If you have any questions or comments, please contact: Pisa Lewis , Executive Assistant,
at 409 938-2401, by email:plewis@gchd.org; or Kurt Koopmann, Public Information Officer,
at 409-938-2211, by email:kkoopman@gchd.org.

Update on Community Collaborations
District staff are participating in discussions with a number of community health stakeholders on a variety of health issues. Staffs are participating in on-going, weekly meetings of the local Community Access Program (CAP) project; and are receiving regular e-mail communications regarding the Indigent Healthcare Taskforce's state legislative advocacy for the ability to pursue a local sales tax to aid the financing of indigent healthcare in the county. Staff has participated in discussions with UTMB officials on how to enhance the local Immunization Coalition and its efforts to optimize immunization rates in the county; and have participated in discussions with Mainland Medical Center hospital officials on how to offer mainland residents the option of local access to prenatal care, delivery, and pediatric care. In responding to requests for assistance and support, District staff are positioned to explore options which are in the best interest of public health and the populations served and will keep the appropriate health board informed of its deliberations and proposed actions. For more information contact Mark Guidry, MD, MPH, Executive Director, at mguidry@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2401.

Health Disparities
In past months, the District participated in a meeting with a local stakeholder urging efforts and resources to address health disparities among Galveston County populations. The District committed to looking for grant opportunities to fund special projects, which would address identified health disparities in the county. On April 3, 2003, staff participated in a conference call with a representative from George Washington University regarding the role of Community Health Centers (CHC) in the effort to reduce health disparities. The purpose of this conference call was to gather qualitative information from areas with community health clinics to test a hypothesis (based on a preliminary study) that the presence of community health centers is associated with a reduction in health disparities in communities. The university will share a report of its findings upon completion. For more information, please contact Jay Holland, Chief Operating Officer, at jholland@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2260.

Special Events & Employee Recognition

• Food service establishments deserving recognition for cleanliness were presented Gold Ribbon Awards by County Judge Yarbrough and Health District staff, during a ceremony held April 2, 2003, at the Wayne Johnson Community Center. In selecting the recipients of Gold Ribbon awards, sanitarians nominate exemplary operators from the establishments they are responsible for inspecting. The awards went to 16 schools and daycares and 14 food service establishments. For more information, please contact Marty Entringer, Director of Environmental and Consumer Health, at mentringer@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2458
• The Galveston County Commissioner's Court proclaimed the week of April 7 - 14th as National Public Health Week. District public health workers were commended for their daily efforts to protect and promote health in Galveston County. District employees heard presentations about health and enjoyed heart healthy luncheons. The proclamation issued by the Commissioners' Court can be seen at: and is hung in the District's Boardroom. For more information, please contact Kurt Koopmann, Public Information Officer, at kkoopman@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2211.

United Board of Health Orientation and Tour
On Friday, March 21, district staff had an orientation program for new members of the United Board of Health. The new members received a notebook of reference materials including the history of the Health District and the state and local regulations about its structure and function. Following a review of the reference materials, members and staff toured district facilities in Galveston, Texas City and LaMarque. The members remarked that the tour was an excellent way to see and learn about the services provided by the District. For more information, please contact Gay Lane, Administrative Officer, at glane@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2401.

Severe Acute Respiratory Disease (SARS)
Since November 1, 2002, over 3,000 cases of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) have been diagnosed worldwide. The syndrome is linked to an apparent corona virus spread by respiratory droplets among close contacts. As of 4/17/03, 208 probable cases (with no reported deaths) have been identified in the U.S., and 7 probable cases in Texas, primarily among recent travelers to Asia. To date, Texas Department of Health reports "no secondary cases have been reported in Texas and there is no indication of an increased risk of illness for the general public." The District receives and disseminates nearly daily updates regarding SARS surveillance and guidelines to area hospitals and health professionals. To date, there are no cases in Galveston County. For information on SARS, see www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars . For more information, please contact Chuck Chambers, MPH, Epidemiologist, at cchambers@gchd.org or call (409) 765-2514.

Update on Phase One of Smallpox Vaccinations
The first phase of the smallpox campaign to vaccinate a core group of volunteer health workers was completed by mid April. The campaign vaccinated a total of 63 individuals who make up Public Health and Healthcare Response Teams for the county. UTMB hospital participated in the volunteer vaccination campaign. Phase II of smallpox vaccinations will offer all area health care workers and first responders smallpox vaccinations. The initiation date for Phase II is pending upon notification by the Texas Department of Health. For more information, please contact Shirley Carr, RN, at scarr@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2457.

District Business and Operational Issues

• The Executive Team and District Management Team have approved the following policies in the last month: Attendance, CPR, Hiring Process, Tobacco Use and Use of the 4C's Clinic. As adopted by both health boards, HR policies will be approved by the Executive Director and brought to the board on an annual basis. For more information, please contact Kathrine Hall, Human Resources Director, at khall@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2230.    
• The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) State Compliance contract did come in at $15,000 less than last year. TCEQ is working with GCHD Pollution Control and the city of Houston to supplement this contract. For more information, please contact Ronnie Schultz, Director of Pollution Control, at mailto:rschultz@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2314.
• Employees on District and 4C's payrolls received salary adjustments effective April 10. Those employees currently on probation will receive the increase at the end of their probationary period. For more information, please contact Kathrine Hall, Human Resources Director, at khall@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2230.
• The executive managers are developing a new purchasing process to include fiscal monitoring and board involvement (where appropriate). The new process will clarify roles and responsibilities of department heads/managers, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, and the Purchasing Officer. The process will ensure that purchase requests are appropriately routed and are essential to district business. For more information, please contact Gay Lane, Administrative Officer, at glane@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2401.

Legislative Updates
HB 1, the appropriations bill, passed the House on April 17, 2003. The District will monitor the outcome of the bill in the Senate. Should the bill be adopted into law, the proposed impacts include: (1) fewer kids eligible for Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid, (2) 5% decrease in Medicaid reimbursement to physicians, (3) loss of in-home services to some elderly and disabled groups, (4) decreased mental health services and (5) decreases in prenatal care, cancer care, and prescription drug services in certain groups. For more information, please contact Kurt Koopmann, Public Information Officer, at kkoopman@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2211.

• In March 2003, the 4C's Dental Clinics served over 780 patients through its two sites. In support of the diabetes collaborative, the clinics provide at least 12 dental examinations per week (combined) for patients participating in the diabetes program. For more information, please contact Lisa Jacob, DDS, Dental Director, at ljacob@gchd.org or call (409) 949-3445.·
• The Steering Committee on Call Complaints which was formed following the February 27 Governing Board meeting has implemented improvements in provider schedules which will make it easier for patients to make appointments. The committee has made recommendations to alleviate the problem of patients in the north part of the county who must pay long distance charges when calling for an appointment by establishing a number for them to call (281) 309-0255. For more information, please contact Umair Shah, MD, MPH, at ushah@gchd.org or call (409) 949-3406.
• At its last Governing Board meeting the Governing Board established a Seniors health project as a 4C's priority. District staff are developing plans to implement the project which will provide two essential public health services and coordinated outreach education. For more information, please contact Mark Guidry, MD, MPH, Executive Director, at mguidry@gchd.org or call (409) 938-2401.