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Archives |
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2005 Texas
Public Health Association Conference |
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Update
on Clusters of Rashes |
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Public
Health Preparedness |
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Other News Releases
and Press Stories |
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Environmental assessment of of County
Road and Bridge Facilities in Dickinson and Bolivar |
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2004 Private/Public Provider of the
Year |
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Greg Kunkel submitted a guest column
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Jail illness outbreak |
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Food safety and hygiene tips |
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Office of Community Health
Programs Updates |
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Senior Health |
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Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination |
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HIV Consortium |
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Women's, Infants, and Children |
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New Immunization Position |
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Immunization Advisory Council Update |
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Office of
Environmental Health Services Updates |
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Hazardous Waste Operations Training
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Air Program Audit |
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Distemper at the Shelter |
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High Island Sewage Disposal Update |
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Animal Euthanasia Certification |
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4C’s Clinic
Updates |
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· New 4C's Counselor
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· 4C's Reengineering |
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· Health Resource Services Administration
(HRSA) Grant |
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· 4 C’s Nursing Director
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· NurseLine calls |
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· Physician Assistant Vacancy
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Office of Emergency
Medical Services Updates |
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· GAAA receives State’s
EMS Provider Award |
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· GAAA Honors at Awards Banquet
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· Ambulance Respo |
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· Barge Accident |
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Other
Operational Updates |
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Lead Presentation |
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· Department of
State Health Services Review (DSHS |
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· Volunteer Office
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· TB Program Manager
Vacancy |
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Contracts
Executed |
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· Immunizations |
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· HIV/Ryan White
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· Air and Water
Pollution |
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· Bioterrorism Preparedness
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· STD/HIV |
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· Robert Wood Johnson
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· Robert Wood Johnson
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· TB Prevention
and Control |
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· STD/HIV |
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· Robert Wood Johnson
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| Preparations
for First Annual Report |
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- In January 2004, the
Galveston County United Board of Health and the 4C’s
Governing Board adopted its Strategic Health Plan with
health priorities and goals to guide the Galveston County
Health District’s activities through the year
2010. The Plan was developed through a five month process
with extensive community participation and comment,
outlined in the Plan’s executive summary on the
District website:
www.gchd.org.
In accordance with board directives, the Health District
will prepare a first annual report of progress towards
the Galveston County Strategic Health Plan and will
present the finalized report at January board meetings.
The report will include specific progress toward each
of the priorities and goals in the Plan and will include
an executive summary of accomplishments, by priorities,
as well as, areas for improvement in the next several
years. The Plan has been instrumental in gaining community
support and prioritizing the work of Health district
staff and services. For more information, please contact
Harlan “Mark” Guidry, MD, MPH, Chief Executive
Officer at (409) 938-2401 or email mguidry@gchd.org
or Pam Jahnke, RN, Strategic Plan Evaluator at (409)
938-2256 or email pjahnke@gchd.org. |
| 2005 Texas Public
Health Association Conference
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Health
District staff together with leaders of the Texas
Public Health Association (TPHA) have been moving
forward with plans for the TPHA Regional Conference
to be held on January 19-20th at the Tremont House
Hotel in Galveston. Speakers are being secured to
discuss topics in Community Health and Public Health
Administration, Preparedness, Environmental and Laboratory
support, and Basic Disaster Life Support training.
Continuing education credits will be offered for physicians,
nurses, social workers, registered sanitarians, and
certified health education specialists. A conference
brochure is being finalized and will be sent soon
with information on how to register or be an exhibitor
or sponsor for this informative conference. For more
information, contact Brian Rutherford, Public Health
Planner, at (409) 938-2275, or by email at brutherford@gchd.org.
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| Update
on Clusters of Rashes |
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Health District’s
epidemiology staff investigated a cluster of rash-like
illnesses within a youth camp located in the City of
Galveston. A line list was generated to determine the
number of patients that have been diagnosed with rash-like
illness conditions. In addition, an environmental assessment
was conducted of the facility. The 4C’s Medical
Director sent a letter to the medical professionals
and Commander of the youth camp that summarized the
investigation and the likely cause of the rashes being
MRSA. The letter outlined risk factors and provided
prevention and education measures for the diagnosed
condition of community acquired MRSA. For more information,
contact Dana Wiltz-Beckham, DVM, Chief Epidemiologist,
at (409) 938-2322 or by email at dbeckham@gchd.org |
Public Health
Preparedness |
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On November 18, 2004,
Public Health Preparedness staff met with Dickinson
Independent School District (ISD) principals and administrators
to clarify the role of and need for the use of school
facilities and staff in a public health emergency.
Dickinson ISD has been very supportive of the Health
District's efforts in preparedness and has signed
a Memorandum of Understanding to allow the use of
their facilities as mass vaccination or medication
dispensing sites if needed. As a result of this meeting,
another meeting has been scheduled to address school
counselors to enlist their support and discuss their
roles in a public health emergency. On November 22,
2004, staff conducted a presentation and answered
questions for the Kiwanis in La Marque. Kiwanis members
were informed about Health District preparedness activities
and were told what they could do to protect themselves
in an emergency. For more information, contact Brian
Rutherford, Public Health Planner, at (409) 938-2275,
or by email at brutherford@gchd.org |
| News Releases
and Press Stories
For more information on any news release or press
story, please contact Kurt Koopmann, Public Information
Officer, at 409.938.2211 or email
kkoopman@gchd.org
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On November 16, 2004
Galveston County Daily News reporter Carter Thompson
conducted an interview with GCHD Environmental Services
Director Ronnie Schultz. The subject discussed was
a preliminary report prepared for the Galveston County
Judge Jim Yarbrough on an environmental assessment
of County Road and Bridge Facilities in Dickinson
and Bolivar. The resulting story was published
on November 23:
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A press release was
issued on November 24, 2004 recognizing the Galveston
EMS for having been awarded the “2004
Private/Public Provider of the Year”
award. The Texas Department of State Health Services
at a conference in Austin presented the award. The
press release was published in the Galveston County
Daily News:
http://www.gchd.org/press/2004/11EMSAward.htm.
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EMS Director of Operations,
Greg Kunkel submitted a guest column outlining
his appreciation to the Galveston County Daily
News published on December 3:
http://www.gchd.org/press/2004/11EMSAwardGKunkelCom.htm.
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A story was published in
the Galveston County Daily News on December 1, 2004
regarding a lawsuit filed by inmates
previously in the county jail that became ill after consuming a Thanksgiving
meal served in 2002. The article noted that the Health District conducted
testing to determine the likely cause of the jail illness outbreak.
Subsequently, a reporter with Fox 26 News Houston contacted
the Public Information Office for information outlined
in the investigation’s final report. |
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To promote public health
and safe in holiday season, food safety and
hygiene tips were posted on the
www.gchd.org
home page. Other recent changes made on the web site
include the way health news is presented for public
viewing. The new format can be viewed at
http://www.gchd.org/press/HealthNews.htm.
Any additional suggestions that may improve the District’s
web site can be emailed to the Public Information Officer.
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| Office of Community Health Programs Updates
For more information, please
contact Susan Studebaker, RNC, Director of Community
Health Programs, 409.938.2457 or sstudebaker@gchd.org |
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Senior Health:
Senior Health "Fall Fests" were held
during November at five (5) senior citizen centers.
A total of two hundred (200) people attended. Fifteen
(15) people received the pneumonia vaccine, 87 were
screened for hypertension, and 49 were screened for
diabetes. Fifteen (15) people were assisted in completing
the QMB application. The Senior Health Advisory Council
has developed a senior need assessment questionnaire
being administered at senior citizens centers. A bid
package for the design and printing of a senior- friendly
brochure advertising health district services has been
released and a distribution plan for senior community
resources has been drafted. The Council supports two
grants to fund senior nutrition and fitness programs
from Kempner Foundation and Swalm Foundation respectively.
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Tuberculosis (TB)
Elimination: The TB Program has completed its
second round of testing for the drilling platform employees
that were exposed to active TB in August. 36 persons
were re- tested (by Community Health Nurses who made
four helicopter trips to the platform, at Scholes Field,
and in the clinic) for tuberculosis of the people tested,
four live in Galveston County, 18 resided in other counties
in the state, 12 were from Louisiana, and two were from
Florida. 12 were positive and six were X-rayed with
negative results. The others preferred to follow-up
in their communities or with their private provider.
One Galveston county contact, the only positive person
from the county, will be started on medication after
the holidays. |
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HIV Consortium:
Our Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)
program was awarded level funding for FY05; this comes
at time when two of our counties are no longer considered
rural but rather fall under Houston as urban. Under
this definition, funding would go to the City of Houston
for Galveston and Brazoria counties. After reconsidering
this opinion, DSHS recently decided to give funding
to the GCHD for Galveston, Brazoria, and Matagorda until
the City of Houston awards a local Galveston/Brazoria
agency funding. When such funding is awarded, DSHS will
reduce our award amount to cover Matagorda County only.
Through this arrangement there will be no interruption
of services and clients will not have to travel to Houston
for housing assistance. |
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Women's, Infants,
and Children: Fannie Cotton has been named
Interim WIC Program Manager. Staff from the Quality
Monitoring Division at the Texas Department of State
Health Services (DSHS) visited the WIC sites on December
2 and 3. Results of this monitoring visit as well as
other assessments will drive a comprehensive training
initiative during the next few months. The WIC Program
remains on probation and the next site visit is expected
to occur in January or February 2005. |
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New Immunization
Position: A new position, Immunizations Reminder
Clerk, has been filled. This staff person is responsible
for setting up a reminder system whereby parents are
notified that the child is due for an immunization.
The previous system only allowed tracking after the
child had missed an immunization. |
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Immunization
Advisory Council Update: The third
Galveston County Immunization Advisory Council meeting
was held on Dec 9th to wrap up the flu season,
evaluating what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve
next year. Members were notified that more flu vaccine
would probably be coming in Dec. and Jan. The draft
Immunization Department policy was reviewed with no
changes suggested. Dr. Guidry informed the members of
the United Way of Galveston’s desire to form a taskforce
to address identified community health issues and
suggested feedback from this council. The next Council
meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2005
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| Office
of Environmental Health Services Updates For
more information, contact Ronnie Schultz, Director of
Environmental Health Services, 409.938.2214 or
rschultz@gchd.org
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Hazardous
Waste Operations Training – The Air
and Water Pollution Services Division hosted a Hazardous
Materials Technician class to teach individuals how
to perform offensive responses to hazardous materials
incidents. 35 attendees from Galveston County, City
of Houston and Harris County, were introduced to an
overview of the state and federal regulations, to
exposure guidelines, to the incident command system,
to confinement and containment, to field monitoring
equipment, and to field exercises. The class was taught
by the Texas Engineering Extension Service and funded
by the State Department of Emergency Management. |
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Air Program Audit
– On November 22, 2004, the Health District received
the final audit report from the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) of the Air and Water Pollution
Services Division’s Air Monitoring project that
was conducted on October 20, 2004. The purpose of the
audit was to assess the Division’s adherence to
the quality assurance objectives and federal requirements.
The audit recognized the thoroughness of the record
keeping system and complimented the program about the
controls established and maintained in the laboratory
balance room. No negative findings were identified.
This audit assists the District in complying with Priority
#6: Environmental Health Improvements, Goal Number One:
comply with all contract requirements in the State and
Federal contracts which fund program activities. |
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Distemper at the
Shelter – The Animal Shelter has reported
eight confirmed cases of canine distemper in the last
three weeks. Two dogs at the shelter displayed the symptoms
and were euthanized immediately. Any person adopting
a dog and all of the rescue groups that rescue animals
from the shelter are being advised to take their dog
to a licensed veterinarian immediately as well as isolate
the animal from other healthy animals. Staff consulted
with and received direction from Dr. Dana Beckham, Health
District Veterinary consultant, on preventing the spread
of this disease. Prevention includes allowing disinfectants
to remain on surfaces for a prolonged time and the isolation
of any suspect animals exhibiting symptoms from the
general population. For more information, please contact
Michele Reynolds, Animal Services Manager, at 409.948.2485
or email mreynolds@gchd.org |
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High Island Sewage
Disposal Update – The Consumer Health
Services Division continues to discuss ways of addressing
the High Island sewage disposal problem. During a December
meeting with representatives of the Houston-Galveston
Area Council (HGAC) and the Bolivar Special Utility
District, legal issues and operational concerns were
discussed regarding how to best end the domestic sewage
connections to a small unregulated community sewage
collection system. Currently, HGAC is searching for
funding sources to assist the community in resolving
the problem. The Consumer Health Services Division continues
to address any citizen concerns about sewage and attempts
to resolve them as expeditiously as possible. For more
information, please contact Marty Entringer, Consumer
Health Services Manager, at 409.938.2458 or email mentringer@gchd.org |
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Animal Euthanasia
Certification- On December 5, 2004, the Health
District sponsored an 8 hour euthanasia training course
for 17 participants representing Bay Area SPCA, Galveston
County, Friendswood, League City, Texas City, and Pasadena
Animal Control Agencies. The course consisted of approved
methods of euthanasia, animal restraint, and stress
management. As a result of this course, participants
will meet the state mandate for euthanasia certification
by January 2005. For more information, contact Dana
Wiltz-Beckham, DVM, Chief Epidemiologist/Veterinary
Consult, at (409) 938-2322 or by email at dbeckham@gchd.org |
| 4C’s
Clinic Updates
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New 4C's Counselor
- Vicki Zarate, LCSW will join the Health District's
4C's Clinic as a counselor on Monday, January 3, 2005
and will be a provider of mental health and substance
abuse counseling for 4C’s patients. Vicki comes
to us with over six years of experience as a Clinician
in both the public and private sectors. She will be
in both the Texas City and Galveston clinics. Following
an orientation, Vicki will begin seeing patients referred
from 4C’s providers. For more information, contact
Mike Carr, 4C's Business Manager at (409) 949-3406 or mcarr@gchd.org.
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4C's Reengineering
- The 4C's reengineering program is moving forward.
Patty Perches, a consultant with Coleman and Associates,
our reengineering contractor is assisting the clinic
leadership team with screening candidates for the redesign
team. The team is expected to be selected by the end
of the year. The redesign team should start meeting
in January and will work through July to make clinic
operations more efficient and the patient experience
more pleasurable. For more information, contact Mike
Carr 4C's Business Manager at (409) 949-3406 or mcarr@gchd.org. |
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Health Resource
Services Administration (HRSA) Grant - HRSA
requested applications for expansion grants addressing
Mental Health and Substance Abuse issues for Community
Health Centers. The 4C's is eligible to make an application
for an expansion grant. The grant application will address
expanding mental health services to 4C's patients and
feature expanded case management for our patients. In
addition, the Oral Health Services Expanded Access grant
application also from HRSA is currently being written
and the focus will be on expanding treatment for children.
If we are awarded the grant, it will be $150,000 per
year for 2 years with renewal. The applications are
due on January 7, 2005 and awards should be announced
at the end of April 2005. For more information, contact
Mike Carr 4C's Business Manager at (409 )949-3406 or mcarr@gchd.org or
Beverly Foster, DDS, Dental Director at (409) 949-3445
or bfoster@gchd.org. |
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4 C’s Nursing
Director - Sheila Coleman RN, BSN, has been
hired as the newly created position of Nursing Director,
and will start on January 3, 2005. Ms. Coleman has over
25 years of experience in the nursing profession, most
recently in Dallas, where she served as Lead Nurse in
a large, public pediatric clinic. Ms. Coleman will undertake
an assessment of 4 C’s Clinic nursing services
after she has been oriented to the clinics. For more
information, contact Pam Jahnke, RN, Strategic Plan
Evaluator at (409) 938-2256 or email pjahnke@gchd.org |
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NurseLine calls
have continued to build over time as we have completed
nearly six months in service. NurseLine appointments
have progressed from less than 20% of the acute visits
that are scheduled, to about 50% now. The other 50%
come from patients who walk into the clinics. In November,
there were 729 calls to the NurseLine, 577 appointments
made for the same day or a day in the near future, 15
referrals to the emergency room and various other contacts
for general information, advice and referral. We have
had many appreciative comments from patients about the
convenience of this service. For more information, contact
Pam Jahnke, RN, Strategic Plan Evaluator at (409) 938-2256
or pjahnke@gchd.org. |
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Physician Assistant
Vacancy - Full-time Physician Assistant Ernst
Etienne is leaving the 4C’s effective December
17, 2004. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
This mid-level provider position has been posted on
the Health District's internet site as well as various
other sites. . For more information, contact Kathrine
Hall, Director, Human Resources at 409-938-2230 or email
khall@gchd.org
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Office of Emergency Medical
Services: For more information,
please contact Greg Kunkel, GAAA Operating Chief, 409.765-2512
or gkunkel@gchd.org |
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GAAA receives State’s
EMS Provider Award – Galveston EMS was
awarded the State’s highest award for EMS with
the Public/Private Provider Award at the Texas EMS Conference
held in Austin, November 22-24th. The award is given
to the ground or air based EMS who showed exceptional
leadership in pre-hospital care. The Department of State
Health Services presented a plaque at the annual luncheon
in front of nearly 3,000 state-wide EMS providers. |
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GAAA Honors at
Awards Banquet – EMS employees celebrate
at its annual awards banquet on Friday, December 10th,
at the Balinese Room in Galveston. Assistant Chief Thomas
Leigh received his 25 Years of Service Award. Paramedic
of the Year went to Supervisor Rocky Clare, Employee
of the Year went to EMT-Intermediate Lisa Vandeursen,
and Flight Paramedic of the Year went to Team Captain
Sam Dodson. |
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Ambulance Responses
– slowed in November to 682 emergency calls and
207 non-emergency transfers compared to a monthly average
of about 1045 calls. This was the slowest EMS has been
since December 2002. |
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Barge Accident
– Friday, December 10th, saw a barge
accident in the ship channel. The accident injured two
workers and complicated their injuries with an exposure
to a chemical known as alkylate (a gasoline blend).
Coast Guard transported the injured to the Ferry landing.
The chemical exposure put EMS’ hazardous materials
plan into effect. EMS used their decontamination equipment
for the first time enabling them to properly decontaminate
the two, thus protecting the patient, the staff, and
the emergency department from further contamination. |
| Other Operational Updates |
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Lead Presentation
– During the month of November, Epidemiology
staff presented information concerning the importance
of getting children tested for lead poisoning to approximately
30 parents whose children attend Hitchcock Head start.
The lead presentation included information on how
lead enters the body, health risk, how to reduce the
risk of lead poisoning and common sources of lead.
For more information, contact Dana Wiltz-Beckham,
DVM, Chief Epidemiologist, at (409) 938-2322 or by
email at dbeckham@gchd.org |
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Department of State
Health Services Review (DSHS): The Quality
Management Branch (QMB) of DSHS has notified The Health
District that we will have an on-site review in the
near future. Potentially, the State will review the
WIC, Immunization, Breast and Cervical Cancer Control,
Family Planning and Texas Health Steps Programs. On
November 23 we submitted a requested pre-planning survey.
The State will notify us of the date of the review,
which will take place within three months. For more
information, contact Pam Jahnke, RN, Strategic Plan
Evaluator at (409) 938-2256 or email pjahnke@gchd.org |
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Volunteer Office
- The Volunteer Coordinator attended two Senior Health
Fests in November where she assisted with blood pressures,
gave presentations on the volunteer program, and distributed
77 volunteer fliers collectively. Five new volunteers
(2 in Texas City and 3 in Galveston) were assigned to
medical records and the primary care clinic during the
month of November. Four Crystal Beach community volunteers
were trained to administer and assist with the Senior
Health Survey for a senior, which was done on November
29th. For more information, contact Shirley Carr, Volunteer
Coordinator, at 409-938-2438 or email scarr@gchd.org
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TB Program Manager
Vacancy - After seven years of employment with
the Health District, Audrey Lovings, RN, has resigned
her position as TB Program Manager effective December
17, 2004. We wish her well in her future endeavors.
The TB Manager position has been posted on the Health
District's internet site. For more information, contact
Kathrine Hall, Director, Human Resources at 409-938-2230
or by email at khall@gchd.org. |
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Contracts
Executed
For more information, contact Kathy Barroso, Chief
Financial Officer at (409) 938-2257 or by email at kbarroso@gchd.org
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Immunizations
contract with Department of State Health Services was
extended to August 31, 2005 for an additional $95,216.00
was signed on December 14, 2004. |
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HIV/Ryan
White contract budget was revised on December
7, 2004 to increase funding by $6,093 to assist in an
increase number of patients served. |
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Air
and Water Pollution Services contract to conduct
citizen complaint investigations and grease traps only
were signed on December 6, 2004. There was a contract
decrease from FY04 of $4,238.99 due to WCID #1 not electing
to continue fee for storm water quality monitoring. |
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Bioterrorism
Preparedness contract was signed for the transfer
of travel and supply dollars to personnel and equipment
category on November 30, 2004. |
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STD/HIV
grant for $6,311 had a $4,207 decrease in funding
due to the change in contract period of 12 months to
four months was signed on November 29, 2004. |
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Robert
Wood Johnson subcontractor agreement with UTMB
was signed on November 22, 2004 for Physician Services
and a Diabetes Educator of $148,313 starting May 2004
through October 2006. |
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Robert
Wood Johnson subcontractor agreement with Jesse
Tree was signed on November 19 for salary and benefits
related to a resource coordinator in the amount of $81,250
starting May 2004 through October 31, 2006. |
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TB
Prevention and Control contract for $47,548
covering January 2005 to December 2005 was signed on
November 17, 2004. There is no change in funding from
the previous year and the funds will be used to provide
basic TB prevention and control services and expanded
outreach to identify population with TB and/or high-risk
groups. |
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STD/HIV
grant for $121,448 was increased by $16,771
for the period January 2005 to December 2005. The funding
is to control and prevent the spread of STDs including
HIV/AIDs and viral hepatitis. This contract was signed
on November 17, 2004 |
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Robert
Wood Johnson subcontractor agreement with Coastal
AHEC was signed on November 2 for salaries, benefits,
supplies, travel and other expenses in the amount of
$28,050 starting in May 2004 through October 31, 2006. |
