MHA's Update Newsletter - Changing the Culture of Workplace Violence

TRANSFORMING HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY
EVENTS CONNECT RESOURCES

June 29, 2018

Changing the Culture of Workplace Violence

"Adversity acquaints us with our resources, our virtues, our armour and weapons, our spirit - and forces us to be stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Yesterday, several hundred women and men who serve in Maryland's hospitals left behind their usual, pressing duties to come together for a cause that touches us all: reducing workplace violence.

The massive turnout for the summit, Safe Harbors: Protecting Providers and Patients , underscores the urgency of the problem. As I noted in my remarks to kick off the event, jointly hosted by MHA and the Maryland Nurses Association, the concerns about workplace violence have never been more pronounced in the 40 years I've worked in health care.

That's why it was so important to hear from experts, most from within Maryland's own hospitals, who shared valuable insights into how we can prevent and de-escalate violence. One of the important lessons from the day was that there are many different types of violence, each requiring a different strategy. We also learned how crucial it is to support associates who experience assaults, as well as the "second victims," those who are close to them.

The level of engagement at the summit was impressive. It's clear that much can be accomplished simply by sharing ideas and best practices across institutions. For our part, MHA will continue to raise awareness with hospital executives and trustees, press legislators for sensible bills and regulations, and facilitate the sharing of tools, techniques, and proven strategies.

But the summit, along with the subsequent work that it encourages, is about far more than the means to reduce workplace violence.

This work instills shared values about how to take care of those who care for others. These values, along with a rejuvenated sense of purpose, serve as guideposts on the path to securing hospitals as safe harbors, where patients and providers focus on treatment and recovery.

Promoting that idea is a priority for Maryland's hospital leaders, MHA, and, as evidenced at yesterday's event, for hospital associates as well. That's a strong foundation upon which we can begin to change the culture of workplace violence, so that hospitals are always filled with hope and healing and never with fear and harm.

Bob Atlas

President and CEO

IN THIS ISSUE...

MHA Discharge Delay Study Webinar to be Held July 11

Materials Available from High-Utilizer Webinars

Comment Letter on IRF PPS Rule Submitted

Potential CTO Applicants Asked to Complete Survey

Sexual Assault Reimbursement Unit to be Transferred

MAHCE to Hold Course on Gender Identity

MHAOnline.org

Calendar of Events

MHA and Member Hospitals on Social Media

MHA Discharge Delay Study Webinar to be Held July 11

MHA will conduct a study on hospital discharge delays for people diagnosed with behavioral health conditions to identify factors that contribute to discharge delays for patients who could be served in lower acuity settings. During the study, a survey must be filled out by hospital discharge planners for each patient who has experienced a delay in discharge, or has been unable to be discharged from the hospital. Using data from these surveys, the study will provide specific information needed to make the case for investments in capacity, or for regulatory changes to make sure every patient receives the appropriate care, in the right setting, at the right time. The study aims to capture data not only from hospitals with inpatient psychiatric units, but also from hospitals that serve behavioral health patients in other inpatient units. We ask that every hospital participate so the data will be comprehensive and accurately reflect what's taking place on the front lines of care. Our study will be based on a similar one done in Minnesota, which can be downloaded here .

Please join us for a webinar to learn more about the study on Wednesday, July 11, at 1 p.m. Click here to register.

Contact: Erin Dorrien

Materials Available from High-Utilizer Webinars

All materials from MHA's two-part webinar series, Improving Care for High Utilizers: The MAX Method, are now available on our website . This webinar series focused on reducing potentially avoidable utilization, specifically addressing high utilizers of the emergency department or inpatient settings. Hosted by MHA and Amy Boutwell, MD, MPP, the developer of the MAX Method, the series explained core concepts and key operational aspects as well as the impact the Max Method has on patients, teams, cross-setting partnerships, and outcomes.

Comment Letter on IRF PPS Rule Submitted

MHA this week sent a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the proposed Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System rule. Our letter asks for a delay to any definitive decision to use the new "section GG" measures for payment in fiscal year 2020. The rule proposes to change the functional assessment measures that are the key drivers of how beneficiaries are grouped for payment.

Contact: Traci La Valle

Potential CTO Applicants Asked to Complete Survey

The Maryland Department of Health's Maryland Primary Care Program is asking organizations interested in applying to be a Care Transformation Organization to complete a brief two-question survey. The program team would like to gauge the interest of organizations that are considering applying, as well as gain a better understanding of organizations interested in establishing partnerships for purposes of their application. Please complete the survey by Friday, July 6.

Sexual Assault Reimbursement Unit to be Transferred

Maryland's Sexual Assault Reimbursement Unit, currently operating within the Maryland Department of Health, will be transferred to the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention effective July 1. The unit is the priority payer for sexual assault forensic exams and related emergency services, and this transition will affect where claims are processed. The health department sent a letter to all hospitals operating Sexual Assault Forensic Exam programs, providing the new claims address and details on the transition. Moving the program will allow the state to receive a 60 percent federal match on reimbursement for these exams. For questions regarding the transition or procedures for processing claims, contact Sarah Myers, Special Assistant, at 410-697-9330 or Sarah.Myers@maryland.gov .

MAHCE to Hold Course on Gender Identity

The Maryland Association of Health Care Executives will host a free course on Gender Identity in Health Care on August 2 at the National Institutes of Health. A panel of experts will discuss several topics, including: defining important LGBTQ concepts and terms; understanding the relationship between stigma and LGBTQ health disparities; how to collect a patient's preferred gender identity; and describing best practices in LGBTQ health related to effective communication, data collection, and creating an inclusive environment. Click here to learn more and register.

Simple Guide to Solving Performance Problems

In his seminal work years ago, Robert Mager developed an algorithm for helping managers figure out the basic cause of staff performance problems. Using that algorithm, he was able to identify potential solutions to these problems based on the original cause.

Prime Offers Solutions for Market Analyses, Intelligence and Forecasting

Prime, through its affiliation with Vizient, offers solutions through Sg2, a leading provider of health care market intelligence, strategic analytics and clinical consulting services.

AHA Urges CMS to Expand Access to Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP Data

AHA this week urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand the data it makes available through standard analytic files and to share currently available data on a timelier basis.