HomeMy WebLinkAboutM061815JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
MINUTES
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368
Board Members
Phil Johnson, County Commissioner District #1
David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2
Kathleen Kier, Vice -Chair, County Commissioner, District #3
Kris Nelson, Port Townsend City Council
Sheila Westerman, Chair, Citizen at large
Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2
Staff Members
Thomas Locke, MD, Health Officer
Jean Baldwin, Public Health Dir
Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager
Jared Keefer, Env. Health Dir
Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir
Michael Dawson, Water Quality Dir
Chair Westerman called the June 18, 2015 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to
order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present.
Members Present: David Sullivan, Kathleen Kler, Phil Johnson, Kris Nelson, Sheila
Westerman, Jill Buhler
Staff Present: Tom Locke, Jean Baldwin, Jared Keefer, Julia Danskin, Michael Dawson, Philip
Morley
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair Westerman added item 8, Report from Jill Buhler on Reproductive Task Force, to New
Items.
Chair Westerman asked for approval of the June 18, 2015 Agenda.
Member Nelson moved to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded by Member Kler.
No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Member Kler asked that a period be added to the end of the list of restaurants in item 1, Public
Health Outstanding Food Safety Awards, under Old Business and Informational Items.
Chair Westerman called for approval of the minutes of the May 21, 2015 meeting of the Board of
Health.
Member Nelson moved to approve the minutes as presented; the motion was seconded by
Member Sullivan. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
No public comment.
PUBLIC COMMENT
OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Pertussis Update
Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, JCPH, reviewed the WA State Dept. of Health Weekly
pertussis update with the Board and reported that 23 cases have been confirmed in
Jefferson County, which is the highest rate in the state. The increase of cases in
Washington is due to low rates of vaccination in adults and adolescents and the decline in
immunity in children immunized with the current acellular vaccine. Dr. Locke explained
to the Board that Pertussis typically causes mild illness in adolescents and adults and that
the public health strategy is to focus on the protection of infants and pregnant women by
encouraging vaccination of their families, caretakers, and health care providers. He
explained to the Board that it is not feasible to completely eradicate Pertussis from the
population until a better vaccine is available.
2. Jefferson County Family Planning Client Data
Jean Baldwin, Director, JCPH, provided the Board with WA State Family Planning and
Jefferson County Client Data sheets for 2014. Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager,
JCPH, pointed out that a high number of our clients are aged 17 and under, which is
probably due to the School Based Clinics. It was pointed out that clinic visits have
decreased while birth control use has increased, which can be explained by women
getting long-acting birth control and then choosing not to get screened every year. Ms.
Baldwin explained to the Board that the clinic has a comment box and receives a high
number of positive comments each month and invited the Board to review them.
3. Michael Dawson, WQ Director
Jared Keefer, Environmental Health Director, JCPH introduced Michael Dawson to the
Board. Mr. Dawson is now the Water Quality Director for JCPH. Mr. Dawson started
working at JCPH in 2009, and was an Environmental Health Specialist II (Lead) prior to
this position.
4. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
Dr. Locke provided the Board with a provider bulletin about MERS-COV, which was
distributed by the WA State Dept. of Health. Dr. Locke explained what MERS-CoV is
and informed the Board that there currently is no significant threat of an outbreak in the
US. The bulletin went out to providers who might have contact with someone who has
traveled to the Arabian Peninsula or South Korea where the outbreaks have occurred.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Certificate of Appreciation — Ruth Merryman
Chair Westerman, on behalf of the Jefferson County Board of Health, presented Ruth
Merryman with a certificate of appreciation and commended her for her "hard work and
dedication as an advocate for women's rights, particularly in the areas of reproductive
health and economic advancement."
2. Public Hearing: Environmental Health Fee Update
Mr. Keefer presented the Board with a revised fee schedule, modified to reflect
adjustments to services affected by the hourly rate adjustment (Ordinance 03-0319-15).
The public hearing was opened for comment and no one was in attendance who wished to
testify. The public hearing was then closed.
Member Buhler moved that the changes to the Environmental Health Fee Schedule
be adopted; Member Johnson seconded the motion. No further discussion. The
motion passed unanimously.
3. 2014 Performance Measures: Maternal Child Health, Targeted Clinical Health
Services, and Solid Waste
Ms. Danskin presented the Board with the Community Health Department Budget, the
2014 Family Health Services Program Performance Measures, and the Targeted Clinical
Health Services Program Performance Measures. Ms. Danskin pointed out the following
indicators from the Family Health Services Program: Goal 1 is to improve pregnancy and
birth outcomes, which includes completing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)
assessments; 544 Family Health encounters occurred and children with special health
care needs increased from 60 to 147; WIC numbers staying about the same, and
supporting breastfeeding numbers are high.
Ms. Danskin reviewed the Targeted Clinical Health Services Performance Measures and
informed the Board that numbers are slightly down (statewide) due most likely to more
people getting on full -scope (Medicaid) healthcare. Ms. Danskin also pointed out that the
breast and cervical health program will and potentially go away in a couple years as more
women qualify for Apple Health and the need lessens.
Mr. Keefer presented the Board with the 2014 Solid and Hazardous Waste Program
Performance measures as they relate to Small Business Technical Assistance Program,
Waste Reduction and Recycling Outreach, Solid Waste Permitting and Enforcement, and
Hazardous Waste Investigations.
Mr. Keefer will keep the Board informed on what will happen with solid waste
complaints and junk vehicles after a state budget is passed, and anticipates coming to the
Board with a prioritized list of what programs to cut.
4. Policy Discussion: Re -adoption of a Jefferson County Public Health Civil
Enforcement Code
Dr. Locke informed the Board that the Civil Infraction code appears to have been
accidentally repealed when the latest version of the Solid Waste Code was adopted. The
County attorney, David Alvarez, has recommended that it be reenacted and has drawn up
a draft resolution to accomplish this.
Member Nelson motioned to hold a public hearing at the July 16, 2015 Jefferson
County Board of Health meeting concerning adoption of the proposed civil
infraction code resolution. Member Buhler seconded the motion. No further
discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
5. Update on Access to Naloxone as a Heroin Overdose
Dr. Locke provided the Board with a copy of ESHB 1671, a recently enacted law that
clarifies and expands "Good Samaritan" uses of the heroin overdose antidote naloxone.
He also reviewed two Peninsula Daily News articles on this subject, and spoke about the
availability of Naloxone in Jefferson and Clallam Counties. Dr. Locke informed the
Board that Naloxone is currently available through EMS, at the ER, and at the Safeway in
Port Angeles. The QFC in Port Hadlock is interested in carrying it in their pharmacy.
JCPH has pre-printed prescriptions for the medication and is prepared to provide them as
authorized by the new law. Dr. Locke will keep the Board informed of progress made in
making drug overdose antidotes more widely available in the community.
Ms. Danskin provided the Board with a handout on the safe disposal of hypodermic
needles at a board members request.
6. Legislative Session Update
Dr. Locke informed the Board that state agencies are planning for a shutdown, and are
faced with a large number of programs being closed or layoffs. The Environmental
Health side will look at the general fund to fill gaps.
7. Application for SSAB
Ms. Danskin provided the Board with an application from David Stanko, Jefferson
County Sheriff, to become a member of the Substance Abuse Advisory Board (SAAB).
Member Sullivan motioned to approve Mr. Stanko to the Substance Abuse Advisory
Board. Member Nelson seconded the motion. No further discussion. The motion
passed unanimously.
8. Report from Jill on Reproductive Task Force
Member Buhler informed the Board on the history of abortion services at Jefferson
Healthcare (JHC), and the request from the ACLU, received in February, asking them to
look into providing on-site, on -demand abortions. Member Buhler reported the
Reproductive Task Force is composed of. three family practitioners, two ARNPs (one
from JCPH), three RNs, one Health Care Administrator, one Birth Center representative,
one Patient Advocate, two Community Reps and the director of JCPH.
The Reproductive Task Force recommended JHC develop protocols for miscarriage
management and after training, it is recommended JHC develop an elective medication
abortion program. Additional program development, and provider resources are needed to
develop first medical abortions and then elective surgical abortion services.
JHC will look into implementing these recommendations. They are in the process of
looking for a gynecologist willing to perform elective surgical abortions.
The JHC Board will vote on adoption of these recommendations at its July 15, 2015
Board meeting. Member Buhler told the Board the public is welcome to attend this
meeting and provide comments.
ACTIVITY UPDATE
There was no activity update.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR
The Jefferson County Board of Health has called for a public hearing on adoption of an
ordinance authorizing Environmental Health Civil Enforcement at the upcoming Board meeting
on July 16, 2015.
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2015 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m.
at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Westerman adjourned the June 18, 2015 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting
at 4:34 p.m.
JE TY BOARD OF HEALTH
c.
Phil oI i At
Darn r Sheila Westerman, Chair
4�c:X�Yt,�iVl.-
s Nelson, Member Kathleen Kler, Vice -Chair
Respectfully Submitted:
Natalie Crump