HealthForce Minnesota Partner News
A Message from Diane Dingfelder
In our high tech, fast-paced world, we have come to expect constant transitions and change. It is all around us. This is true of HealthForce Minnesota and of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), too. As most of you probably know, Jane Foote has accepted a position with the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission in Atlanta. Although we miss Jane and her vision, we know that she is taking her leadership skills to a national level, and she will make positive impact.
As I begin the role of interim executive director for HealthForce Minnesota, the institutions of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) are welcoming a new chancellor, Steven J. Rosenstone. I'm excited about the strategic framework Chancellor Rosenstone has identified because I believe HealthForce Minnesota can be a major contributor as a Center of Excellence with a proven track record of transforming education and advancing practice.
Chancellor Rosenstone developed his strategic framework after spending seven-and-a-half months visiting MnSCU campuses and communities across Minnesota. He has identified three major goals:
• Ensure access to an extraordinary education for all Minnesotans
• Be the partner of choice to meet Minnesota's workforce and community needs
• Deliver to students, employers, communities and taxpayers the highest value/most affordable option by designing the MnSCU system of the future
It is encouraging to see how well HealthForce Minnesota is already aligned with the strategic framework of Chancellor Rosenstone. Over the course of the past six years, HealthForce Minnesota and its partners have worked together to help position Minnesota as a leader in the healthcare field. HealthForce Minnesota and its partners have implemented many innovative programs and activities for education and industry, accelerated the redesign and expansion of curriculum, improved programs to meet accreditation and national standards, and served students as they advanced their education to improve their lives and careers.
I am honored to be part of the HealthForce Minnesota leadership team during this time of transition. I have had an opportunity to work with many of you on workforce and economic development initiatives on a regional and state level over the course of my career in higher education and MnSCU. During the interim period, I will continue to serve as the director of Outreach and Continuing Education for Winona State University.
I am eager to connect with HealthForce Minnesota partners, to learn all that I can, to support current initiatives, and to help shape future initiatives. I welcome your thoughts and ideas. Please let me know how we can collaborate, share innovative ideas, and implement successful solutions.
Diane Dingfelder, Ed.D.
Interim Executive Director
HealthForce Minnesota
Creating a Supportive Environment for Everyone
One message attendees at the diversity conference, Inclusivity in Healthcare -- from education to practice, will take away is, it's critical in our lives and in the workplace to create a supportive environment for everyone. "We have to be careful not to call out certain groups, but to be inclusive of all people," said Valerie DeFor, conference chair and director of Statewide Healthcare Education Industry Partnerships.
After participating in the February 2012 conference, "I hope educators and providers will have a better sense of community and ways to create a better workforce," said DeFor. "They'll be given tools to improve campuses and workplaces, make programs more welcoming, revise curriculum and tests so they are non-biased, and connect with resources and expertise throughout Minnesota."
Conference discussions on the importance of diversity in education set the stage for improving diversity in Minnesota's healthcare workforce. Since Minnesota recently received national recognition by Robert Wood Johnson and AARP to become an Action Coalition member, this conference also serves as an opportunity to discuss the diversity goals in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on the Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.
It will be interesting to see what ideas come forward from the conference," said DeFor. This conference builds on the Supporting the Success of Diverse Nursing Students conference held in fall 2009. Recommendations from that conference included several initiatives that are underway including creating tool kits for campuses, the Online Diversity Book Club, and this follow-up conference.
Inclusivity in Healthcare -- from education to practice will be held February 27 at Rauenhorst Hall on the St. Catherine University campus in St. Paul, MN. Registration and additional details will be available soon. Topics will be weighted toward educators, but providers will learn useful tools such as how to improve recruitment of diverse students. After all, what's good for education is good for providers.
Add Clinical Laboratory Science DVD to your Learning Library
Innovative ideas and partnerships are needed to deliver clinical lab experiences and address the shortage of lab professionals across the nation. Check out the clinical laboratory science DVD on how industry and education partners are taking action in Minnesota. The DVD includes two discs--one geared toward students and the other one for provider and industry leaders. To purchase your copy, click here.
Innovation in Aging Showcases Forward Thinking Ideas
Annual Meeting Summary
McKenna Crossing, a beautiful, long-term care facility in Prior Lake, Minn. hosted this year's HealthForce Minnesota annual meeting and also served as an example of how long-term care facilities are evolving. After touring the facility, presentations about the meeting's theme on aging were given by: Aging Services of Minnesota, Care Providers, Geriatric Nursing, Health Exercise Rehabilitative Sciences and The Clinical Coordination Partnership. Judith Ramaley, president of Winona State University, led a strategic discussion focused on partners' priorities for HealthForce Minnesota in the future.
Judith Ramaley and Jane Foote accept a check in their honor for Scrubs Camp scholarships.
Judith and Jane Honored
Judith Ramaley and Jane Foote, former executive director of HealthForce Minnesota, were acknowledged for their leadership to the organization. Ramaley and Foote were each given a pair of scrubs as a keepsake. Also, the Executive Alliance Team showed their appreciation to Foote by presenting her with a crystal gift inscribed with the HealthForce Minnesota motto.
HealthForce Minnesota partners also honored both leaders for their innovative contributions to furthering healthcare education and practice by funding a scholarship on their behalf. The scholarship will be used to cover expenses for multiple students to attend Scrubs Camp in the summer of 2012. The total amount of the scholarship fund as of December 2, 2011 was $2,935.00. Donations are still being accepted.
The Search is on for HOSA Midwinter and Spring Judges
The Search is on for HOSA Midwinter and Spring Judges Sign up now to judge at one of the three Minnesota HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) midwinter competitions. No experience or healthcare certification required for MOST events.
January 4, 2012 West Metro -- Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park
January 5, 2012 East Metro -- Argosy University, Eagan
January 6, 2012 Rochester Midwinter -- Rochester Community and Technical College, Rochester
We need YOU to judge at the 2012 Minnesota HOSA Midwinter competitive events! HOSA needs a minimum of 40 judges for EACH of the two metro midwinter competitive events days. The only events that are judged by a licensed healthcare provider are the skills test for nursing assistant, EMT-First Responder and sports medicine. ANY adult can judge the remainder of the events.
You don’t have to work in healthcare to help! Students compete in events such as written knowledge tests, HOSA Bowl (knowledge bowl type event), creative problem solving, medical photography and more! Midwinter events help prepare students for the state competition in April 2012.
Check out these links below to see where help is needed:
East Metro -- Argosy University, Eagan
Sign up
West Metro -- Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park
Sign up
Minnesota’s high school HOSA student members need YOU to have a successful event!
Contact Us
If you have questions or want to sign up for an event, contact either Sonya McNamara/HealthForce Minnesota at smcnamara@winona.edu or 507.993.6772, or Jodi (Nelsen) Dettmann at Dettmann.Jodi@mayo.edu or 507-538-1000.
To read more about HOSA, please check out www.minnesotahosa.org/welcome-to-mn-hosa
Engage Adults in the Benefits of Attending an Adult Scrubs Camp
Do you know someone who is looking at finding out about a different career path? Is your organization interested in hosting an Adult Scrubs Camp? The Adult Scrubs Camp DVD, Explore Healthcare Careers, is perfect for adults seeking a career in healthcare, or for organizations like Workforce Development or colleges who are interested in sending adults to an Adult Scrubs Camp or hosting one. To purchase your copy, contact us at 507-280-5034.
Healthcare Education Industry Partnership Council and Rural Health Advisory Committee Discuss Legislative Issues in Joint Meeting
Healthcare Education Industry Partnership Council and the Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) held a joint meeting on Thursday, December 9. “The two organizations thought it would be beneficial if we met to share ideas and to further address rural healthcare issues across Minnesota,” said Valerie DeFor, director of Statewide Healthcare Education Industry Partnerships. Attended by 60 healthcare leaders and legislative representatives, the meeting focused on legislative issues for the upcoming session and major healthcare workforce issues facing rural Minnesota.
Eight leaders from across the state presented on legislative priorities and issues affecting their associations. All agreed the economy and budget cuts are negatively affecting their organizations and rural Minnesota. Many of the leaders identified the budget cuts to the state’s Medical Education and Research Costs (MERC) funding as a top priority. Others noted the need for licensure efforts in a number of healthcare fields, no further cuts to the mental health system, funding for the Elderly Waiver program, and a strong health insurance exchange that takes into consideration rural Minnesota. Presenters also indicated support for retaining the medical coverage included in Minnesota’s auto insurance coverage regulations.
Each of the presenters also was asked to identify the most pressing workforce need facing their organization. MERC again was mentioned, as was the need for more collaborative care efforts, public program reimbursement to support the workforce, dissemination of career information, clinical site availability for students, cost of living adjustments, and preparation of youth to enter the healthcare fields.
An ongoing concern in rural communities is how difficult it can be to attract and maintain a qualified workforce. Another question raised during the meeting was, “How do we connect young people to the rural areas?” Responses included providing training and clinical internships, growing career and technical education programs, encouraging MnSCU to fund classes and programs within the system that address healthcare workforce needs, and increasing student awareness of their options in the healthcare industry.
See the minutes and handouts from the December meeting at www.healthforceminnesota.org/Partnership-Council/Partnership-Council-Meetings.html
Presenters at the meeting (in alphabetical order) were:
• Sue Abderholden, National Alliance on Mental Illness – Minnesota
• Eric Dick, Minnesota Medical Association
• O. J. Doyle, Minnesota Ambulance Association
• Julie K. Johnson, Minnesota Pharmacists Association
• Mary Krinkie, Minnesota Hospital Association
• Dan Olson, Healthcare Education Industry Partnership Clinical Laboratory Group
• Liz Quam, Minnesota Rural Health Association
• Kari Thurlow, Aging Services of Minnesota
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Partner Stories
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