Tri-County Board of Health Meeting February 11, 2014 Minutes

Transcription

1 Tri-County Board of Health Meeting Minutes The Board of Health was officially called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Thomas Fawell, M.D., Board President, at Tri-County Health Department, 6162 S. Willow Drive, Suite 100, Greenwood Village, CO Other members comprising a quorum included Carole Adducci; Joseph Anderson, M.D.; Janice Brainard; Kaia Gallagher, Ph.D.; Rick Hale; Paulette Joswick; Don Parrot; and Naomi Steenson. Dr. John M. Douglas, Jr., Executive Director, and several Tri- County Health Department (TCHD) employees were also in attendance. Introductions Stacy Weinberg, Director of Epidemiology, Planning and Communication, introduced Melissa Smith, Chronic Disease Prevention Coordinator, and Christine Demont-Heinrich, Health Planner. Jill Bonczynski, Director of Nutrition, introduced Marissa Donovan, Dietetic Intern. Brian Hlavacek, Acting Director of Environmental Health, introduced Keith Homersham, Environmental Health Manager; Warren Brown, Public Health Engineer; and Caitlin Gappa, Environmental Health Specialist. Current Infectious Disease Events Taylor Jones, Disease Intervention Program Manager, discussed the continuing pertussis epidemic and a foodborne illness outbreak that was linked to a restaurant in TCHD s jurisdiction. Mr. Parrot inquired whether other restaurants in the chain were implicated. Ms. Jones replied that no other restaurants were involved and that TCHD was working closely with the chain s corporate office. Ms. Joswick speculated that restaurant employees probably aren t given sick time; therefore, they come to work when they are ill. Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Development Calendar Mark Harkleroad, Director of Administration and Information Technology, presented TCHD s 2015 Budget Development Calendar and summarized key dates in the budget development process. Dr. Gallagher asked Nancy Jackson, Arapahoe County Commissioner, whether TCHD s Budget Developmental Calendar provided the counties with ample time and communication during the budget development cycle. Commissioner Jackson answered affirmatively, but stated that it would be helpful to have Board of Health members meet with their Boards of County Commissioners face-to-face one or twice a year to keep them informed. ACTION ITEM: Board of Health members to meet face-to-face with their respective Boards of County Commissioners once or twice yearly. Public Health Issues of Recreational and Synthetic Marijuana Dr. Douglas gave a PowerPoint presentation to the Board on public health issues related to recreational and synthetic marijuana use and discussed potential local health department roles including: monitoring use and health impact, public health education and possible regulatory roles.

2 Page 2 Ms. Brainard noted the issues with: 1) impaired driving, and 2) children consuming marijuanainfused edibles. Mr. Butts stated that there is legislation this session that would require child proof packaging for edibles if passed. Dr. Gallagher inquired whether marijuana smoke was as harmful to lungs as tobacco. Dr. Douglas pointed out the lack of data and explained that this has not been well-studied. Legislative Update Tom Butts, Acting Deputy Director, informed the Board that public health entities in Colorado are actively monitoring several bills, including those on marijuana, wastewater from floods, breast and cervical cancer, tanning beds, raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, broadening the definition of nicotine to include all nicotine delivery systems, prescription drug take back, etc. He also stated that many more bills were in the queue. TCHD Facilities Update Mr. Butts announced that: 1) the second floor renovation at Altura Plaza would be completed in March 2014; 2) TCHD would be contributing some of its space in Castle Rock to the Douglas County Department of Human Services; and 3) TCHD had decided against relocating its Northglenn Office to a build to suit site due to the property owner s requested increase in both price and lease duration. TCHD is working with its current landlord to identify space and will determine a course of action within three to four months. Our current lease ends in November Approval of the Minutes of the December 10, 2013 Meeting The minutes of the December 10, 2013 meeting were presented to the Board for review. Dr. Fawell explained that the fourth sentence on page three, paragraph seven, had been changed from Mr. Parrot stated he could not participate in the PHIP approval process because to Mr. Parrot stated he could not approve the PHIP because MOTION: Mr. Parrot moved to approve the minutes of the December 10, 2013 meeting as amended and Ms. Joswick seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Approval of the Financial Statements Dated November 30, 2013 Mark Harkleroad, Director of Administration and Information Technology, presented the financial statements dated November 30, 2013 to the Board for review. He noted that TCHD had budgeted a net loss of $58,000 in November, but only realized a $16,000 loss, which has increased the year to date budget surplus to $1.2 million. Preliminary December 2013 financials indicate we ll end the year with a $1.076 million surplus. TCHD plans to carry $700,000 of the budget surplus over into Mr. Parrot stated that budget deals in congress have eliminated envisioned cutbacks and inquired on the impact to TCHD. Ms. Bonczynski stated that this could positively impact the Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program; however, funding hasn t reached the state and is dependent upon our WIC caseload.

3 Page 3 Ms. Brainard noted that expenses for the Travel-Lodging line item were at 314% of budget. Mr. Harkleroad pointed out that, overall, travel expenses were within budget. MOTION: Mr. Hale moved to accept the financial statements dated November 30, 2013 as presented and Mr. Parrot seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Public Hearing Request: Adoption of New Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Regulation Brian Hlavacek, Acting Director of Environmental Health, informed the Board that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) Regulation #43 became effective June 30, To conform with Regulation #43, TCHD must adopt its OWTS regulation, which will be designated as O-14, by June 30, Warren Brown, Public Health Engineer, summarized the primary changes in regulatory requirements and discussed the opt-ins and TCHD s recommendations for each. Mr. Hlavacek stated the proposed regulation would be posted on TCHD s website thirty days in advance of the April 8, 2014 Board of Health meeting for public comment. Dr. Gallagher inquired whether there had been any public reaction to the proposed regulation. Mr. Hlavacek stated that there had been a couple of questions from installers, but no controversy. Ms. Joswick inquired on anticipated questions at the public meeting. Mr. Brown replied that we hope to determine those in advance. MOTION: Dr. Gallagher moved to hold a Public Hearing to consider adoption of TCHD s proposed Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Regulation, O-14, at the April 8, 2014 Board meeting and Ms. Joswick seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Approval of Locations for Posting Public Meeting Notices Dr. Douglas informed the Board that C.R.S (2)(c) requires local public bodies to designate the public place or places for posting public meeting notices annually at their first regular meeting of each calendar year. TCHD posts these notices at each of its eleven offices. Regular Board meetings are also listed on TCHD s website and on our counties websites. CONSENSUS: The Board members unanimously agreed to continue posting public meeting notices at each TCHD office, on TCHD s website and on our counties websites. Bi-Monthly Division Challenge: Public Health Accreditation/Strategic Planning Public Health Accreditation Ms. Weinberg provided an overview of the national public health accreditation process, which TCHD is considering undertaking. Prerequisites for public health accreditation are an agency strategic plan, a community health assessment and a community health improvement plan. Ms. Weinberg informed the Board that we would like our strategic planning process to tie in with public health accreditation.

4 Page 4 Mr. Parrot inquired whether TCHD had a quality improvement (QI) plan. Dr. Douglas stated that there are several QI plans in the department; however, we need to formalize and compile them. Strategic Planning Mr. Butts introduced Gurudev Khalsa, a management consultant with whom TCHD has contracted to facilitate/coordinate the strategic planning process. Mr. Khalsa discussed the fivestep strategic planning process and provided an overview of the strategic planning timeline. TCHD s Strategic Planning Team will be composed of the majority of TCHD s executive staff, Dr. Fawell, and at least one Board member from each county. Internal and external stakeholders will be identified and interviewed as part of the strategic planning process. ACTION ITEM: Mr. Butts to a list of proposed external stakeholders to the Board members for their review and input. Executive Director s Report Child Fatality Review In 2013, the Colorado State Legislature passed Senate Bill , which requires county and district public health agencies to establish or arrange for the establishment of a local or regional multidisciplinary, multiagency child fatality prevention review (CFR) team by January 1, Local CFRs must include participants from the local health department, the county department of human services, local law enforcement agencies, the district attorney s office, school districts, the county coroner s office and the county attorney s office. Funding is based on the number of deaths in each county. TCHD will receive $48,500 to plan, coordinate and host ten review team meetings per year. Currently, all child fatality reviews are conducted by CDPHE s State Review Team. TCHD WIC Receives Breastfeeding and Garden Grants TCHD s WIC program applied for and received $21,850 in grant funding for three one-time breastfeeding support projects. The first project will focus on building community partnerships to ensure physicians with large numbers of WIC clients utilize TCHD as a breastfeeding resource. The second grant will continue a current WIC project which provides a two-part training series to community partners to increase their breastfeeding assessment and management skills. The third grant project will organize and implement one north area and one south area breastfeeding support group with the aid of community partners. The TCHD WIC program was also awarded a 2014 Colorado Garden Show Grant of $2,250 to help provide new materials, tools, seeds and transplants for our three community gardens in Adams County. Social Media at Tri-County Health Department In February, 2014, TCHD created an agency-wide Twitter which will extend our outreach by enabling us to reach a broader, more diverse audience. Additionally, our Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) utilizes a Twitter and our Nutrition Division is preparing to launch additional social media platforms.

5 Page 5 Update on Shigellosis Outbreak at an Adams County Child Care Center Dr. Douglas provided an update on the shigellosis outbreak among staff and children at an Adams County child care center, which began October 18, 2013 and ended November 25, In total, TCHD identified 34 laboratory confirmed cases and 17 probable cases. TCHD s Environmental Health staff will continue to conduct monthly inspections for the next three months. An internal evaluation (i.e., hotwash) of the outbreak is planned in February Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers in Colorado In 2012, the Colorado Board of Health passed Rule 6 CCR 1011, Chapter 021 regarding influenza vaccination of employees in licensed health care facilities. As part of this rule, all health care facilities licensed by CDPHE are required to track the number of employees, licensed practitioners, and students/trainees who are vaccinated against influenza and report the data to CDPHE by March 31st each year. Dr. Douglas sent a letter to all health care facility administrators in our jurisdiction stressing the importance of vaccinating health care workers and reporting these immunization rates to CDPHE. We also shared the letter and statewide requirement with health care facility partners who attended our Healthcare Coalition in January TCHD Hosts Public Health Briefings for Elected Officials TCHD recently hosted two briefings for elected officials. Each session included an overview of departmental activities and challenges; highlights from our programs in public health nursing, environmental health, and disease control; and partnership development by TCHD leaders. The sessions were attended by approximately 30 officials, including state legislators, mayors, city council members, city managers and TCHD Board of Health members. A number of follow-up meetings with city and county executives and elected officials were scheduled as a result of these briefings. Bison Roundup at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal A Bison Roundup at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, previously one of America s most polluted areas, was held on December 17, 2013 to reduce herd size and collect tissue samples to help determine whether the prohibition relating to human consumption might be modified. Of the 27 bison culled from the herd, some will be sent to other refuges, two will go to Colorado State University and the remainder will be euthanized for tissue analysis. Gary Sky Receives 2013 Gold Leaf Award from Colorado Healthcare Communicators Gary Sky, TCHD s Public Information Officer, received the 2013 Gold Leaf Award from Colorado Healthcare Communicators in the Potpourri category for his submission entitled, Envisioning Waiting Rooms as Educational Exhibition Space. His submission described his strategy of utilizing lobby areas, hallways and waiting rooms as exhibition spaces designed to educate visitors about our numerous services through the use of oversized graphic images, backlit glass walls with photos and text, and a looped video presentation. His 2013 Gold Leaf award was the only award given to a local public health agency; most of them go to hospitals. TCHD Website Refresh Project TCHD is working with Civic Plus to update and refresh our website to better engage constituents via the integration and utilization of social media, to present an improved design that will make it easier to find information about our services, to dynamically format our website for popular smartphone and tablet devices, and to make the website easier for TCHD web content owners to maintain, update, and manage. The new website is expected to go-live in April 2014.

6 Page 6 NACCHO 2013 National Profile of Local Health Departments The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) 2013 National Profile of Local Health Departments, in which TCHD has regularly taken part over the past decade, has been released ( The Report provides a useful national perspective on a range of issues relevant to local public health including governance, shared services, partnerships, leadership and workforce, finance, programs and services, emergency preparedness, assessment and planning, policy involvement, and information technology. Set Agenda for the April 8, 2014 Meeting The April 8, 2014 agenda will include: 1) a public hearing to consider adoption of TCHD s proposed OWTS regulation; 2) a public hearing request to consider Environmental Health fee changes; 3) an update on TCHD s Public Health Improvement Plan implementation; and 4) a strategic planning update. Board Member Remarks Ms. Joswick congratulated Mr. Sky on receiving a 2013 Gold Leaf Award. Closing Remarks Dr. Fawell announced that a closed Executive Session of the Board would follow the meeting. Adjournment MOTION: Mr. Parrot moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:05 p.m. Dr. Gallagher seconded and the motion was approved unanimously. Thomas Fawell, M.D., President Carole Adducci, Secretary