The first meeting of the CFSG was held at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida on Saturday, December 16. The meeting was attended by twenty-one adults; two families brought a total of five children who enjoyed the children’s activity center at FOF while their parents participated in the meeting. The attendees were patients, their caregivers, healthcare professionals, manufacturing representatives from all three approved portable oxygen concentrator companies, and the featured speakers were Mr. John Van Dyke from the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) and Mr. Carl Hicks, Vice-Chair PHA Board of Directors. Dr. Daniel Layish from the Central Florida Pulmonary Group attended, answered questions from patients and continues to help and assist the growth and development of the CFSG. Attendees received a 16 page booklet containing information on TSA check-in procedures, literature on each POC, and information from twenty major airlines on their current policies and procedures for POC use on their aircraft. While most patients were from the local area of the I4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando, one patient traveled 117 miles to attend the meeting.
Based on survey responses from the patients and their caregivers, it was decided to schedule quarterly meetings with the next meeting set for March 17, 2007. A search for a meeting facility in the area of Celebration, Florida has begun and all attendees will be notified of the selected location for the regular quarterly meetings.
The corporate support and sponsorship for this first meeting was tremendous and all meeting expenses, including admission to Fantasy of Flight and the lunch buffet were prepaid. The remaining unused sponsorship funds will be donated to the PHA national headquarters in Maryland.
The focus of work for the next three months will be on spreading the word to the PH patient population living in central Florida that the support group has begun and is available to serve them and their families.
Regards,
Bob
Robert C. Tash
PHA - Central Florida Support Group
954-803-5722
Group webpage
email
