Hospital association name change highlights essential services

The National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems announced yesterday its new name: America's Essential Hospitals. Moreover, its research entity was renamed the Essential Hospitals Institute. The hospital group said the name change celebrates its mission and brings attention to the essential services its members contribute to communities across the country. "Entire communities--not just the needy--depend on our hospitals for life-saving care when accidents occur, when natural disasters strike, when public health threats emerge," President and CEO Bruce Siegel, M.D. said in the announcement. "These needs will not go away as we expand healthcare coverage." Announcement