HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-12-1998 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
NOVEMBER 12, 1998
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors
of Plainview -Hale County Health Department was called to
order at approximately 12:30,Thursday, November 12, 1998,
by Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton, at Plainview Country
Club.
Those attending were: Dr. Kit Linton, Dr. Stephen L.
Turner, John Castro, Dr. Michael Hinze, Earl Brown,
Sally Meeks,'R.N., Benny Cantwell, Kathy Curry, R.N., and
the secretary, Billie Standefer.
After the Invocation, approval of the minutes of the last
meeting and the approval to pay the expenditures, Mr.
Castro explained the program planned by Jack Mc Casland,
the Department's Environmental Health Inspector.
Mr. Castro stated Mr. Mc Casland planned to conduct Food
Safety classes for a fee, and explained that, after the
expenses for the classes were met, the Department would
see a profit of approximately $ 800.00.'
Mr. Castro then introduced the Department's new Nursing
Administrator, Kathy Curry, R.N., and handed printed forms
to each member present. These forms listed: (a) Expand to
Area Counties, (b) Teen Pregnancies, (c) Smoking and (d)
Child Abuse.
He asked each member to cast two (2) votes per printed
form as an indication of which programs they considered
the most important. He also asked members to review the
information he had given them defining Public Health and
its Core Services, and explained the Medicaid Managed Care
in Texas was considering a Contract between HMO'S and
local health departments for reimbursements to the depart-
ments for Tuberculosis monitoring.
Mr. Castro said, in a meeting he attended at South Plains
Health Provider, there was plan presented to work toward
a "Community Needs Assessment" that included Plainview
and the surrounding area, with Plainview as the "hub" of
activities. He explained a report on the findings and
decision would be ready in the near future; he promised a
copy of the report for all Board members. He said the
main focus for the assessment was access to Health Care_
Mr. Castro stated Plainview -Hale County Health Department
was as advanced with the Medicaid program as many larger
departments, in that Immunization information entered into
the Department's computer system allowed overnight access
by Austin, Texas, to read and record this information and
send reimbursement for giving these Immunizations, immed-
iately_
Dr. Turner reported cases of Salmonellosis, Shigellosis
and Campylobacter. He stated, also, many Positive
Reactors to T.B. Skin Tests had been reported,
Mr. Castro stated the City of Abernathy had approved and
signed their Environmental Contract.
Hale Center Mayor Gordon Russell, Mr. Castro stated,
"wants to get Hale Center cleaned up." The trash, debris
and "rundown housing" problem Mayor Russell faces could
better be handled by making ordinances for these, rather
than have the Environmental Health Inspector enforce this
clean up, Mr. Castro said.
After a lengthy discussion of the programs that had been
considered for balloting, members chose Teen Pregnancies
their first concern, with Expanding to surrounding areas
,second.
Dr. Turner stated, with the Legislature for Public Health
Services being considered, he felt the Board shouldn't
ignore the expansion concern, saying if the Department's
proposal to provide services to surrounding areas was
already in place, it would benefit Plainview and Hale
County.
Mr. Castro explained "he would do the ground work" for
expanding, while the Board also worked on the Teen
"Pregnancies program proposal.
Members gave suggestions of ways to approach the Teen
Pregnancy issue, saying Public T.V. spots, getting other
entities involved, promoting other Public awareness,
contacting organizations - such as Crises Pregnancy
Center and the hospital's Pregnancy program - and
getting young people interested, would be wise appro-
aches to further education.
_Sally Meeks,R.N., suggested starting a program to build
self-esteem and promoting interest, in other things. She
said mentors for boys and girls (one on one) would be a
"positive" force
Mr. Castro mentioned the "Dolls" program, where indivi-
duals were given "turns" to take care of the "babies".
He said he would continue to look for foundations that
would supply monies for this program.
In closing, Chairman Linton stated Mr. Castro's idea
to continue to lay ground work for expanding services
to other areas was a good one.
With no other business at hand, Chairman Linton adjourned
the meeting.
Billie Standefer
Secretary