Quality and Safety – Staffing

03.18.2019  | Hospitals on Board With 3.1% Benchmark – With Caveats
The Health Policy Commission in coming months is scheduled to decide on whether the state’s healthcare cost growth benchmark – currently set at 3.1% – should remain at that level.
01.21.2019  | New Study Makes Recommendations to Address Clinician Burnout
A new paper released last week has raised the alarm on the pervasive problem of physician burnout.
12.17.2018  | Staffing Data for Every Hospital Unit is Easily Available
The PatientCareLink website now contains the budgeted staffing plans for nearly every unit of each hospital in Massachusetts for FY 2019.
12.03.2018  | Webinar Provides Up-Close Look at Violence and Violence Prevention
Recently, a national webinar hosted by the AHA’s Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET) featured MHA and Harrington Healthcare System’s Elise Wilson, R.N., who was violently attacked while caring for a patient.
11.12.2018  | Question 1 Defeated; Focus Returns to Host of Issues
By a 70-30 vote, Massachusetts communities in last week’s election rejected ballot Question 1.
11.05.2018  | Dozens of Reasons to Oppose Question 1 (And We Could Have Added More)
Care is fluid and ever-changing and should not be determined by a rigid number arrived at through popular vote. Vote NO on 1.
10.29.2018  | Concern from Pioneer Institute’s Archambault
The Pioneer Institute’s senior fellow on health care policy says Question 1 will adversely affect community hospitals outside of the Boston area.
10.29.2018  | At Southcoast, RNs, Health Centers, Political Leaders Oppose 1
Southcoast Health brought together nursing, business, health, and political leaders to show the community’s widespread opposition to Question 1.
10.29.2018  | Progressive Healthcare Minds Cast Doubt on 1
A powerful argument against Question 1 was offered last week in CommonWealth magazine in a jointly signed opinion piece from Paul Hattis and John McDonough.
10.29.2018  | Health Care For All and Health Law Advocates on Ballot Question 1
Health Care For All and Health Law Advocates on October 24 released a statement regarding Question 1.
10.29.2018  | Globe Editorializes Against Question 1
Last week, The Boston Globe weighed in on Question 1 to urge a NO vote.
10.29.2018  | Former Hospital CEO Explains Care Team Dynamics
Former Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CEO Paul Levy describes the often overlooked issue of how entire teams actually deliver care in a hospital unit.
10.22.2018  | Wall Street Journal Weighs in on Question 1
The Wall Street Journal last Thursday penned an editorial entitled: “Bad Bedside Manner in Massachusetts.”
10.22.2018  | Gov. Baker Says Question 1 Will Harm Massachusetts Healthcare
Governor Charlie Baker has announced that he will vote NO on Question 1.
10.22.2018  | Big Union Withholds MNA Ballot Endorsement
The union that represents many members of that non-RN workforce – (SEIU) – said last week it is staying out of the Question 1 debate and is not endorsing either side.
10.22.2018  | HPC Impartial Review of Mandated Ratios Paints Bleak Picture
The state’s HPC devoted part of its two-day cost trend hearing last week to the Question 1 ballot issue, adding new insight into the staffing mandate’s costs, and more.
10.22.2018  | Independent Poll: Nurses Split on Q1; MNA Poll Off by 40%
Recent independent polling from WBUR has finally punctured the MNA’s claim that nearly all nurses support the ballot question.
10.22.2018  | Behavioral Health is at Risk from Question 1
Behavioral beds will close if Question 1 passes and there are not enough RNs available to fulfill the staffing mandates.
10.15.2018  | ED Doctors and Nurses and EMTs Slam Question 1
Emergency Department (ED) wait times will go up and care will be compromised if Question 1 passes.
10.15.2018  | The List of Question 1 Opponents Grows
The list of important healthcare entities opposing Question 1 continues to grow as the November 6 Election Day nears.

Resources

Click on the links below for easy access to important information related to state healthcare issues and advocacy.
Visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts websites below to find information on legislative hearings and other meetings of interest to the healthcare community.
To guide your navigation of the legislative process and assist your advocacy efforts, please visit the following state websites:
MHA has also developed the following documents for your information and benefit: