In this issue:

• Minnesota hospitals working to eliminate elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestation
• Medication therapy helps patients manage medications, avoid unnecessary hospital admission
• MDH plans to acquire accreditation of hospital diagnostic imaging facilities
• Report looks at hospital quality improvement
• Webinar to address waste in the health care system
• Legislature names Health and Human Services Committee chairs
• MHA's goal is 100 percent participation in FluSafe
• Minnesota boards have openings
• Leapfrog Group to release its safety rankings
• PAC contributions support lawmakers who support hospitals
• Have you 'liked' MHA on Facebook?

The Minnesota Hospital Association would like to wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving. The MHA office will be closed on Thursday and Friday in observance of the holiday.

Minnesota hospitals working to eliminate elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestation

Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait® 

Last week, the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) participated in a press conference at North Memorial Medical Center with the departments of Health and Human Services, the March of Dimes, and a mother of two premature babies to launch the Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait education campaign. The campaign aims to educate physicians, mothers-to-be, and the public on why the last weeks of pregnancy count. Important organs like the brain, lungs and liver are still developing and a baby born even a few weeks early can have breathing problems, and trouble staying warm and feeding. Already, 88 of 95 Minnesota birthing hospitals have implemented hard-stop policies against medically unnecessary deliveries before 39 weeks. MHA will continue to work with the remaining seven to ensure they have policies in place.  

The efforts already under way are working. For the fifth year, there has been a reduction in the number of babies born too soon in Minnesota, earning the state a B on the March of Dimes’ Premature Birth Report Card, compared to a C for the nation. Yet one in 10 babies are born premature in Minnesota, evidence that preterm birth remains a problem.  

Ending early elective deliveries is just one area of perinatal safety that Minnesota hospitals are focused on. On Dec. 4, a road map will be rolled out to help hospitals develop a comprehensive perinatal safety program that includes patient education and provider/nurse training on key areas to prevent adverse perinatal injuries. The evidence-based best practices will be available to all hospitals with support for implementation. MHA will also send March of Dimes patient education materials to members to give to parents in birthing classes and to distribute to your clinics. return to top

Medication therapy helps patients manage medications, avoid unnecessary hospital admission

Managing medications can be a cumbersome process for patients, especially those with multiple chronic conditions or who are managing numerous medications. Understanding dosage, side effects and how medications interact with one another can be confusing. Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato is helping improve patient outcomes through its medication therapy management (MTM) services. Read more. return to top

MDH plans to require accreditation of hospital diagnostic imaging facilities

MHA plans legislative response  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued a new fact sheet indicating that new diagnostic imaging accrediting requirements for hospitals will be effective next year. The new requirement is the result of MDH’s interpretation of legislation adopted by the Minnesota Legislature during the 2012 legislative session (codified at Minnesota Statute § 144.1225).   

According to MDH, hospitals providing MRI, CT, or nuclear medicine services will need to have their facilities accredited by either the Joint Commission, the American College of Radiology, or the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission before Aug. 1, 2013. State government health programs and commercial payers would be prohibited for paying for diagnostic imaging services provided by hospitals that have not met the accreditation requirements. These new accreditation requirements are in addition to MDH’s own licensing and survey requirements already imposed on hospitals.         

MHA believes MDH’s interpretation as it applies to hospitals is contrary to the legislative history of the new statute and the intent of the legislative sponsors. Section 144.1225, as intended by the legislature, simply extended a Medicare accreditation requirement contained in Section 135(a) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) which took effect earlier this year and does not apply to hospitals.   

Federal policymakers understood that hospital facilities were already subject to a variety of accrediting and licensing standards and those additional accreditation requirements would be unnecessarily duplicative. The federal accrediting requirements apply only to physicians, non-physician practitioners, and Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities (IDTF) which submit Medicare claims under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.      

MHA has indicated to MDH leaders that it intends to seek legislative clarification during the 2013 legislative session in order to ensure that these vital hospitals services are still available to Minnesota patients. For additional information on the diagnostic imaging requirements, contact Ben Peltier, MHA vice president of legal affairs, 651-603-3513. return to top

Report looks at hospital quality improvement

A report from the American Hospital Association examines hospital progress toward quality improvement and patient safety, including reductions in health care-associated infections and adherence to accepted treatment protocols. According to the report, the quality improvement approaches used by hospitals typically involve five steps: identifying areas for improvement; determining what process can be modified to improve outcomes; developing and executing effective improvement strategies; tracking performance and outcomes; and disseminating results to spur broad quality improvement. Read the report. return to top

Webinar to address waste in the health care system

The Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement is hosting a free webinar on Nov. 28 from noon – 1 p.m. entitled “Value-Based Care: Choosing Wisely and Eliminating Waste.” The webinar will highlight Choosing Wisely, a multi-year effort by the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation to help physicians be better stewards of finite health care resources. It will focus on five commonly used tests or procedures whose necessity should be questioned and discussed.  Register by Nov. 23 at http://bit.ly/Value112812. For more information, contact cmyers@icsi.org, 952-814-7076. return to top

Legislature names Health and Human Services Committee chairs

The Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate have named their appointments for their respective Health and Human Services Committee chairs. In the House, Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) will chair the Health and Human Services Finance Committee and Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester) will chair the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. The Senate has chosen Sen. Tony Lourey (DFL-Kerrick) to chair the Health and Human Services Finance Committee and Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato) to chair the Health, Human Services & Housing Committee. These are the committee chairs that the hospital community will interact with most in the upcoming session. If these legislators represent you, please reach out as soon as possible with congratulations and an invitation to meet at your hospital.  

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Krinkie, MHA vice president of government relations, 651-659-1465 or Kristin Loncorich, MHA director of government relations, 651-603-3526. return to top

MHA's goal is 100 percent participation in FluSafe

Program helps keep patients safe from influenza  

The deadline to register your hospital for the Minnesota Department of Health’s FluSafe program is Dec. 1 — less than two weeks away. As of Nov. 15, 85 hospitals have registered to participate, but MHA’s goal is 100 percent participation.   F

luSafe is a program to recognize Minnesota health care facilities for attaining high influenza vaccination rates among employees. It facilitates friendly competition between health care facilities and supports thorough and accurate tracking of influenza vaccination. Because of the public recognition FluSafe participants receive participation is a visible way to assure your patients that you are actively fighting influenza infection.  

Learn more and register to participate here. return to top

Minnesota boards have openings

In addition to the Minnesota Board of Nursing (see Nov. 12 Newsline), six other state agencies relevant to health care and employment have posted openings on their boards. The Medical Services Review Board, Dept. of Labor and Industry is specifically seeking hospital representatives. The board is seeking 15 new members, including one hospital representative, one hospital alternate, one physician, one chiropractor, and one registered nurse. The board advises the Dept. of Labor and Industry on medical matters relating to workers' compensation, makes determinations on inappropriate, unnecessary or excessive treatment and may issue penalties for violation of rules following a contested case procedure.   

Other agencies seeking appointments include:

• Advisory Council on Workers’ Compensation, Dept. of Labor and Industry
• Rehabilitation Review Panel, Dept. of Labor and Industry
• Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy
• Board of Medical Practice
• Minnesota Board on Aging

Additional information and applications can be found at the Secretary of State’s website. return to top

Leapfrog Group to release its safety rankings

The Leapfrog Group is set to release its second ranking of hospital safety scores. It is anticipated that hospitals will be able to get a confidential preview of their letter grade scores later this week and the public release will follow approximately one week later. At this time, we do not have a specific date for the public release of the letter grade scores. It should also be noted that due to changes in methodology, hospitals that reported fewer than nine process measures will not receive a score. This may result in a hospital that received a score in the spring not receiving a score in this round. MHA is available to answer questions about the Leapfrog rankings, and will pass along any information we receive. return to top

PAC contributions support lawmakers who support hospitals

Minnesota Hospital PAC contribution deadline is Dec. 3  

Hospital and health system CEOs should already have received a mailing from the Minnesota Hospital Political Action Committee (PAC) updating you on progress toward meeting individual goals for 2012 by Dec. 3.

While the 2012 election is behind us, a robust hospital PAC is important to be able to support federal and state lawmakers. Your participation is critical to conveying the important role hospitals play in their community.  

To make your 2012 PAC contribution, please contact Ann Gibson, MHA vice president, federal relations and workforce, 651-603-3527.  

Minnesota Hospital PAC leaders would like to thank the following indivkiduals who have contributed at a club level as of Nov. 14, 2012:  

Ben Franklin Club — individuals who gave $1,000 or more

• Kathryn Correia, HealthEast Care System, St. Paul
• Alan Goldbloom, M.D., Children’s Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota
• Ben Koppelman, St. Joseph's Area Health Services Inc., Park Rapids
• Mary Maertens, Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center
• Jennifer Mallard, Mayo Clinic Rochester
• Ken Paulus, Allina Health, Minneapolis
• Margaret Perryman, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul
• Terence Pladson, M.D., CentraCare Health System, St. Cloud
• Al Schilmoeller, Mayo Clinic Rochester
• Matthew Anderson, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul
• Lorry Massa, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul
• Ben Peltier, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 

Chairman's Circle — individuals who gave $500 or more

• Michael Baumgartner, St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Shakopee
• Bradley Beard, Fairview Southdale Hospital, Edina
• Joel Beiswenger, Tri-County Health Care, Wadena
• Deb Boardman, Range Regional Health Services, Hibbing
• Pat Boran, North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale and Maple Grove Hospital
• Jon Braband, Glencoe Regional Health Services
• Craig Broman, St. Cloud Hospital
• Sara Criger, Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids
• Bill Fenske, Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar
• Paul Hanson, Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota, Bemidji
• Mary Klimp, Mayo Clinic System in New Prague
• Frank Lawatsch, Swift County-Benson Hospital
• Cindy Morrison, Sanford Health - Sioux Falls
• Bill Nelson, Mille Lacs Health System, Onamia
• Brock Nelson, Regions Hospital, St. Paul
• David Nelson, St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge
• Keith Okeson, LifeCare Medical Center, Roseau
• Jeffrey Peterson, Allina Health, Minneapolis
• Nathan Peterson, Sanford Health System, Sioux Falls, SD
• Stephen Pribyl, District One Hospital, Faribault
• Tom Prusak, Essentia Health St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd
• Tim Rice, Lakewood Health System, Staples
• Larry Schulz, Lake Region Healthcare, Fergus Falls
• Marshall Smith, New River Medical Center, Monticello                                       
• Randy Ulseth, FirstLight Health System, Mora
• Carl Vaagenes, Douglas County Hospital, Alexandria
• Jani Wiebolt, Essentia Health St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd
• Kimber Wraalstad, Cook County North Shore Hospital, Grand Marais
• Tania Daniels, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul
• Ann Gibson, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul
• Mary Krinkie, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul
• Kristin Loncorich, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul
• Joe Schindler, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul
• Mark Sonneborn, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul
• Peggy Westby, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul                                  

Capitol Club — individuals who gave $350 or more

• David Albrecht, Owatonna Hospital
• Daniel Anderson, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis
• Ben Bache-Wiig, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis
• Stacy Barstad, Sanford Westbrook Medical Center
• David Borgert, CentraCare Health System, St. Cloud
• Chad Cooper, St. Gabriel’s Hospital, Little Falls
• Thomas Crowley, Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Wabasha
• Dennis Doran, Cambridge Medical Center
• Deb Fischer-Clemens, Avera, Sioux Falls, SD
• George Gerlach, Granite Falls Municipal Hospital and Manor
• Roger Green, HealthEast Care System, St. Paul
• Mark Henke, Northfield Hospital
• John Herman, Fairview Northland Medical Center, Princeton
• Jo Ann Hoag, St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth
• Chuck Hofius, Perham Health
• Dale Hustedt, Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar
• Peter Jacobson, Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Detroit Lakes
• Beth Krehbiel, Fairview Ridges Hospital, Burnsville
• Steve Laraway, St. Cloud Hospital
• Loren Morey, Lakewood Health System, Staples
• H. Daniel Odegaard, Bigfork Valley Hospital
• John Porter, Avera, Sioux Falls, SD
• John Rau, Stevens Community Medical Center, Morris
• Marie Rose, Lakewood Health System, Staples
• Mary Ruyter, Sanford Jackson Medical Center
• Michael Schramm, Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar
• Rachelle Schultz, Winona Health
• Erin Sexton, Mayo Clinic Rochester
• Mark Skubic, Park Nicollet Health Services, Minneapolis
• Fred Slunecka, Avera, Sioux Falls, SD
• Jeffry Stampohar, Essentia Health Deer River
• Loren Taylor, Maple Grove Hospital and North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale
• Lori Wightman, Unity Hospital, Fridley
• Michael Youso, Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital, Grand Rapids
• Wendy Burt, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul     

Hospitals that have met their PAC goal

• Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center
• Cook County North Shore Hospital, Grand Marais
• Essentia Health Fosston
• Essentia Health St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd
• FirstLight Health System, Mora
• Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
• Glencoe Regional Health Services
• Granite Falls Municipal Hospital and Manor
• Lakewood Health System, Staples
• LifeCare Medical Center, Roseau
• Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague
• Mille Lacs Health System, Onamia
• New River Medical Center, Monticello
• North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale
• Northfield Hospital
• Perham Health
• Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota, Bemidji
• Sanford Jackson Medical Center
• St. Cloud Hospital
• St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge
• St. Joseph's Area Health Services Inc., Park Rapids
• Swift County-Benson Hospital
• Tri-County Health Care, Wadena

Have you 'liked' MHA on Facebook?

The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) is on Facebook where we share hospital stories and help spread the message about the high quality, safe care delivered in Minnesota’s hospitals. We also keep followers informed of hot issues and conversations taking place about health care. Like MHA on Facebook.  

MHA is also on Twitter. Follow us here for the latest in health care news and legislative and policy information. return to top