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MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (MDH) AND |
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HEALTH REFORM. Read the latest on Minnesota Health Reform from Commissioner Sanne Magnan, M.D., and stay informed on opportunities for input on the fast-moving implementation of health reform. The Minnesota Health Reform site includes descriptions of the health reform package, including the Statewide Health Improvement Program, health care homes, payment reform, insurance coverage, workgroups and more. Subscribe online. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Update. The Minnesota Department of Health continues to monitor progress and opportunities for the state and for providers under the federal stimulus package. To stay abreast of developments, visit the Minnesota e-Health Initiative’s HITECH Act page. Watch for information about a May 20 public meeting/webinar on the subject. For quick reference, refer to: Community Clinic Grants were awarded to American Indian Community Development Corporation in Minneapolis, Apple Tree Dental in Fergus Falls, Bois Forte Health Services in Nett Lake, Community Dental Care in Maplewood, Face to Face Health and Counseling in St. Paul, Fremont Community Health Center in Minneapolis, Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, Lake Superior Community Health Center in Duluth, Neighborhood Involvement Program in Minneapolis, North Metro Pediatrics in Coon Rapids, St. Mary’s Health Clinics in St. Paul, Semcac Family Planning Clinic in Winona, Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council in Worthington, and Women’s Health Center in Duluth. The Community Clinic Grant program helps clinics serve rural and urban populations with low incomes, reduce current or future uncompensated care burdens, or provide improved care delivery infrastructure. The total funds requested this year was $1,745,794 from a budget of $561,000. For more information, contact Deb Jahnke at debra.jahnke@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3845. NEW! ORHPC and Twitter! Have you heard all the talk about Twitter? Or are you already using it? ORHPC now has a Twitter Web page and we hope you'll try it out, right along with us! Twitter allows anyone to blog (if you can say it in no more than 140 characters). We are trying to "tweet" (as Twitter calls each post) a few times a week about "What's new and interesting in Minnesota rural health and primary care." It's really easy to sign up but you can also view our postings without logging onto Twitter. And of course we will continue to stay in touch with you through our e-newsletters and periodic emails. |
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ORHPC GRANTS AND LOANS |
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Clinical Dental Innovation Grant applications are due July 10. The due date for State Loan Repayment Program applications is August 1. The program is for eligible licensed providers practicing at approved clinics in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. Information, candidate applications and site applications are online or contact Deb Jahnke at debra.jahnke@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3845. The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care is recruiting volunteers who have experience in health care and/or grant making to objectively review grant proposals. If you are interested, please contact Doug Benson at doug.benson@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3842 or Cindy LaMere at cindy.lamere@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3852.
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OTHER GRANTS AND LOANS |
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Applications are due May 20 for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The deadline for the Project HealthDesign: Rethinking the Power and Potential of Personal Health Records is June 3. | ||
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ORHPC RESOURCES |
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A HealthLeaders article points out that as important as community and rural hospitals are to the well-being of the people they serve, these hospitals play a large part in business development. ORHPC helps communities assess the economic impact of health services, and preserve and strengthen those services, through Rural Health Works. Contact Craig Baarson at craig.baarson@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3840 for assistance. The Senate voted to extend the Conrad State 30 program until September 30. Under the program, foreign-born, American-trained doctors provide health care to people living in underserved areas in exchange for an extension of their stay in the United States. Doctors in the program typically serve in rural hospitals and clinics and must agree to serve the community for a minimum of three years. Senator Conrad will use the additional six months to attempt to expand and improve Conrad 30 through further legislation. ORHPC developed an online guide to the Visa Waiver Review and Recommendation Process or contact Lorry Colaizy at lawrence.colaizy@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3851. Kris Gjerde attended the release of the Albert Lea Blue Zones walkability report, which developed a full plan for bike routes to cover Albert Lea, defined potential sidewalk changes and upgrades, and looked at overall walkability. The Albert Lea Blue Zone kickoff is May 14. For more information, read the article Kris researched for the ORHPC spring Quarterly: Special Feature: Albert Lea on the Move into the Blue Zone. Representatives from the Healthcare Education-Industry Partnership, Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Board of Nursing, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and Minnesota Rural Health Resource Center joined ORHPC staff Jay Fonkert, Deb Hagel, Jill Myers, Mark Schoenbaum and Angie Sechler in an ongoing discussion regarding health workforce data. ORHPC Web sites under development and the Minnesota Hospital Association’s health workforce survey process and data were featured. The group has identified and is collaborating on several areas of common interest concerning health care workforce data. ORHPC workforce information is online or contact Jay Fonkert at jay.fonkert@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3846 to answer specific workforce questions. |
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SNAPSHOT |
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AGE OF PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN MINNESOTAThe physical therapist workforce is younger than many other health care professions. More than half (59 percent) of the physical therapists practicing in Minnesota are younger than 45. Overall, 30 percent are under age 35. The youth of the physical therapist workforce is most apparent in rural counties, where 39 percent are under age 35. Aging is more of an issue in metropolitan areas, where 42 percent are 45 or older.
Information on Minnesota’s physical therapy workforce is collected through surveys physical therapists voluntarily complete when renewing their licenses through the Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy. More information is on the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care workforce site or contact Angie Sechler at angie.sechler@state.mn.us or (651) 201-3862. |
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OPPORTUNITIES |
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The Board of Firefighter Training and Education is seeking one volunteer firefighter to complete a term expiring January 2010. The Minnesota Board on Aging is looking for two members. The Occupational Therapy Practitioners Advisory Council is recruiting two public members who have received occupational therapy (OT) services or are family members of or caregiver to someone who has received OT. The Subcommittee on Children's Mental Health is seeking one county social service agency representative. Complete information is in the April Open Appointments on the Secretary of State Web site. Submit a breakout session proposal by May 13 for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and the Minnesota Council on Foundations Joint Annual Conference, Transforming Our Work: From Challenging Times to Hopeful Futures, November 5-6, at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. The X Prize Foundation is gathering input to refine the design of the proposed $10+ million Healthcare X PRIZE. The challenge is to create an optimal health paradigm that engages and empowers individuals and communities in a way that dramatically improves health value. The X Prize organizers, who have set up contests for space travel, DNA research and efficient cars, now want to transform the health of people in a small U.S. community.
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NEWS OF OUR PARTNERS |
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Low Health Literacy? Treat it with Health Information. Health Sciences Libraries at the University of Minnesota welcomes invitations to conduct workshops on finding and evaluating consumer health resources on the Internet. The workshops focus on MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s consumer health information resource and My Health Minnesota → Go Local, Minnesota’s online directory of health services in Minnesota. Contact Anne Beschnett at besch015@umn.edu or (612) 625-9603. Thomson Reuters released its annual study identifying the 100 top U.S. hospitals, including Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria, Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Mayo Clinic-Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, and St. Cloud Hospital. Michele Casey, deputy director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, discusses the Implementation of Telepharmacy in Rural Hospitals: Potential for Improving Medication Safety in a four-minute video. Links to the policy brief, full report and video. Jennifer Lundblad, chief executive officer of Stratis Health, is quoted in the HealthLeaders article Safety Issues: Similarities, Differences Exist Among Small and Large Hospital. Avera received more than $13.5 million from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The grants will expand Avera eCareTM to improve patient safety and provide 24-hour rural access to specialty care physicians and pharmacists. Stratis Health redesigned its Web site. While the home page address remains the same: www.stratishealth.org, other links in your favorites may not work. Bobbe Teigen is the new chief executive officer of the Paynesville Area Health Care System. A PrairieBusiness article examines Avera Health, MeritCare Health System and Sanford Health’s use of electronic medical records in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. | ||
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NOW READ THIS |
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This spring, 10 paramedics in Minnesota will become the first U.S. "community paramedics" when they complete a course that prepares them to provide expanded health services in areas short on other health care practitioners. The Payson Roundup in Arizona frames the difficulty of recruiting doctors to rural areas in human terms. Add limited access to eye care services to the list of rural health issues, says an analysis from George Washington University (GWU). The article from Ophthalmology Times, says GWU found community health centers across the country are severely lagging in access to comprehensive eye exams for populations that are rural and have low incomes. The RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis continues to focus on local access to pharmacy services with the publication of Loss Of Community Pharmacies Since 2006: State Experiences (PDF: 2 pgs/103KB). Contrary to perception, researchers found no evidence that the likelihood of kidney transplantation is lower among remote- or rural-dwelling patients treated for kidney failure in the United States, according to a study in the April 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Rural beneficiaries are more likely to enroll in stand-alone prescription drug plans, while urban beneficiaries are much more likely to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription drug coverage, according to this RUPRI report: Rural Enrollment in Medicare Part D is Growing Slowly (PDF: 6pgs/112KB) . The Center for Rural Affairs proposes their Top 10 Rural Issues for Health Care Reform (PDF: 8 pgs/170KB). A study of approximately 3,400 U.S. primary care physicians found that two-thirds were unable to obtain outpatient mental health services for their patients—more than double the proportion of physicians who reported difficulty accessing other specialists or common outpatient services. Doctors cited a shortage of providers, lack of health insurance, and health plan barriers as hurdles in getting their patients necessary mental health care. Health Care in Urban and Rural Areas, Combined Years 2004-2006 examines the difference in access, use and expenses. | ||
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SAVE THE DATE |
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Nonprofits Assistance Fund is offering financial management workshops May through July. The Minnesota Trauma Managers Seminar is being offered at three sites in May. The seminars help health professionals understand trauma system participation criteria, learn about best practices, develop their own trauma program and network with other trauma program leaders and prospective leaders throughout Minnesota. The Community Health Worker Employer Forum (PDF: 1pg/395KB) is May 4 in Rochester. The National Rural Health Association's 32nd Annual Rural Health Conference is May 5-8 in Miami Beach, Florida. An AgriWellness Helping Farm People Manage their Behavioral Health Webinar is May 12, 12-1 p.m. (CT). The Seventh Annual Symposium on Small Towns "Communities 2050: Building a Livable, Renewable and Responsible Future!" is June 2-3 at the University of Minnesota Morris. The Fifth International Rural Nurse Conference is June 4-5 in Boise, Idaho. The Minnesota Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Conference is June 15-16 in Duluth. The Minnesota e-Health Summit 2009 is June 25-26 in Brooklyn Park. The July 2009 Great Plains Telehealth & Assistance Center Annual Conference in Bloomington has been CANCELED. Other educational opportunities including webinars, educational videos and regional workshops are under consideration. |
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View online all previous issues of the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care publications. |
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Not already a subscriber? Sign up to receive the Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care free Monthly and Quarterly e-newsletters. |
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