Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-09 Hospital Development Commitee Minutesf E0 Hospital Development Committee Meeting CLERK February 9, 2005 . C MASS. 005 14AIR 23 P 4* 30 The meeting convened at 7.30 p.m. in the Lower Level Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Bruce Cerullo, Vice Chairman Nelson Burbank, Members John Daly, Bob LeLacheur, George Hines and Colleen Seferian. Also present were Dorothy Kelley-Flynn and Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner. On motion by Burbank seconded by Daly, the Minutes of the meeting of January 26, 2005, were approved, as submitted, by a vote of 6-0-0. Chairman Bruce Cerullo noted that he had reported to the Board of Selectmen the progress to date. Summarization included a determination that construction of a conventional hospital is not permitted, and that the committee would look at the options of some alternative bricks and mortar development or other options. The Board of Selectmen was appreciative of the work that the Committee had done to determine the viability of a hospital and supportive of the direction of the Committee. Vice Chairman Nelson Burbank related a situation where he had lunch with a person who was born in 1916. They had lived in North Reading and came to Reading to have their children at the Reading Home for the Aged. At that time, clearly Reading was a commercial hub for the region and also a location where people went for medical attention. The Town Manager indicated that the question that had risen at the last meeting was whether or not you could have an emergency room without having beds available. Both hospitals opined that you could not but it was suggested that we confirm this with the State. The Town Manager talked with Ray Cryan from the Massachusetts Health Department, and Mr. Cryan agreed that it was not permitted and he would send an e-mail confirming this. Chairman Bruce Cerullo noted that Bob Cummings of the Trust Fund Commissioners will come in and share his thoughts with the Committee. He was not available for tonight. Chairman Cerullo asked what bricks and mortars options may be possible, and he asked Dorothy Kelley- Flynn to comment. Ms. Kelley-Flynn went through the material that she had submitted by e-mail to the Town Manager and it is in tonight's packet. She has determined from a very cursory basis that Reading is more affluent than the State, that there are no huge gaps in service, and that some of the needs that could be identified are for health education, health promotion and perhaps for asthma prevention. Bob LeLacheur asked if the age distribution in Reading was typical, and Ms. Kelley-Flynn noted that it was. She also noted that 2.6% of residents of the community are below the poverty line. The Town Manager asked if there is information on whether that percentage is spread evenly among all age groups or is focused in one or another age group. Hospital Development Committee Meeting - February 9 2005 - Page 2 The Town Manager noted that if the direction for use of the Trust Funds is a "non bricks and mortar" solution; i.e., if we are to provide programs, then any future cy pres agreement should build into it flexibility so changes can be made as the community changes. Perhaps requiring a health assessment of the community every so often (perhaps every five years), and being able to tailor the programs based on that health assessment will be appropriate. The Town Manager asked Ms. Kelley-Flynn if there is information on substance abuse as a health problem, since there is a sense that this is becoming epidemic in the Middle Schools as well as the High Schools. Bob LeLacheur asked if some parts of the SPED Program could come under this umbrella. Some of the SPED expenses seem to be purely medical. Vice Chairman Nelson Burbank suggested that the financial management of the Trust Fund could be done through the fidelity charitable trust or some other similar program. Chairman Bruce Cerullo indicated that if a hospital can't be built, then should the proceeds of the trust go to the secondary priority of the wills which is medical or hospital service for the needy for the Town of Reading. The issue then is defining "needy" (the Town Manager will come back with some different measures that are currently used). Chairman Cerullo noted that we will need to try to define what the health care needs of the 2.6% below the poverty line are. It is also noted that hospitals do free care, and that some of the health needs in this group may be provided for in that manner. George Hines noted that there is limited need for what the intent of the Trusts were. There have been demographic and economic changes in the community. Perhaps any programmatic things that are put in place would provide that some pay for the services and others who can't afford it, do not pay. Additional development (fund-raising) could be done to increase the trust funds. Vice Chairman Burbank felt that there are needy citizens of the community who we don't know about. One option may be to hire a part-time nurse or other professional to seek out those in the community who are needy. Colleen Seferian felt that we should try to get flexibility on the definition of "needy." The Town Manager noted that he felt that might be hard to get through the courts. Bob LeLacheur felt that if we can't build a hospital in Town, then the whole issue of the trust providing for the needy should be reviewed. Again, the Town Manager felt that the court will probably find that the proceeds need to be focused on the needy. Vice Chairman Burbank asked if we ruled out urgent care. The general consensus was that we haven't ruled it out, although it may wind up not being feasible. The issues that would have to be addressed would be: Is there two acres of town-owned land available the Town Manager feels that there is, and is some kind of an urgent care facility affordable? Hospital Development Committee Meeting - February 9 2005 - Page 3 If it's a modest building of 2,000 square feet and costs are $200 a square foot, then the cost would be about $400,000. The equipment would probably be less than $1 million. The concern could be operating costs how the operating costs of such a facility would somehow need to be met. Chairman Cerullo noted that there are free standing for profit organizations that build urgent facilities/dialysis center/MRI centers, etc. This could be an option. He also noted that if one of the Boston Hospitals decided that they wanted to provide a service in this area, he's willing to bet that the community hospitals in the area might also find it attractive. Vice Chairman Burbank felt that an urgent care facility may not fit the need, and in using the trust funds may wind up in a situation where the Town is building something that someone else should and could build. Bob LeLacheur noted that a client of his entitled Scan working out in the southwest has developed programs that are government funded which provide for services for the needy (often elderly) on a for profit basis. They do things like helping citizens layout their medications for one week, help with shopping and access to medical appointments, etc. The sense is that it is a terrific function and contributes to good health. Community Parish Nursing in Reading does some of this type of thing. The Town's Elder/Human Services Division also does a lot of this kind of work. This may fall in the preventative area of health care. Bob LeLacheur asked if we should be developing a cy press agreement now. The consensus was that it is a little bit premature. We need to have some pretty good idea of what we'd be asking - for before we do that. Vice Chairman Burbank felt that we may have in our grasp the ability to develop a model for the nation in terms of providing for community health. The Town Manager agreed to try to get some information on health assessment some samples and costs. The question was raised as to whether or not there are any descendents of the original donors that would be an easier way to address than any cy pres agreement. The Town Manager will ask Town Counsel. The next meeting will be on March 16, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. That way, Bob LeLacheur and the Town Manager will be able to attend the Finance Committee meeting. On motion by Hines seconded by Burbank, the Hospital Development Committee voted to adiourn their meeting of February 9, 2005 at 8:30 p.m. by a vote of 6-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Se reta