IAPHP&LHDO, Inc.

Indiana SACCHO Newsletter

January 2012

     Several new health officers have joined us since our last newsletter:  We welcome them, and give thanks and appreciation to those who served before them.  We recently had the opportunity to share an item with our local health departments concerning  Medicaid reimbursement for lead investigations, and were pleased with your responses in answer to our questions regarding that problem.  \

     Our SACCHO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NACCHO, with one of the goals being an increase in both our Indiana SACCHO (IAPHP&LHDO, Inc.) as well as NACCHO.  Information regarding memberships has been sent to all local health officers and health departments. 

     Congratulations to John F. Miller, M.D., Health Officer, Henry County, for receiving the prestigious Tony and Mary Hulman Health Achievement Award in Preventive Medicine and Public Health for organizing the Wellness Council of Henry County.

     Watch for a new section on our website featuring special projects and/or activities from Indiana's local health departments. 

June 2011

SACCHO Business Meeting and Educational Seminar

Immunizations

SACCHO members from 16 counties met on June 15, 2011.  Health officers and health department staff were most concerned about immunizations for children.  Many children have been referred to local health departments for immunizations by private practice physicians, many of whom no longer offer immunizations.  A new ruling goes into effect on July 1, 2011, prohibiting local health departments from immunizing without charge those children who are covered under insurance.  High deductibles or being underinsured may present a problem for many parents regarding immunizations for their children.  SACCHO members feel that immunizations for children 18 and under should be a priority in the United States, and in one or more states, all children are immunized without charge to the parents. The group plans to pursue options that will assure that Indiana children under 18 are protected. Immunizations are high on the list of procedures that reduce health care costs, reduce absences from school, and prevent outbreaks of diseases, which in the past, have led to high rates of disease and in some cases, death.

Educational Seminar Topics

The Indiana Public Health Foundation, Inc., an ISMA accredited CME provider, presented a well-rounded program covering a variety of topics. 

David McCormick, Director of the Indiana Lead and Health Homes Program at the Indiana State Department of Health, spoke about the seven principles for healthy homes.   His well-presented information can be found here:  6152011_health_officer_meeting.ppt  

Amie May, Enteric Epidemiologist at ISDH, provided information about various factors that can contribute to enteric disease illnesses in the summer, including water recreation, cookouts, pets, floods, parasites, and more.  You can contact Amy at amay@isdh.in.gov. Read her presentation here: LHO_meeting_6-15-2011.pdf

Tilara Treece, emergency preparedness coordinator from Tippecanoe County Health Department, discussed the roles of health departments and health officers in emergency preparedness and response.  Tilara also served on the ISDH Emergency Preparedness grant advisory committee and shared information about that work as well.  She may be reached at ttreece@tippecanoe.in.gov

Karla Sneegas, executive director of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation agency, which officially becomes an ISDH Commission on July 1, emphasized the tobacco quit line, and how the work of tobacco control in Indiana will go forward under the ISDH.  Mrs. Sneegas will become Assistant Commissioner over the Tobacco Control Commission on July 1.  ksneegas@itpc.in.gov

Brian Carnes, director of legislative affairs at ISDH, discussed the Indiana Death Registry System, noting that on average 300 electronic death records are submitted daily.  He encouraged participants to contact Erin Kellam, State Registrar, ekellam@isdh.in.gov if they have questions or suggestions for improving the system.  Some improvements have already been initiated, such as having more staff to answer questions. 

Accreditation

Participants at the educational seminars provided by the IPHF, Inc. will receive certificates indicating the type of credit they receive for their attendance.  Physicians will receive a CME certificate, an American Academy of Family Physicians certificate, if applicable, and staff will receive a Certificate of Completion of Six hours of Professional Education.  Certificates list the title of the educational event, date, place, and courses presented, and credit hours. These certificates are applicable documentation as part of meeting  the accreditation standard of a trained workforce.

January  2011

    Welcome and Thanks!

 The past year or two and the start of 2011 have welcomed new health officers to many local health departments in Indiana.  Welcome aboard to  Daniel Nafziger, M.D. - Elkhart; Andrew Morton, M.D. - Harrison; Brian Niedbalski, M.D. - Bartholomew; Stephen Wright, M.D. - Madison; Paul Broderick, M.D. - Morgan; Diane Wells, M.D. - Owen; Kyle Rapp, M.D. - Posey; Thomas Felger, M.D. - St. Joseph; Theresa Alexander, M.D. - Starke; Kevin Condict, M.D. - Tipton; Ricky Yeager, M.D. - Warrick; Jeffrey Morgan, M.D. - Washington; K. F. Johnson, M.D. - Wells.

     We acknowledge with appreciation the years of service of previous health officers:  Aixsa Perez, M.D. - Elkhart; Walter DeArmitt, M.D. - Bartholomew; John Reynolds, M.D. - Morgan; Adam Spaetti, M.D. - Owen; Roland Chamblee, M.D. - St. Joseph; Walter Fritz, M.D. - Starke; Noel Martin, M.D. - Warrick; Brian Zurcher, M.D. - Adams, S. Rhim Farid, M.D. - Clay; Jeremy Wilson, M.D., - Wells; Diana Andrews, M.D. - Tipton; Rashidual Islam, M.D. - Harrison, H. Shirmer Riley, M.D. - Jefferson; Hirman Hirsch, M.D. - Posey; Robert Rang, M.D. - Daviess.   

     The most recent retiree, S. Rhim Farid, M.D., served Clay County for over 35 years.  Gary Babcoke, M.D., Porter County Health Officer for 33 years,  plans to retire in June.    Read more about Dr. Babcoke in this article from The Chesterton Tribune  at this link:

http://chestertontribune.com/PorterCounty/17111%20longtime_porter_county_health_of.htm


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Monroe County Health Department Bedbug Incidence Survey

As reported in an article by Dann Denny, in the Bloomington, Indiana Herald Times on January 18, 2011, the Monroe County Health Department has provided citizens with access to a survey to report bedbug infestations.  The survey asks only for the zip code of the person entering the information.  This will allow the health department to identify areas of the county that are more infested than others.  The health department is not required to gather information regarding bedbugs because the Center for Disease Control asks that they collect data only about those insects which carry disease such as ticks and mosquitoes.  However, Penny Caudill, Monroe County Health Department administrator, states that the local health department is able to provide information packets about bedbugs through its office and on its website.  Interested Monroe County citizens may access the survey at www.co.monroe.in.us/tsd/Community/HealthDepartment/EnvironmentalProtection/BedBugs.aspx

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Indiana Lacks Access to Trauma Centers

At a meeting of the Indiana Rural Health Association, Gregory Larkin, M.D., Indiana State Health Commissioner, told the group that Indiana's lack of trauma centers make it difficult to respond to an emergency such as the Arizona shooting in which U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords along with numerous others was shot, including ten with fatal injuries.  Certified Trauma Centers are located in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Evansville.  In Northwestern Indiana's heavily populated areas severe trauma patients have to go to South Bend or Chicago, which may or may not accept the patients.  Many areas of the state, particularly along its border with Illinois, from near Kentucky to Kentland, are more than an hour away from a certified trauma center.  Dr. Larkin noted that the first hour for severely injured patients is considered extremely important in terms of medical attention. Cincinnati and Louisville also have trauma centers, but out-of-state centers are not required to accept Indiana patients.   (Information for this excerpt taken from an Associated Press article published in The Herald Times, January 19, 2011, Bloomington, Indiana.

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IDRS

The electronic Indiana Death Registry System went into full effect on January 1 this year.  Not all has gone as smoothly as was hoped.  In one instance a funeral and funeral mass had to be postponed for over a week because the deceased was to be cremated.  Cremations cannot occur without all the documents completed because there is no opportunity for a body to be exhumed after cremation.  Burials can take place without the death certificate.  Erin Kellam of the Indiana State Department of Health noted that about 5000 doctors of the state's 25,000 have registered for the pin number, allowing them to access the electronic death registry system.  Physicians have had over a year to register.  She said that in the past it could take as much as 21 days for a family to receive a death certificate.  The new system should allow death certificates to be issued within a week.  (Excerpt from an Associated Press article published in the Herald Times, January 18, 2011,  Bloomington, Indiana.

(News from your health department is always appreciated.  Please email to ptodd614@comcast.net)