Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

June 09, 2014

MHA Newsline: June 9, 2014

In this issue

Hospital spotlight: Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague ignites passion for health care careers

Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague was honored this spring with the 2014 MHA Health Care Career Promotion Award in the small hospital category for its Healthcare Career Exploration Class. The program is a partnership with New Prague High School for high school seniors to have a hands-on week-long experience in 20 different hospital departments. Students in this class have an opportunity to achieve comprehensive learning objectives and competencies as well as explore educational requirements, job duties, salary expectations and career opportunities for more than 20 health care careers. Feedback from students completing this class range from knowing they may want to explore the operational side of health care to realizing they can't wait to work in surgery or the emergency room so they can be "where the action is" in caring for patients. This hands-on class has ignited a new passion among students considering health care careers. Read more about Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague and the other 2014 award winners here. return to top  

State House candidates file to run for office

Filings closed for candidates for the Minnesota House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 3. All 134 seats in the House are up for re-election in November. The Senate is not up for re-election until 2016. According to the Secretary of State, eight Republicans and one DFL candidate did not have candidates file against them:

  • Tony Cornish, R-Vernon Center
  • Kurt Daudt, R-Crown
  • Joe Hoppe, R-Chaska
  • Joe McDonald, R-Delano
  • Kim Norton, D-Rochester
  • Tim O’Driscoll, R-Sartell
  • Marion O’Neill, R-Buffalo
  • Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers
  • Duane Quam, R-Byron

Please make sure to invite these House members for a hospital tour and to talk to them about the incredible work you are doing in your community. 

There will be several open seats in the House as 15 members have announced their retirement:

  • Jim Abeler, R-Anoka
  • Mike Beard, R-Shakopee
  • John Benson, D-Minnetonka
  • Mike Benson, R-Rochester
  • Kathy Brynaert, D-Mankato
  • David FitzSimmons, R-Albertville
  • Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville
  • Tom Huntley, D-Duluth
  • Andrea Kieffer, R-Woodbury
  • Ernie Leidiger, R-Mayer
  • Pam Myhra, R-Burnsville
  • Michael Paymar, D-St. Paul
  • Steve Simon, D-Hopkins
  • Kelby Woodard, R-Bell Plaine
  • Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove

Because these will be open legislatives seats, please make sure to reach out to the candidates to educate them on hospital issues. You can find a complete candidate listing for all the House races on MHA’s Member Center.

If you have any questions, contact Kristin Loncorich, MHA director of government relations, 651-603-3526 or Mary Krinkie, MHA vice president of government relations, 651-659-1465. return to top  

Hospitals can apply for residency slots from closed teaching hospital

Hospitals can apply to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a portion of roughly 27 Medicare residency slots being redistributed due to the closure of Long Beach (NY) Medical Center, the agency announced today. The Affordable Care Act authorizes CMS to redistribute residency cap slots after a hospital that trained residents in an approved medical residency program closes. Guidelines for submitting the applications are available at www.cms.gov. CMS’s Central Office must receive applications for the positions by Sept. 2. After mailing an application, hospitals also must notify CMS of their mailed submissions by email. return to top  

Out of Sight, Out of Mind reminds hospitals to visualize site mark before surgical procedures

June 11 is National Time Out Day

Wednesday, June 11 is National Time Out Day, a time to draw awareness to the need for surgical teams to conduct a safe, effective time out for every patient, every time. Time outs are a strategy to help eliminate wrong-site, wrong procedure and wrong-patient events.  

One of the common breakdowns in best practices that MHA has identified from past adverse health events is teams not visualizing the site mark. As part of an effective pre-surgical procedure, surgical teams must visualize the site mark before beginning the procedure. Visualizing the site mark is an effective way to prevent wrong site or wrong procedure events before they happen. In one example from a Minnesota hospital, a wrong-site surgery was prevented when a nurse noted that the laterality on the consent and on the physician orders did not match the laterality that was marked by the surgeon and confirmed by the patient. Because the nurse visualized the site mark and checked it against source documents she was able to notify the surgeon and the proper laterality was marked prior to the patient being transported to the operating room, preventing a wrong-site surgery. MHA has sent an Out of Sight, Out of Mind poster with the top reasons given for not visualizing the site mark and magnets to hospitals to post as a reminder to visualize the site mark for every patient, every procedure, every time. Download the poster here.    

For questions about Out of Sight, Out of Mind, contact Julie Apold, MHA senior director of patient safety, 651-603-3538. For ideas and resources to build awareness of your Time Out efforts, click here. return to top  

Resource for hospital presumptive eligibility added to Member Center

A frequently-asked-questions document about hospital presumptive eligibility was added to the member resources section last week.  

Visit the MHA Member Center for important resources and information specifically for MHA members. Helpful features include:

  • a new grassroots search engine, allowing you to find the contact information for your legislators by hospital or legislative committee;
  • a new list of candidates who have filed to run in the 2014 election;
  • an online member directory that provides up-to-date information on MHA’s 143 member hospitals and key hospital staff; and
  • members-only documents including key messages, fact sheets and legislative resources on pertinent hospital issues.

Check the Member Center regularly for timely updates on critical health care issues and in the coming months, essential election information.  

The Member Center is username and password protected. For login information, contact Ashley Gauster, member services and communications specialist, 651-603-3545. return to top  

RARE participants invited to celebrate Campaign’s success preventing readmissions

Participants in the Reducing Avoidable Readmissions Effectively (RARE) Campaign are invited to join your colleagues and partners from across the state in celebration of the Campaign’s success preventing 7,975 avoidable readmissions over the life of the campaign.  

On Tuesday, June 17, participants will gather for an Action Learning Day. The agenda includes patient engagement, end-of-life care and learning more about how motivational interviewing, shared decision-making and health coaching can work together in a synergy and symphony of care. Immediately following the Action Day, participants are invited to a reception honoring participating hospitals, community partners and other supporters. Celebrate your team’s success and recharge to sustain the work.  

The Action Learning Day and reception will be held at the Crowne Plaza, Minneapolis West in Plymouth. Participants are welcome to attend both the Action Learning Day and the reception, or can attend just the reception beginning at 4 p.m.  Register online for the Action Learning Day or RSVP for the reception only to Patty Staack, 952-814-7063. return to top