The regular meeting of the Columbus Board of Health was held in the
Administration Conference Room of the Health and Human Services Center on
Wednesday, May 24, 2006, at 1:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Isaiah Hugley, City Manager
James H. Sullivan, M. D.
Mrs. Brenda Dozier
Howard Willis, M.D.
James A. Lawrence, D.D.S.
H. Banks Carroll, M. D.
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Mayor Bob Poydasheff
OTHER PRESENT:
Zsolt Koppanyi, M. D.
Bill Rumer, Attorney
Ed Saidla
Eileen Albritton
Pam Middleton
Laquita Rogers
Cheryl Johnson
Antonio Lawrence, Jail Project
Karon Bush
Dr. Sullivan called the meeting to order and asked for a motion to approve the
minutes of the last meeting. A motion was made by Dr. Carroll, seconded by Dr.
Lawrence and approved by those members present.
Dr. Sullivan requested that the Board wait until the end of the meeting to vote
on excused absences. One absence is pending.
Dr. Sullivan asked about the Old Business Action List. Mr. Saidla stated that
the Action List stands as it was at the last board meeting. There have been no
updates from Dr. Willis or on any items that are listed. Mr. Saidla reported on
the impact statements (he referred to the information sheets located behind the
Action List in the Board of Health Books). He stated that he had spoken with
Denise Kornegay. She had contracted with the Health Department several years
ago. He contacted her and in her current role as the State Director for the
AHEC Program, her consulting services were offered to complete the impact
statements previously discussed by the Board. Mr. Saidla stated that Project
One is identified as the impact of lost revenue related to the implementation
of Medicaid CMOs. She lays out a step by step plan for providing the
information to the Board at a cost of $2,975.00. Project Two is identified as
the impact statement related to the closing of the West Central Georgia
Hospital. Again, she makes a proposal detailing the research that would be
required to complete the impact statement with a cost of $3,825.00. Mr. Saidla
stated that if this was agreeable with the Board, we can move forward into a
contract with the AHEC Program and Ms. Kornegay for a total price of $6,800.00.
Dr. Sullivan called for discussion regarding these proposals. He asked if the
Columbus Council has complete control of Project Two. Mr. Hugley stated that he
could not answer that question at this time. Mr. Saidla stated that at the last
Board Meeting, Dr. Willis stated that he wanted this Board to be able to have
on record a written report or document indicating that this Board considered
the impact of both situations and informed the Public concerning the negative
impact on the community. Mr. Hugley stated the information had already been
conveyed. He wondered if the Board would be the appropriate body to convey the
information to the State via Resolution. There was a brief discussion between
Mr. Saidla, Mr. Hugley and Dr. Sullivan regarding this issue. Mr. Rumer stated
that we could check with Perry Alexander/New Horizons Community Service Board
to see if an impact statement already exists addressing the West Central
Georgia Regional Hospital closure which could be studied by the Board and used
as a basis for a recommendation to the State. Dr. Sullivan said that if this
had been done, another study would be a duplicate effort. Dr. Sullivan asked
for a motion to table this issue for additional discussion and research. Mr.
Rumer stated that he would call the Chairman of the support group for the
mentally ill, an auxiliary organization of New Horizons to send to him
information and talking points previously put together related to the closure
of West Central Georgia Regional Hospital. Mr. Hugley stated that he had
received information concerning the impact on city government specifically the
sheriff?s department concerning transportation all the way to Milledgeville or
Savannah or Thomasville. Mr. Hugley stated that he thought it would be
appropriate to table this topic at this time. Dr. Sullivan stated that Dr.
Willis? concern at the last Board meeting was related to the Board taking a
position to avoid being accused of turning our heads as some organizations had
done in the wake of the New Orleans/Katrina/levee disaster. Mr. Hugley said
that a comprehensive packet needed to be done and entered into record as a
report for City of Columbus with a list of all of the organizations expressing
concerns related to the impacts on this community.
Dr. Willis entered the meeting and Dr. Sullivan asked Mr. Saidla to summarize
the discussion for Dr. Willis. Dr. Sullivan stated that the consensus is that
the Board of Health needs to join with other entities in the community and
present one statement. Mr. Hugley said that he can have the appropriate staff
begin working on this project and include public health in the process. Mr.
Saidla stated that public health actually did not have the manpower to do all
of the work that we felt was requested last month. At the direction of the
Board, we talked with a consultant and received the price option for the data
to be prepared. Mr. Saidla stated again the cost would be $6,800 total cost
for both projects. Dr. Willis asked if there was $6,800 in the budget that can
be used and is the City willing to help us out with this expense and how will
it be funded? Mr. Saidla stated that the recommendation was to table the issue
for now. He stated there were some county non-participating funds that could be
used to cover that $6,800 if it were the direction of the Board to move
forward. Dr. Sullivan asked for a motion to table this issue. A motion was made
by Dr. Carroll, seconded by Dr. Lawrence and approved by those members present.
Dr. Sullivan asked if there was any New Business. Mr. Saidla referred to the
packet (Pro-Bodics America). The Safe Kids Program and Lead Prevention Programs
would like to purchase an animated, remotely operated, educational robot for
use in programs related to injury prevention, child safety seat usage and
safety messages to children?s groups. Funding is available from the Lead Budget
to make the purchase. The total cost is $4,845.00 and includes all of the
components shown for the educational robot. Basic warranties assure that the
robot continues to operate. General operation of the unit is very simple. This
item could serve as an attraction at health fairs and other mass events to
assist in getting our messages across. Dr. Willis asked if the purchase was
for a basic unit with interchangeable pieces for different programs. Mr. Saidla
stated that was correct. Mr. Saidla stated that the unit will enhance all of
the programs involved in population based services specifically promoting
public health issues such as immunizations, water safety, lead safety, child
safety seat use, and many others. The unit attracts the attention particularly
of children in mass educational settings. Dr. Carroll asked if anything is done
to enhance our message other than just word of mouth. Mr. Saidla stated that
word of mouth is one of the primary means of promotion since we are limited by
the State in the use of promotional items such as pens, pencils or rulers
bearing our name and the message desired. This poses a challenge at health
fairs. We need a means of attracting people to come to our display area. Ms.
Albritton stated that in the past, we have also invited other organizations
that might have robotic units to attend and support us. Due to their own cuts
in staffing, they have not had the resources to respond. She feels this would
be a great asset for public health. Mr. Saidla stated that the robot would come
with a tricycle and a bicycle type set up. Ms. Dozier asked if a special
vehicle would be needed to transport the robot. Mr. Saidla stated that the van
is available for transporting the robot. He stated that the robot is about the
size of a five or six year old child. Dr. Carroll stated that the Board should
state that this item is justified and not a ?frilly? thing or a ?toy? but
rather an item that can be used to promote the educational messages of Public
Health. Dr. Sullivan asked if there was any other discussion about this
purchase. Dr. Sullivan asked for a motion to purchase the Robot. A motion was
made by Ms. Dozier, seconded by Dr. Carroll and approved by those members
present. Mr. Saidla stated that when the robot arrives, he will be officially
introduced to the Board.
Dr. Sullivan asked Dr. Koppanyi for the Director?s Comments. Dr. Koppanyi
stated no allocation sheets have been received from Atlanta and the budgets
are being predicated on impressions with the hope that the amount appropriated
is at least as much as it was last year. He stated this was very unpleasant
because coming up next week he would began his quarterly rounds through the
District to hold fifteen board meetings related to FY 2007 budget approval.
There were excellent interfaith intersection with the community and health at
the LaGrange College and it was a joint adventure between both District 4 and
District 7. He stated there were about 154 people in attendance and the Sports
Council received an award. Ms. Johnson stated that was double the number of
people that attended last year. Dr. Koppanyi stated this meeting would be held
here in Columbus next year. He suggested that the Cunningham Center at Columbus
State would be an excellent place to hold this meeting. There were quite a few
religious community participants there and representatives from the different
churches.
Dr. Koppanyi stated that he and Eileen Usman were invited by the Community
Medicine Group at Fort Benning to participate in the planning for pandemic flu
including the requirements, ambitions, social distances and isolation
techniques applicable to the community using the recruits for activities such
as meal and grocery delivery. Dr. Larry Brightwell, a member of the local
Medical Society, now retired from private practice has volunteered to work
toward the organization of a medical reserve corp. The concentration would be
on training local private physicians, particularly former military physicians
to form a medical reserve corp that would be prepared to respond to a major
disaster. Dr. Koppanyi stated that Dr. Brightwell has an insight to the
political structure of the Medical Society and this would be helpful.
Dr. Stuart Brown informed the Health Directors in a conference call last week
that a liaison between the State Office and individual districts has been
hired. She is Dr. Janice Carson from Richmond, Virginia.
Dr. Koppanyi stated that he has been researching the status of the
implementation of statewide Food Service Regulations. The Commissioner of DHR
suspended the implementation of the new regulations just prior to the
implementation date. At this point we were told to operate under the old rules.
Dr. Sullivan called on Pam Middleton for the financial report for April, 2006.
Dr. Sullivan called on Antonio Lawrence, Jail Project for the presentation to
the Board.
Dr. Sullivan asked if there were any other business. There being none, the
meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted:
________________________________
Pam Middleton, Secretary
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