HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-1997 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
SEPTEMBER 11, 1997
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors
of the Plainview -Hale County Health Department was called
to order at approximately 12:30 P.M., Thursday, September
11, 1997, at Plainview Country Club by Dr. Kit Linton.
Those attending were: Dr. Kit Linton, John Peck, John
Castro, Cezar Cervantez,R.N., Sally Meeks, R.N., Margaret
Kay, Earl Brown, Stephen Turner, M.D., Dr. Janet Cruz,
Cinde Ebeling, Benny Cantwell, Earl Mc Donough, Dr. Ron
Miller and City Manager Jim Jeffers.
Also present was the new Environmental Health Inspector,
Jack Mc Casland and the secretary, Billie Standefer.
After the minutes of the last meeting were approved,
Chairman Linton asked for the approval of the June and
July expenditures.
There was a discussion concerning the time frame of the
Department's fiscal year and questions about the new
salary increases. It was determined the fiscal year
ran from October 1 thru September 30, and it was explain-
ed the salary raises were figured into the budget at the
beginning of the fiscal year by Director of Finance
Norman Huggins.
After this discussion, there was a motion by Mr. Peck
to approve payment of the June/July expenditures. With
a second to this motion by Earl Brown, the Board voted
approval.
In Dr. Turner's report, he explained Communicable Disease
reports were few. He encouraged Board members to get Flu
Shots, and stated the strain of Asian Flu would be "bad".
He told Board members S.T_D.'s were up again, with the
second reported case of Aids in Hale County, plus an in-
crease in cases of Chlamydia.
Dr. Turner stated he and Mr. Cervantez had worked together
establishing statistics on the Jail Clinic, and explained
Department Nurses were seeing fifty (50) inmates per
month. He said, also, in looking at costs, the Department
had saved the County $ 3,300.00 in a two month period by
eliminating the expense of office calls to doctor's
offices. (This did not include the cost of security.)
This, he explained, would be a savings of $ 20,000.00
a year to the Jail budget. He stated the Jail Clinic
was still growing on a "learn as you go" basis, with
Department Nurses going to the Jail, daily.
County Commissioner Benny Cantwell said they had noticed
the difference at Commissioners' Court since there was
a bill only from one doctor's office rather than three
or four, showing a trend to fewer visits to the doctor.
Chairman Linton called for Mr. Castro' s report.
Mr. Castro told Board members free Flu shots were being
offered to City/County employees at the Department, and
said plans were being made to take Flu shots to local
businesses for their employees.
Mr. Castro expressed a desire to have two or three
Board members set up a committee to address "Teen
Pregnancies."
Mr. Jeffers suggested studying the Lubbock committees'
efforts on this subject.
Dr. Turner recalled a try by the Board three or four
years earlier to set up a committee to address this
subject that " went nowhere."
Mr. Cervantez explained he had a proposal in mind to
apply for grant dollars from the State to pursue
studies and education on abstainance.
Sally Meeks,R.N., stated the school had a committee,
made up. of parents, teachers and others that did add-
ress Teen Pregnancies based 100% on abstainance. She
suggested the schools and City/County committees work
together on this program
A discussion followed.
Mr. Castro introduced Jack Mc Casland as the new
Environmental Health Inspector.
Chairman Linton called for Mr. Cervantez's report.
Mr. Cervantez reported the following;
(1) The Department is working with Allen Treatment
Center, doing HIV testing and education.
(2) The Department following policy of asking
addresses of persons being tested for HIV.
(3) August would be Cholesterol Awareness month.
(4) The Heart Association would publish"Heart
Smart" Diets in the Herald.
(5) The Department administered 542 free immuni
zations between August 4th -8th.
(6) The Health Fair at Wal-Mart had 13 organizations
participating and giving information on Health
Services in the community.
(7) The Department will go to the Institute of
Adolescent Addiction to do counseling.
(8) The Department will focus on Health Awareness
concerns for October.
(9) Surveys were being done with restaurants to
promote healthy foods.
(10) The Department's Flu Shot Campaign would begin
October 8th.
Mr. Cervantez explained plans were to begin door to
door visits after the Flu vaccines had all been given.
He told Board members the Department could no longer
give Flu vaccine to doctor's offices, but the doctor
could order the vaccine from Austin, Texas.
The Board voted to have the doctors order their supply
of Flu vaccine.
Mr. Castro introduced Dr. Ron Miller, new ex -officio
Board member, and new Director of Special Services for
P.I.S.D.
Dr. Janet Cruz asked about a new law concerning tests
for Cosmetologist requiring liver lab reports.
Mr. Cantwell asked if the Health Department received
all the "dog bite" reports in Hale County.
Mr. Castro answered "yes" to this question.
There was a vote to decide to continue the Jail Clinic
on a daily bases. After a motion by Cinde Ebeling, a
second by Dr. Cruz, the Board voted approval.
There was no new business; the meeting was adjourned.
.409
airâ–º
Billie Standefer
Secretary