1987-11-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 24, 1987 Mental Barbara O'Donnell, Sanitarian, stated that since the early sixties the Health trend on Mental Health has been to treat the mentally disabled in community based settings. Patients that are "deinstitionalized" are more likely to lead productive and enjoyable lives than they would in an institution. It has been found that more cost-effective care can be provided in the community than in institutions. The Board of Health should be aware of the problems deinstitionalized patients may face in the community and participate in developing programs and services that may be able to hlep patients. Alcoholism On Alcoholism and other substance abuse, Barbara said, there are networks of services set up for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug, alcohol and cigarette abuses. Alcohol abuse, which results in in- creased illness and use of health services accounts for 10 percent of health care expenditures in Massachusetts. In 1971, the legislature passed the Comprehensive Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation Act, which abolished the crime of public intoxication and provided detoxification and other alcohol treatment facilities through the Division of Alcoholism of MDPH. Cigarette Smoking Cigarette Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Barbara said, and is also associated with fetal and infant mortality and increases the chances of other illnesses when other risk factors are involved. Measures are baing provided to protect the non-smoker and incentives are provided for stopping or reducing the smoking habit. M.G.L. 270.21 prohibits smoking in public elevators, supermarkets, MBTA vehicles and requires designated non- smoking areas in museums, libraries, hospitals, restaurants and nursing homes. More and more regulations are being made against smoking. Drug abuse annual cost in U.S. is seven times that of alcoholism. The Drug reha- bilitation, Department of Mental Health and Department Public Health is responsible for prevention treatment. School Dr. Roemer went on to the final segment of the health functions, School Health Health, she said, is a responsibility of the Board of Health. One of the prime functions is to provide a healthy school environment, see to the removal of asbestos in school buildings, the development of a program of comprehen- sive health education and require and offer assistance to the school committee around these three issues. Clinics and On the subject of Clinics and Community Services the Board has the authority Community and responsibility to establish and maintain dental and medical health clinics Services and conduct general education relative to general health and respond to State suggestions. If there was a particular problem the State could require us to have clinics to deal with the problem. We are required to enforce vaccina- tions and re -vaccination of all inhabitants and if necessary must provide them with free vaccinations. Home At one time, the Board of Health was certified to be home health agents and Health have their own nurses, but with the coming of Medicare and Medicade the Services trend has been for boards of health to drop their status as certified agencies and to contract with certified home health agencies, such as visiting nurses associations, for all or some of the bedside and public health nursing services. 1 1 1