Join OHA's celebration of health care excellence at our annual Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, May 20, during the 110th Annual Meeting & Education Summit. The event will honor leadership award recipients and recognize nominees and the winner of the Health Care Worker of the Year Award. Held at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, the evening will feature a welcome reception, awards gala and a red-carpet photo area for attendees. Hospitals are encouraged to support their nominees by covering the $85 dinner cost and registering attendees as a group. Registration is required for all attendees and seating reservations are due by May 2. Register…

Ohio’s infant mortality rate has dropped to 6.5 per 1,000 live births, the lowest in two decades, according to preliminary state data cited in a Cleveland.com report. State leaders aim to expand programs like Cradle Cincinnati, which has successfully reduced infant deaths through community-driven support, statewide. Gov. Mike DeWine’s final state budget proposes $36 million to expand home visiting services and $16 million for parenting and pregnancy programs. OHA and member maternity hospitals in Ohio collaborate with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and other state and national organizations to lead statewide strategies to improve maternal health in the state.…

ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare, a national coalition led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, recently unveiled a new initiative to empower health workers to access the mental health care and support they may need, while equipping employers, policymakers and other decision-makers with resources to eliminate systemic barriers to mental health care. Building on the success of the coalition’s Wellbeing First Champion Challenge program, Health Workers Have The Right, Too brings together the health care community to change stigmatizing policies and practices that discourage health workers from seeking mental health care.

Over 80% of Ohio's delivery hospitals were recently honored with the Maternity Care Best Practice Award 2024 Bag Free Recognition for eliminating free infant formula samples and branded promotional materials. Presented by First Steps for Healthy Babies, an OHA program in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Breastfeeding Alliance and the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association, this designation supports hospitals in aligning with Baby-Friendly USA certification standards and efforts to reduce infant mortality. Find more information about the program and view a full list of hospitals that earned the recognition here. NEXT DEADLINE APRIL 1 FOR FIRST STEPS RECOGNITION The deadline for hospitals to submit…