State Profiles

AL  |  AK  |  AZ  |  AR  |  CO  |  FL  |  HI  |  ID  |  IL  |  IA  |  KS  |  KY
MI  |  MN  |  MS  |  MO  |  MT  |  NC  |  NE  |  NV  |  NM  |  ND  |  OH
PA  |  SD  |  TN  |  TX  |  UT  |  WV  |  WI  |  WY

Minnesota

State Office Director

Mark Schoenbaum
(651) 201-3859
mark.schoenbaum@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Grants Development and Management, Project Management, Policy Research and Analysis, Staff Leadership

State Office Director since 2005

 

Flex Coordinator

Judy Bergh
(651) 201-3843
Judith.bergh@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Grant Writing and Grant Management, Project Management, Health Education in Maternal/ Child Health and Adolescent Health

Flex Coordinator since January 2007

 

Although not all positions are paid directly by Flex dollars, the ORHPC has integrated its programs so that all contribute to the Flex program. Following are specific Flex staff, along with key ORHPC staff who contribute significantly to MN Flex.

Supervisor, Rural Health Planning and Analysis

Jill Myers
(651) 201-3853
jill.myers@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Health Care Consultation, Staff Leadership, Former Flex Program Coordinator

 

Project Consultant

Anne Schloegel
(651) 201-3850
anne.schloegel@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

HIT Loans and Grants

 

Reimbursement Fiscal Analyst

Craig Baarson
(651) 201-3840
craig.baarson@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Reimbursement and Finance

 

Supervisor, Primary Care and Financial Assistance Programs

Doug Benson
(651) 201-3842
doug.benson@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Grant Writing, Management and Coordination

 

Trauma System Coordinator

Tim Held
(651) 201-3868
tim.held@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Trauma System Coordination

 

Trauma system designation coordinator

Chris Ballard
(651) 201-3841
chris.ballard@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Trauma System Designation

 

Senior State Planner

Kristen Tharaldson
(651) 201-3863
Kristen.tharaldson@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Evaluation, Conference Planning, Racial and Geographic Disparities, Research and Policy Analysis

 

Communications Coordinator

MaryAnn Radigan
(651) 201-3855
maryann.radigan@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Communications

 

Office Administrative Assistant

Cindy LaMere
(651) 201-3852
cindy.lamere@state.mn.us

Specialty Areas / Background

Flex Program Support and Grants Management Support

 

Top Three Flex Activities in 2010

  1. Contracting with Stratis Health (QIO) to prepare CAHs to get ready for -mandatory quality reporting under Minnesota’s state health reform law.
  2. Providing approximately $5 million in grants and loans to CAHs and other rural health care organizations.
  3. Designating 79 trauma hospitals in the last three years.

Flex Program Success Story

Minnesota's Flex Program contracted with Stratis Health QIO to work with a group of CAHs to re-administer the AHRQ Rural Organization Safety Culture survey, analyze the data and assist in planning and deploying meaningful interventions. The survey was administered to five hospitals. Four hospitals continued beyond the survey process, with teams attending workshops on "Implementing a Just Culture;" holding conference calls; participating in re-surveys; attending a workshop on implementing Team STEPPS in their hospitals; attending WebEX sessions to discuss survey results and measurements. Among the results: one hospital reported identification and resolution of staffing issues, freeing up RNs to spend more time with patients and increasing staff satisfaction; another showed improvement in their error reporting process and increased comfort level among staff in reporting near misses. All participating hospitals indicated they appreciated the educational opportunities and even in cases where improvement was not dramatic, they reported they had implemented changes that they anticipated would ultimately yield positive results.

Most Significant Achievement

Designating 79 CAHs in Minnesota and supporting them as they become stabilized as hubs of care in their rural communities.

Flex Program Details

Location: Minnesota Department of Health
Number of CAHs: 79
Web site: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/

State Rural Health Plan
Rural Assistance Center State Resources