MNA Blog (Page 93)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

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In: Uncategorized

HEALTH CARE

Big Med  Blog note:  This long piece published in the New Yorker, is written by the same author who uncovered the discrepancies in health cre spending, most notably in McAllen, TX.  It is a provocative article about corporatization of health care that will be a source of heated discussion.  Weigh in yourself,  using the comments section below.

Hospital Chain Inquiry Cited Unnecessary Cardiac Work  Blog note: another point about health care corporitization.  And it was a nurse who blew the whistle.

In British Emergency Room, “There’s No Card to Show; There are No Bills”   Take the American tourist.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 7, 2012: How is that corporate health care working for you?  »

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In: Activism, Politics

Congrats to MNA RN Lil Ortendahl, who was honored at the Minnesota DFL’s recent Humphrey-Mondale dinner. Lil was given the Hubert H Humphrey award for citizen political activism.

As only she can, Lil had the crowd roaring during her acceptance speech. Watch the video below to see why:

[youtube=http://youtu.be/MuLu_UPWXKU]
… Read more about: MNA RN Lil Ortendahl: “Some drink, some screw around … I do politics.”  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

LABOR NEWS

Massachusetts RNs win fight as state leaders agree to ban on mandatory OT.

Public employee contracts for Minnesota state workers are likely to face opposition in the Republican-controlled Legislature. A House-Senate subcommittee plans to consider the pacts next week after labor unions representing 31,000 employees approved contracts negotiated with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration.

Amid booming business and record profits, Caterpillar is seeking major concessions from its workers.

HEALTH CARE

The lawsuit has been settled, but patients say there are lessons that shouldn’t be forgotten from the furor over debt collection practices at Fairview Health Services.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 5, 2012: Debt Collection Lessons From Fairview, Republicans Likely to Oppose State Workers’ Contracts  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

LABOR NEWS

The New York Times looks at D-Day for the U.S. Post Office.

HEALTH CARE

Hospital Impact Blog: Here’s how hospitals can drive great patient experience.

Report: Women only make up 4% of healthcare organization CEOs and 18% of hospital CEOs.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 3, 2012: Driving Great Patient Experience, Where are the Women CEOs in Health Care?  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

LABOR NEWS

Why Nurses Are Fighting for the Robin Hood Tax     MNA Executive Director writes about a tax for the people, not on the people.

HEALTH CARE

Unclear if ICU Telemedicine Can Save Hospitals Money   Remote monitoring of intensive care patients – a strategy to maximize scarce  medical expertise – can cost hospitals anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 per bed  in the first year of operation, according to a new study.  Whether this investment pays off in the long run by improving ICU patients’  care and saving money, “we don’t know,” said Dr. Gaurav Kumar.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 2, 2012: Why a Robin Hood Tax; ICU Telemedicine  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

HEALTH CARE

The 35W Bridge Collapse:

 

LABOR NEWS

Supervalue Faltering Brings Union Concerns    Some 84,000 unionized grocery workers spread out across the country have new reason for apprehension this month as it became clear the nation’s third-largest operator of supermarket chains is financially wounded and planning to make dramatic changes.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 1, 2012 – 35W Bridge Collapse Remembered  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

Health Care

Nurses Made the Difference:  You spoke up and helped deliver justice to patients.   Accretive Banned from Minnesota.    Accretive Health will be barred from operating in Minnesota for two to six years under a settlement agreement announced Monday by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson.  The agreement ends a six-month legal battle in which Swanson had accused the Chicago consulting firm of deceiving patients, harassing them for money in emergency rooms and mishandling patient data at Fairview and North Memorial hospitals.  Related NY Times report.

Food-borne Illnesses Not Diminishing   Little progress has been made in combating many types of food-borne illnesses in recent years, according to new federal data, an outcome that food safety advocates say underscores the need to put into place the landmark food-safety bill signed by President Obama more than a year ago.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 31, 2012: Accretive Banned; Nurse Burnout = More Patient Infections  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

LABOR

Rich Get Richer: Minnesota’s CEOs saw their pay rise 26 percent in 2011.

HEALTH CARE

The Star Tribune’s Editorial Board weighs in again regarding the controversy over how much Minnesota health plans profit from the taxpayer-funded Medicaid program.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 30, 2012 – Benefit Concert for Locked Out Sugar Workers, MN CEOs Get Big Raise  »