Minnesota Hospital Association

Quality & Patient Safety

Emergency Preparedness

COVID-19 information

The most up-to-date information about COVID-19 is available on the MDH COVID-19 website, the Minnesota COVID-19 dashboard and the CDC COVID-19 website

MHA response

Since January 2020, MHA has worked with Minnesota's hospitals and health systems in partnership with state and federal government agencies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. See below for examples of specific actions taken by year.

2021

  • Dr. Rahul Koranne, president and CEO, MHA, met with state leaders, including Gov. Walz and Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm to provide consistent briefings from MHA.
  • Constantly convened members to lead COVID-19 response in various clinical, operational and emergency preparation workstreams.
  • Facilitated the need for health care community representation at the State Emergency Operations Center. Helped launch the Statewide Health Care Coordination Center (SHCCC), which held regular briefings with hospital and health system CEOs. Provided two MHA staff members to be part of the SHCCC to ensure information flow. • Led weekly meetings with MHA staff and MDH leadership.
  • Led effort to ensure hospitals and health systems remained central to Minnesota’s vaccine strategy, putting Minnesota ahead of many states in vaccinating against COVID-19.
  • Rahul served on the COVID Advisory Council convened by Gov. Walz and chaired by Commissioner Malcolm along with representatives from other stakeholder groups, including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Association of Counties, the Minnesota Nurses Association, SEIU and more.
  • Regularly briefed Minnesota’s congressional delegation on hospital and health system response. Advocated for federal resources and regulatory relief to help Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems and educated the delegation and staff about the challenges hospitals and health systems face during the pandemic.
  • Sought continued regulatory relief from both state and federal lawmakers and regulators to allow nimble response.
  • Played a leading role in public communications about hospital and health system preparedness and response.
  • Partnered closely with MDH to help organize and staff multiple groups and committees around preparedness, including ethics, critical care, medication shortages, testing, long-term care, PPE and vaccines.
  • Continued work with the MHA CMIO data group to perform ongoing operational COVID-19 surge planning analytics using the Qventus platform available to all member health systems. The model was updated weekly through the third surge in Q1 of 2021. • Closely partnered with other states through various networks, including the state hospital association CEO network, to share and learn COVID-19 preparedness and response best practices.
  • Once Minnesota began reopening, urged Minnesotans to continue using best health practices, including staying home when sick, observing social distance and wearing a mask in public when social distancing is impossible.
  • Monitored state and national communications and communicated developments regularly with members.

2020

  • On Dec. 28, MHA submitted a comment letter to HHS in response to a request for information on regulatory relief to support economic recovery.
  • On Dec. 16, MHA held a briefing for Minnesota’s legislators on how the health care system has provided patient-centered care during its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The briefing and accompanying pandemic response report highlighted extraordinary collaboration among Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems, as well as with state and federal government agencies.
  • On Nov. 19, MHA sent a letter to Minnesota's congressional delegation with recommendations for the lame-duck session.
  • On Nov. 12, MHA released a joint statement from nurse and physician leaders at Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems on stopping the spread of COVID-19.
  • On Oct. 31, MHA and the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) released a joint statement supporting doctors treating COVID-19 patients.
  • On Sept. 29, MHA sent a letter to Minnesota's congressional delegation expressing concern about a change in Provider Relief Fund reporting requirements.
  • On July 29, Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, testified at the Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee. Read testimony
  • On July 23, MHA sent a letter to Minnesota's U.S. senators outlining recommendations for additional federal actions to respond to COVID-19.
  • On July 16, MHA sent a letter to Gov. Walz asking for a statewide mandate on the wearing of face masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
  • On July 13, MHA and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Gov. Walz in support of the state's COVID-19 public education campaign.
  • On June 24, MHA sent a letter to members of Congress requesting co-sponsorship of bipartisan legislation related to the Advanced and Accelerated Payment Program. 
  • On June 19, MHA released prepared summaries of federal and state COVID-19 regulatory waivers that are relevant to Minnesota hospitals and health systems. 
  • On June 17, MHA sent Gov. Walz a letter on liability protections for providers acting to protect the public health during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency.
  • On June 9, MHA sent Gov. Walz a letter supporting the extension of peacetime emergency powers. 
  • On June 4, MHA sent MDH a letter on hospitals' and health systems' efforts to keep employees safe and supplied with PPE during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • On June 2, MHA issued a statement on the ongoing protests and community health and well-being. 
  • On May 22, MHA sent a letter to MDH in response to a request for feedback on draft guidance on the standards of practice for employee screening, eye protection guidance and screening at respiratory clinics. Read MDH's response and related guidance documents provided June. 3, 2020. 
  • On May 19, Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, testified at the Minnesota House's Select Committee on Minnesota's Pandemic Response and Rebuilding. Read testimony. MHA also issued a statement on protecting front-line health care professionals. 
  • On May 14, MHA issued a statement on the expiration of Minnesota's stay at home order and continued guidance to stay home whenever possible. 
  • On May 9, MHA released a new road map for surgeries during COVID-19. The road map provides a framework for hospitals and health systems to create their own internal plans and it aligns with guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health. 
  • On May 5, MHA issued a statement on Gov. Tim Walz's executive order resuming elective surgeries. 
  • On April 30, MHA issued a statement on COVID-19 preparedness and Gov. Tim Walz's updated stay at home order.
  • On April 30, MHA sent a letter to the Minnesota congressional delegation relaying MHA member concerns and a request on the Advanced and Accelerated Payment Program. 
  • On April 16, MHA sent a letter to Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm expressing concern with the MDH COVID-19 Health Care Response Grant application and process and requesting modifications to the grant application process.
  • On April 16, MHA sent a letter to Commissioner of Administration Alice Roberts-Davis and Assistant Commissioner for the Health Protection Bureau Dan Huff requesting updates regarding the state’s procurement of personal protective equipment and the development of a statewide COVID-19 testing strategy.
  • On April 16, MHA sent a letter to Congress outlining recommendations for additional federal initiatives related to COVID-19. 
  • On April 14, MHA sent a letter to Gov. Walz requesting an executive order that would waive the current health professional licensing process to allow any duly licensed health care professional to come to Minnesota.
  • On April 9, MHA sent a letter to the Minnesota congressional delegation requesting assistance to help secure additional emergency federal funding for Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems while responding to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Read the news release for more information. 
  • On April 8, MHA issued a statement on COVID-19 preparedness and Gov. Tim Walz's stay at home order.
  • On April 6, MHA sent a letter to state legislative leadership outlining legislative priorities related to COVID-19.
  • On April 5, MHA sent a letter to Gov. Walz on collective COVID-19 preparedness efforts.
  • On March 25, MHA sent a letter to the Minnesota Department of Human Services regarding regulatory relief.
  • On March 17, MHA sent a letter to Gov. Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health urging the postponement of elective/non-emergent surgeries and procedures in all facilities licensed for surgery statewide to conserve supplies and equipment and protect the health care workforce. 
  • On March 17, MHA sent a letter to the Minnesota Department of Health outlining suggestions of regulatory relief related to the COVID-19 response.
  • On March 13, MHA sent a letter to Gov. Walz, urging strong public recommendations regarding social distancing. 
  • On March 4, Dr. Rahul Koranne, president and CEO, MHA, testified at Minnesota House and Senate hearings. Read testimony.
  • Since January 2020, MHA has partnered with MDH to host weekly update calls on COVID-19. 

With questions, contact Jennifer Schoenecker, senior director of quality and patient safety, MHA, 651-603-3507. 

Minnesota’s health care coalitions

MHA partners with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to administer the Healthcare Preparedness Program (HPP) grant. These federal funds are provided to health care coalitions to help them prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.

Minnesota recognized the need for better coordination among health care, public health, emergency medical services and other key emergency response partners. In response, the state formed eight regional multidisciplinary planning and response groups called health care coalitions. These are groups of health care, public safety and public health partners that join forces for the common cause of making their communities safer, healthier and more resilient.

Find out more about resources, programs, coalition membership and contact information on the MDH website.

Minnesota’s health care coalitions

MHA partners with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to administer the Healthcare Preparedness Program (HPP) grant. These federal funds are provided to health care coalitions to help them prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.

Minnesota recognized the need for better coordination among health care, public health, emergency medical services and other key emergency response partners. In response, the state formed eight regional multidisciplinary planning and response groups called health care coalitions. These are groups of health care, public safety and public health partners that join forces for the common cause of making their communities safer, healthier and more resilient.

Find out more about resources, programs, coalition membership and contact information on the MDH website.