PNHP Portland December Meeting Minutes
I. Present: Nancy Krumpacker, Sam Metz, John Partridge, Derrick Duehren, Peter Mahr, Gene Uphoff, Bonny Reagan, Steve Weiss, Kris Alman.
II. November Actions
1. MAHD: Astoria: 50 people, good event. Paul Gorman from PNHP Portland attended.
Portland: 40 people, less than expected. Gene Uphoff, Peter Mahr from PNHP attended.
2. Fundraiser dance: $800 raised for PNHP
3. Money Driven Medicine: focused on the health care delivery side.
4. Hispanic Health Forum: well attended. Contacts made with Hispanic community.
4. Individual Efforts: Jim Scott reports he continues to attend rotary club and other meetings in areas SW of Portland. Newberg, McMinnville and George Fox.
5. Sam Metz’ letter: “A doctor’s view: escaping the maelstrom.” Published on the Oregonian blog, later put on the PNHP website.
6. Counter Rally in Salem at the Doc4patientcare rally. Good showing for late notice. Nancy notes we may want to plan/think about how to approach counter rallies in the future.
III. Discussion:
Growing PNHP Portland: Discussion on how to grow and strengthen PNHP Portland:
-develop a speakers bureau that would link with churches, community groups, rotary, business, minority groups in the PDX area and offer PNHP speakers to these groups. At the same time have a speaker coordinator that would connect PNHP speakers with these groups at specific times and places. Nobody volunteered for this position. IF ANYBODY IN OUR EXTENDED GROUP WANTS TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE PLEASE CONTACT PETER MAHR. For the time being Gene promised to ask the MAHD tour press coordinator if she would be will to play this role for us (she lives in Seattle so this is not optimum.)
-link with Physicians for Social Responsibility: Bonny is a PSR member and will look into contacts for us with the goal of determining their support of SP reform and ability to support our efforts.
-look into influencing state health reform via the Health Fund Board: I will contact Mike Huntington about this. Kris Alman is in favor of this.
-City Club: Kris Alman strong supporter of influencing City Club.
- develop media contacts: Peter Mahr to ask Ali Thebert (PNHP national Chapter Coordinator) for media contact lists for Portland area.
IV: Updates
1. One Canopy Health: Inge has not heard back from the city so she plans to go ahead with running a free clinic for the uninsured and underinsured at City hall. Tentative dates are 12/15, 12/18 and or 12/22. Please contact one canopy if you want to volunteer at these clinics.
2. MAHD: Gene and Sam reported on MAHD future plans. The ownership of the brand “MAHD” and the website has been turned over to the doctors on the tour from Gary Jelenik and Adam Klugman in return for the MAHD’s open and strong recognition to Gary and Adam for their important role in the administration and artistic role in the MAHD phenomenon and tour. MAHD are working on their mission statement, trying to decide whether to remain independent or formally organize as a 5013c non profit, and developing goals methods and tactics.
Suggestions were made: grow the MAHD brand by including MAH groups of patients and nurses etc.
3. OHSU: Richard Bruno reports that OHSU PNHP chapter is planning to have MAHD docs come speak to them. They want us to send any outside speakers to them that we can think of. They are planning to be heavily involved in Dr. Fein’s visit to Portland. They have a video project in which they are interviewing and videotaping patients who are uninsured and placing these interviews on line. They want to interview docs about caring for those without insurance and more uninsured patients. If you want to be interviewed and/or have patients that want to tell their story: please send them to Richard
IV. Future Actions
1. Ad in Oregonian: there is strong support for this from members. Many emailed saying they would be glad to contribute. But also strong reticence about giving our money to the Oregonian who has not endorsed out position or given us free space for editorials. Kris Alman will take this idea on and look into alternative advertising arenas: billboards, Trimet busses etc and get back to group on options. We discussed the message: needs to be short and sweet. Small group needs to discuss the message/design beforehand and offer this as an opportunity to donate to. NOT TO OPEN THE DISCUSSION OF THE MESSAGE OR SESIGN TO A LARGE GROUP. (Too time consuming and divisive).
2. Oli Fein Visit: Dr. Fein is national president of PNHP. He plans to come to Portland for a Chapter Visit 1/31-2/2. OHSU group and Paul Gorman are taking the lead on arranging grand rounds. Then anticipate filling in the time with press event, community events, rallies etc. Kris Alman suggested a debate at the City Club with Oli Fein and alternative view i.e. president of the OMA. WE WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR JANUARY MEETING. Ali Thebert is the national PNHP Chapter Coordinator and is going to be arranging the details of their trip: