The city is now accepting applications for its vacant public health administrator job. You can see the posting here. The job is open until the end of the month.
The Board of Health discussed who would review the applicants for the position at its meeting Tuesday. Among the members on the selection committee include two City Council members, the city administrator, program directors and a public health administrator from another community.
The Board of Health may add two or three members to the committee, which will interview the candidates.
Marcia Fernholz is filling in as interim public health administrator until a replacement is hired. She can't apply for the job because she doesn't have a master's degree.
Fernholz took over the department after Janelle Grammer, the previous public health administrator, was fired by the City Council.
The department head is one of at least four openings in the city's Health Department. The city is also looking for a sanitarian, nurse and dietitian. They'll also post in the next month for someone to run the city's Healthy Births, Healthy Outcomes program.
The city appears committed to filling the vacancies. Fernholz told the Board of Health she submitted the department's 2010 budget, which included no lost positions.
Showing posts with label Board of Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Board of Health. Show all posts
October 14, 2009
July 20, 2009
UPDATED: Bacteria outbreaks continue in local day care centers
UPDATE: Here's a map of the locations of the shigella outbreak (click for a larger version).
Michele Breheim, epidemiologist with the Racine Health Department, said the city has received a handful of reports of shigella in the past week. All day care centers and schools in the city have been notified of the outbreak, and any child found with the bacteria needs two negative stool samples before they can return to day care, Breheim said.
The above map did little help city officials concentrate efforts in one particular area because the cases have been so scattered, Breheim said. City officials tried to stop the outbreak in its first days, but cases spread outside of the day cares and schools. "It's in the community," Breheim said.
The best preventative method for the outbreak is to wash your hands, she said.
Original story:
A couple of months back we reported on outbreaks of two types of bacterias in local schools and day care centers. The outbreaks have continued, according to city health officials.
Seven new cases of campylobacter and 23 new cases of shigella were reported in June. Health officials had hoped the end of school would decrease the number of cases, but the numbers actually increased. There have been 42 cases of shigella and 17 cases of campylobacter reported in the city in the past two months.
Health officials said at the July 15 Board of Health meeting that they didn't know why the bacterias continued to spread. There didn't appear to be a connection between all of the cases, they said.
Both bacterias spread through oral-fecal contamination. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.
Campylobacter is typically spread through contact with uncooked poultry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's rarely spread person to person, though can spread through stool to oral contamination.
Shigella is typically spread from person to person, according to the CDC. The bacteria is passed fom stool to oral contamination.
Health officials also reported at their monthly board meeting that there were 31 confirmed cases of H1N1 (swine) flu reported in the city in June. Wisconsin continues to lead the nation, by far, in H1N1 cases. The state's 6,031 cases is at least 1,300 more than Texas, the next closest state.
Local health officials are gearing up for a busy flu season. The H1N1 vaccine, likely available in August, will require two shots in addition to the normal flu vaccine. That means three times the number of shots this year at a time when budgets are already tight.
But the shots are necesssary, officials said, because the H1N1 virus could be more potent - and deadly - when it makes its second time around later this year.
Michele Breheim, epidemiologist with the Racine Health Department, said the city has received a handful of reports of shigella in the past week. All day care centers and schools in the city have been notified of the outbreak, and any child found with the bacteria needs two negative stool samples before they can return to day care, Breheim said.The above map did little help city officials concentrate efforts in one particular area because the cases have been so scattered, Breheim said. City officials tried to stop the outbreak in its first days, but cases spread outside of the day cares and schools. "It's in the community," Breheim said.
The best preventative method for the outbreak is to wash your hands, she said.
Original story:
A couple of months back we reported on outbreaks of two types of bacterias in local schools and day care centers. The outbreaks have continued, according to city health officials.
Seven new cases of campylobacter and 23 new cases of shigella were reported in June. Health officials had hoped the end of school would decrease the number of cases, but the numbers actually increased. There have been 42 cases of shigella and 17 cases of campylobacter reported in the city in the past two months.
Health officials said at the July 15 Board of Health meeting that they didn't know why the bacterias continued to spread. There didn't appear to be a connection between all of the cases, they said.
Both bacterias spread through oral-fecal contamination. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.
Campylobacter is typically spread through contact with uncooked poultry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's rarely spread person to person, though can spread through stool to oral contamination.
Shigella is typically spread from person to person, according to the CDC. The bacteria is passed fom stool to oral contamination.
Health officials also reported at their monthly board meeting that there were 31 confirmed cases of H1N1 (swine) flu reported in the city in June. Wisconsin continues to lead the nation, by far, in H1N1 cases. The state's 6,031 cases is at least 1,300 more than Texas, the next closest state.
Local health officials are gearing up for a busy flu season. The H1N1 vaccine, likely available in August, will require two shots in addition to the normal flu vaccine. That means three times the number of shots this year at a time when budgets are already tight.
But the shots are necesssary, officials said, because the H1N1 virus could be more potent - and deadly - when it makes its second time around later this year.
July 14, 2009
Best candidate to lead city's Health Department can't apply
The best candidate to be the city's next public health administrator isn't qualified to apply for the job.
Marcia Fernholz is working as interim head of the health department for the second time. She took over the department after Janelle Grammer was suspended and eventually fired.
While Fernholz has the support of the Board of Health and the health department employees, she doesn't have the master's degree required by the state for a Level 3 health department, which the city runs. The result: Fernholz can't even apply for the job she's held twice. She also ran the department prior to Grammer being hired.
Dr. William Little, head of the Board of Health, said he's meeting with the mayor to discuss the health administrator position. It's likely the city will initiate a search to fill the position, he said. But he added the city was looking at a few alternatives he couldn't discuss.
Fernholz said she knew she needed a master's degree - she actually needs 16 grad school credits - for the job, but hasn't had time to take the needed classes. For starters, she's too busy trying to run a department with four, soon to be five, unfilled positions.
The Board of Health's meeting Tuesday was its first after the City Council fired Grammer for poor running the city's Health Department. Little said the board first became aware of problems with Grammer last December after then City Administrator Ben Hughes raised questions about her performance. The board didn't hear the problems directly because the public health administrator is technically in charge of the Board of Health meetings. Any employee with a complaint would have had to put their job on the line to take a stand against Grammer.
However, Little said former Mayor Gary Becker told him in 2007 that he was second-guessing his decision to hire Grammer.
Little said he's talked with City Attorney Rob Weber to clarify the Board of Health's role in monitoring the city's Health Department. The board is now in charge of reviewing whether the department is complying with state requirements. Even though Grammer struggled as a manager, Little said, the Health Department still complied with state law.
But with the Grammer saga put to rest, the Health Department does appear to be making rapid progress. For example, the Healthy Births, Healthy Outcomes program that was created to lower the city's high infant mortality rate is finally taking hold. Nurses are visiting the homes of at-risk pregnant women, the city is working with an outside group to monitor infant deaths in Racine and a public information campaign is planned for safe sleeping arrangements.
But Fernholz said the department is still strapped for resources. The department once had a five-member management team to manage public health in Racine. That team is down to two until a public health administrator is hired, she said.
The department is short staffed at a time when the city is facing health challenges. An outbreak of shigella and campylobacter, both forms of bacteria, has spread since it was first reported in May. Health officials said there is no obvious connections between the cases, which have been found in day cares and schools throughout eastern Racine County. While none of the reported cases have been fatal, both bacterias can cause serious health problems for people.
The county also has 41 reported cases of H1N1 flu. Fortunately, none have been fatal. But experts expect the virus's second round this fall will be worse. The city is gearing up to offer a regular flu vaccine as well as a two-shot H1N1 vaccine later this year.
Little said there is no established timeline for hiring a new administrator, but he has met with Mayor Dickert about the position. Fernholz will continue to lead the department until a replacement for Grammer is hired, he said.
Marcia Fernholz is working as interim head of the health department for the second time. She took over the department after Janelle Grammer was suspended and eventually fired.
While Fernholz has the support of the Board of Health and the health department employees, she doesn't have the master's degree required by the state for a Level 3 health department, which the city runs. The result: Fernholz can't even apply for the job she's held twice. She also ran the department prior to Grammer being hired.
Dr. William Little, head of the Board of Health, said he's meeting with the mayor to discuss the health administrator position. It's likely the city will initiate a search to fill the position, he said. But he added the city was looking at a few alternatives he couldn't discuss.
Fernholz said she knew she needed a master's degree - she actually needs 16 grad school credits - for the job, but hasn't had time to take the needed classes. For starters, she's too busy trying to run a department with four, soon to be five, unfilled positions.
The Board of Health's meeting Tuesday was its first after the City Council fired Grammer for poor running the city's Health Department. Little said the board first became aware of problems with Grammer last December after then City Administrator Ben Hughes raised questions about her performance. The board didn't hear the problems directly because the public health administrator is technically in charge of the Board of Health meetings. Any employee with a complaint would have had to put their job on the line to take a stand against Grammer.
However, Little said former Mayor Gary Becker told him in 2007 that he was second-guessing his decision to hire Grammer.
Little said he's talked with City Attorney Rob Weber to clarify the Board of Health's role in monitoring the city's Health Department. The board is now in charge of reviewing whether the department is complying with state requirements. Even though Grammer struggled as a manager, Little said, the Health Department still complied with state law.
But with the Grammer saga put to rest, the Health Department does appear to be making rapid progress. For example, the Healthy Births, Healthy Outcomes program that was created to lower the city's high infant mortality rate is finally taking hold. Nurses are visiting the homes of at-risk pregnant women, the city is working with an outside group to monitor infant deaths in Racine and a public information campaign is planned for safe sleeping arrangements.
But Fernholz said the department is still strapped for resources. The department once had a five-member management team to manage public health in Racine. That team is down to two until a public health administrator is hired, she said.
The department is short staffed at a time when the city is facing health challenges. An outbreak of shigella and campylobacter, both forms of bacteria, has spread since it was first reported in May. Health officials said there is no obvious connections between the cases, which have been found in day cares and schools throughout eastern Racine County. While none of the reported cases have been fatal, both bacterias can cause serious health problems for people.
The county also has 41 reported cases of H1N1 flu. Fortunately, none have been fatal. But experts expect the virus's second round this fall will be worse. The city is gearing up to offer a regular flu vaccine as well as a two-shot H1N1 vaccine later this year.
Little said there is no established timeline for hiring a new administrator, but he has met with Mayor Dickert about the position. Fernholz will continue to lead the department until a replacement for Grammer is hired, he said.
May 12, 2009
Bacteria outbreaks reported in eastern Racine County schools, day cares
Local health officials are dealing with an outbreak of two types of bacteria in day care centers and schools.
Michele Breheim, epidemiologist, told the Board of Health Wednesday there are 19 cases of shigella and 10 cases of campylobacter in eastern Racine County since mid-April.
The cases have been discovered at three day care centers and two schools, all in Mount Pleasant and Caledonia, Breheim said. The Racine Health Department is involved because several of the cases involve Racine residents.
Both bacterias spread through oral-fecal contamination, Breheim said. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, she said.
There are typically cases of shigella and campylobacter reported in eastern Racine County every year, Breheim said. But 29 cases of the bacteria in less than a month is unusual, she said.
Campylobacter is typically spread through contact with uncooked poultry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's rarely spread person to person, though can spread through stool to oral contamination.
Shigella is typically spread from person to person, according to the CDC. The bacteria is passed fom stool to oral contamination.
Michele Breheim, epidemiologist, told the Board of Health Wednesday there are 19 cases of shigella and 10 cases of campylobacter in eastern Racine County since mid-April.
The cases have been discovered at three day care centers and two schools, all in Mount Pleasant and Caledonia, Breheim said. The Racine Health Department is involved because several of the cases involve Racine residents.
Both bacterias spread through oral-fecal contamination, Breheim said. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, she said.
There are typically cases of shigella and campylobacter reported in eastern Racine County every year, Breheim said. But 29 cases of the bacteria in less than a month is unusual, she said.
Campylobacter is typically spread through contact with uncooked poultry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's rarely spread person to person, though can spread through stool to oral contamination.
Shigella is typically spread from person to person, according to the CDC. The bacteria is passed fom stool to oral contamination.
Wisconsin's H1N1 surge a testing anomaly, health official says
The surge in Wisconsin's H1N1 cases in recent days is likely due to advanced testing methods in the state, according to a Racine health official.
There are 496 confirmed cases of the flu in Wisconsin, which amounts to 16 percent of the 3,009 confirmed cases across the country. Racine County has three confirmed cases of H1N1, all in the western part of the county.
But Michele Breheim, epidemiologist for the Racine Health Department, said Wisconsin's inflated numbers are likely because the state has three labs approved to test suspected cases of H1N1. Other states send their samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Breheim said while addressing Racine's Board of Health Wednesday.
The result is Wisconsin is confirming its cases faster than other states - and making up a majority of the cases nationally, she said.
While that explains Wisconsin's increase - based mostly in Milwaukee - it also suggests an increase in national cases is likely as more tests are completed.
"They won't be able to test everyone," Breheim said. "Eventually, they'll need to (conduct) surveillance and monitor people's symptoms."
There are 496 confirmed cases of the flu in Wisconsin, which amounts to 16 percent of the 3,009 confirmed cases across the country. Racine County has three confirmed cases of H1N1, all in the western part of the county.
But Michele Breheim, epidemiologist for the Racine Health Department, said Wisconsin's inflated numbers are likely because the state has three labs approved to test suspected cases of H1N1. Other states send their samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Breheim said while addressing Racine's Board of Health Wednesday.
The result is Wisconsin is confirming its cases faster than other states - and making up a majority of the cases nationally, she said.
While that explains Wisconsin's increase - based mostly in Milwaukee - it also suggests an increase in national cases is likely as more tests are completed.
"They won't be able to test everyone," Breheim said. "Eventually, they'll need to (conduct) surveillance and monitor people's symptoms."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)