COULEE REGION PUBLIC HEALTH CONSORTIUM MEETING 

May 7, 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 9:00 a.m. and introductions were made. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion by Doug Mormann/Sharon Nelson to approve the meeting minutes of March 5, 2008.  MOTION passed unanimously.

FISCAL AGENT REPORT

Diane will forward a document outlining the obligations for a governing board member for the Consortium.  Members will seek out interested board members for nomination.  Diane will gather nominations for a vote in June.  A letter to La Crosse County requesting the release of checks was prepared and signed by Carol for the Consortium.  Brenda will be splitting her time between Preparedness (3 days) and a Health Education position (2 days) in La Crosse County.  The group will discuss how the budget savings will be reallocated at a future meeting.  Don Neitzel, Fiscal Manager for La Crosse County Health Department, astutely discovered that the indirect charge should be $17,953 not $20,000.  Members were reminded that the Funds to Other Agencies account are available for their use.  Problems with WEAVR have been discovered.  Health Officers should access WEAVR and compare their results with Billie Bayou at the State.  Contact Brenda for WEAVR directions.  Testing WEAVR periodically is advised.  WEAVR will be replaced with a new system in the future.  The group discussed WI Trac and the corresponding alerting system HAN and E-Sponder.  WI Trac will track bed availability statewide and will be used for communicating alerts.  They are working to have access to the patient tracking system through WI Trac.  Minnesota uses the same system; however the systems do not currently talk to each other.  Emergency Management and Public Health will have access to the WI Trac system.  Lieske reported on the Public Health Advisory (Leadership) Committee activities.  2009 CDC funding will be the same as 2008 at $11 million.  A summary of funding discussions include:

§      Continue support of the State Lab of Hygiene

§      Continue support of PHIN

§      Continue State DPH funding

§      Alter the formula to local public health department and tribes.  Formula will include risk factors (base funding $25,000 – 60% population, 10% poverty, 10% geographic and 20% risk factors [special populations]) 

§      Retain Consortium in 2009, agreeing that by the end of 2009 there will be 1 Consortium per region.  Consortium will need to meet the minimum funding in order to continue.

Recommendations will go to Sherry Johnson, then to Karen Timberlake and most likely to the Governor.  Letters of concurrence are needed.  Recommendations go to the Federal level in June.  The group will discuss allocations next week and Lieske will forward information when available.  Member agencies will need to discuss next step once this information is received (July agenda item).  CDC objectives should remain consistent.  CDC mandates Pan Flu objective work continues despite no funding.  Lieske reminded agencies that with CARS reporting, bills need to be submitted. 

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT UPDATE

Satellite phone have been delivered.  Thanks to Bob, phones were purchased for under $700 instead of the original price of $2,000.  Five to six phones can be hooked up.  Al is working on installation logistics and pricing.  The service plan will be paid through the Consortium budget this year; however member agencies will need to pay in the future. 

TRAINING EDUCATION REPORT

Brenda circulated information on upcoming satellite broadcasts for members to request a copy.  The Business News publication was circulated.  The Wisconsin Emergency Course on Special Populations is full.  Brenda shared information on Dispatching the Mass Casualty Incident workshop on June 19th.  The Emergency Management minutes sent on Tuesday have information regarding American Red Cross organizational changes and sheltering changes.  The exercise design committee met once and is in the process of selecting tasks from the chosen capabilities to test.  The exercise is scheduled for September 11^th at Fox Hollow.  It is planned to have each individual jurisdiction seated together.  A discussion of the 2008 DOH and the 3-year CDC objectives occurred.  Members are encouraged to utilize the tool kit for documenting the objectives.  Discussion regarding filling the 16 ICS positions with individuals from outside disciplines was discussed along with the need for training.  Members were encouraged to use the revised Form Q to document completion of objectives 2, 3 and 4.  Tests will be conducted if real events are not recorded.  Form L was also revised.  The interpretation of the objective was clarified so that 8 ICS positions need to be reached to report to the department operating center (DOC).  The time to get to the DOC for each of those reached also needs to be recorded.  Diane will forward the revised forms.  The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) objectives were reviewed.  A chart delineating the ICS positions and the corresponding SNS positions was shared.  A reminder document was provided to members that the Technical Assistance Review, mass clinic facility plan, security plan, and Mass Prophylaxis Functional Leads are due to Diane on July 1^st to be forwarded to Joe Cordova at the State.  A security assessment and sample security plan were shared with members.  These forms should be reviewed with law enforcement to assess each POD site and complete a security plan for that site.  Some agencies in the State have paid for law enforcement time to prepare the security plan.

EPIDEMIOLOGIST REPORT

Derek reported that the Monroe County Pan Flu exercise went well.  The introduction to anti-viral distribution was included.  Buffalo County Pan Flu exercise is scheduled for May 8^th, Trempealeau County on June 10^th, and Jackson County/Ho-Chunk on June 26^th.  Members were encouraged to write a HSEEP after action report on the Pan Flu exercise to complete the CDC Objective #13.  The two Avian Flu conferences were well attended and feedback was positive.  Derek presented information with Jen on Salmonella and pot pies at the WEHA Conference.  The next Communicable Disease Coalition meeting is scheduled for May 19^th from 3-4.  Distance learning is available.  WEDSS (Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System) continues to roll out slowly.  Outreach should continue while waiting for WEDSS to be rolled out in our area. 

WI HOSPITAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM REPORT

Bob reviewed two changes to the Hazardous Vulnerability Assessment for our region.  Explosives went from a 2 to a 3 rating.  Fuel shortage went from a rating of 1 to a 2.  Motion by Doug Mormann/Jen Rombalski to note that the Hazardous Vulnerability Assessment was reviewed by the Coulee Region Public Health Consortium members and Emergency Managers.  MOTION passed unanimously.  The HVA needs to be reviewed bi-annually.  Bob reported that work continues on increasing negative air pressure capabilities.  Every hospital in Wisconsin should have at least one ventilator.  WTC provides on-line training for respiratory therapists on the three vents and will be adding training for disciplines other than respiratory therapists.  A monthly meeting will occur between two representatives from Consortium Coordinators and two representatives from the Hospital Coordinators to discuss cross-cutting issues.  The information will be shared at their respective statewide coordinator’s meetings.  A Chem Pack expert panel is meeting.  Palliative care template is under review.  The Ethics panel will be releasing their final document soon.  The patient tracking system is out for bid.  A bar-coded gray wrist band with peel off corresponding pieces is being pilot tested in the Milwaukee area.  EMS would like to use daily so that personnel are familiar with their use.

ROUNDTABLE

Lieske advised that the Communicable Disease Seminar is scheduled in Eau Claire on May 13^th.  Chemical Hazard 2 training is scheduled in Eau Claire on June 17^th.  Those interested can participate in the second training without attending the first.  Lieske urged members to connect with their Managed Care Organization regarding Pan Flu objectives.  Chris Hovell reported that Jackson County is officially an agent for environmental health as of last week.  Sharon reported that two staff members retired in the past month.  Keith reported the roll out of medical dispatching and will update the group in the future.  He also discussed clarifying relationships with regards to sheltering, which is in a state of flux.  John reported that the Special Needs Registry was rolled out but has had no activity.  Outreach activity will be occurring.  Jackson County also experienced minor flooding.  Steve reported working on the Tri-County Pan Flu exercise.  Dan is working to re-establish relationships within the county.  A new public health nurse is scheduled to start on June 11^th.  Jen is pleased to report that she has a masters in community health and will live in Alma.  Steve will be deployed to Iraq for one year.  Buffalo County is looking a hiring a limited time employee to fill in during Steve’s absence. 

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Chris Hovell/Sharon Nelson to adjourn.  MOTION passed unanimously.  Next meeting date is June 4, 2008.

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

Diane Panzer, Recorder