MEDIA ADVISORY
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org
Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org
Forum will bring community together to envision a better future for our healthcare system
The community town hall follows a public hearing held by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) late last month. While that online-only event provided ample opportunity for Allina executives to try to justify their cuts and closures, it provided very little opportunity for community questions and feedback. The community town hall will bring patients and workers together to envision a better future for our healthcare system in Minnesota. Executives from Allina Health and officials from MDH have been invited to attend, along with local elected officials.
Healthcare closures like those planned by Allina executives at Mercy Hospital and Unity Campus put patient care at risk. They take critical services out of the community, forcing families to travel further for life-saving care; they separate skilled providers and workers from the patients who rely on their care; and they further strain an already over-burdened healthcare system in Minnesota that has resulted from closures and cutbacks by other hospital companies. For carrying out these cuts, Allina CEO Lisa Shannon took home compensation of $2.6 million in 2022, including more than half a million dollars in bonus and incentive pay.
COMMUNITY TOWN HALL ON HOSPITAL SERVICE CLOSURES
- WHEN: Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 6:00 P.M.
- WHERE: Spring Lake Park Senior High School cafeteria, 1100 81st Ave NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432 – park in Able Street lot and enter through door #29
- WHO: Patients, providers, workers, and other community members
- WHAT: Community town hall in response to planned closures at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Unity Campus in Fridley
- WHY: To protect community care and a healthy future for our state
Was the local media invited to this? This town hall would have been much more effected with a media presence and and an action plan. I live in this community and no one knew this was happening when I told my neighbors. There were post-cards for us to fill out, but it was not clear who would receive these. So it was difficult to write anything on them. We should have been given a flier with representatives and MDH staff to contact with our voice. People like the easy button -we need things spoon-fed to us. We should have the names the MD elected officials and contact information to notify of closure language. We heard over and over again to “speak up, jam up the voicemails, voice voice voice.” But without a list of people to call or write to, research tells us most people will not follow up. The messaging needed to be more accurate regarding closures affected. The town hall flier said, “affecting access to mental health, ICU services, and more.” That is grossly inefficient. Surgical services nor pediatrics were mentioned in these closures. The flier needed to have the specifics.
Is there a way for MNA members to see your media plan/action statements/plan for messaging?
Thank you