President’s Blog

Highlights from MHA Annual Membership Meeting

More than 150 hospital and health system leaders attended MHA’s Annual Membership Meeting June 12-13 in Baltimore. We were joined by an impressive set of speakers, including special guest Gov. Wes Moore, and had an opportunity to celebrate our hospitals’ achievements and honor our legislative champions.

Governance Changes Drive Mission Forward

MHA recently made several changes to modernize our governance structure and ensure the Association remains nimble, responsive, and well-positioned to address the emerging challenges and opportunities in health care. MHA held elections during our Annual Membership Meeting last month, welcomed a new Board of Trustees, and implemented significant governance changes to drive your priorities forward.

Gov. Wes Moore to Kick off MHA Annual Meeting

Maryland’s history-making governor, Wes Moore, plans to kick off our Annual Membership Meeting June 13, 2023. We look forward to an energetic, passionate address about his priorities for health and health care and how they align with our shared mission. His insights and vision for the future of health care have been well received, and we welcome this opportunity to show the Governor all we are doing to support a Better Maryland.

Showing Gratitude

In the weeks before National Hospital Week, which begins today, MHA asked Marylanders to share how the care you and your hospitals deliver every day has made their life better.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Forensic nurse examiners care for patients who are survivors of violence. They improve the health of their communities by building partnerships and strengthening violence prevention and awareness.

A Winning Session for Hospitals, Health Care

The 2023 legislative session successfully concluded Monday with numerous wins for hospitals and health care in our state. Early advocacy, outreach, and education to and with lawmakers ensured all the hospital field priority bills to strengthen the hospital workforce passed overwhelmingly. That includes legislation to reform Maryland’s Board of Nursing, modernize physician credentialing, and invest in loan repayment.

Ongoing Hospital Financial Strain

The most recent KaufmanHall National Hospital Flash Report points to persistent and ongoing financial challenges for hospitals.

The report reflects what you are seeing in your own organizations—specifically double-digit wage increases to curb reliance on contract labor, sharp upticks in supplies and drugs, and increased costs to ensure physician access.

Cracks Starting to Show

Your hospitals, like others nationwide, unfortunately are now accustomed to operating under extreme staffing shortages. Once-in-a-lifetime challenges have strained your workforce, but for the most part remain hidden from your patients.

A Way Forward

The average wait time in a Maryland hospital emergency department—roughly 3.5 hours by one measure—has been in the spotlight, both in Annapolis and in the media.
For a state considered a national leader in EMS and trauma care, our ED wait times have consistently been among the longest in the nation. Some of the causes are known, and some we are still uncovering.