COULEE REGION PUBLIC HEALTH CONSORTIUM MEETING

January 3, 2007

La Crosse County HHS Bldg, 300 4^th St N., La Crosse WI 54601

9:00 A.M.

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 9:08 a.m. and introductions were made. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion by Carol Rollins/Doug Mormann to approve the meeting minutes of December 6, 2006.  MOTION passed unanimously.

EPIDEMIOLOGIST REPORT

Derek reported that the Wisconsin Electronic Data Surveillance System (WEDSS) will finish alpha testing on Sunday and start beta testing on Monday.  Derek’s Corner will be sent electronically next week.  Derek presented information on Chlamydia and Diabetes as part of the 2006 objectives.  Derek provided a handout of the complete report on Chlamydia and Diabetes and provided a copy of the PowerPoint presentation for those present. 

FISCAL AGENT REPORT

Doug reported that the Public Health Council on Emergency Preparedness is working on recommendations for State priorities for emergency preparedness.  The issues are broad.  These recommendations will go to the Governor.  Bob reported on the Special Committee on Disaster Preparedness Planning.  The first three months have been spent listening to presentations.  They are tasked to make recommendations.  Some of the potential recommendations include guarantee job security for people who are unable to work because they are quarantined, allow nurses to issue death certificates on the order of the local health officer if physicians are too busy dealing with a declared emergency, allow persons to obtain emergency drugs and supplies for the family members from mass clinic pharmacies during a declared emergency, etc.

eLECTIONS

Motion by Doug Mormann/Carol Rollins to nominate and elect Ellen Moldenhauer for Consortium Chair and Sharon Nelson as Consortium Vice-Chair for 2007.  MOTION passed unanimously.  Doug provided a brief description of the two candidates for the Governing Board member of the Consortium and a paper ballot was distributed.  Dr. James Glasser was elected as the Governing Board member.

HRSA REPORT

Bob reminded members that the interim pharmaceutical stockpile worksheet needs to be completed and forwarded to Bob by February 28^th.  The calculation should be based on 2.5 persons per household.  Public Health and Hospitals should be discussing who is covering whom.  Phase III communications is the last round for communication equipment and is out now.  Most hospitals are meeting the four levels of redundancy.  All hospitals are expected to complete and exercise surge plans.  A template for a tabletop exercise will be provided.  The minimum levels of readiness indicators study has been wrapped up.  Security is the biggest obstacle.  It is anticipated that HRSA preparedness funding will continue thru 2011.

BUDGET

The 2006 budget summary was reviewed.  La Crosse County Finance will close books in March.  The final carry forward amount will be announced at the April Consortium meeting.  Al shared the 2007 budget which was revised to reflect the reduction in the coordinator position hours.  Communication equipment will be purchased with the carry forward funds.

EDUCATION REPORT

The 2006 objective checklist was briefly reviewed.  Additional resources placed with local public health departments and advanced core trainings documentation is available upon request from Diane.  Regarding the responses to the Consortium Assessment, Brenda reminded members that if there is no documentation, then it never happened.  Diane will provide a book to capture documentation for the next three years to each member agency.  A copy of documentation should be forwarded to Diane.  Brenda sees the need to revisit past accomplishments and determine if additional work needs to be done.  Copies of Build-A-Kit were distributed to those that requested them.  The upcoming CERT training brochure was distributed.  The next session starts February 15^th.  Brenda shared a Guide to Public Disaster in an Emergency.  These guides can be reproduced if any member agents are interested in distributing them in their county.  John Elliott e-mailed Brenda a copy of the U.S. Fire Administration Pandemic Influenza Planning and Preparation Best Practices Model.  Some planning details include interaction with public health.  A copy of Business News was circulated.  A video “Solving People Problems” is available to checkout.

2007 Workplan

A document was provided to each agency member with the twenty 2006 assessment items which need to be prioritized.  Diane will e-mail a copy for members to prioritize and send back within the next week.  This will assist in formulating a plan for work in 2007, 2008, 2009.  Systemic plans need to be developed for many of the objectives to ensure work accomplished is followed thru in the future.  Clarification is needed on what the State expects for documentation.

RTAC

Greg provided information on a Trauma Outcome & Performance Improvement Course being offered on February 9^th in Madison and encouraged members to register.  PEP training has been scheduled.  The class is free and time is reimbursed.  The goal is to have two people from each transport agency trained.  The next SWRTAC meeting is February 15^th, 10:00 a.m. at Gundersen Lutheran.  Greg discussed the need to continue Triage Tuesday to utilize the triage tagging system.  An education session after an upcoming Consortium meeting may include this as a topic.  Nick expressed interest in having training for the Ho-Chunk 1^st responders.

ROUNDTABLE

Carol reported that she is meeting with a group to expand upon or Pandemic Influenza plan.  She also reported the IPS list will be a priority.  Sharon reported that Norovirus has hit some long care facilities in Monroe County.  She is also short staffed.  Lieske reported on Influenza A outbreak in Pierce County which closed schools.  The outbreak was identified thru school surveillance.  She also reported the State may run some exercise in the coming year involving threshold for school closings.  The State is also working to purchase additional anti-viral and welcomes any creative fundraising ideas.  WPHA will host a conference in Appleton this year focusing on Preparedness.  This will replace the Statewide Conference.  It is anticipated that the following year WHPA will team up with NACCHO to sponsor the conference.  Lieske asked if members have been receiving the minutes from the Public Health Leadership Group.  Members have not been consistently receiving.  It was suggested the minutes could be posted on the HAN.  Lieske will forward minutes to members to pass along to others.  Lieske encouraged members to contact members of the group for input to the process and stressed the group does not have a set agenda.  The recommendations were due to the Secretary by March.  It is not known what the new Secretary of State will require.  A 10% decrease in funding is expected in 2008.  Jen was pleased to have Steve Schiffli back on the job after two years in Iraq.  Jen is planning a mass clinic exercise on April 26^th.  She is also working towards level 2 Health Department certification.  Steve will work on restructuring his office this year and appreciates Consortium assistance.  Brenda shared there is an ICS 400 course scheduled at Volk Field in April.  Members were asked if they would be interested in scheduling a separate session this year for our agencies.  It was decided not to schedule this year.  Brenda also asked if members wanted to schedule a HAM radio training later this year.  Members felt that this year we will be receiving the equipment and perhaps next year training could occur.  Members need to let Brenda know if they are interested in hosting a Business 101 course in their territory.  Nick announced that Nitin and Carol Wright will most likely not be attending meetings.  GLITC has lost funding. 

ADJOURNMENT

Next meeting date is February 7, 2007.  Motion by Sharon Nelson/Carol Rollins for adjournment.  MOTION passed unanimously.  Meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

The above minutes may be approved, amended, or corrected at the next Committee meeting.

Diane Panzer, Recorder