In this issue
Patient
Safety Awareness Week highlights importance of being ‘United in Safety’
It’s Patient Safety Awareness Week,
an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety. This year’s
theme, United in Safety, underscores the importance that everyone in the health
care process plays a role in delivering safe care, from patients to care
providers to leaders in administration. The underlying focus of this campaign
is patient engagement and the importance of the relationship between providers
and patients and their families.
The theme echoes the message of a new campaign from MHA, Include Always™, which
aims to transform health care by authentically engaging patients and families
at all levels within hospitals. Join MHA April 21 and 22 to learn ways to
improve patient and family engagement at your hospital. To learn more or to
register, view the conference brochure. The
program is limited to 200 participants.
For questions, contact Karen Olson, MHA patient safety and quality
coordinator, 651-603-3521. return to top
Legislature
hears bills of interest to the health care community
Last week the House Health and Human Service Finance Committee
passed legislation to create a certified emergency medical technician (H.F. 261
– Rep. Mack – Apple Valley).
The Senate State and Local Government Committee tabled a bill to grant broad
authority to cities to create municipal street improvement districts (S.F. 778
– Sen. Carlson – Eagan). MHA and many other stakeholders testified against this
legislation. This legislation would grant cities the authority to draw a taxing
district to tax only certain properties (including hospital campuses) without
having to prove benefit.
Legislation sponsored by AARP MN, the "Caregiver Act," passed Senate
Judiciary (S.F. 107 - Sen. Eken - Twin Valley). MHA worked with interest
groups to develop liability language that was supported by all involved.
The first committee deadline is March 20 and the committees will be very busy
for the next two weeks.
Upcoming hearings of
interest
On Monday, March 9, the Senate Health, Human Services and Housing Committee
will hold a hearing on legislation to implement investment priorities of the Legislative
Health Care Workforce Council. This legislation would establish a grant program
to expand clinical training of advanced practice registered nurses, physician
assistants, and mental health professionals; establish a grant program to
expand primary care residency training; provide an incentive payment for health
professions student preceptors and medical resident preceptors (S.F. 1246 –
Sen. Clausen – Apple Valley.) At the same time, the Senate Commerce Committee
will consider legislation to create a no-fault automobile insurance reform
issues task force (S.F. 957 – Sen. Jensen – Owatonna). At 5:30 p.m., the Senate
Health, Human Services and Housing Committee will consider the MN Telemedicine
Act (S.F. 981 – Sen. Rosen – Fairmont) supported by MHA.
On Tuesday, March 10 at 8:30 a.m. the Senate Health and Human Services Finance
Committee will hold a hearing on legislation to add rural mental health
professionals, public health nurses, dental therapists and advanced dental
therapists education loan forgiveness program (S.F. 3 – Sen. Clausen – Apple
Valley).
Wednesday, March 11, the Senate Health, Human Services and Housing Committee
will hold a hearing at noon on MNA backed legislation requiring the
commissioner of health and hospitals to establish a violence prevention
database and portal for employees (S.F. 1071 - Sen Wiger - Maplewood). At 2:45
p.m. the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee will hold a hearing
on legislation MHA is supporting to create a "patient care zone" and
allow judges to increase penalties for various crimes committed in a
"patient care zone" (H.F. 1088 - Rep. O'Neill - Buffalo).
For a complete list of 2015 legislative bills MHA is tracking, visit the Member Center. For
assistance accessing the Member Center, contact Ashley Gauster, MHA member services and communications specialist,
651-603-3545. return to top
Sexual
Assault Survivor Kits available for hospitals
Patients at Minnesota hospitals’ emergency departments who seek
care after being sexually assaulted often go home in new clothing provided by
people they’ve never met. Frequently, assault victims must give what they’re
wearing to prosecutors for evidence, but the program means a great deal more to
survivors than just the clothes on their backs.
Kristi Jarvis, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) for Regions Hospital in
Saint Paul and Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, says that the
kits are, “Hugely phenomenal — before we had the kits we had to send patients
home in paper scrubs. Sexual assault survivors wonder, ‘What in the world am I
going to go home in?’ when they’re asked to leave their own clothing as
evidence,” Jarvis added.
“MHA urges all Minnesota hospitals to order the free kits,” said MHA President
and Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Massa. “Hospital emergency rooms are often
the first place sexual assault survivors turn for help. We’re proud to be part
of this important effort,” he said.
The Assault Survivor Kits are free to all Minnesota hospitals and contain a
t-shirt, sweatpants, socks, underwear and toiletries. The kits are provided
through a more than 20-year collaboration between MHA and Assistance League of
Minneapolis/St. Paul®. To order Assault Survivor Kits for your
hospital, please visit the MHA store or contact Sarah Bohnet, MHA visual communications
specialist/division assistant, 651-603-3494. Copies of the book “Recovering
from Rape” are also provided free of charge to hospitals.
As part of their continued efforts to help victims of sexual assault,
Assistance League is looking for ways to expand the program. In particular,
they are exploring the need for clothing and other items for male and pediatric
victims. If this is something your hospital’s emergency room could use, please
email Sarah Bohnet to provide your feedback to the Assistance League. Please
include approximately how many male and/or pediatric kits on average per year
you might need. return to top
HealthForce
Minnesota Scrubs Camp continues to expand
Program has grown
nearly 400% in seven years
Winona State University hosted the initial Scrubs Camp in summer
of 2008 as an effort to allow first generation college hopefuls interested in
health-related careers the opportunity to imagine themselves as successful
college students. The first Scrubs Camp served 66 students. The initiative has
expanded and now includes nine Scrubs Camp sites across the state, with a goal
of reaching over 500 youth this summer. Looking ahead to summers 2016 and 2017,
projections are to add six additional sites with the potential to reach 300
more students.
As word spreads about Scrubs Camps, employer partners are critical to help
shape our future health care workforce. HealthForce Minnesota is able to
continue to expand its educational programming because of the generosity of its
health care employer supporters, along with
other community partners.
Scrubs Camp is just one way of providing meaningful experiences to the future
workforce – an experience that will hopefully spark an interest in pursuing a
career in health care. If you are interested in your hospital getting involved
with Scrubs Camp, contact Misun Bormann, director of K-16 partnerships,
HealthForce Minnesota. return to top
Member
news: Memorial for Ken Bank
A memorial for Ken Bank, former president and CEO of Northfield
Hospital & Clinics, will be held Sunday, March 15 from 2-4:30 p.m. at the
Northfield Golf Course. The memorial will be an informal affair with the
opportunity to share stories and pay respect to his family. Ken passed away
Feb. 1 at his home in Tucson, Ariz. return to top
MDH
issues request for proposals for Hospital Safety Net Grant Program
The Minnesota Department of Health Office of
Rural Health and Primary Care is soliciting proposals for grants to hospitals
that serve Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) enrollees. The Hospital Safety
Net Program provides grant funding to help defray underpayments to hospitals
for high-cost services provided to Emergency Medical Assistance enrollees. All
licensed hospitals that serve EMA enrollees are eligible for the grant.
Funds will be awarded proportionally among all eligible hospitals that apply
based on the total dollar amount of qualifying EMA claims over $50,000 between
July 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. To be considered for funding, proposals must
be received by 4 p.m.,
Friday, April 17, 2015, using the WebGrants@MDH electronic grant management system.
Late proposals will not be
considered. A copy of the full Request for Proposal is
available here.
For more information contact Will Wilson, Minnesota Department of Health,
651-201-3842. return to top