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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-10-1997 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 10 1997 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of the Plainview -Hale County Health Department was held at Plainview Country Club, Thursday, April 10, 1997. Those attending were: John Castro, Cezar Cervantez, Earl Brown, Margaret Kay, Dr. Janet Cruz, Dr. Michael Hinze, Larry Dickerson, Sally Meeks, Cinde Ebeling, John Peck, Larry Mc Bee, Mike Hutcherson, Earle Mc Donough, Benny Cantwell, City Attorney Wally Hatch, City Manager Jim Jeffers, Mayor Lloyd Woods, Plainview Herald Reporter Kay Schubert, special guest Jesse Canales and the sec- retary, Billie Standefer. In the absence of Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton, John Castro, Department Director, presided over the meeting, and called the meeting to order at approximately 12:30 P.M. Mr. Castro welcomed new Board members Sally Meeks and Larry Dickerson, and opened the meeting by asking for corrections/approval of the minutes of the last meeting. Dr. Hinze made a motion to approve the minutes as presen- ted. With a second to that motion by Earle Mc Donough, the Board voted approval. Mr. Castro asked for approval of expenditures for Oct- ober, November and December of 1996, and January, 1997. Dr. Hinze made a motion to approve the payment' of these expenditures, and after a second to this motion by Mr. Peck, the Board voted to approve payment of the expendi- tures_ Dr. Turner reported very little activity in the reported communicable diseases. He said a number of cases of Chicken Pox were reported. He stressed the importance of getting childrens' Hepatitis B immunizations, and explain- ed that the Department had given several Immune Globulin shot to family members of Hepatitis patients. He stated the Sexually Transmitted Disease report was about the same, and said there were no new reported cases of Aids. Mr. Castro explained the plan to involve all Local Health Department Directors in the study of Public Health needs and how they will be funded. He said pians were to "net- work" all Health Departments together in this planned program. Mr. Castro stated that an outgoing Board member, Don Dickson, had been Vice Chairman of the Board, and ex- plained the election of a new Vice Chairman would be planned for the next meeting. Mr. Cervantez told Board members the Texas Department of Health had been pushing the childrens' immunization prog- ram. He explained he had set up Immunization Clinics with school nurses, and explained he had contacted Olton school, even though Olton is not in Hale County, about a clinic for Olton schools_ He said he had been contacted by Cotton Center schools, also. He voiced appreciation to Mayor Lloyd Woods for declaring April as "Immunization Month" in Hale County, and explained Immuniza- tion Week" would be observed April 21st through April 25th at Plainview -Hale County Health Department by, giving free immunizations. Mr. Cervantez told Board; members about the six new computers given to the Departmentand explained the ICES (Integrated Client Encounter System), a tracking system of immunization records for children in the, State of Texas. He said his plan was to perfect the program for Hale County childrens' records as soon as possible. In finalizing his report, Mr. Cervantez told Board members of the cases of Similac, Pedialyte, Ensure, Isomil and Tempra that had been given to the Depart- ment by the Lubbock Health Department He explained, because of a law suit settlement with a pharmaceutical firm, these items were given as part of the terms of the settlement. Since Lubbock's department, had been named one of the distribution depots to share these items with local health departments, Plainview -Hale County Health Department was allowed to share, with the stipulation the items be given away, not sold. They were to go to Health agencies. Mr. Castro introduced Mr. Jesse Canales, Administrator of the Hale County Law Enforcement Center, and asked him to give his presentation about the Jail Clinic Services. Mr. Canales told Board members assistance from the Health Department was really appreciated, but he explained more help was needed. He stated, at the present time, a Law Enforcement staff member was evaluating the inmates when they complained of being ill= He expressed a request for having Department nurses come to the jail three times a week to evaluate and review conditions of inmates. He said this would certainly be less expensive than trans- porting the inmates back and forth to the Doctor's office when it was unnecessary. He also felt having a nurse do the evaluation would be much better than having one of his staff do this. Benny Cantwell reiterated the service would save tax- payers money because of the transportation expense,, and felt the nurses could determine if an inmate was really sick_ The possibility of sending nurses daily to the jail facility and have them dispense non-prescription drugs was discussed. Dr. Turner expressed concern for having the Department nurses extend these services because they were working under his license. Mr. Castro suggested they should look at guidelines for the jail services and , also, at Dr. Turner's responsibility in the matter. He said the current contract with the jail should be looked at, and charges for additional services considered. He explained the plan could be studied and decided at the next meeting, because he felt Mr. Canales would appreciate an early decision. Dr. Turner stated there would be strict guidelines to follow . Mr. Peck asked Mr. Castro if these services could be done with current nursing staff. Mr. Castro answered, "Yes." Mr. Cervantez suggested doing a "trial run" on the jail service proposal. City Attorney Wally Hatch explained these proposed services should be studied first, because there could be more liability involved. It was determined a thorough study of the jail service proposal would be done before it was agreed Ion. Mr. Castro, stating again that Mr. Canales would like an early answer, set the next meetingfor Thursday, May 15, 1997. Mr_ Castro presented the Environmental Contracts for Abernathy and Hale Center to Board members for approval. A motion was made by Mr. Peck to approve the Contracts. After a second to the motion, the Board voted approval. Mr. Cervantez presented statistics on the leading causes of death in Texas. He stated, according to Texas Depart- ment of Health's vital statistics, heart disease ranked number one with cancer second. He also gave statistics for the leading causes of death in Hale County. Dr. Turner stated, State wide, the leading causes of death, in children, were= (1) accidents; (2) homicide; (3) suicide. It was determinedthat alcohol related teen deaths in Texas were 23.7 in every 100,000. Mr_ Castro introduced City Attorney Wally Hatch, and ask- ed him to share with the Board their fiduciary responsi- bilities as a Board member. Mr. Hatch said there had been some question as to allowed immunization services to Aliens, but from the information he had gathered, the Department was " in its rights" to provide this service.; He stated the "don't ask" policy was not to be used, saying,"Anytime policy was not follow- ed, the Department would lose funding for that service." He explained Board members, as individuals, could hardly be held responsible serving on the Board as a group, with- in the specified guidelines. Mr. Peck stated one of his concerns was approving the spending of money that might be an unnecessary expend- iture. Mr.'Hatch stated the Health Department bilis were valid bills, and said so long as a Board member was "acting in good faith" as a group, there was no problem. He stated, also, the Board was covered by insurance_ Mr. Peck asked Mr_ Castro about the percentage of his (Mr. Castro's) time spent -for the City and the County. Mr. Castro stated he spent approximately 30a of his time for the County and 70% for the City, and said his salary was probably 50/50 from each entity since his services were "intermingled." Mr. Castro asked for a vote concerning the disbanding of the proposed Smoking. Ordinance. Margaret Kay asked for and update on happenings since she had absent after surgery. There was a motion by Mr_ Peck and a second by Larry Dickerson to disband the Smoking Ordinance proposal. A vote by the Board carried the motion. Mr Cervantez shared with Board members a plan for an Education and Advertising program against smoking_ He stated Texas Department of Health had reserved $ 100,000.00 for this campaign and has said they would help Plainview -Hale County Health Department with advertising and billboards for ads_ He explained, once again, the Health Department's function was to promote Public Health, and the campaign against smoking fell under those guidelines. Mr. Castro told Board members Mr. Cervantez would be away from April 14, 1997 through April 25, 1997 in Military training, and asked them to direct their questions to himself during this period. Under new business, it was decided to present plaques to retired Board members Donna Womble, R.N. and Don Dickson, in appreciation for their faithful service to the Board_ Earle Mc Donough said he wanted to compliment Christi Rowell, Environmental Health Inspector, for being so helpful with the complaints about sewage in Seth Ward. There was no other business. Mr. Castro adjourned the meeting. Billie Standefer Secretary