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.

District News Releases
   West Nile Virus
   New State Regulations on Rabies Vaccinations
   Beach and Water Safety
   Air Quality Watch and Health Alert
   National EMS Week

4C's Clinic Updates
   Senior Health Outreach Coordinator
   Dental Director
   New High Blood Pressure Guidelines
   Steering Committee on Call Complaints

District Business and Operational Issues
   Customer Service and Cultural Diversity
   New Human Resources Policies
   New HIPPA Procedures
   FY2004 County Budget
   HIV Health and Social Services Grant

State Reviews of District Programs
   TB Elimination Program
   Title V Part B Asthma Project

May Highlights: West Nile Virus and District Health Planning This month, the Health District participated in a diverse array of public health activities from preparing for West Nile Virus to initiating a strategic health planning process to address key health priorities in the next several years. The first step of health planning occurred on May 16th at Moody Gardens when a group of health district employees and board members retreated to a facilitated "think tank" to develop a Draft List of Health Priorities. Eight themes emerged into priorities, which will next endure a three-month period of public comment in a variety of venues, coordinated by a newly hired public health planner, Brian Rutherford. By fall, the District plans to submit to both health boards a Galveston County Health District Strategic Health Plan, which will include goals and objectives for the established priority. For more information, contact Harlan "Mark" Guidry, MD, MPH, Executive Director, mguidry@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2401.
District News Releases
The Health District issued several news releases this month.
	On May 8, 2003 the health district geared up for the West Nile Virus Season by setting up locations where citizens can drop off dead birds for lab testing. In addition, Dr. Guidry toured the County's Mosquito Control operations to learn about its role in identifying West Nile Virus in mosquito populations around the county. The health district is emphasizing prevention through the "4 D's" message posted at its website http://www.texaswestnile.org/ To date, there are no reported cases of West Nile Virus in animals or humans in Galveston County. For more information, contact Kurt Koopmann Public Information Specialist, kkoopman@gchd.org,or call (409) 938-2211.
	On April 25, 2003 the Health District issued a press release on the New State Regulations on Rabies Vaccinations. At the meeting of the Galveston County United Board of Health held April 23rd, a change in the state's rabies vaccination guidelines for pets was discussed. Board members requested a recommendation from the District's Animal Shelter Advisory Committee regarding the new state guidelines. For more information, contact Marty Entringer, Director of Environmental and Consumer Health, mentringer@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2458.
	With the advent of summer, the health district issued a news release on April 25, 2003 regarding Beach and Water Safety. In 2002, there were reports of 16 drownings and 44 near-drownings which occurred in the county. The news release emphasized preventive measures such as, wearing a life jacket; knowing your limits and always obeying all warning signs and flag. For more information, contact Chuck Chambers MPH, Epidemiologist@gchd.org, or call (409) 765-2514.
	On May 6, the Pollution Control Department issued an "Air Quality Watch & Health Alert" due to smoke from agricultural burning in Mexico and Central America. The release advised people with heart or lung disease, the elderly, children and pregnant women to limit outdoor exertion and time spent outdoors. For more information, contact Ronnie Schultz Pollution Control Director,@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2314.
	District EMS recognized National EMS Week on May 18-24 with the theme, When It Matters Most. Staff emphasized that no matter what the emergency or when it occurs - be it an injury, an automobile crash, a heart attack, a diabetic emergency, or childbirth - EMS responders are there to provide immediate lifesaving care and transportation. For more information, contact Greg Kunkel@gchd.org EMS Chief, or call (409) 621-3141.
4C's Clinic Updates                                                                                                                      top of page
	The Senior Health Outreach Coordinator position closed on May 16, 2003 after being posted. The interview and selection process is expected to be completed this week. The position is a result of Governing Board action on February 27, 2003, establishing Senior Health a 4C's Clinic Priority and allocating funds to inform, educate, and link county seniors to needed health services. For more information, contact Harlan "Mark" Guidry, MD, MPH,Executive Director@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2401.
	Effective June 11, 2003, Dental Director, Dr. Lisa Jacob, will resign to accept a position in a pediatric dentistry residency program. In her short time at the health district, Dr. Jacob has done much to improve dental services, increase clinic efficiency, and raise public awareness about oral health issues. In accordance with district policy, the vacant position will be posted in the near future. For more information, contact Harlan "Mark" Guidry, MD, MPH,Executive Director@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2401 .
	The 4C's Medical Director is in the process of reviewing the new high blood pressure guidelines recently released by the "The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure". The Medical Director will work with district providers to implement clinic practice guidelines to improve our identification and treatment of early high blood pressure. For more information, contact Umair Shah, MD, MPH, Medical Director@gchd.org, (409) 949-3406.
	The Steering Committee on Call Complaints, besides removing of the barrier of long distance charges to make appointments, has made additional progress this month by adding direct phone lines to the appointment center in each clinic as well as extending appointment schedules through the end of July. Future efforts will involve establishing triage criteria for walk-in patients and reviewing clinic appointments that are not kept (i.e., no show rates). For more information, contact Umair Shah, MD, MPH, Medical Director@gchd.org, or call (409) 949-3406.
District Business and Operational Issues                                                                                             top of page
	Starting July 10, 2003, the Health District will begin a training program for employees on Customer Service and Cultural Diversity. This training initiative was developed and reviewed by both the Executive and District Management Teams. For more information, contact Kathrine Wiggins, Human Resources Director@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2230.
	Two new Human Resources policies were implemented this month, the Hours Worked and Compensatory/Overtime policies. For more information, contact Kathrine Wiggins, Human Resources Director@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2230.
	Following the adoption of HIPPA policies, related HIPPA procedures were developed for patients who desire to review their medical records while in the clinic. The medical authorization procedure to release medical records was also modified to meet HIPPA guidelines. For more information, contact Wayne Milner, Compliance Officer@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2425.
	The FY2004 County Budget was delivered to the County Budget Office on May 20, 2003. The budget message from the County Judge was to keep budget requests within the FY03 operating base. The budget request maintained the FY04 operating base at the FY03 level, except for the addition of funds necessary to meet the salary adjustment levels approved by the Commissioners' Court. Also, additional funds were requested for indigent health care contract services ($300,000), capital expenditures ($150,000) and facility renovation ($754,700). For additional information, contact Warren J. Holland, Chief Operating Officer@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2260.
	A grant for HIV Health and Social Services ( i.e., case management, dental and transportation) was renewed this month. Aside from a 5% decrease in funding, everything else in the grant remained the same, including the performance measures and work plan. For more information, contact Anne McMorris, HIV Administration Director@gchd.org, or call (409) 765-2531.
State Reviews of District Programs
	A Review of the Galveston County Health District Tuberculosis Elimination Program was done on May 12th and 13th by TB staff from Texas Department of Health and Public Health Region 6/5S. This was the first review ever done on the Health District TB program. At the conclusion of the review, comments from TDH reviewers were favorable. A written report of findings and recommendations will be forthcoming. For more information, contact Shirley Carr, Director of Community Health Nursing,  scarr@gchd.org, or call (409) 938-2291.
	The Texas Department of Health (TDH) reviewed the District's Title V Part B funded activities on May 22, 2003. These activities involve education and tracking of asthmatics. The reviewers commended a newspaper article regarding asthma prepared by 4C's pediatrician, Dr. Murad Dharani. The District will receive a written report of the review findings in the future. For more information, contact Pam Jahnke, Quality Management Director@gchd.org, or call (409) 949-3408.