BI Rural Health Center Services

Trish Scott · Post by **Trish Scott** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 9:35 pm

Okay, thanks, Andy! Makes perfect sense!

JFPowers · Post by **JFPowers** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 11:24 pm

I served on this board for the last four years ending in December and when I left at one of the last meetings during my term the board was given advice by a consultant that it hired to use this forum to communicate to the public. The Medical center is heavily supported by your tax dollars. As a board member I was always concerned about fiscal accountability and serving the needs of the public. Specifically I attempted to address concerns as to why the center continues to be underutilized by the community. Being in a health care practice for over 35 years I have come to understand that listening to your clients, and with a special ear to those who are willing to share their less that positive criticism can in the end lead to much better service for the public at large. I left the board mainly because I was never given the opportunity to really delve into the inner workings of the patient care situation, so therefore I decided to use my abilities elsewhere where I felt more appreciated.

If you are seriously interested in how the med center is run and how it is very heavily supported with your tax dollars here are the last decades financial audits:

https://www.citizenaudit.org/383299988/ ... 201209.pdf

And look back at some public concerns from 2002 when the center was built, many of which have come true, staff wages have increased despite the fact that usage has declined, from approximately 2700 encounters in the old center to about 1100 last year.

http://www.beaverbeacon.com/2002-12-Dec ... enter.html

I attempted to make this a important priority the whole time I was on the board for client interactions are a benchmark of any health facilities viability long term. The survey done last year was a step in the right direction however I believe that the only place any of the survey results were distributed to the public was in one forum link on this site.

http://www.beaverislandforum.com/viewto ... ght=survey

In my opinion the BIRHC should bend over backwards and make every attempt to use all means to interact with the public that it is designated to serve.

sbsp · Post by **sbsp** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 12:14 am

Jeff -
Excellent post! The people of BI should be ever grateful for your service to the BIRHC board, your health care service to the Island and your transparent honesty with the public.
I hope they extend to you their debt of gratitude on this Forum or when they see you in person.
Let me say "Thank You".

Kirk

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:29 am

from page 31 of the survey done for the Medical Center

Question: "What are the best ways for the Medical Center to notify patients and community members about the services offered at the center?" (select no more than three)

results for year around residents

Other 4%
Church bulletins 3%
Info through the school 6%
Library 11%
Northern Islander 14%
Facebook 15%
Beaver Island News on the Net (web site) 19%
Signs outside of the Health Center 19%
Health Center website 20%
Flyers in store, airports, McDonoughs 24%
The Beaver Beacon 28%
Beaver Island Forum 51 %
Info mailed to my home 51%

Donna Kubic and the BIRHC had better think again about using the Beaver Island forum. These are results from their own survey and they don't seem to want to follow the results. The BI Forum and mailed info seems to be tied for #1

Kendra Vera Thorson · Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:41 pm

Bob those results were also before the new Chamber Forum existed!

E C · Post by **E C** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 1:59 pm

sbsp · Post by **sbsp** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 4:08 pm

I would like to thank Donna, islandnurse, for her response to my questions concerning how the decision to stop using the Beaver Island Forum for Beaver Island Rural Health Center announcements was made. In reading her post and Connie's e-mail here (above, page 1) on the Forum, I took it to imply that the BIRHC board was involved with this decision. Donna assures me that this was her decision to use the Chamber's Message Board and discontinue posting on the Beaver Island Forum which has been used for such posting over the past several years. She stated that the decision as to where to make announcements falls within her job purview and does not need board awareness or any other approval. Reviewing the minutes from the March 21st, BIRHC board meeting, I confirmed that the subject of discontinuing use of the BI Forum because of its political content was never discussed with the board. Donna stated that Connie, after being contacted by Pam Grassmick, contacted her about the decision and then gave her support not to use the BI Forum for any announcements. Connie has been contacted by several Island residents expressing concern over discontinuing use of the BI Forum. For this reason, Connie has agreed to place the discussion of this decision on the BIRHC board agenda for the June meeting.
Again, I would like to thank Donna for her response and outline of the facts that took place in this decision. I also want to make sure that patients of the BIRHC know that the BIRHC board was not involved with this decision at any time but will review it at their June meeting.
I personally, along with others, think the decision was a mistake made in haste without full consideration for Beaver Island patients and others who will be impacted by it. We all have a tendency to make those kinds of decisions without thinking them through so I'm not pointing blame at anyone. I believe the decision was made to punish the Beaver Island Forum for the content of some heated topics that are publicly discussed on the Forum. If so, the punishment was misdirected. The people who are going to suffer and be penalized by this decision are those who read and depend on the BI Forum for the most current and up to date notices. These people will include current and future patients of the BIRHC, the residents and visitors to Beaver Island, healthcare providers who travel to serve the people of Beaver Island and are dependent on people making appointments. Last but not least the Beaver Island Rural Health Center itself will suffer. Many will be negatively impacted as a result of this decision.
I would hope this decision will be reversed before the June board meeting. What harm is there in posting notices on both forums? Doing so can only increase needed patient encounters and relations with the public by BIRHC. If one has the power to make the decision, one has the power to rescind it. If this decision is given to the board to endorse, they need to review the BIRHC mission and intent of the Health Center. They need to discuss before the public, whether this decision to penalize the public, made for personal reasons, fits with the goal of the Health Center.
I would also encourage anyone who disagrees with this decision, to stop all postings of Health Center notices on the Beaver Island Forum, to contact the BIRHC staff and board to express your concerns. If the decision has not been rescinded before the BIRHC board meeting on June 20, go to the open meeting and express your view directly or ask the board for their reasons or justifications for supporting the decision.

Kirk

Jimmy · Post by **Jimmy** » Sun Apr 12, 2015 7:39 am

Keep up the good work, it looks great.

salwag · Post by **salwag** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 7:42 am

Hi - I have been a seasonal visitor since 1997. I keep in touch with Island news from various sources, including Beaver Island Forum and now the COC Message Board.

I am very disappointed that BIRHC has made a decision to not post on the Forum. I have read that the Board will make a final decision in June whether to resume posting or not, but it seems in the mean time that the current decision still stands to not post on the Forum.

My disappointment stems from BIRHC making a political or social stance in a place I believe it should not. I am a nurse, and cannot and would not make a decision to provide helpful information to any of my patients based on my agreeing or disagreeing with one of their family members. Or even if their family member was considered rude to me. By making this decision, it brings BIRHC down in stature, and in the opinions of myself and I believe others as well. I become concerned over how a person would be treated or cared for at the Center if their politics or personality was in disagreement with those working there.

BIRHC needs to take a high road and ignore the postings of a few out of hundreds who read and rely on the Forum for information. Please do not wait until June to reconsider this. Taking the high road and rescinding this decision would raise my opinion and faith in BIRHC.

Perhaps this decision was made by an individual of the Board and does not reflect the opinions and desires of other board members, or hopefully not of the staff. If so, I would be supportive of the medical staff in particular to ensure that information about the Center be available on the Forum immediately for its many readers who live on and visit the Island.

I do intend to post this comment on both the Message Board and Forum.

Thank you so much for reading and considering my comment.

And thank you for the good works and service that BIRHC, its staff and board provide to the Island.
Sally W., Newaygo, MI

Trish Scott · Post by **Trish Scott** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 7:45 am

Sally W. -- Very well said! Thank you for your thoughtful post. I agree with your assessment.

pbona · Post by **pbona** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:56 am

As a Media Specialist, I advise people that you need plenty of information before making decisions. I was recently in need of a pair of glasses. Being in several locations at various times of the year, it is difficult to schedule appointments with health care providers for the short time I am in Petoskey, Kalamazoo, and Florida. In a chance conversation, I found out that optometry services and exams were available through the medical center. Coincidentally, in the same week, I saw Pam's post on this forum. Had I know about this sooner, I would have consolidated my needs in one place and spent my $ supporting the Island's services rather than getting an exam in Kzoo, shopping in Florida, and purchasing a membership to Costco for spectacles. In this age of social media, ubiquitous technology and the new WBVI, it would seem short sighted to hide the Medical Center's services under any basket. I am all for enlightenment.

sbsp · Post by **sbsp** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 10:56 am

I am confident that the messages will be received and thank BIRHC in advance for consideration of the right decision to post HC notices on the BI Forum in the best interest of Beaver Island.

islandnurse · Post by **islandnurse** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 3:21 pm

Since my decision to discontinue posting Health Center news on The Forum, I have heard from individuals who both supported and disagreed with the decision. I have reconsidered the matter. Information regarding medical services will be posted on the Forum and the Message Board. This issue will be reviewed by the Health Center Board at their June 20 meeting. Donna Kubic

Trish Scott · Post by **Trish Scott** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 4:41 pm

Thank you, Donna. Some of us are in the habit of checking the forum for info.

Pam Grassmick · Post by **Pam Grassmick** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 5:18 pm

Thank you, Donna, for reconsidering.

Beaver Island Michigan

BI Rural Health Center Services

Making a spectacle