HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-25-1992 Board of Health MinutesBOARD MEETING
JUNE 25, 1992
The regular meeting of the Plainview -Hale County Health District
Board of Directors was called to order by Board Chairman Lanny
Voss at approximately 12:30 P.M., Thursday, June 25, 1992 at the
Golden Corral Steakhouse.
Those attending were: Lanny Voss, Dorothy Tilson, Mary Lou Trues -
dale, Donna Womble, Nina Morris, Kit Linton, M.D., Lewellen Hoo-
per, Earl Brown, Don Dickson, Stephen Turner, M.D., Dr. Gary
Abercrombie, Mayor Gene Ridlehuber and Ben Linton. Also present
were Irene Barron; three guests of Dr. Linton - Brett Smith,
Susan and Don Goetz - and the secretary, Billie Standefer.
The Chairman asked the Board to review the minutes of the last
meeting; there were no corrections or additions and the minutes
stood approved as presented.
A welcome was extended to Dr. Stephen L Turner, a new member of
the Board.
Board members were asked by Chairman Voss to review the Expendi-
ture Report. After the review, there was a motion by Dorothy
Tilson and a second by Donna Womble to meet the payment of the
expenditures for May, 1992. A vote by the board carried the
motion.
The Chairman explained to the Board that Diane Gillit, M.S.,
R.D., Director of Health Services, South Plains Community Action,
was unable to attend the meeting as planned, due to a previous
committment. He asked Mrs. Truesdale to give the Board informa-
tion of South Plains Community Acton's plan for revising the
current Family Planning program.
Mrs. Truesdale stated that Ms. Gillit's plan was to take Lee
Whitacre, R.N.C., out of the Health Department office as the
Nurse Practitioner to do Clinics in other towns; that Ms. Gillit
planned to open an independent Clinic in Plainview for the pur-
pose of establishing a Family Planning Service. This Clinic would
employ an L.V.N. and a Billing Clerk ( to double as a Nurse's
Aide.) The goal for this Clinic would be quantity, not quality,
with a plan to issue Birth Control Pilis to a patient for a year
at a time.
Mrs. Truesdale explained that Texas Department of Health required
the Health Department to offer Family Planning -Services, as stat-
ed in the Department's contract with them. She stated that Family
Planning Services had been conducted in the past for the Depart-
ment by local Physicians.
She explained to Board members if Ms. Gillit is allowed to estab-
lish this Clinic in Plainview, the Department could lose all, or
part of, it's Maternal and Child Health contract funds.
In answer to Board members questions, Mrs. Truesdale stated that
South Plains Community Action paid the salaries of Lee Whitacre,
Irene Barron and Toni Rodirguez; that SPCAA planned to terminate
both Mrs. Barron and Mrs. Rodriguez. (She explained that as of
July 7, 1992, Mrs. Barron had accepted a promotion to Community
Service Aide III, with the Plainview -Hale Co. Health District.)
Dr. Stephen Turner asked who the Medical Director for the planned
Clinic would be. Mrs. Truesdale stated the Supervisor would be
the Senior OB/GYN resident at the Medical School.
At this point, Chairman Voss read a letter from Ms. Gillit indi-
cating advanced plans to establish the Clinic ( with a Class D
Pharmacy), in Plainview. After reading the letter, Chairman
Voss asked the Board what action they desired to take with this
issue.
Dr. Linton, Family Planning Coordinator for the Health Depart-
ment, asked how Ms. Gillit planned to publicize the Clinic, say-
ing that South Plains Health Provider Organization, Inc., plus
the Health Department were already known as " the Clinic ".
Mrs. Truesdale exlained that Ms. Gillit was expecting the Health
Department to turn over all existing Family Planning records to
her.
Dr. Turner stated that " in no way could Ms. Gillit provide
quality care in her proposed setting for services." He said
that the idea of the service being extended under the supervision
of an OB/GYN resident is " frightening", and to set up a Class
D Pharmacy under this plan was " ludicrous". He stated Plain-
view -Hale County Health District needs to reserve it's Family
Planning Services.
Don Dickson suggested the Board wait for City Manager Jim Jeffers
opinion, saying the Family Planning Records belonged to South
Plains Communitiy Action and would have to be relinquished to
them.
Mrs. Truesdale stated, 4mphatically, that the records did not
belong to SPCAA; that the records belonged to Plainview -Hale
County Heath District. She stated the records could not and
would not eleased to anyone without an individual consent
from each'and every patient. Dr's. Linton and Turner voiced
support, stating that, legally, the Health Department could not
release Medical information without the patient's consent.
Chairman Voss asked when the contract with SPCAA terminated.
Mrs. Truesdale stated it had terminated as of June 1, 1992,
but SPCAA was still paying salaries for Lee Whitacre, Irene
Barron and Toni Rodriguez.
Dr. Abercrombie suggested a "called" meeting, having City
Manager Jim Jeffers and Ms. Gillit present for the meeting.
After a lengthy discussion, there was a motion by Dr. Turner,
with a second by Dr. Abercormbie to have Mrs. Truesdale
explore the options for plans to continue Family Planning
Services at the Health Department. A vote by the Board carried
the motion.
Chairman Voss asked Mrs. Truesdale to call Ms. Gillit to let
her know there would be no response to her letter/plan until
she came to Plainview to meet with the Board.
Vice Chairman Dorothy Tilson, Facilty Committee Chairman, ex-
plained to Board members that the committee had decided South
Plains Health Provider Organizaton, Inc.'s building would not
be sufficient floor space to serve combined facilities.
Donna Womble stated that location of combined facilities would
not pose a problem since a trolley servies would be available
soon, thru Caprock Community Action. She also stated that the
building now being used by Plains Convalescent Home had been
offered to South Plains Health Provider Organization, and it
would accommodate the Health Department. She said that, at
this point, the buildings in Ed.gemere Shopping Center would
probably be the number one choice for housing combined services.
Ben Linton, Board Chairman of South Plains Health Provider Org-
anization, Inc., said there would be a committee from SPHPO app-
ointed to work with the Facility Committee appointed by the
Board of Health to determine the best location for the proposed
combined facilities. He explained the present location of SPHPO
no longer meets the need of that organization. He, too, stated
the SPHPO Board felt the Ed4gemere Shopping Center location was
choice in that it was near most Doctor's offices and the hospi-
tal. He affirmed SPHPO would work with the Health Department in
all ways to insure their retaining Family Planning Services, say-
ing this would help to guarantee maintaining State and Federal
monies.
Mrs. Truesdale stated she had talked with the Department of Hum-
an Services and Caprock Community Action, and they were interested
in coming together with services. She, too, stated the Ed$gemere
location was near other Medical facilities and the hospital and
was available.
At this time, Mrs. Truesdale recognized Irene Barron,C.S.A., for
five year's service with the Health Department, and presented Mrs.
Barron beautiful flowers and a five year service pin, stating that
Mrs. Barron had accepted a promotion to Community Service Aide
III. Also recognized for five year's service, with flowers and
pin, was Billie Standefer, Clerk.
In Dr. Mary Bublis' absence (due to illness), Mrs. Truesdale re-
ported Strep, Sore Throat and Chicken Fax had been reported as
current communicable diseases.
With a motion by Dr. Abercrombie and a second to that motion by
Dorothy Tilson, the Board voted excused absences to Dr. Mary
Bublis and Dr. Tony Loggins.
Mrs. Truesdale explained that she would be out of the office, due
to surgery, in July; but Ann Mc Adams would be in charge during
her absence.
Chairman Voss introduced Dr. Linton's guests and adjourned the
meeting.
Billie Standefer
Secretary