Breakthrough - MHA | Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Register by Feb. 14 for Virtual MHA Breakthrough

February 10, 2022 Member News

The MHA Breakthrough event will be held virtually from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 17, and registration is encouraged by close of business Feb. 14. For many months, leaders have had limited opportunities to study challenges and learn from each other, and MHA Breakthrough is an easy way to do that. Leaders will discuss a prolonged fourth COVID-19 surge, strategies for managing the politics and misinformation surrounding the virus, and how to re-engage patients and families to combat the increasing rates of violence toward caregivers and volunteers. Keynote speaker Michael Leonard, MD, will share his near-death experience with COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic and how leaders can minimize the permanent effects of the pandemic on care and caregivers. Following Leonard’s presentation, small group conversations led by Michigan healthcare leaders will allow participants to share ideas and strategies for:

COVID-19 long-hauler threats and health policy that the MHA and its members can support to better integrate public health to build a stronger healthcare infrastructure.
Practical, yet more open, visitation policies to rebuild the relationships essential to achieving the best patient outcomes and building a cohesive plan involving family.
Caring for staff who are exhausted by workforce shortages and have been devastated by living with serious illness and loss of life.

More information and registration for the event are available online, and a recent MiCare Champion Cast provides insight on Leonard’s experience. Questions may be directed to Erin Steward at the MHA.

Doctor/Breakthrough Speaker Recalls COVID-19 Hospitalization in MHA Podcast

January 26, 2022October 28, 2022 Member News

The MHA released another episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, which features interviews with healthcare policy experts in Michigan on key issues that impact healthcare and the health of communities.

On this episode, Michael Leonard, MD, partner at Safe & Reliable Healthcare, shares his personal experience with falling severely ill to COVID-19 in 2020. Leonard, who spent a total of 59 days in the hospital, gives a close-up look at what it was like as a tenured physician who was in great health to become a critically ill COVID-19 patient at a time when information was limited and hospitals across the country were overwhelmed. He also addresses some of the common misconceptions that still exist around COVID-19 and the vaccines and how listeners can best support healthcare workers.

Leonard will serve as a keynote speaker at the MHA’s major membership meeting Breakthrough on Feb. 17 and 18. Attendees will examine the evolution of the pandemic and its impact, how MHA members and partners can address the workforce shortage and drive policy and funding on this critical issue, how to lead critical conversations about health equity and use structures already in place to build capacity for advancing equity, and more. A full agenda, registration and additional details can be found on the education and events page.

Safe & Reliable Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing guidance for providers to effectively assess and manage risk and minimize adverse events. Leonard has worked with healthcare organizations nationally and internationally to identify clear, effective and sustainable ways to enhance patient- and family-centered care, improve leadership, develop a culture of safety, work collaboratively, become highly reliable, and create an environment of continuous learning and improvement.

This podcast is part of the statewide #MiCareMatters campaign, launched in 2017, which aims to build a network of citizens — “MiCare Champions” — who will be called upon to engage in advocacy efforts to protect access to affordable healthcare services in Michigan. It is currently available via Spotify, iTunes and SoundCloud.

For more information, visit micarematters.org. Members with questions or who would like to submit ideas for future podcasts should contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Jan. 24, 2022

January 24, 2022October 28, 2022 Monday Report

MICNP and MSMS Address Legislative Policy Panel

The MHA Legislative Policy Panel convened Jan. 19 to develop recommendations for the MHA Board of Trustees on legislative initiatives impacting Michigan hospitals. The meeting was highlighted by presentations from representatives of the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners and the Michigan State Medical Society …

Grants Awarded to Address Substance Use Disorder in Upper Peninsula

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced Jan. 19 that four Upper Peninsula community organizations will receive $490,000 in grant funding to help them address gaps in service for individuals and families facing substance use disorder and to support the development and growth …

Register Now for Jan. 28 Workplace Violence Response Training

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers are five times more likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall. This affects workers not just physically, but mentally, contributing to burnout and worsening turnover. …

MHA Breakthrough Discounts on Registration, Hotel Rates Expire Soon

The MHA’s major membership meeting Breakthrough will be held Feb. 17 and 18 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The early registration discount will expire Jan. 28 and the discounted room rate at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa will expire Jan. 26. …

Nominations Open Through Feb. 18 for MHA Ludwig Community Benefit Award

The valuable role of Michigan hospitals and healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic is unmistakable. Brave personnel throughout these facilities have worked for two years to care for the staggering number of patients coming through their doors. …

Member Forum to Examine MHA Strategic Action Plan

The MHA will host a virtual member forum from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 24 to outline the MHA 2021-2022 program year’s strategic action plan, which the MHA Board of Trustees approved in August. The forum will review the priorities set for the year, progress to date, and the tactics the association will use to …

Trustees Strategic Planning Webinar and New AHA Trustee Insights Available

The webinar Governance Megatrends: What is the Impact on Your Board? Is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 26 and will focus on relevant trends to the board and how to perform a comprehensive review of an existing strategic plan through pandemic-era eyes. Registrants will examine …

Salary.com Offers 2022 Compensation Best Practices E-book

Salary.com, an MHA Endorsed Business Partner, is sharing its “10 Compensation Best Practices” e-book as a resource for hospital leaders to consider in developing compensation strategies. Hospitals and health systems continue to transform, and compensation …

News to Know

The MHA will host a free Lunch and Learn webinar from noon to 12:45 p.m. ET Feb. 1 to provide an update on the latest labor market trends and leading practices to attract and keep valuable employees.
DataGen hosted a national webinar Jan. 19 to review the 2022 Medicare fee-for-service outpatient prospective payment system final rule and hospital impact analysis. A recording from the webinar is available online.

MHA in the News

WXYZ Detroit interviewed MHA CEO Brian Peters Jan. 19 to discuss the impact the COVID-19 surge is having on health systems statewide.

MHA Breakthrough Discounts on Registration, Hotel Rates Expire Soon

January 20, 2022October 28, 2022 Member News

The MHA’s major membership meeting Breakthrough will be held Feb. 17 and 18 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The early registration discount will expire Jan. 28 and the discounted room rate at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa will expire Jan. 26.

Due to the pandemic, hospital and health system leaders have not gathered in person at an MHA major membership meeting in two years, significantly reducing the ability for leaders to openly discuss significant challenges with colleagues. To create a safe meeting for everyone, the MHA has developed a code of conduct, including COVID-19 vaccination verification. The vaccination verification process and other safety measures are detailed online under the Code of Conduct policy.

Register now for Breakthrough, where attendees will examine the evolution of the pandemic and its impact, how MHA members and partners can address the workforce shortage and drive policy and funding on this critical issue, how to lead critical conversations about health equity and use structures already in place to build capacity for advancing equity, and more. A preconference session features tactics to optimize the CEO-board relationship by exploring the primary roles and responsibilities and the attributes and actions credited to a high-functioning governing board.

A full agenda, additional details and sponsors are posted online. Contact Erin Steward at the MHA with questions about Breakthrough.

MHA Monday Report Jan. 17, 2022

January 17, 2022April 29, 2022 Monday Report

Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Week of Jan. 10

The state of Michigan held a press conference Jan. 11 to discuss the rapid rise in case numbers, hospitalizations (especially pediatric hospitalizations) and positivity rates. Speakers urged all residents who are eligible to be both vaccinated and boosted as quickly as possible. Representatives from Children’s Hospital of Michigan joined …

Explore Ways to Advance Health Equity, Workforce and Resilience at Breakthrough

MHA Breakthrough, which will be held in-person Feb. 17 and 18 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa near Traverse City, provides a venue for crucial conversations about the healthcare crisis and ways providers can lead recovery using information …

Application Closing Soon for ED Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Initiative

In partnership with the MHA Keystone Center, the Michigan Opioid Partnership and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has launched an Emergency Department Medication for Opioid Use Disorder …

Active Shooter and Workplace Violence Response Training Essential to Safety

The threat or use of physical force or harassment against a healthcare worker very often results in injury, psychological trauma or stress. Aggressive behavior and violence are becoming a too frequent reality, and healthcare employees need to understand the actions and behaviors needed to protect themselves …

Patient Safety Organization Annual Meeting Will be Held March 9

The 2022 MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization Annual Meeting will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. March 9. Participants will hear about topics related to the intersection of health equity and safety, anticoagulation-related medication events, addressing violence in …

Headline Roundup: Week of Jan. 10 for COVID-19 in Michigan

The MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the vaccine mandate from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services …

The Keckley Report

The PE Playbook: What to Expect in 2022

“Private equity’s impact in healthcare delivery accelerated during the pandemic. Next year, it’s likely to continue with profound implications for traditional providers. The facts are these …”

Paul Keckley, Dec. 20, 2021

News to Know

The MHA will host a free webinar from 1 to 2 p.m. EST Jan. 25 to provide an update on price transparency and the No Surprises Act, including what is now required for compliance.
MHA offices will be closed and no formal meetings will be scheduled Jan. 17 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

MHA Monday Report Jan. 10, 2022

January 10, 2022October 28, 2022 Monday Report

Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Weeks of Dec. 20, Dec. 27 and Jan. 3

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID Data Tracker, the omicron variant of COVID-19 is now the dominant strain across the U.S. The CDC’s model indicates that more than 95% of cases in the nation as of Jan. 1 may be due to omicron. …

Governor Signs Bill to Codify Licensure Exemptions

On Dec. 27, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Senate Bill 759, which codifies a licensure exemption provision that has given hospitals regulatory flexibility to appropriately respond to the pandemic, specifically staffing challenges. …

Pandemic and Workforce Challenges Topics at MHA Breakthrough

At the close of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic situation confronting Michigan hospitals was dire. A prolonged fourth surge drove intensive care unit occupancy rates to nearly 90 percent. Additionally, significant workforce challenges that predated the pandemic became worse and the increasing rates of …

Webinar Will Help Boards Analyze Strategic Plan

Innovation in medicine and service delivery, new competitors, payer upheaval, renewed scrutiny on the social determinants of health, and more are creating instability. There is much work ahead for hospital and health system boards as organizations reassess their strategic plans, community …

Medicaid to Cover Dialysis Services for ESO Beneficiaries in Dialysis Facilities

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently released concurrent proposed and final policies to clarify Medicaid policy for the treatment of End Stage Renal Disease for beneficiaries covered under Medicaid Emergency Services Only. …

Virtual Events Focus on Active Shooter, Workplace Violence Prevention and Response

Aggressive behavior and violence are becoming a too frequent reality, whether it is expressed as violence against caregivers or gun violence in the community. The MHA is holding two virtual events to assist members with these challenges. …

WELL-B Program Starting March 1

Well-being Essentials for Learning Life-Balance is a behavioral health training program for the healthcare workforce that delivers weekly webinars on evidence-based well-being topics, including prevalence and severity of burnout, relationship resilience and being present. Compared to …

Headline Roundup: Weeks of Dec. 20, Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 for COVID-19 in Michigan

The MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the omicron variant and increasing rates of violence against healthcare workers. …

The Keckley Report

The No Surprise Act Means Plenty of Surprises

“Effective last Sunday, the No Surprises Act (NSA) passed by Congress in December 2020, became law. It protects consumers against surprise bills from out-of-network hospitals and physicians which apply to 10 million patient encounters including 1 in 5 emergency room visits and 1 in 6 in-network hospitalizations.”

Paul Keckley, Jan. 3, 2022

News to Know

Hospital staff are encouraged to participate in a national webinar hosted by DataGen to review the Medicare fee-for-service outpatient prospective payment system final rule and impact analysis for calendar year 2022.

Pandemic and Workforce Challenges Topics at MHA Breakthrough

January 6, 2022October 28, 2022 Member News

MHA Breakthrough, scheduled for Feb. 17 and 18 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, is an opportunity for healthcare leaders to openly discuss these significant challenges with colleagues. Through conversations during advisory tables and a town hall, participants will share ideas and strategies for caring for staff who have been seriously wounded by the loss of life and civility; re-engaging patients’ family and relationships essential to decreasing hostility and improving patient outcomes; driving the message that public health is more than infectious diseases and all community stakeholders must be committed to solving health challenges; and allocating funding to assist with healthcare workforce recruitment and retention and with essential partnerships to fill the workforce pipeline.

In conjunction with the conference, an exclusive dinner limited to hospital CEOs has been scheduled to talk to MHA leaders about how the MHA can assist with the challenges facing their organizations. Seating for the dinner is limited and reservations will be secured on a first-come, first-served basis. The dinner will be held the evening prior to the conference, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 16, in the Aerie restaurant at the resort. Reservations should be made by contacting Erica Leyko at the MHA no later than Feb. 4.

Breakthrough will be in-person and vaccination will be required. Details surrounding the vaccination verification process will be available soon. Registration is open, a full agenda is online, and sponsorship is available through Jan. 12. Questions about the event should be directed to Erin Steward at the MHA.

MHA Monday Report Dec. 20, 2021

December 20, 2021January 23, 2023 Monday Report

Combating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Week of Dec. 13

A full year after COVID-19 vaccines were made available in the U.S., the coronavirus continues to sicken and kill people, with nationwide deaths from the illness surpassing 800,000. As demonstrated in a collection of headlines, Michigan’s hospitals are being stretched to treat COVID-19 patients across …

Michigan House Passes Healthcare Workforce Funding Bill

The Michigan House of Representatives passed Dec. 14 House Bill 5523, a $1 billion COVID-19 supplemental funding bill that includes $300 million for recruiting and retaining healthcare workers. The appropriation is a direct result of MHA advocacy efforts regarding the dire situation of hospitals confronting staff …

Bill to Codify Licensure Exemptions Awaits Governor’s Signature

The full House passed Senate Bill (SB) 759 Dec. 14 and it now awaits the governor’s signature. Introduced by Sen. Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington) and supported by the MHA, SB 759 would codify a provision that has given hospitals flexibility to appropriately respond to the pandemic; however, the …

Advocacy Continues to Defend Healthcare from Harmful Federal Policies

President Joe Biden Dec. 10 signed legislation to postpone several proposed cuts in Medicare rates recently approved by Congress. The MHA and the American Hospital Association had urged lawmakers to delay the cuts that would have taken effect Jan. 1 due to …

Discuss Approaches to Pandemic, Workforce Challenges at MHA Breakthrough

In a recent video message, MHA CEO Brian Peters shared his thoughts about the MHA’s commitment to helping hospitals and health systems deal with the effects of the pandemic and the value of convening in person to study challenges, learn from

COVID-19 Impact on Strategic Planning Focus of Webinar

Hospital and health system boards will face challenges as the world transitions from a multiyear pandemic to confronting an endemic disease. The industry is experiencing instability and near-constant change: innovation in medicine and service delivery, new competitors, payer upheaval, renewed scrutiny on …

Two-part Webinar Will Review Challenging Accreditation Standards Jan. 13

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other regulatory agencies are continually revising requirements that result in changes to The Joint Commission (TJC) standards. In addition, there are problematic areas that are commonly reviewed on TJC surveys that require additional education and …

MHA Creates COVID-19 Social Media Toolkit for Hospitals

As hospitals and health systems across Michigan continue communication efforts around COVID-19 and the importance of getting vaccinated this winter season, the MHA has developed a downloadable social media toolkit with posts and graphics for healthcare organizations to share across digital …

Recording Available of Event Outlining Collection of SOGI Data Best Practices

MHA members were among those who virtually attended the webinar Collection of Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Data Best Practices for the Acute Care Setting. The event was hosted Nov. 10 by the Michigan Public Health Institute, the Michigan State University Institute for Health Policy, the MHA …

Mental Health and Resilience for Health Care Workers During the Holidays

Mental health is central to everything. This is a definitive statement because it is so true. Mental health is central to our quality of life, relationships, work experience and even participation in the economy. Many people take it for granted, but if there is any benefit to the strain of the past twenty months, it is that it …

Trustee Insights Highlights Crisis Standards of Care, Community Investment

The latest edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association, is now available. This month’s issue features an article on crisis standards of care. In this severe pandemic, one of the most challenging demands that many hospitals may face is …

Headline Roundup: Week of Dec. 13 for COVID-19 in Michigan

The MHA has been actively fielding and responding to media requests related to the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and workforce sustainability challenges. …

The Keckley Report

Inflation and Healthcare: Prices Matter

“Medical care services- one of two components of the Medical Care Index in the United States- increased 2.1% for the 12 months ending November 2021, after rising 3.2% in 2020 and 5.1% in 2019 over the same time period …

“A one-month or one-year look-back period doesn’t tell the full story for healthcare.”

Paul Keckley, Dec. 13, 2021

Discuss Approaches to Pandemic, Workforce Challenges at MHA Breakthrough

December 16, 2021October 28, 2022 Member News

In a recent video message, MHA CEO Brian Peters shared his thoughts about the MHA’s commitment to helping hospitals and health systems deal with the effects of the pandemic and the value of convening in person to study challenges, learn from each other and build a greater capacity to evolve.

During MHA Breakthrough, scheduled for Feb. 17 and 18 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, attendees will openly discuss several topics, including significant and radical changes in healthcare driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders will discuss and share how to care for staff who have been heavily impacted by patient deaths, tactics to re-engage patients’ family and relationships essential to decreasing hostility and improving patient outcomes, and how to drive the message that public health is more than infectious diseases so that state and community leaders recognize why their commitment is critical to solving health challenges.

Breakthrough also focuses on health equity and the disparities resulting from unconscious bias and racism, as well as how to engage managers and teams in every step of the diversity, equity and inclusion journey. Breakthrough speaker Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins, PhD, is one of the most impactful individuals working to eliminate racial disparities in America. At this event, he will share how to practice equity, reduce disparities and lead critical conversations about health equity. Beth Washington, vice president of Community Health, Equity, and Inclusion at Bronson Healthcare Group, will share how the system is using structures already in place to build capacity for advancing equity.

Breakthrough will be in-person and vaccination will be required. Details surrounding the vaccination verification process will be available soon. Registration is open, a full agenda is online and sponsorship is available through Jan. 12. For more information, contact Erin Steward at the MHA.

Webinars Focus on Improving Emotional Health and Rural Healthcare

July 8, 2021October 27, 2022 Member News

The final two webinars in an ongoing series on leadership approaches designed to assist with post-pandemic strategic planning are scheduled for July 15 and Aug. 19 from noon to 1 p.m.

Offered July 15, Leading your Team and Culture Past the Collective COVID-19 PTSD to an Emotionally Healthy Workplace will describe how to lead through post-traumatic stress disorder following the height of the pandemic. Nicole Lipkin, faculty for the webinar, has worked with the American Academy of Osteopathic Surgeons and global companies like Honda and Visa. She will outline behaviors and practices that increase organizational and individual resilience and emotional sustainability.

Rural Healthcare Delivery in Recovery, offered Aug. 19, will be presented by Benjamin Anderson, former CEO of Kearny County Hospital, Lakin, KS, and faculty during the 2018 MHA Breakthrough. Anderson will explain how he and the leadership team transformed rural healthcare through a mission-driven approach to recruiting physicians to underserved areas and patient-centered care.

Participants may earn up to one American College of Healthcare Executives Qualified Education Hour for each of the remaining three sessions of the series toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives designation.

Members can register for a single webinar for $50, and a health system can register for an unlimited number of logins to a single webinar for a flat-rate fee of $200. A recording of the June 17 webinar on supply chain excellence is available through July 17 for participants in the session. Participants in the July 15 and Aug. 19 webinars will have access to those recordings for four weeks following each webinar. Questions about the webinar series should be directed to Erin Steward at the MHA.