HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-1997 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
JULY 10, 1997
The regularly scheduled ,a,eetinG .f the Board of Directors
of the Plainview -Hale County Health Department was called
to order by Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton at approximately
12:30 P.M., July 10, 1997.
Those attending were: Kit.Linton, M.D., Stephen L.
Turner, M.D., John Castro, Cezar Cervantez, R.N., Sally
Meeks,R_N_, Dr_ Michael Hinze, John Peck, Dr. Janet Cruz,
Larry Mc Bee, L_rle Mc Donough, Mike Hutcherson, Benny
Cantwell and Mayor Lloyd Woods.
Also present was a guest of Dr. Linton, Tori Marnell, M.D.
and the secretary, Billie Standefer.
After the minutes were approved as presented, the Chairman
asked the Board's approval to pay the expenditures. With
a motion by Sally Meeks and a second to that motion by
John Peck, the Board voted its approval.
Dr. Stephen Turner reported fewer Communicable Diseases
had been called in, but explained Chicken Pox and a new
7- Viral illness had been "going around"_ (The Viral ill-
ness in older children.) He said, also, S.T.D reports
were down.
Mr. Castro commented on the canceled EPSDT Clinic for
children, and called attention to the information in the
Board packet about Core Public Health. He asked each
Board member to review this information. He mentioned
his plans to attend a meeting in Houston on July 19th
of local Health Departments, saying the issues to be
discussed would address legislative processes and de-
termine where Public Health, in general, is headed.
He commented that more services were being added to
Public Health agenda, but no funds had been added.
He stated the same situation existed in Environmental
Health - more problems, no extra funds. He explained
the Immunization Program was on "fair footing" with
$ 48,000.00 Grant funds_
Cezar Cervantez explained the Senate Bill #55, a Bill
that would become law September, 1997, would concern
the selling of tobacco to minors and their possession of
tobacco. He stated this law w^uld go into effect in
January of 1998. He, shared with Board members the
information that Grant monies from the State Comptroller's
office could be obtained to participate in this program.
He said this program might be something Plainview would
want to consider in the future. (This would allow minors
seen with or caught with tobacco to be issued a citation.)
Mr_ Cervantez said he had been working with Sherry Scott
of Lubbock discussing the possibility of setting up peer
groups in schools and colleges and advertising in news-
papers and on billboards to present the dangers of smoking
and second hand smoke.
Mr. Cervantez expressed his satisfaction with the "Immuni-
zation for Healthy Lives" program, saying Mr. Richard
Ligion, owner of the local Mc Donald's, had called him
asking to help sponsor the program.`' Mr Cervantez ex-
plained the Department would be offering free immuniza-
tions from August 4th thru August 8th to get children
ready to go back to school.
The Board, at this point, unanimously elected Mr. John
Peck to serve as Vice Chairman.
Mr. Cervantez explained that Title V Grant Funds had
been set up for the Survey of Community Needs by Texas
Tech Health Sciences Center. This required door to door
surveys or setting up surveys in businesses to determh.le
the two or three top needs of a given community. He said
Wal-Mart, Excel and Department clients had filled out the
surveys and he would share the outcome with the Board at
a later date_
Mr. Castro explained the Health Block Grant from the
State, saying the amount of the Grant was $ 69,000.00.
He stated the Department operates under three accounts,
52 Community/Rural Health, #53 Environmental and #56
Immunizations, and said in years gone by the Department
had more monies, but now had less money to operate.
Under new business, the Board heard Mr. Cervantez give
the plans for future Jail Clinic services. He explained
in the past services to the inmates at the Jail had been
limited, but plans were to have a Nurse go to the Jail
daily. He said the Department would not be there to
diagnose, but to consult and refer an inmate to a doctor
if need be. He explained this would save the County
money by screening the inmate's need to go to the
doctor's office. He said the daily trips would be
on a trial bases.
Dr. Turner stated Department Nurses were taking a
"load" off the Jailers because they could determine
the extent of the inmates needs and treat minor things
there at the Jail. He stated inmates complained of
headaches, toothaches and backaches that Department
nurses could handle_ He said Nurses were still learn-
ing. He stated he had gone out to the Jail to look
the situation over and to be sure the Nurses would
be safe. He explained this Clinic would save dollars
on transportation and trips to the doctor.
There was a discussion about the Jail Clinic as to
things that might present problems_
It was decided a decision about the Jail Clinic
daily services would be considered at the next
meeting_
Excused absences were allowed for Margaret Kay,
Earl Brown and Cinde Ebeling'.
The meeting was adjourned_
Billie Standefer
Secretary