Topic:

Update on Survey Tool

Discussion: Sharon and Zail have scheduled a meeting with Vital Stats/Paul Turner from VPQ to review the ‘Joan Teno’ tool. All hospices except one are using it in VT.  Tool is not location based (hospice, hospital, home care)The validity of the tool needs to be examined. Diana added a mail back function to the tool. Typically has a 20-30% response rate.  Thirty one questions and some demographics on tool.  Asks questions re: pain control, services, advanced directives. Use of hospice volunteers to interview  verses sending out mail/return version? Who is the audience for the results of this survey? AG/Legislators/healthcare services? Excel group is the audience! Purpose: Thumbnail sketch of what dying in VT is like.

Action:

Meeting 4/6/04 to review tool. Identify missing pieces (of care) through survey.  Determine what the group wants the survey tool to do.

Grant Application Process

What does Excel need money for? Answer: Survey.  Per Dr. Niemira the chances of qualifying for the Rallying Points grant (application due 4/24) are next to nil! Better chance of receiving an ‘Opportunity’ grant from Rallying Points. Application deadline is Sept. 2004. Grant should benefit whole group, will need to develop a timeline, goal and budget. Madeline suggested she and Denise contact Rallying points staff to ask for assistance in application process.

Contact Madison-Deanne for state wide guide for grant opportunities.

At June mtg will give direction for grant application  process.

AG Update

Pain Bill voted out of House. Mtg scheduled for 4/13 to work on other priorities. Advanced Directives; DNR, suragacy, Registry, will want to study.  Medical Marijuana tacked onto Advanced Directive bill. Legislature has asked for a complete list of ExCEL members and activity.

4/13 Pain Symptom and Management mtg scheduled.

Use ExCEL mtg as consortium to inform AG office Wendy/Linda.

Lake Morey Event

Diana is designing flyer now; would like it to be two-sided with one side representing ExCEL and the other side Home/Health/Hospice conference. Would like to charge a separate $50.00 fee to attend ExCEL portion. Conference would start with an update on activities that have taken place since Sept. w/Rallying Points. Plan group discussions to generate ideas. VPQ unavailable to attend due to other commitments on those dates.

Diane will speak w/ Connie Coleman and Madeline will speak w/Paul Harrington to ask them to describe the VPQ role w/ExCEL. Will present focus and next steps.

Miscellaneous

H53; is end of life care on the map? It’s important to publish data/measures in the VPQ Quality Report because sometimes data has the ability to impact behavior (e.g., VPQ work on C.Section rate in state had the effect of lowering the rate.)