With contract details solidifying between St. Elizabeth Medical Center and the Town of Webb, regarding the providing of local health care services, the board of the Town of Webb Health Center Fund has been discussing its role, which is certain to change with the new arrangement.
Following is a report from Hazel Dellavia, president of the Health Center Fund, where she discusses the history and mission of the organization, as well as changes planned for continuing its support local health care.
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What is the Town of Webb Health Center Fund, Inc. and what does it do?
Statement of Purpose: The Corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, philanthropic, welfare and educational purposes, through the making of grants or otherwise extending financial assistance and support for the accomplishment of the following objectives which objectives are stated in the Certificate of Incorporation as follows:1.) The care and assistance of the sick, infirm, handicapped, aged, helpless, needy and dependent, and the alleviation of human suffering and distress.
2.) The maintenance and improvement of the Town of Webb Health Center at Old Forge, New York, including but not limited to, providing funds for the purchase of additional equipment, the enlargement of the Health Center Building, if such becomes advisable, and financial assistance for the operation of said Health Center.
The Fund is a 501c3 non-profit membership organization that is totally donor funded and does not receive any monies from taxes.
The Fund was established in August of 1963 and began providing services to the community in January 1964.
Over the last 48 years the Fund has done much to support the health and well being of the residents and visitors to the Town of Webb and surrounding communities.
The organization contributed to the establishment and expansion of the Health Center and began in 1964 assisting in the recruitment of physicians and dentists to the area by offering incentives and minimal income guarantees.
The Fund continues to provide subsidies to help house summer interns and has provided numerous scholarships to those studying in the medical field.
The Scholarship Committee awarded $15,000 in scholarships for 2011 and has awarded $10,500 in scholarships for 2012.
Over the years the Fund has provided monies to purchase medical equipment for both the physicians and dentist offices, which has then become the property of the Town of Webb.
In 2010/11 the Fund contributed $100,000 toward the replacement of the roof on the facility.
In the summer of 2011 we contributed to the funding of the Chronic Disease Self Management Programs offered through QTAC, University of Albany.
This year the Fund contributed monies toward the printing and mailing of the Health Care Survey to residents and taxpayers from Woodgate to Raquette Lake.
The Town of Webb and Adirondack Communities Health Care Research Committee presented the results of that survey to the Town Board and the general public.
The Town Board studied those results and sought proposals from Healthcare Providers to address the needs of the community.
They have since chosen to contract with St Elizabeth Medical Center to provide healthcare services in Old Forge.
St. Elizabeth will renovate the facility to provide for their offices as well as the Dental Suite and HASCA office and will work with the town on a payment arrangement that will not require additional taxpayer contributions.
The Physical Therapy facility will be relocated to the Park Avenue building and the Fund may contribute to that effort, if funding is available.
Bob Scholefield, Chief Operating Officer of St Elizabeth Medical Center has expressed his desire to work closely with the Fund in order to find ways in which we can continue to serve the healthcare needs of the community, for example:
• We will actively participate in the efforts to bring physicians to our community by offering incentives to relocate in our area, as we did when the Fund was founded.
This would take the form of Introductory Visits to our communities, tours of locations that are of interest to potential physicians and their families, such as schools, churches, restaurants, the arts, clubs, etc.
We would establish flexible “Welcome Committees” to meet a physician’s personal interests and introduce them to our communities.
Other incentives might include Relocation funds, Mortgage assistance and more; all of which we have done in the past.
• Health Education Pro-grams – In addition to the Chronic Disease Self Manage-ment Programs, we could also provide workshops on Childhood Obesity, Smoking Cessation, Stress Reduction, Heart Disease and Stroke Symptom Recognition, and General Wellness Programs.
• We could work with St. Elizabeth in providing Cancer Screening, Diabetic Screening, High Blood Pressure Screening, and screening for other types of diseases for which there are available techniques.
• We will continue to provide scholarships to those seeking to enter the medical professions and support for those in the community who already do so.
• If funding permits we would also like to support efforts to provide respite care here in Old Forge, to complement that which is currently provided in Inlet, thereby allowing for more than just one day of relief for caregivers.
• We could also look into those things that might help provide support for our Emergency Services Personnel.
We take very seriously our responsibility to protect the security of the funds entrusted to us and respect for our donors.
The Fund is here to address the health needs of the communities we serve in whatever capacity is needed, and for that reason we continue to ask for your support.
Please take a moment to consider a donation to the TOW Health Center Fund.
We want you to know that the Fund will continue our mission to: “The care and assistance of the sick, infirm, handicapped, aged, helpless, needy and dependent, and the alleviation of human suffering and distress.”
Wishing you good health,
Hazel Dellavia, President
Town of Webb Health Center Fund, Inc.
