Montachusett Public Health Network

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jun 21 2024 12:09 pm MONTACHUSETT PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK MEETING EXECUTIVE/GOVERNING BOARD MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Legislative Building, 700 Main St., Fitchburg MA 01420 In-Person Attendance: Steve Curry, Micah Blondeau, Michelle Powell, Phil Leger, Tom Bonci, Ruth French, Stacy Ciccolini, Victoria Selser, Catherine Hoover, Sue Christensen, Laura Wade Virtual Attendance: Jane O’Brien, Jim Abare, Abby Conlin Meeting opened: 10:34 by Steve Curry, Health Director and FATV is recording. No public in attendance Past meeting minutes approval: Move to approve March 2024 Minutes by Phil and second by Tom. Approve minutes as stated – Unanimous approval. One abstention (Micah) Phil expressed concern over removal of the word “field” from “Field Training Hub”, concerned that we are not of decision making process. Phil feels there is a disconnect from the state to local boards. Stericycle update: Stericycle is our service provider for kiosks of sharps and unwanted and unused medication. There have been reported issues with Stericycle since January: • Royalston only received large (sharps) containers and they take up too much space (in kiosks). Would prefer small containers. April 29th pickup – not confirmed with Stericycle. Need to change our pick up schedule. Currently set for every 24 weeks. That should be adjusted to every 20 week. No pick-ups on Fridays (office is closed) or before 9am and after 3pm, Monday – Thursday. • Leominster - Michelle – no schedule has been provided by Stericycle. • Abby – pickup was delayed by Stericycle. Maintenance has been taking them to landfill. Would prefer that not happen. Members were reminded by Steve to visit the Stericycle website to monitor the schedule. If there are problems, let me know and I will work on it. Revolving Fund Balance: Reminder to MPHN – we have two accounts in the City, revolving fund as lead agency as well as PHE (Public Health Excellence) grant. We have had the Revolving Fund for approx. 10-12 years. Budget sheet provided at meeting for review. FY24 proposed budget and actual highlighted. Most salaried positions are moved to PHE grant except for Case Investigators which operate out of the Disease Investigation grant. Contracted services are only kiosks, which are used for medications and sharps. This was budgeted for 18K. As of 4/23/24, expenses were under 14K. Phil questioned the MPHN nurse category on budget. Fitchburg had a nurse on staff who retired two years ago. We also have a contracted nurses used for TB cases or when the need arises. PHE grant can now support this funding rather than the Revolving Fund. Regarding the Flu/Covid vaccine expenditure, Phil asked if it is reimbursable. There is currently a gap of approximately $40,000 in reimbursements. The MPHN continues to receive reimbursements throughout fiscal year. Private insurance reimbursements are issued quarterly. Next check will be in June. We will have a better picture in June of all reimbursements. Phil asked if these were allocated to the revolving fund. Steve responded that they are. All money generated always goes into the revolving fund so it isn’t lost. To date, we’ve collected reimbursements in the amount of approximately $203, 000. Regarding FY21 and FY23, as referenced on the distributed budget plan, Phil asked why those two fiscal years were higher. It appears Annual Assessments were mixed in with the revenue from the kiosks. Phil moves to accept budget sheet with amendments and Tom seconds. Roll call vote taken, all in agreement. PHE the next three years: This grant will be level funded for the next three years. IMPACT Melanoma: This is an organization dedicated to reducing impact of melanoma, Victoria stated that she would like the MPHN to collaborate with them, if able. Pending approval of using funding, what type of initiative regarding this issue would you like in your community? An example of IMPACT Melanoma services collaboration could be the installation of a sunscreen dispenser, w/sunscreen to place in high traffic communities such as splash parks, pools, and parks. The collaboration could also involve a curriculum for schools to integrate health education and importance of sun safety at all grade levels (middle and high school). Victoria should hear by end of week if this program could be an approved expenditure of PHE. Roll call was taken for town approval. All present are in favor. Victoria to reach out to each individual communities to discuss further. It may require a collaboration between the Health, Dept., Recreation Dept and DPW, depending on the town and its staffing. Respiratory Clinics for 2024-2025 season: Victoria mention that the ACIP is changing COVID vaccine and guidelines. Last season we didn’t receive COVID vaccine until 10/11. We are still waiting for find out when we will receive Flu and COVID vaccines for fall clinics. Once Victoria has an update, she will start scheduling clinics for high risk patients such as seniors. Flu pre- book is all set. Will be using schedule from last year. If communities find any clinics missing from the list, please advise Victoria so it can be added to list. Shingles/Pneumonia Update: These vaccines have been delayed due to the providers. Victoria would like to host spring clinics at senior centers, she will hopefully have update at the next meeting. IMA (Inter-Municipal Agreements) Update: Catherine Hoover stated that in February’s meeting the group discussed amending the IMA as part of the PHE deliverables. It was requested as part of the PHE grant. DPH agreed to remove request if MAHB (Massachusetts Association of Health Boards) approved. MAHB has reviewed the IMA’s and stated that there were no revisions required. The IMA’s will stay as is and not be revised. Phil mentioned that going forward the focus is equity, for DPH. Phil is concerned that if local health departments don’t have a voice determining what something is, it becomes an issue for the local health departments. Phil also mentioned that the MPHN is still here (exists) because the MPHN provides a benefit to its members which the biggest benefit is the avenue to additional funding. Phil again added his concern over being asked to do things by DPH that should not be required and that we should have a say in active policy making. Victoria added she will add focus group information and share with Phil. Catherine stated that having our IMA reviewed and that no revisions were required is a success story, highlighting what MPHN is and how it functions. MAHB saw no need for revisions. The MPHN is considered a stable network/group. We need a voice in active policy making. There are advisory/focus groups that Victoria will share with Phil. Digitization Update: PHE grant is tentatively offering money to help towns and cities to digitize their records such as inspection records, to be scanned in and computerized. This project will likely not happen this fiscal year but Catherine is still working toward it. Catherine to update once more information is available. Phil stated that most towns have PT admin staff. Staff and computer capacity would be an issue going forward with digitization. Moving forward with scanning current documents would be doable such as current Title 5 records. Disease Investigation team update: MAVEN had a very busy calendar year for the MPHN. The Disease Investigation team has investigated 50 cases since January 1, 2024. This number excludes cases not investigated by MPHN as Clinton, Leominster, and Hubbardston do their own investigations. The MPHN is also currently managing 4 active cases of TB (Tuberculosis). The Resource Coordinator managed 60 new referrals since January 1, 2024 in addition to old referrals.  The Disease Investigation team also took on a new pilot project which is lead poisoning prevention in children. This project provides families (of children) with elevated blood levels case management with education and guidance to help prevent lead poisoning. Intervention occurs when blood levels are elevated. Since September we’ve had 19 cases within the MPHN communities. 15 of those were provided with services, 4 not as they didn’t answer phones. None of the children that have received services have elevated to a higher level of lead. There are only two areas in the Commonwealth doing this type of lead prevention, – the City of Lawrence and the MPHN communities. MPHN branded clothing: We have grant funds available from NACCHO (Nation Association of City, County Health Organizations) to purchase MPHN clothing for shared staff, where appropriate, as they work in multiple communities. This apparel is not appropriate for all health dept. staff but those that are public facing would make it easier for the public to identify staff at clinics. MPHN staff was encouraged to reach out to Catherine if interested. Phil asked what the clothing will look like. Catherine stated she is unsure but the MPHN logo should be used as there is no need to reinvent something. Regional Use of Opioid Settlement Funds: Sue Christensen involved in Fitchburg end of Settlement Funds. All communities were asked if there is any interest in pooling funds. DPH is looking for MPHN towns to pool funds and is interested in who is working on it and/or what communities would be interested. Phil – Royalston received approx. $1200, which has been allocated to the North Quabbin group. Phil agrees to pool as his town’s amount is small. Ruth in Phillipston was unaware if the town was getting funding and where is it going. The smaller towns are unsure. All cities and towns to look at what the funds are and where it’s being spent. The MPHN can then make a decision as to if we want to pool. Most small towns don’t get enough money to do much. As mentioned, DPH is recommending pooling funds. This item will be on agenda for next meeting, item tabled. Abby from Westminster stated that the town is possibly working with Gardner. Micah from Gardner was unsure and he plans to check with his coordinator. Michelle from Leominster stated the funds have gone through the Mayor’s office Sue commented that Ashburnham, Westminster and Gardner combined forces to work with GAAMHA. Sue stated that Fitchburg will be putting out a digital survey and public input session. The AG’s office has determined that communities must do a large impact process before funding is spent. When Fitchburg is ready, we can talk to other communities on the best way to go forward and combine forces. Announcements New and Old Business: Phil – Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) meeting is in person Thursday 5/2 at 9am at Worcester Public Health, on Mead Street in Worcester. Next meeting date was suggested to be every other month and will be in person. Fourth Wednesday of each month – Wednesday June 26th, 10:30, in person with virtual option. Motion to adjourn – Phil, then seconded by Tom. Meeting Adjourned at 11:52 AM.