1987-11-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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563 November 24, 1987 Mr. Richard White, the new Town Manager, came in'as the meeting was New Town about to resume. Dr. Roemer welcomed him and introduced him to Manager everyone. She then explained to him that the board was working its way through the health functions from the Guidebook of Massachusetts Board of Health and two other important issues - drafting new smoking regulations for the town and undertaking to find a way for the board and school committee to have a better working relationship. Mr. White said, in a few weeks., when the board was ready, he would be glad to sit with the board or Mr. Smith and Dr. Roemer and go over the issues. After a brief discussion of some of his plans and what he has been doing since his arrival, he adjourned. The board thanked him and wished him well on his new position. The board then went on to the health functions; Dr. Finkelstein began Maternal and with his subject of Maternal and Child Health stating that the boards Child Health responsibilities basically, have to do with premature births, receiv- ing information on them and doing various things such as transporting people to the hospital when there is a premature birth, paying hospital costs if the person has no other funding or unable to pay. The State would then reimburse the Board of Health 50% for the expenses utilized. The rest of the responsibilities under Maternal Health were recommended activities and whatever we want to do, certainly anything educational. Dr. Finkelstein said, on his review of Dental Health that there was not a clear division of responsibility between the School and Board of Health involvement. Mostly, what the Board of Health could do was pro- vide, support, or implement, along with the School Committee, various things relating to correction of oral disease expense. School based in- tervention on menus was mostly discussed, such as foods rich in sugar causing tooth decay and regulating what goes into vending machines - schools cannot sell junk food. The Board of Health is also responsible for a mandate on issues related to fluoridation of water. Some boards run dental clinics for people with children that cannot afford to pay for dental work. At the commencement of Dr. Finkelstein's report, Dr. Goldmann spoke on Communicable Communicable Diseases noting that it was up to the Board to investi- Diseases gate and control the spread of communicalbe diseases in the town and report to the State Board any major problems, including suspected food poisoning, illnesses on dairy farms, influenza, venereal diseases and are suppose to screen for tuberculosis and see that people get booster shots. They should also ensure access to necessary care and treatment of those diseased, infected or exposed to infection, providing neces- sary care and treatment of those diseased, infected or exposed to infection, providing necessary resources or contact services for the protection of the public against the spread of tuberculosis. Dr. Goldmann said, on Immunizations and Vaccinations the Board of Health Immuniza- can investigate school and disease records to determine if a clinic should tions be initiated or assist parents in obtaining immunizations of their and Vac - children, if the individual cannot afford to pay for them the board of cination: health or school committee should provide them service without charge or arrange for a health facility to do so.