2005 Annual Progress Report

As of December 19^th, the Immunization Department has administered 4051 flu shots, an additional 700 shots were administered by the 4C’s Clinics.  1851 of these shots were given to seniors.  Epidemiology services reports no confirmed or reported cases of influenza in the County for the year.  For more information, please contact Susan Studebaker, RNC, Director of Community Health Programs at (409) 938-2291 or email sstudebaker@gchd.org  or Dana Wiltz-Beckham, DVM, Chief Epidemiologist, at (409) 938-2322 or email dbeckham@gchd.org

Dates for upcoming mammogram screenings were submitted to the Community Bulletin Board in the Galveston Daily News with eligibility guidelines.  Information on the availability of mammograms can be found on the District’s web site at http://www.gchd.org/chn/dfeet.htm.  

A call was received from Kelly Hawes with the Galveston Daily News on December 14^th working on a story concerning on-going sewage issues in the High Island community where 32 homes have been determined to have non-compliant sewage disposal systems.  Public Information officer Kurt Koopmann and Environmental Programs Director, Ronnie Shultz provided information in the interview.  On December 15^th a second interview was conducted to answer additional questions posed by the News reporter.  The story published Sunday, December 18^th can be found at http://www.gchd.org/press/HealthNews.htm.

Holiday Giving – The staff of the Office of Environmental Health Programs adopted two (2) families at the Women’s Crisis Center for the Holidays.  With the monies collected, we were able to purchase multiple gifts for the children and their moms to help comfort them during this holiday season.  A special thanks to Renee Boles, administrative assistant, Air and Water Pollution Control Division for coordinating this effort and making sure that the presents were bought, wrapped and delivered. 

HIV Services Audit - Only one portion of the “Administrative Agency” site visit was performed on December 14.  Computer data entry protocols and practice were reviewed.  All other components of the Administrative Agency and Case Management are expected to be reviewed in January 2006.  One plan and a few policies will need to be written to be in compliance.  Additionally, some of the computer certificates need to be re-issued.  The rest of the site visit time was spent providing technical assistance to our new HIV Services Program Manager, Mitchell Rappaport.

 2005 Service Calls Expected to Break Records – GAAA is poised to shatter records for emergency calls and total call volume. November was a record month with 834 EMS calls on the Island and an additional 295 EMS calls on the Mainland. This gives EMS a total of 9,343 calls on the Island and 12,826 total calls, already surpassing the total call record of 12,760 in 1997. The year 2003 had the previous record with 10,096 EMS calls on the Island and GAAA is less than 200 calls from that total on December 20, 2005.

Volunteers Program - The volunteer coordinator attended the quarterly diabetic coaching meeting on December 7^th at the Island Community Clinic.  During this activity, three volunteers were recruited to provide diabetic education classes in the community.  A summary of volunteer recruitment, placement and the dollar value of volunteer hours contributed, was presented to the Senior Health Advisory Council on December 13^th.  To date there have been 234 volunteers recruited which represents over $174,886 worth of volunteer time to the Health District.  A Train the Trainer workshop on the new Medicare Prescription Program was presented to six nurses at Greater Bell Zion Baptist Church on December 13^th  at 7 p.m.  They will be available to assist the members with the enrollment of the program.  The volunteer coordinator taught the Sit and Be Fit exercise class to 11 seniors at McKinney Memorial Methodist Church on December 6^th from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.   During the month of December 15 volunteers were recruited and placed in various departments.  To date there have been 234 volunteers recruited for 2005.