Karuk Tribe – Health Board Meeting
May 13, 2010 – Meeting Minutes
Meeting called to order at 3 pm by
Present:
Phil Albers Jr.,
Vice-Chairman
Leeon Hillman, Treasurer
Charron “Sonny” Davis, Member
Alvis “Bud” Johnson, Member
Florence Conrad, Member (late
3:14pm)
Wilverna “Verna” Reece,
Member
Absent:
Florrine Super, Council
Secretary (absent / excused)
Quorum is established.
The
Agenda:
Minute of April 8, 2010:
Sonny motioned and Leeon
seconded to approve the minutes of April 8, 2010, 6 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
Guests:
1.) Colleen Thornton, Two
Feathers Native American Family Services: Video showing!
Tanya Busby introduced
herself from the Office of Violence against Women Program and then introduced
Colleen, noting that she is from Two Feathers Native American Family Services.
This evening they wanted to show a video on Native American history.
At the end of the video,
April noted that she is attempting to complete some education on the program
incorporating this very unique video that will provide much needed education on
the health and wellbeing of Native Americans in accordance with a key
component, their history. The
Pam noted that there are a
lot of videos out there in the public that attempt to explain the trauma on
Native Americans and their health but she feels that this video is specific to
the Karuk community as it covers several programs and times throughout history,
locally. Also, it includes time frames and the community begins to understand
that boarding schools and the trauma that took place weren’t so long ago. April
noted that she will include in the video and pamphlet which will include some
tools from the Karuk Tribe.
Florence motioned and
Verna seconded to support the Behavior Health Program using the video and
related materials to provide training and education on the history of Native
Americans, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Director Reports:
1.) Eric Cutright, IT Director
Eric is present to review his written report with the Board. He listed an
action item that he was going to seek approval for but it is not complete for
presentation at this time.
Eric went on to explain
another problem with the
Another major project that is
underway is the removal of the IT program from IHS T-1 lines to AT&T which
only took nine months. The fastest connections are working well together and
this has allowed the
Mike Edwards commented that
tele-medicine saves funding in the travel line items on travel costs and
provides a lot of services to patients. Suzanna Hardenburger then noted that
she receives funding from the billing aspect for patients being seen onsite
rather than being referred out to another facility and those facilities
generating the billing and payments.
At a recent planning meeting
the Tribal Council approved a broadband support letter, and Eric provided
another similar letter with his Health Board report that he is hoping will be
reviewed by the Council. Also, the three applications that the Tribe supported
made it on
Verna asked when the
Verna Reece motioned and
Bud Johnson seconded to approve Eric’s report, 7 haa, 0 puuhara 0 pupitihara.
2.) Mike Edwards, Director of Children & Family
Services:
Mike is present to review his
written report with the Health Board. He began by noting that he is still
working on how to implement the Title IVE case and he has found that the State
doesn’t think that the Karuk Tribe will have to take the case on, as he
reported previously.
He and his department
continue to work on the department’s patient satisfaction survey to complete
and identify fixes to patient no shows and cancellations.
He is continues to meet with
the TANF program on services that both programs provide.
Lisa Sartuche and Kristen
Aubrey have been hired to fill vacancies within the Health Program. Both are
welcomed additions to the Tribe.
The ICW Committee met on
April 22, 2010. April Attebury and Stephanie Dolan will provide a new
procedures manual for review once it is complete. Both of them questioned why
more cases aren’t transferred to the
There are training reports
from staff that have attended out of the area training attached to Mike’s
report. He attended the supervisors training offered by the Tribe and noted
that it was informational and fun to attend.
He has intervened on two more
ICW cases, bringing that total to 60 cases being handled by himself and
Kimberlee Dodge.
Sonny asked how come there is
no CHR that do home visits to take the blood pressures for the Elders in Yreka.
Phil asked why there aren’t
cases transferred into the
Verna Reece motioned and
3.) Vickie Walden, Dental Office Manager:
No report provided, not
present.
4.)
Lessie is present to provide
her written report with the Board. Lessie provided information on her provider
productivity report that is required by HRSA with a rate of 5% increase each
year through 2012. It appears that the providers are going to reach their goals
if they keep it up.
Lessie then presented an
updated report to the Board. The recruitment for a physician in Yreka is not
going so smooth. She has been in touch with some Locum Tenens to cover the
facility. Amy Coapman has graciously offered to cover the patient care duties
on Monday and Thursday afternoons. Dr. North will come in and Dr. Hanst, former
provider for the Yreka clinic, may cover on Monday’s depending on how the
recruitment moves along. Lessie has provided the Locum Tenens contracts to
Laura to review to ensure coverage and jurisdiction of which states the
physicians are in was reviewed. Lessie would like to have a years worth of
agreements to ensure there is coverage in the event there is a loss of a
provider again, and this will ensure services for the Yreka clinic. Laura
explained that she has had the contracts for two months and has yet to sign off
on them as she recommends that Lessie seek funding from IHS first. The amount
of money attached to having the agreements is pretty large and if there is a
physician hired, she doesn’t want to be locked into an agreement. Dr. Burns would
like to have at minimum a two year commitment if a provider is brought on at
the Yreka clinic; this is something that he is focusing on during recruitment.
Lessie has coverage for the facility right now but she has brought copies of
the agreements for the Council to review so that a determination can be made.
Lessie would like to pick three options and it isn’t prepared for approval now
however she would like to know if this is a direction in which the Council
would like her to spend her time and energy in pursuing.
The Veterans Affairs is
arriving at the Yreka Clinic to attempt an agreement between them and the
facility.
Lessie attended the public
meeting on the KS Wild National Monument with locally and Lessie noted that
after the VA meeting the Council may want to attend a Board of Supervisors
meeting in which the KS Wild folks will be attending as well.
The Self-Governance
Conference was informational and the main thing she got out of it was that they
are going to phase in some health care reform and the year for full reform is
2014. There was funding received that was from data that Amy submits from the
RPMS system.
4. a) Dr. Burns:
Dr. Burns provided an
agreement with the Contra Costra County in Humboldt County for services for the
Orleans facility. For Siskiyou County residents they share an agreement with
FMC for toll free services to patients, for after hours care or on call nurse
advice. For Humboldt County, covering the Orleans patients, a toll free number
will be issued under agreement with Contra Costra County and it will cost $380
a month and $23 per call after the allowed calls have been met for the month.
The information on calls received is reported back to the Tribe quarterly. He
is seeking approval and he is asking that this be provided to the Orleans
facility. He is obtaining the agreements to provide services for the patients,
and the agreement for Siskiyou County has worked out well. The after hours
calling ability also meets HRSA requirements. This will be tabled to Thursday to
allow time for Erin to assign a number to the agreement/contract.
Verna Reece motioned and
Bud Johnson seconded to approve Lessie’s report, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
5.) Daniel Pratt, TANF Director:
Elsa is present to review
Daniel’s report but has no action items. She noted that TANF is operating very
well. She also noted that TANF is looking at possible office space for Yreka
TANF which is near the Yreka Court House.
Florence Conrad motioned
and Leeon Hillman seconded to approve TANF’s report, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
6.) Karen Daniels, DQMCH:
Karen provided a Bi-Annual meeting agenda for the Council to review. She has
also attached her report on ACQI Committee reports.
To Sonny’s question
previously, about CHR services in Yreka, Karen wanted to answer this. Karen
noted that Clarence Barger handles a lot of travels for patients and she has
talked to him about time usage, and Clarence is handling this and addressing
scheduling to provide more services to patients. Karen noted that she is to be
covering and assisting Clarence but she is running pretty thin as well and is
handling several projects not allowing her to assist him. The staff is
operating the best they can but will surely evaluate their time to ensure the
patients and duties of staff are being met.
Phil Albers motioned and
Florence Conrad seconded to approve Karen’s report, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
7.) Chad Tiraterra, Database Administrator:
Chad is present to review his
written report with the Board. Chad provided the monthly summaries and
productivity reports. He has been working really hard on the RPMS database
which is fully operational. He explained that he can now clean up the RPMS
system getting rid of duplicate entries, old fields that were duplicated, and past
entries that are no longer needed but filling the system.
Florence Conrad motioned
and Sonny Davis seconded to approve Chad’s report, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
Non Health Employees:
1.) Sandi Tripp, Land Department
Sandi is present to seek approval
of an action item. She has a modification to contract 08-C-056. Modification #5 to contract 08-C-056 for
$21,260 is necessary for work on Anavkaam project. The project is expected to
begin May 24, 2010 with full completion by August 20, 2010.
Florence Conrad motioned
and Leeon Hillman seconded to approve modification five (5) to contract
08-C-056, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Leeon asked if Sandi is
communicating and discussing the project with the Ambulance crew to ensure that
there is access to the health clinic during the project. Sandi has discussed
this and the construction crew is very ready and prepared for ambulance access
if the need should arise.
2.) Ramona Taylor, DNR:
Ramona has two items to
present. The first item is for Earl which is a master participating agreement,
mainly a framework for his entire Six Rivers road decommissioning work. Having
a master agreement allows for a single agreement per project at a later time,
but an overall agreement approved to work together. It is resolution 10-R-054
accepting the agreement between the Karuk Tribe and the USFS Six Rivers
National Forest dated to December 2010.
Florence Conrad motioned
and Bud Johnson seconded to approve resolution 10-R-054, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
Phil asked where Earl was
when the Council was asking questions as he was here earlier in the day. Ramona
stated that she has an action item to present, and although Earl was here
earlier, she could present it which would allow him to travel back down river as
opposed to being in Happy Camp all day, spending time away from his office.
Ramona then presented another
action item, which is a GAP grant application. This grant opportunity funds
several positions at DNR and is in the amount of $361,694.
Sonny Davis motioned and
Dora Bernal seconded to approve resolution 10-R-052 authorizing submission of a
GAP grant application in the amount of $361,694, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
3.) Rick Hill, KCDC / Grant Writer:
Rick would like approval of
contract 10-C-081 between Resource Management and KCDC for $36,548. This is for
the Head Start remodel project.
Florence Conrad motioned
and Sonny Davis seconded to approve contract 10-C-081, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
4.) Laura Mayton, CFO:
Laura is present tonight to seek approval of several contracts related to a
camp that was put on by a staff member. The Council tabled the request to
closed session.
Laura had another action item
that she then presented. She explained that during a recent wind storm at the Administration
Complex, a staff member’s vehicle was damaged. The lowest quote received was
$989.25 and the highest was $1,000 or higher. Laura is requesting to use
discretionary funding to pay the lowest quote to the staff member and she may
determine if she would like to use her own repair shop or the lowest quote
received.
Florence Conrad motioned
and Phil Albers seconded to approve payment to Dolores Voyles in the amount of
$989.25 from Council Discretionary, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
5.) Laura Olivas, Controller:
Laura Olivas is present
asking the Council to approve distributing addresses from the Enrollment office
to distribute invitations for Babbie Peterson’s upcoming Native American Elders
and Veterans event scheduled for May 28, 2010.
Consensus: to allow the
Enrollment Department to release eligible addresses according to process in
place for distribution.
Closed Session:
Florence Conrad motioned
to provide $350 assistance to Tribal Member #1444 from Third Party... died for
a lack of second.
Consensus: to allow the
dental program to apply for HRSA award; if approved then two staff will travel
to receive the recognition award.
Informational: some
patient complaints were rumored to have been reported and the staff was present
to announce the facts and solutions for better services in similar instances.
Phil Albers motioned and
Dora Bernal seconded to approve contracts 10-C-050, 10-C-051, 10-C-052,
10-C-054, 10-C-055, 10-C-056, 10-C-057, 10-C-058, 10-C-059 and 10-C-60 between
the Karuk Tribe and named individuals on the contracts for $100 each contract,
7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Consensus:
for the CFO to draft a letter to former employee # 7968 to seek repayment
immediately.
Leeon Hillman motioned and
Florence Conrad seconded former employee # 7968 file making him ineligible for
rehire with the Karuk Tribe, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Consensus: to deny loan
request from Tribal Member #221
Consensus: to deny loan
request from Tribal Member #538.
Informational: A thank you
was provided to the Tribal Council for assistance during recent funeral
services.
Informational:
disappointment in staff being prepared and distributing information
professionally as well as confusion as to why some staff is involved in other
programs departments was updated to the Tribal Council.
Leeon Hillman left the meeting at 7:21pm
Consensus: a reminder was
provided to the Council to be open-minded and listen to Directors and Council
Members when there are concerns/complaints reported.
Leeon Hillman returned at 7:34pm
Bud Johnson motioned and
Florence Conrad seconded to increase employee #1988 VISA credit limit to
$5,000, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0 pupitihara.
Informational: the Tribal
Meetings need to be more formalized including agendas and allow flow of
meetings that includes productivity.
Consensus: to allow
supplies as requested and in accordance of what was approved for all
ceremonies, for the upcoming War Dance.
Informational: the Council
previously approved maintaining the Chairman in the Vice-Chairman’s slot as
KTHA Chairperson.
Consensus: to deny the
request made by Hoopa Elementary School based on Non Native American
enrollment.
Consensus: for the
Chairman to review costs for attorney to work on transferring incarcerated
Tribal Member from Mississippi State Prison to a closer facility.
Informational: the
Vice-Chairman will assume his duties on the Enrollment Committee.
Consensus: to table
request from Tribal Member #327 to Thursday.
Phil Albers motioned and
Dora Bernal seconded to approve the Klamath Nomination Letter for possible
funding pending Laura Mayton and Erin Hillman’s review, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara.
Verna was asked to be excused at 8:01pm
Informational:
frustrations of staff and communication between Directors or co-workers were
updated to the Tribal Council.
Verna Reece was brought back to the meeting at 8:39 pm
Next Meeting Date: June 10, 2010
Phil Albers motioned and
Leeon Hillman seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:41pm, 7 haa, 0 puuhara, 0
pupitihara,
Respectfully Submitted,
________________________________
Arch Super, Chairman
Recording Secretary, Barbara Snider