Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

July 14, 2014

MHA Newsline: July 14, 2014

In this issue 

Hospital spotlight: Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Detroit Lakes works to improve patient safety

In May, Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Detroit Lakes received the MHA Patient Safety Improvement award, small hospital category, for their innovative work in improving patient safety and satisfaction scores. Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Detroit Lakes had been challenged to meet core quality measures and Surgical Care Improvement Project measures, but nurse managers were unable to identify areas that could help further move the needle. A new chief nursing officer helped create a checklist of all elements needed to ensure patients were receiving appropriate and excellent care every day. Armed with the checklist, the CNO and nurse managers meet and go through the checklist on each floor of the hospital, enabling them to ensure requirements are met and reinforce patient satisfaction at the bedside. This method of rounding has helped staff feel empowered and able to voice questions and concerns. Core and SCIP measures have greatly improved and patient satisfaction scores are through the roof. Learn more about Esssentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Detroit Lakes and the other MHA award winners herereturn to top  

MHA part of coalition to prevent workplace violence in health care settings

A study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in 2012 as part of the statewide Adverse Health Events reporting system found that patient/visitor violence toward staff was a concern at Minnesota health care facilities.   

To address this concern, a public-private coalition of health care stakeholders has formed to prevent workplace violence toward staff in health care settings and to provide resources to hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and other facilities to help identify risks for violence and put effective strategies in place.   

MHA will be sending an electronic letter to all member hospitals and health care systems asking them to make workplace violence prevention a top priority by: 

  • Declaring workplace violence prevention a priority for your organization and filling out the Preventing Violence in Healthcare Organizational Commitment Form
  • Committing to complete the “Prevention of Violence in Healthcare” gap analysis within 30 days; 
  • Supporting the development or continued work of a workplace violence prevention committee in your organization; 
  • Participating in educational webinars supported by the coalition; and, 
  • Completing a survey in six to nine months sharing progress and continued needs to shape next steps for the coalition and campaign. 

To kick off the work, the Minnesota Medical Association is hosting a series of webinars. The first one will be on Wednesday, July 30 from 10 to 11 a.m. and will provide an overview of violence in health care workplaces and a road map to reducing incidence and severity. The webinar is complimentary, but registration in required.   

For questions, contact Julie Apold, MHA senior director of patient safety, 651-603-3538. return to top   

DHS background check laws to be discussed statewide at information sessions

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is hosting a series of information sessions throughout Minnesota to provide information about the changes to the background checkprogram on hospitals’ and health systems’ employment requirements. The new law requires fingerprints and a photograph of the background subject. The law also requires implementation of new software that supports multiple changes designed to improve the accuracy and completeness of background checks. The information sessions will take place in eight locations; no registration is required. Hospitals and health systems are encouraged to attend a session to learn more about the new background check requirements that will be implemented in early 2015.   

The first meeting is scheduled for Wed., July 16 from 1-3 p.m. at the Maplewood Community Center. Upcoming meetings will be held in August, Sept., and Oct. in greater Minnesota. See the information sessions list for more information. return to top   

Last chance to register for the MN Hospital PAC Golf Tournament

Registration will soon close for the 2014 MN Hospital PAC golf tournament.  The tournament will take place on Monday, Aug. 11 in St. Cloud at Territory Golf Club.  

Hospital CEOs are asked to contribute at a club level ($350 minimum) to participate. Hospital employees and trustees can attend for $200 per person. Please contact Carol Eshelman, Minnesota Hospital PAC coordinator for a registration form.   

Members who have already contributed at a club level in 2014 are invited to participate at no extra charge, but are asked to register with Eshelman.   

The Minnesota Hospital PAC thanks the following members who have already contributed $350 or more in 2014 as of July 8:   

Washington Club – individuals giving $3,000 or more 

  • Lorry Massa, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul   

Ben Franklin Club – individuals giving $1,000 or more 

  • Brad Beard, Fairview Southdale Hospital, Edina 
  • Craig Broman, St. Cloud Hospital 
  • Alan L. Goldbloom, M.D., Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis 
  • Ben Koppelman, CHI St. Joseph’s Health, Park Rapids 
  • Mary Maertens, Avera Marshall 
  • Ken Paulus, Allina Health, Minneapolis 
  • Peter Person, M.D., Essentia Health, Duluth 
  • Terence Pladson, M.D., CentraCare Health, St. Cloud 
  • Rulon Stacey, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis 
  • Randy Ulseth, FirstLight Health System, Mora 
  • Carl Vaagenes, Douglas County Hospital, Alexandria 
  • Mary Ellen Wells, CentraCare Health - Monticello 
  • Matt Anderson, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 
  • Mary Krinkie, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 
  • Ben Peltier, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul   

Chairman's Circle – individuals giving $500 or more

  • David Albrecht, Owatonna Hospital 
  • Richard Ash, Ortonville Area Health Services 
  • Catherine Barr, Bethesda Hospital, St. Paul 
  • Sara Criger, Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids 
  • Mark Koch, Mayo Clinic Health System, Rochester 
  • Carrie Michalski, RiverView Health, Crookston 
  • Dennis Miley, CentraCare Health - Paynesville 
  • Steven Mulder, M.D., Hutchinson Health 
  • Bill Nelson, Mille Lacs Health System, Onamia 
  • Dan Odegaard, Bigfork Valley Hospital/Rainy Lake Medical Center 
  • Keith Okeson, LifeCare Medical Center, Roseau 
  • Dan Olson, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center 
  • Tim Rice, Lakewood Health System, Staples 
  • Larry Schulz, Lake Region Healthcare, Fergus Falls 
  • John Solheim, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby 
  • Wendy Burt, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 
  • Tania Daniels, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 
  • Ann Gibson, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 
  • Kristin Loncorich, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 
  • Joe Schindler, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 
  • Mark Sonneborn, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul 
  • Peggy Westby, Minnesota Hospital Association, St. Paul   

Capitol Club – individuals giving $350 or more 

  • Daniel Anderson, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis 
  • Nathan Blad, RC Hospital & Clinics, Olivia 
  • Jon Braband, Glencoe Regional Health Services 
  • George Gerlach, Granite Falls Municipal Hospital & Manor 
  • Gerry Gilbertson, CentraCare Health - Melrose 
  • Paul Goering, M.D., Allina Health, Minneapolis 
  • Peter Jacobson, Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Detroit Lakes 
  • Joy Johnson, Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
  • Beth Krehbiel, Fairview Ridges Hospital, Burnsville 
  • Frank Lawatsch, Swift County-Benson Hospital 
  • Loren Morey, Lakewood Health System, Staples 
  • John Porter, Avera Health, Sioux Falls, SD 
  • Jon Pryor, M.D., Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis 
  • Mary Ruyter, Sanford Jackson Medical Center 
  • Rachelle Schultz, Winona Health 
  • Gary Shaw, Cambridge Medical Center 
  • Fred Slunecka, Avera, Sioux Falls, SD   

For more information about the Minnesota Hospital PAC contact Kristin Loncorich, MHA government affairs director, 651-603-3526 or Mary Krinkie, MHA vice president of government relations, 651-659-1465. return to top   

Election tool kit added to Member Center

The 2014 Election Tool Kit for MHA Members has been added to the MHA Member Center.  The election tool kit includes resources to help MHA member hospitals and their employees participate in their local campaigns with the goal of establishing a relationship with those elected on Nov. 4 in advance of the 2015 legislative session. Resources include an election preview, issue briefings and key messages, advocacy tips, resources for candidate meetings and voting 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