HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-23 Nurse Advocacy Task Force MinutesRECEIVED
Nurse Advocacy Task Force - Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
' Town Hall, Conference Room READING, MASS.
May 23, 2006
1003 JUN 12 A Il. 42
Present: James Bonazoli (Chairman), Patty Chinetti, Lyn Whyte, Anne Marie Bourque,
Dawn Folopoulos (Staff), Paula Koppel (Observer), Betty Cronin (Observer), Marcia Dresser
(Observer).
James called the meeting to order at 6:20pm
Motion to accept the minutes of May 3, 2006 by Lyn - 2nd by Anne Marie
Tonight the task force will provide the Board of Selectmen with an update about their work.
There was a discussion about which points Anne Marie would cover during this presentation.
The task force will also ask the Board of Selectmen to extend our meetings until Dec. 1, 2006.
It is imperative that a Finn Comm member attend our meetings now that discussions about the
financial aspects of funding a Nurse Advocate have begun.
Marcia has applied to become a member of the task force.
The task force will meet with the Hospital Trust Fund Commissioners on June 15, 2006 to
discuss options for funding the Nurse Advocacy position. It was decided that the following
people would represent the task force during this meeting: James, Dawn, Lyn, and Paula. Anne
Marie will be a backup if one of us is unable to attend.
Preparation for the June 15 meeting with the HTF:
o Nurse Advocate (NA) can provide skilled care at home
o Lyn's experience at Tannerville (senior housing) is that those who have a NA,
Community Parish Nursing at the time, were more likely to call the NA as
opposed to calling local police/fire departments. This will cut down on
unnecessary use of emergency resources.
o help to alleviate fears
o help develop a care plan (i. e., see doctor regularly, taking medication as directed,
etc.)
o Hospital level of care is moving more and more into the home.
o The Federal Government (ie. Medicare) presently has a requirement of a 3 day
hospital stay to be eligible for Medicare paid skilled services in home or nursing
home. The requirement was institutes when a 3 day stay was minimum ...now
they look to move from the expensive acute setting more quickly and are looking
to change the Federal guidelines to move people to other settings more quickly.
So elders will be discharged more quickly, home sooner and sicker.
o . Demonstrate that NA is not a duplication of Reading Response's (RR) nursing services
■ RR nurse currently conducts assessments and reassessments
o Nurse Advocacy fills a gap in service
o These services are needed by our seniors especially the frail.
o These services are not covered by medical insurance.
o Offers some preventative services - not covered by insurance
o NA services will be for seniors and caregivers
o VNA is a business. What they are doing is great but what we really need is a care
coordinator. Benefits of seeing the same nurse all the time. Can more easily identify
seniors at risk.
o Almost'/2 of all Hospitalizations are a result of medication errors. (Anne Marie)
o Handouts to bring: job description; survey highlights; information from the Fire Chief to
support the idea that unnecessary calls to 911 have decreased (Lynn); written financial
request to the HTF.
o Discuss what we feel the Hospital Trust Fund was set up to accomplish.
o We believe it was the intent of the donors to take care of Reading's seniors. NA
is a proactive approach to medical needs.
o Eligibility: Reading resident age 60 and over.
o No fee
o A fee would create a disincentive to accept help.
o Less administration costs. No billing.
o We would like to ask the Hospital Trust Fund to consider funding a Nurse
Advocacy position as outlined before you to address the needs of frails elders.
Meeting adjourn 8:15pm
Next meeting: June 8`1' - 6pm Community Conference Room-Town Hall