Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

October 27, 2014

MHA Newsline: Oct. 27, 2014

In this issue 

Minnesota hospitals identify strategy for Ebola care

On Friday, Oct. 24, Minnesota hospitals and health systems announced a coordinated strategy to care for Ebola patients in the state. Under the plan, all hospitals in the state will continue to be prepared to detect, isolate and initially care for suspected Ebola patients. Should a case of Ebola be identified, the patient will be treated at one of four designated hospitals: 

  • University of Minnesota Medical Center, West Bank Campus, Minneapolis 
  • Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester, Saint Marys Campus 
  • Allina Health’s Unity Hospital in Fridley 
  • Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota - St. Paul campus 

MHA will continue to work with all Minnesota hospitals to ensure they are prepared and have the resources necessary should a case of Ebola arrive in Minnesota. 

Also, new over the weekend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance to help emergency departments evaluate and manage patients who present with symptoms that could indicate Ebola. The guidance and accompanying algorithm are available on the CDC website. CDC also issued updated Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services Systems and 9-1-1- Public Safety Answering Points for Management of Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Diseases.  

For additional state and federal Ebola resources, visit: 
www.cdc.gov/ebola 
http://www.health.state.mn.us/ebola 

In addition, MHA has posted a number of resources for members on our website: www.mnhospitals.org/ebola   

Twin Cities Medical Society to host Ebola education forum 
The Twin Cities Medical Society is hosting a free educational forum for physicians, medical students, health administrators and health care workers on Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The forum features experts from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) as well as Allina Health and Hennepin County Medical Center. The forum aims to inform attendees of how health systems are preparing for potential Ebola cases in Minnesota, understand the resources available from MDH and learn more about the epidemiology of Ebola. There is no charge for the event but registration is requested at www.metrodoctors.com or call 612-623-2885.  return to top   

Member news: Essentia Health-Fosston trustee appointed to chair AHA committee

Barbara Muesing, trustee at Essentia Health-Fosston, has been appointed to serve as the chair of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Committee of Volunteers beginning Jan. 1, 2015. The Committee of Volunteers supports the AHA mission and policy agenda through its activities in public policy development, participating in AHA grassroots advocacy, and by providing the association with the benefit of its community perspective on issues related to health care. The committee also serves as the selection committee for the AHA Hospital Awards for Volunteer Excellence. Muesing will serve a one-year term.  return to top   

Youth ACT teams available regionally

Hospitals in the metro, north central, and southeastern areas of the state have a new community mental health resource for adolescents with intensive mental and behavioral health needs. Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams serve youth ages 16 to 20 and are covered by Minnesota’s Medicaid program, Medical Assistance. Youth ACT teams are rehabilitative services for young people with diagnosed (or diagnosable) mental illnesses, sometimes with a co-occurring substance use disorder, a level of care determination for “intensive integrated intervention without 24-hour medical monitoring” and a need for extensive collaboration among multiple partners, among other requirements. Many services are offered by Youth ACT teams, including: individual, family, and group psychotherapy and skills training; crisis assistance; medication management; and mental health case management. 

Youth ACT teams can serve as an alternative to inpatient hospitalization or help prevent additional hospitalizations by helping young people maintain stability in their homes and community. There are currently four Youth ACT providers in the state. Click here for contact information. Referrals can be made directly to the provider. 

For more information on Youth ACT teams, including eligibility and services provided, click here.  return to top   

2015 Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant Program RFP announced

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has announced grants to eligible hospitals under the Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant Program. The program helps small (50 or fewer beds) undertake needed modernization projects to update, remodel or replace aging hospital facilities and equipment necessary to maintain the operations of the hospital. Eligible hospitals are non-federal, not-for-profit, general acute care hospitals with 50 or fewer beds located in a rural area or in a community with a population of less than 15,000 and outside the seven-county metropolitan area. Applicants may apply for grants of up to $125,000 and approximately $1.7 million is available. Pre-applications are due Dec. 12, 2014. The RFP and application instructions are available on the Office of Rural Health & Primary Care (ORHPC)website

For the first time, MDH will solicit, award and manage this grant electronically. More information is available on the WebGrants @ MDH main page

For information and assistance, contact Will Wilson, Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, 651-201-3842. return to top 

HEARRT sustainability forum registration still available

There is still space available for the HEARRT (the Healthcare Environmental Awareness and Resource Reduction Team) forum “The Affordable Care Act: How Sustainability Hits the Triple Aim” on Oct. 31 from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. at HealthPartners headquarters in Bloomington. This free forum will focus on vibrant communities, strong profitability, and a healthy environment. MHA members will present their experiences incorporating sustainability initiatives into their business models to lower health care costs and improve population health for their communities. 

HEARRT is a public/private group including MHA members and MHA staff working to connect health care professionals to encourage and support sustainability actions that improve environmental and community health and reduce costs. Click here to register and for more information. return to top