Board of Health Minutes
November 1, 2010
** NOT APPROVED
Board Members in attendance were Sherry Herdman, Tim LaFever, Dr. Cusumano, Doug
Burdick and Dr. Simons.
Absent was Dr. Gulati .
Others in attendance were Lori Ballengee, Tom Hull, Laurie Hennessy.
The meeting was called to order by Dr. Cusumano at 7:03pm.
A motion was made to approve the minutes from the October 3, 2010 meeting by Dr. Simons, and seconded by Sherry Herdman. Motion carried.
A discussion was held on the 2011 budget. Lori indicated the 2008 and 2009 budgets ended in the black and this year should be no exception. In order to save money for the department Lori has eliminated cars for those employees who drive less than 10,000 miles a year. These employees now drive their own
vehicles and submit a mileage expense sheet.
Lori announced Theresa Claypool had recently retired and two other employees, Kathy Graves and Gayle Dunmire will be retiring before the end of the current year. Lori reported Health Department staff has been cut 43% since 2007. We are working very lean.
Lori mentioned to the Board of Health that each of them is required to complete the certification and take a quiz in regarding the Corporate Compliance Policy. All employees and contracted providers are to sign a certification form and take a quiz on Corporate Compliance also. A component of the Corporate Compliance Policy is also known as the Whistle Blowers policy for Medicaid.
Tom Hull reported to the Board of Health the order to Paul & Carol Ensell to correct an illegal sewage discharge to the surface of the ground at their property on Amity Lake. The Ensell’s have the right to appeal this order by contacting the Health Department no later than October 1, 2010. However, there was no appeal made to the ruling. By the BOH order, the sewage discharge problem was to have been corrected by October 15, 2010, through the installation of a replacement septic system. However, it was determined prior to that date that a different design of the replacement system would work better to serve the Ensell’s property, so a new septic system replacement system was issued with the updated design. This system must be installed by November 19, 2010, or the matter will be brought back to the BOH for consideration of additional enforcement action. A contractor has been hired to complete the job. The Ensell’s appear to be actively moving to get the appropriate system in place.
Tom reported to the Board of Health he has been interviewing candidates for the position of Public Health Technician. Tyler Shaw has been selected from the group that interviewed and has accepted the position, and will begin work for the county on November 8, 2010.
Tom also reported that he is still negotiating with an individual to contract with the Health Department as a Water Specialist. The individual in question needs to check on insurance premium costs for coverage required of independent contractors by the Allegany County. Once he has those costs, he will contact Tom and discuss whether he can afford the insurance coverage. If so, he will be offered a contract to perform Drinking Water Enhancement Program work on behalf of the department.
Laurie Hennessy reported the Health Department had been audited by the New York State Department of Health Clinical Laboratory Department. The Health Department was cited for only 3 items and asked to provide a plan of correction which is due on November 12, 2010.
The Health Department has been busy providing flu vaccinations to the public, local industries and schools. 2500 doses of the flu have been given. Laurie would like to schedule WIC clinics as the children have been underserved with flu clinics this year. Two large pediatric practices are not giving flu vaccine this year. Discussion was had regarding approaching farms and uninsured businesses to offer flu vaccine for the employees.
Pertussis vaccine has been used at various clinics and the Health Department has about 150-170 doses left. This vaccine has been offered to doctor’s offices that have requested it.
Laurie reported an incident that occurred at a recent immunization clinic. An 11 year old girl fainted and hit her head on the floor shortly after receiving an immunization. An ambulance was called but the father declined transport to the hospital. He wanted to take her to Cuba Urgent Care himself. The outcome was just fine. Patient is home with her parents and doing fine.
The Health Department will be audited soon regarding our adult ARRA vaccine and the auditors will be looking at the training given staff and financial picture of this program. This is a very short audit which should take about 30-60 minutes to complete.
Laurie reported she had updated the policies and procedures for use of Reagent Strips for Urinalysis, use of Hcg-Uring Testing, Allegany County Laboratory Testing for Vaginal Microscopy, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Amplified DNA Probe Test and Pap Smear. The Sliding Fee scale was updated today. The Health Department is allowed to charge a $17.00 administration fee when giving vaccinations. Sherry Herdman indicated a correction to be made on one of the policies and procedures. A motion was made by Doug Burdick to accept the policies and procedures updates with the correction made. This motion was seconded by Dr. Cusumano. Motion carried. A motion was made by Doug Burdick to accept the sliding fee scale as written. This motion was seconded by Sherry Herdman. Motion carried.
Laurie reported she would contact Hydromec and Northern Lights and see if they
want immunization clinics at their workplace.
The Lead Care II program was audited y the NYS Laboratory
Department and no deficiencies were given.
Laurie reported she was following 6 latent TB patients with no active TB who
are receiving LTBI treatment through the Health Department.
Laurie indicated the Health Department has been interviewing candidates for the
vacant public health nurse position. The Health Department will continue to
look further to hire a qualified candidate. In the past the Health Department
has had to hire a nurse with a bachelor’s degree. The state has indicated to
the Health Department that a Registered Nurse would be qualified to perform the
tasks indicated in the Family Planning Program. Lori will go before the Human Services
Committee and ask to create an RN position and leave the Public Health Nurse
position vacant. This will provide a substantial cost savings to the
department.
With no further business to be discussed, the meeting was adjourned at 8:07pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Norris