Newspaper Articles
Minerva Accent Thursday, May 20, 2004

A community forum was created in the spring of 2003 to evaluate the concept of a Caring Communities pilot program in Stark County, Ohio in conjunction with emergency responders and members of the community serving the older, frail and disabled population. Since a form that provided current information about a resident would increase the likelihood of receiving timely and appropriate intervention when police, fire and emergency personnel are called to the home in case of a medical emergency, the participants began to create a VITAL HEALTH RECORD.

In addition to basic medical information and emergency contact numbers, this form contains suggestions on how to best facilitate communication when there are hearing, vision, speech or memory difficulties that can make it difficult for someone to provide all the needed information. In an emergency situation, every minute counts and access to updated medical information can save not only time but lives.

Great Trail Care Center in Minerva joined our Caring Communities - Vital Health Record program in January, 2004 and it was launched May, 2004. This program will support the Stark County program in addition to serving Carroll County and the western part of Columbiana County. If you are interested in additional information, please contact Gerri McGonagle at (330) 868-4104

To download the most current VITAL HEALTH RECORD formand instructions to help you get started.

(You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Vital Health Record form. This can be downloaded for free from http://www.adobe.com)

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTERS WHO MADE THE FIRST PRINTING OF THESE FORMS POSSIBLE

Great Trail Care Center

Bartley Ambulance Service

Minerva Local Schools

Hazen Middle School 8th grade students and staff

Richard Mikes, Principal

Minerva Eagles

Gallina Massotherapy

Kishman’s IGA

LET’S ALL BECOME A PART OF OUR CARING COMMUNITIES PROJECT

If you live outside the Stark County area in Ohio and are interested in developing this program in your community, you will want to share this information with the emergency responders in your area to determine the best way to get it started.