News

The Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) announces the open appointment for one member actively engaged in the practice of professional nursing, licensed in Minnesota. 

The Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) announces the open appointment for one member actively engaged in the practice of professional nursing, licensed in Minnesota. 

Nearly 40 hospitals and long-term care settings across Minnesota earned a shout out from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for contributing to antibiotic stewardship efforts beyond their walls. 

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the Minnesota food code will no longer require nail brushes at handwashing sinks. Also, heated-air and air-knife hand dryers are now allowed at handwashing sinks in the kitchen. 

The Saint Paul City Council last week approved a $15 minimum wage ordinance that will be phased in at different levels over a period of three to eight years, beginning in 2020, depending on the size of the business. 

Home Care and Assisted Living providers are encouraged to participate in the next Home Care Matters webinar on Nov. 28 from 10-11:30 a.m. to learn more about infection control and receive an update from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) on regulatory issues.  

Elderly Waiver providers are encouraged to participate in a Dec. 11 webinar to learn more on the EW Residential Services tool. 

The new food code that takes effect Jan. 1 will require retail food establishments that serve or sell raw or undercooked animal food will need to use a consumer advisory. Minnesota food code specifies how to inform consumers of potential health risks from eating raw or undercooked animal food:  

Is your work place safe?  Are you OSHA compliant? Through the free Workplace Safety Consultation service from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, improve their safety management systems and even apply for a safety grant of up to $10,000 to abate safety hazards.  

Nursing Assistant Training programs in Minnesota each offer their own unique Train the Trainer programs, requiring the RN to take the training that is associated with the curriculum they are preparing to teach. The OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training program offers its own unique, online and on-demand Train the Trainer program. OnTrack RN Trainers DO NOT take the MNSCU training.  

For the first time since 1998, Minnesota will have a new statewide rule for retail food establishment operations, including Food and Beverage Licensees operating in Senior Care and Housing Settings. The new code requirements for retail food establishments will be effective on Jan. 1, 2019. Over the next few months, the Food Safety Partnership of Minnesota will be your source to learn about:  

The Minnesota food code effective Jan. 1, 2019 includes the new term: highly susceptible population. The term identifies both who they are and where they are. A highly susceptible population means persons who are more likely than others in the general population to experience foodborne disease because they are:  

Food and beverage licensees must employ a Certified Food Protection Manager under the revised food code. This position is currently known as the Certified Food Manager. While the requirements remain similar, members should be aware and ready to comply with the changes.

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Workplace Safety Consultation Unit has announced continuation of its safety hazard abatement matching grant program. Employers covered by workers’ compensation insurance, and those approved as self-insured employers, are eligible to apply for safety/health matching grants up to $10,000 to abate safety hazards in their workplace.  

Health care workforce shortage. Competition for wages. Retention issues. Employee morale. These are some of the top regional workforce issues that will be featured at the Northeast Regional Health Care Summit 2 on Nov. 9 from 12:30 – 4 p.m. 

The Minnesota Board on Aging and Minnesota Department of Health hosted a free webinar last week on how section Q of the MDS is used to target state resources towards assisting those nursing home residents who wish to return to a community setting. The webinar and handouts are now available for members to download.

With the start of Medicare open enrollment on Oct. 15, the Senior LinkAge Line is prepared to help Minnesotans navigate significant changes to Medicare plans. Cost Plans, a type of Medicare plan popular in Minnesota, will no longer be available in 66 counties for 2019 due to change in federal law. This means that about 375,000 affected Minnesotans on Medicare will need to change plans. 

Applications for the HCBS Scholarship Grant are due by Friday, Oct. 19. Are you interested in applying? Get more information on how to write a successful application! Click here to listen to a recent webinar and here to access a slide deck from Lina Jau, Grant Manager, and Craig Baarson, Reimbursement Fiscal Analyst, with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). 

Health care workforce shortage. Competition for wages. Retention issues. Employee morale. These are some of the top regional workforce issues that will be the focus on in the Northeast Regional Health Care Summit 2.

Registration is now open for a full-day of regulatory education, designed for care centers, Minnesota Department of Health surveyors, and Ombudsman staff to attend jointly.