Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

March 05, 2018

MHA Newsline: March 5, 2018

In this issue 

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center supports hunger relief in its community and beyond

When the final school bells ring and summer break begins, nearly half the 1,025 youth in Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s (CRMC) service area are at risk of going hungry. Forty-five percent of these students receive free or reduced-cost meals through the National School Lunch Program, but none of these kids receive meals through the summer months.   

As part of CRMC’s commitment to keeping kids healthy, the hospital in 2015 partnered with area churches to provide nutritious meals to kids and teens throughout the summer and continued its commitment by also providing basic needs to students over holiday breaks and healthy, free food during community events.      

Lunch Bunch is an annual event that has grown each year. A total of 3,820 meals were provided in 2015; 4,650 in 2016; and 4,800 in 2017. The majority of youth in the area’s total population of 3,400 residents were served. Each Wednesday, two different CRMC volunteers prepare and distribute the meals planned by a registered dietitian.   

Visit the MHA website to learn more and read the full Community Benefit Reportreturn to top   

Don’t miss the chance to earn recognition for your hospital

MHA Awards nominations due Friday, March 9  
MHA wants to honor your hospital and caregivers for our 34th annual awards program celebrating the outstanding work you do to deliver patient care and serve your communities.   

MHA award categories recognize excellence involving community health, best workplace, and patient care, for example. Honors for individuals recognize trustees, volunteers, hospital executives, caregivers and public officials. Additional information on the categories and judging criteria can be found on MHA’s website.   

Entries are due Friday, March 9; find the entry form online.   

MHA will notify all entrants whether they have won in mid-April. A reception and dinner will take place Friday, June 1, at the Metropolitan Ballroom in suburban Minneapolis. All MHA members and associate members are invited and encouraged to attend the awards ceremony. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for this celebration of excellence in Minnesota health care.   

For more information, contact Sarah Bohnet, visual communications specialist, MHA, 651-603-3494. return to top

New videos feature mental health, opioid treatment efforts

New videos from the Minnesota’s Hospitals: Strengthening Healthy Communities campaign showcase ways that Minnesota’s hospitals are working beyond their walls to address mental health and addiction treatment needs in their communities.   

As many as one in four adults experiences a mental illness in their lifetime. Residents of Powderhorn Park, a community in south Minneapolis, knew family members, friends and neighbors who were living with mental health conditions. When their local hospital, Hennepin County Medical Center, was searching for locations for a mental health crisis treatment residence, the neighborhood welcomed the project with open arms. Today, the crisis residence offers people a safe transition between hospital inpatient care and independent living. View the video.   

More than 4 in 10 people know someone who has been addicted to opioids. As communities across the country search for solutions to the opioid crisis, Minnesota has a community and clinic-based model that is working. CHI St. Gabriel’s Health in Little Falls brought together physicians, a social worker, a pharmacist and a dedicated nurse to form the Controlled Substance Care Team, a group with the sole task of preventing and treating opioid misuse. Over 340 patients have tapered off narcotic medications completely, which translates to 382,512 fewer pills entering the community each year. View the video.  

Please follow and share these videos and posts from the  Minnesota’s Hospitals: Strengthening Healthy Communities campaign. Sign up on our website and like our Facebook pagereturn to top   

Legislative update

MHA legislation to streamline the Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) provider requirements, HF 2945, authored by Rep. Roz Peterson (R-Lakeville), advanced in the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee and now awaits floor action. This legislation will remove an onerous provision requiring a host-county contract before an IRTS facility can move forward. Jayne Quinlan from Regions Hospital testified in support of the legislation and discussed delays HealthPartners and Regions Hospital experienced related to building a new IRTS facility in Maplewood due to burdensome requirements. MHA’s goal is to help facilitate the development of additional community mental health service capacity.   

The Opioid Family Recovery Act, HF 1440, authored by Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) and strongly supported by MHA, was discussed in committee, with passionate testimony from families who have lost loved ones to opioid addiction, providers, survivors and law enforcement. The bill was laid over for further consideration by the committee. Baker stated he will continue to modify the legislation before it is brought back to the committee for continued action.     

The Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee held an informational hearing on Minnesota’s hospital moratorium law. MHA supports the current moratorium law, recognizing that occasional exceptions to the moratorium law will need legislative consideration.   

This week at the Capitol, MHA’s legislation to modernize the Minnesota Health Records Act will be considered by the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee. MHA is part of a large coalition working to advance this needed change.   

This week, the Office of the Legislative Auditor will release its report on the Office at Health Facility Complaints at the Minnesota Department of Health. Several legislative committees will hold informational hearings on the report.   

The House Health and Human Services Finance committee will hold a hearing on selected Minnesota Department of Health reports, including this year’s Adverse Health Events Report.   

With questions, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465, or Kristin Loncorich, director of state government relations, MHA, 651-603-3526.  

Session bill tracker
For a complete list of 2018 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   

Employer applications being accepted for Summer Health Care Internship Program

Deadline to apply is Friday, April 13
Employer applications are being accepted for the 2018 Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP). Hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, home care providers and adult day services facilities are encouraged to participate on behalf of qualified students in their community.   

The internship program benefits students by allowing them to explore health care careers and gain experience in a health care setting. The initiative is also a great opportunity for health care employers to become more involved in their communities.   

Up to half of an intern’s wages are reimbursed through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. The grant is administered by MHA. The employer application form is available on the MHA website. The application deadline is April 13 at 5 p.m. 

For more information on the Summer Health Care Internship Program, visit the MHA website or contact Sarah Bohnet, Summer Health Care Internship Program coordinator, MHA, 651-603-3494. return to top

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