DIVISION ACTIVITY REPORTS April – June 2007 ADMINISTRATIVE Employee Safety Training/Tips: Juanita Peterka informs staff at monthly staff meetings about safety items. The following was reported during this period: Juanita Peterka advised staff that the City is participating in a pilot program for on-line safety classes. A handout was provided to staff and encouraged participation in the program. The City would like to see 25% of city employees complete at least one course before the end of 2007. Juanita Peterka reminded staff to be more mindful of children playing, now that school is out for the summer months. Now that the construction season has started, Juanita Peterka advised staff to drive with care especially through these zones. A reminder was given to staff as to the protocol for tornado warnings and for when the fire alarms are sounded in the County Office Building. Debbie Hanson-Misialek, Peggy Vanyo, Keith Westerfield and Juanita Peterka attended and participated in Strategic Planning in April. Debbie Hanson-Misialek participated in the monthly Greater Grand Forks Immunization Coalition meetings during this period. Debbie Hanson-Misialek attended a pandemic flu table top exercise at the Alerus Center April 27, 2007. Marlene Johnson and Debbie Hanson-Misialek attended a Health Care Forum in Fargo May 9, 2007. Juanita Peterka, Debbie Hanson-Misialek, Marlene Johnson and Peggy Vanyo participated in the Booster Blitz at the Alerus Center May 20, 2007. Media/Public Relations: Several public health related items were published in the newspaper/or covered on the radio and television. Articles in the Herald included articles regarding the Booster Blitz event that was held May 20, 2007. Care Day Community Benefits Fund: During this period $50.00 was donated to Marilyn Azure family. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH All Environmental Health personnel attended Department Strategic Planning on April 11 at Turtle River State Park. Thirty four individuals attended a two day food manager certification class held in April. This class is co-sponsored by UND Dining Services. Del Streitz, Tim Haak, Richard Klockmann and Wally Helland participated in a pandemic flu tabletop exercise held at the Alerus on April 27. Todd Hanson attended the annual Regional Mosquito Control Conference held in Fargo during April. Environmental Health personnel participated in odor re-certification conducted by NDDOH staff on May 16. Tim Haak conducted fit testing for N95 respirators for public health and medical personnel throughout the region during this period. Semi-annual inspections of all restaurants were completed during this period. Mosquito Control personnel began larviciding operations in April. Tim Haak and Del Streitz attended a Mass Fatality Training Conference held in Bismarck during May. Richard Klockmann, Del Streitz, Tim Haak and Todd Hanson participated in the Tetanus Booster Blitz pandemic flue exercise held at the Alerus on May 20. Semi annual inspections of all pool facilities were completed during this period. Todd Hanson attended the American Mosquito Control Association annual educational conference held in Florida during April. Tim Haak attended the National Environmental Health Association annual conference on Environmental Health and Emergency Preparedness in Atlantic City in June. NURSING AND NUTRITION Health Promotion Team Members: Carrie Kaltenberg (team leader), Theresa Knox, Rachel Salwei, Haley Thorson, Programs: Tobacco Prevention, Women’s Way, Wellness Completed the Freedom from Smoking cessation classes for FY 06-07. Of the 55 participants, 22 are city or county employees and the overall quit rate for all classes is 30%. The tobacco prevention program and the Grand Forks Tobacco Free Coalition support and are involved with the policy and cessation activities at the University of North Dakota. The campus will be tobacco free on October 1, 2007. Cessation classes are being offered through an expanded and collaborative effort between public health and the UND Wellness Center. We sponsored two teams from Grand Forks and Larimore Public School Districts at the Rough Rider Health Promotion Conference in Medora ND with a goal to strengthen current tobacco free policies at the local school district level. The Women’s Way Coordinator attended a goal setting/action planning retreat sponsored by the American Cancer Society focusing on the role of cancer prevention and the Women’s Way program. The state Women’s Way consultant and regional coordinator conducted site visits and updates at the following local providers’ offices: Grand Forks Family Medicine Residency, Northern Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Riverview, East Grand Forks MN. Employee wellness activities included an April “dietary fiber” challenge and a June “eat breakfast” challenge. Thirty employees attended the May Lunch and Learn on summer safety. Family Health Team Members: Allen Anderson (team leader), Mandy Burbank, Cindy Loiland, Betty Otteson, Danielle Kovarik Programs: Maternal & Child Health, ND Health Tracks, Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Needs Betty Otteson and Danielle taught “ABC’s of Car Seats.” Danielle Kovarik continues to be a liaison for UND College of Nursing Students. She provided orientation to Grand Forks Public Health for 11 students on May 17, and coordination of clinical experiences for 11 students. Three nursing students are also now scheduled to begin 6 week practicum experiences this fall at the Health Department. The Health Tracks Program conducted well child exams on approximately 175 children ages 0-21 who are enrolled in Medicaid during April, May and June. The car seat program provided safety seats and education to several families during this period. Betty and Danielle also attended all day training in Fargo on Child Passenger Safety. On April 14, Mandy, Allen, and UND dietetics student, Dan Howell provided a display on the food pyramid at the Hands on Learning Fair attended by over 500 children. Mandy and Allen attended the joint ND Dietetic Association and ND Nutrition Council Annual Conference in Bismarck. The Northern Valley Dental Health Coalition said goodbye to our dental coordinator Nusrat Symons on June 15. Plans continue on site development to open a public health dental clinic in Grand Forks in 2007 operated by Valley Community Health Centers. Disease Prevention Team Members: Kathy Dunn (team leader), Terri Keehr, and Twyla Streibel Programs: Immunization, TB, Refugee Health, HIV, Ryan White, Influenza Grand Forks Public Health Department Immunization Program administered more than 375 vaccinations to area residents during April and May. The age-appropriate immunization rate for Grand Forks County children less than two years of age is 91%. North Valley Community Health Center, Northwood deputized our department as a rural health clinic. This designation allows us to administer vaccinations through the federally funded Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program to another group of children – the underinsured. Presentations: Immunizations – UND family nurse practitioners; monthly immunization updates at Altru Family Medicine Center, Altru Pediatrics, and GFPHD; Certified Medical Assistant Conference. TB – Northeast Human Service Center, and Aurora Medical Park HIV 101/ STDs – UND Student Teachers, and Drake Counseling Center The Disease Prevention Team created an education and resource manual for staff use on extremely drug resistant TB (XDR-TB). Terri Keehr was a radio show guest with Mike McNamara on this topic. Grand Forks welcomed one new refugee family in May. Terri Keehr will provide the recently resettled refugees TB skin testing, home visits, health teaching and care coordination. On April 13, Dr. James Hargreaves presented, “Community Acquired MRSA: Attack of the Clones” a presentation on antimicrobial resistance, to approximately 50 health care professionals. This presentation will be followed up in September with more information on practical applications to the problem. On May 20, the Tetanus Booster Blitz was held at the Alerus Center. Approximately 200 residents were protected from tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). We were also able to exercise mass vaccination and gained valuable information. Four separate training sessions were held for more than 100 volunteers. Grand Forks Public Health Department is now better prepared to mass dispense vaccinations or medication in the event of an emergency. The Disease Prevention Team is working with the Grand Forks Senior Center to provide influenza, tetanus, and pneumococcal vaccinations at a senior health fair to be held at the Alerus Center in 2008. The North Dakota Department of Health, Immunization Program will transition to a centralized national vaccine inventory and distribution system on August 13. The Vaccine Management Business Improvement Project (VMBIP) is a national effort to improve the nation’s vaccine delivery system and the nation’s ability to respond to public health crisis through the development of a centralized vaccine stock pile system. In August, we will begin ordering its state provided vaccine from McKesson Specialty Ltd. Kathy Dunn received the ND Community Service Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution for her work in organizing Grand Forks’ Drive Through Flu Clinics. Health Services Team Members: Kathy Mack (team leader), Linda Opstad, Bill Lund, Stacie Olson Programs: Correctional Center, Home Visits, Office Nursing, School Nursing During April, May, and June, 885 clients were served by public health nurses in our office for services including TB skin tests, health teaching, immunizations, STD counseling, blood pressure monitoring, medication administration and head lice checks. During March, April, May, and June, public health nurses made 563 home visits to residents in Grand Forks County. Services included health assessments, education, and medication setup, prenatal and newborn assessments. There were 25 admissions and 22 discharges during this period. During April, May, and June, Kathy Mack provided two “Heart at Work” screenings for newly hired city employees. Grand Forks Public Health coordinated meetings with the Grand Forks School Nurses to discuss issues in their schools, and to elicit support for improving school health and wellness services. An immunization program was conducted in the City and County schools this spring. Adolescents in grades 7-12 were offered TDAP (Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) and Hepatitis B immunizations. Seventy-five TDAP’S and eleven Hepatitis B immunizations were given. Stacie Olson attended a Hepatitis C training workshop on April 20 in Bismarck presented by the North Dakota State Health Department. Recruitment continues for a public health nurse to work at the correctional center.