Healthcare (Page 13)

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Politics, Right to Work

LABOR

Buffet:  A Minimum Tax for the Wealthy  “And, wow, do we have plenty to invest. The Forbes 400, the wealthiest individuals in America, hit a new group record for wealth this year: $1.7 trillion. That’s more than five times the $300 billion total in 1992. In recent years, my gang has been leaving the middle class in the dust.”

In Michigan, New Push for Right-To-Work Law  Pressure is mounting for the Legislature to pass a right-to-work bill with one  group circulating a video it claims proves Gov. Rick Snyder would sign such  legislation.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 26, 2012: Buffet rule-“pay up;” RTW back in Michigan?  »

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

HEALTH CARE

Hospitals Spend Big Advertising Bucks to Attract New Patients   But some health care experts question whether hospitals should spend so much money on promotion and advertising, especially the nonprofit health systems that pour tax-exempt funds into these campaigns.

Accretive Pays Harassed Hospital Patients   Minnesota hospital patients who endured abusive billing tactics linked to Accretive Health Inc. have begun receiving restitution payments averaging $4,000 apiece, Attorney General Lori Swanson said Tuesday.

Political Cartoon:  Pilgrim’s Progress

LABOR UPDATES

Support Wal-Mart Workers on Black Friday

Worker Group Says Wal-Mart Management Scripted to Threaten Workers

EEOC Settlements Indicate Employers Pay Big For Sexual Harassment   Recent EEOC settlements demonstrate that when faced with egregious sexual harassment allegations, many employers would rather settle than face bad press, a prolonged trial and uncertain outcomes.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 21, 2012: Accretive pays; Thanks nurses  »

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In: Activism, Health Care Reform, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

LABOR UPDATES

Dayton Urges Union Members to Fight for Better Pay   DFL Gov. Mark Dayton told several hundred janitors, security officers, airport service workers and retail cleaners on Saturday that they won’t get the wages they deserve unless they negotiate for it.

HEALTH CARE

Why Health Care Costs Trillions Less in Canada    Between 1980 and 2009, Medicare  spending per beneficiary in the U.S. rose from $1,215 to $9,446, which was a  198% increase after adjusting for inflation. But in Canada, comparable spending  rose from $2,141 to $9,292, or an inflation-adjusted rate of 73%. Think of it  this way: for every $10 spent on services in the U.S., Canada spent $3.36.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 19, 2012: Hospital racket slows recovery; O! Canada for economical, great health care  »

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In: Activism, Health Care Reform, Healthcare, Hospitals, Nurses, Nursing, Politics

NOTES ON NURSING


“The American Nurse” is a love story for the profession.“I thought I was making a book that would celebrate nurses. I ended up gaining a better understanding of the country through the lens of the American nurse. I have altered my thinking about religion; I have completely changed my feelings about end-of-life.”

LABOR UPDATES

The ethics gap keeps widening for big money – BP Fined a Record $4B; Displayed “Profit Over Prudence”   Federal officials blamed BP’s culture of profit for the spill. “The explosion of the rig was a disaster that resulted from BP’s culture of privileging profit over prudence,” said Assistant Atty.
… Read more about: MNA NewsScan, November 16, 2012: New book is love story to nursing profession  »

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In: Activism, Health Care Reform, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nurses Strike, Nursing, Politics

HEALTH CARE

In the continuing meningitis outbreak scandal, today’s NY Times has an expose on how high-powered corporate influence helped drug compounders avoid tighter rules.

Cost of Providing Health Benefits Rises at Lowest Level in 15 Years   …. the rest of the story is that the low rate is directly due to employers forcing high-deductible plans on workers.

NOTES ON NURSING

Sutter, HCA Nurses to Strike November 20   At the Sutter hospitals, the walkout is in response to demands by Sutter corporate officials for sweeping reductions in patient care protections and nurses’ contract standards at these hospitals.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 15, 2012: 49.7M in poverty; More workers face high-deductible health plans  »

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In: Activism, Health Care Reform, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

NOTES ON NURSING


MNA members are gathering at the headquarters office for a 3-day leadership skills tune up.   Read what Joe Howard said about his recent experience at an earlier training.

U.S. Rate of Premature Births Still at a “C;” Ranked with Somalia, Thailand and Turkey     The United States is slowly reducing its rate of premature births, bringing the rate to 11.7 percent in 2011, but the figure is still higher than public health advocates believe it should be.

Many Hospital Patients Receive Too Much Acetaminophen    Acetaminophen – sold as Tylenol – is a common painkiller on its own, but also an ingredient in stronger narcotics such as Percocet and Vicodin.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 14, 2012: Too much Tylenol?; $10M tax break to hospitals  »

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

HEALTH CARE

Hospitals Mine Patient Data for Self-Promotion   You might not know it when you seek care from some of central Ohio’s hospital systems, but your health information makes you a potential marketing target.

NOTES ON NURSING

Patients Shy About Requesting Providers Wash Hands   Only 64 percent and 54 percent of patients indicated that they would feel comfortable asking nurses or physicians to wash their hands, respectively. Still fewer patients (14 percent) reported having ever asked a healthcare worker to wash their hands.

LABOR NEWS

WalMart Workers Organize Action for Black Friday   Walmart workers are trying to organize a single massive strike on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving, and the “official” start of Christmas shopping season).
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 13, 2012: Hospitals mine data for self-promotion  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Robin Hood Tax

LABOR NOTES

Tax Fairness Rally   WHEN: Monday, November 12th at 11:00am – Noon
WHERE: S 8th Street and Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis.

Twilight for Twinkies?  Striking workers formed a picket line at the company’s Sacramento, Calif., plant Sunday, two days after the walkout began when the company imposed a contract that would cut wages by 8 percent.

NOTES ON NURSING

Nurses in Short Supply for Veterans   Samiley’s specialty at the VA’s primary care clinic is homeless veterans. Most of his patients served in the Vietnam War and come with diabetes or hypertension as well as mental health needs.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 12, 2012: Nurses in short supply for Vets; Twilight for Twinkies?  »

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

NOTES ON NURSING

Rep. Erin Murphy Is New House Majority Leader   House Democrats have elected former MNA Executive Director, Erin Murphy as House Majority Leader.

Hurricane Sandy Update   Aid to victims of hurricane Sandy is still very much needed.  The AFL-CIO is coordinating with United Way to raise funds to help families devastated by the disaster.  Here’s the link to help.

LABOR NEWS

NY Subway Repairs Border on “the Edge of Magic”    Workers traversed darkened, slippery tunnels, inspecting sludgy tracks, equipment and third rails. Even the subway map itself was reimagined, as bright lines were faded to represent downed service.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 9, 2012: Congrats Rep. Erin Murphy  »

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

HEALTH CARE

Hospitals Gamble on Urgent Care To Keep Patients Healthy  When Stephen Wheeler realized he had an aching, swollen finger, he called his primary care doctor, who works for MedStar Health. The doctor referred him to PromptCare, an urgent care clinic owned by the same hospital chain and located in a strip mall in the Baltimore suburbs.

Obama’s Health Care Law Turns into a Sprint 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 8, 2012:  »

Its place assured alongside Medicare and Medicaid, President Barack Obama’s health care law is now in a sprint to the finish line, with just 11 months to go before millions of uninsured people can start signing up for coverage.