OM meeting minutes 8/21/13

OM meeting 8/21/13

Attendees: Debra, Bruce, Ben, Bill, Jason, Donna R., Karen A., Leigh, Sue, Wendy, T, Joseph, Terra, David, Tree

Agenda:

Parade: HCAO has signs to share. Karen suggested that we get together a chant. PARADE ROUTE  leaves from 19th Avenue, between Ferry and Patterson Streets.  We are #81, near the end of the marchers, so there will be some waiting time before we get under way.  The Occupy Medical Clinic bus is part of our group, so we will be easy to locate!

Cottage Grove – We have some CG practitioners to observe the clinic this Sunday. Community Sharing may be talked into providing food. We talked about carpooling.

Check signators – Donna and Bill have signed onto the checking account. David had a concern about having too many signers on the account. He suggested that future signers be reviewed via group approved criteria to be sure that the account is in good hands.

Nurse Practitioner on Doctor schedule – NPs will be on medical team/prescribers team.

Who’s driving the bus – Donna is driving the bus on Saturday. Bruce is driving the bus on Sunday.

Mission – Bill wants people to revisit our mission since we have grown so much and added so many people. Dr. David reminded people that we are a political organization that serves as a reminder that we need health care for all. Dr. Leigh would like to see us in different places around the community.

OM/OVE/SLEEPS – Ben and Jason have been at the Free Speech Plaza protest. They need 1st aid services there.

Board Members – We voted, via consensus, to elect Benjamin Hunt as President, Donna Grant as Vice President and Sue Sierralupe as Secretary of the Occupy Medical Board of Directors.

Ambrose $ – Ambrose repaid a debt for a patient related service. Members passed the hat to repay him.

Patient L – Donna R and T discussed allied services to help patient L.

Hose reels – We need a sturdier hose reel. Bill will look around for a few options.

RG article/Sentinel – An article on the Cottage Grove clinic in both papers.

Occupier – Sue suggested that we talk the Occupier volunteers into write about our clinic and our patient’s stories to put on our website.

Picnic – We need 5 spaces at least. Joseph offered to allowed to us us SEIU’s fax machine. Jseph donated his VoIP (voice over internet protocol) box. Basically, internet telephone. Terra is taking it home to figure out how to use it.

Notes Approval – Notes were approved. Bill had a few questions about the notes but he will email his questins to group for us to work out later.

Saturday Market Sept. 15 – ALS is taking over the East Park Blocks so we are allowed to use the West Park Blocks. We consensed to use the West Park Blocks during this time.

HCAO – Sue has been attending Health Care for All Oregon meetings. She suggests that other OM members join her. HCAO provided a space for our bus in the Eugene Celeberation parade this Saturday. Lots of good educatin on the healthcare for all movement there.

Occupy Spokane fundraiser – David Bilsland  from Occupy Spokane, wants to throw a concert for Occupy Eugene and Opportunity Village sometime between Sep. 9 ~ 11. He wants to encourage recruitment and fundraising. He also wants to throw benefits to Camp Cascadia and Dignity Village. As he goes south to San Francisco, he is touring all major Oregon cities.

Mechanic – Marc is a mechanic that has volunteered to check on the bus before our CG trip. This is happening on Thursday. He is donating his time but we need to pay for supplies. Donna and Sue will take care of getting gas for the bus before we go to Cottage Grove.

Receipt for forms – Office Max receipt approved by consensus to be reimbursed to Donna Riddle

Volunteers to move one of Karen’s patients: Karen has a patient who is a vet that needs a little help with moving. Please email Karen if you can help her.

OM meeting Minutes – 8/14/13

Agenda 8/14/13

Attendees: Bill, Ben, Jason, Sue, Donna R., Bruce, Debra, Kate, Barbie, Donna G. ,Joseph

Bus Schedule – Dr Bruce is The Man! All the way to Cottage Grove.

Former meeting note minutes- Approved

Womenspace – We are getting more Womenspace patients. We need to be sure that a SASS trained available to help. We also consensed to let Sue investigate and publicize the untreated Slocum patient.

Parade – Bus is good to drive in the parade. Some one has volunteered to assemble and print out a flyer for the parade about our needs – donations and volunteers

Cottage Grove – Set up carpooling papers. Sue can take a few extra bodies – Ben and Terra plus…? Up to 8 people can get on the bus. Jason and Debra are going thus far.

Intake/HIPAA – Privacy concerns and streamlining intake issues.

Criteria for internet consensus – to be discussed later – We rarely use this forum for consensus. The group will give this item more thought.

Volunteers who are minors- Legal concerns, volunteer placement, Joe offered to ask some council re: this issue, set up tear town and hospitality have been approved with parental consent

Vetting probationary policy – What happens when we have a person who wants to start immediately.

SEIU Picnic – Joe will check to see if they want us or us and the bus. Bus vs tent  Pt care, electricity requirements for bus. Twinkle on bringing one Costco canopy to this function. It is primarily a networking event.

bus drivers-phone list for bus drivers needed

vetting and probationary periods- shadowing personal,  if they have a license we need a copy and they can jump in and shadow, if no license a “crash course” in HIPAA etc., proposal to do an hour to an hour and a half for proposed “crash course”, Twinkle on that for next week

Logistics of setting up, new volunteers orientation and where our veteran volunteers will be during this training. Where to set up

meeting procedure- introduction, familiarity, passing the agenda items paper around for participants to address their current concerns

Suggestions by Ben to have color coordinated name tags in order than new volunteers will be able to easily identify those they can turn to for guidance

scan and fax capabilities- Dr. Bruce concern for fax and scan capabilities, how often do we need fax capabilities, where would the fax machine be located. our demands for faxes have increased with patient load, be mindful of how much we are spending,

Dr. Shifts- We need two docs on at all times, optimally two four hours shifts,

criteria on internet consensus- items that we would not want to have addressed on the internet such as procedural changes, monetary issues, personnel changes, emergency situations such as a dead bus battery, suggestions for  appropriate use of internet consensus of time sensitive item

Patient L -White Bird and Community both help to provide ID, how to help with his chair

OM Meeting Notes 8/7/13

August 7 attendees – Dr. Bruce, Dr. Leigh, Debra, Bill, Cathy, Donna R., Ben, Sofia, Tuck, Jason

Eugene Celebration – August 23-25 We would like to march in the parade. Healthcare for all and CALC are interested in having us join their parade marching event.

Slug Queen- 6pm this Friday. Come support our Slug Queen.

Healthcare for All – Sue spoke to the group. Joseph attended as well

Clinic check in – Intake – Better after Leigh got us forms that we were missing. We need to have phone number on the intake form. Triage – It works well to have more people in Triage than 2. Docs – Dr. Dave would prefer to have a medical aid to fetch patients.

Ben – Barbie will be returning to help Ben. Mental Health – Meeting next month at the beginning of clinic. Peacekeeper – Jason needs more volunteers. He asked a security group if they would be willing to donate some time at OM.

Translator team – Spanish translators are on a schedule now.

Optimally, we have the translator also serve as a medical aid. Not all of our interpreters are going to able to serve as medical aids. We prefer not have family members in with the patient. Tuck would like to have Nelson’s contact information as well.

Cottage Grove – SLMH is hosting our clinic at the end of the month. We are happy that Dr. Bruce is volunteering to drive the bus and to be the doctor at the clinic with Dr. Leigh.

Community Fair – SEIU local 49 – Joseph introduced himself and gave an introduction to the Community Before Profits Picnic Saturday, September 14th on Mohawk across the street from McKenzie-Willamette. This will be chance for showcasing our clinic. They will be asking for medical donations for OM.

Herb Circle – Debra has been organizing herb circle. The first circle went well. Patti was the first teacher. Debra did a doodle poll. The following group will be held on Thursday nights from now on.

OK for office –

Paypal and Amazon – Kitte suggested we have one page open just for donations. Sue will check the account at the end of the month and give a financial report on donations.

Lab – Patient candidate for grant $290. Write patient billing. We need phone number on lab slip.

Website and Facebook page –

Urine dip sticks – Will be provided. Clorox Wipes not to be put in porta-potty.

Needed items – personal hygiene wipes, stethoscopes, paper tape, multivitamins (for all age groups), single use tubes of antibiotic ointment, Nitrile gloves, magnesium, zinc, post-it notes.

OM Meeting 7/31/13

OM meeting 7/31/13

Attendees: Donna R., Arline, Ben, Sue, Jason, Donna G., Bill, Martin

Agenda

Prescription: Donna would like to have contact information for the doctors on the following Monday or Tuesday in case there is a problem with the prescriptions. We need to write patient instructions on chart along with which pharmacy the prescription is being called in at. Please check information that doctor wrote (NPI, phone #).

Bimart: Consensus was achieved to ask if we could have an account open for people to donate to for prescriptions that our allied agencies can not cover.

Paypal: Paypal is on our site now. Hurray! Thanks to Wendy for doing this.

Volunteer coordinator: Sample volunteer coordinator job description: The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for recruiting, training, and evaluating Occupy Medical volunteers. Evaluates volunteer applications and collects copies of  appropriate paperwork for the positions requiring state and federal certification (ie doctor or nurse positions). The volunteer coordinator supports the team leaders for the assignment and ongoing supervision of volunteers; including the maintenance of associated volunteer files. Assists and supports appropriate volunteer orientation and training in conjunction with other team members and program goals. Keep a updated emergency contact information file on each volunteer.

We will evaluate this job description next week. We consensed to bring Jason on as a temporary volunteer coordinator until we have more time to evaluate this job description.

Amazon Wish List: 2 sturdy hose reels should be added to the list. Bill will look into different brands for this item. Consensus to put Amazon Wish List on our web site. Ask Kitte about second Occupy Medical wish list that is on Amazon.

Vaccine Clinic: Good to go. Advertising is on website, FB and Eugene Weekly

Advertising on website/message on voice mail: A company sells medical supplies want to advertising on our web site. We do not have the staff time to follow up on this issue.

Permit: Picking up the permit for August on Friday.

Bus driving: Bill will drive the bus to the clinic and train Arline to drive back. Bill has a copy of the keys.

Check for Sue/another check writer: Consensus achieved to support Sue will notifying the bank that Bill Heyn and Donna Grant are joining Sue to be additional check signers for OM’s account.

Wound care area: We are having a problem with granting enough room for wound care. Hospitality will need to be asked to move into a smaller space so that we can accommodate better patient care. We need to coordinate better communication with hospitality to be sure that the privacy between wound care and hospitality is secure. We need a wound care monitor to secure the equipment.

Wound care: We need to send the wound care and foot care patients through triage first.

Minutes: We consensed to approve the minutes for the last 2 weeks. They will be posted on the web site.

Presbyterian church – Will put our wish list and volunteer list request on their church bulletin.

Occupy Medical in the News

This week, the Eugene Register-Guard published an article featuring OM’s temporary Cottage Grove Clinic. The grin on Sue’s face reflects the excitement we all feel at pioneering another clinic to help our neighbors just south of us. We are grateful to both the Register-Guard for helping us spread the news. http://www.registerguard.com/rg/news/local/30315793-75/medical-clinic-health-occupy-care.html.csp

Occupy Medical also enjoyed marching in the Eugene Celebration Parade Saturday, August 24, 2013. The Register-Guard covered this event as well. Look for the photo of our favorite cowgirl driving the famous white and red mobile clinic through downtown Eugene. http://www.registerguard.com/rg/news/local/30360181-75/eugene-parade-celebration-winner-street.html.csp#slideshow

What Is Occupy Medical Clinic?

By Leigh Saint-Louis, M.D.

Photos provided by Eugene Weekly: http://www.eugeneweekly.com/20130411/lead-story/occupy-medical

When I arrived downtown, at noon on a hot summer’s day, there was already a long line of patients outside. I hit the ground running. Wash my hands, grab my stethoscope, and we’re ready to roll. I’m one of the Occupy Medical Clinic physicians.

Occupy Medical Clinic started as a first-aid station for protesters in October 2011. It grew organically, adapting to local conditions. Every Sunday, it’s constructed anew, in a bus and two large tents. For four hours a week, it provides medical, nursing, and mental-health care, herbal and nutrition therapy, and assistance in navigating the healthcare maze – all free of charge. Periodic dental, vaccination, and veterinary clinics are held. Patients stop in at Hospitality for a cup of tea or a bite to eat while they wait. Ten to fifteen patients will head to the Gorilla Salon for free “hairapy” (hair therapy), a healing modality that restores self-esteem.

It’s not only free of charge. It’s free of judgment. Nobody asks a patient to prove they’re poor enough to qualify. We’re not worried about “free riders.” Many of our patients are unemployed and struggling, with health problems that can’t wait for better times. Many have insurance, but can’t find a primary doctor. Others have insurance and a primary, but can’t get an appointment when they need it. When you need your asthma inhaler or your birth control pills, you can’t wait six weeks for “the next available.”

When I arrived downtown, some of the nurses and mental-health workers were in a “huddle.” Nurse Bill was saying, “If a chart has a sticker on it — any kind of sticker — that patient needs to be fast-tracked, for their safety. They go to the head of the line.” I was glad to see a Medical Translator arrive; we kept her busy. At one point, we chain-translated, from Haitian Creole to French to Spanish to Medical English, and back again.

The unspoken language of physical medicine, of course, is universal. Touch gently, firmly. Unwrap and look closely. Listen carefully, to the breath in and out, to the heart, softly beating. It’s the same for rich and for poor.

A year ago, we took care of 10-20 patients per Sunday clinic. Six months ago, 20-30. Yesterday, we saw 53 patients – a new patient every five minutes on average.

A Nurse Practitioner came to look around, and stayed to work. I gave her a drive-by orientation, in between seeing a Bipolar patient unable to find a primary doctor, and an 8-year-old with acute vomiting and fever. Pertinent questions included: How do you prescribe medicines, without a scrip pad? How do you order labs, when people can’t pay for them? How do you evaluate dental problems, orthopedic injuries, heart murmurs, skin infections — without x-rays, EKG machines, microscopes, or even running water?

You do the best you can – and surprise yourself with your own ingenuity. Many of us rely on medical cellphone apps, and on our small reference library, and on each other.

Since the bus was now full of practitioners, I saw patients outside, on the park benches. None of them minded. I visited with an older man who was sad because he’d lost his hearing. I irrigated his ears with plain water, sitting in a tent with a cool breeze blowing, until he smiled — he could hear again.

On a bench in the shade, a lady wiped away unexpected tears. “My doctor made me have these expensive tests, but then my insurance wouldn’t pay for them. He won’t see me again, until I pay him the last $400. I’m almost out of my blood pressure medicine. I just don’t know what to do.” She smiled, like sunshine breaking through storm clouds, when I gave her a new prescription, with refills.

A young expectant mother dropped by to let us know that the herbs and vitamins we gave her worked. She’s eating full meals again, and gaining weight normally. Several midwives are on our staff, so she can get questions answered every week, if necessary.

A row of people sat in lawn chairs at the Wound Care station, side by side, pants rolled up, feet in tubs of warm soapy water, joking with each other in the shade. Volunteers sat on the pavement in front of them, carefully washing and dressing their wounds. Nurse Donna rode herd on them, in her cowboy hat, boots, and utility belt. Kids ran around, playing nearby. Summer is the best time for outdoor healthcare.

At the end of the day, I asked our new Nurse Practitioner how it went. Her face fairly glowed. “It’s a lot more fun and exciting than my regular job. Where I work, you can only do what the insurance companies say you can, and it’s cold and sterile. Here, we’re doing the work we’re trained to do – really helping people. Why doesn’t everybody want to do this?”

For more information about Occupy Medical Clinic, visit us any Sunday, 12-4 p.m., 8th and Oak Streets in Eugene, Oregon.

Occupy Medical in Cottage Grove

We are showcasing our clinic with the good people in Cottage Grove on August 25! South Lane Mental Health is hosting this event with the hope that it will encourage practitioners in the area to assemble a similar service. We are putting this together as a full, working clinic and we will be seeing patients. All healthcare practitioners are invited to observe the process to get an idea of the viability of a free service in their area.

The Eugene Celebration is preventing us from practicing in our usual spot but look for us back in the Park Blocks on 8th and Oak the following Sunday. Thank you Lane County Mental Health for opening your space so that we can continue to offer healthcare for all!

Donations to OM Are Easier

Thank You for Your Support

We have Paypal now! Occupy Medical has, with the help of Wendy Moore (and her tech sauvie son), a lovely Paypal button that allows people to donate to our cause. All money donated goes directly to patient care for Occupy Medical patients and to promote improving the ailing healthcare system in Oregon.
We are not yet a 501c3 organization. If you have a sizable donation that you would like to get a tax write off for, contact CALC and they will help us get the donation while you get a little relief from the IRS.
Any size of donation truly helps us. Please help us continue our mission of bringing the care back to healthcare.

OM Meeting – 7/24/13

Attendees: Ben, Debra, Pam, Cathy, Dr. Bruce, Sue, Bill, Jason
Agenda:
Weekly herb meeting: Wednesday 2pm, Warehouse is secure, consensus on not paying for keys after all since there is a smaller limit to the amount of people that have copies to the keys than we thought.
Amazon wish list – Kitte put together an Amazon Wish List for OM to survey. It makes it easier for donors to get us items that our teams need to serve our population. The list, so far is based on needs from station request lists. We agreed to review the Amazon Wish List to see how this fits our needs before adding it to our website.
*** OM volunteers: Please go to Amazon Wish Lists and check out Occupy Medical. If there are items that should be added or subtracted from the station that you represent, please send an email to Sue so she can alter it.
Patient H update: August 7th surgery has been tentatively scheduled at OHSU
Hempfest update – CAHOOTS brought us a patient instead of bringing him to the hospital. Shelter Care also sent out a patient to be treated at OM. Thank you card to Susan and husband for water and electricity.
Bus – Susan is on board for driving the bus both ways.
Doctor schedule – Rose Barrington-Schultz NP is a possible new volunteer. We need to recruit more doctors. Some of the doctors have only show up once a month or once a season. Bill volunteered to advertise on Craigs List for Qualified Healthcare Professionals. OM consened on supporting this action.
Occupier article – The Occupier had a number of articles supporting OM. We are particularly pleased to see the feature article on Bruce and Debra. Beautifully written.
vaccine clinic – August 4th Tdap clinic with Lane County Public Health 1-3pm. Publicity help is needed for this event. Let people know that this is the last Tdap to be paid for with the grant.
Cottage Grove – Debra and Sue met with Tom and Valeria from South Lane Mental Health. Invite the folks from SLMH and Community Sharing Program to attend these upcoming clinics. This is a trial run. Publicity could include tv and radio. August 25 is day of the event. Sunday works best because we would have more volunteers, more patients, more observers and more need. OM voted in consensus to have this event on Sunday, August 25th 12-4pm.

OM Meeting – 7/17/13

Attendees – Susan, Mani, Tom, Donna R, Donna G, Karen, Arline, Sue, Dr. Bruce, Debra
Agenda
Hempfest logistics – We need to make an announcement on the Eugene Weekly website that we have a new location. We need to notify the City Streets people of our new location.
Foot Care – We would like to have students help in foot care. This is a place that is very popular.
Heber –
2 missing charts – There are 2 more charts on the bus.
White Bird Dental referrals – We had a patient referred from WBD who needed a controlled substance
Herb meeting – Herb team will be transferring
Lab needs – Lab referrals need Dr. name, NPIs, contact info and lab requests
Cooler for wound care – Bandanas, Sue will bring rolling cooler to ALN, Susan will bring ice bags
Bus driver- next week is Dr. Bruce. Susan volunteered to drive both ways the following Sunday.
SASS – Debra will start her training tomorrow
Consensus – We allowed Sue to write an article on OM for the Eugene Magazine
Moleskin
burn medication – burn ointment
ziplocks
zeasorb
diaper rash cream and powder
tubie grip
staple removal kit
clipboard
bactrim
paper tape
vitamin C
coban for horses is cheaper than for humans
toe nail clippers
magnesium
lavender eo
tea tree eo