WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 04/26/2002WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD
PLACE: Wichita Falls- Wichita County Public Health District
TIME: 12:15 p.m.
DATE: April 26, 2002
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
HEALTH DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES:
C.J. Lippard, Chairman
Gregory Stockton
Diane Stewart, R.N.
Larry Rains, D.D.S.
Beverly Stiles, Ph.D.
Susan Strate, MD
Kathy Sultemeier, D.V.M.
RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Date Prt_o1_017)1
By PC-- Time 9 W Pftk
Barbara J. Clements. Director; Reuben A. Warren, Jr.,
Assistant Director of Health
WICHITA CO. REPRESENTATIVE: Joe Miller, County Commissioner
WICHITA FALLS CITY COUNCIL: Bill Altman, 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
It was moved by Diane Stewart, seconded by Beverly Stiles and carried that the February
22, 2001 minutes be approved.
III. Next Meeting Date
The next meeting date will be Friday, June 28, 2002.
IV. Director's Report — Barbara J. Clements, Director of Health
Mrs. Clements presented the following:
1). Bioterrorism Grant
We are presently working on a Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism
grant that is due in approximately one (1) week. It is based on the critical and enhanced
capacities set forth in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Cooperative
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Agreement for Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism. It is the intent of
Texas to align our efforts closely to national bioterrorism assessment and planning efforts.
The grant total for Wichita Falls is $214,863. One staff person will be designated for
coordination with fire, police, and other emergency agencies. We plan to use some of the
money to upgrade our laboratory to a BioSafety Level II facility. It would also provide
money for substantial training costs.
2). 5 Year Plan
This is the second year to provide you with statistics and information concerning our goals
and objectives for the next five years. We feel this reflects the hard work and dedication of
the staff.
3). Wichita Falls Medicine Magazine
The Health District staff provided several articles for the April issue. Copies of the issue
were distributed to members.
4.). Vaccines
Texas Department of Health has been supplying vaccines to us for distribution to various
physicians and clinics. The vaccines will now be shipped directly from the manufacturer to
the physicians. There are some concerns about storage. The Health District has a
temperature monitor that signals an answering service if the temperature rises to unsuitable
levels. With the cost of today's vaccines, it is not unusual to store vaccines totaling several
thousand dollars in one location. There are Dr. offices that do not have the storage room to
accommodate the supplies that are needed. Presently, if a private provider runs out of
vaccine unexpectedly, we can usually offer additional vaccine immediately. We will not
have sufficient vaccine on hand to offer this in the future. There is some advantage to rural
areas because they can have direct shipment without coming to the Health District.
Nationwide delays in distribution of some vaccines are expected to extend at least through
the summer.
5). West Nile Virus (WNV)
The Texas Department of Health expects WNV to show up in Texas this year. The Health
District will continue the Vector Control mosquito surveillance grant activities through
August 2003. Surveillance for WNV is an activity of this grant. We have purchased a new
hatch of baby chicks and we will soon place them at strategic locations to begin the routine
of blood sampling at 10 -day intervals. The District also submits dead birds, especially
crows and blue jays, to TDH for testing.
V. Tuberculosis Program Activities presented by Sandi Oberlender, R.N. Personal Health
Services.
Mrs. Oberlender presented an overview of the TB Program from the initial skin test to the
prescribed treatment of a diagnosed case. The immediate staff consists of one (1)
Community Service /Clinic Aide II, one (1) Clerk Typist II and one Registered Nurse. There
were 1,828 skin tests given in the Nursing Division of the Health District in 2001. If a skin
test shows positive, the staff completes several steps for follow -up, clinic visits and
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medication. She detailed the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) program and the number
clients seen both in the home and at local schools. The State Hospital sends employees here
for testing but they test and treat the patients. The County Jail and the Jail Annex prisoners
are seen and treated through the Health District clinic. James V. Alred Prison and Sheppard
Air Force Base test and treat their own patients. Contact investigation referrals may be
coordinated with any of the above entities. Wichita County has no multiple drug resistant
TB at the present time but the areas along the Texas - Mexico border have a high incidence of
drug resistant TB. Texas Department of Health provides medication to the Health District
for distribution to clients diagnosed with Tuberculosis. Clinics operate on a sliding scale but
no one is turned away for lack of funds. Sandi explained the term "positive reactor" as one
infected with TB, but not infectious. Positive reactors have a choice of seeing their private
physician and obtaining their medications at the Health District or coming through our
clinics and being seen by our physician. A positive reactor is investigated within three (3)
working days of discovering the positive result. When an active case (infectious) of TB is
discovered the staff begins an investigation with household members. Depending on
positive rates in initial testing, and other factors, the investigation may expand to work and
social contacts, and if necessary, expand from there. Dr. Dimitri, the Health District
Associate Medical Director, directs the TB clinic and is available for consul.
VII. Other Business
The Board excused Dr. Sultemeier who had called prior to the meeting to say she would be
out of town.
Mr. Altman expressed interest in a future program on the Animal Control Program as to the
number of officers, number of calls per day and how calls are prioritized.
Members noted the recent adoption of the Industrial Pretreatment Ordinance by the City
Council.
A staff report on the proposed Grease Trap Ordinance will be presented at the May 7
Council meeting. There also will be three (3) public hearings held at the Health District for
discussion and further information. A number of cities across Texas have already adopted
this ordinance.
VIII. 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 1:30 p.m.
Diane Ste , Secretary
Public Health Board
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