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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 102501MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH October 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 1 October 25, 2000 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 October 25, 2001 at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Jonathan Klein, Chair; Janet Southerland, Vice Chair; Barry Adler; Mel Hurston; Barry Jacobs, Alan Rimer; Martha Stucker; Sharon Van Horn; Lee Werley; Kate Wilder; Alice White BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Letitia Burns, Central Administrative Services Division Director; Wayne Sherman, Personal Health Services Division Director; Donna King, Health Promotion and Education 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, Administrative Assistant GUESTS PRESENT: Sallie Johnson, UNC MPH Student I. Welcome and Introductions Jonathan Klein called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Barry Jacobs presented a brief explanation to the Board of Health of the Bonds that will be voted on November 6, 2001. II. Approval of October 25, 2001 Agenda Martha Stucker requested an addition to the Agenda under item VII: Volunteers. The motion to approve the Agenda of October 25, 2001 as amended, was made by Martha Stucker, seconded by Janet Southerland, and carried without dissent. III. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda None IV. Action Items on CONSENT Agenda A. Minutes approval of September 27, 2001 meeting. Motion to approve the minutes of September 27, 2001 was made by Janet Southerland, seconded by Kate Wilder, and carried without dissent. V. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action A. PHEADS Committee 1. Dental Health Program Mission Statement MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH October 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 2 October 25, 2000 Mel Hurston explained that it is required under North Carolina law that public agencies, such as health departments, obtain approval of the State Health Director, or designee, to operate a non-profit public dental practice. Once State approval is obtained, final approval is granted by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, as per statute. The mission statement from the OCHD Dental Health Service was presented for Board approval as part of this process. Martha Stucker recommended a change in wording from "populations in Orange County" to "residents in Orange County." Motion to approve the mission statement as amended and forward it to the State Health Director designee, Rick Mumford, DMD, MPH, CPM Chief of NC Oral Health Section, for approval was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Lee Werley, and carried without dissent. 2. Influenza Vaccine Distribution Plan Mel Hurston reported that the Health Department is not due to receive its first vaccine shipment until the end of October, with a graduated delivery schedule thereafter. This year the Department chose to purchase its vaccine from the state contract vendor because the cost was the lowest among the suppliers. There is great concern across the state that private for-profit health care providers seem to receive vaccine before public agencies and clinics although many vulnerable populations utilize public agencies and clinics for their care. Some then contract with local venues such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and discount stores for flu vaccinations that are provided to anyone that requests them. The National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) has worked for the past several years with the CDC and pharmaceutical companies to alleviate this problem. NACCHO would like to have a federal policy in place that requires manufacturers to provide vaccine to public clinics for vaccinating high-risk individuals prior to for-profit providers receiving supplies for the general public. This service has grown over the years in Orange County. This year the department ordered 5,000 doses, but it is unclear how many of those will actually be received. The cost for vaccinations and pneumonia are covered by Medicare Part B reimbursement for individuals that participate in Medicare Part B. For those not covered by Medicare Part B, influenza shots are $12 and pneumonia shots are $15. VI. Topical Briefings A. Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program - Wayne Sherman The goal of the program is to dramatically reduce mortality from breast and cervical MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH October 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 3 October 25, 2000 cancer by providing breast and cervical cancer screenings, indication, referral, and follow-up to older, under-served, low-income women. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program has chronically been unable to reach the number of women specified by the state contract and for the third year in a row has experienced reductions in funds as a result. B. Bio-terrorism Response Plan - Rosemary Summers The Public Health Emergency Response Plan has been under development for two years. With recent events, the Epi Response Team has reviewed and finalized most of the bio-terrorism component of the health department's plan. Rosemary Summers presented historical sidelights and brief history of biological outbreaks, both natural occurrences and as used in warfare. The department has been in touch with area pharmacies to try to determine the current state of antibiotic supply in the county. Both state and national levels recommend that localities be able to go for 72 hours on their own response level and that has been our goal. The department has created a database reporting system that law enforcement and other responders are participating in that track all of the potential exposures whether or not they are real. EMS has done an excellent job obtaining additional equipment and training that all the agencies have needed to respond. The Health Department response team meets weekly to stay current with all advisories that have come across and have altered our plans accordingly. Regular communications and CDC updates to medical providers have been sent. This is working very well, and providers have called us with questions. The Health Department has requested and is receiving a "Fax Blast" capability. It is a computer software program that allows multiple faxes to go out at the same time. This will eliminate a tedious and time-consuming task of sending a fax to each individual provider. Most medical providers do not have emails. A "Myth" sheet will be posted on the Health Department website to help answer many of the questions from the public and looking at developing more public information tools. The Health Department conducted a briefing for both school systems and encouraged them to look at their emergency plan and how a bio-terrorist event and response would fit into their emergency plan. The Health Department, EMS, and the Sheriff's department did a joint presentation to the Board of County Commissioners at one of their meetings. We will continue to work with individual agencies and business to develop community tools and responses. Still to be developed, are an ongoing surveillance system, so that we can identify covert events early and developing secure computer communications that are not subject to disruption. Department staff will also be trained in utilizing personal protective equipment. Jonathan Klein asked how much a full response level costs. Nick Waters has estimated that it costs approximately $24,000 to respond to full-scale alert involving the regional HazMat Team. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH October 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 4 October 25, 2000 Health Department 2000-2001 Statistical Report - Rosemary Summers The 2000-2001 Statistical Report provides data and background information for the Board on last year's performance. This has been a valuable tool as the Department begins to set priorities for next year's budget request. Slides are available upon request. VII. Board Comments/Announcements A. Volunteers - Martha Stucker A beginning draft of what a volunteer program might look like was distributed to Board members for their review. Division Directors were asked to identify areas of work within their divisions that might benefit from volunteers. When this is done, job descriptions will be developed around these tasks. This will be reviewed at a future Board of Health meeting. Motion to move to closed session was made by Alan Rimer, seconded by Mel Hurston, and carried without dissent. VIII. Closed Session Pursuant to G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3) ref: Tabor v. Orange County; and Holman v. Baldwin and Orange County Motion to move to open session was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Alan Rimer, and carried without dissent. IX. Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Lee Werley, seconded by Martha Stucker, and carried without dissent. The next Board of Health meeting will be held on November 15, 2001 at the OWASA Community Room in Carrboro, North Carolina at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director Secretary to the Board