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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08011995 - D6 �.. Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson County DATE: August 1, 1995 SUBJECT: ACTION PLAN FOR A HEALTHY CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION: DIRECT the Health Services Director to initiate a process for developing an "Action Plan for a Healthy Contra Costa," including, but not limited to, the following activities: 1) Conduct a series of interviews with key individuals and organizations in Contra Costa County, including District Hospital Board members, cities, school districts, Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association, labor organizations representing health professionals (California Nurses Association, Local 1, Hospital Workers Local 250, Physicians Union), Contra Costa Committee on Aging, Kaiser and other HMO's and medical groups, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Contra Costa AIDS Foundation, church organizations and other non-profit organizations, towards designating a specific set of health promotion and disease prevention objectives for the county; 2) Host a county-wide health status conference involving broad community representation, including participants designated by the Board of Supervisors; 3) Prepare a summary report on the Action Plan progress to be presented for review and discussion at one or more public hearings sponsored by the Board of Supervisors. BACKGROUND: At the Board of Supervisor's reorganization meeting in January, I recommended the development of an Action Plan for achieving a healthier county through an integrated, team approach of all dimensions of our health care delivery and public health prevention network. A comprehensive campaign of all segments of our health care systems--working together-- can have a significant impact on reducing mortality, disease and attendant suffering and economic losses. Specific goals with measurable progress points and detailed action steps can harness in a very effective way all the incredible energy, talent and dedicated professionalism that exists in our health delivery system in Contra Costa County. A unified approach and pooling of financial resources can enable new and expanded means of implementing prevention strategies--through designated weeks and months to certain health goals, through prevention and diagnostic information dissemination by posters, radio, TV and public access Cable TV and internet connections, and through volunteer recruitment and mobilization to attain goals. This integrated approach offers huge potential for sharing of best practices and effective programs and could serve as one means to get past the"bricks and mortar" debate which dominated discussions around the Merrithew Memorial Hospital Replacement Project. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:_X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON AUgUSt 1, 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED: X OTHER: HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED August 1, 1995 PHIL BATCHELOR,CL RK OF THE BOARD OF PERVISORS AN C UN ADMINISTRATOR VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: BY D PUTY X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ------- ) AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN- Action Plan for a Health Contra Costa County August 1, 1995 page TWO The intense focus on the hospital replacement project had the undesirable consequence of leading many to view Contra Costa as having a hospital system, rather than a health system offering a full spectrum of integrated services, including public health, mental health, substance abuse, environmental health, emergency medical, ambulatory care and hospital services. The Action Plan would establish a series of ten to twelve measurable and achievable objectives aimed at reducing costly and wasteful health problems. The Action Plan would also serve to help define and direct the future priorities of the Health Services Department. The short term and long term goals to be developed would be modeled after the federal Healthy People 2000 objectives for promoting health and preventing disease. Priority areas might range from violence prevention, AIDS and substance abuse to infant mortality, smoking cessation, and the health and social risks associated with teen pregnancy. A county-wide health status conference would facilitate open dialogue between the county and members of the community who are knowledgeable about health issues or interested in helping the shape the County's future endeavors in the area of health. TT:gro c.c. Health Services — Director CAO