In
this issue
Gov.
Dayton visits CHI St. Joseph’s Health
Gov. Mark Dayton visited CHI St. Joseph’s Health in Park Rapids on Aug.
17. Hospital leaders including President Ben Koppelman, Board Chair Clay
Peterson, Board Vice Chair Kathy Henry, Director of Quality Chris Broeker and
Health Communication/Marketing Manager Judy Miller shared how CHI St. Joseph’s
Health works to meet the needs of the Park Rapids community, both inside and
outside of the hospital.
Koppelman highlighted the hospital’s focus on quality and patient safety and
discussed how Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems lead the nation in
providing high-quality, low-cost health care. Koppelman also emphasized the
growing need for additional mental health care resources across Minnesota and
how hospitals, health systems and MHA are working with a broad coalition of
stakeholders on a statewide effort to enhance the mental health care delivery
system.
During his visit, Gov. Dayton met Sherrie Eischens, RN, recipient of MHA's 2016 Good Catch for Patient Safety Award. This
award recognizes hospital professionals who demonstrate their commitment to
keeping patients safe by speaking up to prevent a potential patient safety
issue.
“We were pleased to share with Gov. Dayton how CHI St. Joseph’s Health is
dedicated to serving our community and providing exceptional patient care,”
said Koppelman. “The visit allowed us to showcase our hospital’s unique
services, as well as the collaborative efforts of Minnesota’s hospitals, health
systems and the Minnesota Hospital Association to enhance patient safety and
meet community needs across our state.”
Gov. Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith are conducting a statewide tour of
Minnesota's 87 counties. If the statewide tour visits your community, MHA
encourages you to participate in the events as you are able. MHA can provide
assistance with scheduled hospital visits during the 87-county tour. If a visit
is scheduled at your location, please contact Mary Krinkie,
vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465.
Meeting resources, including handouts that can be printed and shared, are
available on the MHA Member Center, which is username and
password protected. For help resetting your username and/or password, contact Ashley Beno,
member services and communication specialist, MHA, 651-603-3545. return to top
Park
Nicollet Methodist Hospital staff member receives MHA Good Catch for Patient
Safety award
Sonam Serpolamatsang recognized for speaking up to prevent
potential adverse health event
A Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital environmental services professional has
received the award that recognizes hospital professionals who demonstrate their
commitment to keeping patients safe by speaking up to prevent a potential
patient safety issue.
Sonam Serpolamatsang accepted the quarterly Minnesota Hospital Association
(MHA) Good Catch for Patient Safety award at a presentation on Aug. 19.
Serpolamatsang took action to keep a patient safe as he was being transported
back from dialysis. She noticed that the patient appeared to be bleeding and
immediately approached her department director and requested that the patient
be checked. An examination revealed that the patient was indeed bleeding from
his arterial access point. Because of Serpolamatsang’s attentive work, the
patient’s bleeding was addressed.
“It is because of actions taken every day by dedicated professionals like Sonam
that Minnesota hospitals continue to be front-runners in patient safety,” said
MHA Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety Tania Daniels. “Sonam’s
efforts remind us what a difference each person can make to keep patients
safe.”
The Good Catch for Patient Safety program recognizes hospital professionals for
actions that protect patients. Individuals seeking to nominate an employee or
team for the award can visit the MHA website to complete a nomination form.
For more information, visit the MHA website or contact Tania Daniels, 651-603-3517, or Dr. Rahul Koranne, MHA’s chief medical
officer, 651-659-1445. return to top
Statewide
antibiotic stewardship efforts launch
Antibiotics are a critical treatment and public health tool.
However, widespread use of antibiotics has resulted in the development of
antibiotic resistance, and drug choices for the treatment of bacterial
infections are becoming increasingly limited and expensive. Hospitals and
health systems need strong antibiotic stewardship leadership and practices to
ensure appropriate antibiotic use and improve patient outcomes.
The importance of antibiotic stewardship has recently been highlighted at a
national level both in a proposed rule from
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and in prepublication requirements by
the Joint Commission. To promote the importance of stewardship statewide,
Minnesota held its first One Health Antibiotic Stewardship State Summit in
January 2016. Based on this meeting, the Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative recently announced the launch of a five-year
antibiotic stewardship strategic plan aimed at raising awareness and changing
behaviors to preserve antibiotics and treat infections effectively.
The Collaborative Healthcare-Associated Infection Network (CHAIN) is a
longstanding collaboration between public and private sector organizations –
including MHA – committed to eliminating preventable healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs) in Minnesota. Reducing antibiotic resistance is essential to
preventing and treating HAIs, and CHAIN supports the One Health Collaborative’s
antibiotic stewardship efforts.
Hospitals and health systems can demonstrate their commitment to antibiotic
stewardship by completing the CHAIN/One Health call to action form
and signing up to
receive state antibiotic stewardship email updates, which will include new
guidance, a future health care facility honor roll program and upcoming events.
Learn more online from CHAIN and One Health. return to top
Kenneth
Gronbach, John Zogby and Ben Nemtin to speak Sept. 23 at MHA’s Annual Meeting
MHA’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sept. 21-23 at Madden’s on
Gull Lake in Brainerd. For more information, download the conference brochure. To register, visit MHA’s website, log in, click “Calendar of
Events” and select the program title to register. The cut-off date for the
group block at Madden’s is Aug. 23. Make your reservations now by visiting the
MHA Conference page on the Madden’s website.
Demographer Kenneth Gronback, political expert John Zogby and MTV’s “The Buried
Life” co-star Ben Nemtin will present on Sept. 23.
Kenneth Gronbach, president of KGC Direct, LLC, and author of the current
best-selling book “The Age Curve: How to Profit from the Coming Demographic
Storm” will discuss the upcoming perfect demographic storm that will cause
exponential growth in health care over the next 30 years. Gronbach is an
internationally respected demographer who has been able to forecast societal,
commercial, economic, cultural and political phenomena with uncanny accuracy.
During his presentation, “2016 Race for the White House,” John Zogby, an expert
on the dynamics of U.S. politics and consumer trends, will provide a penetrating
and incisive commentary on the White House scene and what we can expect as we
head toward the November election. He will share the combination of accurate
data, trend spotting, storytelling and global perspective.
The conference will close with a thought-provoking, funny and moving
presentation from Ben Nemtin, author of “What Do You Want to Do Before You Die”
and co-star of MTV’s “The Buried Life.” Ben and his three friends travel the
globe in a donated purple bus to complete a list of 100 things to do before
they die and help encourage others to go after their own lists. For every item
they complete on their list, they help a stranger achieve one of their
dreams. return to top
Minnesota
Hospital PAC Silent Auction donations needed
MHA Annual Meeting attendees are invited to the Chair’s
Reception and Minnesota Hospital PAC Silent Auction on Sept. 21 from 8-10 p.m.
at Madden’s in the Town Hall Conference Center, lower level.
The Minnesota Hospital PAC is a voluntary, bipartisan political action
committee (PAC) that raises campaign funds for candidates running for state and
federal office in Minnesota. It is the voice for hospital advocates seeking to
help candidates who support the goals of hospitals.
MHA is seeking donation items from members and associate members to be
auctioned to raise money for the PAC, which supports MHA’s advocacy efforts.
Suggested items to donate include tickets to events, hotel stays, gift
certificates, spa visit certificates, art work, gift baskets, golf outings —
anything that you would like to bid on at a silent auction. Deadline for
donations is Sept. 9.
Please contact Kristin Loncorich, MHA director of government
relations, 651-603-3526, with questions and to donate items. return to top
LHA
Foundation creates fund for hospital employees affected by Louisiana flood
The flooding in south Louisiana has been
devastating for many individuals, families and businesses. Unlike a hurricane,
there was no warning or time to prepare. It is estimated that more than 5,000
hospital employees suffered significant property loss to their homes.
In an effort to provide some relief, the Louisiana Hospital Association
Research and Education Foundation has established the Louisiana Hospital
Employee Assistance Fund to support hospital employees. Contributions are tax
deductible and 100 percent of the money raised will go to hospital employees
who suffered significant property loss to their homes/residences during the
August 2016 flooding disaster.
If you would like to contribute to this fund, visit www.LaHospitalEmployeeFund.org for information
on how you can donate by credit card online or by check. After making a
donation, you will receive a written or electronic acknowledgement, including
information needed for tax purposes. For information about the Louisiana
Hospital Employee Assistance Fund, call 225-928-0026 or email AssistanceFund@lhaonline.org. return to top