IHA Daily Briefing: April 15

REMINDER: IHA, MAPS PSO Legal Webinar on Patient Safety Protections May 20
Understanding how patient safety activities are protected-and where gaps may exist-is critical for healthcare organizations navigating today's legal and regulatory environment. IHA's patient safety organization (PSO), Midwest Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS), will host a legal webinar from 10-11 a.m. CT on May 20 focused on patient safety activities across health systems and recent case law developments.

The session, open to IHA members and Illinois healthcare providers, will examine how state privilege laws and the federal Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act apply to patient safety work, including when protections for Patient Safety Work Product (PSWP) may be strengthened or challenged. Participants will gain practical insights into sharing PSWP across complex systems, understanding provider designations and reporting structures, and aligning policies to support compliance and reduce legal risk.

Designed for legal counsel, risk management teams, and quality and patient safety professionals, the webinar will offer continuing education credits for nursing and legal professionals.

Click here to register. For the full agenda, click here. For questions, contact [email protected].

IPDH FAST PHACT SESSION: Addressing Alcohol Use in Clinical Practice April 16
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) continues to offer its "FAST PHACT" program, a series of clinician-directed interactive informational sessions targeted toward raising timely awareness of emerging and high-impact public health issues that directly involve clinical care or health system considerations. All healthcare professionals are invited to participate.

The April 16 FAST PHACT session, "From Evidence to Action: Addressing Alcohol Use in Clinical Practice," will take place from noon-1 p.m. CT. Click here to register. The session will cover:

• Current research-based evidence on alcohol's effects on health.

• Effective approaches to discussing alcohol consumption with patients.

• The alcohol surveillance system recently employed by IDPH.

• Facilitators and barriers to alcohol surveillance work in the context of

  public health and clinical care.

• Academic detailing.

• Screening tools for alcohol use disorder and treatment options.

Up to one credit hour of Continuing Medical Education credit is available for those who attend the live webinar and complete a post-webinar survey and quiz.

Save the Date: IDPH's 15th Annual Minority Health Conference Oct. 27-28
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging the public to save the date for its 15th Annual Minority Health Conference on Oct. 27-28. IDPH said the 2026 theme, "Community Over Chaos: The Next 15 Years of Health Equity," reflects a milestone year, building on the last 15 years of progress and looking ahead to the future of health equity in Illinois. The conference brings together public health professionals, community partners, and leaders from across the state to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration, advance equitable health outcomes, and build a more resilient future for Illinois residents. IDPH said additional details, including registration and the call for abstracts, will be shared in the coming months.

Google.org, Johnson & Johnson Foundation to Fund Rural Healthcare AI Training
Google.org and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation yesterday announced a $10 million initiative to train the rural healthcare workforce in artificial intelligence (AI). Each organization has committed $5 million to fund AI literacy training for rural healthcare workers, with the aim of reducing administrative burdens and enhancing patient care. The program will focus on building foundational knowledge to help clinical and administrative staff navigate new technology safely and confidently; support the adoption of AI tools to streamline paperwork and administrative tasks; and collaborate with trusted organizations to ensure training meets local operational realities. The announcement did not include information about the implementation timeline or partner organizations.

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

Merit Medical has issued a letter to affected customers recommending certain Dialysis catheters be removed from where they are used or sold due to a design defect that may cause severe injury or death. More information, including a list of impacted devices, can be found here.

Leading the News

IL bill requiring insurance coverage for preventative heart scans heads to Senate

WAND

The Illinois House unanimously passed legislation Tuesday to require insurance companies to cover preventative heart scans. Sponsors said heart disease is the leading cause of death in Illinois, and many people find out they're at risk when it's too late to act.

Overnight storms leave flooding, damage across Illinois

CBS 2

Residents across Illinois are waking up to storm damage and flooding on Wednesday morning after severe weather overnight. A flood watch remains in effect until Thursday at 1 a.m.

Fallout continues over West Suburban hospital closure, with lawsuit, eviction notices and plea to Pritzker

Chicago Tribune

Fallout continued this week from the abrupt closure of West Suburban Medical Center last month, with the hospital's owner suing his business partner over eviction notices issued to the hospital, and doctors asking Gov. JB Pritzker to intervene and reopen the facility.