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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-30 Hospital Development Commitee Minutesi_ i E_ Hospital Development Committee CL`DRK MASS. March 30, 2005 lit0s m'A`{ 19 P 3: 31 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Berger Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Bruce Cerullo, Vice Chairman Nelson Burbank, Committee Members John Daly, Bob LeLacheur, Colleen Seferian and Neil Sullivan. Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Sally Hoyt, Dorothy Kelley-Flynn. On motion by Sullivan seconded by Burbank, the Minutes of March 16, 2005 were approved, as submitted, by a vote 6-0-0. Nelson Burbank introduced Sally Hoyt. He had asked if we are meeting all of the needs for services in the community. He had some discussion with Sally Hoyt on this matter and he asked her to come and talk. Sally introduced herself and her background and experience including 12 years on the Board of Selectmen. She relayed several personal anecdotes that had taken place before she was a Selectman. She was not aware of the trust fund until she became a Selectman. Two of the anecdotes were a widow who at 60 years old had lost her health insurance and deferred seeking medical care. The other was a person who did not know about the trust fund and was not able to secure medical care. She felt that there are many cases in Reading. Particularly difficult were situations where medical insurance was lost. She felt that people don't know about the trust fund. Hospitals do have to take care of people when they are uninsured, and perhaps the cases that she reviewed were not aware of that. Cases were usually women who had lost a spouse, and therefore, their health insurance. Not so often men. She also felt that the trust fund should be permanent to the future of Reading and its residents, and she urged the Committee to think long ranged. Bruce Cerullo reiterated that he had heard three things: 1. There is a need among the elderly. 2. The trust fund should be preserved for the needy of Reading. 3. We need to think long-term. Neil Sullivan noted that companies are dropping health insurance for retirees, and it is going to have an impact on the need for the trust fund for Reading. Bob LeLacheur asked how we communicate the availability of the trust fund. He asked if there are connections with the medical professionals that would help. Nelson Burbank noted that people are proud and they don't want to ask for money. Colleen Seferian noted that she works for the VNA and prescription drugs are a major problem. She does not have cases in Reading. Hospital Development Committee Meeting - March 30 2005 - Page 2 Sally Hoyt noted that Mystic Valley Elder Services is putting together a foundation to help fund unmet needs. Dorothy Kelley-Flynn offered to find a write up for the availability for free care through hospitals. Sally Hoyt noted that people are living longer and are healthier, and sometimes make a choice between prescription drugs and other expenses. They are trying to stretch their prescriptions. She also noted that the Veterans' Administration is an option for those who are qualified. She noted that as President of the Massachusetts Silver Hair Legislator, they are working to get approval for funding more home health care services. Nelson Burbank wondered how the original donors would feel about using their funds to entice an existing institution to come into Reading. Bob LeLacheur noted that there are a lot of "big issues" that may not fall under the purview of this Committee but we should capture these issues anyway. Bruce Cerullo noted that we need to market anything that we are doing. Bob LeLacheur felt as though we should do a targeted marketing. - The Town Manager will get the committee members a copy of the Elder/Human Services Study that was done a couple of years ago as well as a copy of the current "Pleasantries." It was noted that widows are eligible for Master Health and other programs. Nelson Burbank felt that we might need to hire a part-time person to market and go out to the health care providers and the community. The Committee discussed the bricks and mortar issue versus providing services from the trust fund. The Town Manager noted that the Committee may need to prove the case if bricks and mortar solution is not the direction that we are going, because we will eventually need to appear before a Judge and show him that the intent of the donors to build a hospital cannot be met. Bruce Cerullo noted that at the next meeting, we need to be prepared to discuss these issues in depth. He also noted that he had received a call from Mike Saks of Hallmark on March 28, 2005, and Mr. Saks indicated the following: 1. Hallmark is interested in working with the Town of Reading regarding a walk-in clinic or medical offices or diagnostic facility. 2. They are about to do the same kind of facility in Malden. 3. They are happy at the invitation of the Committee to enter into a community planning process. Bob LeLacheur noted that communications need to be developed with the hospitals that we might partner with to outline what it does that we may be looking for. Hospital Development Committee Meeting - March 30, 2005 - Page 3 Bruce Cerullo noted that any of the hospitals may want to use the money for a facility to provide services or to defend their turf. Dorothy Kelley-Flynn felt that the doctors should also be involved in any discussion of a facility. On motion by Seferian seconded by Sullivan, the Hospital Development Committee voted to adiourn their meeting of March 30, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. by a vote of 6-0-0. The next meeting will be on April 27, 2005. Respectfully submitted, ec to