Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

August 11, 2014

MHA Newsline: Aug. 11, 2014

In this issue 

Hospital spotlight: Fairview Health Services works to prevent birth injuries

This past spring, Fairview Health Services was awarded the MHA Patient Safety Improvement Award, large hospital category, for its work to eliminate preventable birth injuries through its Zero Birth Injury initiative. Beginning in 2008, as part of its transformation to embrace a culture of safety, Fairview began an initiative to reduce birth injury at its hospitals. An interdisciplinary workgroup with key stakeholders from across the system built a project on three pillars: evidence-based clinical practice, system infrastructure and behavior change. Fairview relied on tools such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s perinatal bundles and standardized order sets, policies, procedures and patient education. Early adopters and site leaders went back to the sites to spread the message, which helped obtain local approval and build consensus. Since the implementation of the Zero Birth Injury initiative, there has been a 25 percent reduction overall in adverse outcomes and 40 percent reduction in birth trauma. Learn more about Fairview Health Services and the other MHA award winners herereturn to top   

Workplace violence prevention webinar focuses on prevention

The private-public coalition of health care stakeholders working to prevent workplace violence towards staff in health care settings will offer a webinar on Sept. 9  focused on prevention. Managing violence in health care workplaces includes: forming a team, overview of education, engaging law enforcement, and policies and procedures to have in place when starting a program.   

The webinar will be on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 11 a.m. to noon. The webinar is complimentary, but registration is required.   

Many health care organizations have signed on to participate and there is still time for your organization to commit to the campaign. More information, including links to the commitment form, gap analysis and tool kit are available on MHA’s website and MDH’s website. For questions, contact Julie Apold, MHA senior director of patient safety, 651-603-3538. return to top   

Rural Hospital Improvement Grant applications due Sept. 11

The Office of Rural Health & Primary Care has announced that the Medicare Rural Hospital Improvement Program (Flex) Grant application is now available.   

Eligible applicants are CAHs, other small rural hospitals, rural EMS, and other rural organizations for projects related to: 

  • CAH and rural EMS quality improvement, 
  • CAH and rural EMS operational and performance improvement, and 
  • Rural Community Engagement projects by CAHs, other small rural hospitals, rural EMS, and other rural organizations. 

Applications are due to the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care by 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2014. Please note the due date is earlier than in previous years.   

Click here for more information and the grant application. For questions, contact Judy Bergh, flex program coordinator, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, 651-201-3843. return to top   

Honoring Choices introduces new short form health care directive, revises long form

Honoring Choices Minnesota now offers two complimentary versions of a health care directive, a document used by individuals to make important health care decisions for the future.   

The long form directive is a comprehensive document to fully outline choices and preference regarding care to be given and has been edited for easier use. The new short form is a quick document that offers flexibility in meeting the needs of patients and other individuals.   

The health care directives are available in English, Hmong, Russian, Somali and Spanish. Click here for all available directives to download in either Word format or PDF version. An easy-to-use online guide for both forms can be accessed here. For questions about health care directive use, contact Honoring Choices Minnesotareturn to top   

Honoring Choices advance care planning, training opportunities

Honoring Choices Minnesota will host multiple Advance Care Planning (ACP) trainings to encourage families, communities and organizations to have discussions regarding end-of-life care choices. The courses offered are: 

  • First Steps ACP Facilitator training, available for any interested individual who wants to learn how to lead in-depth and effective ACP conversations; 
  • The ACP Instructor Certification program, a more in-depth course which prepares those already trained as a facilitator to teach others; and, 
  • The Design & Implementation course, available for any site or system working to develop an ACP program within their organization. Individual participants do not need to be trained Facilitators to take this course.   

The ACP trainings will be held Oct. 6-8. Click here for more information and to view the training schedule. To reserve a spot, contact Karen Peterson, program manager, Honoring Choices Minnesota, 612-362-3704. return to top   

NAMI Minnesota offers workshops to reduce tobacco use among individuals living with mental illness

In an effort to reduce the high rate of smoking among individuals living with mental illness, NAMI Minnesota is providing complimentary hour-long workshops to mental health providers on ways to effectively help people reduce or quit tobacco use, as well as provide relapse prevention strategies. By encouraging providers to address this issue with their clients and staff and to make organizational changes within their program, more individuals will have access to the tools that are necessary to be successful in quitting.   

For more information and to schedule a workshop, contact Elizabeth Muenchow, smoking cessation project coordinator, NAMI Minnesota, 651-645-2948 extension 124. return to top  

Ezekiel Emanuel to provide opening keynote at MHA Annual Meeting

Physician, author, and University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Medicine department of medical ethics chair Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D. will speak on health care reform at MHA’s Annual Meeting in September. Dr. Emanuel has a unique insider’s view having served as special advisor on health policy to the director of the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council until January 2011.   

In his presentation, “Reinventing American Health Care,” Emanuel explains why the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took the shape it did, and in particular, examines the political role of the American Medical Association. He then projects how the ACA will affect health care in the future, laying out likely areas where further reform will be necessary.    

The MHA Annual Meeting will be held Sept. 17-19 at Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd.   

For more information, view the brochure or visit MHA’s website; log-in and click on “Calendar of Events” to register. Reserve your room at Madden's here. Those staying offsite can order meals here. The deadline for accommodations at Madden’s is Aug. 18. Madden’s often sells out so make your reservations soon.  

Continuing Education 
The Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators has approved the conference content for a total of 9.25 clock hours. return to top