In this issue
Hospital
spotlight: Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James increases employee
satisfaction
Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James was honored this spring
with the 2014 MHA Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace Award in the small hospital
category. Over the past two and a half years, thanks to a dedicated and engaged
group of leaders and providers who truly function as a team, Mayo Clinic in St.
James has become an “aligned work” family by implementing strategies around a
culture of safety, trust and communication. Efforts such as leadership
walk-arounds to engage staff in conversations about safety, culture and
communication and an employee-led team that creates monthly activities to
create fun in the workplace has contributed to a positive work environment.
Employee satisfaction has improved from 58 percent in 2008 to 86 percent in
2013 and in the past two years just five employees have left for a job outside
the organization. Read more about Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James
and the other 2014 award winners here. return to top
MHA
speaks out on recent nurses’ union activity
The Minnesota Nurses Association union staged a media stunt at
North Memorial Medical Center last Tuesday. Hospitals can expect to see more of
these kinds of events during election season in which the union continues to
make unsupported claims to inflame public perception. In addition to responding
to reporters from a statewide perspective about patient safety and the quality
of care that Minnesota hospitals deliver, MHA is reaching out to legislators
who attended the event. MHA will continue to share our record of quality
improvement, cost savings to the health care system, and the compromise that
resulted in the posting of nurse staffing levels on www.mnhospitalquality.org. Finally, MHA has
submitted a guest column to the Sun Post community newspaper in the Robbinsdale
area. To read MHA’s response, click here. return to top
Hospital Presumptive Eligibility begins July 1
Minnesota's hospital presumptive eligibility (HPE) program
begins Tuesday, July 1, 2014. HPE gives qualified hospitals the opportunity to
enroll patients they deem eligible into a temporary Medical Assistance (MA)
program. The temporary MA program then covers the cost of patient care until
the patient enrolls in full MA, is found ineligible for MA, or comes to the end
of the HPE coverage time period.
To participate in HPE, a hospital must be an enrolled
provider with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), complete
an addendum for the Minnesota Health Care Programs contract called an HPE
Applicant Assurance Statement, and have at least two employees trained and
certified to determine patient eligibility for HPE. Only hospital employees can
make HPE determinations.
MHA members are reminded that MHA is helping DHS hold weekly
meetings through the end of July for members to provide feedback on HPE
implementation. The meetings are for hospital employees who are working with
the HPE program. The meetings will be held at the Elmer L. Andersen Human
Services Building in St. Paul and the next one is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1
from 10 to 11 a.m.
MHA has posted a Frequently Asked Questions document in the MHA Member Center. DHS has also made
information available online through the HPE Homepage, including links to the contract
addendum and training.
The Member Center is username and password protected. For login information,
contact Ashley Gauster, member services and communications specialist,
651-603-3545. For more information on HPE or to RSVP for Tuesday’s meeting contact
Jen McNertney, MHA policy analyst, 651-659-1405. return to top
Member
news: Regions Hospital president and CEO Brock Nelson to retire
HealthPartners SVP
Megan Remark named successor
Regions Hospital
president and CEO Brock Nelson announced plans to retire at the end of 2014.
Nelson began at Regions in 2003 after almost 20 years as CEO of Children’s
Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.
HealthPartners has named specialty care leader Megan Remark as the new CEO. She
has been with the organization for almost 20 years. Currently a member of the
Regions senior leadership team, she has spent the last ten years leading the
HealthPartners Specialty Care Division, leading major initiatives such as the
development of the HealthPartners Specialty Centers, HealthPartners Cancer Care
Centers and the Regions Hospital Breast Center.
“Brock has led Regions through an era of tremendous change, setting a clear,
strategic vision that has produced tremendous growth and improved quality and
experience for patients,” said Mary Brainerd, president and CEO of
HealthPartners. “Megan will continue that tradition.”
Remark will work with Nelson in the next six months and officially start her
position Jan. 1, 2015. return to top
Member
Center online directory expanded
The MHA online membership directory has been expanded to include
member health care systems and the MHA Board of Directors.
Use the online directory to find up-to-date information on all of MHA’s member
hospitals and health care systems and contact information of key staff. The MHA Member Center features important resources
and information specifically for members such as:
- A grassroots search engine,
allowing you to find the contact information for your legislators by
hospital or legislative committee;
- 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
Newsline
schedule
Newsline will next be published Tuesday, July
8. return to top