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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 2004 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 2 September 23, 2004 V. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action A. Resolution Promoting Health Department Accreditation in North Carolina The NC Association of Local Health Directors (NCALHD) has been studying the matter of accreditation of local health departments for more than six years. In 2003, the Association and the State Health Director appointed a committee to make recommendations in this regard. In 2004 the Secretary of DHHS appointed a Public Health Task Force to study public health in North Carolina and to devise an action plan to strengthen public health infrastructure, improve health outcomes, and eliminate health disparities. Part of that task force report has been reviewed by the Board of Health calls for an accreditation process for local health departments. That report also calls for funding for the counties engaging in the accreditation process. In the spring of 2004 six local health departments undertook a pilot accreditation process and were successfully accredited. The criteria and process are being revised and will be “re-piloted” with four additional counties this fall. The NCALHD believe that the majority of counties will be able to meet the standards proposed and furthermore that these standards that measure capacity to deliver services will help each local entity assure that the public’s health is safeguarded by providing a minimum level of public health services across the state. The two pilots should provide some indication of resources that may be needed to bring services up to standard. Motion to approve the resolution and forward it to the Board of Commissioners for adoption consideration and to forward the approved resolution to the NC Association of Local Health Directors for transmission to the Association of Boards of County Commissioners was made by Kate Wilder, seconded by Jessica Lee, and carried without dissent. B. Joint Meetings with Planning Board and Commission for Environment During the spring, the Board discussed improving its liaison and collaboration activities with other boards that may have mutual interests. Members of the Orange County Planning Board and the Commission for the Environment have indicated that they believe this may be of interest to their boards as well. This discussion is intended to formulate a few topics that could be proposed for a joint agenda. Board members would then be able to prepare for those discussions around a particular topic. Acquisition of this past year’s agendas for the Planning Board and the Commission for the Environment will undertaken to find topics of mutual interest. This topic was referred to both committees for further development. C. Changes Proposed by Board of Nursing for BSN Nurse Preparation In North Carolina there are different preparatory programs for nurses: a two year associate degree in nursing; a three year diploma nursing program; and a four year bachelor of science (BSN) nursing program. Only the BSN program contained a curriculum requirement in public