Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

May 20, 2013

MHA Newsline

In this issue:

Minnesota hospital programs, leaders honored

MHA honored innovative programs and outstanding leaders in health care at its 29th annual awards ceremony on Friday, May 17. The following awards were given for extraordinary achievement in categories ranging from advocacy on behalf of hospitals and volunteerism to innovation and improvement in patient care and patient safety. In the coming weeks, we will feature each of the winners so you can learn more about their exceptional work.

Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace (large and small hospital categories)
Fairview Southdale Hospital, Edina
Fairview Northland Medical Center, Princeton

Caregiver of the Year (tie)
Anne Stocker, RN, Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague
Joe Wilson, RN, St. Cloud Hospital

Community Benefit Award (large and small hospital categories)
Allina Health, Minneapolis
Riverwood Healthcare Center, Aitkin

Good Catch for Patient Safety
JoAnn Hill, RN and Susan Lackson, LPN, Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth

Health Care Career Promotion Award (large and small hospital categories)
Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis and St. Olaf College, Northfield
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul

Innovation of the Year in Patient Care (large and small hospital categories)
St. Cloud Hospital
New Ulm Medical Center, part of Allina Health

Patient Safety Improvement Award (large and small hospital categories)
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Buffalo Hospital, part of Allina Health

Spirit of Advocacy Award
Karen Brill, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul

Stephen Rogness Distinguished Service Award
Mary Klimp, Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague

Trustee of the Year
Steve Laraway, St. Cloud Hospital

Volunteer of the Year
Marlene Fondrick, Perham Health

Associate Member of the Year
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, Minneapolis

^top of page

First health insurance exchange board meeting held

The newly appointed board of directors of MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance exchange, met for the first time Friday afternoon. Legislation passed in March authorized the creation of the seven-member board and empowered it to oversee the launch and ongoing operation of MNsure.

One of the more important roles that MNsure will play is certifying health plans to sell products to individuals and small businesses through the new exchange. Health plans interested in selling their products through MNsure are expected to have their offerings filed with the state, including their proposed premium rates, by the end of this month.

The first MNsure board meeting focused on providing the new board members with an overview of the state’s efforts to develop the exchange and electing Brian Beutner to serve as the first chair of the board.

The board intends to meet another seven times before the end of August, and its meetings are open to the public. For more information about MNsure and its board, visit www.mn.gov/hix. ^top of page

CentraCare Health holds workplace violence symposium

Taking steps to address violence in the health care workplace, CentraCare Health hosted a daylong symposium, entitled “Innovative Approaches to the Management of Aggressive Behaviors in Health Care” last Friday. Nearly 250 attendees heard from experts in the field on topics such as de-escalating a crisis situation, empowering staff to address violence and aggressive behaviors, and violence in the emergency department. St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health also shared its experience with addressing patients and visitors acting in a violent or aggressive manner. In the coming weeks, MHA will share more information on how hospitals can address violent behavior.

MHA recognizes the difficulties faced by Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems in addressing violent behavior. MHA has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Health in forming a task force to examine the issue. In addition, MHA is hosting its first-ever mental health conference Nov. 8 that will cover a range of topics including violence in the emergency department and trauma-informed care treatment for people experiencing mental illnesses and violent behavior. ^top of page

CMS announces new Health Care Innovation Awards funding

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will award up to $1 billion in funding in round two of the Health Care Innovation Awards, a Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act initiative to test new payment and service delivery models. The second round of awards will focus on models to: rapidly reduce Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program costs in the outpatient and post-acute settings; improve care for populations with specialized needs; test approaches for specific types of providers to transform financial and clinical models; and improve the health of populations. Non-binding letters of intent are due June 28; applications are due Aug. 15. Health care providers and health systems are encouraged to apply.

In the press release, CMS highlighted the success of Courage Center, which received an Innovation award in the first round of funding. Courage Center has created a medical home for people with traumatic brain injury and those in wheelchairs that has been shown to significantly lower rates of depression and reduce rates of hospitalization by 71 percent — from 10.8 days per year to 3.1 days per year.

For more information, see the funding opportunity announcement. ^top of page

Center for Healthcare Governance leader to discuss health care transformation at MHA Summer Trustee Conference

Center for Healthcare Governance President/COO and American Hospital Association Senior Vice President (Chicago, IL) John R. Combes, M.D., will present two sessions on health care transformation at the MHA Summer Trustee Conference on Saturday, July 13.

His keynote presentation, “Blue Ribbon Panel Report: Governance Practices in an Era of Health Care Transformation,” will share the findings from interviews with board members, executives and clinical leaders, and analysis by an expert panel of how boards are evolving to guide their organizations through the profound changes now underway. Participants will learn what the study identified as the most important contributions boards can make to help their organizations prepare for significant changes, as well as the conversations boards have not yet had that would move their organization’s strategic plan forward.

In a second, breakout session, “Making a Difference for Patients: The Governance Role,” Dr. Combes will highlight quality initiatives from throughout the country and how trustees can provide the safest environment for their communities.

The MHA’s Summer Trustee Conference will take place July 12-14 at the Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria. For more information or to register, download the conference brochure or visit MHA’s website; click on “Education” and log in to register. ^top of page

Conference addresses critical rural health issues

The 2013 Minnesota Rural Health Conference will convene in Duluth, June 24-25 as a way to exchange ideas and share creative solutions to critical rural health issues. The conference will take an in-depth look at workforce issues, delivery models, patient and community engagement, value and access. Monday’s speakers and sessions focus on critical access hospitals and the communities they serve.

Travel registration discounts are available for individuals traveling more than 250 miles one-way to Duluth. For more information and to register, click here. ^top of page

Minnesota Resuscitation Academy to be offered in June

The Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium is offering its third Resuscitation Academy in June. Sessions will provide information on defining existing cardiac arrest data and how to utilize it to improve outcomes; develop a plan to increase survival in your community; and measure your effectiveness. The program is recommended for EMS and fire officers, medical directors, training officers, dispatch centers and quality improvement coordinators.

The program will take place June 24-25 at the University of Minnesota, Variety Club Research Center in Minneapolis. To learn more and to register, click here. ^top of page