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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 121803ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH December 18, 2003 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 1 December 18, 2003 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 December 18, 2003 at the Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Mel Hurston, Chair; Alice White, Vice Chair; Matt Vizithum; Moses Carey, Jr.; Alan Rimer; Jessica Lee; Chris Harlan; Kate Wilder; Tim Carey. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Sharon Van Horn STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health 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: None I. Welcome and Introductions Mel Hurston called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. II. Approval of December 18, 2003 Agenda The motion to approve the Agenda of December 18, 2003 was made by Tim Carey, seconded by Jessica Lee, and carried without dissent. III. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda None IV. Action Items on CONSENT Agenda A. Minutes approval of November 20, 2003 meeting. Correction was made to Item IV.Decision.B. Committee Appointments to replace Sharon Van Horn with Matt Vizithum on the PHEADS Committee as listed in the minutes. B. Wastewater Rule Amendments The Board was presented materials at the November meeting regarding the draft wastewater rule changes. Because the review of the rules by the Animal Control/Environmental Health Committee was not complete at that time, the Board agreed to review the rules draft this month. The ACEH Committee met on December 2nd and offered a few amendments or edits to the draft. Most of these were minor, but were incorporated into the final draft. Since the Board already received a complete draft of the proposed revisions at the November meeting, the ACEH Committee’s comments were noted on the synopsis of the rule revisions distributed to Board members. C. Acceptance of Additional State Funds for Family Planning ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH December 18, 2003 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 2 December 18, 2003 The state received a small amount of supplemental funding from the federal government for enhancing family planning services to residents in the state. These funds have been made available because overall the state has exceeded the numbers of women projected to be enrolled in this program. The Orange County Health Department has been awarded an additional $5,480. The funds will be used to defray the costs of additional pap smear costs. D. Acceptance of N.O.T. Grant Funds NOT is a 10-session youth smoking-cessation program developed by the American Lung Association. The mini-grant is intended to facilitate the implementation of the NOT program by providing monies for supplies, materials, and incentives. The NOT program will be administered to 15 Orange County youth. The Project Manager for the Youth Tobacco Use Prevention Program will facilitate the program. Motion to approve the minutes of November 20, 2003 as amended; adopt the Wastewater rules with changes recommended by the ACEH Committee; accept the additional state funds for family planning services; and accept funds awarded for the NOT program and authorize the Health Director to forward to the Commissioners for acceptance, was made by Alan Rimer, seconded by Moses Carey, and carried without dissent. V. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action A. ACEHS 1. BOH Appointee to HSUS Task Force The HSUS completed a comprehensive assessment of animal services operations in the summer of 2003. The final report contained extensive recommendations for service improvements. The Board of Commissioners approved a task force structure and appointed at-large and jurisdictional representatives at its meeting on December 8. The Board of Health has a slot on the task force. It is unknown at this time when the task force will be meeting, however the work must be completed by March of 2004. Motion to designate Kate Wilder, Veterinarian member of the Board of Health, as the Board of Health representative to the HSUS Task Force was made by Alan Rimer, seconded by Alice White, and carried without dissent. B. PHEADS 1. Flu Update Traditionally, March has been the peak of the flu season in North Carolina. The State is experiencing high levels of flu-like illness that is causing increasing demand for flu vaccine by the public. Vaccinations began in October and most providers have exhausted their supplies of vaccine. Because of the early season, ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH December 18, 2003 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 3 December 18, 2003 demand is exceeding the available supply. Staff provided an update to the Board on actions taken and planned. C. Input to Board of Commissioners for Retreat The Board of Commissioners annually holds a planning retreat to consider priority issues for the coming calendar year. Their retreat is scheduled this year for January 30, 2004. The Commissioners asked that each voluntary Board or Commission complete an informational sheet for their consideration. Last year, each department head was also asked to provide information summarizing various items for the department. Board members provided input on what should be emphasized or highlighted for the coming year. Development of customer friendly permit process brochure, community assessment priorities, animal shelter replacement, and update of the animal control ordinance. D. Preview of New Position Requests and Capital Improvement Requests Each year at this time the budget office asks for any new position requests that departments will be adding to their budgets for the next fiscal year cycle and for any major capital items or projects that need to be included in the one-year capital improvement plan for the county. New position requests are: Animal Control Office Assistant I Central Administrative Services Reimbursement Spec/ Accounting Tec II Dental Dental Assistant Personal Health (upgrade 10 100%) Family Nurse Practitioner I Personal Health (upgrade to 100%) Social Worker III E. Office of Risk Management and Quality Improvement Personal Health Services and Dental Health Services have been required to conduct chart and program audits on a regular basis for a number of years. In addition, most divisions have OSHA and other risk management requirements that they must comply with. The addition of HIPAA requirements in the past year, as well as an increased focus on emergency preparedness spans the entire health department rather than being a responsibility of a single division. To more effectively meet current requirements and to improve the effectiveness of all health department programs, the health director along with the senior management team have agreed to create an “Office of Risk Management and Quality Improvement” for the entire department. No additional staff will be hired; rather three staff members will be transferred from Personal Health Services to the newly created office. Sandy Garrett, PHN III is currently the Risk Management Coordinator for Personal Health Services. She will be the lead person in the new office. In addition to Ms. Garrett, the office will contain the Public Health Preparedness Coordinator and the Volunteer Reserve Corps Coordinator. Ms. Garret will report directly to the Health Director. The duties of this new unit will include: • OSHA compliance monitoring and training for the entire department ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH December 18, 2003 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 4 December 18, 2003 • HIPAA compliance • Quality improvement system development and implementations • Managing audit requirements • Accreditation preparation • Public Health preparedness planning and training • Volunteer coordination • Public Guardianship Funds have been transferred from Personal Health Services as appropriate to the new unit for the current staff. In addition, each division will be assessed a base amount to be transferred to the new office for the services that it will be receiving. VI. Board Comments/Announcements A. Alice White, the incoming Chair of the Board of Health, presented a plaque of recognition and appreciation to Mel Hurston, the outgoing Chair, whose term expires on December 31, 2003. The Board was unanimous in its appreciation of Mr. Hurston’s service and outstanding leadership. VII. Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Tim Carey, seconded by Lee Werley, and carried without dissent. The next Board of Health meeting will be held on January 22, 2004 at the Century Center in Carrboro, North Carolina at 5:00 PM. This will be a joint meeting with the Board of County Commissioners and Health Carolinians Committee to receive the Community Assessment report. Following this presentation, the regular Board of Health meeting will begin at 7:00 PM.