HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-03 Nurse Advocacy Task Force Minutes`~ECEI~ED
Nurse Advocacy Task Force - Meeting MingjW CLERK
Town Hall, Berger Conference RoomREp03 G, € ASS-
May 3, 2006
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Present: James Bonazoli (Chairman), Carol Patterson, Patty Chinetti, Dawn Folopoulos (Staff),
Paula Koppel (Observer), Betty Cronin (Observer), Marcia Dresser (Observer).
James called the meeting to order at 6:39pm
Motion to accept the minutes of April 19, 2006 by Carol - 2nd by Patty
Debriefing: James' presentation to Town Meeting
During the budget talks James mentioned to Town Meeting Members that the Nurse
Advocacy position could change the budget.
Paula suggested the Nurse Advocate focus partly on teaching caregivers.
Paula shared a quote from an article Q: What Scares Doctors? A: Being a Patient from the
May 1, 2006 edition of Time magazine.
This is why doctors are reluctant to be hands-off when it comes to a loved one's
care. Until proper safeguards are built into the system, what a patient needs most,
many doctors agree, is a sentinel someone to take notice, be an advocate, ask
questions. Now that the family doctor has been squeezed out of that role,
someone else has to step in. But even a doctor - family member may not be able
to counter the complexity of the system.
Hospital Trust Fund
Request for Proposals are due by May 5, 2006 at 11am.
Task Force agreed that we should ask for a meeting with the Hospital Trust Fund
Commissioners to explain what the Nurse Advocacy position is about and to discuss the
possibility of funding. Perhaps the Nurse Advocacy position could be incorporated into a
service that the Hospital Trust Fund is already supporting. Dawn will arrange the
meeting. Optimally, at least James, Dawn, Lynn and Paula should be present.
Reading Response and VNA of Middlesex East would be a logical agency to approach if
we seek to contract out for Nurse Advocacy services.
Patty suggested that if the Hospital Trust Fund doesn't fund the Nurse Advocate position,
perhaps we should approach new businesses for financial support. James explained the idea of
sustainable funding.
Meeting adjourn 7:40pm
Next meeting: May 23rd - 6pm Conference Room-Town Hall
Presentation to the Board of Selectmen to follow