Clara's Kids Blog

Devoted to the care and well being of Clara Thomas

Minutes - 12/24/06

		By islandria isom in Meeting Minutes Published: Monday, 15 January 07 - 10:00 PM (GMT) Last Updated: Thursday, 25 January 07 - 09:00 PM (GMT)

Clara’s Kids Meetings on Clara’s Health Care Treatments

Meeting Minutes

Sunday, December 24, 2006

1. Call to order

Sheikh Omar Ahmed called to order the regular meeting of the Clara’s Kids Committee at 6:40 p.m. on December 24, 2006 at 2177 5^th Avenue, Apt. 5D, New York, NY 10037.  

Chair calls meeting to order: Structure of meeting presided over by the chair; honor and respect given to chair to enforce rules of order. Opening prayer.

2. Attendance

The following persons were present: Hannibal Ahmed, Shariyka Thomas, Karreim Ahmed, Claratha Thomas, Akua Ahmed, Sheikh Omar Ahmed, Delores Thomas, Malik Ahmed, Sherrief Thomas, Nadirah Ahmed, Islandria Isom, Kamillah Ahmed, Krishna Ahmed, Leslie Ahmed, Nefertari Dawson and Linda Ahmed.

3. Approval of minutes from last meeting

Akua Ahmed read the minutes from the last meeting. The minutes were approved as read. Hannibal will bring his recording device to the meetings so that no information is missed. The meetings will start promptly at the time scheduled and ALL EGOS WILL BE CHECKED AT THE DOOR!!! A motion was proposed to formalize these rules. All accepted, 0 declined, 0 abstained.

4. Old Business

1. Kamillah’s report on the current health care treatments of Clara/Vote on Kamillah’s Report
• The Rehabilitation Center/Open Discussion on Report - Kamillah met with the nurses/social workers at North General Hospital. It was determined that Clara has a fractured collar bone and the doctors won’t operate because of the health risks. Clara’s aftercare is in the process of being negotiated. The home attendants employed by North General are not equipped to care for Clara under these conditions. At least six weeks of therapy is needed in a nursing home facility. Clara’s joints won’t work properly without therapy and both physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) is needed and given five times per week at a rehab center. The family discussed the details of her aftercare and her government subsidized health benefits. Sheikh Omar suggested moving Clara to Greater Harlem Nursing Home.
• Claretha’s Experience with Nursing Homes’ Care Treatments – Claretha felt that Greater Harlem Nursing Home is more accessible for the family and she has noticed that the doctors are more responsive to concerned family members. The family discussed investigating local nursing homes and the structure of Greater Harlem Nursing Home (i.e. whether or not all patients are integrated) at length. Based on the experienced doctors of Greater Harlem Nursing Home and at the suggestion of Claretha Thomas, Clara’s apartment will need to be rearranged to accommodate her and ensure her safety (i.e. remove the kitchen table, remove the carpet in her bedroom, remove some of the obstructions in and around the bathroom, etc.) The discussion was accepted by all.
• Insights Provided by Dr. Cary English’s Advice and Guidance – This discussion was lead by Hannibal and Krishna. It was decided that the family would ask Dr. English to be the Primary Doctor so that her medical records can be released to him and so that he can serve as a “translator” to both Clara and the family. Dr. English has suggested requesting a discharge summary when being released from the hospital. The summary will include the prognosis and the medical analysis of healing set up by the medical professionals. Hannibal proposed a motion to authorize Dr. English to be the Primary Care Physician. An amendment was made by Krishna to inquire about all fees associated with Dr. English’s role. All in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. Follow up discussion is needed.

5. Finances for Kamillah’s Employment

2. Vote & Confirmation of PCP - A motion was made to confirm Kamillah as the Primary Care Provider. An amendment was proposed by Malik & Karreim to communicate with each other with civility. All accepted confirmation, 0 opposed, 0 abstained.
3. Expansion of Financial Committee to Include Sheikh Omar and Hannibal with Current Members Kamillah, Akua and Islandria – Some members felt that there was a conflict of interest in Kamillah serving on the financial committee and being employed by the committee. A motion was proposed to include Sheikh Omar and Hannibal: 14 accepted, 0 opposed, 2 abstained. And amendment was proposed to exclude Kamillah from the financial committee: 15 accepted, 0 opposed, 1 abstained. It was decided that Kamillah would no longer serve on the committee and that Sheikh Omar and Hannibal will serve on the committee.
4. The Establishment of a Financial Accountability System that All Family Members Honor and Respect – There are three sets of money at hand, two being subsets of Clara’s Health Care Fund
• Clara’s Money received from the Federal Government, gifts, etc. This has been defined as Clara’s personal money. The group decided to move toward making Kamillah the Power of Attorney for the purposes of cashing the checks and paying the bills – Follow up discussion needed.
• Clara’s Healthcare Fund

1. Kamillah’s Salary ($50/week)

2. Clara’s Healthcare Efficiency Fund – This fund needs better definition. Follow up discussion needed.

• Guarantors of Kamillah’s Paycheck - It was discussed whether or not the current contributors would be exempt from any immediate future payments. The group decided that the answer is yes. As discussed in the prior meeting, Maat, Krishna, Shereiff and Hannibal were to pay the $50 salary for the first month of employment. Additional funds in the amount of $150 were collected to cover her salary until a formal method of collection is determined by the financial committee. Kamillah’s payment schedule for the month of December 2006 and January 2007 is as follows:  
  

12/10/2006 – 12/16/2006: Maat

12/17/2006 – 12/23/2006: Krishna

12/24/2006 – 12/30/2006: Sherieff

12/31/2006 – 1/06/2007: Hannibal 

1/7/2007 – 1/13/2007: Paid from the collection pool

1/14/2007 – 1/20/2007: Paid from the collection pool

1/21/2007 – 1/27/2007: Paid from the collection pool

6. New Business

• Visitors’ Traffic to Clara – The family was encouraged to visit often, but be mindful of the rules administered by the hospital.

• Email Networking with Family Members, Friends and Close Associates – The family was encouraged to contact all of the above mentioned for support
• Institutionalization of Clara’s Kids Newsletter – An item on the agenda for the next meeting.
• Topics for the next meeting:
  1. Open
  2. Clara’s Kids Newsletter
  3. Errand Running/Time Giving Committees
  4. Number of Attendees Needed to Commence the Family  Meetings
• Miscellaneous – Shabazz Ahmed has been accepted to Clark-Atlanta University and plans to attend in the fall of 2007. Details of Tony Lake’s (Anna’s late husband) wake and funeral were presented by Nadirah Ahmed.

7. Adjornment and Closing Prayer

Sheikh Omar Ahmed adjourned the meeting at or around 10:30 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:  Akua Ahmed

Minutes approved by: TBD at 1/15/2007 meeting

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