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Home My WebLink About2001/02/08 - Board of HealthMASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS FEBRUARY 8, 2001 MONTHLY MEETING PAGE 1 OF 4 MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS MONTHLY MEETING FEBRUARY 8, 20001 The Mason County Board of Health was called to order by Chairperson Wes Johnson at 10:06 a.m. on February 8, 2001 with Board Member Herb Baze present and Board Member Mary Jo Cady absent. ATTENDANCE: Wes Johnson, Chairperson Herb Blaze, Board Member Dr. Mark Trucksess, Health Officer Steve Kutz, Health Department Director Debbie Riley, Environmental Health Director Joy Johnson, Personal Health Employee Susan Camp, Personal Health Employee Officer Gary Cane, Mason Matters Committee Member Bill Bouda, Mason Matters Committee Member Mary Duncan, Mason County Journal, Reporter Nancy Flews, Board of Health Clerk Sonja Rau, Board of Health Transcriptionist CORRESPONDENCE: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Herb Baze moved to approve the Minutes of January 4, 2001. Wes Johnson seconded. Baze, Aye; Johnson, Aye; Cady, Absent. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES ---- HEALTH OFFICERS REPORT: The Health Officers Report was given by Dr. Mark Trucksess, Health Officer. January Communicable Diseases Report: 4 cases Hepatitis C 2 cases TB converters (people who don't have active TB but need preventive therapy.) 2 cases Meningococcal Meningitis - both cases are children. - prophylaxis 29 people to prevent them getting the disease. 2 cases Shigella MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS FEBRUARY 8, 2001 MONTHLY MEETING PAGE 2 OF 4 Vaccine Update: The pneumococcal vaccine has been added for children. Dr. Trucksess also handed out the new vaccination schedule. Dr. Trucksess stated that each year the State Health Department requests providers of vaccines do a Bench -Marking Study, which identifies the source of insurance for the children receiving vaccines. Last year 40% of the children got their vaccines paid for through welfare. Summary of Sexually Transmitted Diseases for Mason County in 2000: 97 cases Chlamydia 04 cases Gonorrhea 07 cases Herpes 02 cases Syphilis 01 cases Other Dr. Trucksess reported there was an Ebola case reported in Toronto, Canada. There is concern in the US about this. Mad Cow Disease has spread into the European Continent. The brains of cows are being tested in US and there is a import ban of cattle into the US. The disease is spread by proteins, not by viruses or bacteria. It is spread to humans from cattle and sheep, just by eating it. Last summer 355 sheep were imported from Brussels and 4 were found to have the Mad Cow Disease. A similar illness has been found in deer and elk in the Rocky Mountain Area. People who have lived in Britain are not allowed to donate blood in the US. The CDC has reported that about 50% of the people infected with the AIDS Virus do not know it. The CDC is planning to identify these people, but it is not known how they plan to do this. The Center for Disease Control has withdrawn their former recommendation for universal screening for children with lead poisoning. It is found mainly in Eastern Washington in the Hispanic population due to lead pottery they use for cooking and storing food. Terrorism is continuing to be addressed by the State Health Department. They have addressed anthrax and are now addressing botulism, which can be spread in the air by bio terrorism attack. MASON MATTERS: Steve Kutz introduced the members of Mason Matters: Kim Clint, Executive Director Herb Baze Dr. Mark Trucksess Steve Kutz Gary Crain Bill Bruder MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS FEBRUARY 8, 2001 MONTHLY MEETING PAGE 3 OF 4 Kim Clint thanked Mason County for their help over the last two years and read the background and history of Mason Matters. Mason Matters was formed in 1990 when a group gathered to discuss the possibilities of forming such a group. In 1991 funding was received, which at that time didn't have a formal name but was formed around dental health for children. Mason Matters grew out of this group. A consultant was hired to help in the formation of the group and to help in targeting the most important issues in Mason County such as domestic violence and emergency shelter. A new organization was formed and incorporated in 2001 called Turning Point which offers safe places for domestic violence victims with one safe home, legal advocacy and other things needed by the victims to escape the domestic violence. Teen pregnancy was also a targeted issue in Mason County. Mason Matters has helped in that area in setting up a free Planned Parenthood clinic once a month. The first year evaluation shows that the clinic has served 196 teens, male and female, with 43% being new clients and over 50% of the young women were receiving women's health care at the same time from Planned Parenthood. The immediate need is for ongoing funding to keep these programs going. A packet, called KIPS (Key Information for Parenting Success), was put together for parents to help them to talk to their teens about the problems that teens face such as smoking, drugs, drinking and teen pregnancy, and how to make the right choices. Currently Mason Matters is working on water issues, and setting up an internet web site up with resources from the Crisis Clinic for service providers to have easy access. On the Mason Matters Internet web site they are listing needs and resources in the Community. Pioneer School 6th and 7"' graders are going out into their community and doing reports on things that have happened or are going to happen in their community. These are graded and then sent to the web site for all to read and get information of what is happening in the community. Eventually, all the schools will be participating. Steve Kutz stated that we are a year away from those who have met the allotted years of welfare participation, to be off the welfare rolls. It is not yet known how this well affect funding. PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUES ---- Steve Kutz stated that the children's dental health care organization is still on going. Mason County applied for under dental care service area. Mason County was recognized as an underserved area. The hope is that it will open up access for those that don't have the resources. It was also announced that medicaid will no longer be accepted by the Health Department, due to low reimbursement rates and the hassle of getting those payments. This is going to bring on a medical emergency in the State. Also lack of funding is going to cause the closure of rural hospitals and lack of health care for those people who lack funds. MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER'S CHAMBERS FEBRUARY 8, 2001 MONTHLY MEETING PAGE 4 OF 4 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ---- Steve Kutz presented waivers and variances to the Board of Health. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.. Respectfully submitted by Sonja au, Transcriptionist E' ai Wes Jo son, airperson Herb Baze, Board Member r. Mark Trucksess, Health Officer Mary Jo Cady, Board Member (Absent)