HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11181986 - 1.92 1_09ti rA
TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Mark Finucane, Health Services Director Cbntra
By: Elizabeth A. Spooner, Contracts Administrator
Costa
DATE: November 6, 1986 County
SUBJECT: Approval of Scoliosis Screening Services
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE continuation of County's scoliosis screening services to Contra Costa
County school districts through June 30, 1989.
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT:
School districts requesting scoliosis screening services will pay Health Services
Department's Public Health Division a fee of $1.00 per student which covers the
County's costs of operating the program.
III. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS/BACKGROUND:
On April 5, 1983, the Board approved scoliosis screening services, by Public
Health Nurses, for school districts in Contra Costa County requesting these ser-
vices from the Health Services Department. The Board approved continuation of this
program on February 7, 1984, and the Department is again requesting continuation
of this program through Fiscal Year 1988-89.
Scoliosis can be a crippling, as well as a costly, condition should there be a
delay in early detection. A typical treatment cost for an identified patient may
be as much as $10,000 for conservative treatment. If surgical intervention becomes
necessary, the cost may exceed $40,000. However, an early diagnosis of scoliosis
may require only observation and an exercise regimen with minimum costs involved.
Therefore, early identification and intervention is vital.
Scoliosis screening is mandated under Chapter 13 of the State Education Code on
an annual basis for all seventh grade girls and eighth grade boys. Since most
public school districts have had to cut back their nursing staffs and have limited
health services, the Department's Public Health Division has developed a team of
Public Health Nurses with expertise in scoliosis screening.
The Scoliosis Team can screen approximately forty students per hour and the
screening program operates as follows:
1. Dates and sites for screening are mutually agreed upon by the requesting school
and Public Health.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT, X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATIN OF 130ARD COM ITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE S
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED ir OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS .
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
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 NOV 18 1986_ -
Auditor-Controller (Claims)
PHIL BATCHELOR_CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Health Services Department (Contracts) SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
'92/7-83 BY 1i t ,DEPUTY
BOARD ORDER
SCOLIOSIS SCREENING
PAGE 2
2. Parents are notified of the screening by the school.
3. Separate screening areas for males and females are set up.
4. Health Facilitators (graduate school student workers) assist the Public Health
Nurses with organization and record-keeping.
5. Any student identified as "possible scoliosis" is scheduled for a second defi-
nitive screening which is referred through California Children's Services (CCS)
for diagnosis and evaluation.
6. When any treatment is indicated, a CCS financial eligibility will be obtained,
and Public Health will monitor necessary followup.
Intervention and treatment of serious diseases such as scoliosis is part of Public
Health's mandate to the community.