Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

January 28, 2019

MHA Newsline: Jan. 28, 2019

In this issue 

Essentia Health reaches out to communities to reduce mental health stigma

Essentia Health is reaching out to the communities it serves to help people better understand mental illnesses and help reduce the stigma felt by those who experience it. Staff at three Essentia Health hospitals across northern Minnesota are partnering with other organizations to provide educational materials, organize community events and create speakers’ bureaus.   

In Duluth, Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center is part of Northland Healthy Minds, one of the largest coalitions in the state working to reduce the stigma of mental illnesses. More than 50 organizations are part of the effort. Northland Healthy Minds was created through a collaboration between two health systems in Duluth – Essentia Health and St. Luke’s. The organizations work together on a shared Community Health Needs Assessment and implementing health improvement strategies for the benefit of the community.   

In Brainerd, Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center partners with public health to lead Crow Wing Energized, a grassroots health and wellness movement. Community health survey results in 2017 found that more than 1 in 4 adults in Crow Wing County have a mental illness. On average, people wait 10 years to seek treatment for mental health issues, often due to stigma. Essentia Health began modeling stigma reduction by working with the Brainerd Dispatch and the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce to host a panel of community leaders who each shared their own stories of mental illness to an audience of 300, with an additional 5,000 people viewing the livestream.   

In Detroit Lakes, Essentia Health-St. Mary’s is a leader in Becker County Energize, which earned a national award for its Mental Wellness Collaborative’s outcomes. The community group organized training to improve awareness around mental health, helped change policies that resulted in a 23 percent reduction in emergency holds and better coordinate care for people with mental illnesses.   

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

Speaker Hortman presents to MHA board

The MHA Board of Directors engaged with Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman at its meeting Jan. 25. The board discussed the health care issues to be considered by the Legislature, including MHA’s opposition to government-mandated nurse staffing ratios and support for the provider tax.   

MHA encourages members to connect with their legislators as the legislative session begins. Resources are available on the MHA website. With questions, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465. return to top   

Health Care Leadership Institute to feature diversity and inclusion presentations

The MHA Health Care Leadership Institute will be held March 6-8 at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West in Plymouth. The conference will feature diversity and inclusion in health care with presentations from Minneapolis-based author Jermaine Davis, Ph.D.; Lorraine Griffin Johnson, M.A., director of workplace and patient diversity, CentraCare Health, St. Cloud; and David Hunt, president and CEO, Critical Measures, Minneapolis.   

Davis’ presentation, “Leading with an Inclusive Lens: Achieving Organizational Synergy with Diversity and Inclusion,” will equip participants with practical tools on how to cultivate an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, welcomed and safe. As organizations and teams become increasingly multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual and multifaceted, it is imperative that organizational leaders, managers and employees communicate and work effectively across all dimensions of diversity.   

Griffin Johnson and Hunt will discuss CentraCare’s Employee Resource Groups that bring diverse populations together during their presentation, “Creating a Culture of Inclusion.” This session will also focus on cultural competency training for staff and recently launched workforce diversity, language access and physician/advanced practice professional cultural competency and linguistic assessments.   

For more information or to register, download the conference brochure or visit MHA’s website. Hotel reservations can be made onlinereturn to top   

Registration opens for the 50th AHA Annual Meeting

Registration is now open for the American Hospital Association (AHA) 50th Annual Meeting, taking place for April 7-10 in Washington, D.C. Please note that this event is taking place a few weeks earlier than in previous years.   

The AHA Annual Meeting includes an extensive list of national speakers with topics ranging from national politics to trends in hospital leadership. The event also provides an excellent chance to network with MHA colleagues and health care professionals from around the country.   

MHA will once again be hosting a delegation of MHA members at the meeting. MHA activities include group dinners on Monday and Tuesday evening and policy meetings with members of the Minnesota congressional delegation.    

To learn more and register, visit the AHA website. Once you have registered, inform Ben Peltier, vice president, legal and federal affairs, MHA, 651-603-3513, so he can add you to the MHA delegation list. Questions about the AHA Annual Meeting may also be directed to Ben. return to top   

2018 Minnesota Hospital Financial Ratio book now available for MHA members

The 2018 Minnesota Hospital Financial Ratio Book, based on 2017 financial statements, is now available for MHA members. The book contains 27 key financial ratios that hospital administrators, board members and financial officers need to understand their hospital’s financial standing compared to their peer groups in Minnesota.   

The in-depth report, produced from hospitals’ audited financial statements, provides unique insight into the current trends different hospital groups face in Minnesota. The book also includes common-sized financial statements, allowing hospitals to compare their own statements against those with similar characteristics. Further, a system-level section is included showing the same key financial ratios for hospital systems operating in the state.   

MHA members may purchase the standard ratio book for $100. For more information, contact Joe Schindler, vice president, finance, MHA, 651-659-1415. To order the book or customized reports, contact Jennifer Sanislo, division assistant, MHA, 651-659-1440. return to top