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Healthcare Provider Information |
Address:
Garrett Co. Health Dept.
1025 Memorial Drive
Oakland, MD 21550
Main Phone:
301-334-7777
or 301-895-3111
FAX: 301-334-7701
See department pages for individual phone numbers
E-Mail Webmaster
Alerts: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Previous Alerts
Notes: June 2007- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Previous Notes
Legislative Actions of the 2007 Maryland Session
The Legislature passed a law changing reporting of HIV cases (as well as AIDS cases) by name to the health department, on the same revised Morbidity Reporting Form as for other reportable diseases. Maryland was among the last three states to make this change of reporting requirements, and not to do so would have resulted in the loss of some federal HIV funds.
The legislature decided to continue the state requirement for a separate HIV testing consent form, and pre and post-test counseling, delaying adoption of the new guidelines of the CDC to drop these special conditions. Stakeholders in this area were split in their positions so a taskforce was set to meet and come to agreement by the next legislative session.
Maryland has a special category defining a "Drug-exposed Infant" which can enable special protections for a newborn infant. Methamphetamine was added to cocaine and heroin as included in this category. Any positive tests of mother or baby can trigger a report by a hospital to Social Services, and they can see that the health and safety of the baby is protected, or institute protection procedures.
The FDA is due for congressional review soon, and the controversy over Avandia has raised many issues for practitioners and patients alike. Unfortunately, drugs don't fall into simple safe and unsafe categories, but shades of safety, which must be graded against shades of benefit. Diabetic drugs have been evaluated for their effect on glycated hemoglobin, but adverse effects on macro-vascular outcomes may not have been adequately studied. New data on safety of approved drugs must be studied, and uncertainty is a necessary side-effect. Stay tuned as the controversy goes back and forth.
Four Welsh persons were diagnosed with H7N2 Avian Influenza (LPAI) with conjunctivitis and low grade influenza symptoms, as an outbreak in their poultry was being identified and controlled with isolation and culling, and epidemiologic investigations are under way.
H5N1 cases continue intermittently to take a human life, recently one in China, and two from different areas of Indonesia.
Pandemic Influenza; Local Organizing and Planning for the Possible Pandemic
Basics include that we will be pretty much on our own- no doctors or nurses are going to come to the county, and no out-of-county hospitals are going to be able to receive our patients. A pandemic could be mild, moderate, or severe, and the local response will be adjusted to the severity of the disease which might evolve.
We will try to maintain our current organization, with the Medical Staff of Garrett County Memorial Hospital taking the medical lead, absorbing community doctors and practitioners into staffing for special flu clinics, and flu wards at the hospital, if the disease is severe. The Executive Committee could lead, or set up a new committee. An early decision could be to establish certain physicians as hospitalists to provide all inpatient care to influenza patients. The State stockpile of anti-viral medications would flow through the Health Department to the Garrett County Memorial Hospital for distribution by medical staff, within guidelines established by the State.
The administration of Garrett County Memorial Hospital will deal with bed expansion needs, separation of flu and non-flu patients and other infection control precautions, staffing, equipment, supplies, food, water, power, and facilities for out-patient care.
Tasks of the Health Department and Emergency Management of the Commissioners' office will be:
• Health:
-----Home Health
-----Surveillance
-----Community Outreach & Education Prevention Measures
-----Stress Management• Support:
-----Emergency Medical Services
-----Fire, Police, Public Works, Utilities
-----Transportation
-----Communications
-----Shelter & Special Needs
-----Mortuary ServicesCounty organization of the response will be established under the county health officer, as specified by state law, and will follow the principles of "incident command structure", as required by federal regulations.
Operations are the key to effective response and are best displayed as follows:
Regular Reports: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -Previous Reports
Infection Reports:
WMHS - updated July 2007, GCMH updated July 2007
WMHS July 2007 Clinical Newsletter: Relieving Physician Pressure- Targeting Antibiotics
References:
Advanced Directives/Living Wills
Quick Guideto Protecting Yourself and Your Family
Four Simple Things You Can Do to Protect You and Your family
Immunization Schedules and State Regulations
Maryland Lead Follow-Up Recommendations
