HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health May 9 19951 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL,
2 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
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5 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
6 MEETING AS THE
7 WHATCOM COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
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9 May 9, 1995
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11 The meeting was called to order at 6 :30 p.m. by Council Member Larry Harris in
12 the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue.
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14 Also Present: Absent:
15 Marlene Dawson None
16 Bob Imhof
17 Alvin Starkenburg
18 Ken Henderson
19 Ward Nelson
20 Barbara Brenner
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22 1. THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD AT THE REQUEST OF THE HEALTH
23 DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD. ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
24 WANT TO PROVIDE THE BOARD OF HEALTH WITH INFORMATION
25 REGARDING THEIR RECENT WORK RELATING TO COUNTY COUNCIL
26 DIRECTIVE TO REVIEW OPTIONS FOR REORGANIZATION OF THE
27 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
28 (AB94 -573).
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30 THREE BRIEF PRESENTATIONS WILL BE MADE WITH TIME FOR
31 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
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33 — BILL PALMER - THE ROLE AND RESPONSIVENESS OF THE HEALTH
34 DEPARTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.
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36 Mr. Palmer noted several attitudes regarding health services that were particularly
37 important to him:
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39 Non - adversarial (helping attitude; working with someone)
40 Preventative (do now for later benefit)
41 Planning process regarding present and future goals (knowledge of the year -end
42 goals as well as the five -year goals).
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Health Board Minutes, 5/9/95, Page 1
1 GREG STERN. M.D. - A SUMMARY OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
2 IMPROVEMENT PLAN RECENTLY PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE
3 AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR.
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5 The state will be providing an estimated $9 -20 M this year with increasing funds
6 in the future for the implementation of this plan. This represents a definite shift in the
7 response of government to public health needs. The Public Health Improvement Plan
8 focuses less on specific health problems or programs and more on assuring that state and
9 local public health agencies provide the conditions to maintain healthy communities and
10 identify and respond to new and evolving public health problems.
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12 The three core functions identified by the National Institute of Medicine in their
13 1988 report are assessment of needs, risks, resources, community values and problems;
14 policy development to address the identified needs and prioritized the responses and the
15 utilization of resources; and assurance that policies are carried out. Additional functions
16 are incorporated in the Washington Public Health Improvement Plan, which include a
17 focus on prevention, assurance of access to services and quality of services and a
18 recognition of adequate administrative infrastructure to support public health services in
19 the areas of finance, personnel, planning and leadership.
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21 Minimum capacity standards are identified in order to further define the
22 necessary functions of public health agencies. These standards, which will be phased in
23 over the next six years, provide the infrastructure to protect the public from disease and
24 injury. The capacity standards are organized by core functions, which are further
25 identified as to whether they apply to state, local or both jurisdictions.
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27 The Public Health Improvement Plan will require a stronger local analytical
28 policy development at an administrative capacity. This is an opportunity to increase our
29 ability to identify and deal with public health issues locally and to develop more creative
30 and efficient partnerships in maintaining public health.
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32 — STEVE IILK - REVIEW OF THE FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE OF THE
33 HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITH A GOAL OF ANALYZING THE
34 ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY OF THE DEPARTMENT.
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36 Mr. Jilk stated the Health Department should continue maximizing the return of
37 the use of local tax dollars allotted for health services. The Department also should
38 maximize the use of non -local dollars or grant monies to provide resources for various
39 programs. Finally, the Department's recommendations should allow the Council to make
40 decisions that will support the Department in continuing to prevent disease and injury,
41 which is basically the underlying theme of the Health Department.
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Health Board Minutes, 5/9/95, Page 2
1 He requested feedback on the direction the Health Department is taking in this
2 administrative review. This is an opportunity to examine the entire structure of the
3 Department. He stated the report to the Council is hoped to be completed within 90
4 days, which is June 15. However, more time is needed to complete the final report. By
5 July 15, he is hoping to be able to provide the Council with a draft of the final report,
6 the final report and recommendations to be delivered by August 15.
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8 A question and answer period followed. Nelson was concerned about the need
9 for the initial report to be given to the Council before the Budget Retreat, which is
10 June 13.
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12 ADJOURN
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14 The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
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19 N dean Hanson, Recording Secretary
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21 These minutes were approved by the Council on June 6 , 1995.
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23 ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
24 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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29 _ n- Davis, CounciTClerk -�5 Larry Harris, Council Member
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Health Board Minutes, 5/9/95, Page 1