June 04, 2010 03:09am EST 

The District of Columbia Hospital Association (DCHA) was founded in 1987 to provide leadership in improving the health care system in the District of Columbia. With 17 member hospitals and approximately 40 Associate Members, DCHA represents and advocates for the interests of its member hospitals as they support the interests of the community. This united voice for the hospitals helps the DCHA to represent and advocate for its members hospitals, provide a forum to solve common problems and achieve common goals, assist its members to meet community health care needs, and encourage health services research and education. DCHA has been a big influence on a wide range of national health issues as well as working locally with government and non-government officials to meet local community health needs.
The DCHA continues to work hard advocating for the issues relevant and affecting their members. For example, in 2008 the DCHA focused their attention on reforming laws affecting part-time workers. They understood that the Accrued Sick and Safe Act of 2008 required hospitals and other employers to pay sick leave for all employees. The DHCA persuaded the Council to include an amendment to exclude those who chose to work in premium pay programs. Additionally, in regards to reporting adverse events the DCHU has worked with the Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA) on the adverse events implementation plan and made several recommendations accepted by the HRLA including the types of adverse events to be reported, the creation of a firewall for the data, and the establishment of confidentiality protections. These are just a couple of the many accomplishments that the DCHA has accomplished in its advocacy. The DCHA will continue to represent and advocate for all of its members in their support of the interests of patients and their communities.

You may visit the DCHA website for a full presentation of their advocacy accomplishments.