Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

April 02, 2018

MHA Newsline: April 2, 2018

In this issue 
  1. Firefighter partnership program improves safety, reduces readmission rates for newly discharged patients 
  2. Reach out to legislators during spring break 
  3. PAC golf tournament scheduled for July 30 
  4. MOLN Spring Conference to be held May 3-4   

Firefighter partnership program improves safety, reduces readmission rates for newly discharged patients

Each day, Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital discharges an average of 49 people who go home. Among the patients who are the most vulnerable or who need therapy at home, about 55 people a year come back to the hospital in the few days after they are discharged.   

In 2014, Methodist Hospital partnered with local fire departments in St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie and Hopkins to help discharged patients make a safe transition from hospital to home. To improve the discharge planning process, the hospital invested staff time for communication and coordination with the fire departments, as well as resources for technology and reporting. Three years after the program launched, firefighters have visited more than 1,000 patients.   

Methodist Hospital Senior Director of Care Management Gena Graves recently met with several firefighters to discuss the program, including additional services and matching reimbursements provided by the Park Nicollet Foundation. This will provide additional funds for supplies like folders, pill boxes, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors and iPads. In total, the Park Nicollet Foundation has provided more than $71,000 in funding since 2014.   

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

Reach out to legislators during spring break

The legislative spring recess is now through April 8. Legislators appreciate hearing from constituents about health care issues and issues affecting their community’s hospital. Please invite local legislators to hospitals in their home districts for meetings this week. Use the grassroots matching list found on our Member Center to contact your legislators’ offices. 

MHA’s legislative priorities are available online.   

MHA opposes the proposed Medicaid work requirement
Legislation seeking a federal waiver to impose work and community engagement requirements for certain Medical Assistance enrollees advanced in both the House and Senate last week. MHA has a long-held position and core value that every individual should have health coverage and that the government has a role in paying for that coverage for low-income Minnesotans. MHA testified against this legislation, SF 3611 (Johnson-R-East Grand Forks)/HF 3722 (Fenton-R-Woodbury), and is part of a 116-member coalition opposed to this requirement. The Minnesota Department of Human Services estimates that 74,000 Minnesotans would not qualify for one of the exemptions in the legislation and would be subject to the work and community engagement requirement. Read the letter MHA submitted to the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.   

Legislation establishing a new Health Policy Commission continues to advance in the House and Senate. Sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, SF 3417 (Benson-R-Ham Lake)/HF 3823 (Schomacker-R-Luverne) will create an independent commission of health care experts to review health care costs. MHA has testified that we have concerns on the cost of this commission, the broad scope of work, the lack of legislative membership on the commission and the extended sunset of the commission through the year 2034.   

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   

PAC golf tournament scheduled for July 30

Registration is now open for the Minnesota Hospital Political Action Committee (PAC) golf tournament. The tournament will be held on July 30 at Territory Golf Club in St. Cloud. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., shotgun start at 12:30 p.m., with a dinner buffet and awards to follow at 5 p.m.      

Access the registration form online. Please contact Andrea Wombacher, division assistant, MHA, 651-603-3539, for information and to register. return to top   

MOLN Spring Conference to be held May 3-4

The Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing (MOLN) invites all nurse leaders – whether they are at the bedside, in the board room or in front of the classroom – to attend the 2018 MOLN Spring Conference. The conference, “Revitalizing Nursing Leadership: Cultivating Inclusive Partnerships & Collegial Relationships,” will be held May 3-4 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park.   

The conference prominently features four highly rated and nationally known speakers: Rahul Koranne, M.D., chief medical officer, MHA; Rich Bluni, RN, speaker and author, Studer Group; Faith Roberts, RN, director of magnet, professional practice and parish nursing, Carle Foundation Hospital and Carle Physician Group; and Father Nick Mezacapa, rector, Calvary Episcopal Church, Rochester. These dynamic speakers will present nurse leaders with key components for building empowered collegial relationships in the health care environment along with providing nurse leaders with practical strategies for creating inclusivity in the workplace. Attendees are also invited to participate in the 2018 Influence of Nursing Leadership poster presentation, silent auction and exhibitor hall.   

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) contact hours have been applied for and will be awarded to attendees for the successful completion of the conference.   

Early bird registration for MOLN members ends April 6. Register online or contact Kimberley Huntington, affiliate coordinator, MHA, 651-659-1425. return to top

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