VITAL2026, the annual conference of America’s Essential Hospitals, offers innovative and solution-based best practices essential hospitals can use to improve the well-being of their communities. 

Because we recognize health care innovations can develop in a short time frame in response to current and highly sensitive emerging issues, we are opening a second call for abstracts to capture these “late-breaking programs” as we approach VITAL2026. 

In addition to demonstrating innovations, these programs should show leadership commitment and have an immediate impact on the workforce, patients, or community. 

Abstracts will be reviewed and selected based on: 

• Relevance to the current health care environment and essential hospitals (e.g., navigating Medicaid cuts and work requirements) 
• Focus on essential hospital services or community population in the current health care climate (e.g., underserved populations, workforce, AI, immigration, workplace violence, and building community trust) 
• Emphasis on improving health care outcomes 
• Ability to be replicated or sustained in other hospitals 
• Quantifiable outcomes data and a description of methodology 
• Clarity and quality of written abstract 

IMPORTANT DATES 

• March 16: Late-breaking call for abstracts application period opens 
• April 10, 5 pm ET: Abstract submission deadline 
• May 4: Applicants notified of acceptance