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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM101917JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, October 19, 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 Chair Catharine Robinson called the October 19, 2017 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:31 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: John Austin, David Sullivan, Jill Buhler, Kathleen Kler, Catharine Robinson, Kate Dean Members Excused: Sheila Westerman Staff Present: Vicki Kirkpatrick, Veronica Shaw, Michael Dawson, Thomas Locke, Jenny Matter APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Robinson asked for approval of the Agenda of the October 19, 2017. Member John Austin motioned to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Member Jill Buhler. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Catharine Robinson asked for approval of the minutes as amended of the September 21, 2017 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health. Member Kathleen Kler motioned to approve the minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Member Kate Dean. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Page 1 of 4 PUBLIC COMMENTS There was no public comment. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare Update Jill Buhler reported that the dental clinic is on hold until the capital budget passes but they are still beginning to design the dental suites and establish a staffing plan. They hope to open the dental clinic December 2018. Ms. Buhler also reported that the Port Ludlow clinic now has digital x-ray on site, orthopedics will start seeing patients on November 8th and cardiology will start seeing patients on October 31St. Ms. Buhler reviewed staff numbers, noted they will be conducting an in-depth price review, and said that they recently received the Washington State Medical Association 2017 William O. Robertson patient safety award. 2. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Vicki Kirkpatrick, Public Health Director, informed the Board of the benefits of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and status of mandating pharmaceutical companies to take back the drugs they manufacture. The Board had questions about the types of drugs that are accepted, the possibility of disposing of syringes at the event, and drug disposal at the sheriff's office. Ms. Kirkpatrick said she would look into having a sharps box at the event. 3. Hepatitis A Outbreak — San Diego County, California Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, updated the Board about the Hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego. The population primarily affected include the homeless, transients and substance abusers. Dr. Locke informed the Board about the natural cycle of Hepatitis A, where Hepatitis A is most common (geographically), how local public health agencies are affected by outbreaks, and prevention through vaccinations and use of Gamma Globulin, if it is caught early. The Board had questions about why more vaccines aren't administered, the different strains of Hepatitis and the longevity of vaccine effectiveness. NEW BUSINESS Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager, provided the Board with a brief update on requesting adequate funding for shellfish bioxin testing. Mr. Dawson contacted Jerry Borchert at the Department of Health and has not yet heard back from him. He hopes to talk with him in person in November at an annual meeting. 1. Jefferson County Clean Water District Annual Report Mr. Dawson reviewed the 2016 annual report. Data in the report were similar to the performance measures for JCPH WQ division, but included work completed with their project partners in the District. Much of the year was spent preparing for the possible downgrades to shellfish growing areas. Mr. Dawson said they have been coordinating with the State and are well positioned to receive funding through the Water Quality Centennial grant to address declining water quality in Page 2 of 4 Discovery Bay and the Hood Canal Growing Area III. He has also been communicating with the new Conservation District Manager to prepare for future projects and hopes to implement agricultural best management practices within the next year. The Board had questions about how the program has been impacted due to lack of funding, resulting from no agreement for a capital budget by the legislature. They also had questions about the development of the shellfish protection and clean water district and effectiveness of the new GIS software. 2. Olympic Community of Health (OCH) Update Dr. Locke reported that the Director and staff of the OCH have been diligently working on proposals for future funding, which are due November 16th. Dr. Locke explained how projects are funded and noted that the OCH has received high rated applications during the first two phases of funding. He also explained how the OCH was formed and the plans for future projects under the six different funding lines. Dr. Locke explained that the funded projects are intended to promote transformational change to the healthcare system that, once fully implemented, should be sustainable without additional funding. Although the projects are expected to be fully implemented after five years, it is possible to request extensions and waivers. Vicki Kirkpatrick clarified that the demonstration grant funding has been guaranteed but future funding from Medicaid is not as certain. Vicki Kirkpatrick and Dr. Locke both spoke about the importance on epidemiology and policy decisions to promote health and wellness and drive public health research and practice. Dr. Locke spoke about how he sees the role of primary care providers changing in the future in general and as it relates to oral healthcare. The Board had questions about certainty of funding, the fiscal intermediary from DOH to OCH, and how the role of providers may change. ACTIVITY UPDATE Kathleen Kler reported that the Salish Behavioral Health Organization will be signing a contract with BayMark Health Services to establish a medically assisted treatment clinic in Bremerton and one in Port Angeles. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Chair Catharine Robinson reminded the Board that the November meeting was cancelled and the next meeting will be held on December 21, 2017. John Austin requested to be excused from the December meeting. Page 3 of 4 NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Catharine Robinson adjourned the October 19`t, 2017 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:01 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Kate D , Member David Sullivan, Member Catharine Rob' on, Chair - 4 Jo Austin, Vice -Chair ill�er Member Excused Sheila Westerman, Member atfi,4� Kathleen Kler, Member Respectfully submitted J. Matter Page 4 of 4