Dear ASHHRA Colleagues,

Welcome to winter! Most ASHHRA members are now in full-blown cold winter and the nasty weather it sometimes brings. We also have holidays galore for December and January, though I expect many of the celebrations will be subdued as COVID-19 rears its ugly head again. Help is on the way, and hopefully by the time you read this, some health care providers will be on the cusp of receiving the COVID vaccine.

Managing medical plan trend is top of mind for most HR executives across the country. Large or small, organizations are evaluating multiple solutions for dealing with escalating costs and increasing employee expectations. Understanding the available options like strategic plan design, domestic steerage initiatives, care management/incentives and network considerations are key to developing a sound plan strategy. Using case studies and information from over 300 hospital plans, learn about contemporary trends in medical plan design and how to craft a strategy that meets your organization's needs.

Help us identify the current stigma work in the field so we can amplify your efforts.

Distinguish yourself with certification. The Certified in Healthcare Human Resources (CHHR) is the only designation specifically for health care HR professionals. ASHHRA is currently offering CHHR exam scholarships to members, which covers the cost of the exam. Apply by Dec. 18. 

ASHHRA and American Hospital Association Certification Center (AHA-CC) are seeking volunteers to serve on a Job Analysis Committee. Apply by Dec. 18.

AHA News
Job growth continued in November, but at a slower pace than this summer, according to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The health care field added 46,000 jobs, increasing to nearly 16 million (seasonally adjusted). Hospitals added 4,700 jobs, but employment remains lower than its March 2020 peak. Physicians, dentists and other office-based providers also added jobs in November, while nursing and residential care facilities shed more than 10,000 jobs.

HealthLeaders Media
Before launching interventions to improve interprofessional collaboration in hospitals, leaders should conduct baseline assessments, an expert says.

Modern Healthcare
In this podcast, Modern Healthcare politics and policy reporter Rachel Cohrs spoke with public health reporter Steven Ross Johnson about his coverage of issues of race and diversity this year.

HealthLeaders Media
In many ways, the treatment of chronic conditions helped move the digital health agenda forward–years before we ever heard of COVID-19.

Becker's Hospital Review
Many organizations provide paid paternity leave to workers, but a disconnect between company policy and culture can create stress for working parents, according to Tim Allen, CEO of Care.com, a Massachusetts company that helps families find care for people and their pets. 

Healthcare Dive
Banner Health predicts it will reach 100% capacity within a week and is "putting anybody who's willing to go back into the healthcare setting in the hospital to work," Chief Clinical Officer Marjorie Bessel said.

Fierce Healthcare
Health care revenue cycle departments must revamp strategies for patient financial communications and engagement during the pandemic.

Stress, anxiety, frustration, burnout and feelings of being overwhelmed were the most common feelings reported by those on the front lines.

Healthcare Dive
Two Utah health systems discussed their distribution plans, which will target clinicians on the front lines in the ICU or ER, as well as staff who handle waste.

Becker's Hospital Review