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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-1965 Board of Health MinutesOctober 1965 The Plainview Hale County Board of Health met 21 Oct. 1965 at the Alcove Restaurant, Chairman Kirk presiding. Mr. Kirk read a letter of resignation from Dr. Joe Marshall as Health Director of the Health Department, effective loth November 1965. Edgar Brown made the motion that Dr. Marshalls resignation be accepted, with regret, by the Health Board. Second Randall Heye.. motion carried. Mr. Kirk commended Dr. Marshalls fine programs started under his direction and expressed the Boards thanks and best wishes for his future. Mr. Kirk requested a letter, from Dr. Marshall, reviewing Health Department activities and recommendations for areas of improvment in the Board's assisting a new director in future health unit programs. Mr. Kirk appointed Dr. Randall Heye, Dr. Ray Freeman and Ray D. Blair to serve as a committee to secure the services of a permanent director. Also to find an interim director to act until a permanent director could be found. The committee would advertise in Medical Journals and all other publications necessarySalery of interim director would be half that paid for a permanent director. Currant bills were presented for payment. Joe Mayo moved bills be approved..second Ray Blair. ,motion carried. Meeting adjourned. Members attending: Mike Kirk, Mayor Hood, Ray Blair, Marshall Pharr, Dr. Joe Marshall, Joe Mayo, Dr. Ray Freeman, Judge Abernethy, Edgar Brown, Dr. Randall Heye. Respectfully submitted, Mary Wadzeck,secretary JOSEPH T. MARSHALL, M.D.. M.P.S. Director Plainview -Hale County health Department Affiliated with Texas State Department of Health Tenth & Ash Streets — Box 1776 PLAINVIEW, TEXAS 79073 Area Code 806 Telephone CA 4-4359 6� Suggestions to Board of Health These suggestions are in two fields: (1) ways in which the Board can assist a new medical director, and (2) health unit programs for the future. They are presented only at the official request of the Board at its October 21 meeting. Regular reports presented to the Board over the last three years would, of course, explain much of the unit's programs as well as touch on relations between the Board and the medical director. Ways in which * th can It is assumed that the Board will insist on getting a full-time director and one with some training, if not experience. If there is a tendency to be satisfied with a part-time director or a "custodian of property", the decision should be made to either discontinue the unit or narrow its scope and staff to a bare minimum. A prospective director usually wants to know how the unit was started. Was it set up in response to community demand, based on a survey of the community's health needs? Was there and is there a community health council or its equivalent or has the Board of Health fulfilled such functions? How well has public health been "sold" to the community since its inception? Salary. In 1962, the Board of Health was offering one of the better director salaries for smaller health units in Texas. However, no salary range was established (in line with the State Health Department plan). After 3 years, a salary increase is in dispute. It is very important for most directors (as well as other personnel) to be encouraged by stated possible salary increments. These should be on a,one-year or two-year basis and hould be substantial. As an example, the North Carolina State Tuberculosis Hospital System offers an annual 5% increment to staff members who give satisfactory service. • Physical Plant. If the unit continues indefinitely in its present quarters, it should either curtail some programs or set up a branch office on a permanent basis. The preferred course would be construction of a new, specially -designed health center building or a rented building with better facilities (better separation into areas, etc.). Otherwise ah office could be opened in Hale Center on a part-time or full-time basis with nurse, sanitarian and clerk. Committees. There is nothing magic about a committee but it can be very valuable in case "everybody's business is nobody's business". If board memberhave special assignments, they might accept greater responsibility and might feel they have something definite to work on. There have been committees on budget and on selection of a health director. Additional committees on (1) health unit building and operation, (2) program analysis and (3) publicity and public relations could be of great value to the director in the success'2ful operation of the unit. -2 - Health P o rams in the Future. For the future, no new programs are suggested but rather extensions of existing programs. 1. Venereal Disease Control. Early in the Unit's development the director requested the medical society to give assistance in the diagnosis and treatment of cases of venereal diseases who came to the unit as indigents. A member of the society advised the director to treat his own cases. Facilit- ies for the examination of females with venereal disease are still inadequate. Physicians might accept cases on rotation either in their offices or at the unit when called. The unit's main contribution could be in the contact investigation and health education aspects. The rapidly growing venereal disease problem in the country, especially in the adolescent and young adult groupsicannot be ignored or handled lightly. Fees for physicians' services' might be provided by the State Health Department. 2. Migrant Health - Medical & Dental Care. This subject has been Presented to the Board and a committee was appointed to study it. Many migrants, children and adults, are turned away at medical centers by the business offices for lack of money. Funds for medical and dental care, in- patient and out-patient, are available through budget revision. These funds might be paid to physicians and dentists for services rendered in their offices and/ or in mobile or temporary clinics. Hospitals might be paid on an agreed scale basis. 3. Immunization. Measles vaccine is being bought and used to a limited extent. As experience is gained)the use can be exte4d to school indigent use by school nurses. Federal funds for immunizing agents can be obtained through a grant. The grant might also cover costs of a survey to determine the immunization status or level in the community. 4. Medical and Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling The recent plan for a new health center building included office space for a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. An additional counselor for the Plainview area was promised by Mr. C. G. Fairchild of Austin for 1966 or 1967. Housing this counselor in the health department office should stimulate the unit';4 participation in this field. This is a tremendous area of need and potential service.