Agenda - 03-06-2008-4e - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 6, 2008 Action Agenda Item No. ~' " e. SUBJECT: Agreement with Trans-Verse Inc. for Public Health Emergency Preparedness Activities DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Agreement Rosemary Summers, 245-2411 PURPOSE: To consider approving an agreement with Trans-Verse, Inc. for public health .emergency preparedness activities. BACKGROUND: The Health Department is charged by the North Carolina Division of Public Health with a number of deliverables in the area of Public Health Emergency Preparedness. The Health Department staff member responsible for these activities was transferred to. a new position in the summer of 2007. The Department has been unsuccessful to date in recruiting a replacement nurse. However, the deliverables remain a requirement of the agreement addenda with the State of North Carolina and also an accreditation requirement. While some deliverables have been met, there are a number of outstanding items that require attention before the end of the fiscal year. These deliverables include a significant revision of the Orange County Strategic National Stockpile Plan (SNS), appropriate training for the new plan requirements; and training and respiratory fit-testing of Health Department staff to ensure that proper protective equipment is utilized during a public health event requiring staff response. _ _ _ The SNS Plan is an appendix to the Orange County Public Health Emergency Operations Plan that is reviewed by the State of North Carolina and approved by the Health Director. It is developed in conjunction with relevant partners such as both school systems, Emergency Services, law enforcement partners, UNC Hospital, Public Works, and others. When the plan is fully revised, each partner agency will sign that it has received a copy of the plan and agrees to its role in the plan. Staff has identified a consultant with local and state experience that can accomplish these agreement deliverables for the Health Department. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The NC Division of Public Health provides funding to partially support the public health emergency preparedness function. The annual allocation of funds for this purpose for 2007-2008 was $55,213. A portion of these state funds will be utilized to fund this agreement in the amount of $13,050. The funds available in the Health Department budget since the position responsible for these duties is currently vacant. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board .approve the agreement and authorize the Chair to sign.