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Norwalk
Health Department
Board of Health Actions
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July 12, 2005
8:00 AM
Library
Call to order at 8:10 AM
Present: Board of Health –Mr. Lalime (by telephone), Ms. Lemmon, and & Dr.
Tracey
Staff – Mr. Callahan,
Minutes of June 14, 2005 Meeting
Action not taken.
Pediatric Update
Suvarna Shah, MD was sentenced on July 1, 2005 to 3 years probation and a $10,000
fine for defrauding the Medicaid program and private insurance companies and
for tax evasion. Dr Shah agreed to $317,925.88 to the State of Connecticut and
$229,194.86 to private insurance companies. Additionally Dr Shah paid the Internal
Revenue Service $682,596.16 for tax evasion for the years 1996-2001.
Dr Shah has agreed to leave the United States within 30 days or she faces deportation
by the INS.
Dr Shah continues plans to continue to see sick patients through July 27, 2005.
Dr. Shah will publish a notice in the paper advising of the closing of her practice.
Dr. Shah with the approval of Larry Cross, Interim Executive Director of the
Norwalk Community Health Center, will move her patients’ records to NCHC.
NCHC has plans to convert the Community Room to 3 examination rooms at a cost
of $40,000. Funding for this project is being sought from various sources including
Norwalk Hospital.
NCHC Pediatrics Department has 2 Pediatricians, one Nurse Practitioner and one
Physicians Assistant on board. A full time registered nurse was recently hired
for the pediatrics department. The clerical staff is also fairly new.
Patient time studies are being conducted in the Pediatrics Department. Last
week the average wait from arrival to entrance to an examination room was 10
minutes.
Dr. Maddox, a pediatrician who at one time worked for Dr. Shah, has announced
plans to establish a pediatric practice at 148 East Ave. The opening date is
sometime in June 2005.
Dr. Mattick, a former associate of Dr. Shah, set up a pediatric practice at 148 East Avenue. Dr Mattick is accepting Medicaid patients.
Mr. Lalime will follow up with Healthnet to make sure they are aware of these developments.
Environmental Inspections Review
A report on the performance of mandated inspections made during FY 05 was reviewed. The inspectors will focus on increasing the frequency of seasonal pool inspections and food establishments. The loss of an inspector due to a job related injury in May 2005 has resulted in fewer inspections.
A food establishment reinspection fee was introduced in FY 03. There was an expectation that the reinspection fee would motivate owners to maintain their facilities at a higher level. There has been a slight reduction in the number of reinspections. Apparently the fee is not an incentive.
Norwalk Health Department
Environmental Services
Mandated Inspections
July1, 2004 - June 30, 2005
Category Total Establishments Required Inspections Actual Inspections % Compliance
Food Establishments 520 1824 1601 88%
Public Pools
Seasonal 39 39 36 92%
Full Year 4 16 12 75%
Rooming Houses 39 39 46 118%
Salons 94 94 100 106%
Food Establishments Reinspections
FY 03 39/59 *
FY 04 50
FY 05 46
* Fee was established in November 2002. 39 reinspections were made in 8 months.
59 is estimated annualized number
Health District
New Canaan First Selectwoman Judy Neville, Health Director David Reed MD, Tim
Callahan and Mayor Alex Knopp met on Wednesday July 5, 2005 to discuss a plan.
Mayor Knopp explained the Norwalk Common Council vote to table the matter for
6 months means no discussions until after the November 8, 2005 election.
The Board discussed this position and concluded that the Health Department move forward with developing a strategic plan, a request be made to State Health Commissioner Robert Galvin, MD, for a response to the comments made by Fred Hyde, MD, the consultant retained by AFSCME to refute the factual information developed by the Health District Task Force and that the role of the local health department be made public via the media. Mr. Callahan will contact James Farifield-Sonn, the management consultant who has assisted in the development of the Department’s plans.
Other Business
HIV Program
Mr. Callahan reviewed a report on the funding for HIV prevention. (Attached)
Funding reductions will necessitate the cutbacks in staff. Currently there are
3 full time employees. By September 1, 2005 there will be on e full time Coordinator
and 2 assistants at 19 hours per week.
Adjourn: 9:15 AM
Norwalk Health Department
HIV/AIDS Program
July 12, 2005
The Connecticut Department of Public Health AIDS and Chronic Diseases Division
funds and oversees various local programs throughout the state. Local Health
Departments and non-profit agencies are funded agencies. CT DPH administrators
have opted to implement evidenced based program models. Local programs in coordination
with the CT DPH will implement program modules that have proven to be successful
in preventing the spread of HIV infection.
The Norwalk Health Department will provide three program modules, each targeting very specific populations.
1-Counseling and testing: The program will provide counseling and testing (anonymous/confidential) to high risks Afro-American, Latino/a, & White heterosexuals.
Employee Qualifications required: ability to provide counseling and testing (possessing State certification)
2-Voices/Voces: is a small group level single session intervention for clients who are clinic patients. Within this program there is the opportunity to educate and build skills for safer sexual practices. Target population: Latinos and Afro-American clients visiting clinic settings. Focus population: Latinos.
Employee Qualifications required: ability to perform group sessions, ability to provide counseling and testing. Bilingual skills are necessary.
3-Safety Counts Model: purpose is to prevent HIV and hepatitis C infections among injection drug users and non-injection drug users and their partners.
Employee Qualifications required: ability to perform group & individual sessions, ability to provide counseling and testing, ability to provide evaluation of the model, ability to organize community social events, ability to provide culturally competent outreach activities to recruit individuals that have experience with injection drug using culture.
Although the models could be carried out by any combination of the current staff members, all of the current staff is desirable for the successful implementation of the models described above. Each staff member possesses individual skills that best suit him/her for certain components of the various models. The funding awarded for FY 06 – FY 08 is inadequate to maintain staffing at the current level.
HIV/AIDS Program Budget History
Fiscal Year Budget granted/Revisions No. Of Positions covered
July 1,2001-June 30, 2002 $250,849 4 FT; 3 PT
9-26-01 Revision, inc. to $300,849 5 FT; 4 PT
12-6-01 Revision, inc. to $341,994 5 FT; 9 PT
5-20-02 Final Revision, inc. to $416,958 6 FT; 11 PT
July 1, 2002–June 30, 2003 $163,607 3 FT
2-25-03 Revision, decreased to $160,130 3 FT
July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004 $160,130 3 FT
July 1, 2004-June 30, 2005 $160,130 3 FT
July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006 $146,640 1 FT; 2 PT
July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007 $126,640 1 FT; 2 PT
July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008 $126,640 1 FT; 2 PT
Budget Details
July 1, 2001-June 30, 2002
Original amount granted: $250,849
Positions funded: Total #7 (Full-time) Coordinator, Counselor/PCM, Outreach
Educator, HIV Prevention Specialist; (Part-time) Outreach Educator, HIV Prevention
Specialist, Administrative Assistant.
Budget revision on September 1, 2001: Increased by $50,000 to $300,849
Positions funded: Total #9 (Full-time) Coordinator, Counselor/PCM, Outreach Educator, HIV Prevention Specialist, Peer Educator; (Part-time) Outreach Educator, HIV Prevention Specialist, Administrative Assistant, Peer Educator, Youth Outreach Worker
Budget revision on December 1, 2001: Increase by $41,145 to $341,994
Positions funded: Total #14 (Full-time) Coordinator, HIV Counselor/PCM, Outreach Educator, HIV Prevention Specialist, Peer Educator; (Part-time) Outreach worker, HIV Prevention Specialist, Youth Outreach worker x 5, Youth Educator, Administrative Assistant
Final Budget revision on May 1, 2005: Increased by $74,964 to $416, 958 (reflects total budget increase $166,109)
Positions funded: Total #17 (Full-time) Coordinator, HIV Counselor/PCM, Outreach Educator x 2 (peer & non-peer), HIV Prevention Specialist x 2; (Part-time) Outreach worker, Youth Outreach worker x 6, Youth Leader/Community Educator, Community Educator, Administrative Assistant, Prevention Case Manager (PCM)
July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003
Original amount granted: $163,607
Positions funded: (Full-time) Program Coordinator, Outreach Worker, and Peer
Outreach
Budget Revision: Reduced to $160,130
July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004
Original amount granted: $160,130
Positions funded: (Full-time) Program Coordinator, Peer Outreach, and HIV Prevention Specialist
July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005
Original amount funded: $160,130
Positions funded: (Full-time) Program Coordinator, Peer Outreach, and HIV Prevention
Specialist
July 1, 2005-June 30, 2008 - 3 year contract
Amount funded year 1: $146,640
Amount funded year 2: $126,640
Amount funded year 3: $126,640
Model programs funded: Counseling and Testing; Safety Counts; Voices/Voces
Using the money granted, staffing of the program must be determined. Continuation
of staffing at current levels is impossible with the amount of funding recommended.
Several scenarios have been explored which will include either deletion of one
of the three positions or a reduction in hours, hourly rate, and/or benefits
for some or all of the current staff. We know that the services are best maintained
utilizing the three current staff even if at a reduced capacity. Each of the
three current members of the HIV/AIDS staff brings skills and qualities that
best deliver the components of the various programs. If one were eliminated,
the program services would be provided at a deficit. Therefore the staffing
will consist of one full time Program Coordinator, and a part time Peer Outreach,
and HIV Prevention Specialist.
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