October 16, 2014 - Minutes

Members Present:

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

Regrets:

Mr. Stephen Orser (Vice-Chair)

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health & CEO (Secretary-Treasurer)
Ms. Sherri Sanders, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health (Recorder)
Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager, Injury Prevention and Healthy Communities Team
Ms. Diane Bewick, Director, Family Health Services & Chief Nursing Officer
Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Director, Human Resources and Corporate Strategy
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Heather Lokko, Acting Director Oral Health, Communicable Disease and Sexual Health Services
Ms. Sarah Maaten, Epidemiologist
Mr. John Millson, Director, Finance and Operations
Ms. Marlene Price, Manager, Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Ms. Pat Simone, Manager, Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Tristan Squire-Smith, Manager, Infectious Disease Control Team
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator

Media Present: 

None

Mr. Marcel Meyer, Chair of the Board of Health, 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. Studenny, seconded by Ms. Fulton that the AGENDA for the October 16, 2014 Board of Health meeting be approved with the addition of a presentation re Ebola Update. Carried

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that the MINUTES of the September 18, 2014 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Business Arising from the Minutes

None

Delegation and Recommendation Reports

Item #1 Finance and Facilities Committee October 2, 2014 (059-14)

Health Unit Insurance - Policy Changes (037-14FFC)

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Peer that the Board of Health approve that Health Unit Management investigate different insurance providers that can offer the required type of insurance coverage as appended to Report No. 037-14FFC. Carried

Gifts & Honorariums Policy Revisions (039-14FFC)

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Peer that the Board of Health approve the Gifts and Honorariums Policy #4-055 as appended to Report No. 039-14FFC. Carried

2015 Board of Health Budget – Financial Parameters (041-14FFC)

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that the Board of Health approve that Health Unit staff prepare preliminary 2015 budget models using 0% and 1% provincial funding increases to provide comparison of impacts to municipal funding requirements. Carried

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Peer that the Board of Health receive Report No. 059-14 re Finance and Facilities Committee October 2, 2014, including the draft minutes of the October 2nd meeting and Reports No. 038-14FFC, 040-14FFC and 042-14FFC for information. Carried

Item #2 2013-2014 Influenza Season Overview and 2014-2015 Community Influenza Clinics in Middlesex-London (060-14)

Mr. Tristan Squire-Smith, Manager, Infectious Disease Control Team, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report using a PowerPoint presentation (filed with minutes).

In response to a question about mandatory immunization in healthcare, Mr. Squire-Smith explained that London Health Sciences Centre is continuing its policy of requiring staff that do not get a flu shot to wear a mask during a specified season. The Minister of Health will not be working on mandatory legislation at this time.

Concern was expressed over the challenge of policing staff in acute care facilities.

In response to a question concerning the effectiveness of the flu shot in the senior populations, Ms. Marlene Price, Manager, Vaccine Preventable Diseases, reported that although the influenza vaccine is less effective in preventing the flu in the population over 65 years, the vaccine has proven to reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths in the over 65 years old cohort.

In response to a concern that some people do not like to get needles, Ms. Price replied that a nasal mist (suitable for ages 2 – 59 years of age) will available after October 26, 2014. This mist requires a prescription from a physician and will cost approximately $30.

It was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Ms. Brown that Report No. 060-14 re 2013-2014 Influenza Season Overview and 2014-2015 Community Influenza Clinics in Middlesex-London be received for information. Carried

Item #3 Agency Communication Campaign (Verbal Report)

Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications, presented a PowerPoint presentation outlining the upcoming communication campaign designed to convey the importance of public health and the welcoming environment of the Middlesex-London Health Unit. During consultations with the “One Life One You” youth group, Health Unit staff were advised that any advertising should be eye catching, different, humorous and memorable. Mr. Flaherty presented the campaign images, created by Mr. Jason Micallef, Marketing Coordinator. Mr. Flaherty explained that these images had been focused tested with staff and general public in the Middlesex-London community. The campaign will be used on billboards, transit shelters, buses and YouTube advertisements, etc. Other Health Units have already expressed interest in adapting the images for their awareness campaigns. This campaign will commence the week of October 20th, 2014.

Comments and recommendations made by Board members included the following:

• Phone number could be included on the images in certain advertising locations
• Future topics could include addictions/substance misuse
• MLHU Communications could consult other Health Units, Board members and general public for future topics

It was moved by Ms. Poole, seconded by Ms. Poletes Montgomery that Agency Communication Campaign (Verbal Report) be received for information. Carried

Added Agenda Item - Ebola Update (verbal)

Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, Associate Medical Officer of Health, presented a PowerPoint presentation to provide an update on the global Ebola virus. Dr. Hovhannisyan explained that outbreak started from one case in December of 2013.

Dr. Hovhannisyan explained that Ebola is transmitted through direct or indirect transmission of fluids or from infected needles. The virus is highly infectious during the later stages of disease. After being infected, it takes up to 21 days for symptoms to appear. Dr. Hovhannisyan also explained that protecting Health Care & Emergency Medical Services workers and managing/preventing cases will be the prime concerns in Canada and not an outbreak situation like in developing countries.

In response to a question about testing travelers between West Africa and Canada, Dr. Hovhannisyan that screening and follow-up is in place. Not all carriers of the virus can be identified coming into Canada. However, the carriers cannot transmit the disease until they show symptoms, and transmission requires direct contact of with body fluids.

In response to a question about acquiring immunity from Ebola, Dr. Hovhannisyan explained that research is being done around blood transfusions from those who have acquired immunity to the virus.

In response to a question about the response of the World Health Organization (WHO) to this outbreak, Dr. Mackie and Dr. Hovhannisyan, both expressed continuing support of WHO. Local hospitals are preparing by ensuring they have the protective gear ready and having a system to remove the protective gear without risking infection. LHSC will be running a practice drill to identify areas of risk and concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not have a guideline for quarantining at-risk asymptomatic people. A protocol to protect all first responders (professional and volunteer) will be created to protect health care/EMS workers in Canada.

Health Unit staff will provide updates to the Board at future Board of Health meetings.

It was moved by Ms. Brown, seconded by Mr. Studenny that the verbal update about Ebola be received for information. Carried

Item #4 Research and Evaluation Policy – Proposed Revisions (063-14)

Ms. Sarah Maaten, Epidemiologist, was present to answer questions about the proposed revisions to the Research and Evaluation Policy. Dr. Mackie explained that the policy is more operational in nature; therefore, staff recommend that responsibility of the approval of the policy should be revised from the Board of Health to the Senior Leadership Team. The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) reviews and approves applications using criteria developed by the Senior Leadership Team (e.g., level of risk to the organization’s reputation and liability). The RAC cannot do the same work as a Research Ethics Board.

It was moved by Ms. Brown, seconded by Mr. Peer that the Board of Health endorse the revisions to Policy 2-040 Research and Evaluation (formally named Policy 1-080 Research) including changing the approval body from Board of Health to Senior Leadership Team. Carried

Information Reports

Item #5 Summary Information Report for October 2014 (061-14)

Ms. Mary Lou Albanese highlighted that under the Ontario Cycling Strategy municipalities will be able to apply for funding to improve cycling infrastructure.

It was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the Board of Health receive Report 061-14 re Summary Information Report for October 2014. Carried

Item #6 Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – October (062-14)

It was moved by Ms. Poletes Montgomery, seconded by Mr. Peer that Report No. 062-14 re Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – October be received for information. Carried

Correspondence

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Poletes Montgomery that the correspondence be received for information. Carried

Other Business

Chair Meyer reported the following upcoming meetings:

• Next Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting: Thursday, November 6, 2014 @ 9:00 a.m.
• Next Board of Health Meeting: Thursday, November 20, 2014 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Next Governance Committee Meeting: Thursday, January 15, 2015 6:00 p.m.

Ms. Brown gave her regrets for the November 20th Board of Health meeting.

Generative Discussion

It was moved by Ms. Poletes Montgomery, seconded by Ms. White that the Generative Discussion be deferred to a future Board of Health meeting.

At 9:25 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Mr. Peer that the Board of Health take a five minute recess. Carried

At 9:30 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that the Board of Health reconvene. Carried

At 9:31 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Ms. Brown that the Board of Health go in camera to discuss a matter concerning labour relations or employee negotiations. Carried

At 11:00 p.m., it was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the Board of Health return to public forum and report that a discussion took place about a matter concerning labour relations or employee negotiations. Carried

At 11:02 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Ms. Fulton that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

MARCEL MEYER
Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE
Secretary-Treasurer