Lake County Board of Health Met April 28

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Aug 23, 2021

Lake County Board of Health Met April 28.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Present 11 - Member Cesnovar, Member-at-Large Maine, President Sashko, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member-at-Large Hagstrom D.D.S., Vice President Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Secretary DeVaux, Member Johnson Jones Ed.D. and Member Simpson

Absent 1 - Member Schultz

1. Call to Order

President Sashko called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

This matter was presented

3. Approval of Minutes

3.1 March 24, 2021 Meeting Minutes

Member Simpson joined the meeting at 6:15 p.m., shortly after the approval of the minutes.

A motion was made by Member DeVaux, seconded by Member Maine, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Aye: 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member-at-Large Maine, President Sashko, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member-at-Large Hagstrom D.D.S., Vice President Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Secretary DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

Not Present: 1 - Member Simpson

4. Public Comment to the Board

None

5. Awards, Recognitions, Appointments and Reappointments

None

6. Presentations

None

7. President’s Report

President Sashko reported on the following:

• In a press release issued by Congressman Brad Schneider, he announced that he would be watching President Biden's Address to the Joint Session of Congress virtually with Lake County Health Department Executive Director Mark Pfister. Traditionally, each Congressman brings one guest in-person to watch the State of the Union and Presidential Addresses to Joint Sessions of Congress; however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, President Biden’s Address will be delivered virtually tonight. Congressman Schneider and Mark Pfister hosted a Facebook Live discussion previewing the Address and updating the community on our fight against COVID-19 just prior to this Board of Health regular meeting. Congressman Schneider's and Executive Director Pfister's comments: “I expect President Biden’s first Address to Congress to be focused on how we can build America back better after the difficult year we have all experienced. Importantly, I hope that the President focuses on the success of the American Rescue Plan and the work it has done to put shots in arms and money in pockets, putting Americans back to work while saving lives. I’m proud that as part of the address, I can spotlight Mark Pfister for the incredible work he and his team have done navigating our community through this pandemic. It is thanks to him and all our public health professionals that our communities are safer. While we still have a long way to go, I know that Lake and Cook Counties are in good hands,” said Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10). “Lake County Health has transformed in the last year to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, we and our partners have administered over 450,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine thanks to the support of federal funding and leadership. This has been and will continue to be a whole community effort to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. I hope that President Biden will give a clear vision Wednesday for how America will safely move beyond this virus,” said Mark Pfister executive director of the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. President Sashko congratulated Mark on behalf of the entire Board for a job well done.

• Jefferson McMillan-Wilhoit, Director of Health Informatics and Technology, made the cover of StateTech magazine, a publication that features technology solutions that drive government. He was featured in an article titled, "Fielding the Home Team," about how collaboration suites connect vital health agencies working remotely in a crisis and LCHD's transition to and roll out of Microsoft Teams.

• He announced that the Executive Committee would be meeting in May, just prior to the next regular Board of Health meeting, to discuss the meeting he and Mark had with the national directors of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) regarding the Health Department's PHAB reaccreditation.

• Federal legislation is being put forth by Senator Murray of Washington called the Public Health Infrastructure Save Lives Act that is looking for $4.5B to maintain public health at every level.

• He will be sending an announcement to the Board regarding Senate Bill 1818. He and Mark have both slipped the bill as proponents. It is the $30M for the local health protection grant for SFY 2022. The hearing for the bill is this Friday, April 30, so members will have to slip it by tomorrow, Thursday, April 29.

• He had the honor of being a panelist on behalf of United Way to discuss their many programs and the impact 2-1-1 has had during the pandemic. It was part of a large scale outreach to the entire county. Former Board of Health member Steve Carlson is a big proponent of 2-1-1 and his efforts for ensuring its funding were recognized.

• Engaging dialogue continues regarding Ethylene Oxide (EtO). We are still working through the steps with federal partners. More information will be forthcoming as we start to navigate next steps in the process.

• Governor Pritzker has signed in to law legislation for equity-driven health care reform. This is House Bill 158. It is intended to expand health care access and equity, improve women's and children's health, mental health disorders and substance abuse, and improved quality of care for all. It is set to try and bring in $250M in new funding from the federal government.

• Lake County recently provided a press release on open burning and an interactive website is available to solicit feedback from residents. Open burning was suspended during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic due to its effects on air quality. In

February, the County Board amended that suspension to allow some open burning on a modified schedule in unincorporated Lake County.

He then turned the floor over to Executive Director Mark Pfister for an update. Mark reported on the following:

• The Health Department and its partners have administered 465,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Close to 70% of the age 65 and above population in Lake County has been fully vaccinated. The value of vaccines is being seen in fewer new cases, fewer hospitalizations, and fewer deaths.

• A reduction in demand for the vaccines is occurring so we need to work on addressing vaccine hesitancy, especially in the age 20-29 population. Everyone registered in AllVax has now been enabled to schedule an appointment. The Health Department's POD at the Lake County Fairgrounds is experiencing open appointment slots as is the new Baxter-funded vaccination site in Round Lake Beach.

• Today The Joint Commission (TJC) completed their unannounced in-person 3-day review and they were very pleasantly surprised at how much the Health Department has improved over the last three years. There were no findings in the red and the orange which means that TJC will not be back for any additional reviews. The findings they did have were very minimal. One TJC reviewer even commented on the staff's passion for the work they do. He gave a huge thank you to Kim Burke, Director of Healthcare Operations, Dr. Les Zun, Medical Director, Denise Koppit, Compliance Coordinator, and her team, all of the practice managers, and staff.

8. Action Items

8.1 Emergency Appropriation for Vaccination Efforts from Health Department Fund Balance - Pfister

A motion was made by Member Rheault, seconded by Member Johnson Jones, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Aye: 11 - Member Cesnovar, Member-at-Large Maine, President Sashko, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member-at-Large Hagstrom D.D.S., Vice President Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Secretary DeVaux, Member Johnson Jones Ed.D. and Member Simpson

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

8.2 Ratification of Pandemic Health Navigator Program Grant, $2,333,333 - McMillan-Wilhoit

A motion was made by Member Belmonte, seconded by Member Maine, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

8.3 Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, $170,000 - Grant Approval - Burke

A motion was made by Member Johnson-Jones, seconded by Member DeVaux, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

8.4 Illinois Department of Human Services, $52,641 increase to existing Behavioral Health grant contracts - Grant Approval - Johnson-Maurello

A motion was made by Member Belmonte, seconded by Member Johnson-Jones, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

8.5 National Institutes of Health and Northwestern University - Keep It Up Grant, $40,000 - New Grant Approval - Kritz

A motion was made by Member Ehrlich, seconded by Member Maine, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

8.6 2021 Revised Board of Health Meeting Dates - Pfister

A motion was made by Member Rheault, seconded by Member DeVaux, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

8.7 FY2022 Proposed Budget Timetable - Riley

A motion was made by Member Belmonte, seconded by Member Ehrlich, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

8.8 Reappointment of Providers - Maine

A motion was made by Member Maine, seconded by Member Pollina, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

8.9 Proposed Changes to Health Department Employee Policies - Hagstrom

A motion was made by Member Hagstrom, seconded by Member DeVaux, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.

Absent: 1 - Member Schultz

9. Discussion Items

None

10. Attachments for Board Review

10.1 Media Placement Highlights - Nordstrom

This matter was presented

11. Lake County Community Health Center Governing Council Update None

12. Lake County Tuberculosis Board Update

Lisa Kritz, Director of Prevention, informed the Board that the TB Board reviewed finances and the budget at their last meeting. The addition of a flex provider is being considered because Dr. Sana Ahmed has been devoting her time to the COVID-19 response which leaves only Dr. James Jupa to cover. Also, as mentioned in the past, the TB clinic now has to do follow-up on INEDDS reports of positive quantiferon tests and they are receiving approximately 900 per year so we are looking to replace a current public health assistant with someone who can do more surveillance in an epidemiology role. Currently, there are 3 active cases for 2021. We ended 2020 with 13 active cases compared to eight in 2019.

13. Added to Agenda Items

None

14. Old Business

President Sashko asked the members to consider a return to in-person or a combination of in-person/virtual meeting attendance beginning with the May 26, 2021 meeting.

15. New Business

None

16. Executive Session

None

17. Adjournment

A motion was made by Member Johnson-Jones to adjourn the meeting. President Sashko adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m.

https://lakecounty.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=858846&GUID=D0C95C63-CF60-49F4-97BD-0E6FB7F3F633

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