ongoing shortages of nurses and physician specialties, a complimentary webinar from IHA Strategic Partner Medical Solutions is an opportunity to elevate workforce wellness in your hospital or health system.

The Monday, May 19 webinar, “Workforce Wellness: Effective Approaches to Foster Well-being and Retention in Healthcare," will explore:

• The critical role of mental well-being in workforce retention and satisfaction;
• Strategies to reduce burnout and promote a culture of wellness across healthcare teams; and
• Methods for top-of-license utilization to maximize team impact and support professional fulfillment.

The program, from noon-1 p.m. CT, is open to IHA members and members of other state hospital associations. It will benefit hospital and health system CEOs, CFOs, CNOs and CHROs.

Click here to register for the free webinar. Medical Solutions is a leading healthcare talent ecosystem provider and an IHA Strategic Partner since 2018. The company is also a Gold IHA Corporate Sponsor. See IHA's Medical Solutions flyer.

Contact Tony Lehman at 402-295-3600 or tony.lehman@medicalsolutions.com to learn more about Medical Solutions.

Staff contact: Gary Drain

Healing Communities: Pinckneyville Community Hospital Makes Preventive Care More Accessible
In honor of National Hospital Week, IHA is spotlighting how Illinois hospitals are strengthening community health beyond their four walls. Pinckneyville Community Hospital is doing just that by offering discounted lab screenings four times a year to help residents monitor their health and detect chronic conditions early.

“These low-cost labs are an excellent opportunity for individuals to take charge of their health, detect potential issues early and make informed decisions with their healthcare providers,” said hospital leaders, adding that the screenings “are a great resource for those who may not have regular access to healthcare or simply want to keep a closer eye on their wellness.” Click here to read more about how Pinckneyville Community Hospital is improving the health of those in their community. 

We encourage you to share your hospital’s story, which will be featured on the campaign’s landing page and across IHA’s communication channels. You can also access IHA’s “Healing Communities” toolkit with campaign assets to help you celebrate and showcase the positive impact your hospital or health system has on individual lives and the broader community. For more information contact Valerie Culver. 

HHS, FDA Launch Deregulatory Initiative to Reduce Regulatory Burden
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday announced a Request for Information (RFI) has been issued seeking public input on outdated or unnecessary regulations. The initiative supports President Trump’s Executive Order 14192, which establishes a “10-to-1” rule—requiring the repeal of at least ten existing regulatory actions for every new one proposed. The initiative also introduces a regulatory cost cap on all new regulations of “significantly less than zero,” and broadens the definition of applicable regulatory actions to include guidance documents, policy statements and similar directives. HHS will publish annual reports detailing estimated regulatory costs. A 60-day public comment period opens today through the Regulations.gov docket (AHRQ-2025-0001) or a newly launched online portal at Regulations.gov/Deregulation. 

Hospitals Encouraged to Complete National Behavioral Health Survey
Hospitals and other licensed facilities that offer mental health and substance use disorder treatment services are encouraged to complete the 2025 National Substance Use & Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS), the most comprehensive source of this treatment data in the country.

The annual survey is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the data is used by the agency, other federal, state, and local agencies, and behavioral healthcare professionals to understand treatment availability and identify gaps in our nation’s treatment services. SAMHSA continues to move forward with the survey, following the March 27 announcement that the agency will be absorbed into the newly created Administration for a Healthy America.

Participation helps researchers, policy makers, and facility directors better understand the national treatment resource landscape, and support evidence‐based planning. Participating facilities may be eligible to be listed on FindTreatment.gov, increasing awareness of your services and helping you reach potential clients in your community. To see a PDF of the questionnaire in advance, click here.

Staff contact: Lia Daniels

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it is initiating action to remove concentrated ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children from the market. The agency has set a goal date of October 31 for completing a safety review and public comment period and for taking appropriate action regarding removal of these products from the market.

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA also announced the next steps in Operation Stork Speed—a initiative to ensure the safety, reliability, and nutritional adequacy of infant formula. The FDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) to begin the nutrient review process required by law for infant formula. Currently, infant formula must meet minimum and maximum levels of certain nutrients. While the FDA regularly reviews individual nutrient requirements for infant formula, the announcement said this will be the first comprehensive review since 1998.