BOARD OF HEALTH
May 4, 2009
** NOT APPROVED
Members attending: R. Truax, L. Cusumano, MD, C. Depner, MD, R . Gulati, MD, W. Simons, DDS, S. Herdman, T. LaFever
Also attending: L.
Ballengee, L. Hennessy, T. Hull, M. Warner
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of March 2, 2009
and March 30, 2009 were approved with motions from Dr. Cusumano
and Mr. LaFever.
Motions carried.
Swine Flu (H1N1)
The Health Department has
been holding daily meetings, keeping abreast of the developing flu cases in the
country and surrounding counties. To
date, Allegany County, has no cases.
Erie County Lab will be performing specimen testing, which should help
in getting results faster. Since the
onset of the H1N1 outbreak, the Department has been working closely with the
hospitals, nursing homes, schools, etc.
Erie County is asking for
the eight surrounding counties to sign a document that addresses school
closures in the event of a positive case of flu. This recommendation does not follow the
guideline that CDC has provided in reference to school closures. If Allegany County were to adopt Erie
County’s guidelines, we could be held liable if an adverse outcome were to
occur. Therefore, after discussion,
Doctors Cusumano and Gulati
moved to continue using CDC’s guidelines.
Motions carried.
Home Care
As of this date, the
department carries fifteen (15) patients.
All patients will be discharged as of the 29th of May. Patients have been given the option of being
cared for by VNA or Willcare. All, so far, have chosen Willcare
to provide their care.
No Patient Satisfaction
Surveys, accident/incident reports or clinical audits are available for
reporting.
It has been suggested that a
“closure presentation” be done. A
representative from Willcare will be asked to come to
the next Board of Health meeting to report.
The Department has received
their sanction letter. There are eight
sections of violation and the County could be charged $2000 for each. There is some question on just how the fines
will be assessed. The Department is,
along with the County Attorney, trying to contact the attorney at legal
affairs, hoping they would lessen the assessed fines. We can expect to see Medicare
correspondence also in reference to fines assessed.
LHCSA
The agency has three patients
and surveys will be sent out to them.
Have had three baby referrals, PKU’s were done
in Amish families.
Clinical record reviews (one
time charts) have not been completed.
There are no accident/incident reports.
June 17, 2009 is scheduled
for a Quality Assurance meeting for LHCSA.
A letter is ready to go out
to physicians, etc. in reference to this agency accepting baby visit referrals.
The agency has decided to
hold more flu clinics. They will
coincide with the blood pressure clinics.
Susan Hunter, PHN has
decided to continue working for the Health Department and will be assigned to
Public Health. Estelle Clark, PHN will
be assigned full time to Family Planning.
Accident Incident Report
There was an accident that
involved health department staff in the county complex. A chair mat was in the hallway and an
individual came around the corner, slipped and fell, hurting her shoulder. She is receiving therapy.
Things should not be put in
the hallway. Staff should take care of
themselves or call someone to come and get it.
Rabies Clinic
There will be another rabies
clinic on June 13, 2009 from 9-1.
Cancer Services
There are two opening within
this program. (Coordinator and Outreach Person).
Family Planning
The Board of Health acts as EMAC
(Educational Material Advisory Committee) for this program. Ms. Warner shared some of the advertising
she has done. The 8.5 x 11 poster has
proven to be the most effective, over the, for example, billboards. Advertising has been done in newspapers,
radio, pens, pads, and nail files.
With money provided from the
State for HPV, gas cards are being provided to those 19-26 year olds that come
in for vaccine.
Upcoming events include a
School Nurse dinner. L. Hennessy will
present on the swine flu, and
R. Reynolds will talk about
the Children’s Programs. Also, in June
Ms. Warner and Houghton College students will accompany 15 teen girls from
local school districts on a wilderness adventure. Self esteem and pride will be addressed. It was asked how participants are
chosen? They were selected by Ms.
Warner. These topics are also addressed
in classroom presentations.
Teachers ask what the
pregnancy rates are for their districts.
They feel that their curriculum is sometimes not adequate. School boards and administrators can be road
blocks when it comes to this education.
There were thirty seven (37) teen girls between 13 – 19 years old who
had babies in 2008. Ms. Warner gave
statistics to this Board by school districts.
Other Business
New Horizons of Wellsville
has requested a standing order through the Health Department to enable their
agency to administer annual tuberculin skin tests on-site to their employees, clients,
and volunteers. Dr. Gulati
moved on the request, with Dr. Cusumano
seconding. Motions carried.
There may be an illegal
tattoo and body piercing agency in Andover. Environmental Health staff will make a site
visit to evaluate this situation and stop the activity if it is found to be
occurring.
Mr. Hull updated the Board
on the Six S Golf Course purchase. The
development group has allegedly hired a New York State Licensed architect to do
required facility design work, and the group hopes to have a new club house and
banquet facility up and running by July.
They are in the market for a ski
center and have looked at a few in the surrounding areas. There
may be significant problems to arise if the development group doesn’t adhere to
any NYSDEC requirements regarding environmental reviews, permits, storm water run-off
plans, etc.
There has been a case of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in a County resident in Alfred
Station. The child has a history of asthma,
and had previously received all recommended doses of Pertussis
Containing Vaccine (PCV). The patient’s
mother, father, and six siblings have been identified as the child’s only close
contacts, and all have completed an appropriate course of prophylactic
treatment with Azithromycin.
Adjournment
There being no further
business, Dr. Simons moved to close the meeting. Mr. LaFever second
and motions carried. 7:45 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa Claypool