Press Release: Standard of Care Act moves on (Page 74)

New Amendments empower patients, require hospital reporting

 

(St. Paul) – March 15, 2013 – The Standards of Care Act passed the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Policy Committee with amendments.  Negotiations between the Minnesota Nurses Association and the Minnesota Hospital Association resulted in an agreement that recognizes the crisis of patient safety and creates a plan to add transparency to patient care.

“It’s the consumers of health care that really benefit from this,” said Walt Frederickson, RN, MNA Executive Director.  Right now this data has been non-existent to us and the public.”

During a brief recess of the committee, the nurses union suggested that hospitals would report online the actual direct patient care hours for regulators as well as consumers to examine.  The data would also go to the state Department of Health to conduct a study of staffing levels and how that correlates to patient outcomes.   Despite previous protests that the reporting would be onerous, the hospital association agreed to the change.

“The amendment is a win for patients who want accountability and serves as a foundation for solving the patient care crisis that everyone recognizes-the chair, the hospitals, and especially the nurses,” Frederickson said.

Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester), committee chair, quickly put up the amendment for a vote and acknowledged, “there’s broad agreement we need to do something in this area.”

Now the Standards of Care Act moves to the Minnesota Senate.  Sponsor Sen. Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis) takes his bill to the Senate Health, Human Services, and Housing Committee hearing on Monday, March 18.

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In: Nurses, Patient Safety, Unsafe Staffing

New Amendments empower patients, require hospital reporting

 

(St. Paul) – March 15, 2013 – The Standards of Care Act passed the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Policy Committee with amendments.  Negotiations between the Minnesota Nurses Association and the Minnesota Hospital Association resulted in an agreement that recognizes the crisis of patient safety and creates a plan to add transparency to patient care.

“It’s the consumers of health care that really benefit from this,” said Walt Frederickson, RN, MNA Executive Director.  Right now this data has been non-existent to us and the public.”

During a brief recess of the committee, the nurses union suggested that hospitals would report online the actual direct patient care hours for regulators as well as consumers to examine. 
… Read more about: Press Release: Standard of Care Act moves on  »

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In: Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses

MNA-NNU-spot-logo (WEB)

MNA’s Ethics Committee presents

Substance Use Disorder: Implications for Nurses

Addressing Substance Use Disorder on Our Own Units

Thursday, April 18, 2013 8:45 – 4:00 p.m.

It could be you or a colleague, but it is likely within your career that you will be challenged by Substance Use Disorder. It is a growing crisis.

Like any addiction, Substance Use Disorder is a disease
and deserves to be treated as such. This program, designed for the unique circumstances posed to health care professionals, offers a path of awareness,
admission and action.
… Read more about: Substance Use Disorder: Implications for Nurses  »

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In: Minnesota Nurses Association, Nursing, Patient Safety, Unsafe Staffing

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/261298/group/Opinion/

I am perplexed how some hospitals seem to fear having standards imposed on them when nurses comply to professional standards every day. (Our View: “Steer state clear of nursing mandates,” March 7).

Nurses know that hospital claims of safety records mask a precarious workplace filled with errors and near-misses. Patients suffer and die because we’re taking care of three patients even though our standards, knowledge and ethics tell us one patient needs our exclusive care.

Duluth does have a great reputation for great hospitals, and we deliver quality health care. But we’re holding on by the skin of our teeth to guarantee that care.
… Read more about: President Hamilton responds to the Duluth News Tribune  »

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The Standards of Care Act has received its next hearing date.  MPR listeners may have heard recently that the bill to set a minimum standard of care for patients across Minnesota would not get an important hearing in the House health policy committee, but pressure on legislators has resulted in nurses, patients, and policy experts getting an opportunity to be heard.  Please support the Standards of Care Act by attending the hearing or sending a message to your state legislator that patients deserve a minimum standard of care, regardless of where they’ve chosen to receive care.

Contact your Legislator here:  https://votervoice.net/MNA/Address

Join the Wednesday lobbying sessions at the Capitol and meet your legislators.
… Read more about: Next Standard of Care Act Committee Hearing Scheduled  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics, Unsafe Staffing

Standards of Care Act Update        

   The Standards of Care Act, MNA’s bill to establish patient assignment limits for nurses passed the Government Operations committee 8-7. The committee passed an amendment to the bill to exempt Critical Access Hospitals (rural hospitals with 25 or fewer beds that meet certain federal criteria) from the legislation. MNA continues to believe that all patients in Minnesota, regardless of their geographic location, are entitled to the same standard of safe nursing care.
  In the House, the bill is now headed for the Health and Human Services Policy Committee. We will alert you when a hearing date is scheduled.
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Update, March 8, 2013  »

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In: Activism, Health Care Reform, Healthcare, Hospitals, Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Nursing, Patient Safety, Unsafe Staffing

Standards of Care Act

MNA’s Standards of Care Act is picking up steam at the Capitol. The bill passed its first committee in the House last week, and is scheduled to be heard next on Wednesday, March 6 at 10:00 am in the House Government Operations Committee in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building. Please contact Geri Katz by email or at 651-414-2855 if you can show your support for the bill and the nurses who will testify.

Stories are pouring in from nurses and patients all over Minnesota, illustrating the human side of unsafe staffing.
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Update, March 1, 2013  »

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In: Hospitals, Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Patient Safety, Politics, Unsafe Staffing

Video:  CNO of Essentia Sandra “Mac” McCarthy testifying to the House Labor, Regulated Workplace and Industries Committee on the Standards of Care Act, February 21, 2013.

Compare this to what Joe Howard, RN, at Miller-Dwan Burn Unit said:

“Chairman Johnson, Members of the Committee. Thank you for this opportunity.  My name is Joe Howard.  I’ve been a Registered Nurse for 11 years, and for the past year and a half, I’ve had the pleasure to work in the Burn Intensive Care Unit at Miller Dwan Medical Center in Duluth. 

As a nurse in the burn unit, you can imagine I have some serious cases. 
… Read more about: What Nursing Supervisors are saying…  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Politics

When Minnesota’s Commissioner of Management and Budget (MMB) Jim Showalter talked to MNA members earlier this month, he made one thing very clear. We’re on the edge of our seat.

That’s because Minnesota’s revenues are a three-legged stool: sales taxes, income taxes, and property taxes. Problem is, sales taxes have fallen short-27 percent of revenues in the last budget cycle. Meaning MNA members and middle-class Minnesotans are bearing the brunt of state needs with property taxes and income taxes. One leg of our stool is a little short. How short? Minnesotans paid 48 percent of Minnesota’s revenues in personal taxes for 2012-2013. (source: http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/report-pie/general-june12.pdf)

That’s not vertigo we’re feeling – it’s April 15th.
… Read more about: It’s a budget discussion. Have a seat, but don’t lean over.  »

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In: Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Politics

While some people’s eyes glaze over when they hear the word, “sequestration,” on the news, the effects of the “S” word are sure to hit every state if ignored.

What is it?  It’s a series of automatic cuts-called the sequester- that will take effect unless Congress acts by March 1.  The Obama Administration has presented a state-by-state analysis of what these cuts mean to middle class jobs, children, seniors, the sick, and those men and women in uniform.

Impacts for healthcare this year include:

$507,000 lost to Minnesota to respond to public health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and catastrophic events.
… Read more about: I keep hearing about this sequestration thing…  »

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In: Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Politics

Do you believe it’s time for the state budget to improve the lives of middle class families? Should the wealthiest Minnesotans pay their fair share? Should we invest in our state’s most important priorities? Governor Dayton’s budget proposal <http://www.mn.gov/governor/budget/>  achieves those goals, while fixing our state’s structural deficit and making government more efficient. It’s an honest budget without gimmicks.
The House Tax Committee will be hearing the Governor’s budget proposal <http://www.mn.gov/governor/budget/>  tomorrow night. It’s important for supporters of Governor Dayton’s proposal to attend the hearing.
What:  House Tax Committee hearing of Governor Dayton’s budget proposal
When:  Wednesday, February 27th
Time:  7:00 PM
Where:  Room 10, State Office Building, 100 Rev.
… Read more about: Governor Dayton Budget hearing Wednesday night  »