WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 01/03/2003t
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WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD
PLACE: Wichita Falls - Wichita County Public Health District
TIME: 12:15 p.m.
DATE: January 03, 2003
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
C.J. Lippard, Chairman
Diane Stewart, R.N.
Susan Strate, MD
Larry Rains, D.D.S.
Gregory Stockton
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Kathy Sultemeier, D.V.M.
Beverly Stiles, Ph.D.
HEALTH DISTRICT
Barbara J. Clements. Director of Health
REPRESENTATIVES:
Reuben A. Warren, Jr., Assistant Director of Health
WICHITA CO. REPRESENTATIVE: Joe Miller, County Commissioner
Woody Gossom, County Judge
WICHITA FALLS CITY COUNCIL: Mike Norrie, Councilor
WICHITA FALLS CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Matt Benoit, Assistant City Manager
MINUTES:
I. Call to order
C.J. Lippard, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m.
II. Approval of Minutes
Moved by Dr. Strate, seconded by Dr. Rains and carried that the October 25, 2002 minutes
be approved.
III. Recognition of Service by Mr. C.J. Lippard
Barbara Clements, Health District Director, recognized Mr. Lippard who has served as a
County appointee on the Board of Health intermittently since 1958. December 2002
concluded his third term of service having started January 1, 1997. He has served as
Chairman of the Board and has faithfully provided support and assistance to the Health
District on many occasions. The Board expressed appreciation for his many years of
dedicated service and invited him to come back and visit.
RECEIVED IN`�`
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
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IV. Swearing In of Appointed Members
Diane Stewart agreed to serve on the Board for a third term and Dr. Strate agreed to a fourth
term; both were reappointed by the City Council at their December meeting. Dr. Tom
Delizio from Electra has been appointed by the Commissioners Court to fill Mr. Lippard's
position and he will be sworn in at the Board meeting scheduled for February 28, 2003.
Matt Benoit, Assistant City Manager, administered the Oath of Office to Diane Stewart,
R.N., and Dr. Susan Strate, M.D.
V. Election of Officers
Mrs. Clements asked that Mr. Lippard serve as Chair thru the election of his replacement.
The offices to be filled include Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. Mr. Lippard called for
nomination for Chair. Greg Stockton nominated Dr. Strate as Chair. With no other
nominations heard, a vote was taken with Dr. Strate was unanimously elected as Chair. Dr.
Strate assumed the Chair and then called for nominations for Vice Chair. Greg Stockton
nominated Diane Stewart and with no further nominations, a vote was taken. Diane Stewart
was unanimously elected Vice Chair. Dr. Strate then called for nominations for Secretary.
Mike Norrie nominated Kathy Sultemeier who was unanimously elected pending her
acceptance of the office.
VI. Update on Public Health Emergency Planning — Amy Cone
Amy Cone was introduced to the Board in the position of Public Health Emergency
Response Coordinator (P.H.E.R.C.). She came to the Health District in September 2002
after 3 '/2 years at the Police Department. Amy has a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Social Science. She was a research assistant under
BioQUEST Grant 1994 -1996. She has advanced computer, analytical and communication
skills through training and experience with Department of Public Safety, United States Air
Force and college work. She works closely with the Public Health Specialist (PHS II),
Michelle Wood, through the Bioterrorism Grant at the Health District coordinating public
health planning for emergencies including bioterrorism and general disaster preparedness.
She and Michelle work closely with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness &
Assessment Committee that is formed of members from various agencies including the
Police Department, Sheriffs office, Fire Department, area hospitals, Midwestern State
University and several emergency response groups. Emergency Management and
administrative officials from the cities of Electra, Iowa Park and Burkburnett as well as
Wichita County Emergency Management Personnel also participate in this effort. The
emergency planning committee includes sub - committees formed for planning triage,
quarantine, and decontamination, in the event area hospitals were overloaded or
incapacitated by a mass causality event. The subcommittee is planning to increase
decontamination capabilities at several facilities and is working to standardize the triage of
patients with EMS and ER providers. Councilman Norrie asked if Sheppard Air Force Base
was participating. Ms. Cone replied that she is working closely with their infection control
staff. Based on what type emergency occurs, we can expect their assistance to some degree.
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She stated that in some instances we could count on hospital personnel and the hazardous
materials staff. Resources available to us would be very limited during any incident that
may be terrorism, due to security measures of the Air Force. We have developed plans to
either include or exclude SAFB based on what type of incident occurs. Dr. Strate asked
what Ms. Cone thought was the biggest challenge they faced. Ms. Cone replied that
probably surveillance is the biggest factor. The Surveillance Subcommittee has set the goal
of moving from a passive to an active disease surveillance system, and we have to ensure
that personnel at the Health District, hospitals and laboratories are utilizing the same
software consistently. Having the doctors and nurses participate will be a major step towards
that goal.
Mrs. Clements stated that smallpox is one small part of the broader emergency planning.
Approximately 75 local volunteers have been selected to receive the smallpox vaccine in the
initial round. Included in those numbers are Health District, Kell West Hospital and United
Regional Health Care System personnel. It is expected that vaccinations will not begin until
after the last week of January when the Homeland Security Act takes effect because of the
liability issues for those giving the vaccine. Our staff would probably begin receiving
vaccine around the first of February. We are not certain when Sheppard Air Force Base will
begin vaccinating their personnel. We received notification from the Department of Defense
stating that the local Health Director would be notified when they began. Since the vaccine
is a live virus, health care providers in the area would need to be alerted in the rare chance
that someone would transmit the vaccinia from the vaccination site to another person. The
Board continued a brief discussion about the vaccine, its effectiveness and the possibility of
adverse reactions.
VII. Communicable Disease Report (staff)
Ms. Clements briefly reported of the flu surveillance program in the County. There are five
(5) official flu surveillance sites submitting specimens in the area. Surveillance activity to
date has been very light with only 13 cultures submitted; of that number 6 specimen results
are pending, in 2 specimens no influenza was detected, and the 5 remaining specimens
tested positive for influenza B.
The Board received a report on the recent Shigellosis outbreak in the County. Historically,
the County records about four (4) cases each year. Since mid August 2002, we have had 50
cases reported. To date the investigation has not indicated the source of the outbreak. The
Board discussed treatment and prevention measures for the illness. The District plans to
continue with educational efforts to increase awareness about the need for proper hand
washing as the primary means of controlling the outbreak.
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VIII. Follow -up Report on Food Control Web Page (staff)
As a follow -up to the October meeting, Health District staff provided requested material, in
the form of a simulated web page, to the Board for discussion about a decision to post make
restaurant scores available to the public via the Internet. The information included the
inspection process, how scores are determined and procedures for follow -up of
unsatisfactory inspections.
Ms. Clements commented on how this is presented in Austin. There, one of the television
media outlets posts a weekly listing called `Food for Thought' where they list the top 10 and
bottom 10 restaurant scores for the week. Information about follow -up inspections for
unsatisfactory and score is also presented by the media outlet. In California, restaurants post
a large letter in the front window reflecting the scoring of the establishment.
Dr. Strate expressed concern that the public would not understand what those scores would
mean and this could be detrimental to the restaurant. She also questioned whether or not the
quality of the food service would improve if scores were posted?
It was discussed how often the scores would be made public. Some members expressed
concern that the score represented a single date and conditions related to food preparation
could change dramatically in a short period. Members also noted that if a restaurant had a
bad score, even if they corrected the problem, the score might remain on the web until the
next routine inspection.
Dr. Rains questioned whether the public would go to the Web to check the score of a
restaurant before going to eat. Judge Gossom stated the media could go to the Web to check
scores on a slow news day.
Mr. Norrie asked what the benefit would be in putting this information on the Internet. Mrs.
Clements stated that the Public Information Office felt it would be of interest to the public,
especially visitors.
Dr. Rains made a motion that, because of lack of pertinence to the public, the restaurant
scores not be posted on the Internet. Greg Stockton seconded the motion with Dr. Strate
calling for a vote. The motion passed unanimously
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IX. Next Meeting Date February 28, 2003
Kathy Sultemeier and Dr. Stiles were absent today.
The Board expressed appreciation to Greg Stockton for the excellent lunch provided from
Buddy Ray's.
Mrs. Clements suggested that Board of Health pictures be taken at the February meeting.
VII. Adjournment
It was moved by Greg Stockton and seconded by Dr. Rains that the meeting be adjourned.
The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
4pu*ct Pth ier, Secretary
Boa r d
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