Modern Healthcare recognized Tony Denton, senior vice president and chief environmental, social and governance officer, Michigan Medicine, as a 2023 Diversity Leader to Watch on Oct. 16. This year’s Top Diversity Leaders are recognized for their impactful actions promoting equity and inclusion in a changing industry, according to Modern Healthcare. Denton is one of ten healthcare leaders recognized by Modern Healthcare on the list. Denton has been heavily engaged with the MHA, previously serving as MHA Board Chair during the 2022-2023 program year and remains on the MHA Board of Trustees as Past Chair.
Tag: Modern Healthcare
Headline Roundup: Nurse Staffing Legislation & Staffing Shortages
The MHA received media coverage the week of May 8 regarding nurse staffing legislation, healthcare worker shortages, the ending of the COVID-19 public health emergency and more. A joint media statement was published May 11 by the MHA and the Michigan Organization for Nursing Leadership (MONL) immediately following a press conference announcing legislation that would mandate nursing staffing ratios. The statement referenced the potential for the proposed bills to severely harm hospitals and access to important services for patients, if the bills become law.
MHA representatives appearing in published stories include CEO Brian Peters, Executive Vice President Laura Appel and Senior Vice President Sam Watson. MONL President Kim Meeker, RN, BSN, MBA, also appears in a collection of stories on the nurse staffing legislation. Below is a collection of headlines from around the state.
Friday, May 12
- Becker’s Hospital Review: The plan to beat inflation from 64 health system executives
- Gongwer: Pair Of Medical Orgs Push Back On RN Legislation
Thursday, May 11
- MIRS: Bills Limiting Nurses’ Patient Load Opposed by Hospital Association
- Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: Bills would set nurse staffing ratios in Michigan hospitals
- Sinclair Broadcast Group: Reintroduced bills aim to even outpatient assignment load for nurses
- MLive: Nurses say patient limits would improve dangerous hospital conditions
- Michigan Radio: Lawmakers re-introduce bills to set limits on nurse-to-patient ratio
- WLNS-TV: If passed, bill package would create safeguards for Michigan’s nurses
- WNEM-TV: Nurses speak on proposed Safe Patient Care Act
- WDET 101.9FM: Michigan lawmakers, nurses seek more efficient patient assignment limits with proposed bills
- Michigan Business Network: MHA & MONL Issues Joint Statement On Harmful Nursing Legislation Introduced In The Michigan Legislature
Wednesday, May 10
Tuesday, May 9
- Modern Healthcare: Medicaid work requirements plan worries providers
- Bridge: COVID public health emergency ends Thursday, what it means for Michigan
- Michigan Radio: Hospital safety grades declining nationally, Michigan follows the trend
Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact John Karasinski at the MHA.
Crain’s Op-Ed: Hospital financial strain is unsustainable, threatens access to care
Crain’s Detroit Business published an op-ed from MHA CEO Brian Peters Sept. 22 on the unsustainable financial strain currently being experienced by Michigan hospitals and health systems. The op-ed was in response to a Sept. 2 Modern Healthcare article detailing the struggles of hospitals nationwide.
Peters describes the untenable situation where hospitals are experiencing skyrocketing costs combined with stagnant and inadequate reimbursement and staffing challenges. Statewide, Michigan has lost approximately 1,700 staffed hospital beds since 2020 due to lack of available staff. Peters also mentioned the many actions the MHA and member hospitals are taking to address these challenges.
“Multiple factors have contributed to the drain on hospital resources: fewer workers, increasingly sicker patients, and higher costs that cannot keep up with inflation,” said Peters. “According to a new American Hospital Association report, the average length of a hospital stay rose almost 10 percent from 2019 to 2021. Compensation for direct jobs in nursing and residential care rose by about $200 million from 2019 to 2020, but the number of jobs fell by about 11,000. Hospital labor expenses per patient also increased 19 percent. Health care reimbursement is unable to quickly respond to inflation since rates are negotiated in advance, presenting additional financial challenges.