April 18, 2013 - Minutes

Members Present:

Mr. David Bolton
Mr. Al Edmondson
Ms. Trish Fulton
Mr. Marcel Meyer (Chair)
Mr. Stephen Orser
Mr. Ian Peer
Ms. Viola Poletes Montgomery
Ms. Nancy Poole
Mr. Mark Studenny
Ms. Sandy White  

Regrets: 

Ms. Denise Brown 

Others Present:

Mr. Wally Adams, Director, Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services
Ms. Marylou Albanese, Manager, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention Team
Ms. Jane Beradini, Public Health Nurse
Ms. Ginette Blake, Registered Dietitian, Reproductive Health Team
Ms. Ruby Brewer, Manager, Early Years Team
Ms. Chris Callaghan, Registered Dietitian
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Ms. Melissa Knowler, Public Health Nurse
Ms. Kim Leacy, Registered Dietitian
Ms. Heather Lokko, Manager, Reproductive Health Team
Ms. Sarah Maaten, Epidemiologist
Ms. Stacy Manzerolle, Acting Manager, Sexual Health Services         
Mr. John Millson, Director, Finance and Operations
Mr. Scott Navarro, Youth Leader
Ms. Eleane Paguaga, Youth Leader
Mr. David Pavletic, Manager, Environmental Health
Ms. Leanne Powell, Public Health Nurse
Ms. Christine Preece, Manager, Young Adult Team
Ms. Gayle Riedl, Human Resources Officer
Ms. Sherri Sanders, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health (Recorder)
Ms. Pat Simone, Manager, Emergency Preparedness
Ms. Linda Stobo, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control Team
Dr. Enoka Swaminathan, Family Medicine Resident
Ms. Louise Tyler, Director, Human Resources and Labour Relations Services
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator
Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Acting Medical Officer of Health & CEO and Director, Oral Health, Communicable Disease & Sexual Health Services

Media Outlets:

None

Board of Health Chair, Mr. Marcel Meyer, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) of Interest

Chair Meyer inquired if there were any disclosures of conflict of interest to be declared. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda:

It was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Mr. Orser that the Agenda for the April 18, 2013 Board of Health meeting be approved with the addition of a request for endorsement of Mr. Al Edmondson’s reappointment to the alPHa Board of Directors under Other Business. Carried

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Peer that the Board of Health MINUTES for the March 21, 2013 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Appointments

1) Report No. 045-13 re “Redevelopment of the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s Website – Update on Status and Public Launch”

Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Acting Medical Officer of Health and CEO, introduced Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications, and Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator, to assist Board members with their understanding of this report.   Mr. Tyml demonstrated the features of www.healthunit.com.

The Board of Health requested that Mr. Flaherty present a report at a future Board of Health meeting documenting hits to the website and the usage of various webpages.

The “Ask a Question” feature of the website is designed for public health professionals to provide answers to general questions about public health topics. These are answered within one week but many are answered much sooner. The “Ask a Question” is very different from Telehealth Ontario where a health professional assesses symptoms over the telephone and provides medical advice for the next step (go doctor, emergency room etc.). As requested by the Board of Health, Mr. Flaherty indicated that a statement will be added to the “Ask a Question” page to advise users that questions should not be asked relating to emergency situations and also indicating when to expect an answer to questions that are asked. 

Reports with Video Presentations

Recognizing the importance of videos as a means of providing educational materials that are engaging and interesting, the Health Unit has produced several very creative videos in 2012. At this Board of Health meeting, seven recently produced videos were showcased. The development of the Birthing Centre video modules was a collaboration of the Health Unit, London Health Sciences Centre and Western University. The remaining videos represented a collaborative effort of the Health Unit area(s) responsible for this topic, the Communications Department under the leadership of Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications, and several video production companies.

2) Report No. 055-13 re “Birthing Centre Online Modules”

Ms. Heather Lokko, Manager, Reproductive Health Team, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report. Ms. Lokko showed two segments from a video which gives the viewer an online tour of hospital facilities related to the birthing centre, and provides an overview of the processes a patient may experience during labour and delivery. Ms. Lokko reported that this video will be posted on the London Health Sciences Centre website. The Health Unit’s website will provide a link to the video.

3) Report No. 046-13 re “Breastfeeding Videos”

Ms. Ruby Brewer, Manager, Early Years Team, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report. Ms. Brewer showed the first of three videos which provide Breastfeeding Support Information.

4) Report No. 047-13 re “Launching the Parenting of Teen Videos”

Ms. Christine Preece, Manager, Young Adult Team and Ms. Jane Berardini, Public Health Nurse, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report.   Ms. Berardini showed one of the 25 Parenting of Teens Videos that the Health Unit has produced.

5) Report No. 048-13 re “Youth Engagement Strategy: ‘Add Your Colour’ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Videos”

Ms. Leanne Powell, Public Health Nurse, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report.  She showed two videos, developed by youth in the Youth Encouraging Acceptance (YEA) group, which will be launched at an event on May17^th which is International Day Against Homophobia.

6) Report No. 049-13 re “ ‘One Life One You’ Create Four-Part Video Series on Energy Drinks”

Ms. Kim Leacy, Registered Dietitian, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control Team, and Mr. Scott Navarro and Ms. Eleane Paguaga, Youth Leaders from One Life One You, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report.  Ms. Linda Stobo reminded Board members of the alPHa resolutions that advocate for stricter provincial regulations surrounding the sale of energy drinks. Ms. Paguaga and Mr. Navarro showed the four Energy Drink Videos which the One Life One You group produced to educate teen viewers about the negative effects of energy drinks.

7) Report No. 050-13 re “Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines Video”

Ms. Marylou Albanese, Manager, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention Team, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report.  Ms. Albanese showed the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines Video that conveys a harm reduction message about lowering the risks from alcohol consumption.

8) Report No. 051-13 re “Sodium Reduction Strategy Resources and Activities”

Ms. Ginette Blake, Registered Dietitian, and Ms. Heather Lokko, Manager, Reproductive Health Team, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report.  Ms. Lokko and Ms. Blake showed the four Sodium Videos.  Ms. Blake indicated that one of the videos (Sodium – Quiz Show) has received a Bronze Telly award. As well, two of the videos have been selectedto air on Rogers Cable as public service announcements for a one-year period.

It was moved by Ms. Poletes Montgomery, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that Items #1 through #8 be received for information. Carried

Action Reports

9) Report No. 052-13 re “April 2013 Board of Health Self-Assessment Survey”

Dr. Warshawsky introduced Ms. Sarah Maaten, Epidemiologist, to answer questions about this report.  In response to a question about the frequency of the survey, Ms. Maaten responded that the Ontario Public Health Organizational Standards (OPHOS) mandate that an assessment be done every other year. Ms. Maaten explained that the existing questions were developed with Board of Health input before a Board self-assessment became a requirement under the OPHOS. Dr. Warshawsky informed Board members that the results of the assessment must be reported in public forum, as according to the Health Unit solicitor, the process does not meet the criteria for discussion in camera.  After a discussion, Board members made the following suggestions: the assessment could involve fewer questions; the questions should be reviewed to ensure they are clearly written; the questions should address the five areas mandated in the OPHOS, and the survey could be completed less frequently.

It was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Mr. Edmondson:

1. That the Board of Health Self-Assessment Survey be deferred until fall 2013; and further
2. That an ad hoc committee of the Board be created, consisting of Ms. Fulton, Mr. Peer and Mr. Meyer, to work with Ms. Sarah Maaten, Epidemiologist, to revise the Board Self-Assessment tool and process to meet Board needs and the Ontario Public Health Organizational Standards; and further
3. That the ad hoc committee report back to the Board of Health at a future Board of Health meeting.

Carried

A decision regarding the frequency of the survey was deferred until after the Board of Health assesses the revised survey.

10) Report No. 053-13 re “Artificial Tanning Legislation Update: Government Bill 30 Introduced to Ban Youth Under 18 from Access to Tanning Beds”

It was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Mr. Peer:

1. That the Board of Health endorse Report No. 053-13 re: “Artificial Tanning Legislation Update: Government Bill 30 Introduced to Ban Youth Under 18 from Access to Tanning Beds”; and further
2. That the Board of Health send a letter, attached as Appendix A, to the Right Honourable Premier Kathleen Wynne; the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long Term Care; and local Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to commend the Ontario Government for introducing Bill 30, An Act to Regulate the Selling and Marketing of Tanning Services and Ultraviolet Light Treatments; and further
3. That the Board of Health request that the Health Unit demonstrate support for Bill 30 by participating in any public hearings held on Bill 30; and further
4. That the Board of Health forward Report No. 053-13 and copies of the letter in Appendix A to all Boards of Health, the Ontario Public Health Association and the Association of Local Public Health Agencies.

Carried

11) Report No. 054-13 re “2013 Board Member Compensation”

It was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the Board of Health member compensation rate for a half day meeting be set at $142.03 retroactive to January 1, 2013. Carried

Information Reports

12)  Report No. 056-13 re “Overview of ‘Make No Little Plans – Ontario’s Public Health Sector Strategic Plan’ ”

13)  Report No. 057-13 re “Open Ontario Compliance Initiative – London Pilot Project”

14)  Report No. 059-13 re “Student Education Program”

15)  Report No. 060-13 re “2013 Budget Update – April”

16)  Report No. 058-13 re “Acting Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – March 18 to April 10, 2013”

It was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that Items #12 through #16 be received for information. Carried

Correspondence:

There were no questions about the correspondence.

Other Business

Chair Meyer reported that Mr. Al Edmondson is currently the Chair of the Board of Health Section of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) Board of Directors. He is seeking reappointment and requests Board of Health endorsement of his reappointment.

Mr. Edmondson reported that he was originally going to serve on the alPHa Board for a period of one year, but he is currently involved in a physical activity/healthy eating project with alPHa, the Health Unit and the Thames Valley District School Board that he would like to continue.

It was moved by Ms. Poole, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the Board of Health endorse the nomination of Mr. Al Edmondson for reappointment to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) Board of Directors for a one-year term beginning June 2013. Carried

Next scheduled Board of Health Meetings

7:15 p.m. – Thursday, May 9, 2013

7:00 p.m. – Thursday, May 16, 2013

Adjournment

At 9:15 p.m., it was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Mr. Studenny that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

MARCELL MEYER
Chair

BRYNA WARSHAWSKY
Secretary-Treasurer