LOCAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES

The League of Women Voters of the Tiffin Area believes that a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost should be available to all Tiffin area residents.

BASIC LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE

Every Tiffin area resident should have access to a basic level of quality care that includes the following ESSENTIAL services of HIGH PRIORITY:
 

Disease prevention: routine testing; STD screening
Health promotion and   
education:		 all services offered by county health dept. outreach
Primary care: M.D.'s and basic specialties for family health care; prenatal/natal care; reproductive services; weekend facility for immediate care; home health services; Transportation to health services; dental services 
Acute care: emergency room; ambulance/life flight
Long-term care:
Mental Health care: crisis intervention; outpatient services
Rehabilitation: short-term and residential services

Lower in priority, but also ESSENTIAL, are: speech and hearing, physical and occupational therapies; adult day care; specialized consultation.

Some health services are NON-ESSENTIAL locally, as they may be obtained elsewhere. These include extraordinary specialized treatments, surgeries, and devices.

FINANCING

The League believes that a combination of private and public monies should be responsible for funding these health care services.

Background on position:

Following an extended study and consensus of health care on the national level, members voted at the 1993 Annual meeting to begin a study of Local Health Care Services.

Two general meetings were held in the spring of 1994, resulting in the adoption of the local position. The October 1994 General meeting consisted of a tour of the Seneca County Health Department featuring "Early Intervention Programs".

A .3 mil replacement Health District levy was on the November 2000 ballot. The League voted to support it. It was passed by the Tiffin voters.

2003-2004 Goal: Retain the position and monitor local health care with emphasis on services.