In
this issue
Sonam
Serpolamatsang honored with MHA Good Catch for Patient Safety Award
MHA on June 2 honored innovative programs and outstanding leaders in health
care at its 33rd annual awards ceremony.
Sonam Serpolamatsang, environmental services professional at Park Nicollet
Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, received the MHA Good Catch for Patient
Safety Award, which recognizes a hospital professional who speaks up to prevent
potential harm to patients.
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 this attentive work, the patient's
bleeding was addressed.
The Good Catch for Patient Safety award program
accepts nominations throughout the year. All Good Catch for Patient Safety
award winners are entered into the running to receive a quarterly Good Catch
for Patient Safety award. One quarterly winner is chosen to receive the annual
award.
It is because of the actions taken every day by dedicated professionals like
Serpolamatsang that Minnesota hospitals and health systems continue to be
leaders in patient safety across the nation.
Additional award winners will be profiled in upcoming issues of Newsline. To
learn more about the award winners, visit the MHA website. return to top
340B
funding at risk in CMS proposed rule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 13
released its fiscal year 2018 proposed rule for the hospital outpatient
prospective payment system. It includes a provision that specifically
targets safety net hospitals that operate using the 340B drug purchasing
program.
While current payments under the program are based on the average sales price
(ASP) index plus 6 percent, CMS proposes to reduce the payment to ASP minus
22.5 percent. This amounts to a 28.5 percent payment reduction. Both the
Minnesota Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association will be
focusing on this issue, among others, in comments to CMS on the proposed rule,
which are due by Sept. 11.
In addition, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held hearings last week on the 340B program to review the Health
Resources and Services Administration’s oversight of the 340B Drug Pricing
Program and how the program impacts patients, providers, manufacturers and
other stakeholders. The American Hospital Association weighed in with comments supporting the program’s 25-year
history of providing patient access and affordability for outpatient drugs,
especially for low-income and uninsured patients.
For more information or to provide further comments, please contact Joe Schindler, vice president of finance, MHA, 651-659-1415, or Ben Peltier,
vice president of legal and federal affairs, MHA, 651-603-3513. return to top
MHA
to celebrate 100th anniversary
at Annual Meeting
MHA will celebrate its 100th anniversary at this year’s Annual
Meeting. The conference, themed “Health Care Through the Decades,” will be held
Sept. 20-22 at Madden’s Resort in Brainerd.
For a century, MHA has worked in partnership with hospitals and health systems
throughout the state to share in your commitment to providing high-quality
health care to every Minnesotan. We are honored that our collaborative efforts
have helped Minnesota earn a national reputation for delivering safe,
high-quality care and for meeting community needs.
In addition to special events celebrating this significant milestone, the
Annual Meeting will provide the latest in cutting-edge education from an
outstanding group of speakers, including former HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt
on health care reform in the 21st century; former U.S. Representative
Patrick Kennedy on his journey with mental health; Paul Keckley on how to
prepare for what’s ahead; Dr. Marty Makary on transparency and accountability;
historian and journalist Jon Meacham on leadership and lessons from the
American presidency; Dr. Amit Sood on resilient living; and Mark Mayfield on
change.
For more information or to register download the conference brochure or visit MHA’s website. Visit the Madden’s Resort website to make
reservations at the resort. return to top
Three
health systems met PAC fundraising goal by July 15
Congratulations to the three health systems that have met their
Minnesota Hospital Political Action Committee (PAC) fundraising goal for
2017.
- Avera
- CentraCare Health
- Hennepin Healthcare System
These health systems demonstrate the importance of supporting
the PAC. For more information about the PAC or your hospital PAC goal, contact Andrea Wombacher, division assistant, 651-603-3539,or Kristin Loncorich, director of state government relations,
651-603-3526. return to top
Register
for CHAIN Fall Conference; submit CHAIN Award for Excellence nominations
The 2017 CHAIN Fall Conference will be held on Sept. 27 from
1-4:30 p.m. at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. Learn about
the latest evidence-based approaches for reducing and preventing
healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and promoting antibiotic stewardship in
Minnesota. The conference is for patient safety and quality staff, infection
preventionists, nurse managers, nurses, physicians, pharmacists and any other
professionals working in hospitals, long term care, community care or
outpatient settings to prevent HAIs and combat antibiotic resistance. Registration
is free and can be completed online.
As in 2016, CHAIN will recognize this year’s winner of the 2017 CHAIN Award for Excellence. The award
commends organizations for their key learnings and innovative approaches to
infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship. The application deadline is
August 11; complete the nomination form online. With questions, please contact Susan Klammer, quality and process improvement specialist, MHA,
651-603-3529. return to top
One
Health launches Antibiotic Stewardship Honor Roll
The Minnesota Department of Health’s One Health Antibiotic
Stewardship Collaborative is launching its Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Honor Roll
for acute care and critical access hospitals. The honor roll not only
encourages commitment to antibiotic stewardship, but also implementation of new
ideas and actions and sharing of best practices.
Hospitals will be eligible for three levels of recognition: bronze, silver and
gold. Honorees will be listed on the One Health website, receive a certificate
and the use of the honor roll logo. The deadline for the first round of
recognition is August 31. Learn more and complete an application online. return to top
DEED
offers broadband grants
The 2017 Minnesota Legislature approved $20 million to support
further expansion of broadband targeted for unserved and underserved areas of
the state. Administered by the Department of Employment and Economic
Development (DEED), the grants can cover up to 50 percent of proposed project
funding. The application period is open through Sept. 11.
Based on a 2016 legislative provision, grant applicants must contact, in
writing, all of the existing wireline providers in their proposed grant project
areas to alert them that a potential application may be filed. Potential
applicants should make these contacts by July 31 if they plan to apply for a
broadband grant this year.
Learn more on DEED’s broadband grant program website. return to top
Connect
with health commissioner at local events
Dr. Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota health commissioner,
will host a series of “Pitch the Commissioner” events around the state this
summer. At each stop, he will invite community members to share their best
ideas about how to improve health in their community – while playing a friendly
game of horseshoes. MHA encourages members to attend events held in their
communities.
Houston County Public Health will host the first event on July 31 at 12:30 p.m.
at Caledonia Area Elementary School, located at 511 West Main Street in the
city of Caledonia. Other scheduled events include mid-August stops in Marshall
and Mankato and September visits with representatives of the White Earth Nation
and a community conversation in Bemidji. Specific details about these events
will be provided on MDH’s Pitch the Commissioner website once they are
available. return to top