Press Release: MNA RNs fight to keep Willmar Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment Facility open (Page 110)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, MNA, 651-414-2863 or john.nemo@mnnurses.org

WILLMAR, Minnesota (April 3, 2012) – In an effort to clear up confusion surrounding the status of the Willmar Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment facility, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) announced today that a pair of legislative bills it helped introduce appear likely to extend the closure date of the facility by another year.

MNA, which represents more than 20,000 nurses in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, including RNs at the Willmar facility, has been working closely with AFSCME Council 5, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and local legislators Rep. Bruce Vogel and Sen. Joe Gimse on the proposed legislation.

The Willmar site was first opened as a Community Behavioral Health Hospital (CBHH) in August of 2008 after the Department of Human Services (DHS) was unsuccessful in an attempt to get the area’s local hospital, Rice Memorial, to take over the responsibility of health inpatient services previously supplied by Willmar Regional Treatment Center. Over the past four years, the Willmar site has undergone numerous changes with both its staff and the services it provides, and recommendations were made to close the facility by April 1, 2012.

However, MNA, AFSCME Council 5 and MAPE have worked closely with Rep. Vogel and Sen. Gimse to bring forth legislation that would keep the Willmar site open for another year while the DHS has an opportunity to do a full review of the State Operated Services division.

Rep. Vogel and Senator Gimse both introduced bills (SF2544/HF2503) during the current legislative session to extend the closure date of the facility, and the language was included in the House HHS Omnibus bill. MNA feels that because it has been working so closely with DHS officials and Gov. Mark Dayton’s office to find the best possible solution for the situation in Willmar, the legislation is likely to pass.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, MNA, 651-414-2863 or john.nemo@mnnurses.org

WILLMAR, Minnesota (April 3, 2012) – In an effort to clear up confusion surrounding the status of the Willmar Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment facility, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) announced today that a pair of legislative bills it helped introduce appear likely to extend the closure date of the facility by another year.

MNA, which represents more than 20,000 nurses in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, including RNs at the Willmar facility, has been working closely with AFSCME Council 5, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and local legislators Rep.
… Read more about: Press Release: MNA RNs fight to keep Willmar Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment Facility open  »

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Good to hear this news today, because Minnesota Nurses have played a key role for more than a year in demanding these HMOs be held accountable! Here’s the press release from the Governor’s Office:

Dayton Healthcare Reform Saves Millions for Taxpayers

$73 million returned to taxpayers as a result of nation leading efficiency and value in healthcare reform

Saint Paul, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced $73 million in health care cost savings to state and federal taxpayers, thanks to the voluntary 1% cap on profits agreed to last year between Commissioner of Human Services Lucinda Jesson, HealthPartners, Medica, UCare, and BlueCross BlueShield.  
… Read more about: MNA RNs Have Helped Lead Charge in Holding HMOs Accountable  »

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MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like those below in voicing your opposition to the bill:

“I am writing in regards to the National Nurse Licensure Compact. I strongly oppose this piece of legislation. It compromises not only the state’s ability to protect patients from unsafe situations but also my own. I take pride in the work I perform everyday, as I’m sure you do as well, and it saddens me to know that this could be jeopardized by the government who knows very little about what goes on at the bedside.  
… Read more about: More MNA RNs speak out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

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MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like Laura Miller in voicing your opposition to the bill:

The National Nurse Licensure Compact which is included in the Senate Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill would be a detriment to the nurses and population in the State of Minnesota.  Our nurses as well as the Minnesota Board of Nursing are held to a higher standard than many other states. 
… Read more about: MNA RN Laura Miller speaks out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

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MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like Lynn Hagen in voicing your opposition to the bill:

I have been an RN for over 30 years and have seen many changes within our heathcare system. We have seen changes in how our health care is driven, how the care is delivered and the reimbursement that drives it all. And although I need to be fiscally smart in how I staff my unit and meet the needs of my patients this bill completely ties my hands in many areas.
… Read more about: MNA RN Lynn Hagen speaks out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

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MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like Sandra Johnson in voicing your opposition to the bill:

Please consider the safety of all patient’s before you vote on this bill.  I am a registered nurse in Minnesota and have experienced patient care in other states such as Texas and Chicago.  My parents are snowbirds in Texas and have several health issues which require frequent hospitalization.
… Read more about: MNA RN Sandra Johnson speaks out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

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Right to Work

There was no action on Right to Work this week. Our friends in both parties and both legislative bodies have taken a stand on behalf of working families. To all of you who wrote, called and visited your elected officials, thank you. The outpouring of grassroots activism from nurses, union members and concerned citizens was like nothing we’ve seen in recent years, and deserves a lot of the credit for stopping this bill.

Health and Human Services Omnibus Bills

On Tuesday, HHS Chair David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) introduced the Senate HHS Omnibus bill, which includes the National Nurse Licensure language, aka Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact.
… Read more about: Legislative Update, March 30, 2012  »

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Regional Action Councils – Nurses mobilizing around policy and politics

As you’ve followed the action during this legislative session and campaign season have you wondered how you can get involved on behalf of nurses and patients?

Nurses are forming six Regional Action Councils around the state to mobilize around policies and candidates that are good for nurses, patients and working families. The RACs will soon begin screening and accountability process for candidates seeking MNA’s endorsement. It is critical that nurses take advocacy beyond the bedside, and weigh in on the policies that affect our practice and patients.

If you are interested in learning more about the Regional Action Council for your area, please contact:

Thanks!
… Read more about: Regional Action Councils: Get Involved!  »

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MNA RNs are speaking out against the proposed National Nurse Licensure Compact bill making its way through the Minnesota state legislature. If passed, this legislation would lower the standards of nursing care in Minnesota and put our patients at risk.

Please join MNA RNs like Suzanne Weaver in voicing your opposition to the bill:

Please oppose the National Nurse Licensure Compact.  I believe it would compromise patient safety.  I have worked with nurses brought in to orient here in 2010 prior to the nurses strike and luckily on several occasions caught medication errors before they were made. 
… Read more about: MNA RN Suzanne Weaver speaks out against National Nurse Licensure Compact  »

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Below is a letter from the nurses serving on MNA’s Economic and General Welfare Commission:

Greetings to you all. We are writing to bring you up-to-date information about the safety of patients and the on-line Concern for Safe Staffing (CFSS) process. It has been a year since we went live with our streamlined process, and we want to apprise you of the success nurses have had documenting their advocacy for patients in unsafe staffing situations.

The CFSS process is an organizational initiative to standardize our reporting across the entire organization. The most important aspect of the process has evolved from filling out a form to mobilizing and encouraging action at the first hint of an unsafe situation.
… Read more about: Important Update on Concern For Safe Staffing Forms  »