HomeMy WebLinkAboutM042017JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
MINUTES
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368
Board Members
Kate Dean, County Commissioner District #1
David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2
Kathleen Kier, County Commissioner, District #3
Catharine Robinson, Chair, Port Townsend City Council
Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large
Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2
John Austin, Vice -Chair, Citizen at large
Staff Members
Thomas Locke, Health Officer
Vicki Kirkpatrick, Public Health Dir
Stuart Whitford, Env. Health Dir
Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir
Michael Dawson, WQ Manager
Jenny Matter, Clerk of the Board
Vice -Chair John Austin called the April 20, 2017 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of
Health to order at 2:33 p.m. A quorum was present.
Members Present: John Austin, Kate Dean, David Sullivan, Jill Buhler, Sheila Westerman
Members Excused: Catharine Robinson, Kathleen Kler
Staff Present: Tom Locke, Vicki Kirkpatrick, Veronica Shaw, Stuart Whitford, Michael
Dawson, Jenny Matter
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Vice -Chair Austin requested to move Old Business and Informational Items one through four to
accommodate the Public Health Hero Awards.
Jill Buhler requested to add New Business item five in order to give a brief update on Jefferson
Healthcare's recent milestones.
Vice -Chair Austin asked for approval of the Agenda of the April 20, 2017.
Member Kate Dean motioned to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was
seconded by Member Jill Buhler. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Vice -Chair Austin asked for a dollar amount to be included in New Business item one for
funding a full time CHIP executive director and 0.25 epidemiologist.
Vice -Chair Austin asked for approval of the minutes of the March 16th, 2017 meeting of the
Jefferson County Board of Health, as amended.
Member Jill Buhler motioned to approve the minutes as amended; the motion was
seconded by Member Sheila Westerman. No further discussion. The motion passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Citizen Barbara Smith of Port Townsend commented on the importance of having school based
health clinics and heard they were going to be discontinued. Vicki Kirkpatrick assured her there
are no plans to discontinue the school based health clinics. However, there will be changes to
the school nursing program.
Vice -chair Austin closed the period for public comment.
Vice -chair Austin announced the 2017 Public Health Heroes Awards. Each recipient was named
and applauded for their service to the community.
OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope
Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, announced the free film screening, "Resilience: The Biology of
Stress and.the Science of Hope" on May 2nd at Chimacum High School. Recovering from
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) is the topic of the film. Dr. Locke mentioned how the
research continues to indicate that ACES, especially before the age of three, has major impacts
on psychological and physical development. Jim Sporleder, the principal featured in the film
"Paper Tigers", will lead a discussion after the screening. Denise Banker of JCPH has lead the
effort to bring the film to the community. The Board discussed ACES, and funding, sponsorship
and support for ACES related programs.
2. 2017 National Public Health Week
Dr. Locke informed the Board about Public Health Week, which was April 3rd _ 91" This year's
topic was "Generation Pubic Health" to create a healthier nation in one generation. Dr. Locke
discussed the shift from focusing on medical and clinical services to social determinants of
health and behavioral factors in order to improve public health.
3. Letter to Rep. Rogers re: American Health Care Act
The Board thanked Dr. Locke for his well-written letter to Rep. Rogers.
4. HB1234
Dr. Locke informed the Board that HB 1234 passed, which allows women to buy a year's worth
of contraceptives under one copay, instead of having to purchase them monthly. Contraceptives
can be expensive and most women use them long-term, not month-to-month.
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NEW BUSINESS
1. 2016 JCPH Syringe Exchange Program Report
Lisa McKenzie, JCPH Public Health Nurse, presented the findings of the 2016 annual report for
the Syringe Exchange Program. She reviewed utilization rates, demographics, types of drugs
used, STD rates and prevention, use by county, and Naloxone availability, distribution and
training. Ms. McKenzie explained possible causes of variances between years, described the
additional services offered as a part of the syringe exchange program (e.g., STD screening,
referrals to outside agencies, safe use practices, etc.) and reviewed the goals for the upcoming
year. The Board asked questions about syringe disposal, administering Naloxone and costs of
Naloxone products. They also discussed drug use as a public health issue and the positive
behavioral health changes brought about over the years through the syringe exchange program.
2. 2017 County Health Rankings
Dr. Locke discussed the history, strengths and limitations of the data in the 2017 County Health
Rankings Key Findings Report conducted by the University of Wisconsin. He reviewed national
and local health rankings, including increased rates of premature death in the age cohort of 15-44
years, and the causes of unintentional deaths (e.g., motor vehicle accident, drug overdose, etc.).
He also discussed the high rates of disconnected youths in rural counties compared to urban
counties, along with health factor and health outcome ratings in Jefferson and nearby counties.
The Board asked questions about rates of intentional deaths, data accuracy for graduation rates,
and differences between health factor and health outcome ratings.
3. Health Officer Coverage — Proposed Changes for Regional Cross Coverage
Dr. Locke reviewed the current agreement for health officers to provide cross county coverage.
Due to varying risk pool liability coverage among counties, a new strategy has been proposed to
change the liability to stay in the county where the health officer has been hired and normally
practices, regardless of where an event requiring liability coverage happens. The Board asked
questions about circumstances requiring health officer coverage and the financial implications of
long-term coverage.
4. Olympic Community of Health (OCH) Update
Dr. Locke and Vicki Kirkpatrick reported that they have been regularly attending the Board of
Directors meetings for the OCH. Most recently, there was a deadline for letters of intent for
projects under the six categories of health system transformation. They received 35 applications
and reviewers recommended that many of the similar submittals combine their requests into one,
which led to nine being invited to submit applications. Applicants were encouraged to include
all three counties in their proposals. Applications are due to the OCH May 26`h and those chosen
by the OCH Board will be further refined over the summer in preparation for final submission by
the OCH to the Health Care Authority in September.
5. Jefferson Healthcare Milestones
Jill Buhler summarized some of the new developments at Jefferson Healthcare (JHC). Due to
recent legislation, JHC will be able to establish a dental clinic, pending final budget and
gubernatorial approval. The clinic will serve the general population, along with those who have
Medicare and Medicaid. Ms. Buhler also reported that the crisis safe room in the Acute Care
Unit (ACU) is up and running, the women's clinic opened April 3rd, Surgical Associates
expanded to the 3rd floor, a Dermatology clinic will open in June, a tele -sight contract is in place
for the Port Ludlow office, and the Discovery Behavioral Health oversight committee is
continuing to work on the merger between Discovery Behavioral Health and JHC.
ACTIVITY UPDATE
Vicki Kirkpatrick announced that Marti Haley, the school nurse for Chimacum, will be retiring.
For various reasons JCPH will not be filling her position and the school nursing program will
close at the end of this school year. JCPH will work with the school districts during their
transition. This change does not impact the school based clinics.
Stuart Whitford provided environmental health department updates, including the status of on-
site sewage and water law related legislative bills, the expansion of the operations and
maintenance program, and funding expectations. He also announced that the Department of
Health is expected to downgrade the Hood Canal 3 shellfish growing area in the near future,
which they have developed a response plan for.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR
There were no agenda planning updates.
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2017 from 2:30 — 4:30
p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA.
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ADJOURNMENT
Vice -Chair John Austin adjourned the April 20t", 2017 Jefferson County Board of Health
meeting at 4:29 p.m.
JEFFERSO COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
KateeanJMenaberA
Excused
Catharine Robinson, Chair
Jo Austin, Vice -Chair
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Sheila Westerman, Member
Excused 4 '_
Kathleen Kler, Member
Respectfully submitted
Jenny Matter