HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOA Min 6-5-18 Oshkosh Seniors Center
200 N. Campbell Rd.
Oshkosh,WI 54902
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OSHKOSH COMMITTEE ON AGING (COA) MINUTES
June 5, 2018
A.)Ms. Richey called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.
B.) PRESENT: Lurton Blassingame, Claude Benedict, Judy Richey,Julie Maslowski, Xandy
Kloeckl, Peggy Bellin, Ron Duerkop, Sue Ashton
STAFF: Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager, Bobbie Luft, Office Assistant
EXCUSED:
ABSENT: Deb Allison-Aasby
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
May 1, 2018 minutes, Mr. Duerkop moved to accept the minutes as written, Mr. Benedict
seconded. Motion carried to accept the minutes as written.
D.)Citizens Statements-None—Ms. Richey introduced Tom Eckvall from The Oshkosh
Harold newspaper and Theresa Paulus, representative from the Winnebago County
Health Department.
E.) NEW BUSINESS:
a. Introduction of new committee member; Sue Ashton. Sue was a public health nurse
and worked mostly with the older adult population, she is happy to serve on the
committee.
b. Chuck Hable Battalion Chief of EMS for Oshkosh Fire Department provided a
presentation of the Oshkosh Fired Department (OFD) and it Emergency Medical
Services. Mr. Hable has been with the City for 23 years and believes the OFD is second
to none. He explained he couldn't be prouder to work for anyone else. The OFD was
organized October 17, 1856 and took over the ambulance coverage on May 6, 1976 at 10
pm. The previous ambulance service had wanted revenue from the City and the City
refused, so they closed their doors at 10 pm and handed over the service to the OFD.
The service started out in the back of a station wagon. Mr. Hable explained there are
three levels of training; emergency medical responder (EMR); Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT) and Paramedic. January 1979 OFD teamed up with Mercy Medical
Center and Fox Valley Technical Institute to start training for paramedics. Paramedic
Service started in 1981. He stated Kevin Jerod was one of the first paramedics trained
and will be retiring June 2018 from OFD after 40 years of service. Mr. Hable explained
the staffing; six fires stations strategically located throughout the City; there are 3
primary ambulances with 2 paramedics to each;4 companies/cross —staffed ambulances;
2 quint companies (ladder trucks); 1 rescue truck (tool box, goes to structure fires and
accidents) and 1 Deputy Chief. All fire trucks have a paramedic on it, there is a
minimum of 27 staff on duty and run in shifts of 24 hours on then 48 hours off. He
stated this type of staff model cuts costs by 25%. He explained that the paramedics
work 4 days on ambulance then 4 on fire truck so they get a rotation as 85% of calls are
ambulance service. Oshkosh ambulance coverage includes; City of Oshkosh, City of
Omro, Village of Winneconne, Town of Algoma, Town of Black Wolf, Town of Nekimi,
Town of Omro, Town of Poygan, Town of Rushford and Town of Winneconne. He
explained the code from non-emergency to emergency; A-Adam (non an emergency, no
injuries, may be a fall and needs assistance getting up); B-Boy; C-Charlie; D-David and
E-Edward (example heart attack or drowning). Mr. Hable announced the EMS
Benchmarks: 12 lead EKGs 1998; CPAP 2001; Tiered Training 2002; Priority Dispatch
2003; computer Reporting 2003; ResQ-Trial Study 2004; Rapid Sequence Intubation
2007; Video laryngoscope 2015 and Stroke Destination 2017. He explained for stroke
the key is time, they now have the ability to determine if it is a big stroke to go straight
to Theda Care or St. Elizabeth Hospitals, this has been very successful for the patient.
He stated the oldest person treated was 107 years. Incidents have increased, in 2009
there were 7156 and in 2017 the number was 8867. He explained Paymor Mix; this is
the percentage of people using what type of insurance if any to pay for services.
Commercial insurance is insurance through your place of employment, then there is
Medicaid and Medicare, the remainder is private pay or other which is no insurance
and this makes up for 1/3 of the percentages. Ambulance Services are not revenue
services, it is a needed service. He stated the cost per year is $263,000 for 9 ambulances,
18 paramedics and a mechanic. The first lift assist is free after that there is a charge.
Assisted Living uses ambulances the majority to assist in getting a patient up if they
have fallen. He explained they receive 2, 3, 4 called per day from those facilities. He
explained Medicare pays for approximately 50% of the cost for an ambulance. They
will choose to pay for services upon their discrepancy. He also announced Tim Franz,
Chief of OFD was retiring after 18 years of service. He stated Chief Franz was fantastic
to work for. However;he looks forward to the new Chief, Chief Stanley. Mr.
Blassingame questioned correlation among ambulance service and hospitals. Mr. Hable
explained hospitals hire ambulance service usually for transport. OFD and the
hospitals have mutual agreements, they do not service one hospital more than the other.
Each patient has the right to choose their hospital within reason. Ms. Richey questioned
community paramedicine. Mr. Hable explained the idea for this had started in the east
coast. Paramedics work with hospital staff and go to homes rather than calling for an
ambulance. The paramedic makes sure the patient is taking their medication and helps
with what they can prior to calling for ambulance service. Madison has a few
community paramedics. Funding is very expensive for this service, the approximate
cost for a paramedic to this work is$100,000 with benefits, trying to work with hospitals
to cover the cost. Ms. Richey questioned if the File of Life packets provide good
information to the ambulance service. Mr. Hable explained the packets are very helpful
as long as the information is updated. He suggested using pencil to fill in so changes
can be made easily. Ms. Richey suggested that it would be helpful to fill the form out
on-line. Mr. Hable stated that was a great idea and he will talk to Mr. Holland about it.
Ms. Ashton asked if the Health Department would ever be considered to pair up for
community paramedicine. Mr. Hable stated discussion have been had, there would be
a need to have access to medical records. Mrs. Kloeckl questioned if there is a data base
to keep records of those patients that need assistance. Mr. Hable explained there was
something built into 911. So if a patient has heart disease, that information pops up in
address location so staff is aware of patients with special needs or conditions. Ms.
Richey asked how they determine who or what trucks go to a fire alarm call. Mr. Hable
stated there are national standards as to how many people and what types of trucks go
to a call. He stated a fire doubles in size every 30 seconds.
c. MOTION: Accept Nomination of Officers: Chair-Judy Richey, Nominated by Mr.
Benedict, vice Chair- Ron Duerkop, nominated by Mr. Benedict, Secretary- Xandy
Kloeckl, nominated by Mrs. Bellin (Mr. Blassingame; second, Mr. Benedict) CARRIED:
all in favor
F.) OLD BUSINESS:
a) Strengthen our Partnership with Neighborhood Assoc. and Other Partners-Lurton
Blassingame-Mr. Blassingame met with South Menominee Neighborhood Park
Association on May 10th and attended the Neighborhood Meeting on the 15th. He
explained who the Committee on Aging was and suggested ways to help older adults
together. He stated that the File of Life would be simple information to get out to the
neighborhoods.
b) Improve Access to Affordable Transportation and Delivery Services for Seniors-Judy
Richey- None
c) Create Community Design & Policy that supports an Age Friendly community-Jean
Wollerman- Mrs. Wollerman explained that she is reviewing and will remind older
adults of ordinances that may pertain to them. She announced any lawn that is over 8"
high, the City can come and cut and charge the property owner. She explained the
noise ordinance is from 10pm to 7am without a special permit. All ordinances are on
the City website, under quick links, municipal codes.
d) Improve Communication and Visibility of Available Services to Seniors- Mrs.
Maslowski stated that Jean,Judy and herself met with IT Manager Tony Neumann
regarding social media. She explained the City is redesigning the website, Facebook
will be created and will work with IT on this. Ms. Richey explained website will be
for long term information and Facebook will be for short term information as well as
awareness alerts.
G.)OTHER BUSINESS:
• Ms. Ashton announced heat awareness day is June 6 and the importance of staying hydrated
as people die due to being over heated. She explained a person should put sunscreen on
them insect repellent to keep mosquitos and ticks away;birdbaths should be changed every
three days.
• Mr. Duerkop shared World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Wed.June 13 from 2-3 pm at
Thompson Center on Lourdes, 2331 E Lourdes Dr.,Appleton Wisconsin. To RSVP phone or
call 920 236 1220 or nruedinger@co.winneba og wi.us. He stated Paul Greenwood, Former
San Diego County Prosecutor&Elder Rights Advocacy Hall of Fame Inductee would be the
speaker. He stated there may be transportation from the Oshkosh Seniors Center to the
presentation, if interested check with the Seniors Center front desk. Mrs. Kloeckl asked if
reporting someone would be anonymous. Mr. Duerkop replies yes, it would. He stated there
are$37 billion in scams annually. Mr. Benedict stated there was a nice article written in The
Oshkosh Northwestern last week regarding scams. Ms. Richey explained small cameras are
being promoted state wide to identify elder abuse.
• Mr. Duerkop explained that the grant for Dementia Specialist was successful and Winnebago
County would be receiving this position. He stated the County Board would need to
approve of the position on the 19th of June as well as discuss with Human Services and
Finance Committees.
• Ms. Richey announced the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center (FOSC) would be having
their three annual Food Truck Friday fund raiser;June 15;July 20 and August 17. She
explained the funds raised goes to the Center to support various programs and equipment.
Mrs. Wollerman explained there will be a purchase of three new treadmills with funds from
FOSC.
H.)ADJOURNMENT:
Mrs. Maslowski moved to adjourn, Mr. Benedict seconded, motion carried to adjourn at 9:20
am.
NEXT MEETING:
July 3, 2018
City Hall- room 404- 8 am
Respectfully Submitted,
Bobbie Luft
Office Assistant, Senior Services