Bargaining (Page 15)

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

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.  »

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

NOTES ON NURSING

Work Schedules Contribute to Nurses’ Health Issues     “Adverse work schedules may be an overriding work-related factor for nurse obesity,” the researchers wrote. In addition to lack of opportunities for healthy behaviors, nurses with adverse schedules may have difficulty accessing healthy foods, the authors posited.

HEALTH CARE

New Medicaid Payment Method Will Save Money    Minnesota is the first state in the nation to receive federal approval for a new way of paying for health care in its Medicaid program.

Yes, There’s Probably A Medical App for That       The thousands of apps specifically geared toward health range from free to nearly $40 each, with most costing around $2.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 10, 2012: Is your work schedule making you unhealthy?  »

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In: Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Uncategorized

HEALTH CARE

Doctor is In; Retail is Out   The glut of empty strip malls and big-box stores in the wake of the go-go years has made leases so affordable that nearly every major hospital system in the state and many private health care organizations have jumped in.

Indiana Hospital Blames Electronic Records for Longer Waits in ER   Patients’ lengths of stay in Columbus Regional Hospital’s emergency department doubled in late June during a switch to an electronic records system, and times are still longer than usual despite improvements, hospital officials said.

LABOR

American Pilots Reject Contract   Pilots for American Airlines have strongly rejected a contract offer that would have helped the company cut labor costs, dashing American’s hopes of winning voluntary concessions from all its labor unions.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, August 9, 2012: Retail health care; AA Pilots Reject Offer  »

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

NOTES ON NURSING

Finally!!  U.S. News “Best Hospitals” Rating Now Includes Nurse Factor    The  magazine now considers the weight of each measure by itself in relation to  medical outcomes. “Adding more nurses, for example, leads to improved  care, no matter what relationship the nurse staffing measure does or does not  have with any of the other measures.

Weigh in Time:  New Technology of Remote RNs Claims Reduced Mortality in ICU.  Read and return here to comment on this story.

HEALTH CARE

When Public Beats Private:  Community Clinics that Keep Costs Down and Do a Better Job, Too  Federally funded health centers are at the heart of the Affordable Care Act.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 17, 2012 – U.S. News: “oh yeah, maybe nurses matter”  »

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

HEALTH CARE

While some states are opting out of President Obama’s health care programs, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton wanted it known Tuesday that he’s all-in. “I write to reiterate the State of Minnesota’s intention to continue the planning and development” of a state-based version of the federal health care act, Dayton wrote in a letter to the U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. “We will seize the historic opportunities to improve the quality and affordability of health care afforded us by the new law, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, whose constitutionality has now been upheld by the U.S.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 11, 2012: Gov. Dayton Moving MN Toward Implementing Health Care Law  »

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

HEALTH CARE

We’re #1: The Star Tribune reports that Minnesota has the nation’s best health care system, according to a new federal analysis of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other medical providers. We’d like to add the following to the headline – Minnesota is #1 in Health Care … Because of its AMAZING NURSES!

Although available health care jobs are expected to soar in lieu of the recent Supreme Court verdict regarding the Affordable Care Act, so far job growth in our industry’s hasn’t exploded, according to this story.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 10, 2012: Minnesota Ranks #1 in Health Care Nationally  »

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

HEALTH CARE

Thousands of Minnesotans to Receive Health Rebates Under Franken Provision of ACA   If the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision didn’t signal that at long last it’s time to actually get to know the Affordable Care Act, then perhaps the appearance of a check in the mailbox will get John and Jane Q. Public’s attention.

Worst TB Outbreak in 20 Years Kept Secret     The CDC officer had a serious warning for Florida health officials in April: A tuberculosis outbreak in Jacksonville was one of the worst his group had investigated in 20 years. Linked to 13 deaths and 99 illnesses, including six children, it would require concerted action to stop. 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 9, 2012: FL gov. keeps TB outbreak secret; Expanding Medicare makes sense  »

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In: Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing

HEALTH CARE

Hospitals Invest in Moving Patients   Editor’s Note:  Former MNA staffer and worker Health & Safety advocate, Bettye Shogren championed groundbreaking legislation in Minnesota requiring hospitals to provide adequate lifting mechanisms.  Other states like Illinois, as this story demonstrates,  are finding it a great idea as well.

Health Care Reform?  Move On   Fifty-six percent of Americans believe opponents of the law should “stop trying to block its implementation and instead move on to other national problems,” according to the poll by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation.

Debate:  Expand Imperfect Treatments, or Create New Ones   When advocates of attained health survey the landscape, they see an appalling misallocation of resources.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, July 5, 2012: Patient lifting rules gain traction; $160M settlement to nurses re: gender bias  »