What are hospital engagement networks (HENs)?

In 2011, the federal government launched a Partnership for Patients initiative with the goal of cutting back on hospital-acquired conditions and decreasing 30-day readmissions.  Part of the $1 billion initiative was the establishment of 26 hospital engagement networks (HENs), which include hospital associations and health systems.  Here is a list of the 26 HENs:

• Ascension Health
• Carolinas HealthCare System
• Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation
• Dignity Health
• Georgia Hospital Association Research and Education Foundation
• Healthcare Association of New York State
• Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET)
• Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
• Intermountain Healthcare
• Iowa Healthcare Collaborative
• Joint Commission Resources
• LifePoint Hospitals
• Michigan Health & Hospital Association
• Minnesota Hospital Association
• National Public Health and Hospital Institute
• New Jersey Hospital Association
• Nevada Hospital Association
• North Carolina Hospital Association
• Ohio Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety
• Ohio Hospital Association
• Premier
• Tennessee Hospital Association
• Texas Center for Quality & Patient Safety
• UHC
• VHA
• Washington State Hospital Association

The HENs have begun to put together networks of affiliated hospitals.  For example, click here for a list of the hospitals that are part of the Joint Commission Resource’s HEN: http://www.jcrinc.com/HEN-Participating-Hospitals/  Here is information about the HRET HEN program: http://www.hret.org/quality/projects/hospital-engagement-network.shtml

Source: McKinney, M.  Laying the groundwork for quality.  Modern Healthcare;42(21):28-30, May 21, 2012; and, US Department of Health & Human Services.  Partnership for Patients initiative to improve hospital care.  Press Release, Dec. 14, 2011.  Click here for full text: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/12/20111214i.html  Posted by AHA Resource Center, (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org