Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

October 12, 2015

MHA Newsline: Oct. 12, 2015

In this issue:

New workplace violence prevention resources available 

 The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and MHA are making available new resources for hospitals for implementation of the new workplace violence prevention law. MHA members have provided sample plans, policies and other resources to help implement or sustain a violence prevention program that are available on the MHA website as well as the MDH website. Other resources available on the websites include the gap analysis tool (in both paper and online format) to help hospitals identify gaps and form an action plan for this work and a list of organizations that have signed on to this work. Sample training materials for health care workers will be added to the toolkit of resources as they are developed.  

MDH is also hosting webinars to prepare hospitals to meet the new requirements and answer questions about the law. The first webinar, which took place Oct. 6, provided an overview of the law and shared information about setting up a violence prevention committee. Slides from the webinar will be available on the MDH website.  

A second webinar will be held Monday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. to review how to prepare prevention and response plans, how to complete the gap analysis and how to collect data under the new law. Register online to attend the webinar.   

For more information, contact Nora Vernon, quality/safety clinical specialist, MHA, 651-603-3507. return to top

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce seeks statewide feedback 

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is hosting a series of “Listen & Learn” discussion sessions in communities across Minnesota through December. The meetings will provide an important opportunity for the state Chamber to hear from local health care organizations throughout the state about issues of concern for your own hospital community.

MHA members are encouraged to attend the meeting most convenient for them. The full meeting schedule is as follows:   

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. | Register
The Oaks at Eagle Creek, 1000 26th Ave. N.E., Willmar   

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1:45 p.m. | Register
St. Cloud Chamber, 1411 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud 

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 8 a.m. | Register
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 510 22nd Ave. E. #501, Alexandria 

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m. | Register
SAGE Electrochromics, Inc., 2 Sage Way, Faribault   

Monday, Nov. 9, 9:30 a.m. | Register
Rochester Chamber, 220 S. Broadway, Rochester   

Monday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. | Register
Ultra Paws, 8301 Industrial Park Rd., Brainerd   

Monday, Nov. 16, 4 p.m. | Register
Barr Engineering, 325 S. Lake Ave., Duluth   

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 8 a.m. | Register
Timberlake Lodge, 144 S.E. 17th St., Grand Rapids 

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 12 p.m. | Register
L&M Radiator, 1414 E. 37th St., Hibbing   

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 12 p.m. | Register
Hormel Institute, 801 16th Ave. NE, Austin   

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. | Register
Taylor Corporation, 1985 Lookout Drive, North Mankato 

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4 p.m. | Register
Brau Bros, 1010 E. Southview Dr., Marshall 

With questions, please contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465. return to top

ICSI lecture on health equity to be held Nov. 5 

The Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) will host its annual Reinertsen Lecture, entitled “Achieving Health Equity by Design,” on Thursday, Nov. 5, at RadissonBlu Mall of America. A reception will be held from 5-6 p.m. and the lecture will take place from 6-7:30 p.m.    

Minnesota ranks as one of the healthiest states in the nation by many measures, but a deeper look reveals startling gaps. Too many people are not as healthy as they can and should be, with disparities seen along racial and ethnic lines. Minnesota is making health equity a priority, but what are effective roles for the health care system? How can we design our work differently to achieve health equity, both now and into the future?

The speaker will be Thomas A. LaVeist, Ph.D., director of the Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Dr. LaVeist believes we need to broaden our expectations of what a health care system can do to achieve health equity, including redesigning services to promote health equity and going outside clinical walls to build partnerships with community agencies and other resources. He will share real-life, practical examples that can be replicated in Minnesota.

Learn more and RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 29. return to top

Connecting to Transform Communities conference to be held Nov. 16-17 

The Connecting to Transform Communities conference, presented by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and Allina Health, will be held Nov. 16-17 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest.   

An estimated 80 percent of health is determined by factors outside of the health care system. Improving population health depends on networks that extend beyond the clinic walls. Conference attendees will connect to transform communities to improve health and wellbeing.   

The conference is intended for stakeholders in health and wellness, including community, health care and business leaders; program staff; and others interested in improving community health.   

Keynote speakers will include: 

  • Mick Cornett, the Oklahoma City mayor who helped an obese city lose a million pounds and inspired an $800 million investment in quality-of-life projects 
  • Zubin Damania, M.D., founder of Turntable Health, an innovative model of membership-based health care delivery that was created through the $350 million Downtown Las Vegas project led by Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh 
  • Richard Jackson, M.D., MPH, author and policy leader widely recognized for his leadership on the impact of the built environment on public health 
  • Tim McKinney, leader of United Global Outreach’s Bithlo Transformation, a grassroots anti-poverty movement in rural Florida that has grown to engage 65+ business, community and political partners   

Learn more and register online. return to top

New open appointments for health care-related members of state boards 

The following state open appointments may be of interest to MHA members.   

The Special Review Board is seeking five seats including two psychiatrists, two persons experienced in the field of mental health (experience working with sexual abusers and general knowledge of sex offender treatment preferred) and one attorney. The board hears reduction in custody petitions involving individuals civilly committed as mentally ill and dangerous, as a sexually dangerous person or as a sexual psychopathic personality.   

The Minnesota Joint Underwriting Association is seeking two new members. The association provides liability insurance coverage for persons unable to obtain it through ordinary means where coverage is required by law or is necessary for the conduct of business and serves a public purpose.     

The Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Insurers Association is seeking two public members. The association oversees the administration of the Minnesota Workers Compensation Insurers Association.   

The State Rehabilitation Council has 10 openings, including two community rehabilitation program representatives. The council is responsible for advising state government on the performance of Minnesota's vocational rehabilitation programs.   

For more information about these open appointments and to apply, visit the secretary of state’s website. return to top

MDH considering hospital design and construction rule update 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is considering legislation to update hospital design and construction rules. MDH is proposing to adopt the 2014 Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities. The state would update Minnesota’s regulations as the FGI guidelines are also updated and changed.    

MDH has asked MHA for feedback on the proposal. Please consider what this change would mean for your organization and submit your comments to Jen McNertney, policy analyst, MHA, 651-659-1405. Comments are welcome through Friday, Oct. 30. return to top

Immigrant International Medical Graduate Primary Care Residency Grant accepting applications 

 The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is accepting applications for the 2016 Immigrant International Medical Graduate (IIMG) Primary Care Residency Grant Program. Minnesota Primary Care Residency (PCR) Programs are invited to apply.   

The IIMG program is one aspect of a comprehensive program authorized by Minnesota State Statute 144.1911 to address barriers to practice and facilitate pathways to assist immigrant international medical graduates integrate into the Minnesota health care delivery system, with the goal of increasing access to primary care in rural and underserved areas of the state.   

Eligible applicants are programs, sponsors and potential sponsors of primary care residency positions located in Minnesota that propose to train IIMG medical residents in the primary care specialties of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, internal medicine/pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynecology. Funds are available for up to $150,000 per year, per IIMG residency slot for up to four years. Programs may apply for less than $150,000 per resident slot per year.   Applications are due Monday, Nov. 2. The RFP and application instructions are available on the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) website. return to top