Request for Proposal
Propane Generator and Installation
Posted on August 29th, 2011
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center and the CCE Office of Emergency Management are issuing a Request for Proposal for a Propane Generator, including installation, located at the Beaver Island Rural Health Center, 37304 King's Highway, Beaver Island MI 49782. There is a MANDATORY pre-bid meeting scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday September 12, 2011 at the Beaver Island Rural Health Center, 37304 King's Highway, Beaver Island MI 49782.
Detailed specifications may be obtained by contacting the CCE Office of Emergency Management, 1694 South US 131 Hwy., Petoskey MI 49770 or 231-439-3306.
RFP Due: Monday September 19, 2011 by 5PM local time at the location specified in the bid.
For more information, please call 231-439-3306.
BEAVER ISLAND RURAL HEALTH CENTER
The Health News
Keeping you informed as to the latest developments, advancements, and events at BIRHC
Number 1 www.birtic.org Spring 2011
Welcome to The Health News
Welcome to the first edition of The Health News! Inside you will find news about BIRHC and its many services, programs, and staff. Whether you are a full-time or seasonal Island resident, we hope to provide useful information to help you and your family get the most out of your health care system.
Thank you to our anonymous donors whose contribution allowed us to print this newsletter in color. Comments about this twice-yearly newsletter can be sent to Donna Kubic at donna@birhc.org or by phone at 231-448-2275.
BIRHC or 911? Who Should You Call?
It's well after midnight, you awake from a fitful sleep with a tightness in your chest and a pain running down your left arm. What should you do?
Your daughter slipped on the dock after a Saturday morning fishing trip and scraped her knee plus lodged a good-sized splinter in her palm. What should you do?
It's 8:00 p.m. on a Monday evening and your grandson is running a fever and complains of an ear ache. What should you do?
Looking to get your vacation off to a healthy start, it seemed like a good idea to go for an early trail run. That was before you tripped on a rock and fell hard enough you think you might have broken your hip. The good news is you have your cell phone and a signal. What should you do?
All of these different .scenarios are possible during summer on Beaver Island. Fortunately, the Island is blessed with two great medical services: the Rural Health Center and the B.I.
Emergency Medical Services. Thus the question arises: when do you call on which service, and for what?
The Beaver Island Rural Health Center offers 24/7 service. Regardless of the time of day or night, you can call 448-2275 to get help. After regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) or on weekends, this phone number switches to a cell phone carried by our on-call provider. If your situation is not life-threatening and you can transport yourself or your patient to the Health Center, then call 448-2275 and the provider will arrange to meet you at BIRHC. It's as simple as that. It's not a bother. It's why we are on-call.
If your situation is life-threatening or you are unable to transport yourself to the Health Center, you can call 911 and the BIEMS will respond as quickly as possible. Please remember, though, when you call 911 there is a 30-second delay before anything happens—be patient, the dispatcher will answer.
Report your situation, where you are located, and the dispatcher will put out the call for the ambulance.
And in case you were wondering about our opening scenarios, in the first instance with a possible heart attack in progress, by all means call 911. A potential broken hip or other debilitating injury, again call 911. A minor injury or one that does not limit mobility, or an after-hours illness is the time to call the Health Center directly at 448-2275.
BIRHC Staff
Sue Solle, Family Nurse Practitioner
Chris VanLooy, Physician Assistant
Donna Kubic, RN, Managing Director
Betty Hudgins, Service Coordinator
BIRHC Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday except holidays
On-call provider available 24/7 by calling 231-488-2275
BEAVER ISLAND RURAL HEALTH CENTER
New Partnership With Northern Michigan Regional Hospital
"A win-win situation" is how former board president Connie Wojan describes the new partnership between the BIRHC and Northern Michigan Regional Hospital. After two years of careful consideration, this new agreement includes a Memorandum of Understanding and Master Agreement.
A joint press release issued Feb. 4, 2011 summarized the benefits of the new alliance: "Goals of the agreement include investigating potential solutions for purchasing support, supplies, and equipment, as well as exploring community and medical education opportunities, and expanding telemedicine and connectivity between BIRHC and the mainland."
Under the agreement, BIRHC remains independent and free to form similar relationships with other organizations. The president and chief executive officer of the Charlevoix Area Hospital, Bill Jackson, sees this as "yet another aspect in complementing the care provided to the Beaver Island community." Patient
referrals to mainland facilities will be based on patient choice and the most appropriate care for each case.
"Through this expanded partnership, BIRHC patients will have enhanced access to technologically advanced healthcare that is expected by Island residents and increasingly demanded by healthcare policy and regulation, and, if additional healthcare is required, seamless transfer to higher levels of care on the mainland," said David Buzzelli, chair of the board of the Northern Michigan Regional Health System.
A big thank you goes to members of the Beaver Island Task Force which spent two years working toward this partnership agreement: Sandra Birdsall, Denny Cook, Anne Glendon, Brad Grassmick, Donna Kubic, John Martin, and Don Spencer.
Watch for further details in our Fall newsletter on how this partnership will benefit BIRHC and the residents of Beaver Island in areas such as telemedicine and community education.
BIRHC Senior Help Mate Program Begins
Meet Kate Garland, Our New Senior Help Mate!
Our new Senior Help Mate program now offers in-home assistance to both full-time and seasonal homebound senior citizens who need a little extra help to live safely on their own. The services offered through this new program include: transportation to visit friends or to run errands such as going to the store or library, light housekeeping, meal preparation as well as food freshness monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, medication prompting and prescription pick-up, along with transportation to the BIRHC for appointments. Care will be tailored on a one-to-one basis.
Our newly-hired Help Mate is Kate Garland who recently completed training as a competency evaluated nursing assistant (CENA) thanks to an anonymous donation. We also thank the Char-Em United Way for its 2010 grant to this valuable program.
The BIRHC has signed an agreement with the Charlevoix County Commission on Aging (COA) allowing our Help Mate to provide aide services to COA clients when their full-time staff member is not available due to vacation or illness.
Please call BIRHC Managing Director Donna Kubic at 231-448-2275 to discuss how we can assist you or your loved ones in advance of your seasonal arrival on the Island.
The BIRHC has applied for grant monies to help fund this new program. While voluntary donations from clients will help offset costs and stretch our grant dollars, no one will be denied Help Mate services because of an inability to pay.
By the Numbers
New Equipment Donated
The BIRHC staff is pleased and grateful to report that through several generous donations the following new items were recently received by the clinic:
1 — wheel chair
1 — OptiVisor headband magnifier
for close-up, detailed work
2 — patient exam tables
3 — wall-mounted otoscopes
4 — rolling chairs for practitioners
If you would like to contribute equipment or materials to the BIRHC, you can view our Wish List on our website: unvw.birhc.org. Among the items to be found on the list are: an autoclave for sterilizing instruments, a 12-lead electrocardiogram machine, as well as patient gowns and linens.
Attention Health Care Professionals
If you are a physician, nurse, EMS provider, CNA, or other health professional, would you be willing to assist us in the event of a disaster?
Just let us know when you are on the Island for the season or a vacation and how we can reach you while you are here. An extra pair of hands could make all the difference in a natural disaster or mass casualty incident. Please call Donna Kubic at 231-448-2275 or email her at donna@birhc.org.
Gail Weede Memorial Fund
On May 29, 2011, friends of well-loved Island resident Gail Weede, who passed away suddenly in November, plan a memorial fund-raiser walk whose proceeds will go into a fund to aid needy individuals with medical expenses.
Gail and her husband Mike originated the 'Beaver Boodle' 5K run/ walk that has been held each fall in conjunction with the annual 'Bite of Beaver' food festival in October.
BIRHC provides a sliding fee schedule to make sure those patients without medical insurance can receive the care they need.
Contact Donna Kubic (231-448-2275) at BIRHC for confidential assistance with your medical expenses.
BIRHC Appoints New Board Members
The BIRHC Board of Directors recently recognized the service of three long-term members who have worked tirelessly to make our beautiful facility a reality. Connie Wojan, Don Spencer, and Brad Grassmick retired from the board at the January annual meeting and were presented with plaques to thank them.
The current board includes: Denny Cook, president; John J. Martin, vice president; Rick Speck, treasurer; John Works, Jr., secretary; Sandra Birdsall, Carol Gillespie, Terry Keyes, Pete LoDico, directors. Newly-elected directors are Gerald LaFreniere, Jr., Jeff Powers, and Adam Richards.
Although Wojan, Spencer, and Grassmick were required by bylaw to retire from the board, they continue to serve the BIRHC on committees for fundraising, medical services, finance, and building maintenance.
Another sunny winter day at BIRHC
We invite all community members to consider volunteering for a BIRHC committee. If you have questions about future projects, please call Managing Director Donna Kubic at 231-448-2275.
Thank You To All Our Generous Supporters
Once again, thanks to our very generous donors, our Annual Fund Drive was a great success. This continuing support affirms our value to the community.
Given the current economic situation, we strive to use each dollar wisely. There is an amazing amount of work necessary behind the scenes to run and maintain a modern medical facility—from understanding and fulfilling guidelines, to following criteria and regulations, to keeping staff and equipment current with changing medical practices.
The BIRHC board of directors will be working through the summer to raise funds for the center. Watch for them selling tickets for the 2011 Car Raffle for a beautiful Chevy Cruze. As in the past, early ticket purchasers have a chance to win $1,000 in the Early Bird Raffle to be held at noon on May 29 at Dalwhinnie Bakery and Deli. Call the BIRHC at 231-448-2275 for your Early Bird chance. These tickets will also be eligible for the car drawing set for Sept. 5.
Also watch for further details on the Third Annual Benefit Golf Outing to be held at the Beaver Island Golf Course this summer.
And thank you to our volunteers and staff who contributed articles, feedback, and help in preparing this inaugural newsletter for mailing, especially to Frank Solle for providing photos and formatting our layout.
BEAVER ISLAND RURAL HEALTH CENTER BIRHC Services
emergency and urgent care • digital x-ray • fracture splinting and casting
suturing • emergency stabilization and evacuation
physicals and medical histories • school sports and employment physicals
blood work • blood pressure monitoring • lab screening • hearing screening
immunizations • well-child exams • women's health • IV therapy
follow-up care coordinated with specialists
VISITING PROFESSIONALS -
CALL 448-2275 FOR APPOINTMENTS OR MORE INFORMATION
Doctor appointments every two weeks - Dr. Edward Newcomb and Dr. Daniel Mann
Jessica Garden, DC, Revive Chiropractic
Larry Hudson, MPT, Charlevoix Area Hospital Physical Therapy
Dan Taylor, MSW, CSW, North Country Community Mental Health
Dr. Murray Cotter, MD, Dermatology Associates of Northern Michigan
Dr. Robert Molter, OD, Eye Health of Charlevoix
