Illinois Health and Hospital Association
03/26/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/26/2026 14:53
IHA Daily Briefing: March 26
Strategies to Support Healthcare Teams - Webinar April 22
Clinicians, staff, and leaders in healthcare face daily pressures-rapid decision making, intense emotional demands, and high stakes environments. These realities place considerable strain on individuals and teams.
A complimentary IHA webinar, " How We Support Each Other: Strategies for Healthcare Leaders and Teams ," on April 22 will help healthcare organizations cultivate stronger communication, resilience, and psychological safety. Saloumeh DeGood, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Evolve Wellness, will lead the 11 a.m.-noon CT session, highlighting:
- Proven strategies leaders can use to reduce stress and reinforce psychological safety in clinical settings.
- Practical techniques for supporting colleagues in ways that strengthen teamwork, morale, and overall performance.
- How compassionate leadership, psychological safety, and peer support form the foundation of effective team collaboration.
All healthcare providers and wellness leaders are encouraged to attend. Please share the registration information with others across your organization. Nurse continuing education credit is available for this program.
CMS Launches ASPIRE Model for Youth in Medicaid, CHIP
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center this week announced the launch of a new Accelerating State Pediatric Innovation Readiness and Effectiveness (ASPIRE) Model under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program for children and youth up to age 21 who either have or are at risk of developing complex medical and behavioral needs. Under ASPIRE, CMS will select up to five state Medicaid agencies to participate in the model, which will run for 10 years. States will partner with accountable entities responsible for managing total healthcare costs for covered children, such as managed care plans and accountable care organizations. CMS said it will release a Notice of Funding Opportunity later this year.
KFF: 1 in 3 Adults Using AI Chatbots for Healthcare Advice
A recent KFF poll found that around one-third of adults have used AI in the past year for health information and advice, including about three in 10 people who have used AI tools for information about their physical health. Additionally, one in six people sought information on mental health information. KFF found that AI use for health information is on par with those who turn to social media, but lags behind those who say they sought health information from healthcare providers and internet search engines.
Most users (65%) cite the desire for quick and immediate advice is a "major reason" for turning to AI for health information, while many also said they want to look up information before seeing a provider (41%) or because they feel more comfortable looking up health questions privately (36%). About one in five AI health users cite not having a healthcare provider or not being able to get an appointment as a primary reason they used AI for health advice. Four in ten (38%) AI health users ages 18 to 29 cited the same reason.
The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.
Briefly Noted
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Avlayah to treat certain individuals with Hunter syndrome. According to the FDA, Hunter syndrome is a rare inherited lysosomal disorder in which sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycans build up within the cells' lysosomes. This affects physical and mental development by causing abnormalities in the skeleton, heart, respiratory system, brain, and other organs. Avlayah, an IV infusion given once weekly, is approved to treat neurologic manifestations of Hunter syndrome when the medication is started in presymptomatic or symptomatic pediatric patients weighing at least 5 kilograms prior to advanced neurologic impairment.
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Illinois Health and Hospital Association published this content on March 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 26, 2026 at 20:53 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]