HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-2000 Board of Health MinutesPLAINVIEW-HALE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
AUGUST 10, 2000
The regular scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of Plainview -Hale County
Health Department was called to order at approximately 12:30 P.M. at the Plainview
Country Club, by Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton on August 10, 2000.
Those in attendance were: br. Kit Linton; Dr. Michael Hinze; br. Stephen Turner;
Margaret Kay; Sally Meeks, R.N.; John Peck; John Castro; Mike Hutcherson; Benny
Cantwell; Earle McDonough; Jim Jeffers; Mayor Lloyd Woods and Health
Department Nursing Supervisor Ericka Jathan, R.N.
After the invocation by br. Stephen Turner, chairman br. Kit Linton called for
review and corrections the minutes of the meeting. The minutes were approved as
presented.
Dr. Turner then gave his report on the outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases
(511)'s) within the Hale County area especially chlamydia. Dr. Turner feels that
the reason for the increase may be that more clients are reporting partners who in
turn can be contacted by Health Department staff for treatment. He also feels
that it is not that the disease has become worse, but the reporting has become
better.
John Peck suggested that perhaps better public education and warnings may be in
order. Not to give the community a fright, but just to warn them of the potential
problem with STD's.
Ericka Jathan discussed the problem with such a mobile community, which Hale
County has, that by the time the results are completed, the person who is infected
with the STD has long moved away and continues to infect others. It is very hard
to trace these people once they leave this area.
John Castro explained as well, that the Health Department as well as himself, are
working on some strategies to try to solve these problems and to better educate
the public as well as these people who do have the illnesses.
John Castro discussed the important function that members of the Board of
Health hold. He stated that the members are the major tool and that they are the
one who are in the community and take the problems of the community and bring
them to this table for discussion. You, as the members, develop policies to keep
the health of The community and make recommendations to stay abreast of the
health situations of Hale County. He continued to say, that when we, the members,
think of solutions on how to solve these health problems, we are to think outside
the normal paradigm and come up with possible solutions without thinking of the
money factor attached to the problem for the time being. As a Health Board, we
need to stand up for what we believe in and try to solve problems while working
together.
John Castro then presented a PowerPoint presentation discussing grants which
were received in the past as "give me" grants which now have special stipulations
attached to them. Texas Department of Health (TDH) has said that possibly
these "give me" grants could become competitive. Small local health departments
may not be affected by this, but this might not be the case in the future. The
grants we now receive are as follows:
1. Immunization/Local ($45,333.00)
This grant is used for immunizations for children and to private
providers
2. Bureau of Regional Local Health Organizations (BRLHO) ($69,600.00)
This grant is used for the administrative running of the Health
Department and for environmental health services with 26% of those
dollars dedicated to cardiovascular and cancer problems.
These amounts have been set and have not been changed since 1993. Everything
else comes from the City/County.
The definition of "What is public health" was discussed as well by John Castro.
According to House Bill 1444 there are ten essential elements that define public
health and out of those ten elements, two elements cover the whole spectrum of
what public health does. We now need to work on these two elements as set by
the State. Those two are: 1) To diagnose and investigate community health
hazards; and 2) To mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health
problems. So what does this mean to us as Board Members? It means that all of us
along with private providers, hospitals and clinics need to work together to solve
these health problems of the community.
John Castro then presented plaques to Margaret Kay and br. Michael Hinze for
faithful and dedicated five year service.
Dr. Kit Linton past approval vote for the contracts.
John Castro then discussed the TIFB (Texas Infrastructure Funding Board) grant,
stating that the total grant was in the amount of 4.5 M with each local health
department receiving in the vacinity of $54-55K for computer software, upgrading,
training, and connection fees. At this time, however, we are working with Texas
Department of Health to get those fees paid for from now and forever. We feel,
that the Health Alert Network should be maintained by the State and not the local
health departments. What the Health Alert Network will do for us is, better
reporting through computer notification of a health breakout. The information
would come through to all local health departments and we could start to address
these problems before it became out of hand.
Dr. Kit Linton opened the floor for question and answers.
Dr. Linton adjourned the meeting with the next meeting being held on October 12Th
at 12:30.
Ericka Jathan, R.N.
Nursing Administrator
Plainview -Hale County Health department