Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02111986 - IO.3 _To•3 . R TO- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Contra February 10, 1986 Costa DATE'. Status of Prospective Cancer Study and l ointy SUBJECT: Establishment of a Health Review Board SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1 . Authorize the Health Services Director to convene a group of experts to develop the nature and scope of a scientifically valid prospective study of the incidence and causes of cancer in at least the Bay Area, and prepare a grant application to possible funding sources seeking funds to conduct such a study, and report a proposed timetable for the work of the study group to the Internal Operations Committee on March 10. 2 . Authorize the Chairman to send letters to a list of experts identified by the Health Services Director inviting them to be a part of the effort to develop such a study protocol and grant application. 3 . Direct the Health Services Director to make recommendations to the Internal Operations Committee on March 10 regarding the general composition, staffing, proposed charge and duties of an advisory board to provide general community input to the Health Services Department and the Board of Supervisors in the areas of Public Health and Environmental Health. 4 . Direct the Health Services Director to report to the Internal Operations Committee on March 10 on the existing statutory requirements for data to be reported to the Tumor Registry. BACKGROUND: On December 10, 1985, the Board of Supervisors directed the Assistant Health Services Director--Public Health to report to our Committee on the status of the prospective cancer study, whether or not the Tumor Registry is fulfilling its State mandate and on the feasibility of establishing a Health Review Board. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE X APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): Ft N cy C. Fanden iunne lJ: McPeak ACTION OF BOARD ON February 11 , 1986 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: County Administrator ATTESTED February 11, 1986 Health Services Director _ Asst. Dir.--Public Health PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Asst. Dir,--Env. Health SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR M382/7-83 B `4 ,DEPUTY Page 2 We met with the Health Services Director and Assistant Health Services Director--Public Health on February 10 to review these issues. Dr. Brunner reviewed the history of the study of the incidence of cancer in Contra Costa County and the continuing need for a scientifically valid occupational/environmental cancer study which would prospectively review all cases of cancer in a large enough geographical area to make the study valid. He noted that there appear to be few available funding sources. Dr. Brunner recommended that a group of experts in the field needs to be convened to design the nature and scope of such a study. The group would, in effect, be preparing a grant application to various potential funding sources since it is not feasible for the County to fund such a study, particularly since it must encompass at least the Bay Area in order to include enough cases of cancer to be valid. In terms of the Tumor Registry, Dr. Brunner noted that the County had supported legislation during 1985 which was successful in extending the Tumor Registry statewide. He noted that there have been questions raised about the adequacy of the data gathered by the Tumor Registry. In regard to the Health Review Board, Supervisor Fanden noted the need which has been expressed by the community for a community-based, non-technical advisory committee to the Board of Supervisors and the Health Services Department in areas dealing generally with public health and environmental health issues which are of concern to the community. Supervisor McPeak suggested that such a group should be coordinated with the Hazardous Materials Commission which is being recommended to the Board by the Hazardous Waste Task Force and with the group which is planning the implementation of AB 2185 in the County. In response, Mr. Finucane suggested that he would like to discuss the proposed composition, staffing, charge, and duties of such an advisory board with his staff, and would be prepared to make specific recommendations within a month. Based on this discussion, our Committee is making the above recommendations in the form of a status report on this subject.