Advisory Board Minutes
July 2008
Members present: Michael Kramer, Kay Ehlert, Virginia Bertz, Doug Turnbough, Cecil Flynn, Mary MaCoy, and Maribeth Thompson.
LCHD Staff present: Nola Martz. Guest: Toniann Richard.
The meeting was opened with self introductions. Nola amended the agenda to include the introduction of Toniann Richard, Executive Director of the Health Care Coalition of Lafayette County, allowing her to give the group an overview of the HCC and it's current issues and projects that are underway.
Toniann then gave a brief history of the Coalition. The key issues that are being addressed currently include: development of a plan to address county wide transportation needs; exploring the possibility of a county level health insurance program for citizens; and the fitness resources available a the 4 Life Center, including the walking track, cardio exercise, and strength training equipment at a very affordable fee for use.
Nola then resumed the meeting agenda. There had been a change to the Board of Trustees since the last Advisory Group meeting. Don Jeffries re-submitted his resignation, which he had originally put forward last September, but rescinded when the Administrator's illness was discovered. He felt that the administration had now been transitioned and he could go forward with his retirement from the Board. Cecil Flynn has been appointed by the County Commission to fill Don's unexpired term.
Missouri has recently formed a state affiliate to the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH). LCHD Board of Trustees joined MALBOH, Missouri Association of Local Boards of Health. An organizational meeting was held last month in Sedalia, which was attended by Bob Warner, Chair. He was very impressed with the organizational goals and the peer networking possibilities for him and the other Board members.
Nola then outlined recent staffing changes within LCHD. Tammy Rector, RN had resigned her full time position to accept a new position with a home health agency near Kansas City. She requested being kept on staff as a PRN, "as needed", staff nurse. After meeting with the staff to evaluate program needs, the decision was made that there was a heavy demand for health education, which did not require a full time RN. Donna Oetting has been reclassified from a Health Program Representative to a Health Educator and was appointed from contract only status to full time. Martha McReynolds, RN was appointed from a contract only staff to a 4/5 time RN. She will help cover programs that require nursing services. Carolyn Boland, RN had requested returning to 4/5 status from full time. Glenda Bertz, RN remains full time. This gives the Health Department one full time RN, two 4/5 time RN's, and the new full time Health Educator at about the same cost as the previous staffing pattern.
Nola then gave the Administrator's report. By August, LCHD will be ready to terminate the existing contract for web site support and maintain this important tool in house. Kristin Buford, General Office Assistant, is developing the new web site and will be able to maintain it as part of her duties at nearly half the cost of the current contract, plus being able to keep it much more current and up to date. The current contract expires in August and she will be ready to make the transition at that time.
The group received the 1st Quarter Activity Report for their review. Nola reported on a few key funding sources that were in the application process:
PRIMO, the Rural Health Primary Care Resource Initiative, money will continue for up to two more years at $25,000 per year. DHSS had requested, however, that the focus change from network development associated with the HCC due to their receiving such a large HRSA grant. So this year's contract will focus on case management of the Saving Smiles program.
LCHD will be providing Health Education modules for the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and conducting outreach for increasing county students' interest in pursuing health careers through an agreement with AHEC. For this they will receive $5,000 quarterly for an amount up to $20,000 to do these activities.
Applications have been submitted for a Chronic Disease Primary Prevention contract and a pilot project for MCH, but we have not heard back on these. Combined, they could bring in around another $40,000.
The Group approved of the 6:30 start time. Next meeting will be October 16, 2008, 6:30 p.m. at the Health Department. Meeting was adjourned.