GRAND FORKS BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, July 12, 2007 I. Call Meeting to Order The Grand Forks Board of Health did not have enough members present at 4:35 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2007 to have a quorum, however, in the Health Department conference room, the agenda was discussed and information for individuals given. Members present: Judy DeMers (Chairperson), Arvin Kvasager, and Mike McNamara. Others present: Debbie Swanson with three UND Nursing students, Wally Helland, Juanita Peterka, Delbert Streitz, and Keith Westerfield. II. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting April 12, 2007 Since no quorum existed for an official meeting, approval of the minutes from the last meeting on April 12, 2007 were deferred. III. Old Business A. Readiness Exercise: 1. Medical - Del S. (Emergency Preparedness) briefed on the exercise that was held on April 27, 2007 for our region. Grand Forks County Board interacted with neighboring counties, talking about some of the main issues, such as; isolation quarantines, surveillance, and mass fatalities. Also, to inform us the state had just hired a State Medical Examiner. Because of the Readiness exercise, we are now better prepared for a pandemic. Del received an ‘After Action Report’ handout to review, that gave some recommendations. He is currently reviewing the report for main action steps that we want to address that pertain to our region, and would make a difference. The exercise ran well and was well laid out, but there’s room for improvement. Arvin K. told Del that he was impressed with the in-depth process of communications, and how we would handle a real pandemic, if it would occur. Del also wanted to acknowledge that our region’s Public Information Officer, John Bergstrom, has done a great job, and that the communication pieces that he had put together were well done—and he was one of the first in the state to have it done. Del stated that the Action Team were impressed with the plans that were developed, and that the people really wanted to be involved. One of the team’s first comments were that ‘everyone was interested and they were there to make a difference and learn’. 2. Tetanus Booster Blitz - Del S. also briefed on the mass vaccination clinic that took place on 20 May 2007. This is a first time to do a POD (Point of Dispensing), at the mass vaccination clinic, which was to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Grand Forks flood, and to provide Tetanus booster shots. It was an excellent time to test the Grand Forks County Mass Prophylaxis Plan. It was the first time using the Alerus Center, to develop the capability to treat the 70,000 Grand Forks and East Grand Forks residents within 3 days, if needed. 165 vaccinations were given, with the first 100 free. Deb S. noted that the whole event had a greater value as an exercise, than it did as an opportunity to give 10-year boosters. After that exercise, we know how to do a mass vaccination clinic. Del also acknowledged that the UND nursing students were very helpful at the exercise. B. Northern Valley Dental Health Coalition Update: Debbie S. gave a briefing on the Dental Coalition’s progress. - A new dentist was recently hired, who will begin work on July 15th, at Fargo’s Family Health Care Clinic (FHCC) until the Grand Forks clinic opens. The Fargo’s FHCC’s Director has agreed to be the GF Clinic’s part-time Director also. The NVDHC is requesting additional funding, due to now being responsible for some of the building renovations. - They are still optimistic that the clinic will open at the beginning of this fall. - They have submitted a grant to the Robert Wood Johnson foundation, for $283,000, which will support services such as, case management, and oral health education in the schools. This would help achieve the long-term goal to improve oral health through system change and education. C. Legislative Update: Wally H. gave us updated information on Regional Environmental Health, and Debbie S. information on Immunizations. - Wally stated that at the last Legislative session, the state increased the amount of funds made available to local health departments, to enhance all health care, including Environmental Health. They decided to divide the state into 8 regions (same regions used for Emergency Preparedness); Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Minot, Bismarck, Dickinson, and Williston. Each region will receive $25,000 to use for Environmental Health services. - Debbie S. explained that immunizations were impacted by legislature during last year by adding to the school and daycare immunization requirements. But, more importantly, the standard on immunizations has shifted, from Universal providing all immunizations to children, to a more selected way of financing immunizations called Provider Choice. Public Health will be purchasing vaccines to use, instead of state-issued vaccines. We hope we won’t see a decline in number of children immunized. There will have to be higher rates for immunization administration fees. The people who will feel it the most will be the ones with insurance that have a higher deductible. They are not considered ‘under-insured’, and most likely will not be able to afford the shots. Mike M. considered this regressive, because if immunizations decline then the number of children getting sick will go up. In 1999, it cost $186.00 to vaccinate a child through age two, but in 2006 it cost now $1,137.00, not counting the cost of the new vaccines required. Children on Medicaid or without health insurance will still be able to get federally funded vaccines. IV. New Business A. Staff Changes: - Health Tracks program is funded by Medicaid, and the state employs the social worker through the Department of Human Services and housed in an office in Public Health. Our new social worker for Health Tracks is Laurie Santangelo. - A new nurse has been hired at the jail, Rodney Wawryk. He also works at a correctional center in Polk County, Minnesota. V. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting – 4:15 p.m., Thursday, July 12, 2007 VI. Other: How are we doing with mosquito control? Wally H. stated that so far we are doing real well. However, Todd Hanson is concerned with the high number of Culex species of mosquitoes, which are the biggest carriers of the West Nile Virus. That’s why they’ve been spraying, although the count hadn’t reached the 100 number. The Air Force will return in a few weeks to spray the city again. They are Reservists, and are considering this training. We only have to pay for the chemicals. Grand Forks is one of the few cities they do. It has been highly effective in reducing the number of mosquitoes. Reasons are unknown why North Dakota seem to have a higher percentage of West Nile Virus cases (29 nation-wide, with about a fourth of them in North Dakota). VII. Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, James Hargreaves, MD, Secretary By: Keith Westerfield Office Specialist, Senior Public Health Department