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Health board seeks help from state legislators

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County Board of Health agreed Tuesday to request state Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction, and state Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, attend a future board meeting to discuss inspection of local nursing homes by the health department.

Steubenville resident Michael Vukelic addressed the board members and asked them to take action regarding inspections of the approximately 19 nursing home facilities in the county.

“The county health department needs to be involved,” stated Vukelic.

Health board President Dr. Frank L. Petrola agreed.

“The state admits they don’t have the time and the staff to investigate the nursing homes across the state,” noted Petrola.

“We need someone from the Ohio Department of Health to attend our board meeting to explain their inspection policy of nursing homes. Maybe we can have Hoagland and Cera come to our meeting,” said board member Dale Featheringham.

“We need to start somewhere and we need to start now,” commented Petrola.

Vukelic has discussed nursing home inspections by the local health department for several months.

“I believe a county-imposed bed tax of a very modest 40 cents a day could be imposed to cover expenses that will go with the county health department hands-on operations,” said Vukelic.

Vukelic also told the board he recently was issued a cease-and-desist order by the Ohio attorney general’s office.

According to a letter sent to Vukelic from Keesha R. Mitchell, section chief of the health care fraud of the attorney general’s office, “Over the last seven years you have called this office almost daily and sent hundreds of letters outlining the death of your aunt.

“We have spoken at length with you regarding your concerns. While I am very sorry for your loss, there is no legal action we can pursue regarding this matter.”

In other business during the monthly meeting, Kim Mark, the accreditation coordinator and program director for the health department reported she successfully obtained a $15,000 grant from the state to educate local nursing homes on scabies.

“I have also applied for another grant on infectious diseases.

“This will be a benefit to nursing homes in Jefferson County. We are here to help the nursing homes,” said Mark.

“We have also received a request from the Jefferson County (Joint Vocational School) to perform physical exams for their employees. We will also be doing physicals in Tiltonsville for the Head Start program.

“And, we will be entering a partnership with Franciscan University of Steubenville for reproductive health screening,” said Mark.

“We are also looking at a new service to conduct drug and alcohol tests in 2018. We will be doing this as a public health service. And we are looking into performing blood pressure screenings in the communities throughout the county as a public service,” explained Mark.

Health Department Educator Laura Scott, a licensed practical nurse, said the health department gave out seven baby boxes and 12 carseats.

“We will be meeting with school nurses to explain what we can offer them,” said Scott.

Health Department Administrative Assistant Annette Stewart said there were 48 odor complaints at the Apex Sanitary Landfill in November and 26 complaints filed so far this month.

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