WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 04/25/2008WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD MINUTES
April 25, 2008
Wichita Falls - Wichita County Public Health District
1700 Third Street - Parker Conference Room
Wichita Falls, Texas
4W
MEMBERS PRESENT: U
Richard Sutton, M.D, Chair III Board Members 0 LL
Kathy Sultemeier, D.V.M., Secretary p
David Carlston, Ph.D. Z Y
Lauren Jansen, R.N.C. w w m
Robin Moreno, M.T. >_ 0 WJ
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MEMBERS ABSENCE EXCUSED: owc v o m ca
Tracy Hill, D.D.S.
Bryan Press, Vice -Chair
Lou Franklin
Amy Cone
Glen Minter, M.D.
Matt Benoit
Woodrow "Woody" Gossom
Ray Gonzales
Director of Health
Assistant Director of Health
Associate Health Authority
Assistant City Manager
County Judge
City Councilor
I. CALL TO ORDER & INTRODUCTIONS
Chair Dr. Sutton called the Board of Health meeting to order at 12:00 pm after a quorum of members
were obtained. As a courtesy to Dr. Carlston, who is new to the Board, everyone introduced
themselves.
II. REVIEW & APPROVAL OF APRIL 2008 MEETING MINUTES
Chair Dr. Sutton called for review and approval of the February 22, 2008 meeting minutes. Mrs.
Jansen introduced a motion to approve the minutes as presented and Dr. Carlston seconded the
motion. Motion passed unanimously.
III. HEALTH FAIR
Amy Cone, Assistant Director of Health, provided an overview of the annual Health Fair hosted by
the Health District on Saturday, April 12, 2008. The Health Fair was held in conjunction with
National Public Health Week and focused on partnering with public health. There were
approximately 250 attendees and 32 partner agencies that participated. Health District staff offered
information, education, testing, services, and other activities for adults, children and even pets. All
the various programs within the Health District represented, including Nursing, Animal and Vector
Control, General Environmental Health, Emergency Preparedness, Vital Records (birth and death
records), WIC (Women, Infants, Children) program, the Laboratory and Water Pollution. The Health
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District nursing staff offered services including immunizations, blood sugar, blood pressure and body
fat testing, child safety seats and SIDS education. Environmental Health did spotlights on pools,
food inspections and had a hand washing station. City tags for pets were available from Animal
Control. A few of the partner agencies attending the event were AirVac, AMR, Community
Healthcare Center, Family Planning Center, Wichita Falls Fire Department, Humane Society,
P.E.T.S., Texas Blood Institute, and United Way. AirVac flew in but ended up leaving due to a call
and AMR had an ambulance available to go inside. The dental van of the Community Healthcare
Center was here. The Fire Department educated through demonstration of their fire safety house.
The Health District is now included on the City bus route, so they brought out a bus for the public's
inspection. Free cholesterol screening was offered by the Texas Blood Institute. The Humane
Society offered low cost vaccinations, P.E.T.S. was able to microchip, clip toenails, and brought out
pets for adoption, which was a huge success.
It is in the plan to expand partnerships so more and different services will be made available for the
community. The Health Fair for next year is scheduled for Saturday, April 04, 2009.
IV. STRATEGIC PLAN OVERVIEW
Amy Cone, Assistant Director of Health, was initially scheduled to present the five -year Strategic
Plan, instead Lou Franklin, Director of Health, discussed the National Public Health Performance
Standards Assessment (NPHPSA) since the performance standards and assessment processes are
essential precursors to the strategic planning process. After attending an out -of -state conference
on the NPHPSA, Lou Franklin provided a summary of the assessment process and potential
outcomes to the board.
The assessment of public health systems using national standards is occurring on local, state and
federal levels. The Health District collaborates with other local entities though membership with the
Texas Association of Local Health Officials (TALHO) and receives guidance from a group of national
partnerships, including Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Association of State &
Territorial Health Officials (ATHSO), National Association of County & City Health Officials
(NACCHO), National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH), American Public Health
Association (APHA), Public Health Foundation (PHF), and the Network of National Public Health
Institutes (NNPHI).
Ms. Franklin discussed the current process for creating and implementing the Health District's five -
year plan, which has historically been used as the primary method for tracking progress and goals
for Health District programs. She expressed the need to re- evaluate the Health District's
performance standards, health assessment and make sure these are the goals needed to be set, if
the attention is where it really needs to be, and what is really best for the community. The NPHPSA
provides the opportunity for an assessment of the current status of the public health system as well
as identification of any gaps that need to be addressed.
The national performance standards began in 1998 with the version one instruments released in
2002 being used in more than 30 states from 2002 -2007. People found the version one instrument
confusing, so in 2005 they went back to develop the new version two instruments that is small and
incorporates the ten essential public health services. The vision and the goals are to improve the
quality of public health and performance standards.
The goal of the assessment is to utilize partnerships within the community to build a stronger
foundation for public health and to use continuous improvement mechanisms to make needed
changes based on the assessment. The process involves bringing community partners together
including public, private and voluntary entities that contribute to public health. There are four
primary guiding concepts that are part of the assessment: the ten essential public health services as
a foundation, a focus on the overall public health system, determining an optimal level of
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I
performance, and supporting a process of quality improvement. Doing the assessment is part of
the process of developing and reworking a mission and vision and not only for the Health District but
for the community as a whole.
TALHO has received a grant from NACCHO to promote the use of assessment in the local health
department. Ms. Franklin advised that she has spoken with TALHO and plans to work toward
completing the assessment. Letters will be sent out community partners indicating a meeting date
and providing the necessary information. Meetings can be occur in two one -day meetings or broken
down into sections for shorter meetings.
V. NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT LOGO
Ms. Franklin presented handouts that explained the shield and meaning of the Health District's new
logo that was developed through the National Association of County and City Health Officials
( NACCHO) that is being used nationwide in hopes of automatic recognition of Public Health
Departments. A brief explanation of the key components of the logo was given. The shield within
the logo connotes protection and safety. The stylized plus within the shield signifies the three
prongs for the core public health functions of assessment, assurance and policy development; they
echo the prevention, promotion, and protection tagline on the logo. The colors of the logo are blue
and khaki, which are both primary colors in the U.S. Public Health Service uniforms.
VI. ADJOURN
Dr. Richard Sutton requested a motion to adjourn. The motion was made by Dr. Kathy Sultemeier
and seconded by Robin Moreno. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
;; 5har utton, M.D., Chair, Bryan Press, Vice air, or Kathy Sultemeier, D.V.M., Secretary
Public Health Board
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