The American Hospital Association, founded in 1898, is a national organization of hospitals, health care networks, their patients and communities. The AHA listens to the perspectives of, represents and advocates for nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. AHA assures that members’ needs are addressed in national health policy. The Health Research and Educational Trust, founded in 1944, is the not-for-profit research and education affiliate of the AHA. HRET’s mission is to transform health care through research and education. HRET seeks to create new knowledge, tools and assistance in improving the delivery of health care.