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Expert Panel Meeting |
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WEST VIRGINIA HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
SUMMARY TOPIC: END OF LIFE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2000 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 NOON WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
PRESENT:
Nancy Tolliver, meeting facilitator, informed the group that the meeting objective was to educate the Health Care Authority/QUAG regarding end of life quality initiatives, to assist the Authority in identifying potential members to assist the HCA in coordinating program structure, and to identify other publicly available reports and outcome data. Nancy Tolliver shared with the group the QUAG Implementation Plan and indicated that the meeting today would fulfill the actions identified in Phase One of the Implementation Plan. (See Website Report) Robert Coffield, Assistant General Counsel, West Virginia Health Care Authority, provided an overview of the HCA's position on the proposed privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. (See Website) Dr. Alvin Moss, Director of Health Ethics and Law at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, presented information to the group on the West Virginia Initiative to Improve End-of-Life Care. Dr. Moss explained that this is a comprehensive statewide initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, aimed at improving all aspects of end-of-life care for the citizens of West Virginia. Dr. Moss informed the group that in 1999 a series of ten community meetings were held throughout the state to determine the values that are important to West Virginians for care at the end-of-life. In addition, a survey was conducted of West Virginia health care professionals to determine attitudes and educational needs related to end-of-life care. (See Website to review these reports) Dr. Sue Warren, Medical Director for Kanawha County Hospice, assisted Dr. Moss, by discussing the survey results and pointing out that most West Virginian's feel that end-of-life care in WV is only fair, and most health care professionals need additional education in this area. (See Website Reports) Dr. Moss indicated that the West Virginia program recently received an additional year of funding from RWJ (approx.) $300,000 to continue and expand the project through December 2001 but emphasized that additional funding sources will need to be identified. Nancy Tolliver discussed with the group the two reports submitted by Dr. Mary Emmett, Camcare Health Education and Research Institute, (See Website) and provided an explanation of the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health's, Healthy People 2010 initiative pertaining to End-of-Life. Dr. Moss indicated that there are 22 other states, participating in the Robert Wood Johnson funded study. Dr. Moss stated that he will attend a meeting in March 2000 where these states will report on their initiatives, and he agreed to provide this information to the QUAG, EOL, workgroup. OTHER COMMENTS OF INTEREST SHARED IN THE MEETING:
West Virginia has the highest rate in the country of people dying in the hospital setting. The numberof hospital beds available is the key indicator as to where people die. The group was asked to recommend experts to assist the QUAG with Phases II through VI of the QUAG Implementation Plan in the end-of life focus area. Dr. Mary Emmett, Camcare Health Education and Research Institute and Dr. Steve Hines, DelMarva Foundation were recommended as experts. Dr. Alvin Moss and Dr. Sue Warren also agreed to serve as consultants for the QUAG 2000 work team. ADJOURNMENT: 11:15 a.m.
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