MBRHC Annual Report 2007

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2007 Annual Report

Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission

May 2008

Dear Residents, We are pleased to provide you with the Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission’s (MBRHC) 2007 Annual Report. It is our hope that this report will provide you with a description of some of the services and activities of MBRHC, as well as provide a resource to residents and others looking for public health data.

MBRHC provides public health services to the municipalities of Bound Brook, Green Brook, Middlesex, South Bound Brook, Warren, and Watchung, in Somerset and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey. Our Mission is to “protect and improve the health of the public and environment of the municipalities that form the Commission through preventive services, health promotion and protection strategies, and inspection and enforcement activities. These services, strategies, and activities shall be conducted in an efficient, effective, and conscientious manner.”

Documented activities and outcomes within this Annual Report are divided into categories defined by the “Ten Essential Services of Public Health”. The Ten Essential Services were developed in 1994 and provide a working definition of public health and a guiding framework for the responsibilities of local public health systems. They provide the foundation for any public health activity at all levels of government, including the MiddleBrook Regional Health Commission.

This report is intended to provide an overview of the many public health activities conducted by our staff throughout the year. However, a more complete description of accomplishments is detailed on the Commission’s website and we encourage you to visit it at www.middlebrookhealth.org for more information.

Questions, comments, and suggestions related to this report and the Commission’s activities are encouraged and should be directed to the Health Officer/Director.

Respectfully,

Kevin G. Sumner Health Officer/Director

Page 2

W

HO WE ARE

The staff of Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission is lean – with four full-time and two part-time Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS) serving all six municipalities. Each inspector is trained (and continues to be trained) in many aspects of environmental health. They collectively conduct all retail food establishment inspections, and the inspections of several other entities such as kennels, massage therapy establishments, recreational bathing places, body art shops and daycare providers. They investigate and follow-up public health complaints and facilitate all public clinics, including annual flu shots and rabies vaccination clinics throughout the year. In addition, they provide a variety of educational trainings for food handlers, law enforcement, public works employees, emergency responders and the general public.

In addition, we have on staff one Registered Nurse, who is responsible for school nursing services at the non-public schools in the Borough of Bound Brook and assisting with public health nursing activities throughout the Commission. Joining our staff in September of 2007 is a Health Educator, who is responsible for website development, community publications, and our new monthly cable program, Public Health Matters.

Finally, as displayed below, MBRHC is accountable to the governing officials of each of our six municipalities, and partners with numerous municipal, county and state public health organizations.

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ABOUT THE COMMISSION The Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission was formed in 1970, serving the towns of Bound Brook, Green Brook, Middlesex, and South Bound Book. In 1971, the town of Watchung joined the Commission and more recently, Warren was included in the region served. The Commission’s governing body consists of two volunteer representatives from each of the six towns served, and provides direction and long-term planning for the Commission’s overall activities. These volunteer representatives bring with them a broad range of personal and professional abilities and expertise to serve in this capacity, and we are most appreciative of the time and energy they so willingly donate. A complete listing of our Commission members, by town served, can be found on page 18.

History of the ‘Ten Essential Services of Public Health’ In 1988, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) produced a report, The Future of Public Health. Among other findings, the IOM noted that pubic health was fractionated and the public lacked a clear understanding of the basic or core functions of public health. In 1994, The Ten Essential Services of Public Health was developed as an alternative means of organizing and presenting public health services and activities.

People often ask what the role of a local public health agency is in a community. In a national effort to better describe these roles, the “ten essential services” shown here were compiled as a tool to categorize the key functions of local public health. It is our goal to offer quality programs and services that address each of these functions, provided either solely by the Commission, or in partnership with another community helath organization.

Cost to the Community The many programs and services described in this Annual Report are generally offered at no cost to community members or local establishments. Yet, the value of knowing our water is safe to drink, food handlers are practicing safe food-handling steps, children are receiving needed health services, seniors are receiving flu and pneumonia vaccines, animals are being vaccinated against rabies, air quality is being assessed...well, you get the idea.

Those assurances cannot be given a price tag. Yet, on average, the cost per person in our six municipalities is just $10.50.

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ESSENTIAL SERVICE #1:

M

onitor Health Status to Identify and Solve Community Health Problems SOUTH

BOUND GREEN BOUND In order to rapidly identify BROOK BROOK MIDDLESEX BROOK WARREN WATCHUNG TOTAL DISEASE and recognize a disease BABESIOSIS 3 3 outbreak in a community (be BRUCELLOSIS 1 1 it a neighborhood, school, CAMPYLOBACTERIA 1 1 1 2 1 6 nursing home, work place, DENGUE FEVER 1 1 or other environment), public EHRLICHIOSIS 2 2 health officials must be able to E-COLI 1 1 5 1 1 3 perform systematic disease GIARDIA HEPATITIS A 6 1 1 1 1 2 surveillance activities. In NJ, HEPATITIS B 55 2 11 4 7 19 12 local public health officials use HEPATITIS C 64 13 4 25 10 7 5 a system called Communicable HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE 1 1 Disease Reporting and LEAD POISONING 3 1 1 1 Surveillance System (CDRSS), LYME DISEASE 84 6 11 7 4 39 17 6 1 1 2 2 which allows specially-trained MISCELLANEOUS 1 1 health department staff to monitor OVA + PARASITE OCCUPATIONAL 30 30 certain reportable diseases within INJURIES PERTUSSIS 4 1 1 1 1 its borders. Data is reported from RUBELLA 1 1 various sources, including labs, SALMONELLA 10 2 1 6 1 hospitals, physicians, schools, SHIGELLA 1 1 STREPTOCOCCUS and other healthcare providers.

PNEUMONIAE 2 1 1 The chart to the right STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES 1 1 shows the 2007 reportable TB 4 1 1 1 1 disease incidences throughout WEST NILE 1 1 27 33 44 29 88 72 293 the Commission’s region. Of TOTAL particular significance in the use of this electronic reporting system is that it allows for a rapid, accurate assessment of community health status – and potential risk for spread of infectious diseases. Armed with this ‘real-time’ data, appropriate steps can be taken as needed to contain further spread.

Through ongoing monitoring of communicable disease reports in the towns served, Senior Registered Environmetal Health Specialist Robyn Key detected an unusual occurrence: more than one patient in a long term care facility tested positive for a communicable disease.

Immediate action was taken, both locally and by alerting the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services. It was quickly determined that there was an outbreak of the bacterial infection ‘Group A Streptococcus’ (often referred to as GAS) occurring in the facility. Additional testing resulted

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ESSENTIAL SERVICE #1:

M

onitor Health Status to Identify and Solve Community Health Problems (continued)

in three additional patients testing positive for this disease. Working closely with the facility’s health care providers and other staff members, strict infection control procedures were put into place, averting further spread of the infection.

CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION AUDITS PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH Vaccine-preventable diseases should be just that – preventable. To help ensure that children are protected from the diseases and conditions that have become, in most cases, a ‘thing of the past’, immunization audits are conducted in all public schools. Working in close partnership with school nurses, MBRHC contracts with the Community VNA (Visiting Nurse Association) to review immunization records to assure that children’s vaccinations are complete, and comply with the state’s Immunization guidelines for school admission.

VITAL STATISTICS The recording of Vital Statistics is one of the oldest sources of health data in this country. It is also a core activity overseen by local public health, and serves as the essential (and historical) record of marriages, births and deaths in a given community. MBRHC staff serve as Registrars and Deputy Registrars.

In February of 2007, the Civil Union Act went into effect. The new law expands the rights provided by the Domestic Partnership Act and establishes the same legal rights and financial benefits currently available to married heterosexual couples to same-sex couples who comply with the procedures set in the law. To ensure immediate compliance, each of our Registrars and Deputy Registrars participated in relevant training relating to this new law.

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ESSENTIAL SERVICE #2:

D

iagnose and Investigate Health Problems and Health Hazards in the Community

John Snow, the father of epidemiology, investigated and reported on a Cholera outbreak in 1854 England associated with drinking water, ringing in modern day public health. Ensuring the safety of our drinking water is one of the most fundamental, and most critical, responsibilities of modern public health. In fact, safe drinking water has been a key ingredient in some of the greatest public health achievements of the last half-century, including the dramatic reduction in disease and increased longevity that we now tend to take for granted. Along with other basic public health measures like immunization, drinking water protection has played a crucial role in building a safer and healthier society.

TOWN

# WELL # WELLS INSPECTIONS/ # WELL CONTAMINATED ISSUES SAMPLES WITH BACTERIA

# WELLS WITH # WATER CHEMICALS # WELLS POLLUTION # SEPTIC EXCEEDING CONTAMINATED TOTAL WELLS COMPLAINTS/ INSPECTIONS/ STATE STDS WITH CHEMICAL CONTAMINATED INSPECTIONS ISSUES

BOUND BROOK

129

29

8

3

13

24

8

3

GREEN BROOK

26

21

3

0

10

13

4

13

MIDDLESEX

31

6

1

2

3

6

12

1

S. BOUND BROOK

5

2

0

1

2

3

1

2

WARREN

74

34

19

6

23

48

3

220

WATCHUNG

22

11

1

0

6

7

4

75

TOTAL

287

103

32

12

57

101

32

314

As shown in the table above, this function remains as a core function of public health work. The following pages display the details of other investigations that occurred in 2007.

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ESSENTIAL SERVICE #2:

D

iagnose and Investigate Health Problems and Health Hazards in the Community (continued)

Immediate response to environmental hazards is critical. In 2007, MBRHC staff responded to over 100 reports of environmental concerns, including indoor and outdoor air pollution, noise pollution, odors and others.

In public health, monitoring and protecting ‘human’ health status sometimes occurs by monitoring insects, birds and cats & dogs. Be it assessing mosquito pools, reports of dead crows or potentially rabid animals, public health uses many tools and processes to investigate health problems and / or potential hazards in the community.

A health hazard that appears to be on the rise in NJ is rabies. In fact, statewide, from 2004 to 2007, there was an increase in cases from 210 to 284. This increase may be due in part because of greater vigilance on the part of public health and better awareness of the public. The public, being better educated than before, reports occurrences of sick animals and exposures to animals. The public health system, in this including MBRHC, local police and animal control services, responds, investigates, and determines if further action is necessary. Possible outcomes may be testing of suspect animals, quarantine of domestic animals, or treatment of exposed individuals.

CATEGORY

BOUND BROOK

GREEN SOUTH BOUND MIDDLESEX BROOK BROOK

# Dog Bites

9

4

11

# Cat Bites

6

2

# Bat Bites # Other Animal Bites Animals Heads to Trenton RABIES CLINICS: # Dogs Vaccinated # Cats Vaccinated

0

WARREN

WATCHUNG

TOTAL

3

3

0

30

2

1

1

1

13

0

3

0

0

1

4

1

1

2

0

1

1

6

1

4

5

1

2

1

14

47

40

59

41

48

48

283

17

20

22

19

16

6

100

The increase is also likely to be due in part to natural ecological cycles which we have little to no control over, thus the need to be constantly vigilant in our diagnosis and investigation of health hazards. The table above describes some of the animal bite investigations c o n d u c t e d b y s t a ff .

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MUNICIPALITY

EMERGENCY MASSAGE TATTOO RESPONSE THERAPY SALON JUNKYARD INSPECTIONS/ (incl. USTs INSPECTIONS/ INSPECTIONS INSPECTIONS ISSUES and Pollution ISSUES Complaints)

BOUND BROOK

3

0

0

0

44

GREEN BROOK

1

0

0

0

4

MIDDLESEX

8

1

3

18

16

S. BOUND BROOK

0

0

0

0

2

WARREN

0

0

0

0

17

WATCHUNG

6

1

0

0

7

TOTAL

18

2

3

18

90

A wide variety of inspections occur on a routine basis throughout the year, to help ensure establishments that serve the public are maintaining appropriate standards for operation.

Registered Environmental Health Specialists are trained in state regulations and codes specific to the type of establishment, and they are also trained in appropriate techniques to prevent the risk of infection. The table above shows the 2007 inspections of tattoo parlors, massage therapy centers, junkyards, and responses to various environmental concerns.

As shown here, the REHS staff also responds to a variety of resident c o n c e r n s , including indoor and outdoor air quality, noise levels, radon, and lead-related issues.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY ISSUES

RADON

AIR POLLUTION AND ODORS

NOISE

LEAD TESTS

LEAD VIOLATIONS

BOUND BROOK

5

0

0

0

9

1

GREEN BROOK

0

0

1

13

0

0

MIDDLESEX

1

6

41

0

7

0

S. BOUND BROOK

1

1

0

0

0

0

WARREN

4

7

0

0

1

0

WATCHUNG

2

6

0

0

0

0

TOTAL

13

20

42

13

17

1

MUNICIPALITY

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ESSENTIAL SERVICE #3:

I

nform, Educate and Empower People about Health Issues

It is a constant goal of MBRHC staff that all activities incorporate health education components. Be it restaurant inspections, pool inspections or even those activities which on the surface may appear to be purely ‘enforcement’ in nature, we strive to incorporate education into the process.

Our ongoing health education activities have been in place for several years, and include teaching health information – and the needed skills to implement it – to many diverse populations.

For example, one such group is Food Handlers in local retail food establishments. It is essential that these workers not only hear the information about disease spread, cross-contamination and proper hand washing; they must also be taught the skills to perform their jobs with safe food handling techniques in mind, to avoid the potential for infections to spread.

With that in mind, each year REHS staff offer Food Handler’s training courses, covering a broad range of appropriate topics, including prevention of food borne illnesses from crosscontamination, proper cooking and cooling temperatures, and proper food handling techniques in the event of flooding or power outages. In 2007, over 190 were trained in the new state food code regulations. In 2008, one special session will be facilitated in Spanish, to assure full comprehension by all food handlers. In addition to the Food Handlers’ educational sessions, staff provided or assisted in the coordination of • Bloodborne Pathogens Training to over 250 employees of Public Schools, Departments of Public Works, Police Departments and Rescue Squads • Right-to-Know (chemical safety) Training to over 100 Public Works and Police Department personnel • Public Health Activities / Careers Awareness to hundreds of Middle School, high school and college students

Expanded Activities with Part-Time Health Educator In September 2007, the Commission hired a part-time Health Educator, whose first activities were to help make MBRHC more visible in the community as the source for credible, local public health information. To that end, the Commission now has • A fully functioning web site, (www.middlebrookhealth.org), packed with information related to local public health activities and public health issues that can affect us all • A Programs and Services brochure describing the Commission’s services and resources • A semi-annual newsletter distributed to each municipal office and libraries throughout towns served by the Commission

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Public Health Info Comes to Your Living Room in 2008!

To provide education to the maximum number of people, beginning in January 2008, residents will see a “first-of-itskind-in-Central-Jersey” program on their local cable access station, called Public Health Matters. Hosted by our new Health Educator, this ½ -hour program will discuss important public health issues in an interview-format program. Guests will include respected subject-matter experts on various public health topics. The program will be taped at local station Piscataway Community Television (PCTV) and air twice per week in most towns served. Check your local listings!

Essential Service #4:

M

obilize Community Partnerships and Action to Identify and Solve Health Problems

As no man is an island unto himself, no local health department works in a vacuum.

Numerous formal and informal partnerships with other organizations (local, county and state levels) allow the Commission to most effectively provide a greater variety of public health services. For example, numerous community health screenings are provided in partnership with the Community VNA; air pollution investigations are often assisted by both Middlesex and Somerset County Environmental Health agencies.

These agencies, which have specially trained staff and equipment, act as a local agent of the State’s Department of Environmental Protection.

To help ensure such partnerships, the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) encouraged each county to form a GPHP – Governmental Public Health Partnership. Through this Partnership, local health departments can work collectively to address common concerns, thus avoiding duplication and in many cases, sharing resources.

As a member of the Somerset County GPHP, MBRHC worked to help implement a countywide community health assessment, via health-focused telephone interviews with adult county residents. Based on this process, the county developed a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), upon which local public health organizations could base future activities. Because the town of Middlesex is in Middlesex County, MBRHC also partnered with the Middlesex County GPHP, to develop a similar Community Health Improvement Plan, specific to that county.

2007 also saw partnerships in the area of emergency planning, with a particular emphasis on pandemic influenza. In an effort to identify alternative models for rapid delivery of flu Page 11

Essential Service #4:

M

obilize Community Partnerships and Action to Identify and Solve Health Problems (continued)

vaccine, MBRHC partnered for a second time with the Somerset County Department of Health and other local health departments to conduct a drive-through flu clinic. Testing this process allowed public health agencies to assess whether or not this could be an effective means of dispensing mass vaccinations during an influenza pandemic. In addition, we participated with Middlesex County in exercises related to medication distribution.

Essential Services #5

D

evelop Policies and Plans that Support Individual and Community Health Efforts

Policies and plans are generally developed for two reasons: first, to protect the health status of a given population, and second, to help guide public health practice. A few examples of the efforts our Boards undertook in 2007 are described below.

• Watchung was influential in the state’s tanning regulations being proposed. The Board had long considered the passage of a local tanning ordinance as it was concerned about exposures to ultraviolet rays, particularly by our youth. However, State statutes required the passage of state regulations, so Watchung questioned the status of these regulations frequently and they have now been proposed for state-wide implementation.

• Warren adopted two septic ordinance amendments to address local changes in on-site sewage disposal policies.

• Green Brook amended its massage therapy and fees ordinances due to changes in state laws and policies.

• Watchung and Warren each adopted local ordinances to allow the use of advanced technologies in the design of certain septic systems as a response to advances in technology.

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Essential Services #5

D

evelop Policies and Plans that Support Individual and Community Health Efforts (continued)

The Commission regularly considers and addresses public health policy issues and in 2007 adopted a resolution, which was forwarded to State legislators, regarding its concerns about mandated consolidation of public health services. The Commission also encourages and supports staff participating at the State and National level. For instance, the Health Officer was the President of the New Jersey Health Officers Association and serves on State and National policy making Boards. In this way, the Commission has a hand in forming public health policy that benefits all.

Policies and plans are also developed to help the Commission prepare for potential public health threats. Commission staff has worked to produce, and continues to revise, local standard operating guidelines. These guidelines provide for a consistent and organized response to both emergencies and disasters, as well as the day-to-day routine activities.

In addition, in response to public health concerns about the H5N1 Avian flu virus, and it’s potential to become a trigger for a global flu pandemic, the Commission has developed a Pandemic response plan to help best mitigate the circumstance. We consider this plan, coupled with other public health emergency response plans, to be ‘living documents’, meaning that they are ever-evolving as new information becomes available, and additional resources are acquired to better respond.

Essential Service #6

E

nforce Laws and Regulations That Protect Health and Ensure Safety

For many years it has been illegal for retail establishments to sell tobacco products to youth under the age of 19. To help enforce this important law, the Commission has, for more than a decade, participated in the “Tobacco Age of Sale Enforcement” (TASE) program.

This program involves making unannounced visits to retail businesses that sell tobacco products. High school student volunteers, under the direction of trained staff, attempt to purchase tobacco products at various locations.

Based on NJ law, a person who sells or distributes tobacco products to a minor is liable for a civil penalty of not less than $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for the second violation and $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. In addition, MBRHC can recommend revocation of the license to sell tobacco products for repeat offenders. In 2005 and 2006, no establishments were found to sell tobacco products to youth, while in 2007, three locations were identified - thus underscoring the importance of continued vigilance.

Page 13

Essential Service #6

E

nforce Laws and Regulations That Protect Health and Ensure Safety (continued) State health laws require that local public health agencies conduct a variety of routine inspections, to ensure that certain standards are maintained. Inspections are conducted annually for retail food establishments, pet shops and kennels, youth camps, public pools (‘recreational bathing’) and other environments to assure that codes and standards are being met.

In 2007, the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services adopted a major revision to the Retail Food Establishment regulations, to better reflect current food operation standards and to be more in line with national recommendations.

As such, the Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission initiated an effort train its staff in the new law and procedures. In addition, the Commission staff spent the year enlightening and educating the operators, managers, and owners of the food establishments within its jurisdiction about the new rules and its requirements. This training occurred on site as well as at formal food handler training programs. Food establishment personnel were guided throughout the year with the understanding that stricter enforcement of the new provisions would begin in 2008. While these activities have and will continue to increase the work load on the department they will also certainly improve the health and safety of our food establishments, thus providing greater protection to the public from the potential of food-borne illness.

The table below describes the inspections of retail food establishments conducted in 2007.

MUNICIPALITY

# # # # SATISFACTORY CONDITIONAL UNSATISFACTORY TOTAL LICENSED INSPECTIONS INSPECTIONS INSPECTIONS INSPECTIONS

BOUND BROOK

96

82

30

3

115

GREEN BROOK

53

48

8

0

56

MIDDLESEX

87

105

19

2

126

S. BOUND BROOK

27

26

8

0

34

WARREN

131

126

13

0

139

WATCHUNG

67

69

5

1

75

TOTAL

461

456

83

6

545

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Essential Service #7

L

ink People to Needed Personal Health Services and Assure the Provision of Healthcare When Otherwise Unavailable

It is no secret that many working parents still find it extremely difficult – if not impossible - to afford adequate health insurance coverage for their families. It is, in part, the role of public health to help address this issue, by ensuring that individuals are linked to the most essential of health services.

In partnership with the Community VNA, uninsured children are able to receive essential vaccines to help ensure good health. In addition, as it is a state law that children are fully vaccinated before entering kindergarten, this support helps make certain that children can enroll on time.

• In 2007, 27 children took part in the various essential nursing services provided by the Community VNA, including immunizations, nutritional assessments, developmental assessments, lead screenings and physicals To help address some of the health needs of adults in our region, MBRHC also partners with Women’s Health and Counseling Center in Somerville, where a variety of STD screenings and treatments are provided, with fees based on a sliding scale.

• In 2007, more than 200 women and men had access to more than 3000 screening tests According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from flu. To help reduce these statistics, MBRHC provides flu and pneumonia vaccinations to adults throughout the towns served. In 2007, seven clinics were held, providing 540 flu vaccines and 10 pneumonia vaccines.

Response Efforts Our region is no stranger to unanticipated emergencies – and 2007 was no exception.

In April of 2007, Bound Brook was once again hit by heavy flooding, resulting in many families being evacuated from their homes, and numerous businesses needing to temporarily close.

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Essential Service #7

L

ink People to Needed Personal Health Services and Assure the Provision of Health Care When Otherwise Unavailable (continued)

While public health is less actively involved in initial response efforts, public health activities are abundant in the overall response. Linking residents and business owners to critical services and information in April and during several prior flooding incidents was essential to helping to maintain the good health of the community.

Education provided to community members included • Where to go for food, shelter and clean-up supplies • Safe clean-up of your home after the flood • How to prevent the spread of diseases (infection control) in shelter environments In addition to education, MBRHC was also responsible for assuring that all retail food establishments (such as restaurants and convenience stores) were properly disposing of unsafe food items and thoroughly and appropriately cleaning all equipment.

As part of its pre-planning / pre-event activities, MBRHC staff routinely monitors current weather status. In the event of incoming inclement weather, all efforts are directed towards notifying local establishments to plan and prepare as needed, to best mitigate the event. In addition, staff serves as an important resource to the community for any public health information and education needed during response activities. Equally important is that as a result of frequent response participation, MBRHC is seen by traditional emergency responders such as law enforcement, emergency management and fire officials as a true partner in mitigating an incident and as a resource upon which they can rely.

Essential Service #8

A

ssure competent public and personal health care workforce

To help ensure that our staff is aware of the most current guidelines guiding public health practice, all are strongly encouraged to take part in ongoing professional education as appropriate. As such, some of the workshops in which staff participated includes ‘Civil Unions’ for our Registrar staff, ‘Pest Control’ for Environmental staff, ‘Food Allergies in School’ for nursing staff, and a variety of many others. We are also pleased to have on staff a certified Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor, an immediately available resource in the event of recognized lead exposure, as well as staff trained in noise control.

Page 16

It is also imperative that staff is aware of the current public health threats, be they naturally occurring emerging infections (such as the H5N1 avian flu virus, or other new pathogen) or risks associated with bioterrorism.

In either case, preparedness is essential, and staff is encouraged to take part in educational opportunities dedicated to emergency planning. All response staff, and most non-response staff are compliant with federal requirements for National Incident Management (NIMS).

Essential Service #9

E

valuate Effectiveness, Accessibility, and Quality of Personal and Population-based Health Services

Evaluation and feedback is sought for all educational services provided to the community, be it targeted trainings such as Bloodborne Pathogens or Right-to-Know workshops, website usability, or the value and quality of our new Public Health Matters cable program. This feedback, both positive and negative, can only serve to support improvements to our services. Additional efforts will be made in 2008 to develop evaluation processes for all MBRHC activities.

Essential Service #10

R

esearch for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.

While no formal research activities were conducted in 2007, the Commission has a long history of partnering with both Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry – School of Public Health. The Commission often serves as a resource to students, and occasionally staff, due to its availability and willingness to promote public health practice.

The Commission has hosted several interns from both schools and recently a graduate student partnered with the Commission to investigate the health impacts of flooding on residents. The Health Officer serves on Committees at UMDNJ, teaches frequently at Rutgers, and mentors students regularly. Promoting public health as a possible career path and being a willing partner in developing solutions to public health problems are activities the Commission enjoys.

Page 17

Additional Information Available Online This is the first year the MBRHC has produced a public Annual Report. In the past, the collected data has been primarily shared with Commission members, State Health Department liaisons and other local officials. Data related to all aspects of MBRHC activities is routinely collected for inclusion in a detailed data report. This more detailed operational report for 2007 can be found on our website, at www.middlebrookhealth.org. We hope that this new public report will provide you with an overview of the most important aspects of the Commission’s activities and accomplishments.

However, if you are interested in lots of details and numbers, please visit the website or contact the Commission offices for a copy of the detailed data report.

Commission Members and Meeting Dates The Commission is made up of six municipalities, each with it’s own Board of Health. Each Board meets several times a year, to discuss issues particularly relevant to its town. In addition, the President and Vice President of each Board serves on the Commission, where broader public health concerns affecting all six municipalities are addressed. The public is welcome to attend any of these meetings. Note however that the Boards do not always meet every month; please contact MBRHC at 732-356-8090 to confirm schedule. Meetings are held in town Municipal Buildings unless otherwise noted. The 2008 Board of Health members are listed below.

Bound Brook Board of Health 2nd Thursday, 7:00 pm 230 Hamilton St

Judy Bailey Debbie Cozza Helen Goodrich

Barbara Lobman Angela Robinson Mary Straub**

Diane Scarpulla Mary Fuentes* Anthony Pranzatelli***

Green Brook Board of Health 4th Thursday, 7:30 pm 111 Greenbrook Road

Natalie Farry Jon Fourre**

John King Jean S. Mazet Frank Mercuri***

Mary Christian Atul Shah*

Middlesex Board of Health 1st Tuesday, 7:00 pm Middlesex Public Library 1300 Mountain Ave

Lori Bowers Bernadette Colanduoni** Barbara Ferris

Albert Lowande* John Madden Dean Petti Michael Venuto***

Amelia Sherr Ronald Cohen Melisa Fedosh

South Bound Brook Board of Health 1st Thursday, 7:00 pm 12 Main Street

Donna Bennett* Brenda King Dennis Quinlan***

Helen O’Brien Arleen Lih Gertrude Epple

Joyce W. Smith Sue Warrelmann**

Warren Board of Health 2nd Wednesday, 7:00 pm 46 Mountain Blvd

Malcolm Plager* Angelo Demarco** Victor Sordillo***

Jolee Garrison Bruce Morlino M. A. Sarraf

Abe Zimmerman Susan Cooper Gregory Riley

Watchung Board of Health 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 pm Texier House, 10 Mountain Blvd

Fran Ellis Mary Mobus William Nehls*

George Pogosky Robert Riedinger Bruce Ruck

John Sachariah Peter Savulich Harriet Stambaugh**

Commission Meeting Last Wednesday Meeting locations rotate; Contact MBRHC for details

Judy Bailey Mary Fuentes Jon Fourre Jolee Garrison

Atul Shah Albert Lowande Amelia Sherr Arleen Lih

Sue Warrelmann William Nehls* Peter Savulich Gregory Riley**

*Denotes Board President

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** Denotes Board Vice-President

***Committee Rep / Council Liaison

H

OW TO REACH US

Kevin G. Sumner, MPH— Director and Health Officer of MBRHC. 732-356-8090 or ksummer@middlebrookhealth.org Robyn Key - Senior Registered Environmental Health Specialist, serving Watchung, Green Brook and South Bound Brook. Licensed Lead Inspector / Risk Assessor.

732-356-8090 x 253 or rkey@middlebrookhealth.org Nancy Lanner - Registered Environmental Health Specialist, serving Middlesex.

732-356-8090 X 251 or nlanner@middlebrookhealth.org Heather Ross - Registered Environmental Health Specialist, serving Bound Brook.

732- 356-0833 x 631 or hross@middlebrookhealth.org Donna Ostman - Registered Environmental Health Specialist, serving Warren. Warren Township Deputy Registrar. 908-753-8000 or dostman@warrentboe.org Colleen McKay Wharton - Public Health Educator and Commission webmaster; 732-356-8090 or cmckaywharton@middlebrookhealth.org Ronald Cohen, PhD -- Served as Health Officer from 1970 - 2000, and is now a part-time staff member, conducting inspections, reviewing plans and applications.

732-356-8090 or mbrhc@middlebrookhealth.org Fran Ellis - Provides nursing services to the non-public schools in the Borough of Bound Brook. 732-356-8090 or mbrhc@middlebrookhealth.org Jean (Genevieve) Ross - Secretary to the Health Officer since 1970; serves as Registrar for the town of Middlesex. 732-356-8090 X 250 or jross@middlebrookhealth.org Mary Ann Schamberger - Administrative Secretary since 1976; Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics for the town of Middlesex. 732-356-8090 x 254 or mascham@middlebrookhealth.org.

Barbara Streker - Clerk to the Board of Health and the Certified Municipal Registrar of Vital Statistics for Warren Township. 908-753-8000 x 239 or bstreker@warrentboe.org 1200 Mountain Avenue Middlesex, NJ 08846 Phone: 732-356-8090 www.middlebrookhealth.org Page 19

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Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission 1200 Mountain Avenue Middlesex, NJ 08846 www.middlebrookhealth.org