Board of Health - April 26, 2019 Minutes

Regular Meeting: Friday, April 26, 2019 (Re-scheduled from April 12, 2019)

Present: Chelsey Matter, Robin Nelson, Chad Peterson, Mike Thorstad
Absent: Christopher E. Anderson, MD, Lyn Telford, John Strand
Others Present: Desi Fleming, Larry Anenson, Justin Bohrer, Robyn Litke Sall, Cheryl Stetz, Michelle Draxten, Holly Scott, Lori Sall, Suzanne Schaefer

Chelsey Matter, Chair called the meeting to order.

Approve minutes from February 15, 2019: Mike Thorstad made a motion to approve, Robin seconded and motion carried.

Announcements:
Desi Fleming announced that the International Travel Program has changed and introduced Suzanne Schaefer. Suzanne stated that Fargo Cass Public Health would be terminating the international travel immunization program. There is adequate coverage for this service in the area and Sanford is the only facility that can obtain the yellow fever vaccine. The last day of operations for Fargo Cass Public will be May 16, 2019. Our immunizations have never been on a sliding fee scale. Chelsey thanked FCPH for all the work throughout the years with this program. Desi clarified that this program has never operated on a sliding fee scale.

Budget Report through March 31, 2019:
Desi Fleming was standing in for Melissa Perala. Desi noted that in the revenue column, Melissa has added a Q to designate if the revenue comes in every quarter. Revenue is down 1% from this time last year and expenses are 2% lower. The middle of May is time for FCPH staff to do staff budgeting and the next Board of Health meeting to review the budget is May 31, 2019.

Agency Plan Progress Reporting- Justin Bohrer:
Justin introduced Robyn Litke Sall, Michelle Draxten and Cheryl Stetz, whose activities made up the bulk of the 2 Year CHIP Progress Report. Justin also covered the agency plan reporting on the Workforce Development Plan, QI Implementation Plan and Priority/Strategic Plan. We are going to incorporate more Launchpad training. We are working with the Quality Improvement Council to continue improving our operations. Also increasing knowledge among staff about the purposed of the QI Council. We are also working with FCPH PIO Holly Scott to enhance the visibility of FCPH. She is working to make sure we have quality posts on social media. We now have a cultural quality improvement policy. FCPH continues to work on its national accreditation. December is the deadline so the organization has been marking items off the list the panel gave FCPH to improve. Justin Bohrer wants to assure that the new policies written for accreditation also fit for FCPH and adds value to the organization. Some of the policies are for PHAB but he is striving to make them useful for FCPH.

Flood Update:
Doug Murphy was absent because he participating in the Measles outbreak after-action meeting. Flood updates are winding down. Desi Fleming did share that FCPH did tetanus shots, and sent employees to sandbag central to do supervision. If a flood occurs, we would send more staff to the EOC and FCPH would open the department operations center. FCPH assists with vulnerable populations, hospitals, long-term care facilities, homeless and shelters. FCPH works with the ND Department of Health to make sure everybody has an emergency plan in place. FCPH does not instruct organizations what to do, instead offering knowledge about resources and options open to them. Chelsey inquired about the vulnerable population registry. Desi Fleming mentioned that we ceased having a vulnerable list because FCPH wants to help those who don’t have resources and are not working with agencies, and that didn’t seem to be who we were capturing on the list historically. In the event of a need to start the list during an event, citizens would call into FirstLink and identify themselves or a family member as being a vulnerable person, as well as gathering information such as resources needed for transport, and if they have special needs. FCPH has plans in place as an agency to deal with catastrophe’s (floods, outbreaks) and exercises (PODs) are performed throughout the year to practice our roles.

Harm Reduction Update- Jan Eliassen:
Jan quoted the statistics for numbers of people served for the first three months of the year (850 beds) they can have up to 50 people in the shelter at night. Fewer individuals will utilize the shelter as warmer weather approaches. Jillian Gould in our homeless outreach has noticed that she is encountering more individuals that have no connection to any organization. Syringe services has seen an increase in activity. Harm Reduction has been attempting to track secondary transactions. An individual picks up supplies and then gives them to another individual who does not come into the office. We do encourage all that need syringe services to come in. FCPH Syringe Services is staying true to their mission of compassionate, non-judgmental care. Harm Reduction Division also wants to track Narcan saves. Overdose deaths still occur but Narcan is helping decrease the number of deaths. People are saving each other by becoming educated and having the Narcan on hand. Syringe services has been working with the Clinic in order to get more people through the doors to be tested for HIV/HCV, STDs, and pregnancies. There have been incentives to get these underserved members of society to come in and be tested. Chad Peterson mentioned that ND is looking at litigation and would like all the statistics they can get regarding Opioid use and effect that it has had in North Dakota. It is difficult to track some people; some of them never come in contact with the shelters. In some cases, it is a behavioral or mental health issue. Oil boom and articles regarding high standard of living in North Dakota brought many people to North Dakota.
Harm Reduction’s number one goal is to move people from the streets to housing and get them employment. Harm Reduction has expanded their Mobile Outreach Program to 16 hours a day instead of eight. It benefits everyone, the law enforcement and ambulances have to make fewer calls, less people living in crisis in the streets. Jan Eliassen said that it was affirming for all the staff and guests that so many contributed to the Giving Hearts Day proving they are cared about. The incentive of a gift card was to get people in the door so we could begin to build a relationship based on trust and care. ND Department of Disease Control wants individuals to know their status and to be tested.

Legislative Update-Desi Fleming:
Desi Fleming mentioned that this year, FCPH has made more of an effort to reach out to our legislators, especially when there are issues that impact public health. FCPH wants to let representatives know their stance on issues that the representative will be voting on. Our state aid funding has remained level. Robin Nelson wanted to mention that a local senator is spearheading funding for finding out how behavioral health issues are impacting our schools. Chelsey Matter adjourned the meeting.

Next Meeting: May 31, 2019