Activism (Page 22)

HEALTH CARE

Medical Errors Continue to Dog Health Care   A new Wolters Kluwer Health Survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers revealed that nearly one third of Americans (30 percent) have  experienced a medical mistake either firsthand or from a third-party. A majority (68 percent) believe that as  the  medical field continues to adopt new technologies, medical errors will decrease.

Time for Medicine to Take Its Own Pulse   The truth is that for a large part of medical practice, we don’t know what works. But we pay for it anyway. Our annual per capita health care expenditure is now more than $8,000.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 21, 2012: Med errors still high; Not enough profit, UnitedHealth turns back on 174,000 Wisconsonites  »

NOTES ON NURSING

Massachusetts Latest State to Outlaw Mandatory Nurse Overtime    “Nurses want to get up, prepare for their shift, take the best care of their patients, and then know there is relief at the end, that there is somebody to carry on the care of that patient to a successful outcome,” said staff nurse Donna Kelly-Williams, RN, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United (MNA/NNU).

Muskegon, MI:  Nurses, Patients Gain with New Contract    The registered nurses at Mercy Health Partners-Hackley Campus have negotiated a new contract that improves patient-to-nurse staffing and creates a safe environment for nurses and patients.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 16, 2012: MA nurses get OT ban; Charity care mischief exposed  »

HEALTH CARE

Medicare to Penalize 2200 Hospitals for Excess Readmissions    More than 2,000 hospitals — including some nationally recognized ones — will be penalized by the government starting in October because many of their patients are readmitted soon after discharge.  Some Minnesota hospitals that will be penalized because of their readmission rates include Abbott Northwestern – 9%; Hennepin County Medical Center – 22%; St. Mary’s Rochester (Mayo) – 13%; United Hospital – 23%; Unity Hospital – 32%; Mayo Fairmont – 81%; University of Minneosta Medical Center, Fairview – 17%

Missouri-based Ascension Health Inks Deal with Embattled Debt Collector   Ascension Health has signed a new contract worth up to $1.7 billion with a Chicago-based debt collection firm that was banned for Minnesota for alleged hardball tactics.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 14, 2012: Hospitals FAIL; Labor rallies; Accretive pops up in MO.  »

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.”  »