Board of Health

Skokie Board of Health Thursday, March 10, 2022 7:00 PM Board of Health Members – Virtual via Zoom Meetings MINUTES Present: Dr. William Werner; BOH Members: Dr. Swapna Dave, Juliet Haido, Margaret Keeler, Dr. Girija Kalyan Kumar, Dr. Edward Linn, Heidi Nickisch Duggan, Dr. Rohit Pandya, Dr. Jeremy Scwartz, Dr. Kyungran Shim, Dr. Romil Sood, Patricia Urbanus, Irtaza Usman, Ruth Varma, Dr. Larry Williams; Staff: Mike Charley; Trustee Liaison Keith Robinson Absent: BOH Members: Dr. Bruce Gaynes, Maureen Hanlon; Dr. Michael Vernon, Sibyl Yau; Emeritus Member: Dr. Michael Drachler, Staff: Sue Reisberg; Trustee Liaison James Johnson, I. Call to Order @ 7:01 PM II. Approval of Agenda by Consent III. Approval of Minutes: February 10, 2022 by Consent IV. Chair’s Report, Dr. Werner, BOH Chair, APHA Webinar & the Role of Public Health & Community: Dr. Werner attended a recent APHA webinar titled “Keeping out Communities Safe and Thriving: The Role of Public Health” from Tuesday February 22, 2022. Dr. Werner shared information from the webinar including the current role and future role of public health after COVID. The webinar discussed equity, the authority to act in a public health emergency, health and the economy, standardizing data collection and adequate funding. V. Kim Scifres, Crowe LLP & Mark Schroeder, Northshore University HealthSystem: Northshore University Healthsystem Community Health Assessment Process Overview: Mark Schroeder lead off by communicating that Northshore University Healthsystem works closely with both the Evanston & Skokie health departments through Northshore’s advisory committee. Northshore has worked with Skokie on coordinating vaccinations and the relationship with the Skokie Health Department is strong. Mark communicated that all not-profit hospitals are required to conduct a community health needs assessment every three years. Northshore has retained Crowe (Kim Scifres) to conduct the needs assessment process. Kim Scifres gave an update/overview of the needs assessment process. She communicated that the Affordable Care Act requires not-for-profit hospitals to conduct the needs assessment every three years. The process that they are working through is aimed at overall compliance with the regulations as well as providing meaningful information to inform decisions and improve community health. The process started last October in 2021. First step was to discuss community, data was collected, a survey was conducted, community input was collected through five focus groups and community stakeholders. Next step is to identify needs and prioritize needs. A plan will be completed based on all the inputs and information collected. There are 52 zip codes represented by the four Northshore Hospitals conducting the collaborative needs assessment process. VI. Director’s Monthly Report, Mike Charley, Director of Health & Human Services: Mike Charley presented information and updates to the BOH including data showing a decrease in COVID cases since January 8, 2022, the lifting of State and Skokie mask orders and the lifting of Skokie’s Proof of vaccination order on February 28, 2022. Charley presented information on the CDC’s newer COVID Community Level metrics which are  intended to help inform individual and community decision on implementing COVID mitigation measures. Charley communicated other updates including, Bruce Jones, long-time Environmental Supervisor retiring after 35 years on Friday March 4, 2022, updates on the status of hiring several HHS positions, information on the Skokie/Oakton Workforce training program and a short update on the HHS Department’s childhood vaccination program. Finally, Charley introduced the BOH to the Village’s Sustainability Plan and communicated that the Village’s Sustainability Commission will be asking the BOH to assist in the planning/drafting of the next Sustainability plan in the coming months. VII. Old/New Items of Business A. Bicycle Safety Event, May 14, 2-4 pm (Police & Park District Event): Charley shared that the BOH had participated in this same event last year, with Dr. Ed Linn and Maureen Hanlon participating last year. Dr. Linn and Dr. Kumar communicated that they would be willing to participate in this year’s bicycle safety event. Dr. Linn provided a brief overview of what he recalls occurred at last year’s event; Dr. Linn and Ms. Hanlon instructed parents/children how to wear helmets safely. B. Dr. Linn communicated that in a recent issue of the SkokieNews the HHS Department posted an article strongly encouraging residents to get boosted. Dr. Linn communicated that individuals have become somewhat apathetic and he encouraged everyone to get boosted, it’s important to prevent severe disease. Dr. Linn communicated that we need to continue to remind the public how important booster doses are. VIII. Public Comments: No public comments. IX. Adjournment @ 7:55 PM, First by Dr. Williams, Second by Heidi Nickisch Duggan Next Meeting: April 14, 2022, 7:00 p.m.