Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutM101614JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, October 16, 2414 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Part Townsend WA 98368 Board —9M rs Phil Johnson, County Commissioner District #1 David Sullivan, Chair, County Commissioner, District #2 John Austin, County Commissioner, District #3 Sally Aerts, Citizen at large ,Kris Nelson, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Vice -Chair, Citizen at large Jell Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 staff Members Thomas Locke, MA MPH Health Officer Jean Baldwin, Public Health Services Dir Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager Jared Keefer, Env. Heahh Services Dir Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir Chair Sullivan called the October 16, 2414 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:34 p.m. A. quorum was present. Members Present: David Sullivan, John Austin, Kris Nelson, Sheila Westerman, Members Excused: Sally Aerts, Phil Johnson, Jill Buhler Staff Presents Philip motley, Thomas Locke, Jean Baldwin, Jared Keefer, Julia Danskin APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Sullivan called for review and approval of the agenda for the 10/16/2414 meeting. Member Austin moved that the Substance Abuse Advisory Board Appointments be moved to item number one (1) in New Business. Jean Baldwin, Director, JCPH, suggested moving Strategies to Expand Access to Opiate Overdose Treatment in Jefferson County to item number two (2) in New Business. Dr. Thomas Locke, Health Officer, JCPH, will update the Board on a new item in New Business about the military's use of Electromagnetic Radiation on the Olympic Peninsula. Member Austin moved to approve the amended agenda, the motion was seconded by Member Nelson. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Sullivan called for review and approval of the minutes of the 9/18/2014 meeting of the Board of Health. Member Austin moved to approve the minutes, the motion was seconded by Member Nelson. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT Gretchen Brewer stated she would like a status report on the financial assurance of the paper mill. Jared Keefer, Director of Environmental Health and Water Quality, JCPH, reported he does not have a formal response, but has received documents and is reviewing them. His initial overview is that everything is in line with expectations, but it will be a number of weeks before he can do a full review. Dr. Locke informed Ms. Brewer that the documents will be posted to the Jefferson County Public Health website as soon as it is reviewed and finalized. Catharine Robinson, Interim Chair for the Substance Abuse Advisory Board (SAAB), requested the Board give her direction on endeavors when it comes to substance abuse, alcohol and other drugs, and youth and marijuana. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Enterovirus D-68 Provider Bulletin Dr. Locke informed the Board that Enterovirus D -fib has been confirmed in Washington State and is likely circulating in Jefferson County. Dr. Locke explained that it can cause severe illness in children, especially those with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases. Enteroviruses are a common type of respiratory infections that typically circulates in summer and early fall. < The Board was provided with a copy of the bulletin that went out to health care providers with clinical management recommendations. 2. Peninsula Accountable Community of Health (ACH) Update — Regional Meeting November 7, 2014 Dr. Locke; updated the Board on the regional effort to move from a 1 0 -county ACH group to a three -county ACH group. The next step in the process is a meeting on November 7 at Fort Worden from 9:30 a.m. —12:30 p.m. Jean Baldwin invited Catharine Robinson to attend. Member Austin asked Ms. Baldwin if Chair Sullivan should attend as a representative for the county commissioners. Ms. Baldwin will get back to Member Austin and Chair Sullivan with an answer after finding out if any other counties are going to have commissioner representation. 3. New England Journal of Medicine — Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use Dr. Locke provided the Board with a copy of the report, from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). He explained that NIDA is under congressionalmandateto only look at the harmful side of drugs, but a summary on page 2224 deals with medicinal effects, a first for a NIDA publication. The report presents evidence that marijuana use is harmful for children and adolescents and discusses potential adverse health effects for adults. NEW BUSINESS 1, Substance Abuse Board Appointments Catharine Robinson presented the Board with applications from Anthonie Cullen, Kenneth Frohning, and Eric Nygard. Member Austin, Ms. Robinson, and Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager, JCPH, interviewed all three applicants. Ms. Robinson informed the Board that all three are recommended for approval, and announced that SAAB is in need of additional Board members. If approved, a letter will be sent to each applicant, confirming their appointments, and copied to Safe. Harbor and Fran Joswick. Member Austin moved to accept the SAAB nominations; the motion was seconded by Member Westerman. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Strategies to Expand Access to Opiate Overdose Treatment in Jefferson County Dr. Locke provided the Board with an information brief on the increase of heroin use in Washington State. With increasing use comes an increased risk of death by overdose, which results from severe respiratory depression. The antidote, Narcan (naloxone), has been available for 40+ years, and can be administered by non -health professionals either via nasal spray or auto -injector "epi -pen." Narcan has already been available to emergency aid workers who administer it by injection. Dr. Lecke proposes that pharmacies make it available to the general public. Emergency use of Narcan would provide time for an overdosed user to be transported to a hospital. Washington State's Good Samaritan law has been amended to cover those who administer the medication in good faith. Dr. Locke's recommendation is to work with local pharmacies to make prescriptions available to anyone who would benefit from having Narcan on -hand (participants of the syringe exchange, family members of drug users, public safety officials, etc.) Ms. Baldwin will report back to the Board with information on the cost of the nasal spray and auto -injector and inform them if it is covered by insurance or Medicaid. Member Austin moved to have a document written in support of Dr. Locke's proposal, signed by the Chair, and sent to local pharmacies and primary care doctors. The motion was seconded by member Westerman. No further discussion. The motion passed. 3, Public Hearing.: Adoption of Jefferson County Solid Waste Regulations Mr. Keefer presented the Board with the Solid Waste Regulations. Chair Sullivan opened the hearing to public comment: Kevin Scott, Port Townsend Paper Mill, said that Mr. Keefer did a great job, that it is clearly written, and that it is in line with State codes. Gretchen, Brewer asked where it is available for review and if it will be reviewed again. Ms. Baldwin informed Ms. Brewer it has been posted on the Jefferson County Public Health website and that the review period will conclude with this public hearing. Member Westerman moved that the changes to the Jefferson County Solid Waste Regulations be adopted and thanked the staff, Member Austin seconded the motion. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. Washington State Board of Health Update Member Austin informed the Board that representatives from Asotin County, San Juan County, and Thurston County have applied to replace him on the WA State Board of Health. The Governor will choose one applicant. Member Austin and the director are also hoping Keith Grellner, Kitsap County Environmental Health Director will be chosen as the new chair. Member Austin also reported that the Spokane Board of Health gave an Update to the WA State Board of Health and reported that they have programs where immigrants are picking up fruit and distributing it to food banks and co-ops and that they have a Nurse Family Partnership program. The WA State Board of Health also reviewed several requests about adding a screening for newborn critical congenital heart disease. An advisory board will be formed within the Department of Health and will report back with a recommendation. 5. Electromagnetic Radiation on the Olympic Peninsula Dr. Locke was asked to give the Board an update on the military's plan to use electromagnetic radiation in the Olympic: National Forest. Dr. Locke does not have any detailed information about what the military's specific plan and spoke to the issue of human health effects of electromagnetic radiation. Dr. Locke explained the three levels of radiation: Ionizing (ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays) which are clearly harmful and cause cancer; Non -Ionizing (microwave ovens) which can cause health effects if the radiation strength is strong enough that it heats your body; and Non -Thermal Radio Frequency (cell phones, wireless, etc.) which has been extensively studied without conclusive findings of adverse human health effects. It is established that the strength of the signal, the amplitude, is a key factor in terms of exposure. The intensity of radiation effects diminishes rapidly as the distance from the radiation source increases. 6. International Ebola Outbreak Update and Washington State Emergency Preparedness Efforts Dr. Locke provided the Board with a letter that went out to providers. He also informed the Board that he will be attending a meeting at the hospital to go over personal protective equipment later today. He told the Board that the CDC initially thought that all hospitals with blood-borne training could handle Ebola, but have modified that position. after two nurses became infected in Dallas. Currently, only hospitals with Biosafety Level 4 training and facilities will handle Ebola cases. He reminded the Board that Ebola is not a threat to the general public, is not airborne, and that if any additional cases occur in the US, they will likely be healthcare workers returning from providing service in West Africa. 7. Jefferson County Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Toxin Levels, Summer/Fall 2014 Michael Dawson, Environmental Health Specialist, JCPH, presented the Board with information about detected levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) in Quilcene Bay, Dabob Bay, and the Hood Canal. Mr. Dawson informed the Board that the biotoxins cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted; lab testing is the only way to detect them. PSP testing started in May with nothing detected. By September 23 the highest levels ever were detected. Mr. Dawson reported the following lethal levels detected: Pacific oyster: 3,243µg; Blue mussel: 12,688µg. The closure level is 80µg /104g tissue. 1,000µg can kill an adult. Mr. Dawson informed the Board that signs were posted on site, press releases were sent, and no known illness cases have been reported this year. Some individual PSP sample results have come back lower, but the closure is not lifted. It will need to be two weeks of below -levels before the closure can be lifted. Mr. Dawson also informed the Board on the ways they are tracking biotoxins in Jefferson County, including modifying the Department of Health lab result spreadsheets to easily access local data, referring people to the clickable and mobile device•fhendly shellfish safety map, working with volunteer reporters more effectively, creating easier access to data for press releases, posting danger signs in a timely manner, and utilizing a online new sign database with GPS coordinates. ACTIVITY UPDATE No meeting in November. Next meeting December 18, 2014. PUBLIC COMMENT No Public Comment. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR No agenda Planning. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Sullivan adjourned the October 16, 2014 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:08 pm. JEFFERSOIK COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Phil ohnson, ember Sally Aerts' ember e� f Kris Nelson, Member Sheila Westerman, Vice Chair Respectfully Submitted. Natalie Crump 111 Buhler, Member David Sullivan, Chair Austin, Member