Category Archives: Business

Press Releases from the Business World. Announcements, Product releases, Appointments.

Alister Campbell Joins the Finaeo Board of Directors


Alister Campbell, Insurance Industry Executive

Alister has an incredible wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the insurance supply chain. We’re extremely fortunate to be working with Alister to create the future of our industry

Finaeo announced today that Alister Campbell, a 30+ year insurance industry veteran, has joined the company’s Board of Directors. Previously CEO of several large insurers including Zurich Canada and The Guarantee Company of North America, Campbell is currently also serving as CEO of PACICC, Canada’s P&C insurance insolvency resolution authority.

Launched in 2016, Finaeo’s digital marketplace connects carriers, brokers and their clients to streamline and accelerate the distribution of life and health insurance.

Finaeo’s end-to-end platform alleviates process inefficiencies for carriers and brokers, while reinventing the client experience. The company’s API technology is built in collaboration with insurance carriers to transform the way policies are sold, and ensure products are digitally accessible to brokers and their clients.

With the addition of Campbell to Finaeo’s Board of Directors, the company will gain new insight into addressing the specific needs of insurers and navigating the internal complexities of the insurance supply chain.

“Client expectations have evolved, and the industry needs to develop a different way of creating value. Our goal is to help carriers digitally distribute while augmenting the way brokers serve today’s digital customer.” – Aly Dhalla, CEO and Co-Founder, Finaeo. “Alister has an incredible wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the insurance supply chain. We’re extremely fortunate to be working with Alister to create the future of our industry.”

Alister’s experience spans many facets of insurance, including Property & Casualty, Personal, Life and Health as well as Travel insurance. In addition to his prior roles as CEO, Alister was also previously President, Personal Insurance at Zurich Canada, and served as Chair of World Travel Protection. He currently serves on the Board of the Global Risk Institute in Financial Services and as Chair of the International Forum of Insurance Guarantee Schemes.

“Finaeo’s vision for creating a seamless digital flow from prospect-to-policy is inspiring… and doable. However, insurers have to balance the limitations of their legacy systems with the costs and risks associated with migrating to the new digital age.” Says Campbell, “I have lived that tension for years and have seen the tangible benefits from driving an execution-focused change agenda. I look forward to helping Aly and his team deliver on their vision for brokers and insurers!”

In 2019, Finaeo closed a $5.35M funding round to further support product development and market expansion. The company has since developed an end-to-end carrier integration model and is continuing to expand its broker-enabled distribution network across North America.

More about Finaeo:

Finaeo is a venture-backed insurtech building the digital fabric to connect and power life and health insurance, globally. Finaeo connects insurance carriers, brokers and their clients through an integrated marketplace to streamline the “prospect-to-policy” experience. To learn more, visit https://finaeo.com/

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Author Jen Groover Launches New Self-Help Book


“The MORE Method teaches people how to quickly get more of everything they want in life,” – Jen Groover

Entrepreneur and leading human potential influencer Jen Groover announces the publication of her book, The MORE Method: The Simple Formula for Getting More of Everything You Desire in Life.

Released by Her Purpose Press by CHS, an initiative to publish women writers through the non-profit Change Her Story, the book embodies a proprietary, results-driven behavioral modification strategy created by Groover. It is a culmination of her unique, interdisciplinary approach to developing human potential, spanning more than 20 years’ experience.

“The MORE Method teaches people how to quickly get more of everything they want in life,” Groover says. “The book guides the reader to become the best version of themselves by walking them through a process to make the mental and emotional shifts needed to evolve. It helps the reader identify and uproot the limited beliefs and self-sabotaging behaviors that hold them back from their desires, while teaching how to increase ones sense of self-worth, create more meaningful relationships, increase ones energy, and overall well-being for a more fulfilling life.

The book’s teachings are based on four key elements of the acronym M.O.R.E: Mindfulness in everything you do, Optimization of body and brain, Responsive versus reactive lifestyle and Excelling in every aspect of life. “This framework helps anyone at any stage of life, get to the next level of where they want to be.” Groover says.

This proven methodology “is suitable for people of various stages of life, educational backgrounds and life experiences,” Groover says, adding the lessons “transcend economic and social boundaries.”

Her unique formula comes from her diverse background of teaching the inter-connectivity of psychology, emotional intelligence, nutrition, physiology, neuroscience, philosophy, quantum physics, metaphysics and Buddhism in a fun, story-telling style.

Groover, who is based in New York City, brings a wealth of experience to her book. An international speaker, author, designer, inventor and TV personality, Groover was tagged by Success magazine as a “one-woman brand” and a “creativity and innovation guru” by Entrepreneur magazine.

She has been a top business and lifestyle contributor and content creator for major television networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News. She and her products have been featured on QVC.

A retired national level fitness competitor, Groover is a highly sought-after international speaker and trainer whose audiences have included chambers of commerce members, Fortune 500 companies and universities and business and wellness organizations.

She also serves as a transformational coach for anyone who wants to improve where they are in life–in health, career, finances, relationships or personal growth.

Groover has contributed articles to several prominent publications, including The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur magazine, O!, the Oprah magazine, Redbook, People and US Weekly.

She can be reached at jen@jengroover.com and through her website, http://www.jengroover.com.

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Distinguished Programs Promotes Insurance Veteran Renée A. McFadden


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Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager, today officially announces the promotion of Renée A. McFadden. McFadden, a member of Distinguished Programs for more than 18 years, will now take over as vice president and regional sales executive in New Jersey and eastern Long Island, including Queens and Brooklyn.

“Renée brings significant experience and a strong reputation to her new role with Distinguished Programs,” said Kurt Meister, senior vice president of business development at Distinguished Programs. “Time and time again she has provided clients in the real estate and hospitality sectors with high level market knowledge. We are proud of the work she has done, and we look forward to her continued contributions across all of our insurance products.”

McFadden previously was responsible for sales around Distinguished Programs real estate and community association programs. In her new role, McFadden will be responsible for sales of the organizations complete suite of programs and services within her designated region.

In 2016, McFadden was named Industry Professional of the Year by Professional Insurance Agents.

Prior to her role with Distinguished Programs, McFadden worked at RSA as a multi-line underwriter and Wausau Insurance before that, as both a property underwriter and paralegal.

Based in New York, McFadden is a graduate of St. John’s University in Queens, New York. She holds the designations of Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Programs Leader, and serves as board of directors executive vice president for the Insurance Brokers Association of New York.

About Distinguished Programs

Distinguished Programs is a leading national insurance Program Manager providing specialized insurance programs to brokers and agents with specific expertise in Real Estate, Community Associations, Cultural & Historic Properties and Hospitality & Restaurants. Property and liability products are distributed through a national network of agents and brokers. Serving the same core markets and partnering with the most stable and reputable carriers, Distinguished Programs’ high limit umbrella programs remain the clear choice in its areas of specialty for superior coverage, competitive pricing, and attentive service. Through thoughtful innovation, stemming back to 1987, Distinguished Programs fosters growth and opportunities for its brokers, carriers, and employees. http://www.distinguished.com.

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Ovation Travel Group to Dramatically Increase West Coast Presence; Aanchal Gandhi Joins Ovation as Vice President to Lead Growth Efforts


Given Ovation Travel Group’s large existing book of luxury leisure and corporate business in New York and London, along with an enviable amount already in LA, we believe it is critical for us to have a heightened physical presence in California.

Ovation Travel Group, one of the largest independently owned travel management and luxury leisure travel companies headquartered in the US, is today publicly unveiling its vision for expansion through a larger footprint in the western United States, where it will increase the number of independent advisors throughout the region. To develop and lead Ovation’s anticipated growth there, Beverly Hills-based Aanchal Gandhi is joining the company in the newly-created role of Vice President of Leisure and Independent Advisors, West Coast.

Advisor recruitment on the West Coast, along with the expansion initiatives, will be overseen by Ms. Gandhi, who officially joined the company on January 6. Having grown to become one of the largest US members of both Virtuoso and BCD, Ovation Travel Group is actively seeking to invite qualifying advisors – throughout the United States, and especially on the West Coast – to consider joining the fiercely independent organization. Qualifying advisors should possess travel expertise in luxury leisure, entertainment and/or corporate travel, the three prevailing travel disciplines for which Ovation is best known.

“Ovation Travel Group has long had a presence on the West Coast thanks to our increasing ranks of advisors specializing in our trio of core travel competencies who are already based there. As the number of advisors there continues to multiply, we are proud to further address their needs by formalizing our presence there. In turn, we have great expectations that our new Los Angeles area focus will ultimately rival our thriving operations in New York and London,” explained Paul Metselaar, CEO and Chairman of Ovation Travel Group. “As such, we are very pleased to cordially invite savvy travel advisors who are seeking a new home to consider joining us at Ovation.”

“Given Ovation Travel Group’s large existing book of luxury leisure and corporate business in New York and London, along with an enviable amount already in LA, we believe it is critical for us to have a heightened physical presence in California. That is why we are so thrilled to welcome Aanchal Gandhi into the Ovation family. She has burnished her reputation in the region through her expertise primarily in those segments, as well as working in entertainment travel, thus perfectly reflecting our company’s primary areas of focus,” noted Gina Gabbard, Senior Vice President of Leisure & Independent Advisors, and to whom Gandhi will report. “Aanchal will further develop and cultivate Ovation’s cadre of exceptional advisors throughout the West Coast, and she will also oversee our search for a regional headquarters in the Los Angeles area befitting both our invaluable advisors and clientele.”

Gandhi comes to Ovation directly from eleven years as an independent advisor with Protravel International. There, she served in its offices, first in New York, then in London, and most recently in Beverly Hills. In 2009, Gandhi was honored with Travel Agent magazine’s prestigious “30under30” award. As a millennial leader, she has worked extensively to champion this new generation of travel advisors in giving them a voice and seat at the table.

Prior to entering the travel industry, Gandhi was in equity sales for Goldman Sachs from 2004-2008. Born in Mumbai and raised in Hong Kong and Singapore, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science from Tulane University in New Orleans.

“I am thrilled by the opportunity to help build a home for Ovation’s stellar reputation on the West Coast. As a true leader in travel, along with its incredibly professional, yet caring leadership team, Ovation is well poised to attract the exceptional caliber of talent necessary to fuel our growth,” stated Gandhi. “One of India’s most influential business leaders, Dhirubhai Ambani, once said, ‘If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs.’ After making my dreams come true through my years as an independent advisor, I could not be more excited to help other travel advisors build their dreams as part of Ovation. My experience from Wall Street taught me to be attentive to the needs of my clients, and I look forward to serving my new clients – advisors from the West Coast – through my new role with Ovation.”

Ovation’s luxury leisure travel division is inviting independent advisors to learn how to qualify for its program by visiting OvationTravel.com/Become-an-Independent.

About Ovation

Ovation Travel Group, whose flagship brand, Lawyers Travel, began operations 35 years ago, is one of the largest independently owned travel companies headquartered in the US. Ovation is a $1.4 billion travel company with travel consultants in more than 30 locations throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Ovation is committed to providing exceptional service and unforgettable luxury leisure travel experiences for its clientele. Its trusted advisors act as a one-stop shop source for the best value and candid, personalized advice. From traditional getaways to exotic adventures, Ovation’s leisure travel consultants develop the right vacation experiences for its clients year-round. For more information, please visit https://www.ovationtravel.com.

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Car Insurance Tips 2020 – How To Select The Best Coverage


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“Obtaining a better car insurance plan is not that hard anymore. There are many useful methods that can help drivers save money on car insurance,” said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents several tips that can help drivers that want to obtain lower car insurance expenses.

For more info and free quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/top-tips-for-choosing-the-best-car-insurance-plan/

One of the biggest mistakes any driver can do is no scan the insurance market on a regular basis. In the past, drivers could have spent days in order to obtain several insurance quotes, but today, with the help of the internet, drivers only need several minutes to obtain multiple car insurance quotes in order to compare. In many cases drivers can save hundreds of dollars each year if they compare several quotes.

To obtain better car insurance plans, policyholders can do the following:

  • Always get car insurance quotes from local insurance companies. The local departments of motor vehicle website contain information about the car insurance companies that are authorized to sell insurance policies. Checking this info will help drivers avoid scammers. Drivers can obtain trusty online quotes from brokerage websites that ask for their ZIP code or address. All they have to do is to complete an online questionnaire with the correct details in order to obtain multiple quotes to compare.
  • Protect the no-claim bonus (NCB). A long no-claim bonus will significantly lower the insurance premiums of any driver. Depending on the insurance company, the no-claim bonus can be obtained if a driver made no claims in the pest three of five years.
  • Select higher deductibles. One of the easiest ways to save money on car insurance is by agreeing to pay more towards accident repairs when it happens. However, drivers should ensure they have enough money if they are required to make a claim.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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Distinguished Programs Promotes New England Sales Executive


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Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager, today officially announces the promotion of Mamadou Bah to Regional Sales Executive. With more than two years of experience at Distinguished Programs, Bah will now be responsible for the New England region. His promotion comes as Distinguished Programs begins the strategic expansion of its sales team in 2020.

“Mamadou’s professionalism and attention to detail have impressed us during his tenure with Distinguished Programs,” noted Kurt Meister, senior vice president of business development at Distinguished Programs. “His mastery of the products and services we offer has been evident in his sales track record, and his personality makes him a natural in a competitive space where he continues to thrive.”

Bah previously was responsible for sales involving Distinguished Programs real estate and community association programs in New York State. As the regional sales executive for the New England region, Bah will handle sales of the organization’s complete suite of programs and services.

Prior to his role with Distinguished Programs, Bah worked as an intern at BikeLane Solutions and as a research analyst intern at Coldwell Banker Commercial.

Based in Boston, Bah is a graduate of Trinity College-Hartford in Connecticut.

About Distinguished Programs

Distinguished Programs is a leading national insurance Program Manager providing specialized insurance programs to brokers and agents with specific expertise in Real Estate, Community Associations, Cultural & Historic Properties and Hospitality & Restaurants. Property and liability products are distributed through a national network of agents and brokers. Serving the same core markets and partnering with the most stable and reputable carriers, Distinguished Programs’ high limit umbrella programs remain the clear choice in its areas of specialty for superior coverage, competitive pricing, and attentive service. Through thoughtful innovation, stemming back to 1987, Distinguished Programs fosters growth and opportunities for its brokers, carriers, and employees. http://www.distinguished.com.

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PHI Announces Appointment of Oil and Gas Industry Veteran Patrick Carey Lowe to Board of Directors


PHI announced the appointment of Patrick “Carey” Lowe to its Board of Directors. A respected leader in oil and gas services, Mr. Lowe will serve the board in many capacities in addition to supporting the company’s profitable growth, sustainability and safety initiatives.

PHI announced the appointment of Patrick “Carey” Lowe to its Board of Directors. A respected leader in oil and gas services, Mr. Lowe will serve the board in many capacities in addition to supporting the company’s profitable growth, sustainability and safety initiatives. Mr. Lowe’s unique background and international assignments augment the board’s expertise and will help augment the leadership team as they continue to build upon the company’s recent achievements.

“We are honored to have a leader with the expertise and vision of Carey join our board,” said Scott McCarty, Chairman, PHI. “With over thirty years of success in the ever-evolving international oil and gas services industry, Carey will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to build on our leadership position domestically as well as internationally. His history of success in the industry, as well as his shared belief in our values and our unique approach to safety, align with our business and culture priorities.”

Mr. Lowe has managed worldwide drilling operations for major organizations in the oil and gas space, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Valaris (formerly Ensco). He served as Ensco’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; Executive Vice President for Investor Relations, Strategy and Human Resources; and Senior Vice President of the company’s eastern hemisphere, where he was part of the M&A team as well as responsible for safety, health and environmental matters. Prior to joining Ensco, Mr. Lowe spent nearly 30 years in operational and international drilling-related management positions with companies such as Occidental Petroleum in Latin America and the Middle East, as well as Sedco Forex and Schlumberger Oilfield Services in North and South America, and the Middle East.

“Throughout his career, Carey has proven himself to be a strong and effective leader through his work in improving safety, optimizing operations, and increasing efficiencies and drilling performance,” said Mr. McCarty. “We look forward to his contributions to the organization and to our customers.”

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Car Insurance 2020 Tips – How Telematics Can Help Drivers Get Better Car Insurance Rates


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“Many insurance companies are offering usage-based insurance. However, you should carefully analyze if you can save money with your driving habits,” said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that explains how telematics devices can help drivers pay lower car insurance rates.

For more info and free quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-to-save-money-on-car-insurance-with-the-help-of-telematics/

Installing telematics devices is a growing trend in the auto insurance industry. A telematics device can be used to track the customer’s driving habits and monthly mileage. The data gathered by a telematics device can help drivers gain substantial discounts.

Before installing a telematics device, drivers should consider the following:


  • Enrolling in UBI programs is free. Many insurance companies are offering usage-based programs and drivers can join them without paying any fee. Some insurers will send the telematics device for free, while others will charge a small fee. Drivers who have good driving habits and are driving fewer miles than average can save quite a lot on their insurance policies.
  • Telematics will help drivers become eligible for low-mileage discount. The premiums will increase if the telematics device shows that a driver is driving more miles than what is specified in the insurance application. Drivers who use their vehicles a lot during the weekend can experience a hike in their premiums. To save money on insurance, drivers should join a usage-based program that is short and they should try to drive their vehicles less often while the telematics device is installed.
  • Teen drivers will be helped to pay cheaper premiums if they are good drivers. Young drivers pay a lot on their premiums. Young drivers are usually struggling to find better insurance deals. Usage-based programs can help young drivers who have good driving habits to obtain better car insurance deals.
  • Bad driving habits will increase the cost of insurance. Once the telematics device is installed, it will begin to track every move the policyholder makes. Telematics devices will track multiple driving habits like speeding, hard braking, or cornering. Drivers who display bad driving habits can have their premiums increased.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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New Chief Operating Officer at Integrate Autism Employment Advisors


Ian Bazzoli, COO at Integrate Autism Employment Advisors

“I see neurodiversity employment as a growing focus of D&I efforts.”

Integrate Autism Employment Advisors is pleased to announce and welcome Ian Bazzoli as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer. Ian will focus on driving long-term growth and efficient operations at Integrate, ultimately advancing our mission to help organizations identify, recruit, and retain qualified professionals on the autism spectrum.

Ian brings over ten years of experience in Talent Management, Human Resources, and Recruiting, most recently working as Head of Talent at LendKey Technologies, Inc., a lending technology company based out of New York City and Cincinnati, OH. Ian also sits on the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati and is President of the Advisory Board for the Summit School (NYC) Work-Based Learning Program, a vocational high-school internship program focused on providing work opportunities to students with learning differences.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ian. He brings a variety of perspectives, having spent more than a decade working in HR in various roles for different organizations,” said Marcia Scheiner, Integrate’s President & CEO. “Ian helped guide LendKey through a period of growth and we’re excited for him to join us at this juncture, as Integrate is positioned to grow over the next few years.”

Ian will be based out of Cincinnati, OH, expanding Integrate’s footprint to cover the Midwest, adding to the company’s existing presence in the New York & San Francisco areas.

“I was attracted by the organization’s mission and felt that it blended perfectly with my passion for inclusive employment and background in HR,” said Ian Bazzoli. “I see neurodiversity employment as a growing focus of diversity and inclusion efforts. As the economy faces a growing skills gap I believe more organizations will turn to under-served talent pools like the neurodiverse workforce. I’m incredibly excited to get started.”

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New Resources Share Progress of Essential Hospitals toward Community-Integrated Care


While community-integrated health care can seem like a daunting goal, our Milestones resource breaks this concept into specific action steps.

Nearly 80 percent of essential hospitals—those with a mission to care for vulnerable people—have made a public commitment to address social determinants of health (SDOH), such as homelessness and community infrastructure, new resources from Essential Hospitals Institute show.

The Institute, the research and education arm of America’s Essential Hospitals, found that essential hospitals overall are building capacity for community-integrated health care (CIHC), defined as health care providers working with the government, social services, and other sectors in complementary and collaborative ways to improve health. Essential hospitals accomplish this through organizational commitment; workforce development; community engagement; external partnerships; health information technology and data; and finance and investment.

One resource, Outside the Hospital Walls: An Update on Essential Hospitals’ Efforts to Improve the Health of Their Communities, expands on the Institute’s foundational research in 2016 about essential hospitals’ work to improve SDOH. The latest phase of research, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, included a survey of more than 40 population health leaders at essential hospitals and interviews with 25 hospital representatives.

The Institute found hospitals increasingly see themselves as responsible for caring for all people in a specific geographic area—not just those who come through their doors—and have developed community partnerships that respond to social needs and underlying conditions. Forty-seven percent of survey respondents reported working to change community conditions for housing instability, and 40 percent reported doing so for community infrastructure.

The report also highlights a growth in partnerships between essential hospitals and community-based organizations. Data sharing between hospitals and community partners increased by 30 percentage points from 2016 to 2019, the Institute survey revealed.

But barriers to CIHC remain, including long-term funding solutions, limited external partner capacity, and difficulty sharing and visualizing data. To help hospitals better understand the components of CIHC, the Institute published a companion resource: Milestones for Community-Integrated Health Care at Essential Hospitals.

“While CIHC can seem like a daunting goal, our Milestones resource breaks this concept into specific action steps,” said Kalpana Ramiah, DrPH, MSc, vice president of innovation at America’s Essential Hospitals and director of the Institute. “We hope this list can aid hospitals as they introduce a CIHC model or expand on previous work.”

Both reports are available for download from the association’s website, at https://essentialhospitals.org/institute/new-institute-resources-for-advancing-community-integrated-health-care/

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About America’s Essential Hospitals

America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading champion for hospitals and health systems dedicated to high-quality care for all, including the most vulnerable. We support our more than 300 members with advocacy, policy development, research, and education. Communities depend on essential hospitals to provide specialized, lifesaving services; train the health care workforce; advance public health and health equity; and coordinate care. Essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead the way to more effective and efficient care. Learn more at https://essentialhospitals.org/.

About Essential Hospitals Institute

Essential Hospitals Institute is the research, education, dissemination, and leadership development arm of America’s Essential Hospitals. The Institute supports the nation’s essential hospitals as they provide high-quality, equitable, and affordable care to their communities. Working with members of America’s Essential Hospitals, we identify promising practices from the field, conduct research, disseminate innovative strategies, and help our members improve their organizational performance. We do all of this with an eye toward improving individual and population health, especially for vulnerable people.

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