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 Report. return 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 page. return 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