Board of Health

City of Nashua Division of Public Health & Community Services 18 Mulberry Street, Nashua, NH 03060 BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING August 8, 2012 12:30 PM 18 Mulberry Street Nashua, NH 03062 MEETING MINUTES BOH Members Present: Dr. Peter Klementowicz, Dr. Ajay Sharma, Lori Wilshire Staff Present: Kerran Vigroux, Patty Crooker, Ashley Conley, Heidi Peek, Corinn Dembkoski, Betty Wendt, Barbara Scacco, Bob Mack Meeting called to order at 12:35 p.m. by Dr. Klementowicz 1. Vote on the June 13, 2012 meeting Minutes: a. Motion presented by Dr. Klementowicz to approve the June 13, 2012 Minutes b. Motion accepted by Dr. Sharma c. Motion seconded by Dr. Klementowicz d. All in Favor: Aye 1  Department Reports Community Health – Presented by Betty Wendt (for Nancy Seskes)  Immunization Program o Immunization clinics are ongoing o 2012-2013 School health records continue to be reviewed o Three refugee families have been seen as part of the resettlement program (Malaysia and Iraq) o Hand foot mouth disease present at a local pre-school  STD/HIV Clinical Services o Continue to receive inquiries about the STD Clinic o STD/HIV/HCV grant at DHHS for final approval process o Team is working on completing grant paperwork and tools o 5-6 staff are certified for HIV/HCV testing o Activities will resume when grant approval process completed  Lead Program o Healthy Homes strategic planning continues o HUD Grant discussion in progress for the region  Amy Moutenot is the new program coordinator o One new lead case investigation completed and reported to state, ongoing.  Other updates o TB Lunch & Learn at local PCP office and Lamprey Health Care o Headstart Health Fair lead screening o Dr. Alexander Granok reviewed and signed clinic standing orders o Transition In Care meeting attended with local hospitals and LTCF o CHIP Strategic Meeting participation Health Education and Tobacco – Presented by Corinn Dembkoski  Back to School Committee on Thursday, August 23rd–will be representing the Division. o Immunizations will be given to children at this event. o Events will include: Free backpacks, snacks from Stoneybrook Farm, Zumba, etc. o High school students will assist by handing out water and talking with the kids. o Lori mentioned that the Soup Kitchen also gives out backpacks and wondered if these two events should be coordinated.  Worked in a Mass Casualty Family Assistance Center on June 5th at Rivier College  Purchased an ad campaign from CDC’s Tips from Former Smokers, which had the ad running on the interior and exterior of Nashua busses.  Conducted Motivational Interviewing through the Tobacco Prevention and Control Grant.  Some properties have gone smoke free, and I have provided seminars to provide help to those wishing to quit.  The Soup Kitchen is looking for support and I will do an educational event in September. 2 Environmental Health – Presented by Heidi Peek  We had three emergency responses and one temporary closure during July.  We were able to finalize a department standard for the number of portable toilets required at temporary events. Overall, strategic placement is very important.  Met with owners of Sky Venture. They are putting in a wave pool. o No plans submitted yet, but they are asking questions of us and the State.  Mosquito surveillance o We were notified yesterday that we have our first positive test for West Nile Virus  We have 8 traps in the City and one was shown to have West Nile Virus.  We will watch the risk in that area.  We did a bed bug presentation at SNHMC, and have received a request to present at Gateways.  Attended Kronos presentation given by Janet Graziano  It’s a quiet time with regard to Rabies. Emergency Preparedness – Presented by Patty Crooker and Ashley Conley  The past month we have been working on preparation for the Hepatitis C Clinics. o We won’t be hosting, but many Division staff will be taking part as volunteers. o We will be participating and volunteering in the HEP C clinics in Stratham, Plaistow and the Manchester Health Department. o Jill and Ashley will be assisting in Concord a couple days a week to help in their areas of expertise.  Patty and Ashley participated in a Mass Casualty exercise run by AMR and both hospitals. o Both did evaluations at each of the hospitals.  There will be an upcoming exercise on a larger scale at SNHMC in the fall.  Ashley passed out the annual report of communicable diseases by type for 2011  CHIP o Three workgroups have been formed and kick off meetings will take place in September.  Nashua Community Care Transitions Initiative o We have become involved in the Northeast Health Care Quality Foundation o Our involvement will help us achieve some of our strategies in CHIP  NH Minority Health Coalition o They are reaching out to minorities in Nashua and Manchester to increase healthy eating and active living o Some of the objectives of this grant coincide with strategies for the CHIP, so members from the coalition will be on the CHIP Obesity Work Group and CHIP Access to Health Care Work Group. Welfare - Bob Mack presented  Had a slight decrease in expenditures, compared to July of last year.  Burial assistance expenses were about $3,000. o We assist with up to $750 per burial for very basic burial or cremation.  New applications decreased and those receiving assistance also decreased compared to July 2011. Vouchers also decreased slightly in July. 3   We assisted 19 families in emergency motel placements and referred 7 families and 3 individuals to public shelters / homeless outreach during the month of July.  We have expended about $62,000 so far this year.  Lori asked about the availability of shelters for families, and Bob explained that the shelters able to accommodate families are full, but they were able to get individuals into shelters. o Some families are there for 4-6 weeks.  Further discussions were held on the Welfare Budget. Kerran Vigroux introduced Dr. Alexander Granok to the senior staff, and invited him to attend BOH and Infection Control Practitioners Meetings. Heidi Peek read a note of appreciation to the Board from Victoria Alabi, who worked for the past two years at the City of Nashua Public Health & Community Services. Dr. Klementowicz: Questions: None Closed this part of the session Public Comments None Public session closed Motion to Adjourn by Dr. Klementowicz Seconded by Dr. Sharma All in favor: Aye Formal Meeting Ended at 1:20 PM. In accordance with the 2012 BOH Meeting Schedule, the next BOH Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Barbara A. Scacco Administrative Assistant II City of Nashua Division of Public Health & Community Services 4