IHA Daily Briefing: November 5

IHA Preparedness Exercise: Over 130 Hospitals Participate in MCI Scenario

With cracks in the nation's aviation system raising concerns, today's IHA Emergency Preparedness Exercise presented the highly plausible scenario of an emergency commercial aircraft landing near a local hospital. The crash, requiring mass casualty incident (MCI) response, was triggered by a cyberattack impacting air traffic systems across Illinois and worsened by inclement weather. Debris-filled roads reduced access for emergency medical services.

This multilayered scenario tested teams from over 130 Illinois hospitals as they practiced and refined their MCI response plans during the three-and-a-half-hour simulation. Hospital leaders and staff focused on MCI protocols, patient surge, safety, communications, family reunification, and recovery and resilience plans.

In the exercise's opening remarks, IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi noted that preparedness isn't an optional skill in healthcare-it's a responsibility. "The healthcare landscape is fragile, tested daily by workforce strain, cyber threats, rising workplace violence, shortages in essential supplies, and disasters that grow in frequency and scale. Despite this, Illinois hospitals continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience, and resilience starts with planning."

IHA's Keneatha Johnson, MPH, Assistant Vice President of Safety and Emergency Preparedness, led the exercise with Stephen Weiler, IPEM, MEP, CPP, CPD, Manager of Resiliency Services at Tarian.

"Today is a true example of partnership in action. Let's dig in and celebrate what's working but also lean into the challenges," Johnson said to kick off the exercise. "The goal isn't perfection. The goal is what's working well and how can we strengthen operations."

In addition to hospitals and partner organizations, representatives from several governmental agencies attended the exercise, including the Illinois Dept. of Public Health, Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, Chicago Dept. of Aviation, Cook County Dept. of Public Health, and Versiti Blood Center of Illinois.

Staff contact: Keneatha Johnson

FINAL RULE: Certain Employer Activities Could Void Employee Loan Forgiveness

On Oct. 31, the U.S. Dept. of Education (DOE) issued a Final Rule affecting the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Under the PSLF program, employees of certain government and nonprofit organizations can have their student loans forgiven after making 10 years of qualifying monthly payments. The Final Rule changes the program by excluding an organization as a "qualified employer" under the PSLF if federal officials determine that the organization engages in activity with a "substantial illegal purpose." Such activity can include, among other things, "aiding and abetting violations of Federal immigration laws," such as impeding ICE activities; "engaging in the chemical and surgical castration or mutilation of children in violation of federal or state law," such as carrying out gender affirming care; and "engaging in a pattern of aiding and abetting illegal discrimination," such as unlawful DEI activities. The DOE issued the Final Rule to comply with the President's Executive Order issued on March 7, which ordered DOE to modify the PSLF program.

On Monday, two separate lawsuits were filed in federal court in Massachusetts, seeking to invalidate the Final Rule. The first, Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. DOE, was filed by group of 20 states, including Illinois. The second, National Council of Nonprofits v. McMahon, was filed by a coalition of cities, including Chicago, as well as nonprofits and labor organizations.

The Final Rule does not become effective until July 1, 2026.

REGISTER: Chicago Disease Control & Antimicrobial Stewardship Conference

The Chicago Dept. of Public Health (CDPH) is holding a free, two-day antimicrobial stewardship conference designed for public health professionals, clinicians and researchers on Nov. 20-21 at the UIC Student Center East in Chicago. CDPH's "Disease Control & One Health" conference will feature disease control and antimicrobial stewardship tracks, allowing attendees to customize their learning experience based on their area of focus or attend both days for a comprehensive view of current strategies in infectious disease prevention. Attendees can earn 6 hours of continuing education credits on Day 1 and 5.25 hours on Day 2, applicable for physicians, veterinarians, pharmacists, nurses, and infection preventionists.

For more information please visit CDPH's conference website here. Click here to register. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

Utility Bill Assistance Now Open to All Households

As of Nov. 1, Illinois' Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is accepting applications from all eligible low-income households to pay for home energy services. The application process opened on Oct. 1 for adults age 60 and older, individuals with a disability, families with children under age 5, and households that have been disconnected from their utilities or energy vendors, have a disconnect date within seven days, or whose propane tanks are less than 25% full. Click here for more information about LIHEAP, including guidance on how to register for energy assistance and eligibility requirements.