Health department approves preschool contract, staffing changes and a psychiatric nurse practitioner contract; reports measles exposure

The county Department of Health brought several administrative items to the Health and Human Services Committee on Aug. 19 and reported a recent exposure to measles that required contact tracing.
The committee approved authorization for the county to contract with the Hudson City School District to provide preschool services. “Authorization to contract with Hudson City School District by preschool services” was moved and carried on a voice vote.
The department also moved, and the committee carried, a personnel change that would abolish one public health nurse position and create and fill one licensed practical nurse (LPN) position. The department reported that the reclassification is expected to be cost-neutral; staff said interest from LPNs has been strong.
In another personnel action, the committee approved a general resolution to contract for a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Joanna Rusk, after an existing contracted nurse practitioner reduced hours. The resolution was presented to restore seven hours of coverage by engaging Rusk as a consultant; committee members carried the resolution on a voice vote.
The department briefed the committee on a July measles exposure at Omni Medical Center and noted that contact tracing identified people who had presented to emergency departments; staff said those people were contacted and traced. The department urged parents to keep immunizations up to date in advance of school openings.
Department staff also told the committee they plan to replace a postage machine used in the department after regulators found the current device out of compliance. The department said it will use federal salary-share funds to purchase a new postage meter and that the committee approved the required budget action.
Committee discussion focused on operational details; no programmatic policy changes were proposed. All identified resolutions and personnel authorizations were approved by voice votes during the Aug. 19 meeting.