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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-14-1998 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MAY 14, 1998 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of the Plainview -Hale County Health Department was called to order by Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton, on Thursday, May 14, 1998, at approximately 12:30 P.M., at Plainview Country Club. Those attending were: Dr. Kit Linton, John Castro, Earl Brown, Sally Meeks,R.N., Margaret Kay, John Peck, Dr. Michael Hinze, Cinde Ebeling, Benny Cantwell, Dr. Ron Miller, and Medical Aurhority for Hale County, Dr. Stephen L. Turner. Also present was Cynthia Palmer, R.N., new Nursing Administrator for the Department, and the secretary, Billie Standefer. After the minutes of the last meeting and payment of the expenditures were approved, the Chairman called for Dr Turner's report. Dr. Turner told Board members more cases of Shigellosis and Salmonell- osis had been reported and also a case of Hepatitis A. He stated there still was very little Immune Globulin, but explained a substitute of Tetnus Globulin was being used. He said it took a great amount of blood supply to make Immune Globulin. Mrs. Palmer told Board members there had been contacts for Hepatitis coming to the Health Department from Amarillo. Dr. Turner said there was a good vaccine for Hepatitis A that is available, and explained the State is looking at a proposal to vaccinate every one for Hepatitis A. He stated the vaccine would be less expensive in the long run than the cost of Immune Globulin. Dr. Turner stated reports on S.T.D.'s were about average. To Mr. Cantwell's question concerning Hepatitis B vaccine, Dr. Turner said this was a series of three (3) immunizations. He explained the Medicaid program required it for children. Mrs. Palmer stated College Programs will also require the series. She explained that children coming to the Departmentwere encouraged to get the series started. Sally Meeks stated she was having a difficult time getting her students to go back to the Health Department to complete the series. Mrs. Palmer told Board members the Department was sending letters to parents as a reminder to bring them in for immunizations. Dr. Turner told Board members his office has a tie -into the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta , Georgia, that allowed him to access the recommended vaccines for overseas travel to each country. He stated, it also gives information and recommendations for treatment of Malaria; it gives information about cruise ships. The Chairman asked for Mr. Castro's report. Mr. Castro introduced Cynthia Palmer, R.N., as the new Nursing Adminis- trator for the Department, and explained he had not attended the meeting\.;.,% in Austin because of the weather. He called attention to the information in the Board's packet, saying it defined Public Health. He explained funding, for core Public Health services may come out of the next Legislature, providing $ 5.00 per capta. He suggested expanding the. realm of the Health services to other communities other than the ones in Hale County. He stated Public Health Region I, (of which Hale County is a part) at present, had about seven (7) Sanitarians for about 40 or 50 counties. To expand, he said the Department could plan to offer inspections for, restaurants, Public Health education and tracking communicable diseases in other counties. In a meeting here, of the Regional Directors, including Diane Gillett, Claudia Blackburn, Doug Goodman and Dr. Charles Bell, Mr. Castro said Dr. Bell (Director of Region I) suggested hiring an Epidemiologist for Region I. Those attending, he, said, agreed one was needed. Mr. Castro mentioned that Cezar Cervantez,R.N.,had asked to be on the Health Board, if possible. He explained the structure of the Board, saying it was mandated the Board must have three doctors, one dentist. At present, he said, there is one dentist and one doctor, and the Board needs two more medical doctors. He asked Board, members to give him suggestion for prospective members, if they knew of any one who would serve. Mr. Peck, asked," At what time does the Public the aging population?" Mr. Castro answered, " Public Health involves the entire population, regardless of age." He explained all Core Public Health Services were "geared" to one thing - keeping a healthy population. He explained, for the young, there was immunizations; for the middle aged, health education; for the older, Flu and Pneumonia vaccines, blood pressures and S.T.D. testing. Dr. Turner said Mr. Peck's question might lead into the next item on the Board's agenda - the possibility of Drug testing. He said Medicare has de -listed a number of labs doing routine bases tests, and people were having to, pay for this out, of their pocket. He explained purchasing the tests from the company the Department had in mind, would cost about .25$ on the dollar. He stated when a person came to the doctor's office to be tested, the doctor could refer them to the Health Department to get the test at cost. Mrs. Palmer said this would be at cost, Plus a $ 5.00 fee for the administration of the test. Health service involve Mr. Peck stated many older people were having a "rough time" paying for their Medicare -Part B and their Medicare supplement. He said there were more people over 65 in the United States than there were teen-agers. Mr. Castro said Mr. Peck hada good point, and said the goals for the Health Department would be reviewed and modified to serve the older population. Mrs. Palmer mentioned she had received several letters from. the Texas Department of Health stating local Health Departments were going to have to prove their necessity; that the Departments failing to prove this would would be closed. She stated the letters stressed expanding Department services. She encouraged Board members to call offering suggestions if they see a need the Health Department could provide. To Mrs. Kay's question as to the number of Health Boards in our region, Mr. Castro answered, " Three." Mr. Castro mentioned the State Board of Health meeting slated for June 17, 18, and 19, and encouraged all Board members to attend if possible. He said, at this meeting, a committee would be made up of local Health Board members as a tie-in to Texas Department of Health. Mrs. Palmer said she had discussed with Dr. Turner and Mr. Castro the possibility of starting Drug testing at the Department for small businesses. She stated, legally, the Department could not test for larger companies (such as Wal-Mart and Excel) since they already had contracted for testings. She affirmed she'd had two or three businesses come to her with questions about getting the tests done. She said the company would send the complete kit to the Department: (a) The person getting the test would be identified by a number. (b) Testing would be done confidentially. (c) Test would be packaged; company would pickup completed tests. (d) Testing fee of $ 26.00 would include company picking a Physician, not from this area, to medically review test results; This Physician will contact the company for which the person works with the result. Dr. Turner explained the testing specimen has a special tamper -proof seal which the patient signs; the seal is not broken until it gets to the lab. Benny Cantwell recalled an incident when, after a late afternoon accident, an individual (an employee of Texas Highway Department) had to be taken to Lubbock for Drug testing, since no place to test in Plainview was available. Mr. Castro said he did not want to take this business from the private sector, but Dr. Turner assured him this would not be the case. He said the cost at the Department would be half the cost that it would be at the doctor's office. Dr. Linton stated she felt it would be a good service to offer, and Dr. Turner agreed. Mr. Peck made a motion to offer Drug testing as a service and review the outcome after one year. After a second to this motion, the Board voted approval. Dr. Turner voiced. his approval of the letter concerning Hepatitis A that had been included in Board members packet. Dr. Turner stated he would like to see the Board get "serious" about expanding services to Briscoe, Floyd and Swisher Counties. Mentioning Food Safety Inspections, water and septic system inspections, infectious disease tracking and control, S.T.D. clinic service and being a distribu- tion center for vaccines, (making vaccines available to all counties) he said $ S.00 per person would be about $ 120,000.00 in money from the State to provide these services. He estimated it would take one (1) additional L.V.N., one(1) Sanitarian, one (1) aide at an expense of approximately $ 60,000.00, to provide these services. Mr. Castro explained the extra Sanitarian would have to be a Registered Sanitarian; someone with a degree. Dr. Turner said surrounding counties would have to choose to be a part of the District, and would be charged a fee as the other communities are. Mr. Castro said he would send letters to county officials to get their input about this idea. There was no other business. The meeting was adjourned. Billie Standefer Secretary