School-based vaccine clinics planned
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POSTED: May 27, 2009
By Fritz Busch Journal Staff Writer
NEW ULM – Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz gave several doses of good news to Brown County commissioners Tuesday.
Proposed federal funding has been earmarked for more vaccine for children, according to Moritz.
“We are working with the Springfield Medical Center and partnering with American Lung Association to plan school-based, seasonal influenza immunization clinics this fall,” she wrote in her public health update.
Moritz said her department continues to be on alert and hopeful that the H1N1 virus does not become more severe.
The median age of people with confirmed H1N1 cases is about 16 years old. Very few people over age 50 have confirmed cases, according to Moritz.
Adult Mental Health Supervisor Dick Embacher and coordinator Angie Youngerberg said plans are moving ahead to create a psychiatric hub in Mankato this July to service the 10-county South Central Community-Based Initiative (SCCBI).
Practitioners would serve up to 250 clients. Inter-active TV will be used to cut travel time.
Urgent care appointments have increased, with a recent monthly high of 37 client seen, four times the previous average rate. Primary care doctor referrals are up as well, according to the SCCBI annual report.
South Country Health Alliance Executive Officer Brian Nasi said the group is on budget for the first time in two years.
The organization owned by 14 counties creates networking partnerships with hospitals, clinics, medical providers and county social services to improve care and manage costs.
County Lay Board member Judy Kuster asked if the free Open Door Clinic in Mankato was part of the alliance.
Brown County Family Services Director Tom Henderson said the clinic – which sees about 300 Brown County residents a year, often for dental work – was not part of the alliance.
Brown County Child Protection Investigator Stacy Helget and Child and Family Supervisor Tom Sandberg said the county is doing more family assessments instead of child protection investigations.
By assessing strengths before needs, workers often have a better way to work with families to ensure child safety, Helget said.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Brown County’s veteran population declined slightly over the past five years while total benefits steadily rose.
“This is a testament that your County Veterans Service Officer team is reaching out to the veteran population, ensuring each eligible person receives their rightful benefits,” the V.A Department stated.
In his annual report, Brown County Veterans Service Officer Greg Peterson said there were 38 benefit applications in 2008, compared to 85 in 2007.
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs pays veterans subsistence for those temporarily out of work – up to $6,000 per veteran or dependent for dental care – and up to $400 for optical care.
Seventy-two Brown County veterans died in 2008, compared to 66 in 2007 and 62 in 2006.
Commissioners unanimously authorized:
Increasing Family Service’s Tom Henderson and Sheriff Rich Hoffmann’s department credit cards from $5,000-$10,000 temporarily to address potential transportation and related costs for the Daniel Hauser law enforcement investigation.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).