LAST DISCUSSION ON CRAVEN COUNTY

Annette Greer: In the event you come and I have
> left................What agencies in the county
> should be / could be a partner for your cardiac
> program? What preventions programs would be
> important to reduction of cardiac morbidity and
> mortality? Jul 26, 2007 6:10:53 PM EDT

The Church, Education and Business Organizations
should join together in educating the poppulation on
healthy ways to live to prevent cardiac diseases. The
craven county poppulation should be educated on the
best nutrition to maintain, the importance of
exercising frequently and avoiding smoking and
drinking. This are some of the cardiac programs that
can prevent and reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality
in addition to frequent screening for cardiac
diseases.

The National Heart Association, American Heart
Association in collaboration with the Craven County
Health Department can prepare the department's health
care professionals on the best way to approach the
craven poppulation to educate and motivate them to
lead a healthy lifestyle. This can prevent, reduce
cardiac morbidity and mortality.


> Annette Greer: You had to design a HEALTH DEPTMENT
> yet your report focused more on a hospital model of
> leadership to address the cardiac program...what is
> the role of the health department and staff
> especially as it relates to lower income families
> most likely to suffer from chronic cardiac illness
> in prevention and managment. Jul 26, 2007 6:13:35 PM
> EDT

Lower income families are elegible for the Medicaid
program. This can help support cardiac programs for
the lower income people. The health department's
health educators can educate the craven county
poppulation on the best nutrition, importance of
exercising and staying away from smoking and drinking.
The county Health Department can also offer frequent
screening services to the community members.

> Annette Greer: You mention the value of the river in
> causing a geographic barrier to access...how will
> your health department function to provide county
> wide services during a hurricane...and what would
> their role in Disaster Management be......how would
> care for the chronically ill be planned for during
> these times? What disciplines would be vital to team
> with during hurricanes? Jul 26, 2007 6:16:56 PM EDT

The Health Department in collaboration with the
education department should implement programs for
Disaster Relief. The Households, businesses, and
schools should have contigent programs incase of a
hurricane. Indorder for the department to provide
county wide services during a hurricane it should
educate students on basics of disaster relief this can
increase the number of volunteers incase of an
emergency.

The county can also make an effort to start emergency
stations throughout the county with trained Emergency
Medical Technicians (EMT) and Disaster Management
Professionals in additional to volunteers. Efficient
coodination between the stations and professonals can
help in providing effective services.


> Annette Greer: Your report mentioned the asthma
> coalition....why do you feel that asthma is an issue
> in Craven county....what environmental factors could
> be contributors....What agencies would the asthma
> coalition would with to help manage the problem?
> What disciplines are important to asthma managment?
> What role would teachers and parents play in this
> management for children under the age of 12? Jul 26,
> 2007 6:19:51 PM EDT

Pollution from Industry and Vehicle emissions has
reduced the quality of the air. In addition to this,
Craven County is an agricultural county. Pollens from
the plants can be triggers of asthma, making the
number of asthma patients increase. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the Asthma Coalition would
work on improviing the quality of air at home and at
work.

Respiration Therapist and Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)
specialists offer quality services to the asthma
patients. Family physicians can serve dual roles and
give both general and specialist services.

Teachers and parents should educate children on the
importance of preserving air quality. This children
will be future leaders and they will grow up knowing
the importance of quality air. The teachers and
parents should educate the children on the triggers of
asthma and how to live in an environment that makes
one susceptible to asthma.


> Annette Greer: Your report used a citation from
> Quality Through Collaboration that was missing from
> your references......this is a very important
> concept....collaboration.....what are some unique
> ways that technology can assist in collaboration in
> Craven County in support of health care? Jul 26,
> 2007 6:23:56 PM EDT

Providers should provide evidence based practise by
utilizing Information Communication Technology (ICT).
Internet is a source of health care knowledge that can
help the rural providers be at the same level with the
urban providers.

Telehealth and Teleconferencing (Telecommunication)
can be utilized by family physicians and specialist to
give psychiatry services and medical services that
might not need one to travel to the hospital. This can
reduce the cost, accessibility and increase the
quality of health care.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has
enhanced collaboration. It has made communication
between health care professionals faster and
effective. Also the handling of medical records has
become efficient and timely by efforts being made to
fully emplement the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
Technology has made collobaration be effective and
health care services safer, efficient , timely and
effective.