OHA - Advocacy Report

OHA Mini Residency Program

The OHA Mini Residency Program was created in 1997 in preparation for the imposition of term limits, which were to take place in the year 2000. Term limits would bring an influx of new legislators to the Ohio General Assembly, many of whom would be unfamiliar with the hospitals in their districts and with the issues facing the hospital community as a whole.

The goal of the Mini Residency Program is to help member hospitals improve their relationships with their state senators or representatives and to better educate members of the legislature on how their local hospital operates, what services it provides and the pertinent issues facing hospitals across the state. Of the association’s 175 member hospitals, approximately 7 to 10 hospitals are able to participate in the program each year.

Ray Laughlin, president and CEO of Wayne Hospital, discusses the hospital's latest medical technology with State Representative Keith Faber (R-Greenville).

Mini Residencies are typically held when the General Assembly is in recess and legislators are back home in their districts. It is an ideal time for hospitals to meet with their lawmakers, as they typically have more time to devote to learning about local and complex issues.

OHA’s role in the program is to facilitate. OHA staff identifies key legislators, such as those who sit on the Health, Insurance and Finance committees in the Ohio House and Senate. Staff then identifies hospitals located in the districts of those key legislators and asks that they host the half-day program.

OHA also identifies pertinent legislative issues which hospitals are encouraged to discuss with their legislator to educate him or her on the impact on their local hospitals. Topics have included nurse staffing, the use of mandatory overtime, prompt payment by insurers, trauma/emergency care and patient safety.

The program typically lasts 3 to 4 hours and consists of a hospital tour, a discussion on pertinent issues among the legislator and senior management, and a lunch with hospital personnel, Board members and community leaders.

Find a sample agenda and tips on how to conduct a successful OHA Mini Residency Program.

Hospitals which are interested in participating in the OHA Mini Residency Program should call the OHA State Issues Team at 614-221-7614.