In this issue
Encourage
the flu vaccine during National Influenza Vaccination Week
Influenza activity is on the rise in Minnesota but it’s not too
late to get vaccinated. MHA is joining the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the American Hospital Association and others to be United
Against the Flu – a campaign to amplify the importance of getting vaccinated.
Dec. 7-13 is National Influenza Vaccination Week – the perfect time to
encourage staff and your community to get their flu vaccine. People 65 and
older, young children and those with chronic conditions such as asthma or heart
disease are especially susceptible to the flu, making it all the more important
that health care workers who care for these populations get vaccinated. return to top
Budget
forecast positive, legislators express caution
Last week, the Office of Management and Budget (MMB) reported
good economic news. Highlights include:
- Minnesota has a $556 million
projected surplus for the current biennium. State law requires MMB to
direct 33 percent of this forecast balance to the budget reserve. As such,
$183 million of the surplus will be transferred to the budget reserve, leaving
a $373 million balance.
- The projected surplus for state
fiscal years 2016-17 is $664 million, bringing the total projected surplus
to $1.037 billion.
Gov. Dayton will use this forecast to finalize his budget
recommendations, which will be released on Jan. 27, 2015. The next
forecast will be released at the end of February and will be used by both the
governor and the legislature to set the 2016-17 budget, beginning July 1, 2015.
While the small budget surplus is welcome news to policymakers, the economic
forecast also included reasons to proceed with caution. The U.S. economic
outlook has weakened since the last report and as a result Minnesota’s
economists have modified the GDP projections. Senate Majority Leader Tom
Bakk (DFL-Cook) cautioned that the surplus might not be large enough to cover
the inflationary increases on ongoing spending obligations and that lawmakers
might have to cut some spending.
Of particular concern to the health care community is the 13.9 percent
projected increase in spending for health and human services. MHA is in
the process of analyzing the budget forecast and the projected health care
expenditures; recognizing that most Medical Assistance provider payments are
flat, so cost increases are driven by enrollment and/or utilization experience.
For questions, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government
relations, 651-659-1465 or Kristin Loncorich, director of government
relations, 651-603-3526. return to top
Minnesota
hospitals make progress in preventing patient harm
Minnesota hospitals and health systems have prevented more than
12,000 patients from being harmed and saved more than $93 million as a result
of a reduction in hospital-acquired conditions from 2010-13. Nationwide,
hospitals experienced a 17 percent reduction in harm, preventing 1.3 million
patient harms and saving more than $12 billion in health spending, according to
a report issued by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Minnesota, the largest
improvements were in the number of hospital readmissions prevented; reduction
in elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks gestation; fewer patient falls; fewer
adverse drug events; fewer infections; and fewer patients experiencing a
pressure ulcer. The efforts were part of the federal Partnership for Patients
initiative in which 115 Minnesota hospitals participated over the past three
years.
MHA is proud of the
work of member hospitals and your commitment to improving patient care and
outcomes. Each participating hospital has been sent a Minnesota plaque to recognize your participation.
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) presented the
MHA Hospital Engagement Network an award for its participation and performance
in the Partnership for Patients initiative and the Leading Edge Advanced
Practice Topics with a plaque and certificate. Nationwide, more than 3,700
hospitals participated in this important three-year initiative to improve
patient safety. The Partnership for Patients had the ambitious goals of
reducing hospital-acquired conditions by 40 percent and readmissions by 20
percent by the end of 2014. return to top
Minnesota
hospitals recognized for excellence in medication-use safety
The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) was named a finalist
for the 2014 Award for Excellence in Medication-Use Safety from the American
Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation.
The award recognizes innovative initiatives to improve medication safety.
MHA and its member hospitals were recognized for the “Road Map to a Medication
Safety Program,” which provides evidence-based recommendations/standards for
Minnesota hospitals in the development of a comprehensive medication safety
program. The Road Map is a tool to focus a hospital’s attention and resources
on adverse drug events, specifically related to anticoagulants, diabetes
medications and opioids. In the first two years, the Road Map helped Minnesota
hospitals make significant progress in reducing adverse drug events. It is
estimated that 1,977 fewer events have occurred since the Road Map inception.
This is equivalent to 77 fewer events per month or 1.6 fewer events per day.
Participating hospitals have been able to make tangible, concrete changes based
on the Road Map, which resulted in clinical improvements. Examples include
decreasing Naloxone use by redesigning order sets to address opioid tolerant
and opioid naïve patients; and improving communication between the hospital
electronic medical record and the outpatient anticoagulation clinic that
decreased inpatient elevated INRs, a measure of the time it takes blood to
clot. return to top
MDH
issues Ebola-related Health Advisory
The Minnesota Department of Health issued a Health Advisory on Nov.
26 providing guidance for where Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for
Ebola—patients with symptoms consistent with Ebola AND epidemiologic risk
factors for exposure to Ebola—will be treated in Minnesota. As was reported
last week, four hospitals in Minnesota have been designated an Ebola treatment
center. These four hospitals have agreed to accept:
- PUI who is part of MDH’s active
monitoring program
- PUI from another health
facility in transfer or through pre-hospital EMS, once MDH has determined
that the patient is a Person Under Investigation
In addition, on Dec. 2 the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) issued Interim Guidance for Preparing Frontline Healthcare
Facilities for Patients with Possible Ebola Virus Disease. The guidance
reiterates the message that all acute care hospitals and other emergency care
settings including urgent care clinics, and critical access hospitals, need to
be able to identify, isolate, evaluate and immediately notify MDH about
potential Ebola patients. The guidance is available here.
MHA members determined that going forward the all-hospital preparedness calls
will take place every other week as opposed to weekly. The next call is
scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. The schedule will be evaluated and
adjusted as necessary. return to top
APRNs
must act now to be licensed by Jan. 1
As MHA previously reported, Minnesota state
law now requires a separate license for Advance Practice Registered Nurses
(APRNs). All Minnesota APRNs must be licensed by Jan. 1, 2015.
The Minnesota Board of Nursing reports a very heavy work load and is urging all
APRNs to complete their applications and submit payment to the Board
immediately to allow the Board time to process and to be in compliance with the
law. The four roles impacted by this law are Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS);
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA); Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM);
and Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP).
To become licensed, APRNs are required to hold a current Registered Nurse
license and submit documentation of successful completion of an acceptable
graduate APRN program and current certification as an APRN in a role and
population focus.
In addition to requiring APRN licensure, the law removes the requirement for a
collaborative management plan and written prescribing agreement for APRNs. CNS
and CNPs will be required to practice for 2,080 hours within the context of a
collaborative agreement with a licensed CNS, CNP or physician who has
experience in providing care to patients with similar medical problems.
The Minnesota Board of Nursing is posting a list of APRN licensure that is complete. This
will help nurses verify when the process is complete.
More information can be found, including frequently asked questions, on the Minnesota
Board of Nursing’s website. return to top
12
Minnesota communities selected for accountable health awards
The Minnesota Departments of Health and Human Services selected 12
Minnesota Accountable Communities for Health (ACH) to
receive grants as part of the state’s State Innovation Model (SIM) grant from
the federal government.
Researchers estimate that health care accounts for only about 20 percent of a
population’s health, while modifiable community, social and economic factors
contribute 80 percent. Keeping a person healthy takes a collaborative approach
from clinical and community providers. The SIM grants will help the 12 ACHs’
efforts to promote health and improve health care by strengthening clinical and
community partnerships.
The participating ACH sites, including several MHA members, are:
- UCare/Federally Qualified
Health Center Urban Health Network (FUHN), Minneapolis
- Vail Place/North Memorial,
Hopkins
- Hennepin County/Hennepin
Health, Minneapolis
- Generations Health Care
Initiatives, Duluth
- New Ulm Medical Center, New Ulm
- Otter Tail County Public
Health, Fergus Falls
- Allina Health Systems/Northwest
Metro Alliance, Minneapolis
- CentraCare Health Foundation,
St. Cloud
- Southern Prairie Community
Care, Marshall
- Lutheran Social Service of
Minnesota/Bluestone Physician Services, St. Paul
- Unity Family Health Care,
Little Falls
- North Country Community Health
Services, Bagley
MHA was a supporter of the state’s SIM grant proposal to improve
health in communities, provide better care and lower health care costs. return to top
Updating
governance practices and board composition on tap at Winter Trustee Conference
Frequent MHA speaker, Larry Walker, president of
The Walker Company, will present sessions on updating governance practices and
board composition at the Winter Trustee Conference Jan. 9-11 at the Marriott
Minneapolis Northwest in Brooklyn Park.
“Rethinking Governance: Getting in Shape for What’s Next,” will explore why
rethinking and redefining the role of governance is vital and practical. Walker
will cover ways to examine your governance practices, structure and processes
to determine where and how you may need to right-size to meet the challenges of
tomorrow.
In his second session, “Raising the Leadership Bar: Building and Sustaining a
Competent Board,” Walker will explore the leading skills and competencies
trustees will need to guide their organizations successfully.
Click here for more
information.
Continuing education for
nursing home administrators
The content of this conference has been approved by the Minnesota Board of
Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators for up to 9.25 contact hours. return to top