Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

March 09, 2015

MHA Newsline: March 9, 2015

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