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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-28-1992 Board of Health MinutesBOARD MEETING MAY 28, 1992 The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Plainview - Hale County Health District was called to order at approximately 12:30 P.M., May 28, 1992, at the Golden Coral Steakhouse by Vice Chairman Dorothy Tilson. Those attending were: Dorothy Tilson, Mary Lou Truesdale, Dr. Mary Bublis, Dr. Kit Linton, Dr. Tony Loggins, Dr. Stephen Turner Mayor Gene Ridlehuber, Jim Jeffers, Earl Brown, Lewellen Hooper, Donna Womble, Ann McAdams, Richard Orr, Nina Morris, Don Dickson, Ben Linton and Secretary Isabel Rodriguez. Vice Chairman Tilson asked the board to review the minutes from the last meeting. After reviewing the minutes, the board approved them with one correction. After a review of the Expenditure Report, a motion to pay the Ex- penditures by Dr. Linton with a second to this motion by Dr. Loggins, carried by a vote of the Board. Dr. Stephen Turner was introduced as a new board member, taking the place of Dr. Busby who resigned from the board after 20 years of service. Also introduced to the board was guest Ann McAdams. Mr. Jeffers discussed with the board that due to existing space limitation, the Health Board has been exploring alternatives about existing facility such as remodeling and expanding present facility, building new facility or to acquire an existing structure somewhere in the community and to remodel that structure. Mr. Jeffers stated the Texas Department of Health is pushing the concept of One Stop Health Shopping. Recent conversations have been held with South Plains Health Provider by Mr. Jeffers and Mrs. Truesdale. South Plains Health Provider state that they have adequate office space to house the Health Department. Conversations have also been held with Mike Loving, Health Director in charge of Local Health Departments from Texas Dept. Health and with Dr. Morgan, Region 2 Health Director. They all think it is an excellent idea to explore -the One Stop Health Shopping option. Mr. Jeffers also informed Russell Klinkenberg, Asst. Director at South Plains Health Provider that the board would be considering appointing a committee to study the possibility of consolidating physical facilities and that they were more than welcome to work with this group to explore the possibililty of some type, of relationship, where we would be sharing physical facilities. At this time no one is suggesting that we do any consolidation of services. The advantage would be, instead of referring people across town we would be referring them across the hall, if there were some type of service that one of the agencies provided that the other one did not. This would solve our current housing problems that we have at the Health Department and should also r improve delivery of health services. Mrs. Truesdale added that Senate Bill 7 in the last legislative session mandated that a restructuring of health and human services in the state would occur. Effective September 1, 1992 it will all come under one large Administrative umbrella. This would include the Department of Health, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Department of Human Services and many other departments that are all inter -connected with Health and Human Services. We are encouraged to work more closely together to have a better developed referral system of both services information. Mr. Jeffers also told the board that one of the damages of not seriously exploring the physicsal consolidation of offices is that the state has said that's what they want. The State wants long term goals for operations to be more efficient. Ben Linton, President of the Board of South Plains Health Provider Organization informed the board of the One Stop Health Shopping that is almost complete in Amarillo, TX. He also told the board that there was inadequate space at South Plains Health Provider at this time to house the Health Department. He stated that what is being contemplated by South Plains Health Provider is that different sites have been discussed. Vice Chairman Tilson appointed a Sub Committee to study the possibility of consolidating physical facilities for the delivery of Health and Human Services. The Committee would consist of: Don Dickson, Nina Morris, Dr. Kit Linton, Donna Womble, Lanny Voss and Dorothy Tilson. Serving as technical advisors will be Jim Jeffers and Mary Lou Truesdale. A tour of the current facility and of South Plains Health Provider would be set up as a way of introduction for everybody so that everybody can see what it is we are talking about with existing facilities. Mrs. Truesdale also shared with the board that she had communication with South Plains Community Action Association from Levelland, TX. They have provided funding for salaries for a Nurse Practitioner and 2 Community Service Aides. Personnel fell under the direct supervision of the Health Department. The Health Department provides the services. They are currently proposing that we, in escense divorce our selves and that they set up a 3 team unit to provide Family Planning Services. They are asking for housing within the department. Mr. Jeffers, Dr. Bublis, and Mrs. Truesdale have a meeting set up for May 29, 1992 with Diann Gillett from South Plains Community Action to discuss this proposal and see what actually is the problem. A lengthy discussion followed regarding funding sources and other organizations and health care facilities. f 1' 7 f "ffl Mrs. Truesdale told the board that she would be having surgery of her right foot in early part of July and that Ann McAdams would be the person in charge in her absence. Mr. Jeffers also informed the board that Mary Lou Truesdale has indicated that she is contemplating retirement in June, 1993. At any time that you have one of your key players of an organization to leave, that is an oppurtune time to do an assessment. A Management Needs Assessment or Public Health Review brings in some outsiders to look at your operation with a critical eye, for constructive reasons. Management, organization, and those outsiders from the Texas Department of Health Central and Regional offices will take 2 to 3 months to look at where we have been, where we are today and where it is that we are going. Mr. Jeffers asked the board for authorization to form a request from Dr. Morgan that we have a Public Health Review. Texas Department of Health will contact us and establish a time table and also tell us the methodology that will be employed. Dr. Linton made the motion for the above request with a second to this motion by Dr. Loggins carried by a vote of the board to have a Public Health Assessment. Mrs. Truesdale informed the board that we are due to have a Maternal and Child Health Audit in July. It has been 2 years since the Health Department was audited. Dr. Mary Bublis reported communicable diseases. Mrs. Truesdale shared with the board that we have one more active T.B. case in Plainview. The Health Department has approached the Plainview Independent School District to begin T.B. testing again this September. They are reluctant to do so at this time. Abernathy is continuing to test, Hale Center is going to start again in the fall retesting all students. This will be for the 1st and 7th grade and all students new to the school district. Lengthy discusssion followed regarding T.B. testing. Mrs. Truesdale informed the board that an Environmental Contract has been signed with Petersburg. Excused absences were extended for Lanny Voss, and Dr. Gary Abercrombie by board vote after a motion by Donna Womble and a second to that motion by Dr. Loggins. There was no other business. The Vice Chairman adjourned the meeting. Isabel Rodriguez Secretary