Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

May 28, 2019

MHA Newsline: May 28, 2019

In this issue 

Sanford Canby Medical Center care team member receives MHA Good Catch for Patient Safety Award

A Sanford Canby Medical Center care team member has received the award that recognizes hospital professionals who demonstrate their commitment to keeping patients safe by speaking up to prevent a potential patient safety issue.   

Registered nurse Tammy Greenman accepted the quarterly MHA Good Catch for Patient Safety Award at a presentation on May 23.   

A patient presented to the emergency department (ED) with a low magnesium level and was prescribed magnesium sulfate. When Greenman went to the pharmacy to obtain the medication to administer it, she noticed that the individual doses were smaller than the quantity that had been prescribed to the patient.   Greenman contacted the pharmacist on-call to question the dosing and was informed that the smaller quantity was indeed the correct dose. The larger dose that had been prescribed could have caused side effects for the patient. Greenman then contacted the provider to discuss the recommended dosing and the dose was changed, providing effective management of the patient's low magnesium level.   

“It is because of actions taken every day by dedicated professionals like Tammy that Minnesota hospitals continue to be front-runners in patient safety,” said MHA Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety Tania Daniels. “Tammy’s efforts remind us what a difference each person can make to keep patients safe.”   

Visit the MHA website to complete nominate an employee or team for the award. To learn more, contact Tania Daniels, 651-603-3517, or Dr. Rahul Koranne, chief medical officer, MHA, 651-659-1445. return to top   

Legislature reaches budget deal

When the regular legislative session concluded on May 20, legislative leaders had made progress toward budget deals but had not reached a global agreement. Work continued during the week and Governor Tim Walz convened a 24-hour special session on May 24 that resulted in the approval of a $48 billion budget for the next biennium. Walz is expected to sign the budget bills this week.   

One of MHA’s top priorities this session was maintaining the provider tax as a funding source for health care coverage for low-income Minnesotans. In a successful resolution, the tax was slightly decreased to 1.8% and the sunset was eliminated.   

In the priority area of mental health, successes included funding to sustain Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), funding for Intensive Children’s Mental Health Treatment and 150 new Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTFs) beds, increased funding for school-linked mental health services and adopting NAMI policy language to better enforce mental health parity.   

Additional results of the legislative session will be shared in the coming weeks.   

With questions, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465, or Kristen McHenry, director of state government relations, MHA, 651-603-3526. return to top   

Health care consumerism thought leader Ryan Donohue to speak at Summer Trustee Conference

Corporate director of program development with National Research Corporation and health care consumerism thought leader Ryan Donohue will present on price transparency and quality during two sessions at the MHA Summer Trustee Conference, held July 12-14 at the Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria.  

During his first presentation, “Understanding the Call for More Price Transparency,” Donohue will explore breakthrough industry examples of price transparency, the effect on consumers when pricing becomes more understandable and the ultimate impact on patients when pricing remains elusive.   

Donohue’s second presentation, “The Quality Quandary: Exploring the Most Misunderstood Metric in Health Care,” will reveal the simple, surprising factors that influence patients on quality.   

For more information or to register, view the conference brochure. Accommodations at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center can be booked at the group rate onlinereturn to top   

Review upcoming pharmaceutical waste regulatory changes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published a new final rule regarding pharmaceutical waste management effective Aug. 21. After reviewing the federal regulations, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has published a summary of pharmaceutical waste regulatory changes that will be implemented in Minnesota. While some of the changes are effective immediately, others will be phased in over the next three years.  

View a summary of the changes effective in Minnesota, additional guidance regarding specific wastes and pharmaceutical-related waste management issues, and detailed hazardous waste compliance guidance.   

The MPCA is scheduled to present on changes in pharmaceutical waste management June 25 in Bloomington. Contact the host organization to register for a training.   

The MPCA can provide a speaker for in-person or web-based trainings if the training is open to the public and publicized and the host provides the venue, ensures that at least half the attendees are not its own employees or customers and does not profit from the training. The host may charge reasonable attendance fees to defray costs. To host a training, contact Joshua Burman, pollution control specialist, MPCA, 507-344-5243. return to top