National Children's Dental Health Month
Change in State Rules on Animal
Rabies Vaccination Frequency
EMS Activities
Galveston Area
Ambulance Authority
Governing
Board Steering Committee on Call Complaints
Federal 4C's
Grant Notification
4C's Town Hall
Meeting
Hiring
Freeze
New Board of
Health Orientation
Governing Board
and Board of Health's Website
Legislative Proposals
Other
News
National
Children's Dental Health Month
February was National Children's
Dental Health Month. The dental department made five
oral health presentations in area elementary schools.
Also, a coloring contest was held for the 4 C's
pediatric dental patients. Eleven children received
electric toothbrushes as a prize. The entire dental
staff attended a seminar on infection control at the
Greater Houston Dental Society meeting on February 14,
2003. In February, 347 patients were seen in the Texas
City Clinic and 244 patients were seen in the Galveston
clinic. For more information contact Lisa Jacob, DDS,
Dental Director, at
ljacob@gchd.org
or call (409) 949-3445.
Change
in State Rules on Animal Rabies Vaccination Frequency
On February 27, 2003, the Texas
Board of Health approved amendments to Texas
Administrative Code, Rabies Control and Eradication. The
major impact of the amendments pertains to rabies
vaccination requirements for dogs and cats in Texas. In
summary, the prior requirement for dogs and cats to have
annual rabies shots has been changed such that some
animals with prior vaccinations will only need
revaccination every three years. For more information
contact Marty Entringer, Director of Environmental and
Consumer Health, at
mentringer@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2458.
EMS
Activities
In March three members of
Galveston EMS trained to the technician level in Weapons
of Mass Destruction HAZ-MAT at the Center for Domestic
Preparedness in Alabama. On February 15, EMS senior
supervisor, Thomas Leigh, participated in the Carver
Park Health Fair to educate participants on first aid,
bike safety and EMS activities. March 13, EMS
participated in UTMB's 7th annual Health Fair and Fun
Run. More than 100 first aid cards, 911 stickers, 911
coloring books, Bike Safety coloring books, pencils and
refrigerator magnets. Of all the items given out for
public education and awareness, the 911 medical
information cards were very popular and can be
invaluable in providing medics with pertinent medical
information when they arrive on location. For more
information contact Greg Kunkel, EMS Chief, at gkunkel@gchd.org
or call (409) 621-3141.
Galveston
Area Ambulance Authority
An interlocal agreement between
the City of Galveston and the Galveston County Health
District DBA Galveston Area Ambulance Authority for the
provision of emergency medical and transport services
will be renewed for the period March 1, 2003 through
September 30, 2003. This is an extension of a contact
that ended February 2003 and the term of the contract is
designed to coincide with the fiscal year. Additional
one year extensions are forthcoming as there is no
expectation that this contract will be terminated by
either party in the foreseeable future. For more
information contact Jay Holland, Chief Operating
Officer, at jholland@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2260.
Steering Committee on Call Complaints
On February 27, several Governing
Board members voiced concerns about difficulty making
appointments to see providers in the clinics. As a
result, the Executive Team formed a Steering Committee
on Call Complaints and designated the Medical Director
as the executive sponsor. The Steering Committee is
comprised of district staff representing involved areas
of concern and the executive sponsor will seek the
participation and/or input of GB members. A full report
of the Committee will be given at the March 27, 2003 GB
meeting. For more information contact Umair Shah, MD,
MPH, Medical Director, at
ushah@gchd.org
or call (409) 949-3406.
Federal 4C's
Grant Notification
On
March 11 the clinic received the Notice of Grant Award
from HRSA for the grant year beginning April 1, 2003.
The amount of funding remains stable at $1,530,750.00
for the time period April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004.
This represents the fourth year of a five year project
period award. For more information contact Jay Holland,
Chief Operating Officer, at jholland@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2260. 4C's Town Hall Meeting
Based on a Clinic Leadership Team
initiative to improve clinic communications and manage
change, the Executive and Clinic Leadership Teams held a
town hall meeting on March 12 at the Nessler Center in
Texas City. Executive staff discussed vision,
expectations, history, salary adjustments and addressed
several employee questions. Many employee questions were
submitted on cue cards which were responded to in
writing within 2 weeks. Many employees expressed
appreciation for this method of communicating
information and changes in the department. The executive
team plans additional town hall meetings for other areas
of the District. For more information contact Kurt
Koopmann, Public Information Officer, at kkoopman@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2111.
Hiring
Freeze
Effective March 18, 2003 the
District implemented a hiring freeze based on existing
financial projections and proposed state budget cuts. A
process was developed such that managers may request the
consideration of exceptions. Criteria were developed
that will be used to review request for exceptions. For
more information contact Kathrine Hall, Human
Resources Director, at khall@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2230.
New Board of
Health Orientation
On Friday, March 21 district staff
had an orientation program for new members of the United
Board of Health. http://www.texascitysun.com/report.lasso?WCD=2273
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 orientation
notebook, new members and staff boarded a van to tour
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 contact
Gay Lane, Administrative Officer, at glane@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2401
Governing Board and Board of Health's Website
The Boards' website is being
developed not only to inform the public about board
activities and members but to be used as a resource for
the board members as well. Board members can check
meeting times/places, agendas, meeting minutes and
access other members' contact information. Sam Trout,
Web Manager, asks that you submit a short bio or CV,
pictures would be good as well. Board members may email
their bio or CV to webmaster@gchd.org
. For more information contact Sam Trout, Web Manager,
at webmaster@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2222.
Legislative Proposals
On March 24 District staff
presented a summary of current state proposed budget
cuts to the Commissioners' Court
gchd.org/press/2003/03LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.pdf
The proposals outline the potential impact to Galveston
County public health programs and the potential impact
to the district clinic as well as other health care
organizations as a result of proposed changes in health
care financing programs such as Medicaid and CHIP. See
the story in the Galveston Daily News at
http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?wcd=8862
For more information contact Kurt Koopmann, Public
Information Officer, at kkoopman@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2111.
Other News
Susan Studebaker, Director of
Clinical Services has been approved to take a leave of
absence from April 16 through June 22. In her absence,
her responsibilities will be managed by executive
management and members of the Clinic Leadership Team.
For more information contact Mark Guidry, MD, MPH, at mguidry@gchd.org
or call (409) 938-2401. |
