Agenda - 04-03-2002 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. 22 _ Space Study Alterations Orange County Health Department December 2001 Updated March 2002 Carr Building: Environmental Health Services The projected time schedule for resolving the environmental health services staff space compression is not adequate as addressed in the Space Study. There are currently 12 staff members that share 2,000 square feet. Two staff members were added in this current fiscal year to bring the square footage per person to 142 square feet per person with no factors included for file or equipment storage,reception, or waiting areas. There is inadequate space for staff to perform the work as it currently exists. For example,there is no room for even one drafting table for staff to use to modify or create site plans. The current supervisor of the wastewater program does not have a private office due to the original renovation of the building. A temporary solution that will bridge the gap until the new construction and re-location is accomplished is currently being worked on through the siting of already acquired modular units on the Carr Building site. Expansion and Restructure of Personal Health Clinical Services At the end of the 2000-2001 fiscal year, it came to our attention that pregnant women in the southern part of the county, especially those in the lower income brackets were not able to get an initial prenatal appointment until they were 8 to 12 weeks pregnant. Positive pregnancy outcomes are strongly related to beginning prenatal care in the first trimester. The staff quickly moved to initiate services at SHSC at the end of August 2001. From that time until mid- November, 12 pregnant women were accessing those services that were provided only one-half day per week. In January of 2002,the department integrated clinical services in both locations and changed the way services are delivered to both improve efficiency and to provide additional service opportunities for residents. The department is no longer providing services in a categorical model, i.e.,Wednesday is family planning day or Monday is prenatal day;rather, patients can access all services provided on any day of the week on an appointment basis. In January a new appointment system was instituted that increased the number of appointment slots by 40%. In just three months, all appointment slots are booked at about 85%. The increased activity at both Whiffed and Southern has highlighted the need for additional facility space immediately, especially at the Whiffed location. The strategic plan includes the need to provide primary care services at both sites within the next three years. This will improve service delivery and health outcomes for all of our residents. This will require additional staff, however there will also be increased equipment and facility needs as well, especially in the northern location (Whiffed). Of necessity these will affect the ability of personal health and dental health to share the current space. Whitted Needs/Personal Health: ✓ Additional exam rooms,with associated equipment ✓ Additional interviewing rooms ✓ A positive pressure exam room for infectious diseases ✓ A clinical workstation for physicians and other clinicians ✓ Laboratory enhancements to handle additional standard required tests ✓ Separate blood-drawing room ✓ Enlarged pharmacy with built-in workstation