Contents:

 

MAY 2011

 

 

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MDH & ORHPC NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minnesota Rural Health Conference COUNTDOWN:

Nominate a Rural Health Hero or Team by May 4

Reserve Lodging by May 27

Register as a sponsor or an exhibitor by May 27

Register by June 10 for early discount

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HEALTH REFORM
MDH is asking for comments on the Minnesota Community Measurement preliminary recommendations for physician clinic and ambulatory surgical center measures by May 15.

MDH is requesting grant proposals for two health care homes projects by May 16.

HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Rural Health Information Technology Grant Program applications are due May 27. A technical assistance call is 1 p.m. May 10. Call 888 -577-8992. The Passcode is HIT.

The Greater Minnesota Telehealth Broadband Initiative (GMTBI) is Minnesota's FCC Rural Health Care Pilot Program project connecting 144 hospitals, clinics and mental health centers on a dedicated broadband network for health information exchange. For more information, contact Karen Welle at karen.welle@state.mn.us or attend the GMTBI session, Building a Dedicated Network for Rural Health Care, at the Minnesota Rural Health Conference.

Attestation for Medicare EHR Incentive Program opened April 18.

From MDH e-Health Initiative:
  • EHR Adoption and Use: Results from the 2010 Minnesota Ambulatory Clinic Survey article published in Minnesota Medicine.
  • Minnesota Public Health Reporting for Stage 1 Meaningful Use Fact Sheet (PDF: 88KB/2pgs).

The Rural Health Advisory Committee released General Surgery in Rural Minnesota (PDF: 670KB/48pgs). To receive updates about Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) meetings and announcements, contact Cindy LaMere at cindy.lamere@state.mn.us.

HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE SNAPSHOT

Minnesota Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, 2010 is ORHPC's Health Care Workforce Analysis Program's latest release (PDF: 581KB/22pgs)

np work settings

In 2010, most Minnesota-based work sites of nurse practitioners (NPs) were split between provider clinics (48 percent) and hospitals (27 percent). The sites became more concentrated in clinical or office-based practices as work locations became more rural, with 44 percent of urban NPs working in clinics compared to 76 percent in isolated rural areas.

Source: Minnesota Office of Rural Health & Primary Care - Advanced Practice Registered Nurses 2010

For more information and data on Minnesota's health workforce, visit the ORHPC Health Care Workforce Analysis Program site or contact Angie Sechler at angie.sechler@state.mn.us or 651-201-3862.
 

STAFF NEWS
Craig Baarson is serving on the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Advisory Team to the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. The team includes representatives from nine other states.

Chris Ballard made trauma hospital site visits to Madison Hospital, Minnesota Valley Health Center in Le Sueur, St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee and Sanford Luverne Medical Center. A complete list of Minnesota trauma hospitals is online.

Angie Sechler attended the National Oral Health Conference, focusing on dental health safety net and dental workforce.

Kristen Tharaldson spoke to this year's Rural Voices Leadership and Policy Workshop about her experience in the workshop last year. Read Kristen's article Rural Voices: Step Up. Speak Out from the summer 2010 issue of the ORHPC Quarterly.

Karen Welle attended the Greater Minnesota Telehealth Broadband Initiative (GMTBI) Steering Committee meeting, hosted by Northern Pines Mental Health Center in Brainerd.

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ORHPC GRANTS AND LOANS

 

Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program applications are due August 12.

Minnesota Primary Care Loan Funds are available. The spring issue of the ORHPC Quarterly (coming to your email box mid-May) describes one organization's experience with the Nonprofits Assistance Fund.

Be an ORHPC grant reviewer. 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 with your name, profession, place of employment and contact information.

 

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OTHER GRANTS AND LOANS

Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health Community Partners applications are due May 2 to support community-based organizations in proven, effective research-to-practice, translation, education, outreach and prevention-intervention activities.

Community Connect Grant Program applications are due May 3 to provide unserved areas with broadband for economic growth and educational, health care and public safety services.

Minnesota's Young Student Parent Support Initiative applications are due May 24 for colleges to help pregnant and parenting students.

Health Careers Opportunity Program applications are due May 25 to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds enter a health profession.

Rural Health Information Technology Grant Program applications are due May 27. A technical assistance call is 1 p.m. May 10. Call 888 -577-8992. The Passcode is HIT.

Circles of Care V: Infrastructure Development for Children's Mental Health Systems in American Indian Communities applications are due May 31.

Community Based Care Transition Program applications are being accepted for test models to improve care transitions of high risk Medicare beneficiaries.

 

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OPPORTUNITIES

Openings are on the Secretary of State website for the:
  • Environmental Health Tracking and Biomonitoring Advisory Panel
  • Special Education Advisory Panel.

WSU Scrubs Camp, Urban Scrubs Camp and Health Career Day Camp are open for registration.

Help the Minnesota Diabetes Action Network develop programs or activities specific to:
   •  Access to care
   •  Coordination of medical care
   •  Collaborative assets (health systems and community-based resources)
   •  Community resources for high risk populations
   •  Diabetes prevention (especially for underserved populations)
   •  Access to food in underserved communities
   •  Healthy food in schools and child care programs
   •  Social connections for women with gestational diabetes
   •  Diabetes self-management.
Contact Kim Goodwin at kim.goodwin@state.mn.us or 651-201-5428.

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NEWS OF OUR PARTNERS

 

Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board hired Pam Biladeau as executive director.

Minnesota Rural Partners examines rural-urban links that drive economic development and job creation in Estimating Rural and Urban Minnesota's Interdependencies (PDF:1MB/48pgs).

Stratis Health reports on Patient Safety Culture Change at Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital and Collaborative Effort Improves SCIP Rates at Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital in Grand Rapids.

Kittson Memorial Adopts Sanford Health's Electronic Medical Record System.

The National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet) added "Information Technology" to the job postings menu. Members of 3RNet are not-for-profit organizations helping health professionals find jobs in rural and underserved areas throughout the country.

ImproveDentalAccessMN.org is a new online resource for sharing information about dental access in urban, suburban and rural Minnesota.
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NOW READ THIS

 

Medicaid and Medicare  
  • CMS to release first CAH PEPPERS
  • How Will Medicare Beneficiaries in Medically Underserved Communities Fare? (PDF: 199KB/12pgs)
  • March 2011: Growth in PPOs Dominates the Rural MA Market in 2011

Primary Care
  • Community health centers offer model for improving care even as they grow
  • Health decision-making among rural women: physician access and prescription adherence (PDF: 220KB/16pgs)

Hospital
  • Changes in obstetrical services among Critical Access Hospitals (PDF: 208KB/2pgs)
  • Provision of Long Term Care Services by Critical Access Hospitals: Are Things Changing? (PDF; 358KB/6pgs)
  • The Opportunities and Challenges for Rural Hospitals in an Era of Health Reform (322KB/16pgs)

Workforce 
  • Addressing Chronic Disease Through Community Health Workers (PDF: 725KB/20pgs)
  • 3,000 Students Set To Graduate From Health IT Training Programs
  • Paramedics take on expanded health-care role in rural Minnesota

HIT
  • VA To Tap Open-Source Tools To Upgrade E-Health Record System 
  • Use of HIT in Support of Patient-Centered Medical Homes is low Among Non-metro Family Medicine Practices

Tools/Resources
  • ACS Launches Collaborative Online Community to Connect Rural Surgeons
  • Health Professional Shortage Area fact sheet (PDF: 954KB/3pgs)
  • Place-based Policies and Public Health: The Road to Healthy Rural People and Places (PDF: 457KB/11pgs)
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SAVE THE DATE

Minnesota Healthcare Quality Professionals is hosting monthly webinars.

Community Paramedicine Insights Forum webinar is the third Monday of each month at 2 p.m.

Asthma Alliance Summit is May 12, 8 a.m.-noon in St. Paul.

Discover Funding Opportunities and Resources for Rural Health Care Facilities is a Minnesota Rural Health Association webinar, May 20 at noon. Email Judy Neppel at jneppel@umn.edu to register.

Northeast Minnesota Health Care Forum: Health Care Quality and Statewide Health Improvement is June 3 in Mt. Iron. RSVP to Kim Nordin by May 11 at 218-727-9390 or knordin@ruralcenter.org.

Central Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee is meeting June 9.

Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Advisory Committee is meeting June 9 in St. Paul.

Minnesota Stroke Conference is June 13 in St. Paul.

Minnesota e-Health Summit is June 15-16 in Brooklyn Park.

State Trauma Advisory Council is meeting June 21 in St. Paul.

Minnesota Rural Health Conference is June 27-28 in Duluth.

Southern Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee is meeting June 30.

Learn the Basics of Starting a Telemedicine Program September 21. This half-day workshop is limited to 30 people .
 

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View online all previous issues of the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care publications.

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Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
P. O. Box 64882
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0882
Phone 651-201-3838
Toll free in Minnesota 800-366-5424
Fax: 651-201-3830
TDD: 651-201-5797
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/index.html

Email Mary Ann Radigan at maryann.radigan@state.mn.us or call 651-201-3855 with comments.

Our mission
to promote access to quality health care for rural and underserved urban Minnesotans. From our unique position within state government, we work as partners with communities, providers, policymakers and other organizations. Together, we develop innovative approaches and tailor our tools and resources to the diverse populations we serve.