Chautauqua Cares Coalition, the local Advance Care Planning initiative, held its annual meeting in August at Webb’s Captains Table in Mayville. Cara Seekings, Coalition Coordinator, reflected on the accomplishments of the Coalition during 2007, including expanded use of the web-based Health Care Proxy Registry and successful chart audits at Brooks, TLC, Westfield, and WCA Hospitals. Extensive community education and agency advocacy have also resulted in greater awareness of the need to make end-of-life wishes known. In addition, advocacy work at the state level resulted in the expansion and extension of the MOLST (Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) Laws. These laws give patients the ownership of the documents that communicate their end-of-life wishes across the continuum of care.

 

The Chautauqua Cares Coalition used this as an opportunity to recognize the work of each member of the group throughout the year, but also took the time to honor special partners for going above and beyond. This year special Advocacy Awards were presented to Dr. Andrea Johnson from Jamestown Primary Care, Physician Advocate; Don Peru from Meals on Wheels, Agency Advocate; and Frederick Larson, Esq, Attorney Advocate. 

 

A presentation was given by Helen Evans and Carrie Whitwood from the Allegany/Western Steuben Rural Health Network, Inc who spoke on “Collaborating with our Faith-Based Community.” They shared the history of advance care planning efforts coordinated by their agency, and provided an overview of the lessons learned from extensive work with the clergy in their community. The Chautauqua Cares Coalition intends to expand its partnership with the local clergy by replicating some of the strategies that were successful for Allegany/Western Steuben. “We feel that by following Helen and Carrie’s model, we can have similar success reaching out to the communities of faith in Chautauqua County,” said Cara Seekings. 

 

All of the Chautauqua County hospitals, the County Office of the Aging, Emergency Medical Services and Department of Social Services, attorneys, home care agencies, and area physicians participate in the coalition, as well as Hospice Chautauqua County and the Chautauqua County Health Network.

 

The next meeting will be held on October 8^th at TLC Healthcare in Irving and anyone interested in finding out more about this group and its work should contact Cara Seekings at 664-8445.