A pair of representatives unveiled legislation that would designate more than 1,000 nationwide hospitals as “essential health systems” under federal statute, a first step the bipartisan lawmakers and hospital industry supporters say would give Congress new targets for funding, health equity initiatives or other efforts. In their announcement, the lawmakers noted that the facilities that meet the definition provide, on average, five times the uncompensated care to Medicaid, low-income Medicare or uninsured patients than other hospitals.

The role and size of information technology departments within health systems play a crucial role in shaping the organization's technological infrastructure. And despite a growing trend toward outsourcing IT functions, many health systems continue to maintain robust in-house teams. Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth, one of the 25 largest health systems by revenue, told Becker's that its IT department consists of more than 2,200 team members. The health system also said it is investing generously in IT this year as a "strategic asset."