State Supreme Court Recognizes "Loss of Chance" Claim for Medical Malpractice

In an opinion that departs sharply from established precedent, the Minnesota Supreme Court held for the first time on May 31 that a claim for medical malpractice exists if a physician's negligence causes a patient's chance of survival to be reduced.

Call is Out for 2014 Committee Members

The MMA is currently looking for members to serve on its committees in 2014. Nominations are due by July 26.

What do Minnesota Physicians Think of MMA?

Find out what Minnesota physicians think of the MMA and the future of medicine by reviewing the results of the 2013 MMA value/satisfaction survey. The good news is that two-thirds of members see value in what MMA is offering and are satisfied with how we are performing - but there also are several things we could be doing better.

Federal Lawmakers Continue on SGR Repeal Route

On May 28, Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unveiled draft legislation calling for a repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and replacing it with a new fee-for-service system for Medicare physician payments that focuses on improving quality and outcomes through performance measures.

New Study Supports Effective Strategy on MRSA

A study released on May 29 shows that using germ-killing soap and ointment on all intensive-care unit (ICU) patients can reduce bloodstream infections by up to 44 percent and significantly reduce the presence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in ICUs.

Legislators Work to Repeal ICD-10; Physicians Behind on Implementation

With the ICD-10 deadline now 16 months away, many physician practices have a long way to go. A survey of 260 health care organizations this past February found that 75 percent of those polled were just getting started in the implementation process.

Honoring Choices Minnesota Schedules Day-long Conference

Honoring Choices Minnesota will host its fourth annual Sharing the Experience Conference on July 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza Minneapolis.

MMA/TCMS to Hold an HR Lunch and Learn on June 26

Favorite Healthcare Staffing, the exclusive staffing partner for MMA and TCMS through Member Advantage, will host a lunch and learn on June 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MMA office. Staffing topics will include: Dealing with Rising Operating Costs and Electronic Medical Records. For more information or to register, click here.

Forum on Synthetic Drugs to be Held in Duluth

The Lake Superior Medical Society will host a public forum on synthetic drugs on June 24 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Cycle Iron Works, 2920 W. Michigan St., Duluth. The event will include a viewing of "Ground Zero: Duluth's Battle Against Synthetic Drugs" followed by a panel discussion. For more information, call 218-727-3325 or visit the LSMS website.

Save the Date: Physicians Invited to Celebrate the Arts Sept. 19

Minnesota Medicine will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its annual Medical Musings writing contest with a special Hippocrates Cafe program at Mill City Clinic in Minneapolis. The event will take place Sept. 19, the night before the Annual Meeting.

The MMA's legislative team - Dave Renner, director of state and federal legislation, and Eric Dick, manager of state legislative affairs - dissect the recently completed legislative session. The wins. The surprises. And what lies ahead.

Fast-acting treatment

Minnesota's proposed acute stroke system calls on outlying hospitals to become "stroke-ready."