Orange County NC Website
MINUTES-Draft <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH RETREAT <br /> March 2, 2024 <br /> Because of space restrictions in the Mobile Dental Unit, only about 3-4 individuals were able to tour <br /> the space at a time. This allowed time for retreat participants who were not actively touring the unit <br /> to socialize, stretch their legs, or to have some breakfast. <br /> Some questions answered about the Mobile Dental Unit included: <br /> • How many patients could be seen per day—Three staff members staff the unit during <br /> shifts, and there are two operating theaters. Dr. George said that about seven patients can <br /> be seen in each theater per day, for a maximum of fourteen patients who can be served by <br /> the mobile unit per day. <br /> • How fees are handled — Ms. Shumaker shared that, prior to the appointment, a staff <br /> member guides patients through the fee schedule over the phone and explains resources <br /> to defray costs when needed. The mobile unit itself does not display the costs for services <br /> and only accepts payment by card. <br /> • How long are wait times—Ms. Shumaker said that the wait time for an appointment at the <br /> mobile dental unit are currently around one month, which is shorter than wait times for an <br /> appointment at the Whitted dental clinic. <br /> Adjudication Training <br /> The adjudication training was hosted by Morgan Pierce, County Attorney, and four staff <br /> members from Environmental Health Services: Daniel Tani, Environmental Health Specialist; <br /> Alexandria Rimmer, Environmental Health Supervisor; Thomas Privott, Environmental Health <br /> Supervisor; and Victoria Hudson, Environmental Health Director. To help make the content <br /> more relatable, the presentation was structured around considering the adjudication process as <br /> a metaphorical game of Monopoly. <br /> Some highlights from the presentation are below: <br /> • Adjudication is the process of an aggrieved party, which is someone who may have <br /> suffered monetary or property damages (henceforth called the appellant), appealing a <br /> decision that they didn't agree with, typically a decision by the Environmental Health <br /> Services Department staff. <br /> • The Board of Health (BOH) is responsible for enforcing three sets of local rules: the <br /> Orange County Groundwater Protection/Well rules, the Orange County Rules for Onsite <br /> Wastewater Treatment and Dispersal/Septic rules, and the Orange County Rules for <br /> Smoke-Free Places. <br /> • In response to Dr. Pickett's question about the expected level of preparation for the <br /> average appellant, Mr. Privott explained that in a recent near-miss the appellant had <br /> already retained an attorney before they were able to come to an agreement. He went <br /> on to say that while adjudication is infrequent and thus the preparation of appellants may <br /> be a spectrum, he would recommend anticipating appellants being quite prepared as it is <br /> a big deal when a complaint goes to adjudication. <br /> • Commissioner Fowler asked if adjudication is a quasi-judicial process, to which Mr. <br /> Privott replied yes. Ms. Pierce then explained that it is a court case, in which the <br /> appellant and health department staff present evidence and witnesses, held before a <br /> board rather than a judge with slightly different rules but a similar judicial process. <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\B0H\Agendas&Abstracts\2024 Agenda and Abstracts/BOH Retreat <br /> Page 4 <br />