Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

November 12, 2012

MHA Newsline

In this issue:

MHA urges hospitals to meet with legislators in advance of 2013 legislative session

Now that the campaign ads are behind us, it is time to start building relationships with new legislators and reconnect with those who earned re-election. The DFL took control of both the state House of Representatives and the Senate and there are many new faces in new places. In total, there are 65 new legislators, well over the 25 percent mark that was anticipated. Hospital leaders are uniquely positioned to educate new legislators on the important issues facing health care. With the DFL in leadership positions in both houses and the governor’s office, there will be both policy opportunities and challenges for hospitals.

The DFL unanimously chose Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) as the Senate majority leader; Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) was selected as the speaker of the House; and Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) majority leader. Republicans selected Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) as the Senate minority leader and Rep. Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) as the House minority leader. If these legislators represent you, please reach out as soon as possible with congratulations and an invitation to meet at your hospital.

Watch your email for advocacy alerts and more resources to help in your outreach efforts as we gear up for the 2013 legislative session. If you have any questions, contact Mary Krinkie, MHA vice president of government relations, 651-659-1465 or Kristin Loncorich, MHA director of government relations, 651-603-3526. ^top of page

More than 3,100 readmissions prevented by RARE hospitals

Minnesota hospitals are making great strides in reducing avoidable readmissions. According to data from the second quarter 2012 Potentially Preventable Readmissions data, Minnesota hospitals participating in the RARE (Reducing Avoidable Readmissions Effectively) Campaign have prevented 3,128 readmissions since 2011.

To achieve its goal, the campaign is focusing on five key areas that, if not managed well, are known to be main contributors to avoidable hospital readmissions:

  • Comprehensive discharge planning
  • Medication management
  • Patient and family engagement
  • Transition care support
  • Transition communications

RARE is engaging hospitals and care providers across the continuum of care to reduce 4,000 readmissions by the end of 2012. Learn more about the RARE Campaign. ^top of page

Celebrate National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 15

Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed Nov. 15 "Rural Health Day" across Minnesota, part of a national celebration of rural health. Rural Health Day is the perfect opportunity to highlight the unique health care challenges in rural areas and to showcase the many ways rural health providers and communities address those needs.

Minnesota’s rural hospitals provide needed access to care and contribute greatly to their communities’ economic vitality through the goods they purchase and the staff they employ. We have the third highest number of critical access hospitals (79) and more than 20 regional hospitals that provide crucial services to entire regions of the state.

Following are some ideas for celebrating the power of rural:

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Governor to make four appointments to MN Board of Nursing

Consider a representative from your organization

The Minnesota Board of Nursing is requesting applications for four vacancies that open in January. The governor will appoint one public member, one registered nurse, one licensed practical nurse, and one registered nurse with executive or teaching experience in a baccalaureate nursing education program. The Board licenses professional and practical nurses, registers public health nurses, renews licenses, regulates advanced practice registered nurses (certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, certified clinical nurse specialists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists); approves nursing education programs; processes complaints about nurses; and imposes disciplinary action against nurse licenses. The 16 members must all be residents of Minnesota and the governor seeks to make appointments that reflect the geography of the state.   

MHA encourages you to consider nurses from your organization who could serve in this capacity. http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=5 target="new window">Click here for information about the application process. ^top of page

MHA January Trustee Conference Jan. 11-13

The Jan. 11-13 Trustee Conference will include presentations by speaker, author, columnist and documentary filmmaker Ron Galloway, a favorite with MHA audiences. Galloway’s presentations will include a general session on the top trends shaping health care and a breakout session on changes we can expect in the health care system due to increasing longevity.

Note that the January Trustee Conference will be held at a new location, the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park, a move made necessary by growth in the number of conference attendees.    

The conference brochure is now available and was mailed to hospital chief executive officers and board members last week. For more information or to register, download the conference brochure. ^top of page

Video contest highlights care transitions

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting 2-3 minute videos for a contest that will highlight innovative efforts by hospitals, primary care practices and post-acute care facilities to improve care transitions and reduce avoidable readmissions, especially for patients transitioning from the hospital to home or interim/long-term care. Nurses, care coordinators, patients and others are invited to submit a video through Nov. 17. Winners will receive recognition from RWJF, a professionally produced video showcasing their innovation, and the opportunity to discuss their work with patients and health care providers nationwide. For more information, visit www.RWJF.org/goto/yourcare. ^top of page

Opportunity to participate in Stratis Health’s Special Innovation Project

Join an informational webinar on health information technology for post acute care

Stratis Health has been selected for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Special Innovation Project: Health Information Technology for Post-Acute Care Providers (HITPAC). The project will assist post acute care (PAC) providers, hospitals (acute care settings), physicians, community organizations, and other stakeholders in the community to identify best practices and solve barriers to adoption of health information technology (HIT) by PAC providers so they can better support health information exchange at times of transitions in care and shared care.

MHA is collaborating with Stratis Health to offer Minnesota hospitals that qualify and are selected no cost HIT consulting services to help with your transitions of care implementation in your electronic health record. Learn more here. Stratis Health is hosting an informational webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Register online here. ^top of page

about the health needs of rural communities.
  • Plan/host a community health fair.
  • Give tours of your facilities.
  • Display National Rural Health Day banners/posters.
  • Link to National Rural Health Day website from your website.
  • Have a “staff appreciation luncheon.
  • ^top of page


    Governor to make four appointments to MN Board of Nursing

    Consider a representative from your organization

    The Minnesota Board of Nursing is requesting applications for four vacancies that open in January. The governor will appoint one public member, one registered nurse, one licensed practical nurse, and one registered nurse with executive or teaching experience in a baccalaureate nursing education program. The Board licenses professional and practical nurses, registers public health nurses, renews licenses, regulates advanced practice registered nurses (certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, certified clinical nurse specialists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists); approves nursing education programs; processes complaints about nurses; and imposes disciplinary action against nurse licenses. The 16 members must all be residents of Minnesota and the governor seeks to make appointments that reflect the geography of the state.   

    MHA encourages you to consider nurses from your organization who could serve in this capacity. http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=5 target="new window">Click here for information about the application process. ^top of page

    MHA January Trustee Conference Jan. 11-13

    The Jan. 11-13 Trustee Conference will include presentations by speaker, author, columnist and documentary filmmaker Ron Galloway, a favorite with MHA audiences. Galloway’s presentations will include a general session on the top trends shaping health care and a breakout session on changes we can expect in the health care system due to increasing longevity.

    Note that the January Trustee Conference will be held at a new location, the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park, a move made necessary by growth in the number of conference attendees.    

    The conference brochure is now available and was mailed to hospital chief executive officers and board members last week. For more information or to register, download the conference brochure. ^top of page

    Video contest highlights care transitions

    The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting 2-3 minute videos for a contest that will highlight innovative efforts by hospitals, primary care practices and post-acute care facilities to improve care transitions and reduce avoidable readmissions, especially for patients transitioning from the hospital to home or interim/long-term care. Nurses, care coordinators, patients and others are invited to submit a video through Nov. 17. Winners will receive recognition from RWJF, a professionally produced video showcasing their innovation, and the opportunity to discuss their work with patients and health care providers nationwide. For more information, visit www.RWJF.org/goto/yourcare. ^top of page

    Opportunity to participate in Stratis Health’s Special Innovation Project

    Join an informational webinar on health information technology for post acute care

    Stratis Health has been selected for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Special Innovation Project: Health Information Technology for Post-Acute Care Providers (HITPAC). The project will assist post acute care (PAC) providers, hospitals (acute care settings), physicians, community organizations, and other stakeholders in the community to identify best practices and solve barriers to adoption of health information technology (HIT) by PAC providers so they can better support health information exchange at times of transitions in care and shared care.

    MHA is collaborating with Stratis Health to offer Minnesota hospitals that qualify and are selected no cost HIT consulting services to help with your transitions of care implementation in your electronic health record. Learn more here. Stratis Health is hosting an informational webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Register online here. ^top of page

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