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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-13-1997 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13, 1997 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of the Plainview --Hale County Health Department was called to order at 12=30 P.M., by Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton. The meeting was held on Thursday, February 13, 1997 at Plainview Country Club. Those attending were: Dr. Kit Linton, John Castro,, Cezar Cervantez, R.N., Dr. Michael Hinze, Cyndi Ebeling, Earl Brown, John Peck, Dr. Janet Cruz, Dr. Stephen Turner, Mike Hutcherson, Benny Cantwell, Earle.Mc Danough, Mayor Lloyd Woods, City Manager Jim Jeffers and the secretary, Billie Standefer. . After the minutes were approved as presented, Chairman Linton asked for Dr. Turner's report. Dr. Turner stated, that as expected, many cases of Influ- enza had been reported, along with several cases of R.S.V. in children. He also reported cases of Scarlet Fever, Salmonellosis, Pneumonia, Hepatitis A,B & C and cases of Hemophilus Influenza. ( He encouraged everyone to be vaccinated for Pneumonia since reported cases had been severe.) He said S.T.D.'s were still being reported, and mentioned cases of head lice plus one positive case of AIDS. The Chairman asked for Mr. Castro's report. Mr. Castro explained " a lot of things were going on " in the Public Health community. He stated he and Mr. Cervantez had attended a meeting in San Angelo, Texas, where the main issue was. Managed Health Care and how Public Health fit into the program. He stressed Public Health is getting less involved in Primary Health care, and it is being phased out of some Public Health programs. Mr. Peck asked how changes would affect South Plains Health Provider Organization. Mr. Castro said South Plains Health Provider was estab- lished as a Rural Health Clinic, and probably, would not be affected by the changes. He stated Plainview was fortunate to have this Health Care provider. Mr. Castro told Board members before Dr. Smith left Texas Department of Health in Austin, he had establish- ed a "Task Force" to study Public Health functions that were essential to meet the needs for Public Health in Texas. He gave hand-outs to members explaining the Task Force's services and results for the program. (The Force also studied the financing of the essential services.) Continuing his report, Mr. Castro said he had received through the mail, a guide giving recommendations for Health departments. He said he was studying this to see what Plainview -Hale County Health Department could use. He also had hand-outs explaining Immigration Reform and the provisions that affect Texas Department of Health. He explained some of the expense would be funded by the State rather than the Federal Government. He told Board members Texas is one of the States that is to apply for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant to help finance Public Health care. The grant funds, he explained, would be divided and awarded to three local Health departments. (These funds were to be used to improve Public Health in the Twenty-first century.) There was a discussion on the Immigration Reform hand-- out, and Dr. Turner expressed concern about the reform not allowing free vaccines for illegal aliens. He said the children must be vaccinated because of the danger of spreading serious diseases. His concern was if it be- came necessary to establish an individuals rights to have the, vaccine, it would be extremely difficult to deal with the situation. Mr. Castro explained a meeting was to be held to address this and other concerns of the reform. He said he would get minutes of this meeting to find what was decided. Mr. Castro mentioned planned advertising to alert and inform the citizens of the need for Public Health'aware- ness . The Chairman asked for Mr. Cervantez report. Mr. Cervantez explained a project had been spearheaded in August of. 1996 to involve representatives from Health Care entities in the city and county in periodic meetings to discuss and plan Health care interests and intervene on addressed problems. At a meeting on January 30, 1997, it was decided to form a Coalition of these representatives. Representatives who attended the meeting were from= Methodist Hospital Plainview, South Plains Health Provider, Hi Plains Hospi- tal (Hale Center),and Rural Health Clinic (Dr. Loggins). St Mary Family Health Care was invited, but a represent- ative could not be present.. Mr. Cervantez reported a very positive response from this meeting, saying the group would work toward organizing and, possibly, applying for grants. They would promote interest in Health Fairs and Health Awareness Education. The group discussed the changes in the Medicaid program and discussed having a representative from Medicaid come to explain the changes in the program to make it more understandable to the general public. The representatives attending the meeting decided to increase the membership to include representatives from the school system , Wayland Baptist University and the nursing school and decided on quarterly meetings; the next meeting, to be in March of 1997. City Manager Jim Jeffers suggested getting the EMS in- volved. Mr. Cervantes said the Contract with Aberntaty had been initiated in a meeting with the Abernathy City Council in a meeting there on February 10, 1997. He explained a positive factor came out of the meeting when Abernathy chose to change the passing score for their food service establishments to 70 instead of 60. A meeting with Hale Center City Council was scheduled for February 20, 1997, he said. It was established City Councilman Larry Dickerson had replaced Don Dickson as a Board member, and a resignation had been received by Donna Womble,R.N. A new member present was Earl Mc Donough. Mr. Peck asked about the legal responsibilities of Board members. Mr. Castro explained as an advisory board that monitored recommendations there was nothing to worry about. Mr. Jeffers told Board members a Liability Policy was in place covering the Board, and the City Ordinance called for the placement of the Board. Mr. Peck asked this issue be researched and present definite information at the next meeting. Dr. Turner stated when he was Chairman of the Board, the signature of the Health Authority had to be on the Env- ironmental Contracts with the cities in the county. Mr. Castro suggested this action be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. Mayor Woods suggested a letter of appreciation be sent to outgoing Board members. Mr. Cervantez, in a statement about the Smoking Ordinance, said,"The way it looks right now, this ordinance is a "dead horse"." He explained Don Dickson had worked hard Qn the plans, but seemed to be doing the work on his own. Cervantez said he, himself, had gone as far as he could go with the plan. Dr. Turner stated, as Hale County Medical Authority, he was in an advisory position and could no longer push the issue as he felt the issue had moved to a political issue. Cyndi Ebeling suggested a preventive and educational approach to the smoking issue with informational adver- tising. It had been agreed upon that the Health Board should approach raising the awareness of the hazards of smoking.( ie. ads, billboards, etc.) Mr. Cervantez said a lot had been learned in trying to get the smoking ordinance passed. Mayor Woods thanked the members for their participation as volunteers in serving on the Health Board, and said he was also very proud of the "Turn Around Plainview" program and its success in deterring the sale and use of drugs in the city. The meeting was adjourned. Billie Standefer Secretary