County Officials Formulating Emergency Plans
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, governments at all levels have been focusing on terrorism and bioterrorism.
The Kosciusko County Health Department and health board are no different.
Wednesday, county health administrator Bob Weaver told the county health board he and county health officer Dr. William Remington Jr. have been working with the local emergency management planning committee. The health department's role is to formulate a plan to conduct a massive immunization in the county should it be needed.
In very small steps, Weaver said, the state is working with the health departments in each county on planning the massive immunizations. As each step is completed, the federal government is offering bioterrorism funds for local health departments. The money can be used for what each health department thinks it will need in case of emergency.
"We're slowly working toward that end," he said.
Now, he said, they are working on how the county would receive and store massive quantities of vaccinations.
"There are different locations we are working out," he said.
Remington said bioterrorism is still a big issue in the public health sector. The plans are coming along on paper. In the past year, working on the issue has helped the health department get to know their "partners" should such an event occur.
"We've been talking and have some growing ideas of how these would work," Remington said of their planning.
Funding also is coming in slowly.
Remington then discussed the public health fact sheet given to the board members.
Nationally, $138 is spent per person on average for public health. In the Midwest, region five, which is this area, $76 is spent per person. In Indiana, only $46 is spent per person for public health. Indiana ranks about 47 out of 50 states.
"Indiana health officers are trying to get more money out of the Indiana Legislature," Remington said.
Total mortality in the United States is 886 per 100,000, but is 944 in Indiana, which ranks 38th out of 50 states. Nationwide, 22.9 percent of the population smokes; it's 27.4 percent in Indiana (ranking Indiana 46th).
For premature deaths, Indiana ranks 37th in years lost before age 75 for whites, 42nd for African-Americans and ninth for Hispanics.
Other Indiana public health rankings include 31st for adequacy of prenatal care; 32nd for occupational fatalities per 100,000; 36th for heart disease deaths; 46th for cancer deaths; 32nd for infant mortality; and 22nd for percent uninsured. The state is 44th for obesity, with almost one-fourth of Indiana's population, 24.5 percent, considered obese.
Rankings are on a scale of 1 to 50 with 50 being the worst.
Compared to caucasians, African-Americans' heart disease death rate is 1.4 times higher; cancer death, 1.4 times higher; stroke death, 1.5; diabetes, 2.6; infant mortality, 2.3; AIDS, 3.5 to 5; and homicide death rate, 13 times higher.
Data for Hispanics are incomplete, but Hispanics' diabetes death rate is 1.7 times higher than whites.
Remington said the medical malpractice "environment" across the U.S. is a hot topic. While Indiana is a better state as far as protections for medical practitioners, health care workers still are skittish.
The Kosciusko County Well Child Clinic medical director resigned, he said, because she believed the county's malpractice insurance carrier didn't cover nurse practitioners. Remington said that prompted him to make some calls to the county attorney, who told Remington they are covered.
Remington said he has been looking at the issue and believes the county is OK.
Joan Darr, board member, told Remington that along with the medical malpractice insurance, they also need to make sure they have their certification from the Indiana Patient Compensation Fund. The county health department can't depend on general liability insurance, though they do need to confirm they have the medical malpractice insurance for their physicians and nurses.
Remington said either he will have to find a replacement for the Well Child Clinic medical director or he'll have to take over those responsibilities himself.
"If I can find another pediatrician to cover that for what we pay," he said, "that would be great."
In other business, the health board:
• Heard Weaver finished the "season of grant writing." Remington said he was very appreciative of Weaver's work, especially since the time of year for writing grant applications coincides with a heavy time of the year for installation and inspection of septic systems.
• Heard from county nurse Deb Frank that about 1-1/2 months ago, the state certified the county to administer yellow fever vaccinations. While there is not a huge demand for the vaccinations, said Remington, they do last about 10 years.
As for costs for the shots, Frank said, "I just charge what it costs."
• Set the next county health board meeting for Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
Health board members are president Dr. Wymond B. Wilson, Dr. Karen Boling, Dr. Dennis Woodward, Robert Knudsen, Dr. John W. Jones, Dr. Thomas E. Howard and Joan Darr, Kosciusko Community Hospital. Boling, who has retired from the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., Remington said, will need to officially resign and be replaced. She was not present at Wednesday's meeting. [[In-content Ad]]
Since Sept. 11, 2001, governments at all levels have been focusing on terrorism and bioterrorism.
The Kosciusko County Health Department and health board are no different.
Wednesday, county health administrator Bob Weaver told the county health board he and county health officer Dr. William Remington Jr. have been working with the local emergency management planning committee. The health department's role is to formulate a plan to conduct a massive immunization in the county should it be needed.
In very small steps, Weaver said, the state is working with the health departments in each county on planning the massive immunizations. As each step is completed, the federal government is offering bioterrorism funds for local health departments. The money can be used for what each health department thinks it will need in case of emergency.
"We're slowly working toward that end," he said.
Now, he said, they are working on how the county would receive and store massive quantities of vaccinations.
"There are different locations we are working out," he said.
Remington said bioterrorism is still a big issue in the public health sector. The plans are coming along on paper. In the past year, working on the issue has helped the health department get to know their "partners" should such an event occur.
"We've been talking and have some growing ideas of how these would work," Remington said of their planning.
Funding also is coming in slowly.
Remington then discussed the public health fact sheet given to the board members.
Nationally, $138 is spent per person on average for public health. In the Midwest, region five, which is this area, $76 is spent per person. In Indiana, only $46 is spent per person for public health. Indiana ranks about 47 out of 50 states.
"Indiana health officers are trying to get more money out of the Indiana Legislature," Remington said.
Total mortality in the United States is 886 per 100,000, but is 944 in Indiana, which ranks 38th out of 50 states. Nationwide, 22.9 percent of the population smokes; it's 27.4 percent in Indiana (ranking Indiana 46th).
For premature deaths, Indiana ranks 37th in years lost before age 75 for whites, 42nd for African-Americans and ninth for Hispanics.
Other Indiana public health rankings include 31st for adequacy of prenatal care; 32nd for occupational fatalities per 100,000; 36th for heart disease deaths; 46th for cancer deaths; 32nd for infant mortality; and 22nd for percent uninsured. The state is 44th for obesity, with almost one-fourth of Indiana's population, 24.5 percent, considered obese.
Rankings are on a scale of 1 to 50 with 50 being the worst.
Compared to caucasians, African-Americans' heart disease death rate is 1.4 times higher; cancer death, 1.4 times higher; stroke death, 1.5; diabetes, 2.6; infant mortality, 2.3; AIDS, 3.5 to 5; and homicide death rate, 13 times higher.
Data for Hispanics are incomplete, but Hispanics' diabetes death rate is 1.7 times higher than whites.
Remington said the medical malpractice "environment" across the U.S. is a hot topic. While Indiana is a better state as far as protections for medical practitioners, health care workers still are skittish.
The Kosciusko County Well Child Clinic medical director resigned, he said, because she believed the county's malpractice insurance carrier didn't cover nurse practitioners. Remington said that prompted him to make some calls to the county attorney, who told Remington they are covered.
Remington said he has been looking at the issue and believes the county is OK.
Joan Darr, board member, told Remington that along with the medical malpractice insurance, they also need to make sure they have their certification from the Indiana Patient Compensation Fund. The county health department can't depend on general liability insurance, though they do need to confirm they have the medical malpractice insurance for their physicians and nurses.
Remington said either he will have to find a replacement for the Well Child Clinic medical director or he'll have to take over those responsibilities himself.
"If I can find another pediatrician to cover that for what we pay," he said, "that would be great."
In other business, the health board:
• Heard Weaver finished the "season of grant writing." Remington said he was very appreciative of Weaver's work, especially since the time of year for writing grant applications coincides with a heavy time of the year for installation and inspection of septic systems.
• Heard from county nurse Deb Frank that about 1-1/2 months ago, the state certified the county to administer yellow fever vaccinations. While there is not a huge demand for the vaccinations, said Remington, they do last about 10 years.
As for costs for the shots, Frank said, "I just charge what it costs."
• Set the next county health board meeting for Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
Health board members are president Dr. Wymond B. Wilson, Dr. Karen Boling, Dr. Dennis Woodward, Robert Knudsen, Dr. John W. Jones, Dr. Thomas E. Howard and Joan Darr, Kosciusko Community Hospital. Boling, who has retired from the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., Remington said, will need to officially resign and be replaced. She was not present at Wednesday's meeting. [[In-content Ad]]