M Health Fairview nurses, community members to testify to concerns with proposed Acadia Healthcare mental health hospital (Page 16)

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

While nurses support more mental health beds, for-profit Acadia Healthcare has a concerning track record on patient and staff safety, financial mismanagement, greed, and fraud

(St. Paul) – June 8, 2022 – This Thursday, June 9 at 6:00 p.m., M Health Fairview nurses, along with the Minnesota Nurses Association, will join other community members to testify to concerns with the proposed partnership between the Minnesota hospital system and Acadia Healthcare, a for-profit corporation with a concerning track record on patient and staff safety, and financial mismanagement, greed, and fraud.

While MNA nurses understand the need for additional mental healthcare beds, nurses have grave concerns about the track record of Acadia, the for-profit company M Health Fairview has selected to operate this new facility. Background information on Acadia’s dismal record can be found in the following research memo:

MEMO: Acadia Healthcare – Putting Profits Before Patients

In addition to Acadia’s dangerous track record, nurses have questioned the decision of M Health Fairview executives to close multiple facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting care for patients and employment for healthcare workers, only to construct new facilities later on. These executives include CEO James Hereford, who received a 90 percent raise in 2019, bringing his total compensation to $3.6 million in that year.

The hearing will be held by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to solicit public input and comments on the proposed new facility. Additional information on the hearing is included below.

  • When: Thursday, June 9, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
  • Where: MDH WebEx online hearing– access information here
  • Who: M Health Fairview nurses and community members
  • What: Public hearing on proposed M Health Fairview—Acadia Healthcare facility
  • Why: To raise concerns over Acadia’s dangerous track record for patients and workers

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

While nurses support more mental health beds, for-profit Acadia Healthcare has a concerning track record on patient and staff safety, financial mismanagement, greed, and fraud

(St. Paul) – June 8, 2022 – This Thursday, June 9 at 6:00 p.m., M Health Fairview nurses, along with the Minnesota Nurses Association, will join other community members to testify to concerns with the proposed partnership between the Minnesota hospital system and Acadia Healthcare, a for-profit corporation with a concerning track record on patient and staff safety, and financial mismanagement, greed, and fraud.
… Read more about: M Health Fairview nurses, community members to testify to concerns with proposed Acadia Healthcare mental health hospital  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses are seeking fair contracts which will prioritize patient care at the bedside, not the bottom line of CEOs with million-dollar salaries and their corporate healthcare policies

Informational pickets will be held at Twin Ports hospitals operated by Essentia Health and St. Luke’s

(Duluth) – June 7, 2022 – This Thursday, as they prepare for another day of negotiations, Twin Ports nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association will hold a press conference to announce their intent to picket on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at hospitals operated by Essentia Health and St.
… Read more about: Twin Ports nurses to announce picket as they seek new contracts that put patients before profits  »

The following is a statement from Chris Rubesch, Minnesota Nurses Association First Vice President and RN at Essentia in Duluth, on the passing of Duluth City Council President Renee Van Nett:

Our nurse family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Duluth City Councilor Renee Van Nett. As a powerful advocate for Duluth and the region, Van Nett improved the lives of countless people, including many of our members and patients. In her time as President of the Duluth City Council, she was a bold leader who always stood with nurses, healthcare workers, and other laborers. We offer our condolences to her family and loved ones and join those who are mourning her passing.
… Read more about: Statement on the passing of Renee Van Nett  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses are seeking fair contracts which will prioritize patient care at the bedside, not the bottom line of CEOs with million-dollar salaries and their corporate healthcare policies Nurses launch new advertising campaign calling on hospital CEOs to put patient care before profits

(St. Paul) – June 1, 2022 – Thousands of nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association held an informational picket at eleven Twin Cities hospitals today, as 15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports seek new contracts which will put patients and workers before profits in Minnesota hospitals.
… Read more about: Nurses picket Twin Cities hospitals as 15,000 seek new contracts that put patients before profits  »

It’s time to show your MNA member pride on social media and get your friends, family and community to show their support during your negotiations, picketing on June 1 and beyond!

Social Media Profile Picture  

Use this graphic as your profile picture on Facebook and Twitter and as a post on Instagram. Then encourage your followers to use it as their profile and share on Instagram too! 

Step 1: Right-click the image and choose “Save Link As” 

Step 2: Follow these instructions to change your Facebook profile picture and these instructions to change your Twitter profile picture  

Step 3: Share the image on your social media profile and encourage your followers to change their profile pictures (see below for sample copy) 

Step 4: Tag MNA in your posts Twitter @MNNurses Instagram @MinnesotaNurses Facebook @MinnesotaNurses    

Sample Social Media Copy 

Stand with nurses!
… Read more about: Tell Minnesotans: Stand with Nurses!  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Candidates pledge to support Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, put patients and healthcare workers before profits

(St. Paul) – May 24, 2020 – Nurses of the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced six new endorsements for the 2022 election cycle for candidates in open races for the Minnesota Legislature. These endorsements follow the first four announced by MNA in April, and are based on screening interviews and recommendations of member nurses based on candidates’ pledged support for MNA priority issues.
… Read more about: MNA Nurses Announce Six Endorsements for 2022 Election  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – May 19, 2022 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced their intent to hold an informational picket at eleven Twin Cities hospitals on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, as 15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports seek new contracts which will put patients and workers before profits in Minnesota hospitals. Nurses will hold a media availability at MNA offices this Saturday, May 21, 2022, as they make signs in preparation for the picket.
… Read more about: Nurses to picket Twin Cities hospitals as 15,000 nurses seek new contracts that put patients before profits  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Roberta Heine
202-251-7070
rheine@mape.org

Ashley Erickson
507-450-5511
aerickson@mape.org

Thousands of employees served on frontlines throughout the pandemic

St. Paul – May 12, 2022 – State government workers have worked tirelessly to keep Minnesotans safe and state government running throughout the pandemic, often at great personal risk to themselves and their families. Four employees shared their stories and called on the Senate to approve their labor contracts. The workers are represented by IFO, MAPE, MNA and Teamsters

Every two years, state government employees’ contracts come before the Minnesota House and Senate for approval.
… Read more about: State government employees call on Senate to approve their contracts  »

Nurses and support staff are not cogs on a wheel. We are the engine that drives the car, and a car without an engine is worthless. A CEO and management team who do not understand this fact will undervalue the very thing that drives the success of their organization. 

The future of this hospital matters. For so many years it has been a point of pride to be a Children’s employee, but lately it seems the “business of healthcare” has reached the corporate point of no return. We now seem to be a business first and a hospital second.
… Read more about: It’s Nurses Week and I challenge Children’s Leadership to BE AMAZING!   »

Do you care about children? 

Then I ask you: What could be more life altering than living through the trauma of having your sexuality, your sexual intimacy, your sexual privacy traded, bought or sold? What could be more dehumanizing than walking through the world experiencing this and thinking that no one sees you, no one cares enough to try to stop sexual harm from happening to you?  

Children in the upper Midwest are living in this reality. We encounter these children in our healthcare facilities. They are being traded, bought and sold. According to the office of the Minnesota Attorney General:  

Minneapolis is one of the top locations in the U.S.
… Read more about: Online Education Opportunity: Identifying and Responding to Signs of Sexual Exploitation: A Training for Nurses   »