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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-13-1997 Board of Health MinutesBOARDOF HEALTH MEETING THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 1997 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of Plainview -Hale County Health Department was called to order at approximately 12:30 P.M., Thursday, November 13, 1997 at Plainview Country Club by Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton. Those attending were: Dr_ Kit Linton, Dr. Stephen L. Turner, John Castro, Cezar Cervantez, Dr. Janet Cruz, Dr. Michael Hinze, Sally Meeks,R_N., Larry Dickerson, Cinde Ebeling, Dr. Ron Miller, Benny Cantwell, Earle Mc Donough and the secretary, Billie Standefer_ After -the approval of the minutes of the last meeting, the Chairman called for approval of payment of the expenditures for August and September of 1997. With a motion by Larry Dickerson and a second by Dr. Hinze, the Board voted to pay the expenditures= Chairman Linton asked Dr_ Turner for his report= Dr. Turner stated the Department had experienced a busy two months with S_T.D's= He told of an outbreak of Shigellosis in Lubbock, saying Plainview had been fortunate just to have had a few cases. He told Board members the Department had surpassed Lubbock County in giving Flu Shots, which was very commendable_ He shared that the Jail Clinic was going well and keeping a " high volume" of patients (One patient was sent to the Emergency Room because of high blood pressure.) He explained the Clinic was still on a "learning curve", and his main concern was improving the documentation on the patients' charts. He mentioned the Cosmetology Licensing problem (the proposed requirement of Hepatitis Antibody screening for cosmetologist), and stated a corporation called Lab Corp had a hurrier service to pick up blood specimens, daily, get them to the lab in Dallas by air and final- ize the screening for a total cost of $ 5.75_ Since the Attorney General's office had intervened, the screenings had been postponed until a ruling could be made about its legality_ Dr_ Turner said the Department could possibly offer Drug Screenings for approximately $ 25.00, if they choose to do so, as it was a charge of Public Health_ There was a discussion about a solution of adminis- tering T.B. Skin Test and getting them "read" on time_ Sally Meeks, R.N. Plainview High School nurse, said the big problem was " kids having the test at the Department, and -Forgetting to tell the nurse it needed to be read. Dr. Miller suggested a method by which school nurses could be notified in a timely manner about any child that gets a skin test, so as to have it read according to time limit- ations. Mr_ Cervantez stated the T.B Program managing nurse, Teresa Guerrero, could make a list of daily tests and notify the proper school nurse, making the nurse aware the child had received the test. Dr_ Turner stated Hale County had a high percentage for testing "positive", but Plainview Independent Schools, now had a "T=B_ free" school system, but we could not let down on surveillance with testing. Mr_ Cervanatez stated, in a conversation with Diane Mc Donald, T.B. Program Manager of Texas Department of Health, Region I in Lubbock, she gave ages one year to fifteen months, six year olds and one testing for ado- lescents as the recommended ages for testing= He said when the"scare" of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis was on the rise, Lubbock City Health Department called to ask about Plainview's program. He explained the Department had given approximately 2700 tests, locally, with 120 Positive Reactors since 1995_ Dr. Turner told Board member he had been appointed, by. the Governor of Texas to serve on the Texas Health Information Council to study the activities of all the H M O's in the State of Texas and all of the hospitals licensed to operate in the State of. Texas, the Council had been given the charge, of coming up with a " report card " for the Governed, the State Legislature, the State Insurance Commission and the public (by 1998 or 1999) so as to afford information for comparing these facilities programs to get the best possible service= In Mr= Castro's report, he explained the TIES (Texas Integrated Encounter System), Program, a plan similar to the one four or five years ago, to bring health services to a "one-stop shopping" arrangement. Now, he said, they're planning a computer program to net- work all health information together_ Mr_ Cervantez shared: (1) This year's Contracts were being "readied" to be sent to the County Commissioners_ (2) He was trying to get the Contract funding amount increased for the future. (3) The Environmental Contracts with Abernathy and Hale Center needed signatures for this Fiscal year. (4) Jack Mc Casland, the new Environmental Health Inspectors is doing an excellent job; is up to date on all inspections across the county. Mr. Castro explained the Environmental fees from Hale Center and Abernathy reduced the amount of expenditures the City and County meet for the Department. Mr. Cervantez, explaining the addendum to the Board members original packet, was to give current information on the Flu Shots given by the Department(1600 to Lubbock's 1550); to inform the Board of Environmental activities; and to share information concerning cutting waste in vaccine for immunizations. Board Chairman Linton asked the Board to vote concerning the Contracts with Hale Center and Abernathy; after a motion by Dr. Hinze and a second to the motion, the Board voted approval of the Contracts. Mr. Castro explained the National Farmworkers Environment- al Education Program was a program to provide seasonal and migrant workers with information of the dangers of Pesti- cides and how to protest themselves against their dangers. He stated the Health Department had been asked to share a 1,600.00 fee for this service. Dr. Turner suggested no action be taken on this proposal until more information on the program could be obtained. Commissioner Benny Cantwell said the program had been presented to County Commissioners, but they did not budget for it because of similar programs by chemical companies. The Board votes to " table " any decision on the program until more information was available. (Here, the Board went into "Executive Session" to discuss the salary of the Hale County Medical Authority, Dr_ Step- hen L. Turner, M.D.) Back in regular session, Board Chairman Linton called for a decision on the Medical Authority's salary increase. Larry Dickerson made a motion calling for a salary in- crease for Dr. Turner from his current salary to $ 1,+00.00, with a cost of living increase received as any other City employee, contingent on the approval of the City Council and the Commissioners Court. With a second to this motion, the Board voted its approval_ Excused absences were approved for Margaret Kay, Earl Brown : and John Peck. There was no other ;business; the e f adjourned. Bi1ile Standefer Secretary;