Openings at Health Department
April 26, 2023 at 1:51 p.m.
Two positions within the Franklin County Health Department now need filled following the recent tendering of resignations from Paxtyn Drew (nurse) and Lisa Meier (secretary/registrar). Each is accepting positions elsewhere, with Meier moving to another governmental department.
The board, along with public health officer Dr. David Welsh, thanked them for their contributions to the department at the quarterly meeting April 18. President Joe Meier stated all resumes need to be presented to the board for consideration.
In her final report, Meier noted she sent out over 700 shots-due postcards to residents who were behind mainly because of the Covid interruption. Other items were assisting the auditor’s office in closing out an EMS grant with the help of Lynn Rosenberger-Westerfeld, seeing a small spike in children’s immunization and a need to soon raise the cost of death certificates slightly due to increased state fees. Current cost per certificate is $15.
Drew, ahead of her final day last Friday, reported on attending various training sessions/webinars throughout the quarter as well as administering and reading 13 tuberculosis tests.
Welsh was fresh off visiting Indiana’s elected delegation in Washington, D.C. and linked to the meeting from a district airport. He had state rather than national legislation in mind, however, when he brought up pending Senate Bill 4.
The bill, co-authored by area senators Jean Leising and Chip Perfect, calls for acceptance of findings from the Governor’s Public Health Commission; some are defining core public health services, local establishment of a public health services fund to receive state funding, methods of allocating the funding and allowing the state department to issue guidance to local health units.
Welsh is confident the bill will pass before the General Assembly wraps up Friday. Counties must opt in to receive available funding; he said around half of Indiana’s counties are on board currently. President Meier asked when the program would start if the county goes along. The answer was the first of the year following the opt-in; if it doesn’t start in 2024, the county may choose to opt in later.
Related, the health budget proposals for ‘24 will be due in June. Meier recommended the board come together to make a positive recommendation to commissioners. It was also noted that the county would not be locked in for a full five-year cycle if results were not to its liking.
Considering recent environmental incidents in East Palestine, Ohio and Richmond –train derailment and industrial fire, respectively –Welsh reached out to schools and members of EMS and the local emergency management agency to make sure the county could handle a similar surprising event.
On vaccines, Welsh talked about a need to mitigate vaccine wastage and said the vaccine freezer is operable but should be replaced soon.
Supervising nurse Nanette Beres mentioned that Milly Jines made a VFC (Vaccinations for Children) site visit and complimented the department on its presentation of a vaccine management plan template. Another visit came from Mary Reams, a state epidemiologist here for an orientation session.
She was also complimentary, noting the clean lead testing cabinet and an “Excellent”epidemiology fact sheet reference binder.
Beres wanted permission to raise TB testing prices to $12 for FC Sheriff’s Dept. use and $15 public charge due to increased cost of supplies.
Among her report highlights were updated department letterhead and business cards with new insignia, an educational presentation by Purdue Extension on AED (automated external defibrillator) and first-aid training on May 16 and June 12, a District 9 tabletop exercise –Radiation Emergency Surge –held in Scottsburg that simulated the effects of a dirty bomb and how to use regional resources to react, and a conversation started with Fairbrook Manor secretary Mary Schuck to conduct a health fair for residents. There will be blood pressure and sugar screenings and Covid tests and flu shots done by the state health mobile clinic; The Tobacco Coalition, Aspire Indiana Health and Southeastern Indiana Economic Opportunity Corporation wish to attend.
Beres was nominated for and named chair of the FC Tobacco Coalition. She also obtained credentialing from Ohio for IMPACTSIIS (the state’s immunization system) that allows easier validation for Indiana residents receiving vaccinations there. In one other item, a Basic Life Support class was taught in the department.
Bethany Luers, public health preparedness coordinator/grant manager, provided her report. There will be an anthrax drill June 20. As part of a grant requirement, the department is to partner with local EMA on an emergency scenario affecting large events in the county; of the rodeo, Freudenfest and 4-H Fair, the fair was chosen since, as Luers put it, there’s one way in and one way out and the number of people and animals would create a most chaotic tableau. District 9 and Indiana Homeland Security representatives will partake in the tabletop exercise in the commissioner’s room.
Sanitarian Curt Cox said he administered three dye tests last quarter and had one verification failure. The environmental health specialist also focused on two properties –Holland and Stone Church roads –for trash/open burning complaints.
He attended OSS (onsite sewage systems) winter meetings in Indianapolis and wished to pass on that the state health department is recommending all environmental specialists meet with soil scientists, installers and homeowners on site during planning stages of system installs. Meier asked how many soil scientists are at his disposal; currently it’s five. Ryan Cushman is regional representative for the OSS program.
David Fehlinger, sanitarian, inspected 58 retail food establishments last quarter and issued 29 permits. He has reviewed plans for a new Batesville McDonald’s, which he said may be closed most of the year for the rebuild. He was asked if reviewing plans was typical. Normally franchised restaurants will request a full review of kitchen plans.
Next board meeting is July 25.
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Two positions within the Franklin County Health Department now need filled following the recent tendering of resignations from Paxtyn Drew (nurse) and Lisa Meier (secretary/registrar). Each is accepting positions elsewhere, with Meier moving to another governmental department.
The board, along with public health officer Dr. David Welsh, thanked them for their contributions to the department at the quarterly meeting April 18. President Joe Meier stated all resumes need to be presented to the board for consideration.
In her final report, Meier noted she sent out over 700 shots-due postcards to residents who were behind mainly because of the Covid interruption. Other items were assisting the auditor’s office in closing out an EMS grant with the help of Lynn Rosenberger-Westerfeld, seeing a small spike in children’s immunization and a need to soon raise the cost of death certificates slightly due to increased state fees. Current cost per certificate is $15.
Drew, ahead of her final day last Friday, reported on attending various training sessions/webinars throughout the quarter as well as administering and reading 13 tuberculosis tests.
Welsh was fresh off visiting Indiana’s elected delegation in Washington, D.C. and linked to the meeting from a district airport. He had state rather than national legislation in mind, however, when he brought up pending Senate Bill 4.
The bill, co-authored by area senators Jean Leising and Chip Perfect, calls for acceptance of findings from the Governor’s Public Health Commission; some are defining core public health services, local establishment of a public health services fund to receive state funding, methods of allocating the funding and allowing the state department to issue guidance to local health units.
Welsh is confident the bill will pass before the General Assembly wraps up Friday. Counties must opt in to receive available funding; he said around half of Indiana’s counties are on board currently. President Meier asked when the program would start if the county goes along. The answer was the first of the year following the opt-in; if it doesn’t start in 2024, the county may choose to opt in later.
Related, the health budget proposals for ‘24 will be due in June. Meier recommended the board come together to make a positive recommendation to commissioners. It was also noted that the county would not be locked in for a full five-year cycle if results were not to its liking.
Considering recent environmental incidents in East Palestine, Ohio and Richmond –train derailment and industrial fire, respectively –Welsh reached out to schools and members of EMS and the local emergency management agency to make sure the county could handle a similar surprising event.
On vaccines, Welsh talked about a need to mitigate vaccine wastage and said the vaccine freezer is operable but should be replaced soon.
Supervising nurse Nanette Beres mentioned that Milly Jines made a VFC (Vaccinations for Children) site visit and complimented the department on its presentation of a vaccine management plan template. Another visit came from Mary Reams, a state epidemiologist here for an orientation session.
She was also complimentary, noting the clean lead testing cabinet and an “Excellent”epidemiology fact sheet reference binder.
Beres wanted permission to raise TB testing prices to $12 for FC Sheriff’s Dept. use and $15 public charge due to increased cost of supplies.
Among her report highlights were updated department letterhead and business cards with new insignia, an educational presentation by Purdue Extension on AED (automated external defibrillator) and first-aid training on May 16 and June 12, a District 9 tabletop exercise –Radiation Emergency Surge –held in Scottsburg that simulated the effects of a dirty bomb and how to use regional resources to react, and a conversation started with Fairbrook Manor secretary Mary Schuck to conduct a health fair for residents. There will be blood pressure and sugar screenings and Covid tests and flu shots done by the state health mobile clinic; The Tobacco Coalition, Aspire Indiana Health and Southeastern Indiana Economic Opportunity Corporation wish to attend.
Beres was nominated for and named chair of the FC Tobacco Coalition. She also obtained credentialing from Ohio for IMPACTSIIS (the state’s immunization system) that allows easier validation for Indiana residents receiving vaccinations there. In one other item, a Basic Life Support class was taught in the department.
Bethany Luers, public health preparedness coordinator/grant manager, provided her report. There will be an anthrax drill June 20. As part of a grant requirement, the department is to partner with local EMA on an emergency scenario affecting large events in the county; of the rodeo, Freudenfest and 4-H Fair, the fair was chosen since, as Luers put it, there’s one way in and one way out and the number of people and animals would create a most chaotic tableau. District 9 and Indiana Homeland Security representatives will partake in the tabletop exercise in the commissioner’s room.
Sanitarian Curt Cox said he administered three dye tests last quarter and had one verification failure. The environmental health specialist also focused on two properties –Holland and Stone Church roads –for trash/open burning complaints.
He attended OSS (onsite sewage systems) winter meetings in Indianapolis and wished to pass on that the state health department is recommending all environmental specialists meet with soil scientists, installers and homeowners on site during planning stages of system installs. Meier asked how many soil scientists are at his disposal; currently it’s five. Ryan Cushman is regional representative for the OSS program.
David Fehlinger, sanitarian, inspected 58 retail food establishments last quarter and issued 29 permits. He has reviewed plans for a new Batesville McDonald’s, which he said may be closed most of the year for the rebuild. He was asked if reviewing plans was typical. Normally franchised restaurants will request a full review of kitchen plans.
Next board meeting is July 25.