48 health systems call for telehealth expansion

Several dozen healthcare organizations, including 48 health systems, have written a letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to extend telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. The pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities are set to expire Sept. 30 without an extension. “While we strongly support making Medicare telehealth access permanent, if that’s not achievable at…

How Cleveland Clinic rolled out ambient AI: 6 notes

Cleveland Clinic launched an ambient AI scribe for all of the health system’s U.S. outpatient clinicians in spring 2025. Here’s how the rollout went, according to an Aug. 14 Cleveland Clinic article: 1. In 2024, Cleveland Clinic piloted five ambient listening vendors with the help of 250 physicians representing over…

Boston Children’s launches AI lab

Boston Children’s has launched one of the first labs to use AI to diagnose and manage pediatric heart conditions. The new Congenital Heart Artificial Intelligence Lab brings together cardiac specialists, computer scientists and data experts to advance tools such as AI-powered echocardiograms. The lab also incorporates data from Boston Children’s…

How Ascension’s largest hospital achieved level 1 trauma status

Ascension St. John Medical Center recently became the first and only verified level 1 trauma center in Tulsa, Okla., marking a significant expansion in the state’s access to comprehensive, lifesaving care for the most severe injuries. The hospital is the largest inpatient facility within the St. Louis-based Ascension health system,…

Hospitals brace for more high-risk pregnancies

Hospitals and health systems are preparing for a rise in high-risk pregnancies, even as many labor and delivery units shut down. Vizient company Sg2 projected that the proportion of high-risk pregnancies will accelerate alongside a rise in obesity-related comorbidities, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, part…

Advocate Health investing $3B across rural footprint: 8 things to know

Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health is investing more than $3 billion across its rural operations to preserve care access, expand services and build a sustainable pipeline of providers for the future. The investment comes at a time when nearly half of rural hospitals are operating at a loss and 800 are…

‘The status quo is not sustainable’: ACA subsidy expiration would buckle EDs, limit access for all

The potential expiration of the ACA premium tax credits at the end of 2025 could lead to a significant increase in emergency department visits, exacerbate provider burnout and drive up healthcare costs for everyone — not just those who would lose coverage. “This isn’t just a policy change that’s going…

CHS shed 39 hospitals since 2020

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems signed a letter of intent Aug. 6 to sell three Pennsylvania facilities to hospital turnaround firm Tenor Health Foundation. Since 2020, CHS has announced or completed the sale of 39 hospitals: 2025 Regional Hospital of Scranton (Pa.)* Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton (Pa.)* Wilkes-Barre (Pa.)…

HHS revives childhood vaccine task force: 6 notes

HHS has reinstated the Safer Childhood Vaccines task force, the agency said in an Aug. 14 news release. Here are six things to know: 1. The task force, created by Congress, was originally disbanded in 1998. 2. In its new iteration, the panel will include senior leadership from the National…

65 hospitals, health systems cutting jobs

A number of hospitals and health systems are reducing their workforces or jobs amid financial and operational challenges. Below are workforce reduction efforts or job eliminations announced in 2025. Editor’s Note: This webpage was created Jan. 22 and updated on Aug. 15. August 1. Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare cut an unspecified…

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