Progress Report

The Citizen's Commission on the Future of Health Care in Martin County.

During our first meeting with Children's Services and Martin County Community Services, we were told about an ongoing project to collect data on the current Health Care needs of Martin County's children. We were offered a tour of the project and information on how it is used. Lisa Olds, Executive Director of Martin County's Healthy Start Coalition, offered to arrange it.

After a few inquiries a meeting was scheduled with Alicia Hohsfield Senior WC Advisor, she would explain the project. However after this meeting was scheduled, I got a call from Nicole King. the Executive Director of the Whole Child Connection of Martin County. She proposed that we meet and she could provide me with an overview of the project. Initially I thought this would be a supplemental meeting, but it became clear that this conference would replace the meeting scheduled with Ms. Hohsfield. Ms. King, provided a brief history and the introduction to Martin County's Whole Child Project. www.wholechildmartin.com.

Ms King, explained that the system was launched in 2006. She also outlined her hopes that the system will eventually provide comprehensive information on the health care needs of Martin's children. The website, online since 2006 is slowly accumulating participants. We took a look at the online survey, that makes up the Whole Child Project (data input form) and I shared my perspective as a Web Marketing professional, familiar with the limitations inherent in gathering information online. Online forms collecting contact data for social services and commercial purposes share many of the same constraints. Issues of privacy and question fatigue limit participation. There is a direct proportion between length of a survey, and the number of participants willing to complete it.

NOTE: Registration in this program requires the completion of a comprehensive medical and financial questionnaire. [click here for sample screen captures]

One serious limitation the project suffers, is that they have no budget to promote wider participation. There is no ongoing promotional plan to encourage broader participation. Currently the user-base is quite narrow, and skewed toward economically disadvantaged populations. This makes it's data interesting but not yet as powerful as it might be due to the current limited enrollment.

It seems that since we share a mutual goal to understand the Medical Needs of Martin County we have a mutuality of interests. Maybe we can find a way to support the outreach campaign.

Ms. King and I also discussed some of the other Martin County Health Care facts that have come to our attention in the last few weeks. A few interesting facts; the Medicaid program is broken in Martin County.
I overheard two current Medicaid applicants* discussing their experiences trying to obtain health care through a system in which the "official" access list is so out of date, that no name on it, actually provides service. And the closest doctor still willing to undertake Medicaid services is in Palm Beach County. And he has a waiting list. Ms. King agreed to contribute an essay for the Health Care Guest Column Series planned for the Stuart News. She also had some suggestions for additional Health Care contacts who might also contribute.

Attending a meeting of the Martin County's Future Group**, and heard a presentation by the Firefighters Union, where I learned that Union Firefighters serving in Martin County actually "gave back" a scheduled salary increase last year so that Martin County could buy a new Firetruck and Ambulance. [despite which, Martin County still has no backup Ambulance].

NOTE: Another fact gleaned at that same Future Group meeting, during a recent two day period with one Ambulance out for repair, two regions had to share an ambulance. In addition until just recently, the Fire Rescue staff has been so low, that to attain even minimum state mandated staffing, extensive overtime was required of our Fire rescue personnel.


Updated 4/4/09
Rick Spisak
Co Chair
Citizen's Commission on the Future of Health Care in Martin County


*One of these Medicaid Applicants has agreed to write up their experience for our Health Care Column Series
** Next Meeting 4/16/09