250,000 brochures, outlining all the services of the Health District, have arrived.   The Health District acquired the brochures through an innovative Mainland United Way grant that targets the Strategic Health Plan goal of increasing community awareness of the services provided.   Kurt Koopmann, Public Information Officer, coordinated with multiple staff, board members, the Senior Health Advisory Council, and community partners to develop and edit the final project.  Plans are to distribute the brochure to governmental entities, chambers of commerce, schools, community partners, etc.   In addition, staff will disseminate brochures during the many planned community outreach events over the years.   Health District staffs are excited and proud to have a “first ever” high quality brochure that represents all of the public services available to Galveston County residents.   Community groups desiring copies of the brochure may contact Kurt Koopmann, Public Information Officer at (409) 938-2211 or email  kkoopman@gchd.org.

Kids Health Fest was featured in an article published in the Galveston Daily News August 1^st.  Information on the event held in La Marque and where families could obtain immunizations on Galveston Island was included. The story as published can be accessed at www.gchd.org/press/2005/08HealthFestDNews.htm.  Gulf Coast E-News also published a story on back-to-school immunizations on July 26^th using information from a press release issued in July.  This story can be found at www.gchd.org/press/2005/07HealthFestENews.htm.

Fox News Houston visited the District on August 2^nd working on a back-to-school immunization story.  The segment was intended for their suburban news feature that airs on the morning show.  GCHD Public Information Officer Kurt Koopmann was interviewed for the story.

Recent explosive incidents at the Texas City BP facility were the subject of a story in the Houston Chronicle on August 7^th.  Ronnie Schultz, Director of Environmental Health Services was quoted in the article which can be seen at www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/05/blast/3299479.

<>Dr. Guidry was interviewed for a story that was published in the Galveston Daily News on August 8^th promoting Medical Homes for county residents.  The program is being sponsored by Galveston County Health Access Programs.  This story can be viewed at www.gchd.org/press/2005/08MedicalHomeDNews.htm.

Changes in Groundwater Identification approved by the Board of Health at the July meeting were the subject of a press release issued on August 26^th. The information was published in the Galveston Daily News on August 29^th.   Information included the new fee of $64 and the requirement that homeowners provide a soil pit for evaluation by District on-site sewage inspectors.  The press release can be accessed at www.gchd.org/press/2005/08Groundwater.htm.

World Breastfeeding Day Celebration - The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) celebrated World Breastfeeding Day (WBD) on August 3, 2005.  Mother's Milk:  It's more than just food, is this year’s theme.  The WBD celebrations are annual international endeavors held the entire month of August to recognize and support breastfeeding promotion efforts.  The WIC program kicked off this year’s celebration with a variety of breastfeeding educators and supporters which included Dr. Dharani, Pediatrician at the 4C's Health Clinic, Tracy Erickson, DSHS Breastfeeding Promotion Coordinator, members from the La Leche League, and many others.  Educational exhibits were also presented by the Dickinson staff, Texas City staff, Island Community staff, Primary Care Pavilion staff, Le Leche League members, and the Texas Cooperative Extension Program.  Approximately 25 community members and children joined the festivities on this day.  The Texas City WIC office will also have their doors open for you to join them at their open house celebration on September 14, 2005, between 2:00pm-4:00pm, Suite # 631

Respond to Fire in Hitchcock - On August 18, 2005, Environmental Health staff responded to a fire burning at an auto salvage/recycling facility, 5014 FM 2004, Hitchcock.  Concerns over possible chemicals on fire and potentially contaminated water runoff prompted fire officials to contact the Health District to provide environmental support services.  Several fire departments along with a city hazardous materials unit and county and state environmental response units were on scene to suppress the fire, monitor public health and environmental impacts and alert the community of any dangers. The fire was contained to a few cars located at the facility. Air monitoring results were negative as well as no impact on local waterways from the water used to extinguish the fire.  A site assessment was conducted 24 hours later to obtain additional information on the environmental impacts from the fire.  During this assessment, additional concerns were noted about automotive parts and associated auto fluid contamination as well as concerns over the storage of drums with unknown substances. The Health District has been formally requested by the Mayor of Hitchcock to assist the city in seeking injunctions to stop this operation and to assist in the proper cleanup of the facility.       

Public Health Laboratory Audit - The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Laboratory Accreditation and Certification Division recently audited the Public Health Laboratory.  The Accreditation and Certification Division certifies labs including our Public Health Lab for the analysis of drinking water.  This accreditation is required in order for us to provide this analytical service to our customers. Our quality assurance and quality control plan is reviewed for accuracy and completeness along with a review of our proficiency testing program, review of our analytical instruments and their calibration records, review of our standard operating procedures, and review of our employee training during the audit.  The results of the audit found no significant findings and the final draft of the report will be available in approximately 3 to 6 months.

Phase II Storm Water Permit Program – The long awaited Phase II Storm Water Permit Program has been issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and is currently open for public comment.  This federally mandated permitting program would affect each city in Galveston County and also the county itself.  The Air and Water Pollution Services Division was asked by the County Judge to meet with our cities and provide a collaborative program that is consistent and cost effective.  The Phase II Storm Water Cooperative Committee was created and has met on several occasions to discuss a coordinated effort between member cities and the county.  The Phase II Storm Water program is comprised of 7 objectives to limit and reduce the amount of pollutants that reach our waterways through our storm drain systems.  Cities and counties will be required to control pollutants from entering their storm drains under their control.

Redesign Data - Weekly re-design data shows that over the past three weeks, in Texas City productivity have averaged 2.4 to 2.6 patients per provider per hour while in Galveston it has averaged 2.3 to 2.7.  Morning start times in Texas City have averaged from three minutes early to 5 minutes past target time.  In Galveston, morning start times have been later at 7 to 13 minutes past targeted time.  Afternoon start times averaged 12-14 minutes past target in Texas City and 7 to 26 minutes past target in Galveston.  No definite trend has emerged yet. 

New 4C's Medical Provider - The 4C's welcomes Irshad Syed, MD to the 4C's as a medical provider.  Dr. Syed is a Family Practitioner who recently completed a fellowship in Geriatric Care at UTMB Galveston.  He will see patients both in Galveston and Texas City. 

County Committee Narrows Solutions for Mainland EMS – The County interim EMS committee met with affected elected officials including the County Judge and has narrowed the solutions for a future Mainland EMS to two recommendations. Both recommendations are based on an integrated emergency medical service system with GAAA, Texas City, La Marque, and Dickinson providing ambulance service in a coordinated effort. GAAA would become the lead EMS and provide medical direction, quality improvement and training. This model would be the first of its kind in Texas. However, other areas of the Country have been successful, such as in King County, Washington. The primary differences between the options are whether GAAA or Texas City EMS will cover the Bayshore Area.

Ambulance Responses – July 2005 kept GAAA busy with 851 emergency calls and 150 non-emergency transfers.

Texas Telehealth Disparities Network Coalition -  On August 17, 2005, several Health District staff met with others members of the coalition at UTMB.  The meeting was to discuss a grant that UTMB received from the US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (Office for the Advancement of Telehealth) for a project whose primary aim is to identify and reduce or eliminate disparities in health care through the development of a telehealth network.  The grant is $100,000 and the possibility of using these funds for the Galveston County area by linking coalition partners together with electronic medical records.  For more information, please contact Harlan “Mark” Guidry, MD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer, or W. Jay Holland, III, Chief Operating Officer at (409) 938-2401 or mguidry@gchd.org or jholland@gchd.org.

Volunteers - Nine volunteers were recruited and placed in the Animal Shelter, Medical Records, 4C’s Clinics and WIC.  An additional five volunteers were recruited for the Children’s Health Fest, and 14 volunteers assisted with the SNS Mock Exercise held on August 16.  On August 10, Shirley Carr gave a presentation on the volunteer program to the Lena Perryman Senior Citizen Advisory Council, and one senior volunteer was recruited from this outreach activity.  She also had an exhibit at the Senior Summer Camp 2005 at Moody Methodist Church in Galveston.  Shirley Carr and Charles Kelly, Senior Outreach Coordinator are also serving as consultants to the self-assessment committee of the Dickinson and Johnson Senior Centers.  The senior centers are in the self-assessment phase to become accredited by the National Senior Center Accreditation Office.

Statewide Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Exercise – The SNS Coordinator and the Director of Community Health Services participated in a statewide SNS exercise on August 8^th through 10^th. Staff from other local health departments around the state, the Centers for Disease Control and Law Enforcement agencies participated in the exercise to practice receiving, transporting and dispensing strategic national stockpile medicines and supplies from mass dispensing sites in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The SNS Coordinator also attended exercises in Houston and in South Padre Island to learn from their best practices.

BioWatch Workshop - Epidemiology staff attended the 2005 National BioWatch Workshop, August 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.  Attendance was by invitation only, and all expenses were paid by the Department of Homeland Security.  This meeting provided key BioWatch leaders and staffers from around the nation an opportunity to share accomplishments, discuss lessons learned and target future goals.  The breakout sessions included: Field Sampling/Collection; Laboratory Analysis; Medical and Epidemiologic Response; Public Relations and Risk Communications; and Information Technology.

Public Health Data Sharing Conference - On August 25-26, 2005, Epidemiology Services staff participated in a Public Health Data Sharing Conference held in Houston, TX.  This conference provided the opportunity for partners of public health domain to meet, gain insight into types of data that they collect; illustrate many ways in which the data are used and how it benefits the community.

Galveston County ISD Training - During the months of August and September, an in-service will be held for all Galveston County ISD nurses on disease reporting, childhood immunizations and role that the Health District Programs play in academia.

HIV Surveillance contract was signed in the amount of $36,063.  This contract requires reporting of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed and/or treated during the current year.

The Family Planning contract was extended for three months with an increase of $4,872.