08/03/1994
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Mr. John Coble called the regular business meeting of the New
Hanover County Board of Health (NHCBH) to order at 8:00 A.M.
on Wednesday, August -3, 1994, in the Dr. Thomas Fanning Wood
Library, New Hanover County Health Department (NHCHD),
Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members Present:
John M. Coble, Chairman
Spiro J. Macris, DDS, Vice-Chairman
Mary Lou Alford, RN
Thomas V. Clancy, MD
Mary King Dean
W. Keith Elmore, RPh.
Dennis L. Jackson, DVM
Laura Pitts Maness
Mark A. Veenstra, PE
Members Absent:
Robert G. Greer
Edward L. Paul, Jr., OD
Others Present:
Robert S. (Bob) Parker, Health Director
Frances De Vane, Recording Secretary
Mr. Elmore presented the invocation.
Mr. Coble called for corrections to the minutes of the meeting on
July 6, 1994. The minutes were approved.
Recognitions:
New Employees
Mr. Coble welcomed the following new health department employee:
Leslie T. Ramshaw, Health Educator I, Health Promotions
Service Awards
Mr. Coble recognized the following individuals for years of
service in the New Hanover County Health Department:
Five (5) Year Service Award
Donna R. LeSane, Nutritionist II, WIC
Ten (10) Year Service Award
Frances C. Chandler, Clerical Specialist, Epidemiology
Karen C. Hogan, Public Health Nursing Director II, Home Health
100% Smokefree Establishments
Mr. Coble identified Independence Mall and Charlie Rivenbark IS
Restaurant in Wilmington as recipients of 100% Smokefree
Establishment Certificates.
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Department Focal:
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Ms. Susan O'Brien, Laboratory Director, presented the department
focal on "Quality Assurance" - a requirement of the Clinical
Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA), 1988.
Animal Control Shelter UPdate
Mr. Ron Currie, Animal Control Director, reported that
construction of the new Animal Control Shelter is on schedule and
should be completed by mid-November. He invited Board members to
an educational session on the proposed revision of the New
Hanover County Animal Control Animals and Fowl Ordinances to be
held tonight from 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at the health
department.
Committee Reports:
Executive Committee
Mr. Coble reported that the Executive Committee met on Monday,
July 25, 1994 and recommended to establish a full-time Public
Health Nurse position at New Hanover High School to replace the
existing temporary School Health Nurse position. The New Hanover
County Board of Education will fund this position.
Motion: Mr. Coble moved from Executive Committee for the Board
of Heal th to approve and recommend to the New Hanover County
Commissioners the establishment of a full-time School Health
Public Health Nurse I position to be funded by the New Hanover
County Board of Education. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED.
Unfinished Business:
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Cancer Awareness Program
Ms. Denise Teachey, Health Promotions Director, stated the
public awareness campaign regarding early detection of cancer
focused on oral cancer last month. This month's focus is rectal
cancer. Next month, emphasis will be placed on prostate cancer
awareness.
A video on the "Dangers of Smokeless Tobacco" featuring Dr.
Macris and Bob Townsend, WECT-TV, was shown to the Board.
New Hanover County Class Act Award
Dr. Clancy, Chairman, Employee Recognition Committee, referred
the Board to a memo from Andre Mallette, Department of Human
Resources Director, responding to the Board of Health's request
to research improving the benef its of the New Hanover County I
Class Act Award. He stated at the present time it appears that
the County is not receptive to the Board's request to enhance the
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present Class Act Award. Dr. Clancy concluded that the Board
should terminate the idea of modifying the Class Act Award.
Mrs. Dean thanked Dr. Clancy for his outstanding research and
interest in the employee recognition program.
New Business:
New Maternal & Child Health Sliding Fee Scale
Mr. Parker presented the 1994-95 Maternal and Child Health
Sliding Fee Scale for Child Health and Women's Health Care
Clinics to the Board for their approval.
Motion: Dr. Jackson moved for the Board of Health to approve
and recommend to the New Hanover County Commissioners the
adoption of the 1994-95 Maternal and Child Health Sliding Fee
Scale effective retroactive to July 1, 1994. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED.
Proposed Change in Pregnancy Test Fee
Mr. Parker presented a proposal for the pregnancy testing fee to
be increased from $5.00 to $15.00 in order to recover total
Medicaid reimbursement.
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Mrs. Betty Jo McCorkle, Women's Health Care Director, explained
that Medicaid recently added reimbursement for pregnancy testing
at the rate of $10.51.
Mrs. McCorkle stated when the sliding fee scale is applied, the
proposed $15.00 pregnancy testing fee rounds off to an even
dollar value which eliminates the collection of fees in cent
values. A discussion on the proposed pregnancy testing fee
increase and the capability of the computer to round off uneven
dollar values followed. Dr. Clancy requested that Mr. Parker
research this issue.
Motion: Mr. Elmore moved for the Board to approve and recommend
to the New Hanover County Commissioners the increase of the
Pregnancy Testing Fee from $5.00 to $15.00. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED.
COlIIDents:
Board of Health Members
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Dr. Clancy inquired if plans for informing the public of the
implementation of the New Hanover County Smoking Regulation,
adopted by the Board of Health on October 6, 1993 and effective
January 1, 1995, have been initiated. He stated he felt the
communi ty should be prepared for the changes in the smoking
regulation. Mr. Parker explained that nearly all pUblic places
in New Hanover County will be smoke-free.
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It was the consensus of the Board to refer the education of the
public regarding the new smoking regulation to the Health I
Promotions Committee.
Health Director
Mr. Parker reported that the health department contributed 57
pints of blood to the New Hanover County Spring Blood Drive. The
health department placed number one in the County Blood Drive.
Mr. Parker informed the Board that the official name of the new
health department division is Women's Health Care (WHC).
On August 25, 1994, Mr. Parker will speak on Health Care Reform
at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners (NCACC) in Asheville, North Carolina.
Mr. Parker distributed a revised Health Planning Commission
Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule to the Board.
Mr. Parker informed the Board that a General Clinic Information
Line (available in English and Spanish) has been installed.
Recorded messages direct callers to the appropriate line for
specific services and appointments. Phone numbers are 343-6676
and 343-6536.
Mr. Parker declared that "The Winning Shots Immunize", an I
immunization compliance project, won a 1994 National Association
of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award. Mr. Greer will receive
this award for the NHCHD at the NACo Annual Meeting.
There being no further business Mr. Coble adjourned the meeting
at 9:05 A.M.
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M John M. Coble
C airman, Board of Health
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Robert S. (Bob) Parker
Secretary to the Board
Approved:
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