HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-14 Nurse Advocacy Task Force MinutesNurse Advocacy Task Force - Meeting Minutes
Berger Conference Room - Town Hall
November 14, 2006
RECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
REACTING, Pip sS.
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Present: James Bonazoli, Patty Chinetti, Carol Patterson, Anne Marie Bourque, Chuck Robinson
(FINCOM member), Bob LaLacheur, (Reading Finance Director), Dawn Folopoulos (Staff,
Marcia Dresser (Observer), Paula Koppel (Observer).
Meeting was called to order at 5:05 p.m.
Motion by Anne Marie to accept the minutes of November 2, 2006, 2"d by Patty.
Paula reviewed the draft of our presentation to the Board of Selectmen.
Chuck asked what funding structures have been considered outside of 1) contribution from
contractual relationship and 2) Town budget.
3) 5010 - Community Parish Nursing unsuccessfully tried that method; it is a very
lengthy and complex process.
4) Hospital Trust Fund - The commissioners are not interested in expanding current
funding at this time. Additional, HTF is designated for income eligible residents only.
It is our intention that the NA position serve all Reading residents.
5) Job Sharing with Winchester - not interested at this time.
Bob asked if the NA would use their own vehicle with mileage reimbursement or a Town
vehicle. The Task Force will consider this issue at the next meeting.
Chuck asked if the NA would carry their own mal-practice insurance. The Task Force will
include personal mal practice insurance as a requirement in the job description.
Bob asked how the NA would be expected to handle a senior's request to help prepare
medications (pill boxes). The NA would not provide this service. One option would be to
engage a family member to handle this task. If none were available, the senior would be
referred to a healthcare agency for this service.
Bob asked if the NA would be responsible to understand and keep up-to-date with all the
health insurance options for seniors. The NA would not need to know this information as
this responsibility belongs to the Town Social Worker. The Social Worker and the NA will
need to have a strong collaborating relationship.
Anne Marie explained that unlike CPN, the role of the NA is to "help the senior figure out
what they need to do - not necessarily to do it themselves."
Chuck asked about the types of businesses that would receive an RFP for this position. If
we released an RFP, we anticipate receiving applications from private healthcare providers,
elder service agencies, as well as, other types of healthcare providers. Bob suggested that
we should include in the RFP, the option to not select any of the applicants and instead
move forward with hiring a Town employee.
Paula spoke with Maureen Cornier, Clinical Director at Hallmark Health (11H). Initially,
HH was not interested for 2 reasons. I}They lack the financial resources to contribute
towards the NA position and 2) they feel conflicted about providing this service in
Reading but not in the other 21 towns in their catchment area.
Paula was able to convince Maureen to reconsider based on the following points.
o Philosophically the position fits within their mission.
o The potential for case-finding - targeted marketing.
Ownership - As a Town employee whose sole job it is to fill the NA position, we anticipate
more ownership of the program as opposed to a contracted NA who may also work part-
time in another role.
Bob noted that an advantage to the contractual relationship is that if need be it would easier
to exit the relationship then if we are working with a Town employee.
Bob explained that Town budget funding would provide the most solid base for the
program. If we were able to raise other funds, those could go towards increasing current
services or peripheral services. He also explained that we have the option of requesting
funding for FY2007 at the February 2007 Town Meeting.
Next Steps
Dec 5 - Presentation to the Board of Selectmen
NOTE: Meeting ofNov.21 has been rescheduled to Nov. 30
Meeting adjourned at 6:55pm.
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