In this issue
Minnesota
hospital programs, leaders honored
Minnesota Hospital Association’s annual awards recognize
patient safety, volunteerism, innovations in patient care, hospital
excellence
The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) on May 20 honored innovative
programs and outstanding leaders in health care at its 32nd annual
awards ceremony.
Seventeen 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.
“Each day, all across the state, Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems are
working to strengthen the health of our communities,” said MHA President and
CEO Lawrence Massa. “Our exceptional care teams set the bar high for patient
care and for meeting the needs of their communities. Thanks to their
expertise, diligence and commitment to excellence, Minnesota’s hospitals
continue to be among the best in the nation.”
The awards and recipients are:
American Hospital
Association Grassroots Champion: Dr. Steven Mulder, president
and CEO, Hutchinson Health
Best Minnesota Hospital
Workplace: Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, Saint
Paul; River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic, Saint Peter
Caregiver of the Year:
Dr. Andrew Kopperud, Sanford Westbrook Medical Center
Community Benefit:
Lake Region Healthcare, Fergus Falls; Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby
Good Catch for Patient
Safety: Sherrie Eischens, RN, CHI St. Joseph’s Health, Park
Rapids
Innovation of the Year
in Patient Care: Regions Hospital, Saint Paul; New Ulm
Medical Center
Patient Safety Improvement:
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, Saint Paul; River’s Edge Hospital
& Clinic, Saint Peter
Public Achievement:
The Honorable Lucinda Jesson, former commissioner, Minnesota Department of
Human Services
Spirit of Advocacy:
Joy Plamann, section director of hospital medicine, CentraCare Health
Stephen Rogness
Distinguished Service Award: John Fossum, CEO, Ely-Bloomenson
Community Hospital
Trustee of the Year:
Ron Osladil, Essentia Health-Sandstone
Volunteer of the Year
Award: Bob Nelson, St. Cloud Hospital, CentraCare Health
Associate Member of the
Year: Witt/Kieffer
Award winners will be profiled in upcoming issues of Newsline. To learn more
about the award winners, visit the MHA website. return to top
Legislature
completed supplemental budget bill
The Legislature completed its work on the supplemental budget
bill (HF2749). The bill now advances to Governor Dayton for his
consideration.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Funds for the state share of
the Excellence in Mental Health Act, a federal demonstration project to
create Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. This was MHA’s
highest priority for the session and we are very pleased that this was
included in the final bill.
- Funds for increased staff at
Community Behavioral Health Hospitals (CBHHs) at levels to be able to
operate at licensed capacity. This potentially will provide six CBHHs
with increased capacity of approximately six beds each; however, the St.
Peter CBHH will now likely be the location for a new stand-alone
competency restoration program, taking 10 beds out of the system.
- Funds for a stand-alone
competency restoration program in St. Peter, freeing up some beds in
Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center and St. Peter.
- Provides a 5 percent Medical
Assistance rate increase for rural ambulance providers.
- Restores funding of $1.035
million to the Greater Minnesota family medicine residency program,
beginning in 2017 and ongoing.
Increases MERC by $1 million
per year and ongoing.
MHA is very pleased with the funding that the Legislature was
able to move forward. We were disappointed that the 5 percent MA rate
increase for preventive medical, dental and outpatient mental health services
did not receive funding. The MinnesotaCare program is preserved as is
with current eligibility, in line with MHA’s recommendation.
View the final conference report.
For additional information, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government
relations, or Kristin Loncorich, director of state
government relations, MHA.
Session bill tracker
For a complete list of 2016 legislative bills MHA is tracking, visit the MHA Member Center. For assistance accessing the
Member Center, contact Ashley Beno, member services and
communications specialist, MHA, 651-603-3545. return to top
Minnesota
hospitals urge action to improve community-based mental health care
Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems and MHA are
continuing a statewide campaign to show the impact mental health has on
families and communities around the state. To help increase awareness of
mental health needs in Minnesota, MHA and members conducted editorial board
visits and media briefings around the state to talk about mental health care
issues in our communities.
As a result, the Star Tribune published an editorial urging the Minnesota Legislature
to Pass the Excellence in Mental Health Act. The
editorial board wrote, “The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA), whose
members are grappling with rising emergency room visits due to these
conditions, correctly calls mental health the ‘most pressing public health
crisis facing Minnesota.’ Legislators ought to heed that warning and approve
the pragmatic solutions prescribed by the hospitals to help them meet the
demand for care.”
If you would like to schedule an editorial board or media visit in your
region with MHA staff regarding the mental health campaign, please contact Emily Lowther, communications manager, MHA, 651-603-3495. return to top
Civil
commitment online training module available
A new civil commitment online training module is now available
from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). Subgroups of MHA’s
Mental and Behavioral Health Committee and In-House Counsel Committee
provided input into the development of the training.
Civil commitment is the legal process by which a court orders mental health
treatment. Voluntary treatment is always preferred, but if commitment is
necessary, the ultimate goal is to provide the necessary care, while
protecting the rights of the patient.
The online training module outlines the process for civil commitment,
explains the rights of individuals according to the law and identifies the
roles and responsibilities of both medical and legal professionals.
The training module can be found on the DHS website. MHA and DHS thank the MHA
members who offered guidance and expertise to enrich the training. return to top