ORO VALLEY ROTARY CLUB
ORO VALLEY ROTARY CLUB
|
Minutes
Call to Order:
Doug HaynesPledge: Tim Ahrens Invocation: Merle Brieland Song: The Star Spangled Banner * * *
We missed you: Bob Barnes, Teree Bergman, Patrick Cunningham , Jim Denny, Jack Evert , Tori Ferrari, Mike Gemma, Ed Goode, Jim Huffer, , Fran Hutchinson, , Mahes Prasad, Bob Schlicting, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK? * * *
Guests: None * * *
Visiting Rotarians:
Al Melvin of the Saddlebrook Club.* * * Announcements: • Monnie announced that the Chamber will be sponsoring a Community Forum next Wednesday evening 5:30-7:00 at St. Marks. Topic is Diet VS Nutrition. RSVP’s please. • Remember & sign up for our Installation Dinner August 19 at Tom DuPlain’s home. . * * *
Program: Today’s program was given by our own Paul Kappleman, CEO of Northwest Hospital, Oro Valley. Paul, a graduate of Tulane University, has been with Norwest Hospitals since 1998 and CEO of the new Hospital since it’s planning stage in 2004. Paul discussed trends & issues facing consumers, Physicians and Hospitals. Some of the highlights: • Since it’s opening, 1 ½ years ago, the North West Hospital, OV, has grown its staff from 300 to 500. 50 new beds and a the fourth floor opening are being planned to meet growing needs. • Trends nationwide are moving toward “Pay for Performance”, being initiated by Medicare. This will be based on a series of protocols for improved outcomes at hospitals. Quality stats will be more available to the public and more patient safety initiatives, such the Rapid Response Team now in place at NorthWest Hospital can be expected. More and more Physician’s are working solely in hospital, without a private practice; there are more women in medicine; new doctors are highly trained in technology and in quality of life issues than ever before. HMO’s are becoming less popular and Insurance Companies are merging. • Technology advances, such as high definition scanners and robotics, continue to reduce the number of invasive surgeries and length of hospital stays. Northwest Hospital OV will be getting a new 3-D CD scanner that will reduce the number of angiogram heart procedures. • Challenges facing hospitals include staffing and shortages of healthcare personnel, particularly in the ER; decreasing reimbursements for costs; growing medical liability costs, keeping up with growing regulations. As consumers we will be paying more health care costs ourselves with increasing deductibles and insurance premiums. Hospitals will be more responsible to patients for cost/billing details. ***
Fines:Natalie Clark opened collections by fining our Visiting Rotarian, Al, for advertising this morning. Happy dollars were contributed by Jacques Gerstenfeld; Tim Ahrens, who had a great time when he and his wife visited Dixie Agnew and her husband in Colorado; and Natalie Clark, just returned from a family reunion at Virginia Beach * * *
Progressive Jackpot: “lucky Vern Bloom” went home with an extra $5.00, but not with the jackpot ****
Rotary International News DISTRICT 5500 AND ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS MESSAGE Mark your calendars for the District 5500 Conference to be held right here in Tucson, Oct. 20-22 at the Holiday Inn Palo Verde. Start planning to visit Salt Lake City next year 2007 for the Rotary International Convention! Be Proud! RI received a United Nations award this June for Exemplary Humanitarian Leadership for its Global Polio Eradication program. |
|