BOH agenda 032316 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Health Director’s Report March, 2016 • Last year the “human service departments” (Health, Social Services, Aging, Child Support and Housing) asked for and received an Informatics Analyst position as part of the budget process. Micah has been working with us for several months now on two data issues that are important to all of us: Food Access and Transportation. She is providing us with comprehensive data that will allow us to work with community partners and each other to ensure services around these two issues are delivered effectively, efficiently and in a coordinated manor. More to come about this great work. • Earlier this month, I represented the Health Department at a statewide meeting facilitated by ReThink Health. This national group has developed a modeling program that allows communities to test the economic and health effects of various interventions (such as Hospice, Nutrition Support and Hospital efficiencies). We spent several hours in our groups trying to find the sweet spot between cost savings and health improvements. It was a fun exercise that reinforced the importance of investing in preventive/population health services. The state’s AHEC is working with ReThink Health to provide a train the trainer opportunity so we can engage more communities in this great way to plan for the health of their communities. As soon as that is available, I’ll invite them to one of our Board meetings. • We conducted our mandatory full scale exercise…”operation whooping crane” last week. This exercise tested our capacity to open and operate the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the delivery of mass vaccinations for pertussis. Overall the exercise went well and we learned a lot about how to improve our process should the need arise. This was especially impressive given that the Preparedness Coordinator position is vacant. Staff really came together to help out and do the necessary to ensure the success of the exercise. • Last Friday was the annual Department Head Retreat. We really are fortunate to have so many dedicated, caring Department Heads in Orange County. • We were notified last week that our long-time Medical Director, Dr. Julie Monaco will be leaving UNC Family Medicine and thus the Health Department this summer. We will work together to strategize how to move forward and recruit her replacement. • I have my budget meeting with the Manager on Friday of this week, so will update you at the BOH meeting how that went. Based on my experience last year, however, I doubt I’ll know much about how we’ll fare. • We’ve started another walking challenge and this time we have challenged two Health Departments. I’m seeing a lot of staff taking quick walking breaks, conducting walking meetings and generally just moving more! Thanks to the BOH members who are also competing with us!