Minnesota Department of Health Seeks Input on Elder Abuse Complaints

Taking another step to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Minnesota’s elder care regulation, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today issued a formal request for information (RFI) seeking stakeholder feedback on specifications and functions of a new electronic case management system to replace the antiquated system currently in use in its Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC).

Posted on the MDH website at Request for Information: Vulnerable Adult Abuse Case Management System (PDF), the RFI was developed in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Minnesota Information Technology Services. The process is designed to generate information that will be used in evaluating and contrasting various private-sector case management systems, potential pricing and possible options. MDH intends to make public the results of the RFI and discuss the findings with legislators prior to selecting any system.

“Minnesotans expect safe, quality care for their loved ones in long-term care settings, and they expect us to hold care providers accountable,” said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “Having a modern, highly functioning case management system in place is an important step toward ensuring that OHFC can do its work more efficiently and effectively.”

The RFI lists several features expected to be part of the new case management system, including:

  *Receiving and coordinating new complaints, including documentation and evidence;
  *Assessing complaints to determine urgency, jurisdiction and need for onsite investigation;
  *Real-time monitoring and updates on the status of each complaint and investigation;
  *Ensuring compliance with all state and federal deadlines;
  *Notification of all parties on complaint status, as permitted by law;
  *Tracking staff workload for future assignments and performance outcomes;
  *Tracking appeals and required activities; and
  *Providing easy access to publicly reported data for trends analysis and prevention.

MDH anticipates responses to the RFI document will come from two general categories: interested stakeholders (including legislators, consumer advocates, long-term care providers and family members) and interested vendors (non-profit and for-profit organizations with experience in design and implementation of case management systems). RFI responses are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 4, 2018. MDH will summarize results and post them publicly to the OHFC Project website later that month.

Source:
Press Release: MDH seeks input on new electronic case management system for elder abuse complaints