Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 092304MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 2004 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 1 September 23, 2004 ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT: To enhance the quality of life, promote the health, and preserve the environment for all people in the Orange County community. THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MET ON September 23, 2004 at the Government Services Center, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Alice White, Chair; Chris Harlan; Jessica Lee; Sharon Van Horn; Matt Vizithum; Kate Wilder BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Moses Carey, Jr. due to a conflict with BOCC meeting; Alan Rimer, Tim Carey, Sharon Freeland, out of town STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Letitia Burns, Central Administrative Services Division Director; Wayne Sherman, Personal Health Services Division Director; Angela Cooke, Dental Health Services Division Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Services Division Director; John Sauls, Animal Control Services Division Director; Anne Miles Cassell, Administrative Assistant GUESTS PRESENT: Jennifer Warber, UNC School of Nursing; Andrea Maslanka, UNC School of Nursing I. Welcome and Introductions Alice White called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Educational presentation by Ron Holdway on arboviruses. Slides attached. II. Approval of September 23, 2004 Agenda The motion to approve the Agenda of September 23, 2004 was made by Kate Wilder, seconded by Matt Vizithum, and carried without dissent. III. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda None IV. Action Items on CONSENT Agenda A. Minutes approval of August 26, 2004 meeting. B. Agreement Between UNC Hospitals and Health Department for Support of Healthy Carolinians Coordinator C. Additional State Funding for 2004-2005 for TANF Out of wedlock birth prevention funds and Title X funds. Motion to approve the minutes of August 26, 2004 and items on the Consent Agenda was made by, Matt Vizithum, seconded by Kate Wilder, and carried without dissent. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 2004 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 2 September 23, 2004 V. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action A. Resolution Promoting Health Department Accreditation in North Carolina The NC Association of Local Health Directors (NCALHD) has been studying the matter of accreditation of local health departments for more than six years. In 2003, the Association and the State Health Director appointed a committee to make recommendations in this regard. In 2004 the Secretary of DHHS appointed a Public Health Task Force to study public health in North Carolina and to devise an action plan to strengthen public health infrastructure, improve health outcomes, and eliminate health disparities. Part of that task force report has been reviewed by the Board of Health calls for an accreditation process for local health departments. That report also calls for funding for the counties engaging in the accreditation process. In the spring of 2004 six local health departments undertook a pilot accreditation process and were successfully accredited. The criteria and process are being revised and will be “re-piloted” with four additional counties this fall. The NCALHD believe that the majority of counties will be able to meet the standards proposed and furthermore that these standards that measure capacity to deliver services will help each local entity assure that the public’s health is safeguarded by providing a minimum level of public health services across the state. The two pilots should provide some indication of resources that may be needed to bring services up to standard. Motion to approve the resolution and forward it to the Board of Commissioners for adoption consideration and to forward the approved resolution to the NC Association of Local Health Directors for transmission to the Association of Boards of County Commissioners was made by Kate Wilder, seconded by Jessica Lee, and carried without dissent. B. Joint Meetings with Planning Board and Commission for Environment During the spring, the Board discussed improving its liaison and collaboration activities with other boards that may have mutual interests. Members of the Orange County Planning Board and the Commission for the Environment have indicated that they believe this may be of interest to their boards as well. This discussion is intended to formulate a few topics that could be proposed for a joint agenda. Board members would then be able to prepare for those discussions around a particular topic. Acquisition of this past year’s agendas for the Planning Board and the Commission for the Environment will undertaken to find topics of mutual interest. This topic was referred to both committees for further development. C. Changes Proposed by Board of Nursing for BSN Nurse Preparation In North Carolina there are different preparatory programs for nurses: a two year associate degree in nursing; a three year diploma nursing program; and a four year bachelor of science (BSN) nursing program. Only the BSN program contained a curriculum requirement in public MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 2004 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 3 September 23, 2004 health theory as well as clinical learning experiences. The Board of Nursing is recommending that this requirement be dropped from the requirements for a four-year degree. For those nurses without this background preparation, administrative rules at the state level have required a basic course in Principles of Public Health Practice to bring non-BSN prepared nurses to a basic level. If the requirement is dropped from the BSN programs, nurses will be less prepared to function in basic public health roles. Health Department nursing supervisors report that nurses that have been hired without public health curriculum or community nursing experience usually take a full year before they are fully productive in a clinical or community setting. We believe that this change will have at least two negative impacts on the public health; first that nurses who choose to work in public health will need to acquire the theory and skills while on the job; second that nurses who choose practice in settings other than public health will have no exposure to public health principles or practices and be less effective in identifying and remedying potential public health risks or issues regardless of the setting they practice in. The Board of Nursing is accepting public comment on proposed changes through October 1, 2004. A resolution in opposition to these changes has been proposed to be forwarded to the Board of Nursing. Motion to approve the resolution and forward it to the North Carolina Board of Nursing was made by Chris Harlan, seconded by Sharon Van Horn, and carried without dissent. D. Update on Animal Services Transition Board members were provided with a current timeline for completion of the transition to the new organization. John Sauls responded to questions by the board. VI. Board Comments/Announcements Donna King provided “Healthy NC” promotional material to board members and an update of activities planned for the month. September has been designated as “Healthy North Carolina Month.” Rosemary Summers reported that Orange County Healthy Carolinians has been re-certified by the state and passed on favorable comments made regarding excellent reports and the success of pulling all the various community health partners together. Board members were reminded of the Board of Health sponsored Staff Recognition Breakfast scheduled for October 14, 2004 at Southern Human Services Center. VII. Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kate Wilder, seconded by Chris Harlan, and carried without dissent. The next Board of Health meeting will be held on October 28, 2004 at the Century Center in Carrboro, MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 2004 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 4 September 23, 2004 North Carolina at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director Secretary to the Board