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Monday,
November 20, 2006
OHA seminar dives into NLRB rulings The recently revised definition of supervisor by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is garnering attention from not only providers, but the public. Hospitals will not want to miss the upcoming OHA seminar, Quick Fix or Quicksand, on Dec. 13 in Columbus to update hospitals on the potential impact of the NLRB’s rulings and other related workforce and labor issues. The seminar will be of interest to nurse executives and managers, chief nursing officers, chief human resources officers, community relations practitioners, legal counsel and other key hospital executives engaged in labor and workforce issues. Visit www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp to register. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org) Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2006 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Tracie
Saelinger
A look
inside Tracie’s nomination –
Tuesday, November 21, 2006 Restoring Medicaid Coverage for Parents Pulls 25,000 from Uninsured Population Securing health care coverage for Ohio’s uninsured population likely will be among the top issues addressed by Ted Strickland as he takes his seat as Ohio’s next governor. The Ohio Family Coverage Coalition, a coalition of OHA and other diverse interest groups working to expand health care coverage for low income families, plans to work with the governor and the legislature to restore Medicaid coverage for parents to 100 percent of the federal poverty level. Though it may not solve the problem of Ohio’s 1.3 million uninsured, it will restore coverage for 25,000 people. The General Assembly enacted the parent coverage expansion as part of welfare reform in 1999 to stabilize low-income families in the workforce. The number of parents qualifying under the expansion reached 75,000, with almost 90 percent of them working. Most eligible parents work at jobs that pay only $6-9 per hour, have no insurance coverage and need to use their discretionary income on other basic necessities. The Ohio Commission to Reform Medicaid, established to recommend structural reforms and cost containment proposals to the General Assembly for consideration in the 2005 budget session, recommended that parent eligibility and services not be reduced. Despite this recommendation, eligibility fell from 100 percent of the federal poverty level to 90 percent. It dropped from a $16,100 annual income to $14,500 for a family of three. As a result, more than 25,000 parents, most of them employed, lost Medicaid coverage to save an estimated $37 million state dollars over the 2006-2007 biennium. With the state fiscal condition much improved, OHA and the coalition contend eligibility should now be restored to 100 percent. For more information, view OHA’s November Healthbeat at www.ohanet.org/healthbeat/2006/1106.htm. Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2006 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Joan Buck, RN Surgical Services Mercy Medical Center Canton
A look inside Joan’s nomination –
Joan Buck,
RN, is a surgical nurse at Mercy Medical Center with 38
years of experience. In addition, she is a founder and
coordinator of the Mercy International Mission Outreach (MIMO).
This program was created to support the physicians and
nurses who donate their time and talent helping others
around the world through medical mission trips. Joan works
year-round to coordinate the donations of supplies,
medications and recycled instruments. Her efforts have
helped people world wide, including the Ukraine, Armenia,
Korea, Dominican Republic, and Honduras. She is a charter
member of the Midwest Medical Mission, a group that travels
yearly to the Dominican Republic. She uses her own funds
and vacation time to participate in and to coordinate this
effort that has helped so many.
Hospitals Urged to Support National Influenza Vaccination Week National Influenza Vaccination Week Nov. 27 through Dec. 3. will raise awareness among hospital associates as well as the general public that vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its potentially severe complications. Each year, between 5 and 20 percent of the population become infected with the influenza virus—more than 200,000 are hospitalized from complications and approximately 36,000 ultimately die. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination for health care workers, children six through 59 months, pregnant women, people older than 50, people of any age with chronic medical conditions and people who live with or care for high-risk individuals. Hospitals are encouraged to continue offering and promoting influenza vaccination throughout the fall and winter months since influenza activity can circulate anytime from November through April. Free materials are available for printing at www.cdc.gov/flu/gallery. (Carol Jacobson, carolj@ohanet.org; Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org) Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2006 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Frankye
Herald, RN, BSN
A look
inside Frankye’s nomination –
Thursday, November 23, 2006 OHA offices are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
OHA offices are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
