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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002/08/01 - Board of HealthBOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS August 1, 2002 Chairperson Commissioner Bob Holter called the meeting to order at 10:11 a.m. Attendance: Cmmr. Dist. 1, Herb Baze; Cmmr. Dist. 2, Absent; Cmmr. Dist. 3,Bob Holter. ATTENDANCE Dr. Mark Trucksess, Health Officer Steve Kutz, Department of Health Director Debbie Riley, Environmental Health Director Darren Nienaber, Prosecutor Ron Henrickson, County Administrator Mary Selecky, Secretary of Health Nancy Plews, Clerk Melissa Speigle, Mason County Journal, Reporter CORRESPONDENCE None APPROVAL OF MINUTES None ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT: Dr. Trucksess, Health Officer reported the July, 2002 Communicable Diseases as one case of Giardia, one case of Salmonella, one case of Pertussis/Whooping Cough, two cases of Hepatitis A, one case of Chronic Hepatitis C, four cases of Positive PPD and all four cases were started on Latent Therapy. Dr. Trucksess informed the Board there was an outbreak of E-Coli in Spokane. Normally there are about 150 cases per year of E-Coli in Washington State. Dr. Trucksess talked about a public health threat press release due to the sewage spill in North Bay and Case Inlet. Both areas have closed to shellfish harvesting effective July 29`h until August 1, 2002. Dr. Trucksess presented information about West Nile Virus as the warm weather is here and mosquitoes are out. The information has been sent out to veterinarians and they have asked to be on the look out for dead birds. These birds need be sent out for virus testing if found. PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUES Mary Selecky, Secretary of State of Washington Health Department, stated she is here to learn more about our community and the needs and services that are provided in this unique county. She did have time to sit in on a Health Department staff meeting and was impressed with the staff and the time that is spent on environmental health issues as quality improvement and not just a regulatory standpoint. Mary Selecky stated her interest in being here is to find out what the Commissioners are interested in and what issues have been important and how they feel about the relationship between the County and the State Department of Health. Ms. Selecky stated her responsibility is to make sure that there is a cooperative relationship between the local and state governments. Cmmr. Baze stated the intent of the Board is to be proactive and not reactive. He felt the Health Depai tnient staff has worked hard on getting to a proactive position. Cmmr. Baze would like to see the county's position to be ready for any unusual event rather than have it come upon and not be prepared. Cmmr. Baze felt as though the relationship has been positive when working with the State Department of Health and he would like to see this continue. BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS August 1, 2002 - PAGE 2 Cmmr. Holter would like to see the Health Depait,uent become better funded and the State DOH place a higher priority on this matter. His belief is with even greater budget cut backs coming, when an event such as the Anthrax occurrence happens the state has an immediate interest but when the event is over, so is the help from the state. Cmmr. Holter would like to see more consistency between the county and state DOH. Mary Selecky presented the Board with a packet of information showing the funding charts as it applies to the state government and then down to local governments. Cmmr. Holter would like to thank Mary Selecky for taking the time to come to the Board meeting and looking at the concerns, needs and partnership that our local Health Department has with the state DOH. Mary Selecky informed the Board that Washington State DOH is looking at quality improvement and there are two items that have been addressed for the public health system. The accountability is being looked at for how the departments are doing the work and what is the result of the work being done. One of the standards that are being addressed is to have a notification process in place for the health department. This should be documented and in place for communicable diseases that need to be reported immediately. In the event an outbreak occurs, there should be a reporting system 24 hours, seven days a week outlined for emergency purposes. She asked if the protocol is written and in place which identifies the priorities of the department. Steve Kutz, Health Department Director, stated that he had asked Mary Selecky to talk about standards and quality improvement. The Health Department had a baseline evaluation and is now getting ready to move forward looking at the standards and addressing the improvements that are needed in his department. ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES None ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH WAIVERS/VARIANCES Submitted to the Board by Health Director, Steve Kutz. ADJOURNED The meeting adjourned due to no further business. HEALTH OFFICER r. Mark Trucksess, Health Officer BOARD OF HEALTH MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON t,t avac l am. be, Bob Holter, Chairperson .6r Wesley l/John , Commissioner 7erb Baze, Commis rss on z.„7