THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 18, 2008
President Dick DePatie opened meeting with 110 members present. Membership is 481. Dick called members attention to picture in this week's NC ADVERTISER that included 5 SMC members (all teaching and donating services at Lapham).
Minister of Health Bob Moylan reported that Jack Montmeat and Tucker Scott are patients at Norwalk Hospital. Joe Elmlinger at home recovering from hernia surgery at Greenwich Hospital.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Jim Davis asked SMC members that are not sure if they have paid this year's dues to check with him.-- Letter will be mailed to "past due" members shortly.-- SMC Board mtg. 01-25/8:30am.-- CIA's Wayne Simmons speaking on Terrorism at The Navy League's mtg./Stamford Gov't Center 01-24th. --Next week's speaker is Dianne Wittry, Norwalk Symphony Orchestra Director.
ACTIVITIES: Bridge, Paddle, Racquetball as usual.-- 4F's lunch at DiNardo's/ Scott's Corner, Fri/25th--Photographers meet Tue at Lapham/1:30pm--Skyblazers meet at Lapham/Feb 25th/9am, Chefs meet next on Feb. 21st.
COUTH: New York Philharmonic/Tavern on the Green trip departs 8AM!!! (Wed/30th -tickets available (see Tracy Mackle)-No February trip-The "Lord of the Dance" and dinner in Stamford is on March 14th-Tickets are $85.00.
HUMORIST: Jim Schlumpf brought on the laughs with joke about young couple living in small apartment. For privacy, each time the couple had sex, they gave their 8 yr old son a Popsicle and asked him to report from their balcony on neighborhood activities. one afternoon, the parents sat up in bed after hearing him report that the neighbors were having sex (when questioned, the son shouted back that John Conners was outside on his balcony with popsicle).
SPEAKER: VP Roger Rothballer introduced Geoffrey F. Cole, president and CEO of Norwalk Hospital.Mr. Cole was CEO of Emerson Hospital/Concord, MA prior to joining Norwalk in 2004. There is critical movement to improve safety and quality in hospitals, due to report published 7yrs ago showing app. 100K people died annually due to preventable errors in hospitals. Today, Norwalk has jumped to the forefront. Some of its advantages: close to being "paperless" due to medical records now on computers (old-fashioned medical records would "scare you to death"). All doctors, nurses, labs can see records. Bar-coding allows safety (patients receive correct drugs/dosages). Multi-disciplinary rounds conducted daily, where doctors get together to talk about the patients. Norwalk has third lowest mortality rate in CT (second only to Yale and Middlesex). Its "Rapid Response Team" for general floors (not ICU) is on 24/7 call for earliest signs of deterioration. Norwalk received coveted Beacon Award for its critical care. The "Hospitalists" doctors who specialize in care of patients who are overnight inside the hospital, has resulted in superior communication with the family physician (about 1/2 of medical admissions are now managed by these doctors). Mr. Cole proud that Norwalk using best demonstrated practices from around the country, not just 70% of time. Norwalk working hard to humanize the hospital. It's not just about the technical care; plans underway to redesign patient's floor and reduce noise, clutter, and overhead speakers. Public areas will be changed. Some families will have opportunity to cook simple foods in patient's room. Cardiac Services will be expanded…the $5M gift received from former M/Lynch chairman recently, helped build state of the art cardiac cat lab and will also help expedite approval for emergency angioplasty soon for all patients arriving at ER. (N.H.plans to seek approval again in few years to perform cardiac surgery (lost out to Stamford recently). There has been sharp decline in heart disease and people are living longer. As a result, hospitals are treating other kinds of peripheral vascular issues, related to arms, legs. Norwalk has new team of vascular surgeons... Norwalk is only hospital in CT to have full time neo-natal intensive care doctor. A Muscular Skeletal Diseases Center, combining orthopedics, rheumatology, and sports medicine doctors, about to open. Cancer Services are growing; several young doctors recently added. Alliances with YALE Hospital are continuing benefit. Norwalk Hospital moving out geographically to help persons in towns, inside and outside Norwalk. Large center will be built in Georgetown...and it is looking east (Westport-Fairfield areas)..many things can be done on outside patient basis ... enters will provide great improvement at NH'S ER, as one of the major problems is the non-insured/underinsured going to ER instead of a doctor's office. Norwalk is working with local doctors and is not seeking to compete with local practices. However, Mr. Cole noted Stamford Hospital has made attempt to "cherry pick" insured folks in Norwalk proper. Norwalk made strong case in front of zoning board this month (against Stamford Hospital). Going into other towns for the "insured only" will destabilize hospitals in any area. All hospitals depend on 10 patients to help subsidize one non-insured. Regarding hospital competition, there are no written rules. Mr. Cole mentioned Norwalk doctors do not seek to control their patient's choice of hospitals. Staph infection is major concern for all hospitals and the single most impt thing is hand washing. PURELL dispensers are being placed everywhere, for visitors and staff---and, the #1 cause of death in hospitals remains pneumonia.
Bob Williams, Asst. Secretary