Village News - Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Awards were bestowed and valuable information shared when Fallbrook Healthcare District held it's 17th annual Community Collaborative Breakfast at Fallbrook Library on Saturday, March 12.

Healthcare Heroes

The two individuals named as the new Healthcare Heroes at the event were Terry Silva and Mary Ramsden, DC.

The Healthcare Hero award presentation to Silva was conducted by FHD board president Gordon Tinker, who invited representatives Barbara Solc and Marie Joyce from the offices of Senator Joel Anderson and Assemblywoman Marie Waldron to join him.

Silva was recognized for her many efforts in the community and as the community manager of a affordable senior housing development. She was heralded for "changing and enriching lives."

FHD board member Barbara Mroz presented the other Healthcare Hero award to Mary Ramsden, a local chiropractor.

Ramsden was recognized and appreciated for the "gentle, kind, and compassionate care she provides to her chiropractic patients." It was said that she "is always generous with her time and talents, is an active participant in, and godsend to our community." Solic and Joyce presented certificates of appreciation from their respective legislative representatives to Ramsden also.

Information sharing

Tinker called on FHD director Stephen Abbott to inform breakfast guests about a joint effort between Fallbrook Healthcare District and North County Fire Protection District. Abbott told how the closure of Fallbrook Hospital caused significant impact to the local fire/emergency response agency. He stated that "the demand for ambulance services increased and it became evident that an additional ambulance was needed." Understanding this impact, Fallbrook Healthcare District agreed to help to fund the cost of an additional ambulance.

Mroz provided an update regarding the district’s grant program. She related that 22 grants had been provided by the district this past year to "well-deserving organizations that provide much-needed services in our community." She included Director Howard Salmon in explaining to attendees the board's most recently adopted and revised criteria for those writing and applying for 2016-17 FHD grants. They include the following:

• The applicant will show how the potential grant recipient will use the money to support FHD’s healthcare goals (yet to be determined) addressed in the community health assessment and strategic planning meeting.
• Show how the agency will work collaboratively with other community agencies in addressing that/those goals.
• Show how the grant money will assist in developing community outreach.
• Show how the agency will support proposed programs/services after the grant money ends.
• FHD will give priority to new entities or new programs within existing entities.
• Include within the grant proposal what measurable health outcomes it intends to accomplish through the proposed programs/services. How will those be measured on a quarterly basis?
• How will a proposed program demonstrate for others how to implement successful programs/services?
• Include in your proposal the organization’s board of directors.
• Community assessment health disparity indicators will need to be part of the proposed grant.
• Any organization who would like to include in their proposal "fall prevention strategies" will also be considered.

It was stated that information will be posted to the FHD website (www.fallbrookhealthcaredistrict.net) regarding the date applications will open and end. Application forms will also be posted.

Tinker stated that Fallbrook Healthcare District is committed to promoting the health of the people of the district and enhancing access to sustainable, quality healthcare services.

He said board members and staff know that Fallbrook Hospital is crucial to the community and the district remains committed to "doing everything possible to see it re-opened and providing services."

It was announced that the FHD board "has voted to put the hospital and its annex buildings up for sale, and believe there is a strong likelihood that a quality health care provider may come forward to do what we as a district cannot do alone – purchase the hospital and re-open it."

FHD executive director Bobbi Palmer, who joined the district at the beginning of the year, shared some of the results of a recent community health needs assessment in which the most prevalent community health issues were identified. "These include diabetes, hypertension, cancer and arthritis." It was noted that lack of physical activity and poor eating habits contribute to these and other disease processes.

Palmer also rolled out a plan, "Call to Activity - Wellness - One Step at a Time." She encouraged everyone to consider this, that in order to facilitate wellness, it begins with one step at a time. She also voiced the need for fall prevention strategies and noted that fall prevention will be included in FHD's healthcare goals.