Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 October COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING VITAL STATISTICS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HEALTH EDUCA lION JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 802 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 98368 (206) 385.0722 HEALTH BOARD Minutes: October 20, 1987 BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: B.G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member Rick Miklich, Director of Environmental Health Mary Catlin, Administrator/ & Director of Nurses J. Peter Geerlofs, M.D., Health Officer CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND REPRESENTATIVE: Glenn Ison *********************************************************************** ********************************************************************* The meeting was called to order at the appointed time by Chairman B. G. Brown. The following Board and staff members were present: Commissioner Larry W. Dennison and Commissioner GeorgeC. Brown; Mary Catlin; and Glenn Ison. Dr. J. Peter Geerlofs arrived later in the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the September 15, 1987 meeting were approved as read by motion of Commissioner Dennison, seconded by Commissioner George Brown. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: Mary Catlin reported that the CDP Program (Children Developmental Program) which has been administered by Mary Tudor since its' inception, needs to be reorganized to keep the program and its' funding since Mary Tudor is leaving the department. This program pays for itself and provides services to handicapped children as well as clerical help for the department, and a nurse for the new born home visit program. Health Board Meeting Minutes: October 20, 1987 Page: 2 A nurse from Okanogan County has expressed interest in working in Port Townsend and the following duties could be combined to make a full time nursing position available: Senior Screening Program (paid for by the Hospital), work for Family Planning (funded by Family Planning), and the Well Child visits and STD screening, (Health Department). The portion of the position that would be paid for by the Hospital would have to be determined and if it was half time they would be requested to pay the benefits for the position. To continue Mary Tudor's program would then mean that the department's current Nurse Practitioner, who has strong clinical skills, would be asked to do the clinical side of the program and the administrative side could be handled as it has been in the past. This plan would not put any additional costs on the County, but it relies on the current Nurse Practitioner being willing to accept the clinical responsibili- ties of this program and Mary Tudor's agreement of these arrangements. Ferry Program: An idea that was discussed at a State meeting of Health Department Nursing Directors, to generate funding for AIDS education programs in the schools, is to install condom machines on the Washing- ton State Ferries. This idea has been submitted to the head of the State AIDS program, as well as the Governor and Representative Al Swift. The Governor is working on the State AIDS Project and this idea is within the realm of being considered as part of that project. The County has purchased, Mary Catlin reported, three (?) condom machines which will be placed at the Town Tavern, the Uptown Tavern, and the Whistling Oyster Tavern. The Health Department and Family Planning provide free condoms to high risk clients. Computer Grant: The State currently does the data input for the Health Department's accounting system, which keeps track of nursing time per programs, will be withdrawing this service in December. Kathy Stafford and Mary Catlin has been working on writing a data base computer program to do this record keeping. Since the department is ahead of most other rural health departments, grant funding will be applied for from a private foundation, to make this computer program a demonstration project. This funding, if received, for the writing and documentation of procedures would be used to purchase another computer. DIRECTOR OF NURSING REPORT: Mary Catlin submitted and reviewed the written report of Nursing Services for the third quarter as well as a year to date report. This report is an overview of goals that were established last year and accomplishment to date. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR REPORT: The written report of environmental health activities for the month of September were submitted. Health Board Meeting Minutes: October 20, 1987 Page: 3 Gene Seton re: Individual Sewage DispOsal Svstem Permit: Since Rick Miklich and Steve Rice were unable to attend today's meeting, Mr. Seton's appointment was postponed until the next Health Board meeting. COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE PRESENTATION: The following three members of the Community Health Nursing Advisory Committee introduced themselves to the Board: Carol Baird, works at the Port Townsend Library and lives in Chimacum; Marka Davies, teaches Nursing at Peninsula College and has been a Public Health Nurse for fifteen years; and Gloria Way, is a new resident of the County who previously worked for a Health Department in Alaska for ten years. Marka Davies reported that the Advisory Board has reviewed the proposed 1988 budget for the department and made the following observations, suggestions and recommendations: 1. Moving the Environmental Health section of the Depart- ment to the Courthouse. The Advisory Board feels this would be costly and could be postponed until it is more financially feasible. The cost of replacing the desks in the department that would have to be moved could possibly be shared among the various agencies served by the department such as the City of Port Townsend. The Advisory Board asked why convenience for home builders, which appears to be the main reason for moving environmental health to the Courthouse, was more important than concern for basic health services? Board's Response: Chairman Brown stated that the costs projected by the department for the move of environmen- tal health to the Courthouse were not all completely fair in his estimation, because some of the costs would be necessary even if the environmental health move was not made. Commissioner Larry Dennison stated that this move is being considered from an efficiency standpoint also. The environmental health section has a lot in common with the Planning and Building department. An absolute decision on this move has not been made yet. Glenn Ison stated that the idea of the City sharing some of the costs of the move is not appropriate because City residents do not use the County services for approval of septic systems, water systems, or building permits. 2. Increasing the cost of food service permits to business, could generate more funding. Volunteer organizations are not charged for food service permits currently. The Health Board Meeting Minutes: October 20, 1987 Page: 4 handling of these permits involves a good deal of time and charging for them would recoup some of these costs. 3. No cuts should be made in the staffing level of the department. The Advisory Board feels that the nursing salaries are very low. Board's Response: All County department's feel that their budgets are bare bones. The Board needs to have a list of priorities from each department to help them make decisions on what to fund and what could possibly be cut from a departments budget. 4. The office could be closed once a week to allow the staff to work more efficiently. Board's Response: This alternative was looked at a year ago, Chairman B.G. Brown reported, and it was determined that this is an alternative that would be given low priority out of concern for providing service to the public. 5. If cuts in the department are necessary, the Advisory Board asked that the public be given the opportunity for input into the decision on what areas should be cut. Board's Response: The County's budget process is in a public hearing format so that people have input in the budget process. It was one of the objectives of the Advisory Board when it was established, to educate the public regarding health and the services provided by the Health Depart- ment. It would be appropriate for the Advisory Board to have meetings to do that. 6. Why is the Health Department required to pay rent to the County for office space in a County owned building? Board's Response: Since the Health Department is a Current Expense Department the payment of rent is an accounting method used so that grants that the depart- ment obtains and require an "in-kind" funding match from the County, can be charged a true cost for the operation of the department. The rental charge is actually a wash in the budget. The net effect on the budget if this expenditure was not included would be zero, because the expenditure for rent is added to the departments funding level. 7. Why is it that a person in the environmental health section of the department makes considerably more money Health Board Meeting Minutes: October 20, 1987 Page: 5 than a person in the nursing section of the department who has the same level of education (Bachelors Degree) and a similar type of job. Board's Response: The County has just instituted a salary system which was designed to make sure that jobs that require the same level of training and respon- sibility are at the same pay grade. Mary Catlin was directed to re-submit the job descriptions in question to the Salary Review Committee for their review and determination. 8. The departments computers are being leased and the Advisory Board asked if it wouldn't be more cost effective to purchase them? Board' Response: Commissioner Larry Dennison reported that the County has an Equipment Rental and Revolving Fund that purchases equipment for the various County Departments. The rental payment the health department makes on their computers goes to this fund to offset maintenance, software, and depreciation costs and to make sure the equipment can be replaced when necessary. 9. How will the loss of funds due to the ESM investment impact the Health Department budget? Board's Response: The loss of these funds will be spread over all of the County's Current Expense departments, including the Health Department, Commissioner Larry Dennison advised. It is impossible at this time to determine what effect that will have on the Health Department. Chairman B. G. Brown added that the County's Budget Committee has decided that only the revenue projected for 1988 will be budgeted for use. In the past a cash carryover from the previous year was also used to meet budgetary needs. There will be no carryover for 1988. Commissioner B.G. Brown further explained that revenue that is generated from any Current Expense department goes into the Current Expense Fund to be distributed as the Board of Commissioners determines during the budget process. Funding generated by a particular source cannot be earmarked to be used by the department that generated it. Health Board Meeting Minutes: October 20, 1987 Page: 6 Chairman Brown thanked the Advisory Board members for their input and the work that they have done. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH ~~~'4-) B.G. Brown, Chairman . 7 ,.'~ ~..-::'/ ,~, - r: ~~&CD"'''~'/A'A"l- a . Dennison, Member ~.<Y<-'~ (L... ~,;k,c..J----<- .' George C.OBrown, Member