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HomeMy Public PortalAboutWatertown Health Department Annual Report 2013_201503030812076882WATERTOWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2013 The Health Department staff consists of one full-time Director (position vacant through most of the year), one full-time Chief Environmental Health Officer, two full-time Health Officers, one full-time Head Clerk, one full-time Public Health Nurse, one full-time Animal Control Officer/Jr. Health Officer and one part-time Veterinarian. The Board of Health consists of three members that are appointed for three year terms by the Town Manager. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The Health Department conducts numerous mandated inspections throughout the year according to local and state mandates. These inspections include, but are not limited to, food establishments, including grease trap maintenance, housing, hazardous materials establishments, body art establishments, indoor air quality at skating rinks, tanning establishments, swimming pools and whirlpools, group homes and motels. Environmental Inspections: 2013 Food Establishment Inspections 648 Housing Inspections 144 Swimming Pool/Whirlpool Inspections 57 Hazardous Materials Inspections 58 Tanning Establishment Inspections 4 Body Art Establishment Inspections 5 Nuisance Inspections 139 Food Complaint Inspections 20 Animal Complaint Inspections 371 Tobacco Compliance Checks 37 Total Inspections 1,564 During 2013, the Health Department provided eight Person In Charge (PIC) trainings for food handlers in Watertown. Under the Massachusetts Food Code, the PIC is "the individual present at a Food Establishment who is responsible for the operation at the time of inspection." These trainings are offered by the Health Department in order to provide food handlers with the tools necessary to operate in compliance with the Food Code. Topics covered during these PIC trainings include appropriate cooking and reheating temperatures, when and how to wash your hands, and cleaning and sanitizing requirements. Another portion of the Health Department's work involves complaint investigation including, but not limited to, solid waste, dust, odors, noise, rodents, nuisances, hazardous waste incidents, food establishments, food -borne illnesses, tobacco, housing, and problem animals. In response to complaints involving rubbish and garbage left out at the curb at non -collection times or days, the Health Department distributed bright green door hangers reminding citizens of how and when to 1 place garbage and rubbish out for collection. In 2013 the Health Department investigated 674 complaints. There were 124 administrative order letters as a result. Six of these complaints resulted in filings at Waltham District Court. In conjunction with inspectional work, the Health Department issues numerous permits. Before a permit can be issued, the permit holder/applicant submits a completed plan review application. The Health Department reviews plans for all new and renovated food establishments, hazardous materials establishments, tanning establishments, body art establishments, swimming pools, and Community Development and Planning projects. Total Environmental Permits: 2013 Food Service Establishments 194 Swimming Pools/Whirlpools 19 Retail Food Establishments 47 Body Art Establishments 4 Caterers 4 Body Art Practitioners 10 Bakery 7 Tanning Establishments 2 Mobile Foodservice 15 Funeral Directors 13 Temporary Food Events 251 Motels 1 Tobacco & Nicotine Delivery Products Establishments 44 Hazardous Materials Establishments 150 Household Hazardous and Medical Waste Collection Watertown residents took household hazardous waste to the Minuteman Regional Household Products Facility in Lexington. Pre -registration at the Health Department was required before any resident could enter the site on one of the eight collection days during the year. In 2013, 132 Watertown residents visited the facility to dispose of household hazardous waste. Household Sharps Collections were held quarterly in 2013 at the Administration Building parking lot. 78 residents brought 345 pounds of needles, syringes, and lancets in sharps and puncture proof containers for sanitary disposal. Eliminating these materials from the municipal waste stream reduces the potential for accidental needle sticks. Animal Control The Animal Control Officer / Jr. Health Officer's (ACO) duties include, but are not limited to, patrolling the town, participation in a rabies/West Nile Virus task force, investigation of vector control and solid waste complaints, swimming pool inspections, food establishment inspections and the enforcement of all pertinent state animal laws, Keeping of Animals and Fowl Regulation and the Watertown Animal Control Ordinance. Enforcement action includes the issuing of citations (tickets) for non-compliance, responding to emergency dispatch calls and the prosecution of animal cruelty violators in District Court. The ACO responded to three hundred and seventy one (371) animal calls in 2013. The ACO continues to educate the public regarding health and safety concerns involving animals. 2 As Inspector of Animals the ACO carries out the isolation and quarantine of suspected rabid animals, animals with wounds of unknown origin and animals bitten by suspected or confirmed rabid animals. The ACO carried out forty-nine quarantines in 2013. These findings are reported to the Massachusetts Bureau of Animal Health. ri Abandoned Animals Now in Homes Rabies Clinic The rabies clinic is held annually with Thomas Cusick, DVM, participating. Dogs and cats are vaccinated for rabies the first Saturday in April each year at the Watertown Administration Building. This past year a total of thirty-seven animals received rabies vaccinations at the clinic. Microchip Clinic The Health Department held the first annual low cost microchip clinic for pets with Dr. Deborah Campbell from The Boston Pet Haven. Microchipping assures that lost pets always find their way home. Ten animals were outfitted with microchips during this event. Mosquito Control The Board of Health worked in conjunction with the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission (EMMCP) in planning larvicide, adulticide and surveillance activities throughout the town. In 2013 the threat of the West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) continued to rise in Massachusetts and the Nation. As a result of the WNV and EEE threat, the EMMCP applied larvicide to 3,812 catch basins in order to control the emergence of vector mosquitoes. In addition, the Health Department applied larvicide to 400 catchbasins on 3 Town streets and Town parks. The Health Department and EMMCP continually monitor the emergence of these viruses and adjust plans accordingly to maintain comprehensive intervention, education and surveillance programs. In addition the Health Department distributed bright blue door hangers to area homes with information about West Nile Virus, removal of standing water serving as breeding areas for mosquitoes, and personal protection from mosquitoes when outdoors. Wildlife The ACO responds to calls about sick or injured wildlife. The ACO also responds to and educates residents on wildlife issues. In recent years there has been an increased presence of wildlife in Watertown. Wildlife concerns in Watertown involve, but are not limited to, coyotes, foxes, deer, hawks, geese, snapping turtles and wild turkeys. Mink EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Orphaned Opossums The incorporation of emergency preparedness responsibilities has significantly increased the workload of the health department staff. Watertown is one of twenty-seven cities and towns that comprise Region 4B of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) emergency preparedness district. There are fifteen statewide coalitions in all. Through Watertown's participation in Region 4B, Watertown has developed an emergency preparedness plan that includes, but is not limited to, an Infectious Disease Emergency Plan, Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS) Plan, Animal Disaster Plan, Individuals with Functional and Access Needs, Radiological Response Plan, Isolation and Quarantine Plan, a Risk Communication Plan, a Continuity of Operation Plan (CoOP), and a Mutual Aid Agreement (MAA). In 2013, the Health Department received a total of $8,769.57 in Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant funding. In 2013 the Health Department continued to expand the coalition with Perkins School for the Blind, VinFen, Residence at Watertown Square and Beacon High School to further develop the sections addressing Individuals with Functional and Access Needs in the EDS and Emergency Shelter plans. The Health Department meets monthly to address the Centers for Communicable 4 Disease and Prevention's (CDC) Emergency Preparedness deliverables for 2013. The Watertown Health Department continues to recruit and train a volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). In the spring of 2013 the MRC Region 4B held its annual day long training for MRC volunteers at Olin College and hosted MRC's "Small Animal Handling during an Emergency and First Aid for Pets" seminar at the Watertown Police Station. COMMUNITY HEALTH Seasonal Influenza Clinics In 2013 the Health Department purchased $5,000.00 of the seasonal influenza vaccine. There were seven public Seasonal Influenza/Pneumonia clinics scheduled for the 2013 season. Two clinics held at Watertown Senior Center were designated to address the high risk elder population. Homebound, elderly, and disabled residents received flu shots via home visits by the Public Health Nurse and MRC volunteer nurses. In addition eleven clinics were hosted for first responders and at some of Watertown's Individuals with Functional and Access Needs locations. Over 650 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine were administered by the Public Health Nurse and Watertown's Medical Reserve Corps volunteers. Communicable Diseases In the year of 2013 there were 209 confirmed, suspect, and probable communicable/reportable diseases reported to the Health Department through the Department of Public Health's disease surveillance and monitoring system "MAVEN". Information is obtained through phone interviews with cases and is uploaded into the MAVEN database that is used in the surveillance, control and prevention of diseases. The following chart shows the total for all confirmed, suspect and probable diseases reported in Watertown in 2013. 5 Confirmed, Suspect & Probable Communicable Diseases 2013 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Campylobacteriosis Cryptococcus Neoformans 1 1 Enterovirus 1 Giardiasis Group B Streptococcus Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis Influenza Legionellosis Lyme Disease 1 M 1 5 -4 11 9 19 2 Salmonella min Shigellosis 1 1 Streptococcus Pneumoniae mi 3 TB -Active 1.11 2 TB-LTBI Toxoplasmosis 1 1 Varicella 3 Vibrio sp. I= 3 • 3 25 34 Health Promotion In 2013 The Health Department organized or presented several health related topics for the Watertown Mall, who hosted these educational sessions for the community on a monthly basis. Some of the topics presented included: "Watertown Alert System", "Tobacco", "Healthy Homes", and "Bats and Rabies". In 2013 the Health Department participated in town wide health initiatives such as Wayside's Youth and Family "Massachusetts Opioid Abuse Prevention" grant and the Watertown Public School's "Wellness" related grant and health fair. 6 Watertown Task Force The Health Department assisted residents who needed help in resolving housing and public health/medical related issues. The Health Department's inter -departmental task force continued to address the needs of residents in crisis. The task force included members from the Police Department, Fire Department, School Department, Health Department, Housing Authority, Council on Aging, Food Pantry, Veterans Office, Housing Authority, Advocates Inc., Mt. Auburn Hospital, Springwell Social Services, and Residence at Watertown Square. These departments, agencies and Mount Auburn Hospital continued to collaborate in 2013 to provide needed services for Watertown residents. In the year 2013 the Health Department continued with the implementation of a grant from the Marshall Home, Compassionate Connections III. This grant program provided needed social work and clean-up services for residents who find themselves in a hoarding situation with excessive amounts of materials in their homes. The grant funded community awareness lectures and a support group for friends and family members of people with significant clutter concerns. Patty Underwood, an experienced licensed social worker from Riverside Community Center began the community lectures with "What is Hoarding" and "How to Help" which raised awareness in the community of the safety risks associated with hoarding conditions and available services. Tobacco Control The Health Department continued its tobacco compliance program to help reduce youth access to tobacco and nicotine delivery products. In 2013 there were two rounds of tobacco compliance checks conducted which involved a minor entering a permitted establishment in an attempt to buy a tobacco product. In total, there were thirty-seven completed checks and seven violations. The violators were issued a non -criminal ticket and were educated concerning the Tobacco and Nicotine Delivery Products Regulation including how to check for proper identification. TOTAL MONEY RECEIVED FOR 2013 January $ 2,246.75 February $ 2, 369.35 March $ 1,195.00 April $ 1,837.00 May $ 4,454.35 June $ 2,271.15 July $ 1, 849.80 August $ 1,577.40 September $ 7,788.91 October $ 14,280.00 November $ 13,095.00 7 December $ 10,755.00 Total $63,720.61 Seasonal Influenza Reimbursement $ Figure not available at this time. Emergency Preparedness Grants $ 8,769.57 Community Health Grants $ 10,000.00 Total $ 82,490.18 * Special thanks to, Maria Chiavelli, Head Clerk, Wil vanDinter, Public Health Nurse, Karen O'Reilly, Animal Control Officer/ Jr. Health Officer, Dan Repella, Health Officer, and Kristel Bennett, Chief Environmental Health Officer for collecting data, formatting and crafting this report. 8