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Public-health clinics, screenings and EMT staffing noted in board update
Summary
Board members heard reports about recent pod openings and flu clinics, a proposed visit by a skin-cancer screening bus, completion of school immunization reviews, view-only Midas data‑sharing with Northern Cheyenne, and ambulance/EMT staffing and training plans including hiring four drivers and lining up EMT-class interest.
Public-health staff briefed the Board on recent community clinics and outreach and on emergency-services staffing.
Staff said a pod opening at the fairgrounds combined a flu clinic and an emergency-distribution exercise; turnout there was modest (16 people at the pod opening) while the Forsyth Senior Center clinic saw higher attendance (27). Staff listed partner sites that hosted clinics this season, including Rosebud School, Colstrip Senior Center and Sunrise Assisted Living, and said many residents prefer pharmacies for convenience. The group also said the Sunburst skin cancer screening bus was nominated for one day if accepted, with staff to confirm costs and scheduling.
Staff reported they had completed immunization reviews at all county schools and mailed conditional letters, and that there were no measles cases in the county. They said the state had 32 cases this year. The county signed a view-only Midas data-sharing agreement with Northern Cheyenne to allow cross-checking of communicable-disease cases and aid in locating people who may have received treatment at IHS facilities.
On emergency medical services, an attendee who identified as having attended the Montana Emergency Manager Association conference reported that the ambulance service hired four new drivers, bringing total rostered personnel to 24 (seven drivers, three paramedics, 14 EMTs with 12 active), and that a contract with a training company for a local EMT class is being finalized; roughly a dozen people have already expressed interest. Board members discussed scholarships to support local EMT training and the challenges of retaining volunteers after training.
No formal votes were taken; staff said they would follow up on scheduling screenings, finalize training contracts and report back on clinic plans and attendance figures.
