HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/10/27 - Board of HealthMASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
October 27, 2009
Attendance: Mason County Board Members: Lynda Ring -Erickson; Ross Gallagher; Tim Sheldon - absent
Ex-Officio Board Members: Scott Hilburn, Hospital District #1; Peggy VanBuskirk, Hospital
District #2; Frank Philips, Fire Commissioner
1. Commissioner Ross Gallagher called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m.
2. Cmmr. Ring Erickson/Gallagher moved and seconded to adopt the agenda as published. Motion
carried unanimously. RE -aye; G-aye; S-absent.
3. Correspondence - None
4. Cmmr. Ring Erickson/Gallagher moved and seconded to adopt the joint meeting minutes of
September 22, 2009 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. RE -aye; G-aye; S-absent.
5. Draft Health of Mason County Report Card — Vicki Kirkpatrick gave an overview of the draft Health of
Mason County Report Card. It is the first step in identifying the key indicators of the health of Mason
County. It also identifies how the Health Department is doing. The first draft is also being reviewed by
the Community Health Task Force Steering Committee. She anticipates it will be published by the end of
the year.
Heidi Iyall went over the details of the draft report card.
Cmmr. Gallagher asked how often the document would be updated in the future.
Ms. Kirkpatrick stated the department would revisit the report card often.
Cmmr. Ring Erickson noted she would like to see the Board of Health review the report card for
recommendations to the Task Force.
Scott Hilburn stated he would like to see the Health Department challenge existing agencies to work on
specific portions of the report card.
There was discussion regarding the focus of the report card.
6. Office of the Director -
6.1 H1N1 (Swine) Flu — Information and Update — Dr. Yu presented the overview of what has been going
on with H1N1Flu. The criteria of what is reportable to the State has been changed as of September 19,
2009. All influenza cases that result in hospitalization or death are now reported. There have not been
a large number of hospitalizations in children, but more adults have been hospitalized. About 1 % of
people who are ill with influenza are hospitalized and about 16% of those people die. With H1N1
virus about .5% are hospitalized and 7% of those die. A small amount of vaccine is arriving and being
distributed. There is not enough vaccine to vaccinate everyone yet but there will be enough eventually.
The emergency declaration by President Obama allows for emergency access to care. Mason County
does not need to do an emergency declaration yet.
Cmmr. Ring Erickson asked at what point would Mason County need to do an emergency declaration.
Dr. Yu explained that if circumstances needed to be altered at hospitals, an emergency declaration
would need to be declared to change standards, such as stopping elective surgeries.
Vicki Kirkpatrick added that an emergency declaration would also allow the Health Department to tap
into emergency providers to provide vaccinations.
BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS
October 27, 2009 - PAGE 2
Lydia Buchheit gave an update on Mason County's response to the virus. There is now a website and
flu line that are being updated. Phones are ringing off the hook and the community is responding well.
The biggest problem has been the vaccine distribution. At this point Mason County has received 2,700
does of vaccine. The amount received changes every week. 11 community providers are receiving
vaccine. The focus is still on the priority groups, which are pregnant women, children, health care
workers and emergency medical workers. There isn't enough vaccine to do clinics yet. The vaccines
are going directly to the health care providers first and are allocated to the providers that serve those in
the priority groups fast. People should do other preventative measures such as hand washing to avoid
getting the flu.
Dr. Yu added that unless you have been diagnosed with H1N1, you should still get the vaccine.
6.2 Director's Report — Ms. Kirkpatrick stated most of the Department's time has been spent on H1N1.
They are in the incident command structure to stay on top of getting information to the community.
7 Office of Community and Family Health
7.1 Dental Clinic Anniversary Update — Heidi Iyall gave an update on the Mason Community Dental
Clinic. The program is from the Health and Human Services portion of the Comprehensive Plan. The
doors opened to the clinic last September. She went over the successes of the program over the last
year. 818 patients have been seen in the first year. Over $41,000 worth of charity care has been
provided. An anniversary open house is scheduled for November 18, 2009.
7.2 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) — Lydia Buchheit explained that this research has gone on
with the Center for Disease Control. It studies the health of adults that have had adverse childhood
experiences. A speaker is coming in on November 14`h to speak to child educators. This study and
preventative work is something the Health Department is trying to weave into the report card and
community task force work.
8 Manager's Report— Ms. Buchheit noted they are working on advertising on buses with H1N1 money.
9 Office of Environmental Health
9.1 Manager's Report (Deferred to November)
9.2 Waivers — Ms. Kirkpatrick presented the Board with the current Environmental Health Waivers.
10 Public Comment — none.
11 Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at 4:56 p.m.
ATTEST
annon Goudy, Clerk he Board
BOARD OF HEALTH
MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Tim Sheldon, Commissioner
Ring Erickson, C. ssioner