COULEE REGION PUBLIC HEALTH CONSORTIUM MEETING

January 2, 2008

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 9:04 a.m. and introductions were made. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion by Doug Mormann/Sharon Nelson to approve the meeting minutes of November 7, 2007.  MOTION passed unanimously.

TRAINING EDUCATION REPORT

John MacDonald of La Crosse County Information Technology Department presented information on the differences between Blackberries, PDA’s and Laptop/Tablets.  Blackberries have phone, text, e-mail and internet capabilities.  Blackberry devices run approximately $100-$300 plus a monthly services contract of $20 - $50/month plus cell phone charges.  A PDA has to sync with a personal computer to down load information.  Some PDA’s may have phone capabilities depending on software.  A PDA device runs $75 - $400.  Most expensive option is laptop or tablets.  Tough Books run approximately $3,000 and can tolerate extremes in temperature.  There would be a $30-$60 monthly service charge.  Brenda forwarded a NIMS training compliance status report to each agency.  The group decided to renew the Communication Briefing subscription.  Agencies that did not receive the Emergency Response Planning for Childcare Providers binder received one.  The group agreed to reschedule the SNS/Mass Clinic exercise from April to September.  Brenda will follow-up with some dates.  Diane and Brenda will be re-assessing the clinic sites before the exercise.  Brenda reminded the group that they need to complete a Pan Flu exercise by July 31^st.  She will e-mail some options for the agencies to consider.  The members will decide which option they prefer by March 1^st.  Emergency Management objectives include a public health campaign and participate in a multi-county exercise.  Emergency Managers are encouraged to work with their public health partners on the public health education campaign.  Each agency received a 2008 Objective booklet that includes 2008 preparedness objectives, CDC (Centers for Disease Control) 3 year work plan, SNS (Strategic National Stockpile) 3 year work plan, Pan Flu 3 year work plan, Pan Flu III objectives along with a few tracking tools.  A Department of Homeland Security document was shared that outlines NIMS (National Incident Management System) five year training plan. 

BUDGET

Al presented the 2008 Consortium budget.  In the personnel category the secretary position was eliminated, a preparedness specialist was added at 37.5 hours per week, the coordinator position was reduced to 8 hours per week, the epidemiologist position was reduced to 29.5 hours per week and the educator/trainer position remains at 37.5 hours per week.  The indirect amount may change.  All communication equipment has been purchased except for satellite phones.  Funds will need to be expended; there will be no carry forward at the end of 2008.

FISCAL AGENT REPORT

There has not been a fiscal agent meeting recently.  Lieske reported that Diane Christen has started as the Wisconsin Preparedness Program Director.  Formerly she worked in the Office of Operations and had retired.  The CDC site visit was positive.  SNS continues to be problematic.  Direct review of POD (point of dispensing) sites by the State will need to occur.  Sara Strell is also on board and will be attending a future Consortium meeting.  The State is responding to the Trust for America’s Health report disputing some facts.  Discussion regarding volunteers ensued.  The hospitals have a list of retired personnel and are working on protocol for spontaneous volunteers.  Lois discussed the difficulties in keeping volunteers interested and engaged.  She suggested breaking positions into skilled and unskilled categories in order to recruit the needed volunteers.  Training and a method to keep them involved needs to be developed.  Heather shared that Minnesota has a program called “Minnesota Responds”, which is a registry database for recruitment of volunteers.  The program can also be used for “auto call”.  A document providing some ideas and guidance on expending funds was shared.  Al is seeking suggestions for a “calendar/plan for purchasing” to alleviate a flurry of last minute research and paperwork.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE MEASURES

Al reviewed the required performance objective measure draft document.  The Consortium Coordinators will make the decision to implement with the Leadership Group’s support.  The first required performance measure is to identify 8 primary and 8 secondary staff to fill core ICS roles for public health.  This will require NIMS training and maintaining contact information.  The State is preparing a database to collect information for this measure and all the other required measures for 2008.  The second measure is response 24/7 to a call about an event that may be of urgent public health consequence.  This is an after hours test.  The third measure is the time to initiate an epidemiologic investigation of an event that may be of urgent public health consequence.  This can be a real event or a drill that will occur during working hours.  The importance of establishing best practices and recording vital information/time was stressed.  The fourth measure involves contacting state staff following receipt of a call about an event that may be of urgent public health consequence.  The state staff can be regional or central office and will be tested during working hours.  The fifth measure is time to notify all primary staff with ICS (Incident Command System) functional responsibilities that the public health agency’s EOC (Emergency Operations Center) has been activated.  Consortium staff believes that the terminology is incorrect and should be Department Operations Center.  The last required performance measure is time for local/tribal health department to complete an after action report with corrective action plans.  The AAR (After Action Report) must follow HSEEP guidelines.  Lois was asked to run up the chain of command the observation that HSEEP does not lend itself to real events; more oriented to exercises.  The group would like to see some type of revised form for real events.  Brenda is meeting with Tom Grahek on January 24^th for additional HSEEP training. 

EPIDEMIOLOGIST REPORT

Al presented the epidemiologist report.  Derek now has trend data available to members upon request.  The quarterly report will be completed soon.  Derek is available to assist with the Pan Flu objectives.  Brochures were provided on MRSA.  The brochure was designed by a grad student and electronic versions can be obtained by contacting Derek.

WI HOSPITAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM REPORT

Bob reported that WiTrac continues to move forward and a bed count exercise will be occurring.  Meetings are being scheduled with the hospitals, Ft. McCoy and public health to work on protocol.  The hospitals have three Pan Flu objectives – palliative care issues, exploring EMS and 1^st Responders needs and just in time training.  Radiation emergency protocols will be completed soon.  They received 2+ responses to the request for proposal for medical surge supplies.  The Disaster Ethics document is out for hospital comment.  Once the document has been finalized, education will be offered to hospitals, public health and general public.  Bob reported the patient tracking project should be ready by the end of the 1^st quarter in 2008.  Fatality management is being researched along with distribution of countermeasures.  Expert panels are being for on nutrition, behavioral health and mass palliative care.  Funds may become available for evacuation equipment.  Funding is available to hospital for purchase of medical PAPR.  Recruitment is underway for a HSEEP Coordinator for the hospitals.  Joe Immermann has accepted the position as southeast Minnesota Hospital Coordinator.  The Hazard Vulnerability Assessment needs to be reviewed.  It was decided that Bob would forward the tool in February and it will be discussed at the March Consortium meeting.  Bob will update the group on mass fatality planning. 

ROUNDTABLE

Chris reported she is recruiting an Environmental Health Sanitarian.  Lieske was requested to look into what protocol/mechanism is used to alert public health when an inmate is released with a communicable disease that needs follow-up (Tb).  Nicole reported the Trempealeau County Health Officer position is being re-advertised.   The position will not require a master’s degree.  They are also working on submitting a prevention grant application for chronic illness.  Lieske reported the Leadership Group is meeting in February and members should contact her with any issues that need to be addressed.  The updated version of the public health emergency plan should be available soon.  Members should have received an Avian Influenza update from Tom Haupt.  During December a train-the-trainer course on Avian Influenza was held.  A team is trained in our region.  Derek participated in the training.  Lieske also reported that Jim Malone has posted several disease specific information and talking points on the HAN (Health Alert Network).  Diane has downloaded into the Playbook.  The Playbook will be made available on CD soon.  The State is conducting ICS100 training on February 21^st.  Discussions are occurring between the State and tribes regarding performance measures and Pan Flu.  The discussion will help define how the objectives relate to the tribes.  Sharon reported Monroe County may be building a new jail.  The personnel director position may also be eliminated in 2008.  Sharon is working with her staff reviewing 2007 objectives and setting goals for 2008.  They recently received a car seat grant.  They are also submitting a grant application to work with mid-wives within the Amish community to reduce birth defects.  Dick reported there has been no flu cases reported through Franciscan Skemp this season.  Cindy reported that Red Dragon planning is occurring.  A tabletop is scheduled on February 7, 8:30 – 11:30 in the County Board Room.  May 22 functional exercise with EOC activation will occur.  The full scale exercise is August 9^th.  The exercise involves a radiological device scenario.  Cindy will work with Sharon on a brochure for public health and emergency management.  Nick has been meeting with the State regarding issues with objectives and annexes for the tribes.  He has five ICS classes scheduled, non in our region.  Jen reported they may be recruiting a Sanitarian position.  Jen, Steve and one of her nurses will be attending an exercise design course.  Marilyn reported Gundersen-Lutheran still has flu vaccine available.  Doug reported Laura has been out on leave.  He is continuing to work on business continuity planning.  Diane provided each member agency a CD containing their agency’s documentation for 2007.  She also provided a 2007 report to each agency and Lieske. 

ADJOURNMENT

Next meeting date is February 6, 2008.  Motion by Sharon Nelson/Doug Mormann to adjourn.  MOTION passed unanimously.

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

Diane Panzer, Recorder