Overview
The Dukes County Health Council is a 35-member committee of community health providers and consumers created in 1996 under the auspices of the Dukes County Commission to identify a community vision and direction for health care on Martha’s Vineyard.
Since 1998, the Health Council had focused its energies on creating an Island Health Plan, through the design, development and introduction of an insurance plan to serve the needs of the un- and under-insured residents of Martha’s Vineyard.
Shortly after the beginning of the Fiscal year, the Health Council was asked by the County Commissioners to transfer the final development of the Island Health Plan to a separate not-for-profit organization, charged with its implementation. This request was consistent with a long-standing agreement that the County would support the development of the Island Health Plan, but could not assume “fiduciary responsibility” for the plan itself.
All members of the Health Council were then given the choice to join the new organization or to remain with the Council. They could not do both. While this choice ensured that there would be no conflict of interest between the two organizations, this action resulted in the loss of Chairman and our Vice-Chairman as well as several other long-standing members.
The task of rebuilding the Health Council fell on the shoulders of those members who remained committed to our original vision: “to promote community-wide health and wellness through the creation of a cooperative, integrated network of health care for Martha's Vineyard”.
Thanks to a dedicated Acting Coordinating Committee and the contributions of Cathy Brennan, Joyce Steward and Susan Desmarais who led three transitional task groups, by January 2003; we had rebuilt the Council, presented to the County Commissioners a full slate of candidates for their appointment and resumed our activities.
Committees
The Council is perhaps best known for its efforts to improve access to care through the Vineyard Health Care Access Program (VHCAP) and the development of affordable insurance through the Island Health Plan (IHP).
Equally important, but less well known are those Health Council committees and task groups designed to address health needs in our community that are either unfunded or simply inadequately addressed. These include:
· The new Primary Care Working Group, led by Ilene Klein, M.D. and Paddy Moore
· The new Behavioral Health Network, led by Susan Desmarais
· The Chronic Illness Network, led by Marni Lipki
· The Geriatric Care Management and Service Access Study Team, led by Jacque Cage
· The Prevention & Wellness Committee, led by Charles Silberstein
· The new Oral Health Working Group, led by Sarah Kuh, and
· The Rural Scholars Program, co-led by Ilene Klein and Murray Frank
In addition, the Health Council worked in close partnership with the Foundation for Island Health in designing and conducting the survey designed to produce a comprehensive MV Health Report.
In conclusion, we are profoundly grateful for the exceptional commitment of the members of the Health Council, all volunteers, who have sustained our efforts for 8 years. (See Page __)
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