Safe Patient Project

Minnesota

State Disclosure Reports

• Adverse Health Events-10 Year Program Evaluation
• Jan 2014 Adverse Events report
• Minnesota Hospital Quality Report

Consumers Union Documents

• State Medical Error Report Links
  Posted 08/04/14 at 3:55 am

  Reports from the states with laws requiring public reporting of medical errors.

• Televised hearing on MN Gift Ban bill
  Posted 02/19/10 at 1:44 pm

  Minnesota legislative hearing on HF1641 (Liebling)-Gifts from drug or medical device manufacturers or distributors to physicians and formulary committee members banned. House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee.

• State’s request for federal (ARRA) funding of plans to fight hospital acquired infections
  Posted 08/05/09 at 4:51 pm

  Links to state grant submissions from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act stimulus money for hospital-acquired infection plans.

• State Hospital Infection Public Reporting Laws
  Posted 05/15/09 at 4:49 pm

  Summary of state laws hospital infection reporting laws.

• Minnesota: Information you should have before your next doctor visit
  Posted 07/18/03 at 4:54 pm

  Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs identifies the most effective, safest and affordable medicines based on the scientific evidence, not drug company hype. Take these materials to your doctor to discuss which medicines might be right for you, and whether you can save money.

Consumers Union News Releases

• Minnesota Health Policy Committee to Hold Hearing on State’s Hospital Infection Reporting Law
  Posted 08/07/09 at 1:48 pm

  August 10 Hearing to Examine Progress Made Implementing Minnesota’s Law

Blog Posts

• The ties that bind?
  Posted 03/21/07 at 4:08 pm

  Data released from Minnesota has given the public a glimpse of the nature of some doctors’ financial relationships with drug companies.

News Articles

• Woodbury hospital lawsuit pits privacy rights vs. cover-up allegations
  Source: Star Tribune (Sunday January 6, 2013)

  Hospital wanted damaging notes destroyed, ex-worker says.

• Supreme Court to decide whether Duluth doctor gets jury trial
  Source: Duluth News Tribune (Tuesday September 4, 2012)

  The Minnesota Supreme Court heard the case of a Duluth neurologist Tuesday who sued a patient’s son after being criticized on rate-your-doctor websites for his bedside manner.

• New law will reveal more on doctors
  Source: Star Tribune (Saturday May 5, 2012)

  Besides access to more data, patients will get quicker response to complaints. A bill that pushes the state medical board for more accountability and transparency is signed into law.

• Doctor's suit tests limits of online criticism
  Source: Star Tribune (Saturday March 24, 2012)

  Doctor sues unhappy consumer for online defamation, and now the case is pending before the Minnesota Supreme Court.

• Secrecy on medical-device prices hurts buyers, GAO says
  Source: MN Star Tribune (Saturday February 11, 2012)

  The report from the U.S. General Accounting Office — which turned up a difference of more than $8,000 for one cardiac device alone — found that confidentiality clauses in sales contracts keep even the physicians who decide which devices to use in the dark about prices. A study of device charges has been requested by Sen. Max Baucus.

• Number of adverse health events in Minnesota hospitals increases slightly in 2011

  Minnesota’s 2011 Adverse Events Report press release

• The Money Trail: Erik Paulsen gets financial jolt from medical tech industry
  Source: The Minnesota Independent (Friday October 21, 2011)

  “As co-chair of the House Medical Technology Caucus, U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen has battled for the medical devices industry since he took office in 2009. Industry Political Action Committees (PACs) and executives have responded to his advocacy with a deluge of campaign donations, helping to make Paulsen the lead fundraiser in Minnesota’s House delegation.”

• Duluth reporters use malpractice database to track doc’s settlements
  Source: Duluth News Tribune (Wednesday June 15, 2011)

  Two reporters use the National Practitioner Data Bank, a federal database that tracks malpractice cases, to find settlement amounts for medical lawsuits.

• Oversight of doctors fails to alert consumers to those who have been disciplined

  Investigative reporting on problem doctors who slip under the public radar.

• In Texas, former Duluth surgeon may be sanction-free
  Source: Duluth News Tribune (Tuesday May 31, 2011)

  Doctor who was disciplined in Minnesota for allegedly harming patients doesn’t have to comply with MN sanctions in order to keep practicing medicine in another state.

Research and Reports

• Preventing Wrong-Site Surgery in Minnesota: A 5-Year Journey
  Source: Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare (Saturday December 1, 2012)

  Wrong-site surgery procedures in Minnesota are beginning to change practices and outcomes

• Minnesota: Comprehensive Quality Improvement and Payment Reform

  Learn about Minnesota’s efforts to alter its payment system for preventable hospital acquired conditions and events that harm patients.

• Minnesota Health Scores

  Minnesota HealthScores is a non-profit Web site that provides information on the quality of health care in Minnesota and surrounding areas.

• Testimony in support of hospital infection reporting implementation

  Testimony by Jason George, legislative and political organizer for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, before the MN House Health Policy Committee on hospital-acquired infections.

• Patient Safety

  Minnesota releases adverse events report released. The report identifies 27 different “medical errors” (such as operating on the wrong part of the body or wrong patient) and “adverse events” (such as patient falls, suicide, and abduction), it does not include hospital-acquired infections. A new bill filed in the MN legislature (HF 87) will require inclusion of hospital infections in the future.