MEETING
MINUTES
Aegis
Corporate Office
Recorded By: Georgia Raines
PARTICIPATING
MEMBERS:
Stephen Day.............
Bill Lidikay................ …..
Russell Indanza….....
Rueben Ornelas…..….….Bakersfield Ann Johnson……….………..West L. A.
Georgia Raines……..……
Deanne Yocum…………..
Norma Gonzalez……………..
Fred Pineda
………………..
Maryann Sandoval ………..
Angela Black………………..Hesperia Jim Urban………………..……Hesperia
INVITEES:
Udi Barkai................
Aegis, President and CEO
Peter C. Petit............
Aegis, Director of Quality Assurance and Licensing
Fred Chaney
(Bull)…… Aegis, Community Relations
The following matters were discussed and concluded:
- Introduction: P.A.A.G. Members and Aegis Staff Members were
introduced to each other and the sign-in sheet was passed around and
filled out.
- Previous
Meetings: Steve Day and Udi
recapped the proceedings of the last
meeting and gave an
update on the progress of the local K2R chapters and the attendance in their
weekly meetings.
MaryAnn Sandoval from
contact with
- Keys
To Recovery: The forum held
another extensive discussion on the major
role of "Support
Groups" in the successful recovery of patients, as was done at the P.A.A.G. Meeting on
The board was
presented with a proposed resolution (see enclosed) that recommends to Aegis a
new program rule, which will require mandatory participation of every newly
admitted patient in the local K2R weekly meetings. The following resolution was passed by
unanimous consensus:
“To All Aegis
Staff Members,
We,
the board members, of the PAAG (“Patient Advisory & Advocacy Group”) would
like to emphasize the enormous importance of support groups to successful
recovery and change of lifestyles.
Furthermore, it is extremely effective and practical in reducing relapse
rates.
We
further would like to recommend that Aegis require all newly admitted patients
to attend three (3) weekly meetings within their first two (2) months in the
program.
It
is already well established that recovery is rarely successful without support
systems –in general, and support groups –in particular. We hope that the majority of Aegis patients
will be attending weekly Keys To Recovery groups, and some of these meetings
will be dedicated to special needs, such as single parents, alcohol abuse,
relapse prevention, and anxiety.
PAAG
Board Members”
- Harm
Reduction: Bull presented his
interpretation of "Harm Reduction", and how to follow this
discipline in our K2R Meetings, as well as in our Outreach activities to
our communities. For example: Distribution of Hygine Kits, offering rides
to the Doctor, making Food Bank Vouchers available to those who are in
need, and addressing health issues such as Hep C, HIV, etc.)
- PAAG Collaboration with the Clinic: Udi stressed the importance of the PAAG’s
collaboration with the clinic managers, in an effort to raise clinical
standards and achieve higher recovery rates, and the importance of the
PAAG’s support to upcoming improvements (e.g., treatment of Anger
Management, Dual Diagnosis, Parenting, Relapse Prevention, Hep-C,
etc.)
He paid special
attention to provisions of the Aegis Code of Ethics in regard to the building
of trust and respect between staff members and patients. The members have also discussed other
patterns of collaboration in regards to Outreach and education of the local
communities (i.e. Parole, Probation, C.P.S. and County Advisory Boards).
- Take
Home Bottle Policy: Bill L.
expressed his concerns about the Take Home Bottle Policy. He expressed his concerns that the
present situation is punitive, insulting, and detrimental to the
patient. He challenged the policy
for not following regulatory guidelines (i.e., "Title 9").
Udi has reminded the
board of their previous discussions and recommendations to support Aegis in
taking preventative measures to avoid the diversion of drugs through the use of
empty bottles. However, he agreed to
bring this topic to an upcoming Aegis management meeting.
- PAAG
I.D. Card Proposal: The members
discussed the importance of a PAAG Card in the protection of their
Constitutional Rights, as further detailed in the Americans with
Disabilities Act (1990) and the Rehabilitation Act (1973) as well as
California AB11222, which requires that only our physician could prescribe
or adjust the methadone daily dose and treatment. And the repercussions that would follow
if this was not enforced.
The proposed artwork
(see enclosure) was discussed and approved, however the members have
recommended the inclusion of the Aegis Medical Systems, Inc. logo in addition
to the PAAG logo. It was also agreed
that the card would be issued voluntarily upon a patient’s request only, and
that such patients will sign a Waiver for Release of Information.
Udi has committed to
issue the card at “no charge” to the patient, and to finance it through Aegis
Institute.
The board has reached
a unanimous consensus, and made the following resolution:
“We,
the Board Members of PAAG, would like to endorse the proposed language for the
PAAG ID Card and the Acknowledgement Letter, stating that:
"The
holder of this card is disabled and a member of a protected class as defined by
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and covered in Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The
prescription of treatment and medication can only be changed by the cardholder's
treating physician. Any interference with the provision of treatment and
medication constitutes a breach of law with potential criminal and civil
sanctions and remedies."
We
would also like to recommend that Aegis Institute, Inc. and Aegis Medical
Systems, Inc. will offer the cards to all patients, and that the card will be
issued upon the patient’s signing of a Waiver for Release of Information.
Entered
this 29th day of September 2004 by the undersigned, Board Members of PAAG.”
- Patient
Rights: Patient rights were
discussed again as in the last Meeting.
The following conclusions were stated:
- We are protected under the Americans with
Disabilities Act, and the Rehab. Act of 1973. As long as we are in
compliance with our treatment plans. Primarily, clean of all illicit and
illegal drugs, and any activities pertaining to said drugs.
- We have the right to file a grievance with our
Ombudsman. Grievance forms, PAAG suggestion cards, and the locked were shown to all PAAG Members in
attendance so that we can all be aware of where they are placed at our
perspective clinics. And also so that we can make other patients aware of
them.
- Enforcing our rights: We must make every effort
to educate the public, and continue to educate all Aegis Patients. We
must do our best to make sure that the Methadone is not being abused
(sold or distributed illegally).
We must make sure that we choose our battles wisely. We must always make sure that we
"Fight the Right Fight".
- A.B.
2136: The enclosed report from
Jim Gonzalez & Associates was circulated, and Udi informed the members
of the governor’s veto of this bill on
- Staff
Turn Over: Pete addressed the
problems pertaining to the high volume of
Staff turn over in the past. He
informed the PAAG that those at the corporate
level were very aware
of the problem. He informed us that the screening process and hiring policies were much stricter
with the intent of raising the Standard when
it came to hiring new staff members. Which would ultimately cut back on
the past trend of staff turn-overs. And
that all policies are being re-evaluated.
- Aegis
Donation of Computers to PAAG Members: Following the previous commitment, Aegis
Medical Systems, and Aegis Institute donated four computers to PAAG board
members. Aegis also provided these
members with e-mail accounts, free of any charge. It is expected that the computers and
internet access will improve the communications among the board members
- Other
Business: Materials were
delivered, and supplies were distributed.
Next meeting to be held
- Meeting Adjournment