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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20-1993 Board of Health MinutesBOARD MEETING MAY 20, 1993 The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the P Hale County Health District was held Thursday,)1993at the Golden Corral Steakhouse. May 20, 1993, at Board Chairman Lanny Voss called the meeting to order at approx- imately 12:30 P.M. Those attending the meeting were: Lanny Voss Dorothy Tilson, Dr. Mary Bublis, John Castro, Margaret Morris, Dr. g Kay, Nina Stephen L. Turner, Dr. Gary Abercrombie, Earl Brown and Dr. Kit Linton. Also present were Deborah Renfro, R.N. and Billie Standefer, secretary. The Chairman asked Board members to review the minutes last two meetings. After the review, the minutes were of oe as presented. pprowed The Expenditure Report was reviewed. With a motion by M to approve payment of the current expenditures and asecond Tilson Dr. Turner, a vote by the Board carried the motion. by Chairman Voss suggested a slight change in the Agenda, and ask Mr. Castro to precede Dr. Bublis in giving his report. ed Mr. Castro began his report by stating Board for selecting him as the new Administrator coftion the Health Department. He said one of his first concerns was in bringing the Department to full staff. He shared with Board members that the Nursing staff - Deborah Renfro, R.N., Ed Klokholm, R.N. and RubyRi Esther Banks, R.N., gglns emp- loyees), and Lana Burson,R.N, L.V.N, (all full-time handling the activities at the Department. (part-time)veryae, at this fficiently. time, He stated with the two Community Service Aides, two Clerks and a new Sanitarian coming on board, the Department was near full staff. Mr. Castro explained that he had resubmitted the Case Mana em application to the Texas Department of Health in Austin,g ent would start Case Managemant services immediate) but stated that evening Immunization Clinics were plannedoforethe month of May, from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. on Thursdays, in addition to the regular Wednesday Clinics and he was planning mobile Immuni- zation Clinics for Hale Center, Abernathy and Petersburg one day a week. He continued, saying that he was workingon a " state- ment " to clarify policies and mission that he wanted to have everythingoinewritingosotthat itrwould' be more helpful. Mr. Castro stated he and Mr. Jesse Nave , City Manager of Peters- burg, had reached an aggrement concerning the Contract dealing with Environmental inspections in Petersburg. He explained if the Case Management service grows, as he expects it do, he may hire another R.N. "down the line". He told Board members he had an article prepared for the Plain- view Daily Herald to run concerning the Health Department. He explained the article would also be translated to Spanish to run in the Altos Nuevos insert simultaneously. Dr. Turner asked Mr. Castro if the Department was coming in com- of 1988). pliance with CLIA ( Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment Mr. Castro explained that proper papers had been filled out and mailed on May 19, 1993, to the Department of Health and Human Services for approval as a Limited Testing Facility. Dr. Turner asked if the Department was in compliance with OSHA's regulations, to which Mr. Castro answered, "Yes". Mr. Castro shared that he had set up Computer programs for re- cording Immunization Clinic information and Environmental inform- ation. He stated, also, that he had set up a T.B. program for Esther Banks. He mentioned that Dr. Morgan, Region 2, Lubbock, said the Department could work with its own programs. Chairman Voss asked Mr. Castro to tell the Board members some- thing about the new Sanitarian he had hired. Mr. Castro stated the new Sanitarian was Cheryn Russ and that she came from the Texas Department of Health out of Canyon. He ex- plained she was a Certified Sanitarian -in -Training and was being " very highly recommended ". trained by Bob Badger out of Lubbock, Region 2. He said she came The Chairman asked Deborah Renfro how long she had been with the Department and to share her background with the Board. Mrs. Renfro said she had started at the Department on April 5, 1993; that she had graduated West Texas State University in 1986; that she had been a Registered Nurse for seven years. Dr. Turner asked where the Department stood on the Faciliprogram. ties Mr. Castro stated that he, along with Muff London, from the City Office; Ron Trusler, Director of Public Relations at Central Plains M.H.M.R., and Seth Halbert, Interim Executive Director of Central Plains M.H.M.R., had gone to look at the Sears building. He said the City and M.H.M.R. would consider the purchase and repair of this building, and would talk to him at a later date. A discussion was held on the possiblity of becoming a Health District. Mr. Castro stated it would take a lot of ground work; the Board would have to be an Administrative Board and make all the rules to govern the District. He said there were many places in the surrounding area that would need to be a part of the Dist- rict to have the Department's services available. Chairman Voss stated the unfolding of the District concept will take " a tremendous amount of work and cultivation of political sub -divisions and the governing bodies". He said the Board would be willing to help in any way possible in this effort. Mrs. Kay asked Mr. Castro if there would be any "disadvantages" to the Deparatment becoming a District. Mr. Castro answered that, basically, there were no disadvantages. The Chairman said becoming a District would change the structure of the Board. He stated they would work more; would change the constitution and other rulings and job responsibilities. At this point, Chairman Voss expressed his appreciation to Mr. Castro for his work ethics and complimented his ability for "quick study" and accessment of needs and situations. Dr. Bublis stated that currently reported Communicable Diseases included Strep Infections, Upper Respiratory Infections, Gastro- enteritis, Sore Throat, Pneunmonia, Bronchitis, Chicken Pox and one case of Hepatitis. There was a short discussion on the twelve positive cases of Tuberculosis and the T.B. skin tests done in the school system. Chairman Voss asked Mr. Castro to come forward to take his oath of office as Administrator of the Health Department. After he had administered the oath of office, the Chairman congratulated Mr. Castro. Following the Agenda, the Chairman presented a request by Mr. Castro for a monthly Automobile Allowance of $ 375.00. Mr. Cas- tro explained that the allowance was necessary if he planned to travel to different counties and meetings to set up plans for a District. After a short discussion, motion was made by Dr. Turner and sec- onded by Dr. Abercrombie, to permit the auto allowance for Mr. Castro. A vote by the Board carried the motion. There was a discussion of Board Meeting dates. It was decided that Mr. Castro would contact all interested parties with a meet- ing plan after checking with the City Officials as to conflicts with Board of Health meeting dates. Chairman Voss asked Mr. Castro to share with the Board the reas- ons for the requested equipment listed in their packets. Mr. Castro explained the need for a new refrigerator to keep vaccines as a desired temprature; the Reflotron for Diabetes screenings; a Television and VCR for Educational purposes in Clinics; a port- able refrigerator for planned on-site Immunization Clinics for Abernathy, Hale Center and Petersburg and two new Stethescopes for Well Baby Clinics. A motion by Mrs. Tilson, with a second by Dr. Turner to approve the purchase of all equipment requested, was carried by a vote by the Board. It was dedided that Mr. Castro was to use his own judgement as to whether to purchase the items at the list price. Chairman Voss explained that, due to absences of City Officials, the Executive Session planned for this meeting would be postponed until the next meeting. There was no other business. The Chairman adjourned the meeting. Billie Standefer Secretary