Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

April 14, 2014

MHA Newsline: April 14, 2014

In this issue

Hospital spotlight: Minnesota hospitals reduce early elective deliveries by 92 percent

Minnesota hospitals have been hard at work to end elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks gestation. From 2010 through third quarter 2013, hospitals have reduced early elective deliveries by 92 percent! Nearly all Minnesota hospitals have a hard stop policy in place restricting inductions before 39 weeks, and MHA has partnered with the March of Dimes to spread awareness about the difference every week of pregnancy makes to the health of the baby. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, decreasing the rate of early elective deliveries means:

  • More mothers get safe, evidence-based care.
  • Infants improve their chances for good physical and developmental health.
  • Lower costs for public and private payers because there are fewer Caesarean sections performed, they have less neonatal intensive care unit admissions, and less associated complications for the newborns.

Learn more on the MHA website. return to top  

DHS releases revised Integrated Health Partnerships RFP

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has released an addendum to its Feb. 18 request for proposals for the Integrated Health Partnerships (IHP) demonstration projects. The IHP demonstrations, formerly known as Health Care Delivery System (HCDS) demonstration projects, provide an opportunity for hospitals and other providers to deliver services to Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees under alternative payment arrangements. Minnesota currently has nine such demonstration projects.  

MHA has been a strong supporter of these demonstration projects and the flexibility that they offer to providers and the state. MHA members are encouraged to consider submitting proposals for the latest round of contracts.  

Proposals are due June 2, 2014. The RFP is available online. return to top 

National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16

The goal of National Healthcare Decisions Day is simple – to have every hospital, community center, nursing home, newspaper, church and others help the public better understand end-of-life planning and advance directives.   

With a focus on education, this annual day helps increase the number of people who understand the importance of end-of-life planning, talk with their loved ones and complete an advance directive. Hospitals across the country are participating. From hosting education sessions for the community and hospital staff to making advance directives available, there are many ways to be involved.  

The effort is supported by the American Hospital Association, the American Bar Association, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Aging with Dignity, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, and many others.  

For more information about April 16 and free materials about end-of-life planning, visit the National Health Care Decisions Day website and AHA’s Put it in Writing campaign. return to top  

Conference to explore ways to manage aggressive behaviors in health care

CentraCare Health and St. Cloud Hospital are hosting a one-day conference to help hospitals and health care workers better manage aggressive behaviors. The conference will define a strategic approach for mitigating the risk of behaviorally challenging situations in a health care environment and provide professionals with information and tools to address increasing health care incidents of aggressive behavior toward caregivers. Following the program, participants will be able to:

  • Explore ways to prepare for and respond to an active shooter in the hospital setting.
  • Identify methods for maintaining operations during an active shooter incident.
  • Describe risk management, legal, law enforcement, community and other challenges associated with an Aggressive Patient Management Program.
  • Address strategies regarding post-incident debriefing and other post-incident approaches.
  • Implement skills and tools that will decrease or de-escalate violent behavioral incidents in the work environment.

The conference will take place Wednesday, June 11 at the Gorecki Center – College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph. Learn more or register online. return to top  

University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics hosting Mini Bioethics Academy

The Mini Bioethics Academy, hosted by the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics, is open to anyone interested in learning more about and discussing bioethical issues. Specific topics to be covered include: health care directives, the Affordable Care Act, and ethics and controversies about brain death. Sessions will be held April 22, 29 and May 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Mill City Innovation and Collaboration Center in Minneapolis. To learn more or to register, visit the Center for Bioethics online. return to top