MINUTES OF THE
DUKES COUNTY HEALTH COUNCIL
Regular Meeting of September 20, 2001
I certify, that to the best of my ability to record and recall, these are the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Dukes County Health Council held on
September 20, 2001.
Meeting called to order at 8:10 a.m.
Members Present:
*Ex Officio
Cynthia Mitchell, Chairman Jacque Cage
Murray Frank Patty Begley
Chris Knowles Sarah Isenberg
Carol Borer* Kathy Logue
Jane Cleare Kathleen Rose
Arthur Wortzel Ned Robinson-Lynch
Sarah Kuh * Kevin Burchill
Sharon Clauss-Zanger Else Membreno
Lorna Andrade Fred Rundlet
Peter Strock Tad Crawford
Also Present: Marsha Smolev, Nancy Kasen (JSI), Joyce Steward, Pat
Fairchild (JSI), Ilene Klein, Charles Silberstein
Absent:
Matt Poole Marguerite Bergstrom*
Elizabeth Norcross Karen Kukolich
Dennis Hoak Cathy Brennan
Maureen Kelly Les Holcomb
Michele Lazerow Sandra Lothrop*
Katharine Colon Bob Sawyer
Chairman Mitchell opened the meeting by asking for a moment of silence in respect for recent tragedy in New York. Council members took some time to voice their feelings about the events of September 11th.
Chairman Mitchell asked that voting on the Minutes be deferred until the next meeting. She reminded the Council about the meeting on October 4th with Tom Wolf.
Tad Crawford distributed the Treasurer’s Report and noted that accounts were fully reconciled with the County after the year-end report. He also mentioned that the State Budget had not yet been passed, so the County still did not have an approved Budget. Ned Robinson-Lynch Moved that the Treasurer’s Report be Accepted. Kathy Logue Seconded the Motion. The vote to Accept the Report was Unanimous.
Sarah Kuh distributed the Access Program data summary for FY2001 and reported that she received 40 responses from flyers sent to families of school children. Murray Frank said that each completed encounter at the VHCAP cost approximately $100/person.
Murray Frank gave the Funding and Data Report stating that UMASS Medical School was considering sending residents to work a family practice rotation on the Vineyard.
Jane Cleare reported that the Chronic Illness Advisory Board met on 9/19/01 for the first time. On October 11, this Board will have its first working meeting. Chairman Mitchell explained that the members who are not currently Health Council members, will need to be appointed by the County Commissioners and sworn in by Joe Sollitto. She also noted that meetings need to be posted and minutes need to be taken.
Jacque Cage reported on the Geriatric Assessment and Geriatric Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committees, and mentioned that the Committees are looking at the fact that some people are assessed over and over, and some people are skipped over. Cynthia Mitchell read the list of people on the Geriatric Assessment Committee. Arthur Wortzel Moved to Accept the list of members. Chris Knowles Seconded the Motion that passed Unanimously. Chris Knowles Moved to Accept the list of names for the Geriatric Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee. Arthur Wortzel Seconded the Motion. The vote to pass the Motion was Unanimous. Cynthia Mitchell said she would get the list of names and addresses and forward them to the County.
Murray Frank reported on the Prevention and Wellness Committee that is presently working on a booklet to be distributed. The booklet will explain availability of different health services, such as where and how and when to get flu shots. Murray Frank also mentioned that handbooks have been ordered from Healthwise in Idaho. These handbooks promote self care and self empowerment. $10,000 is coming from the Hospital for this project, $2000 from the Foundation for Island Health, and $5000 from the Lighthouse Alliance. Sarah Kuh asked that an attempt be made to have copies of the handbook in Portuguese. Sarah Isenberg asked that these booklets address the issue of exercise availability.
Ned Robinson-Lynch asked that the Minutes reflect our desire to get the book translated into Portuguese.
There was some discussion about the process that the Martha’s Vineyard Commission is currently taking to develop a list of indicators for sustainability. These indicators also pertain to the Healthy Communities. Chairman Mitchell asked if anyone wanted to join this effort.
Cynthia Mitchell reported that she, Murray Frank, Pat Fairchild, Nancy Kasen, and Nancy Turnbull met with Blue Cross and Harvard Pilgrim about Insurance partnerships, and felt the Neighborhood Health Plan (Harvard Pilgrim) was a natural match for the Island Health Plan.
Pat Fairchild introduced the Rural Health Grant and described two options:
Community Services led agency focus on health promotion, disease prevention, case funding (less on primary care)
Focus on nurse practitioner and primary care…no lead agency yet
Discussion followed. Cynthia Mitchell said that there are other ways to fund these options and suggested funding from municipal budgets – town line items.
Ned Robinson-Lynch said that MVCS would not choose to be the lead agency for option 2, that the financial risk was too great and he did not want to compete for primary care. Kevin Burchill asked about the $30,000 overhead allocation that MVCS would charge to do option 1. Ned Robinson-Lynch said it would be 15% and that would cover general administrative costs. Fred Rundlet said he was not sure the community had a real handle on what the need was. Kevin Burchill suggested passing this cycle, an option Chairman Mitchell had mentioned since she was not sure the Health Council was ready to decide. Members nodded their heads in agreement. Cynthia Mitchell said she would conclude that there won’t be an application this round.
Cynthia Mitchell Moved that the Health Council support looking for funding for the project option 1 describes through local funding. Chris Knowles Seconded the Motion. Cynthia Mitchell reiterated that there can be two funding sources, town operating budgets, and the $500,000 from the Intermunicipal Agreement. The Vote to pass was Unanimous.
Pat Fairchild will email a survey to Council members.
The meeting adjourned at 10:05 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Marsha Smolev
Executive Assistant
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