Agenda for tonight's Muhlenberg advisory group meeting

Hundreds protested Muhlenberg's closure.

Plainfielders can attend a public meeting of the Muhlenberg Community Advisory Group tonight, the first since its belated inception (Assemblyman Jerry Green and Mayor Robinson-Briggs only established the group nearly a year after the hospital's closure when Commissioner Heather Howard threatened to take the matter into her own hands -- see my report on that here).

Here is tonight's agenda, as distributed in an email blast by Dottie Gutenkauf --

• 7:30: Overview of the CAG’s Purpose, Accomplishments (co-chairs Assemblyman Green & Mayor Robinson-Briggs)
  
  
• 7:45: Overview of Current & Transferred Services—Satellite Emergency Department, Muhlenberg Campus (Adam Beder, Solaris)
  
  
• 8:00: Overview of Services: Plainfield Neighborhood Health Center (Rudine Smith, PNHC)
  
  
• 8:15: Status of Litigation (Ventantonio & Wildenham, attorneys representing Plainfield in the appeal to State Court)
  
  
• 8:30: Community Health Needs Assessment; Information Gathering; Questions & Answers (Eugene Baucum, PNHC)

There has been much discussion and concern over transportation issues (service provided by Solaris, vouchers for transport to Trinitas and the Plainfield Rescue Squad), and they may be raised tonight.

As a refresher, you may want to check out the State's conditions on Muhlenberg's closure which I posted online in June 2008 (see here), recalling the list of key points in the closure --

• COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP: Solaris will set up and appoint co-chairs of an advisory group [since superseded by the CAG] to be in place for at least three years and charged with monitoring the closure process, performance of conditionally mandated services, 'explore options' for reinstatement of medical residency program, and examine the need for any services approved (by the state) for closure;
  
  
• MIDWIFE PROGRAM: Solaris to totally fund a physician to oversee midwifery services at the Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) for at least two years;
  
  
• OUTPATIENT PRIMARY CARE: Solaris shall 'initiate' primary care services 'at Muhlenberg or in conjuncion/agreement with NHC' Mon-Fri, half-day Sat and 2 days with evening hours;
  
  
• TRANSPORTATION: Solaris will be required to operate, at no cost to passengers and without regard to insurance status --
  
  
• SHUTTLE: MRMC to JFK, continuous, Noon-8:30 PM, 7 days/week
• MEDICAL TAXI: Contracted door-to-door service in Muhlenberg's primary and secondary areas, for non-emergent services at JFK (this section does not mention insurance status);
• AMBULANCE: Transport by contracted services from Muhlenberg's satellite ER to area providers, on a 24/7 basis;
• TRINITAS: Solaris to provide SCHEDULED transportation for obstetrics and behavioral health patients and their families at no cost from Muhlenberg's satellite ER to Trinitas (details of pre-natal/obstetric care by Trinitas are not provided other than a general statement of its 'willingness to serve');
  
  
• OUTREACH: An outreach effort, 'especially to the medically indigent', to ensure all residents of the hospital service areas have access to AVAILABLE SERVICES at the two Solaris locations -- JFK and Muhlenberg ER;
  
  
• DaVITA DIALYSIS CENER: Solaris shall not terminate the lease unless DaVita has obtained an alternative site 'within the same service area'; and lastly,
  
  
• COMMUNICATIONS PLAN: Solaris must notify the public with ads in Spanish and English in at least two newspapers, as well as advising impacted hospitals and EMS providers 15 days in advance of closure.

In addition, the state is now recommending the satellite ER be kept open for at least FIVE years (rather than three), and outline detailed transportation concessions proposed to be mandated for five years.

However, there were some weasel words: skipping over exactly to what extent Trinitas is taking on obstetrics patients and compelling midwifery oversight funding for only two years (much else is for five).

Assemblyman Jerry Green originally posted the CAG roster on his blog July 13, 2009 (see here) as follows --

1) Assemblyman Jerry Green
2) Sharon Robinson-Briggs, Mayor
3) Marc Dashield, City Administrator (now presumably Bibi Taylor)
4) Rashid Burney, Council President (now presumably Annie McWilliams)
5) Marc Collicchio, Municipal Health Officer
6) Jenny Purnell, Plainfield Rescue Squad
7) B.J. Fleming, Captain – Plainfield Fire Division (alt. Firefighter Sheldon Green)
8) Troy Edwards, Sgt. – Plainfield Police Division (alt. P.O. William Tyler)
9) Colleen Mahr, Mayor (Fanwood)
10) Carmen Salvarrietta, Community Activist
11) Dottie Gutenkauf, Community Activist
12) Jay Jimenez, St. Peter's University Hospital
13) Lynn Kearny, Rahway Hospital
14) Dennis McGill, MD, Somerset Regional Medical Center

If you are concerned that Solaris is living up to the terms of the Muhlenberg closure agreement or if you have any questions about the process you should be present at tonight's meeting.

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Muhlenberg Community Advisory Group

Tonight, 7:30 PM

Washington Community School
427 Darrow Avenue
(Parking available in the Spooner Avenue lot)

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• Plainfield Today --
• 7/19/2009: "Something odd about upcoming Muhlenberg forum"
• 6/19/2008: "PT exclusive: State's Muhlenberg closure recommendations"

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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