The MHA received media coverage the week of Nov. 21 on healthcare workplace violence research and the relationship between hospitals and community mental health organizations.
The Oakland Press published a story Nov. 18 on the new Healthcare Violence Reduction Center at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. The MHA Keystone Center is a founding partner of the center as it seeks to develop strategies to reduce violence, enhance safety and improve patient care.
MHA CEO Brian Peters was interviewed for the story, highlighting the importance of increased penalties for individuals who assault a healthcare worker.
“It occurs in small rural hospitals in the UP to big medical centers and everything in between,” said Peters. “We haven’t signaled to the public that it is not OK,” he said.
Second Wave Media also published an article Nov. 20 on the benefits of collaboration between Michigan hospitals and community mental health agencies.
“In Michigan, our hospital members work with community mental health agencies on a daily basis all the time to make sure that patients that come to the emergency department for behavioral health care are getting the care that they need, where and when they need it,” said Lauren LaPine, senior director of legislative and public policy, MHA.
LaPine discussed a state grant to expand inpatient site capacity statewide and provided examples from several hospitals across the state about how they’re using the funds. She also mentioned Senate Bill 806, which expands the three-hour assessment responsibility by allowing clinically qualified staff to conduct pre-admission screenings for a patient presenting in an emergency department.
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.