HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02 February 25 PHAB Meeting Minutes“To promote and protect the health and safety of our community.”
MMIINNUUTTEESS
February 25, 2015
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Stan Owen, Deschutes County Health Services
Item
Facilitator Jock Pribnow, Chair
Meeting Coordinator Tom Kuhn
Scribe Lisa Michael
Next Meeting March 25, 2015, Health Services, Stan Owen
Agenda Items/Discussion/Motions
Topic and Lead
1
Introductions & Approval of the January meeting minutes
Mike moved to approve the minutes as submitted with a second b y Charla. Unanimously
approved. Board members and guests went around the room and introduced themselves.
2
Brief Announcements & Unfinished Business
Jock heard that Markian Hawryluk is leaving Central Oregon and moving to Texas. He
asked for support from the Board in sending Markian a letter of commendation for keeping
Central Oregonians informed of health related issues through his articles in the Bulletin.
Jock also noted there have been several public health stories broadcast in the news these
past several weeks including marijuana regulations, the new senate bill coming up for vote
regarding the elimination of non-medical exemptions for immunizations and banning the
sale of e-cigarette to minors.
Tom and Penny Pritchard will be meeting with the BOCC today to discuss E-cigarettes.
Penny slightly modified her presentation she pitched to PHAB and will be presenting again
to the BOCC this afternoon.
Tom said that membership numbers are down and suggested that the Board spread the
word to recruit colleagues as we could use a few more members. Tom will send out an
email to the Board for their suggestions in recruiting new members. Kim suggested that
we recruit some members from SCMC.
A big thank you to Kate Wells for helping DCHS with the submittal of an OHA grant for
developing sustainable relationships. Some of Kate’s staff worked with DCHS staff, as well
as Lindsay Hopper from COHC in preparing the grant.
Holly announced that it’s that time again for the Grin and Bear it Run slated for March 7 th,
which will benefit Healthy Beginnings’ 12 point kid inspection. Advantage Dental is one of
the sponsors this year.
Deschutes County Health Services
Public Health Advisory Board
“To promote and protect the health and safety of our community.”
Kate mentioned that the CCO and stakeholders are working on a conversion plan to
include primary care integration and next generation goal setting. The plan deadline is
March 16th.
Susan announced that the OHA received a $750,000 federal grant benefitting four
counties, including Deschutes, for suicide prevention. With this funding, BH will be able to
hire some additional staff. Susan noted that the highest rate of suicide has been reported
amongst middle age men.
Mike spoke about a new fluoride tooth painting product and its benefits in preventing the
spread of decay in cavities. It was designed specifically for small children who fear visits to
the dentist and has helped in reducing hospital visits. On the flip side, there are a few
drawbacks to this product. Since it is imported from Japan, it is very costly and there have
been some aesthetic issues with discoloring teeth. A whitening solution must be added to
paint. Mike mentioned his daughter is a chemist for a company in the valley and is working
on developing a formula of her own.
3
Measles Prevention and Response
Heather spoke to the Board about Measles prevention and response shedding some light
on the recent outbreak at Disneyland. She talked about how highly contagious measles
are and the various complications associated with it. Prior to creation of the vaccine in
1963, measles contributed up to 500 deaths yearly nationwide and approximately 4,000
cases of encephalitis. Nearly 3 to 4 million people a year contracted the virus with only
500,000 cases actually reported. Globally, close to 20 million cases per year have been
estimated. Roughly 2.6 million deaths were reported worldwide in 1980 compared to just
over 145,000 reported in 2013 due to a widespread use of the MMR vaccine. Even today,
measles remains the leading cause of vaccine preventable deaths in children under the
age of 5. Newborn children are highly susceptible since they cannot become vaccinated
until age 1.
Heather shared the latest news about the epidemic in California noting that 125 people
from 7 states became infected with the Measles, one being from Oregon. Most of these
cases were unvaccinated or undocumented. Although some were hospitalized, fortunately,
no deaths were reported. During the first six weeks of 2015 alone, 145 cases were
reported nationwide. The biggest problem with the spread of Measles is a failure to get
vaccinated.
Heather also talked about the immunization rates and how exemptions are on the rise in
Oregon. Democratic Senator Steiner-Hayward is now pushing to prohibit opting out for
non-medical reasons. Another legislative hearing on March 9th will take place to further
discuss this senate bill (SB 442). Former British surgeon, Andrew Wakefield, who is the
author of the discredited study in the journal Lancet, will be attending to testify.
4
Central Oregon Veteran’s Ranch
Alison Perry introduced herself and spoke of her several years’ experience working with
veterans and her relationship to several veterans in her own family. She announced the
new and upcoming veteran’s ranch designed to support and encourage camaraderie
among Central Oregon veterans through shared activities and peer to peer engagement.
The COVR is a non-profit organization in the process of acquiring a 19 acre parcel with a 4
bedroom home located between Bend and Redmond, which will serve as an adult foster
home providing supportive housing to aged veterans and those who are terminally ill.
“To promote and protect the health and safety of our community.”
Alison reported that on average 22 veterans a day commit suicide nationally and 27% of all
suicides in Oregon are veterans. In today’s society, PTSD is viewed as a “cultural
disorder” instead of a “mental disorder” and COVR’s vision is to help veterans heal from
PTSD rather than cure them of it. Alison mentioned that many veterans tend to lose their
identity and their sense of purpose after their discharge. The main focus is to provide
opportunities for veterans by having them run the ranch and support their peers. They will
raise livestock and grow some of their own food, thereby connecting them to land, nature
and a peaceful setting which in turn will help in the healing process. Alison asked the
Board for help in spreading the word to their colleagues about the ranch. They are still in
need of start up and operations capital, board members and volunteers. More information
about the ranch can be found on the website at www.centraloregonveteransranch.org.
5
Legislative Update
Tom briefly skimmed over the handout describing the legislative highlights of particular
interest to us: HB 2546 which amends the law pertaining to the sale of tobacco to minors,
specifically E-cigarettes; modernization and the future of public health and CLHO’s position
in support of the recommendations made by the task force (SB 663 and HB 3100); and SB
442 which eliminates the non-medical exemption for immunizations..
Several other bills of interest to DCHS are on the docket related to tobacco and marijuana.
6 Adjourn at 1:30 p.m.
Board Members Present: Jock Pribnow, Susan Keys, Charla DeHate, Katrina Wiest, Kim
Curley Reynolds, Keith Winsor, Mike Shirtcliff, Holly Remer, Kate Wells
Staff Members Present: Tom Kuhn, Pamela Ferguson, Lisa Michael
Guest speakers: Heather Kaisner (staff), and Allison Perry (COVR)
BOCC – Board of County Commissioners E (cigarettes) – Electronic
PHAB – Public Health Advisory Board SCMC – St. Charles Medical Center
DCHS – Deschutes County Health Services OHA – Oregon Health Authority
COHC- Central Oregon Health Council CCO – Coordinated Care Organization
BH – Behavioral Health MMR – Measles, Mumps, & Rubella
SB – Senate Bill COVR – Central Oregon Veterans’ Ranch
PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder HB – House Bill
CLHO – Conference of Local Health Officials