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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 092498MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 1 SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 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 THURSDAY, September 24, 1998 AT GOVERNMENT SERVICE CENTER MEETING ROOM, HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Timothy J. Ives, Melvin Hurston, Beverly Foster, Barry Adler, Jonathan Klein, Margaret Brown, Janet Southerland, Brenda Crowder-Gaines, Barbara Chavious BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Richard Marinshaw, Ron Cammarata STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Division Director; Eileen Kugler, Personal Health Division Director; John Sauls, Animal Control Division Director; Dr. Eugene Sandler, Dental Division Director; Patsy Bateman, Administrative Assistant; Ann Graham, Animal Control; Harvey Melton, Animal Control; Gary Morrison, Animal Control; Meredith Duckworth, Dental; Patty Rhodes, Personal Health; Renee Barber, Personal Health; Cathy Ferniany, Personal Health; Donna Jennings, Personal Health; Alicia Mincey, Personal Health; Pam McCall, Personal Health GUESTS PRESENT: I. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Dr. Ives called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Rosemary Summers introduced the staff present. Dr. Eugene Sandler introduced a new dental health employee. Eileen Kugler introduced new employees to the Personal Health Division. Rosemary Summers recognized the outstanding job of Animal Control staff Ann Graham and Gary Morrison at the Safety Fair on October 12, 1998. They won a 3rd place plaque for their booth. II. AMEND / APPROVE SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 AGENDA The agenda for September 24, 1998 was amended to delete III. Discussion Items C. Annual Report and to add IV. Health Director’s Report F. Policy Forum. The motion to amend/approve the September 24, 1998 agenda was made by Margaret Brown, seconded by Jonathan Klein and carried without dissent. A. APPROVE / AMEND MINUTES OF AUGUST 27, 1998 Minutes of the August 27, 1998 BOH meeting page 4, 2nd paragraph, line #2 was amended to read: Tim Ives stated that during his tenure with the Board of Health, this was the first tangible hands on/high quality… The motion to amend/approve the minutes of September 24, 1998 was made by Beverly Foster, seconded by Margaret Brown and carried without dissent. B. ITEMS FOR DECISION – REGULAR AGENDA (ITEM 1.) Included in the Board of Health packet is the Syphilis Elimination Campaign Grant. The state office has informed the staff that this grant has been funded at a reduced funding level. The budget page included reflects the reduced budget. From January through August, 1998 there have been 11 positive syphilis cases in the Hillsborough clinic and 11 in the Chapel Hill clinic, although some that were seen in the Chapel Hill clinic were not Chapel Hill or Carrboro residents. This is significantly higher than any of the past 3 years. Orange County has two MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 2 SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 distinct outbreak centers – one in northern Orange and one in the metro area in southern Orange. Staff is recommending that due to the dual outbreak areas, 2 half-time temporary outreach worker positions be created for this grant. To be effective in the short term, an outreach worker should be a community resident familiar with the community. This is a one year grant that will be over September 30, 1999, hence the recommendation for temporary positions. This will require support from current staff, both health education support and nursing support. The question was raised as to whether or not funds from this grant could be used in order to hire another health educator, since a portion of the current health educator’s time will be spent on this grant. Rosemary Summers responded that the grant calls for outreach workers to be hired. Board members noted that one effect of disapproval of the health educator positions by the commissioners during the budget process is the strain on resources of the health department to respond to communicable disease outbreaks such as this one. The motion to accept the consent agenda item as listed was made by Beverly Foster, seconded by Brenda Crowder-Gaines and carried without dissent. III. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. ADVERSE PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITION Included in the Board of Health packet is the DRAFT of Adverse Public Health Condition Rules. The rules contain specific definitions to be considered in applying these rules in order to address problems that affect the public’s health but which are not classifiable as an imminent hazard. Board members raised a number of legal questions, and requested that County Attorney Geoff Gledhill be invited to attend a Board of Health meeting and provide feedback regarding these rules. B. ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION RESOURCES DEPARTMENT PROPOSAL The commissioners were presented the attached draft proposal at their September 15, 1998 meeting. Board of Health members expressed the most concern regarding the overlapping scope of authority of this new department with other existing departments. It was suggested that staffing for the Commission on the Environment might need to be a shared responsibility between environmental health and the new department. The collaboration between the new department and the health department should be clearly stated in the proposal. The question was asked whether or not the development of the new ECRD would affect, complicate, etc. problems/issues that are already evident at the state and local levels. At this time there is no indication that it would. The health department is the regulatory agency for the environmental health area, especially the wastewater area and drinking water supplies. The role of the new department in relation to a regulatory function has not been made explicit in the proposal. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 3 SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 Questions were raised regarding the addition of a coordinating layer to already existing county functions, rather than creating a new layer of bureaucracy through the creation of this department. The Board of Health would like to have a clearer definition of the scope, purpose, and staffing responsibilities of this new department. Margaret Brown invited the drafting of specific language to be included in the proposal. The Board directed the health director to draft language to submit to the commissioners that reflects this discussion. IV. HEALTH DIRECTOR’S REPORT A. JOINT MEETING WITH DSS BOARD (HEALTH CHOICE OUTREACH PLAN) A joint meeting with the DSS Board is scheduled for October 8, 1998 at 5:30pm in the Library Conference Room. Participation in this meeting for Board of Health members is encouraged. The Orange County Health Choice Outreach Plan will be reviewed. Included in that plan will be an approval for the use of $1,400 that the state has allocated to OCHD from the Women’s and Children’s Division, specifically to be used for outreach activities. The plan is to use the funds to support training agency staff to assist potential applicants in completing the application forms and to pay for publicity. The state is developing materials for county use, however, their materials won’t be available until after October 1st. Also included in the Orange County plan will be a proposal for two positions for DSS to manage the enrollment process. One of the positions will be a time-limited position that will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The other position is a request for a permanent intake position. The time-limited position is intended to take care of the first year of increased applications in the Health Choice Program as well as Medicaid. People will be applying for both programs at the same time. This plan is also anticipated to include a fee schedule for the Health Department clinical services in child health. Barbara Chavious noted that, at a North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors meeting last week, the Orange County Health Department was recognized by Tom Vitaglione as being “ahead” of other counties in N.C. in implementation of Health Choice and would be a good resource for other counties. Flyers included in the Board of Health packet regarding Health Choice have been distributed at community events and are now in Orange County Schools, posted on bulletin boards, etc. Two training sessions were held for various agency staff with 90 people from across the county attending. The long-term education need with Health Choice needs to be addressed. The state is interested in improving the health of the population. Monitoring is needed in utilization of children who sign up for this program. The continuing work of the task force will be moved to the Needs of Children Committee of the Healthy Carolinians Council. B. HEALTHY CAROLINIANS CERTIFICATION The state task force committee on certification has recommended the Orange County Healthy Carolinians Council for certification and that will be awarded at their annual meeting on October 13th at a luncheon in Greensboro. Information regarding this annual meeting was included in the Board of Health packet in August. On October 16th there will be a luncheon at the Southern Human Services Center for the new and retiring Orange County steering committee members. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 4 SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 At the LaFiesta event 17 health agencies worked side by side at the Chapel Hill High School gymnasium. Estimated numbers indicate that 350-400 people walked through the health fair portion and received health information, screenings, or some level of service. There were 112 diabetes tests, 122 blood pressure checks and 15 of those were referred to health department nurses for rechecks. Finally there were 27 immunizations provided, 25 of those were to adults. C. RESPONSE TO BOARD QUESTIONS ADOLESCENT HEALTH CLINICS The Health Department Adolescent Clinic serves adolescents from 12 to 20 years of age. Teen utilization of the clinic is primarily for services such as routine physicals, sports, camp, college and work physicals, and sick care. The health department also provides STD diagnosis and treatment, family planning, pregnancy testing, TB testing, immunizations, nutrition counseling, and vision and hearing testing. Clinics are staffed by a public health nurse II, family nurse practitioner and a school nurse. Transportation to and from schools is provided by the health department. Several areas of need for further clinical services are services for management of overweight teens, comprehensive asthma management and availability of year-round services in the Chapel Hill office. MALE ACCESS AND USE OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT SERVICES The percentages of male participation in off-site health promotion program services varies with location. The highest percentage of usage is seen at the sheriff’s department, public works, and the homeless shelter partially due to these areas being male dominated. Services available to male clients are immunizations, communicable disease, adult health clinics, family planning, STD clinic, and adolescent clinic. The total number of patients seen in these clinics, including female patients, is 18,700 with 4,297 being male (23%). For the age group of 20-34 years of age there were 1,387 male patients (17%), with the total number of patients (including female) being 8,062. Percentages vary with different age groups. D. COMMUNITY EVENTS REPORT Festifall is scheduled for October 3rd. The 5K Walk and Roll is sponsored under the Fitness Council and is cosponsored by the Kiwanis. Volunteers are needed! The Octoberfest scheduled for October 3rd is sponsored by Efland-Cheeks United Voices and other CBPH agencies. For your review is the Principles of Community Engagement booklet. There is a reference to the CBPH program in this booklet. E. HOLIDAY PLANS An end of year holiday event for the Board has been suggested. December 10th or December 17th are suggested dates. Board members felt that the holiday season is stressful and last year it was hard for members to attend the holiday event so instead it was suggested that the Board attend the health department staff holiday gathering. It was suggested that the Board set aside December 10th as a potential meeting time, provided there is a need for a regular meeting. The motion to set aside December 10, 1998 as a potential meeting time was made by Barbara Chavious, seconded by Beverly Foster and carried without dissent. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 5 SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 F. REPORT ON HSAC POLICY FORUM Beverly Foster reported on a successful Human Services Advisory Commission Forum on Managed Care. Beverly Foster also asked for an update on progress toward developing a conflict of interest statement for Board members and also asked for a report on county comparisons on per capita funding, staffing, and services in the public health area. Staff was directed to work on these reports. V. ADJOURN A motion was made by Brenda Crowder-Gaines and seconded by Barbara Chavious to adjourn the meeting at 10:25 p.m. The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held on October 22, 1998 at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director RLS:plb