Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

December 18, 2017

MHA Newsline: Dec. 18, 2017

In this issue 

Health systems across Minnesota collaborate to understand, reduce burnout among health care professionals

Led by a group of its physician leaders, the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) has launched a comprehensive statewide collaborative to address the rising tide of burnout among health care professionals. Burnout is a response to excessive job stress and is defined by the three dimensions of emotional exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy.   

In 2016, on behalf of its member hospitals and health systems, MHA began conducting a statewide survey to assess the prevalence of burnout among physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The journal Burnout Research recently published results of the 2016 survey, in which 56 health systems across Minnesota, representing 104 hospitals, participated.   

Of the 13,693 clinicians invited to participate in the survey, 43 percent responded, a high response rate likely reflecting the critical nature of the issue. One-third of respondents (34 percent) reported being emotionally exhausted – feeling a sense of burnout from their work. Almost three in five respondents reported feeling a great deal of stress because of their job; however, more than three-quarters reported being satisfied with their job and engaged with their work.   

In 2017, MHA again surveyed physicians and advanced practice providers. This year, 63 health systems, representing 113 hospitals, participated and 19,350 clinicians were invited to respond to the survey.   

“MHA will continue to publish ongoing results and the association between actions that health systems take and changing levels of burnout, so that others in the industry can understand what effectively reduces burden and stress on health care professionals,” said Rahul Koranne, M.D., MHA’s chief medical officer. “Ultimately, reducing burnout in physicians and APPs, as well as other health care staff, will improve the quality of care in service to our patients, families and communities across Minnesota.”   

To learn more, view MHA’s press releasereturn to top   

CHI St. Gabriel’s Health, HCMC to launch e-learning opportunities for primary care providers

CHI St. Gabriel’s Health in Little Falls on Jan. 3 will launch a new e-learning opportunity for health care providers across Minnesota on the topic of preventing and treating opioid addiction. Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in Minneapolis will be launching another e-learning opportunity at a later date.   

The e-learning is being provided through a Project ECHO grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to use telecommunications technology to link expert specialist teams at one location, called a hub, with primary care clinicians in local communities, known as spokes. As hubs for Project ECHO, CHI St. Gabriel’s and HCMC will provide specialized education and collaborative case management for participating primary care clinicians at spokes across Minnesota.   

CHI St. Gabriel’s Health will lead the program launching Jan. 3, which focuses on opioid addiction prevention and treatment, including the use of suboxone, in a rural community. Potential e-learning session topics include DHS opioid prescribing guidelines, how to develop a community opioid task force and non-appropriate diagnoses for pain medications. Experts from HCMC will participate in the e-learning sessions led by CHI St. Gabriel’s until the launch of the HCMC program.   

Project ECHO’s hub-and-spoke e-learning model includes weekly, hourlong teleconference meetings. Each week, experts from the hubs present on designated topic for 15 minutes. The remainder of the meeting is spent in collaborative discussion around patient cases submitted by participants at the spokes. At the end of each case discussion, experts from the hubs will summarize and give a final recommendation for the case.   

Through Project ECHO, primary care clinicians become part of a learning community, where they receive mentoring and feedback from specialists. Together, specialists and primary care clinicians manage patient cases so that patients get the care they need.   

The e-learning sessions delivered by CHI St. Gabriel’s Health and HCMC will take place Wednesdays from 12:15-1:15 p.m. beginning Jan. 3. Hospitals and health systems interested in participating should contact Katie Stangl, program coordinator, CHI St. Gabriel’s Health, 320-631-7239. return to top   

Federal tax bill expected for final vote this week

House and Senate Republican conferees on Dec. 15 released the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act conference report. House and Senate Republican leaders aim to approve the bill this week, sending it to President Trump for his signature before Congress adjourns for the holiday recess.  

As the tax bills have been considered by Congress, MHA has been actively communicating with the Minnesota Congressional delegation to outline concerns and offer alternative proposals on a variety of topics. MHA has expressed concern about proposals that would eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate to purchase health insurance, eliminate tax exemption for Private Activity Bonds (PAB) and eliminate taxpayers’ ability to itemize deductions for large medical expenses.   

The compromise proposal includes mixed results on these topics. The final Republican proposal would eliminate the individual mandate. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated elimination of the mandate will increase the number of people nationally without insurance by 13 million and increase insurance costs by as much as 10 percent.   

The compromise would not eliminate the PAB exemption. There had been some discussion in news reports recently of carve-outs for specific industries, including airports for example, but ultimately the final version does not modify current law with respect to any PABs. Thank you to the hospitals that contacted their representatives urging them to oppose the repeal of the tax-exemption for PABs.   

The final compromise reduces the deduction for large medical expenses from 10 percent to 7.5 percent, for the next two tax years. return to top   

Rooms sold out at MHA Winter Trustee Conference site

Alternate room block and registration still available  
The MHA Winter Trustee Conference will be held Jan. 12-14, 2018, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park. While registration for the conference is still available, the conference site has completely sold out of rooms. If you plan to attend the conference and need accommodations, an alternate room block has been set up at the nearby Courtyard by Marriott Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove.   

You can make accommodations at the Courtyard by calling 763-425-5355. Make sure to mention you are with the Minnesota Hospital Association to get the $144 per night group rate.    

For more information or to register for the conference, download the conference brochurereturn to top   

Mental Health Innovation Grant proposals due Jan. 8

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) on Nov. 27 issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a qualified grantee to improve accessibility and quality of community-based outpatient mental health services and reduce admissions to and stays beyond medical necessity in regional treatment centers and Community Behavioral Health Hospitals. For more information, see the Dec. 4 issue of Newsline.   

Responses to the RFP are due no later than 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2018. Instructions for submission are outlined in the RFP.     

To learn more, visit the DHS website or contact Amanda Calmbacher, Mental Health Division, DHS, 651-503-4050. return to top   

DHS extends Next Generation IHP comment period to Dec. 20

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has extended the deadline for submitting comments regarding its proposed Next Generation Integrated Healthcare Partnership (IHP) to Dec. 20. As proposed, the Next Generation IHP will not replace existing IHP models and will be voluntary in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area beginning in 2019. The comment period was announced in the Nov. 20 issue of Newsline.   

DHS leaders overseeing IHP demonstration projects joined representatives of IHPs from across the state at a meeting convened by MHA on Dec. 11. The meeting provided existing IHPs with the opportunity to better understand the Next Generation IHP model before submitting their comments and to provide feedback to inform MHA’s comments. In addition to questions about the mechanics of the proposed model, participants discussed whether expanding the Next Generation IHP model to other parts of the state would be beneficial.   

Further information about the Next Generation IHP proposal and comment submission is available through DHS. To provide input for MHA’s comment letter, please contact Matt Anderson, senior vice president of policy and chief strategy officer, MHA, 651-659-1429, by Dec. 19. return to top   

U of M to offer Mini Bioethics Academy on opioid addiction

The University of Minnesota’s Center for Bioethics’ Mini Bioethics Academy beginning Jan. 23 will offer a three-night series addressing the opioid crisis.   

According to the CDC, as many as 1 in 4 people who receive opioid prescriptions for noncancer pain struggle with addiction. In 2015, almost half of the 33,000 opioid deaths in America involved a prescription.   

Sessions are as follows:   

  • Session 1: Jan. 23, 6:30-8 p.m.
    Opioid Addiction in America: Where do we stand?
    Dana Farley, MDH alcohol and drug prevention policy director  
  • Session 2: Jan. 30, 6:30-8 p.m.
    Opioid Addiction in America: Reframing public perceptions and policy solutions 
    Sarah Gollust, Ph.D., associate professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health   
  • Session 3: Feb. 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
    Opioid Addiction in America: Leveraging community expertise 
    Laura Palombi, Pharm.D., MPH, MAT, assistant professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Duluth 

Participants can choose to attend one, two or all three sessions. Seating is limited; register early to get a space. Learn more and register onlinereturn to top   

Newsline holiday schedule

Newsline will take a holiday break and will return to its normal publishing schedule on Jan. 8. return to top

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